10 Cooking Goals That Will Get You To Rethink How You Cook this New Year
As we welcome a new year, you may be considering new habits and goals that will help you discover new ways to enjoy life more. If you’ve set a goal to cook more meals at home, we’d like to provide you with 10 cooking goals that will not only help you make the most of your culinary adventure, but also (hopefully!) bring you more joy along the way. Afterall, if you are going to spend over an hour a day in the kitchen, why not make it more enjoyable?
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Start with a dish you know and work on making it the best
Starting with a dish that’s already familiar to you is a great first step towards finding more joy in the kitchen and getting more comfortable with the cooking process. Depending on your cooking ability, you may start with a dish you’ve made before, looking for ways to improve it or modify it with one or two ingredient swaps or add-ons at a time. Or you may find that you are at a point in your cooking journey that you could try making a dish you’ve tried at a restaurant or a potluck at home. It could be a classic pasta dish, a hearty soup or a decadent dessert. Dedicating time to perfecting it until it becomes a dish you love can be a great way to enhance your skills while also having fun.
Related: 20 Crockpot Soup Recipes for Effortless Winter Comfort (PS – You’ll LOVE Them!)
Try a new cuisine
Whether it’s Korean, Mexican or Scandinavian (just to name a few!), immerse yourself in the flavors and techniques of a new culture. This goal will not only add variety to your meals but enhance your overall cooking skills.
Cook Seasonal and Local
Challenge yourself to cook with seasonal and local ingredients. This not only supports local farmers and businesses, but also ensure you are using the freshest produce available while also (usually) getting the best price for what you buy. Experiment with fruits and vegetables that are in season for a burst of flavor. Need a little help knowing what fruits and vegetables are in season and when? The USDA Seasonal Produce Guide is here to help.
Perfect Your Knife Skills
One of the most fundamental skills for any home cook is mastering the art of chopping, dicing and slicing. Investing time to hone your knife skills is a great goal if you are looking to maximize your impact in the kitchen. Improving this skill will make cooking more efficient and enjoyable.
Try Your Hand at Creating a Weekly Meal Plan or Grocery List
One of the best ways to save time and reduce your meal prep stress is by creating a weekly meal plan or grocery list. Sit down one day a week to plan out your meals and necessary ingredients for the upcoming week. Sticking to the list will also help save you money and allow you to incorporate more balance and variety into your everyday meals.
If the thought of planning out EVERY meal is overwhelming, start with one of your meals each day. Dinner for example, might be where you see the most bang for your buck.
Host a Dinner Party
Nothing adds joy to your kitchen or home like inviting over friends and family for a homemade feast. This can be a great way to showcase some of those knew cooking skills you’ve picked up and share the joy of a good meal. Choose a theme, plan your menu and enjoy the experience of entertaining at home.
Want to keep it super simple? Ask guests to bring a dish to pass. This reduces your prep time and introduces you to other dishes you may want to add to your repertoire later on.
Upgrade Your Cooking Goals By Adding One or More Nutrient Dense Ingredient To Your Dish
Did you know that ‘eating healthier’ tends to be one of the top New Year’s Resolutions people make? And luckily, eating more nutrient-rich foods and supporting your overall health doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Start by looking for ways you can upgrade your current dishes. Maybe its swapping out refined grains for whole grains or substituting Greek yogurt for sour cream. These small changes can make a big impact on the nutritional quality of your meals.
Learn a New Cooking Technique
Challenge yourself to learn a new cooking technique, whether it’s braising, poaching or fermenting. Mastering different techniques will give you a broader skill set and the confidence to tackle a wider range of recipes. This strategy may also help the kitchen and cooking in general feel more approachable to you.
Grow Your Own Herbs or Vegetables
If space allows, consider starting a small herb garden or growing your own vegetables. There is nothing more rewarding than using fresh, homegrown ingredients in your cooking. Plus, it’s a fun and sustainable way to connect with your food.
Document Your Culinary Journey
Keep a cooking journal or start a food blog to document your culinary adventures. Capture your successes, note your favorite recipes and reflect on what you’ve learned. It’s a great way to track your progress, share your cooking adventures with others and gain the confidence you need to unleash your inner home chef.
Embarking on a journey to cook more meals at home is a wonderful and rewarding goal for the new year. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced home cook, these 10 cooking goals will inspire you to explore new flavors, enhance your skills, and make the most of your time in the kitchen. Happy cooking!