Cooking can be, of course, a deeply enjoyable activity, but it’s not as if it’s always so fun. There are times when it feels like we just don’t have the inspiration to cook up a storm. This is something that happens even to people who are truly passionate about cooking! If it’s all becoming a little less fun than it could or should be, then look at bringing a little bit of cooking inspiration into your life. You’ll find a few useful places to look below.
Your Favorite Restaurants
It can feel like there’s a pretty big gap between the food that we’re served in a restaurant and the food that we make at home. And that’s normal — there’s a reason why the best restaurants can charge so much! Still, just because they might be professionals at what they do, that doesn’t mean that you can’t try your hand at making your favorite dishes. It’s unlikely that you’ll get it precisely right, but by aiming so high, you’ll surely come up with something delicious. Plus, it’s a good way to test your cooking chops.
Friends’ Favorites
There are many advantages to living alone or with a partner, but there are some things to miss about sharing a place with others. For one, we get to see all the amazing dishes that they make. If you didn’t grow up in a cooking household, then seeing all the wonderful meals that friends prepare can be a real eye-opener. If you’re struggling to think of a dish to make, then why not think back through all your years when you were sharing a place with others, and remember any standout dishes that came to mind. You won’t just end up with a delicious meal, but you’ll also get to enjoy the stroll down memory lane.
New Ingredients
We tend to buy the same ingredients over and over again. While this can make the shopping experience a lot more straightforward, it can begin to feel a little limiting, since it’ll reduce the number of dishes that we can make. As such, why not look at investing in some new ingredients? It’s good to look online since you’ll be able to find ingredients that your local supermarket may not stock. An Asian grocery online will have plenty of exciting ingredients that you can incorporate into your dishes. Even adding one new ingredient to a dish that you’ve made dozens of times can put an exciting twist on the meal!
Around the World
Another good tip is to consider making food from another culture. During the coronavirus pandemic, many of us have been thinking of ways that we can explore the globe. So why not do so through the food that you’re eating? It can really liven up dinner time. There are multiple ways to do it, but the simplest approach is to think about a cuisine that you like and then make that the theme of the evening. If you want to make Mexican food, then you can look up a fantastic Mexican recipe, play Mexican music, and drink Micheladas as you make the dish. It won’t quite be the same as lying on a Mexican beach, but it won’t be a million miles away, either. Or at least, it’ll be better than nothing.
Creative in the Kitchen
You don’t necessarily need to invest in entirely new ingredients to come up with something exciting, however. One good approach is to look at what you already have in your kitchen, and then see what you can come up with using those ingredients. This will be a challenge, of course, but that’s part of the fun. Even if the dish you make doesn’t turn out to be an instant classic, you’ll still have enjoyed the process, and you’ll have used up some ingredients that you may otherwise have ended up throwing away.
And talking of challenges, why not set one? If you’re normally a meat eater, could you try a vegan recipe? Or how about a one-pot dish? Or a weird fish that you’ve never cooked before? The possibilities are endless — don’t forget that cooking is all about creativity!
Check Out The Web
Looking for a new dish to make? Then check out the web! There are countless recipe blogs that you can use as inspiration for your next meal. The good thing about these websites is that they nearly always feature photographs of the food that you’ll be eating, so you’ll be excited to make the dish.
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