My BadAss In The Kitchen posts will be all about serving your family a healthy, relatively low cost meal in as little time as possible. Who needs to be slaving in the kitchen all day? Those quilts aren’t gonna make themselves! First we have to cover some basics though. Not to worry…there will still be a recipe this month…and it involves alcohol! Hopefully that little teaser will carry you through to the end! Do you remember when you started quilting (or whatever craft in which you partake)? Someone showed you the basics, offered up some tips to do things easier and generally made your quilting more enjoyable. Even if you are self-taught, someone (in person, on video, on T.V., in magazines and books…) helped to correct some bad habits that you had created. Well, that’s what we’re going to do today for your day-to-day cooking. Some of these you may know, some you may not. Hopefully I’ll be able to help you think a little differently to get the job done easier and quicker.
Buy The Best Tools You Can Afford: Just like quilting, your cooking tools should be top notch. It’s better to own one really awesome knife than several cheap ones. Not only will they cut your food better but you are less apt to cut yourself in the process. Good pots and pans are expensive but they last a really long time. I’ve had mine for about 30 years and they’re still going strong. If a large set is out of your budget then buy them individually and build your collection over time. Try to avoid One-Hit-Wonder tools. Instead spend your money on something that can do double duty. That gimmicky cutter that will totally cut your french fry cutting time in half? Really? How often do you make french fries? Instead…opt for a mandoline cutter. Not only will it cut your french fries but it will also slice and dice all your other veggies too. And it will do it in various shapes and thicknesses! See…now you can make french fries as well as potato chips, julienne veggies for a stir-fry, uniformly chop celery for potato salad…and on and on… Note: a mandoline is something every semi-serious chef and above should own. I just replaced mine that was about 20 years old. The new one was less than $25. I use it all the time, it gets the job done quickly and it’s easy to clean and store.
Maintain Your Tools: You get your sewing scissors sharpened, right? Do you bring your kitchen knives to the sharpener too? You should! I sharpen my own knives at home often but I still take them to be sharpened by a professional on a regular basis. Your other tools need a little TLC as well to keep them in good working order. Do you use cast iron pans? They’re my go-to! I never leave acidy foods (like tomato sauce) to sit in the pan, they always get dried thoroughly before putting away and I give them a lard bath at least once a year to maintain that non-stick finish. Treat your tools well and they will perform at their very best for you. Just like taking your sewing machine in for its annual check-up and cleaning. You do that too…right???
Buy The Best Ingredients You Can Afford: I’m sure that you’ve discovered that all quilting fabric is not created equal… The same holds true for your cooking ingredients! Those spices on your grocery store shelf…yup, not even close to the same product when it’s fresh (and not “cut” with who knows what…) I buy most of my spices online from The Spice House (I have no affiliation with them, just a rabid fan!) The difference between their onion and garlic powder compared to the grocery store version? It’s like apples and oranges…trust me. Do they cost more online? Not really. Since they are generally more potent than the store bought stuff you use less. You also get the option of buying bigger quantities for a lower cost. I usually wait until they have a free shipping offer or sale and then load up. They also carry a whole lot of stuff that you will never see in your grocery store. I got hooked on their double strength vanilla and vanilla bean paste (both of which will be in the attached recipe) and now I’ll never use the cheap stuff again. I also have lots of exotic and ethnic spices that I would never see in the store. The same principles hold true for all your ingredients – meat, veggies, pastas, breads… Should you use the expensive stuff all the time? If your last name is Rockefeller with the bank account to match then go right ahead…the rest of us have to pick and choose. Buy the good meats for the meals that are special. Buy a few good pantry ingredients to augment your meager grocery store offerings. Quality spices and herbs can do wonders for inexpensive ingredients! You get the idea…
Presentation Is Key: They say we eat with our eyes first. I totally believe this. Here are two pictures of a hot dog and beans dinner…which would you rather have?
There is no difference in the food or amount of time to prepare it. All I did was break out the fun dishware. Use your good serving dishes. Use your cloth napkins. Don’t have any? Guess what you’re making this weekend! I’m sure you can find some fabric hidden away somewhere… No need to break the bank either. Check out the dollar store for some colorful and fun (not to mention…a dollar!) service pieces. Think ahead – how can you make your meals more fun? Does your family like their soup/stew in a bread bowl? That can get rather pricey. Maybe serve it up in a biscuit or large roll instead. Cut your food into fun shapes. Square corn bread is so old fashioned, try heart shapes instead. Make the small effort to make meal time fun. They may not even notice that you’re only having hot dogs and beans…and they may even do the dishes! …maybe…it would have to be some damn good corn bread…
Is your head spinning with new ways to prepare and present dinner? Are you in need of a cocktail? Download todays recipe for my special homemade butterscotch ice cream and a cocktail to put it in. No ice cream maker? No worries, we have you covered too!
Taste testing…it’s a tough job but someone has to do it…
I do have some ideas for future posts but I would love to know what you want to see? Leave a comment below. Entrees? Desserts? Quick tips? The secret to eternal youth? Do you have a kitchen problem that needs fixing? Ooh…that’s an open ended question… Keep in mind that I’m no miracle worker, just a quilter who loves to eat well. Enjoy!
Terri Sontra is a quilt pattern designer, retreat hostess and Head Moose at Purple Moose Designs https://www.purplemoosedesigns.com, an online quilt shop where you can find batik fabrics, patterns for all skill levels and other unique quilting items. In her spare time Terri loves to cook. There’s nothing better than an afternoon playing with new foods or trying out new recipes. Day-to-day cooking (every…single…day…) is not her favorite thing to do, there are too many quilts to make! She has learned lots of recipes and tricks to get a healthy meal on the table quickly for her family and will share those with everyone.
