Cooking dinner each night can often result in making the same meals. It is not often we all dive into recipe books, buy new ingredients, or try something different. We seem to make more of an occasion of trying new things when we eat out. But eating in can be just as fun.
There are simple ways of making your meals exciting, by eating in different locations or eating with other people, both of which it is difficult to do at the moment. However there are some things you can do to make your home-based meals more exciting, like being more experimental, and that means with the types of meals you cook and how you cook it. Let's have a look at what they are.
Try A New Cuisine
It can be easy to get stuck in a routine of cooking the same dishes every week. The best way of stopping yourself from cooking the same meals is to introduce new cuisines into your diet. For example, you could put on an oriental spread by following Chinese New Year Recipes or try tapas by getting advice from a Spanish cookbook. There are so many cuisines you can get experimental with and have fun with. I find investing in some spice rubs or spice kits from a new cuisine good for this. You may not have all of the right equipment to make it traditional, but there are always tweaked recipes so that you can enjoy any international dish from the comfort of your own home.
Cook Smaller Dishes Instead Of A Main
Cooking dinner does not mean you have to stick to cooking one main dish. Have fun by cooking lots of smaller dishes for yourself or your family to enjoy. Smaller tapas-style dishes can make an exciting array of flavours and cuisines. Small plates are a great way to make the perfect dinner party menu. The next time you are eating with a group of people at home, make a list of small dishes you would love to cook and have fun with them. Dinner is not just about one meal; it should involve a bit of fun and spontaneity too.
Change Up The Timings
If you have had a long day or are not a keen chef, then it can be easy to grab convenience foods and ready meals that may not be good for you. If you are lazy with cooking, you can make more out of your meals by slow cooking. Whether you are a meat-eater or a vegetarian, using a slow cooker can make your meals more flavoursome and cheap cuts of meat more tender with little to no effort. With slow cooking recipes, you just chuck it all into the slow cooker, add your liquid, such as stock, pop the lid on, set the heat and away you go, in 4 to 8 hours you have a hot meal. If you do not have a slow cooker or wish to get one, why not buy a wok and stir fry everything? This quick way of cooking food, locks the flavour and nutrients in, just don't overcook it. Be experimental with the timings and see what difference it makes to the dish’s flavour and texture.
There is no need to make dinner time a dull experience. These simple yet effective ideas can make any dinner time, weekday or weekend, exciting. Whether you are cooking for yourself or a group of people, it is always great to have fun in the kitchen and experiment with flavours, recipes, and cooking techniques.
*Collaborative post
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