Cooking

Cooking for yourself at home is a great hobby and a way to improve your health if you choose nutritious ingredients and recipes. It’s not only healthier than eating out or ordering out but will save you some money too.

You may have experimented with cooking in the past but aren’t quite confident in your abilities yet. In this case, learn some tips for becoming a better cook that will help you improve your skills and feel more comfortable in the kitchen over time.

Set up Your Kitchen Space

Start by taking the time to set up your kitchen space if you want to become a better cook. You want to make sure you don’t feel crowded or frustrated when it’s time to prepare a meal. Get better organised by going through your items and cabinets and clearing out anything you don’t need. Invest in the right cooking gadgets and equipment as well so you have the tools you need on hand when you’re ready to begin cooking. Plan ahead so that you can take some stress out of the actual act of cooking the meal.

Branch Out & Try New Recipes

One of the best ways to improve your cooking skills is to mix up your menus and dishes a little bit. You don’t always have to start from scratch but can combine convenience with also preparing some of the other ingredients and having a delicious meal as the outcome. Go easy on yourself by ordering the main ingredients online such as white crab meat and add it to your favourite seafood recipes. Order enough so that you can use it in a variety of different dishes and begin to branch out to other recipes as time goes on.

Find A Mentor

You can become a better cook by identifying and working with a mentor. Reach out to someone you know who is an excellent cook and have them teach you best practices. Their tips and advice can go a long way in helping you to improve your cooking skills and confidence. Come prepared to ask questions and observe so that you can pick up on what they’re doing. Having someone to guide you is a great way to boost your self-confidence in the kitchen and you may end up learning how to cook at a faster pace this way. They can also teach you how to balance flavours and apply your creativity as you become more comfortable with cooking.

Practice & Take Your Time

If there’s one action you take as you try to become a better cook it’s to practice, practice, and practice more. It’s the only way you’re going to learn and work through any obstacles or challenges you’re facing. There’s no need to rush or pressure yourself as you strive to become a better cook and prepare homemade foods. Instead, go slow and take your time and learn from your mistakes. Make notes about what you want to do differently in the future and about how different dishes taste and what about them you might change next time. 

I’ve certainly been cooking a lot more from scratch during lockdown.  The extra time available to me has meant that I’ve had more time to experiment.  I’ve tried some new things from existing recipe books and I’ve looked online for specific recipes, but I’m in need of some inspiration.  A new cookbook is a great way to get that inspiration.  I love reading cookbooks especially when they have lots of illustrations so I can more clearly imagine the dish and dream about what it will taste like.

A Zest For Life is the new cookbook from Dairy Diary.  At a time when we are very conscious about our health, what we eat is very important. The fresh and tasty food in this brand-new cookbook will put a real spring in your step. It’s packed full of colourful, energising recipes, made with ingredients that taste great and also help you to feel great!  More than just five-a-day; cooking from this book could give you at least seven of your daily veg and fruit, plus plenty of wholegrains and healthy protein. With superfoods galore and meals that keep you full for longer, this collection of delicious, nutritious recipes is one that you’ll turn to time and again.

There is a plethora of useful tips, serving suggestions and nutritional information, as well as a glorious photograph for every recipe. There’s even space to add your own notes.
And this superb book is beautiful too, so it’ll take pride of place in your kitchen.

To add a little Zest to your life, get your copy of this fabulous cookbook at www.dairydiary.co.uk or, if you have a milkman, put a note out asking for it.

Many of you will be aware of the Dairy Diary.  Culinary enthusiasts look forward to the new edition each year as it’s packed full of cooking ideas.  You’ll love the recipes because they will be delicious, will always work (each one is triple-tested) and they use easily accessible ingredients, so there’s no need to visit countless shops for obscure foods. The 2021 edition is no exception, with the photography team raving about the recipes as ‘the best yet’!

Of course, Dairy Diary is not just a recipe book; it’s a super-practical diary that’s ideal for planning your busy life. It has a week-to-view layout, clever spiral binding so that it lies flat and has lots of useful features, such as a notes pocket, planners and memorable dates stickers. Diaries preserve special memories forever and, in our technology-dominated world, writing with a real pen on real paper is a pure pleasure.

Begin documenting your memories now with Dairy Diary. Buy online at www.dairydiary.co.uk or, if you have a milkman, put a note out asking for it.

I have a copy of each to give away to one lucky reader.  Enter via the Gleam widget below.

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. No bulk, third-party or automated entries allowed.

2. Entrants must be aged 18 years or older and resident in the UK.

3. The winner or winners will be chosen by a random draw using the competition widget.

4. Promoter is responsible for fulfilling the prize and full contact details of the winner will be passed onto the promoter to enable prize fulfillment.

5. The winner’s name may be published on this site.

6. Competition closes at the end of Sunday 23rd August 2020. 

Diary Diary and Cookbook