Kitchen Confidence

The French culinary term mise en place means “everything in its place.” If you’ve watched

© Mara Zemgaliete | Adobe Stock Whether you’re a budding chef or like to keep it simple, having the right tools on hand makes cooking easier and more successful.

a cooking show, you’ve seen this setup—small bowls and ramekins filled with all the ingredients neatly measured out and arranged in order of use. Apply this same concept in your kitchen and trying new recipes will become easier (and more successful).

Having everything ready to go and the right culinary tools on hand will also make cooking more efficient and lead to better overall health, according to a recent study see (the side box “Kitchen Confidence Good for Body and Mind”.

“I’m a fan of having the basics in the kitchen, which include sturdy stainless-steel pots and pans, a good cutting board, and sharpened knives,” says Dana Hunnes, RD, MPH, PhD, UCLA Medical Center. “Anything beyond that is often a waste of money or takes up a lot of useless space. Having easy-to-make recipes with ingredients that are accessible in any grocery store also is important.”

Prep Like a Pro

A pro prepares and pays attention to details. In addition to measured out ingredients, have other needed items handy. Do you need paper towels for drying ingredients or cleaners for decontaminating work surfaces along the way? Some people designate cutting boards for specific items, one for veggies, another for meats, and perhaps a separate board for onions and garlic.

Consider the order in which you will prep ingredients. For example, if you need to clean mushrooms, arrange containers around the cutting board from left to right, one that holds the cleaned mushrooms, the middle container to catch the waste, and the third to hold the finished mushrooms. Break down each task into simple steps and think about efficiency of movement. When peeling carrots, for example, don’t peel and cut each one. It’s faster to peel them all and then cut them all. To cook efficiently, arrange prepped items in order of use.

Stocking Staples for Quick Meals

Hunnes suggests stocking up on onions, garlic, herbs, and spices, as they can be used in many dishes. She also recommends stocking frozen berries and vegetables. “For the holidays, ​I like to have winter squashes, such as kobacha and sugar pumpkins, that I can just stick in the oven and let them roast,” she says. “Green beans are easy. Just steam fresh or frozen for a few minutes. With frozen cranberries you can quickly make fresh cranberry sauce with orange juice or fresh orange, maple syrup, and nuts. Slivered almonds and pecans are also good to have in the kitchen, as you can add them to many different dishes.” See the “Green Beans with Tomatos and Olives” recipe on page 5

If salad is the star of your meal, making your own dressing enables you to control the ingredients. Playing with fresh and interesting flavors can really make a salad dish extraordinary.

For example, America’s Test Kitchen suggests this creative twist for a quick dressing: When you’ve got a tablespoon of jam left in the jar, add about ¼ cup of extra-virgin olive oil; 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar; and Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper to taste. Cover the jar and give it a good shake. Boom: instant salad dressing. The same concept can work when just a little mustard or mayo is in a jar, or you base the dressing on leftover pickle brine instead of vinegar.

Include a Sous-chef

When everyone is invested in preparing a meal, there may be less resistance to trying something new. Hunnes involves her 8-year-old son, who she says is great for opening cans, cutting vegetables, stirring, and steaming.

Not every dish requires tons of ingredients and prep. In fact, with the right know-how, you can transform a few ingredients into different international dishes. For example, consider a humble plate of potatoes, onion, zucchini, and carrots. Make it Italian with olive oil, sea salt, balsamic vinegar, and oregano, and lightly sauté. Go Asian with those same veggies by using sesame oil, miso, ginger and quickly stir-fry. Add any protein (chicken, fish, or tofu) and you have a complete meal.

The post Kitchen Confidence appeared first on University Health News.

Read Original Article: Kitchen Confidence »