Home Chef Goals

It's a new year and with it come new goals for everything in life. Home chefs should take these to heart . Have something to look foward to doing and then stick to doing it. It can be anything from trying a new cuisine to mastering some culinary craft.

Tis is what I have planned for myself. Caribbean cooking and baking has always intrigued me and this will be the year (and hopefully soon) to try cooking callaloo and possibly attempting a tofu jerk.This is turning a traditionally meat dish into something vegan. Another Caribbean must try is Trinidadian sweet bread. I was curious about it when I first heard about this fruitcake like bread.It has frozen coconut along with currents  evaporated milk, raisins and candied cherries in it. I have had luck with sweet breads in the past so it shouldn't be that hard to make and bake.Another home chef or rather home baker goal for me is upping my cookie game. I've had two major Christmas cookie disasters recently, probably becaused I used vegan sub in for eggs and butter. I want to create a cookie that crisp and light while packing flavor. I don't ever want to deal with a crumbly , unmanagable dough  again. A smaller goal is possibly buying cute cookie cutters in different shape and sizes and working with colored chocolate for decorating.

All home chefs should set some kind fo goal. It doens;t have to be met right away. It could involve smokingbrisket  n the grill during the Spring and summer months. You can spend these colder months reading up; on recipes and which one to try. Many look through those new cookbooks they received for Christmas and Hannukah and pick out recipes they want to try, Keep in mind that it doesn't have to be a new cookbook. There may be a cookbook you haven't looked through in years. Check the recipes out. Try the ones you haven;t attempted for something different. Another fun goal is taking culinary classes.Enroll in a course  if you're fascinated by Middle Eastern cuisine or want to learn the intricacies of French pastry making. Again check on line for classes and if they're in your area.  Some bakeries offer classes for cake and cupcake decorating while many night schools offer affordable classes on various cuisines.Sign up now before all the spots are taken. There are also one on one classes however these can be pricy depending upon the instructor's availabilty. Research first before you sign up.

It's always fun and improtant to set goals for yourelf. Carry that into the kitchen. Try a new cuisine or promise yourself to experiment with a different technique. You'll be pleased with the results.

That First Apartment Kitchen

 Many college seniors are now in the process of miving off campus or moving to on campus dorms with kitchens. This is a crash course in not only easy cooking but home cooking too. How do you stock a beginner's kitchen? Not with love as you might think but with knowledge.

It's always good to check out the major appliances of any rental. Many landlords usually go for the cheaper stoves and fridges and these may not work well. Check for gas leaks and if the burners and oven work correctly. As for the fridge, make sure it's both cooling and freezing. If there's a sweet odor coming from it two to one it's leaking freon. Talk to the landlord about replacing the refigerator or possibly buying a new one.(the cost should be deducted from the rent). Space in the kitchen is also important. Air fryers and microwaves are must haves. is there enough room for thm (or at least for one. Air fryers can easily be tucked under the kitchen table) What else is needed? A crock pot is another necessity. These are great on those long days in class when you can't spend the day cooking tomato sauce or chili. Immersion blenders are another kitchen must have. Theseare great for making smoothies but they even better for  blending and smoothing out chunky soups.what about pots and pans? Get three pots, an eigh quart stock pot for boiling pasta and making soups, a two quart and one quart for cooking rice and creating sauces. A frying pan and griddle are vital for frying up steaks or indoor cooking hot dogs and hamburgers.

What about stocking up that first pantry? Soup is a must because it's easy to microwave and eat.A cup of it with crackers makes for a filling lunch or dinner. Canned veggies should also be added to the list. They not only make for great sides but also tasty salads too.Beans and tomatoes of any sort should also be added. These make for a great crockpot chili  and the last is the backbone for tomato sauce.Olive oil is a must because it's not only good for you but also  versatile to cook with (but get  vegetable oil for baking).A small bottle of either red wine or apple cider vinegar can also be added. They  not only are crucial to vinaigrettes but some recipes call for a splash of vinegar. Bread , eggs and any kind of milk are also high on the list. Always have some kind of fresh fruit or veggie in the kitchen as well. These give you the nutrients and vitamins. A piece of fresh fruit is also a good between classes snack. Your first kitchen is also a good place to start a spice rack. Get small bott;es of cinnamon, garlic ,and onions powders. Rosemary and oregano are kitchen must haves as is chili powder.Old Bay seasoning should lso be included if your'e into seafood.

A first kitchen can be daunting.However it can be a dream  if it's well stocked and prepared.It'll mske for fun creating ,cooking and baking.