You’ve just celebrated the end of the old year and are getting ready for the new one. It’s a time of planning and reflection. As a result, there is no better time to make a life change than when you are assessing the past and planning for the future. A fresh new year is upon us. A year where we can love, laugh and give again. A year where we can start experimenting with new food items, new ideas, and new creations in the kitchen. For those of you who consider yourselves novice cooks, no worries – I have put together some suggestions as well as recipes that will help you navigate through this process for this New Year and beyond.
Cater to your tastes. Many people think eating healthy means being sentenced to a lifetime of unappetizing foods. That alone could keep them from trying to not only cook but also eat better! The fact is your taste buds really matter when it comes to eating right and eating well. If a food doesn’t taste good, you’re unlikely to continue eating it. So keep your eyes peeled for appealing foods that are deep in flavor. Take a page out of the Italian and Spanish cuisines where the food is based on a few yet very good ingredients. For example, Risotto Milanese di verdure (a wonderfully creamy saffron rice dish with aromatic vegetables) or Pescado a la Marinera (a pan seared fish dish with an almond-vegetable sauce) are fantastic dishes with simple, yet good ingredients that cater to my tastes.
Consider the season. Some fruits and vegetables may not be at their best in winter, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with cabbage or iceberg lettuce. Season-appropriate meals, such as hearty vegetable and bean soups, can be just as nutritious, so seek out recipes that speak to the season and your food needs. For example, my butter nut squash soup loaded with aromatic vegetables will fill your belly and your soul. Another hearty soup is my Argentine lentil stew that can be turned into a nutritious family meal by simply adding kale or Swiss chard for the vegetarians and grilled Italian sausages for your meat loving friends!
Plan ahead. Too worried that you won’t have enough time to cook and still get all your other daily tasks done? Worried that you won’t be able to have fun with your friends and family if you’re trying to eat well? Instead of feeling like you have to avoid the kitchen or avoid parties and get-togethers, think of them as opportunities to learn how to navigate this new process. And go in prepared! Make sure you have a stocked pantry with essentials like oils, spices, beans, pastas, and canned tomatoes. Start by planning on cooking three meals during the week. If you like chicken, buy a whole chicken. Consider the season and pick out some fresh winter vegetables and fruits. These simple ingredients can then be turned into a roasted chicken dinner, a vegetable and bean soup, and a mustard-apricot glazed chicken breast. The chicken dinner can be served with roasted vegetables and salad. The soup can be served with huge garlic toast, and the chicken breast can be served with rice pilaf and a simple mixed green salad.
Although it takes a lot of organization and planning, you too can manage to get it done. Like an experienced chef, you too can learn how to make new creations in the kitchen . For some lucky ones it may look like spontaneous magic. For others it may look like a well rehearsed dance. But the real chef knows it’s the combination of practice and improvisation so get cooking! Take to heart the quote “Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.”
