I have here couple of tips for who ever want to give it a try and is not so skilled when it comes about cooking. Let's say you want to surprise your loved one and cook dinner, and by surprise I don' t mean to put the house on fire and Surprise !!!
I have in mind now two types of 'loved ones', to make a bit funny as well.
We know that our loved one, usually come as a pack together with the beloved "mother in law monster" that will never be easy on you when it comes about her life-long cooking skills. And now you are put face to face with the fact that you have to make the x-mas dinner and it has to be awesome.
Simple tricks for a pro-like dinner:
I have in mind now two types of 'loved ones', to make a bit funny as well.
We know that our loved one, usually come as a pack together with the beloved "mother in law monster" that will never be easy on you when it comes about her life-long cooking skills. And now you are put face to face with the fact that you have to make the x-mas dinner and it has to be awesome.
Simple tricks for a pro-like dinner:
Act like a Pro
Pretend you are the best cook you know. That will give you a lot of confidence. And most important. As you are here reading about this, we both know that you are more a internet geek then a kitchen guru. Document yourself as much as you can about cooking before you start anything.
Dress like a Pro
You know that you don't have to go now and buy yourself all kind of clothing that will make anyone think that you actually work in the business, but an apron will always do the trick. Grandma was using it for a good reason , and that was to protect her clothes. It's a fantastic start point that will help you look nice and clean, and would give anyone that idea that you actually know what you are doing.
Decide on easy recipes
You have very small chances to fail. Easy never meant is not good or that the cook didn't put enough work in it. Usually, when it comes about cooking, not complicated is more natural and always tasty. There is a whole battle in the chef's world about what is in trend nowadays when it comes about food. One thing that everyone will agree on is that fresh is the one and only key for success in cooking.
Colours trick the eye :)
We know that our enjoyment of food is about more than how it tastes.
It would be logical to assume that the eating part – the biting, chewing, swilling and swallowing part – is the bit that tells how food tastes. Our mouth is a behemoth of flavour receptors, primed to transmit information to the brain. This tastes bitter, that tastes like strawberries – all that information is processed via the mouth, isn't it?
On the contrary, much research suggests that it is in fact our eyes leading the way, our tongues merely follow. "People's perception is typically dominated by what their eyes see", writes Charles Spence, Oxford professor of experimental psychology.
This seems to make sense. Our eyes see the food. They tell our brain what it will taste like via a whole series of learned and natural responses, and we taste what we think we should.
It would be logical to assume that the eating part – the biting, chewing, swilling and swallowing part – is the bit that tells how food tastes. Our mouth is a behemoth of flavour receptors, primed to transmit information to the brain. This tastes bitter, that tastes like strawberries – all that information is processed via the mouth, isn't it?
On the contrary, much research suggests that it is in fact our eyes leading the way, our tongues merely follow. "People's perception is typically dominated by what their eyes see", writes Charles Spence, Oxford professor of experimental psychology.
This seems to make sense. Our eyes see the food. They tell our brain what it will taste like via a whole series of learned and natural responses, and we taste what we think we should.
If you can't decide for the main dish, you have to think what everyone likes. Chicken for example is very common. If you want it more fancy, then you should consider rabbit or lamb, as they are both really easy to cook.
Don't be afraid to use the oven.
What many people don't know is that cooking with the oven is many times easier than the traditional way of cooking straight on the fire, because you have a constant temperature, and your time of reaction doesn't have to be so accurate as the oven cooking time is larger.
Cook with white wine or brandy.
It always give a touch of "special".
There is no alcohol left in the food after cooking. Makes you look like a pro!
It always give a touch of "special".
There is no alcohol left in the food after cooking. Makes you look like a pro!
Presentation
The main difference between traditional cooking and gourmet is the
elaborate presentations or high sophistication.
Make your dish look nice by arranging the ingredients of your meal "one on top of the other " .
The main difference between traditional cooking and gourmet is the
elaborate presentations or high sophistication.
Make your dish look nice by arranging the ingredients of your meal "one on top of the other " .