Home cooking isn’t what it used to be - and that’s not a bad thing. Today, home cooks are often more like chefs. They have access to a world of rare ingredients, wherever they live, thanks to the Internet, and they can equip their kitchen with professional-grade equipment that allows them to turn out perfectly cooked meals.
Cooking is now almost a spectator sport, due to the popularity of TV cooking shows. Now food preparation is part of the entertainment, not merely a chore that has to be hidden away in the kitchen. Of course, open plan living areas have also helped, giving the guests greater access to the cook, and vice versa.
All this makes for a much more sociable cooking experience. By following a couple of simple tips, you can turn any meal with guests into a gourmet get-together.
* Keep it simple.
Don’t smother food in pre-made sauce to create artificial flavour. Use ingredients that accentuate the natural, vibrant flavours of the food. A well-cooked steak is one of the signs of a great chef and it’s one of the simplest recipes out there. Instead of marinating a steak in a sauce, just rub it with olive oil, salt and pepper and a little lemon juice.
* Check for food allergies.
As simple as it may sound, it is important to check on what your guests can and cannot eat. There might be food allergies you are not aware of, and the last thing you want to do is prepare an elaborate meal only to find out that one of your guests cannot partake.
* Get guests involved.
Don’t isolate yourself in the kitchen. Enlist friends to help cook the meal so that you can all enjoy each other’s company while doing something fun. Before guests arrive, organise the ingredients that you’ll be cooking with. With your refrigerator arranged to make the ingredients easy to find, guests will easily be able to grab what’s needed and act as your sous chef.
* Go local.
Skip the supermarkets and take advantage of regional resources. Head down to the Market at the Grounds and see what fresh produce the farmers have to offer. Otherwise, container gardening in your home for items like herbs can add extra flavour to your dishes.
* Don’t forget the kids.
If you or your guests have children, be sure to keep them occupied so they do not have to be banished from the kitchen. You can even get them involved by giving them cookie dough and asking them to shape the cookies for later.
* Clean up as you cook.
There’s no getting around the process, so use your time wisely by cleaning up in stages. Start cleaning up while the water is boiling, the food is baking or the turkey is defrosting. Tidying up in small doses will allow you to enjoy your meal and your company more, knowing that a messy kitchen isn’t waiting for you when you’re done.