Life has changed dramatically over the last couple of months. Everything from live concerts, theatrical performances, dining out with family, and shopping to daily business, doctor visits, and education have been impacted. We have been advised to stay home more – practicing social distancing from our peers. In more recent days, the world is starting to open back up little by little. But, things still aren’t the same, are they? Restaurants can only function at a low percentage (depending on where you reside) and, even then, many people aren’t ready to chance it just yet. Not to mention that being forced to stay home and shelter in place has bought about a new appreciation for being at home. A renewed desire to have those family dinners and make use of that spectacular kitchen, right? Perhaps one of the biggest complaints we’ve all heard about having to cook for ourselves at home is that you get tired of your same old know-how recipes. So we thought we’d spice things up a bit with 7 tips to help you cook more at home – enjoyably. 1. Get Creative. Sometimes you just don’t want to get out. Especially now with all the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in place and such – going out can seem like a chore. So, instead of stepping outside, stay home, and get creative with what you have. With the help of the internet, you can easily punch in a list of the main ingredients you do have in your refrigerator or pantry and you will likely find at least a few recipes that you can make. In fact, there are some websites that are designated to do just this. Of course, if you want to be really creative, forego the recipe altogether and just start cooking on your own. Throw together things that you think will mesh well with one another and see what happens. The outcome may surprise you! 2. Try the Recipes You Never Thought You Had Time For. How many times have you looked at a recipe, thought it looked completely scrumptious, then dismissed it as you noticed the long list of ingredients and directions? Some very worthwhile recipes can take a bit of time but are so worth it in the end. So, with all this extra time on your hands – and the desire to cook more at home – find those hard, time-consuming recipes and give them a try. You’ve got nothing to lose and only deliciousness to gain! 3. Repurpose Your Leftovers. Another way to get creative is to repurpose your leftovers. Face it – we can only eat the same meal so many times, right? We may hold onto thinking we are wasteful if we toss is. But, let’s be real – what usually happens? That’s right – the leftovers sit in your refrigerator taking up space for the next few days until you finally go in there and empty them out once and for all. So, what if you took those leftovers and transform them into a completely different meal? This way you are not wasting food yet you aren’t eating the same dish over and over either. For instance, take leftover french fries, add some onions and peppers, and toss them in a skillet with a little olive oil. Serve with some eggs and you’ve got semi-homemade hash browns. Or, if you have leftover chicken, dice it up and put it in a salad or make a soup and add in the chicken. There are so many things you can do to repurpose leftovers. Let your imagination run wild – and stop being wasteful! 4. Use Different Appliances. Instead of always using your stove to cook, try switching up your appliance of choice. For instance, you have a stovetop, an oven, maybe a griddle, and an outdoor grill. Who knows? Maybe you even have smaller appliances to cook with! Try cooking the same dish or a new one using a different method. There is a good chance that it will taste just as good although it may have a different flair. And, the bonus part is that you gain more practice using a variety of cooking methods! 5. Involve the entire family. Sometimes we can be swayed from doing things in the kitchen because we want to be spending time with our kids or our significant other. So, why not involve the whole family? Find a single recipe or a collection for a nice dinner and put everyone to work. Make it fun. Put on some music, let loose a little – don’t worry about the cleanup until its all over. Just enjoy the moment. Not only will your kids have some wonderful memories with family while also feeling super included, but you, too, will also have fond memories and a new love of cooking. 6. Take Your Family Somewhere Exotic. Here’s a great idea – if you are feeling a bit stuck right now, imagine yourself traveling the world as you create cuisine from all different cultures. Pick a theme each week (or for the frequency of your choice) and go all in to create. Use the recipes and the spices necessary to create the meal. Have your kids do some research to discover a little about the culture. Then, incorporate all of this into your dinner. It’s a great way to try something new, keep cooking at home exciting, and learn something new along the way. 7. Shop Once. Finally, our last time to help you cook from home is to make it convenient. After all, nobody wants to keep running out to the store each time you are going to cook from home. Otherwise, you may as well eat out! Before you head out to the grocery store or market, gather up all your recipes and make a list of the ingredients you need. That’ way you shop once and will have all the ingredients you need on hand. Sometimes when life gets tricky, it is important to find the silver lining. Today? It’s the joy of cooking at home.
