Food
10 Ways to Get More Creative With Home Cooking
If you cook at home regularly, you might eventually find yourself running out of ideas – or making the same things over and over again. Even if you love these dishes, they may eventually become stale and boring, both in terms of taste and preparation.
Fortunately, there are several strategies that can help you be more creative in the kitchen – and find more inspiration for dynamic food preparation.
Experimenting in the Kitchen (and Beyond)
These are some of the best ways to get more creative with your home cooking:
- Ditch the recipes. Recipes are great. They make it easy to replicate dishes at home, they provide straightforward instructions that are difficult to mess up, and they provide you a system of organization that can remind you of things you’ve made in the past. But if you’ve spent enough time cooking and baking, you probably know most of your favorite recipes by heart – and you understand the fundamentals of cooking well enough to experiment on your own. Stop depending entirely on recipes and start coming up with your own creations. Deviate from the instructions and trust your own culinary instincts.
- Invest in a wood stove. A wood burning stove is an excellent source of heat – and you can even cook with it! If you’re used to preparing most of your meals over the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave, this can be a dynamic new way to cook almost anything. Even if you’re using the same ingredients, you’re going to be using a different preparation method and you’ll end up with a finished product that tastes at least slightly differently.
- Buy ingredients from multicultural markets. Multicultural markets are one of the best ways to find new, exotic ingredients that you can’t normally find in your local grocery store. Some of these ingredients may not be palatable, and some of them will be so strange that you don’t know how to use them properly, but sometimes, this extra novelty is exactly what you need to spice up your old favorite dishes or break out of your rut.
- Experiment with seasonal produce. When produce is in season, it tends to be much more plentiful and much less expensive. Use this as an inspirational opportunity to experiment. Create some new dishes out of whatever produce happens to be in season – and find the perfect ingredients to compliment them.
- Create a competitive challenge for your family. Iron Chef and similar competitive cooking shows have been popular for decades now, since people love food, cooking, and the thrill of competition in the same setting. Why not create a competitive challenge for you and your family? For example, you can have you and your spouse create two similar, yet distinct dishes and call upon the kids to judge which one was better.
- Invest in a new spice. Visit a local market and buy a spice or herb you’ve never tried before. Taste it carefully and try pairing it with various other ingredients to see how it fits. Then, start incorporating it into dishes where you’ve never had it before.
- Make your own signature spice blends. It’s not hard to find recipes for homemade spice blends, but have you ever considered making a blend that’s entirely your own? Take a handful of your favorite spices, preferably ones that complement each other, and mix them all up. Once you stumble upon a formula that works for your taste buds, you can mix a larger batch and add it to a wide variety of foods.
- Coordinate with colors. You’re probably used to cooking with your senses of smell and taste at the forefront. But what about vision? Consider cooking entire dishes based around a color, or a set of complementary colors; it’s a great way to force some creativity.
- Find outside inspiration. Are you struggling to come up with creative new ideas on your own? Consider branching out by visiting new restaurants, watching new cooking shows, and talking to skilled chefs in your own life.
- Splurge on a new piece of cooking equipment. Finally, consider splurging on a new piece of cooking equipment. A new appliance or tool, like an air fryer or multicooker, could be exactly what you need to make the kitchen feel refreshingly new.
Committing to Creativity
The best way to keep things fresh in your kitchen consistently is to commit to your creativity. Make a plan for more culinary experimentation and stick to it. For example, you can set Fridays as a total experimentation day, where you try a new recipe, tinker with a new ingredient, or do something crazy in the kitchen. As long as you keep trying new things and adjusting old formulas, you and your family will never be bored with your food.
Featured
Have You Tried Bottled Cocktails? Here’s Why You Should
Bottled cocktails, or ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages, are all the rage right now. Around 55% of average consumers consider them as a convenient way to have a cocktail.
While convenience is an attractive factor, there are plenty of other reasons why bottled cocktails are on the rise. Check out the benefits and options you have when it comes to this new trend.
What Is a Bottled Cocktail?
Bottled cocktails are pre-mixed alcoholic beverages. Some bottles are interesting artisanal blends; others are simple and straightforward drinks. These drinks require no effort on your part—just open, sip, and enjoy.
Beyond hard alcoholic beverages, you also have access to canned wine and hard seltzers. Additionally, some bottled cocktails come in the form of do-it-yourself kits. While these require a little bit of effort, they’re still much easier to handle than purchasing every cocktail ingredient yourself.
The Benefits of Bottled Cocktails
From bars to liquor stores, you have a lot of options when it comes to making cocktails. However, bottled cocktails provide significant perks and should be on your radar. If you’re skeptical about bottled cocktails, take a look at these fantastic benefits that cater to all sorts of situations and tastes.
They’re Portable
Whether you’re going to the beach or a picnic, no one wants to lug around bottles of wine and liquor. That’s why bottled cocktails are an excellent choice for on-the-go activities.
By bringing ready-to-drink cocktails, you save yourself the hassle of mixing drinks yourself. After all, no one wants to go on bartender duty when they’d rather have fun.
They’re Simple
Depending on if you choose a cocktail-making kit or a ready-to-drink cocktail, the main perk is simplicity. You no longer have to purchase several different bottles of liquor, mixers, and garnishes to create your ideal cocktail. Depending on the type of cocktail, you get all of the ingredients together without any effort on your part.
You Get Variety
Bottled cocktails are perfect for people who want variety in their alcoholic drinks. Kits and bottled cocktails allow you to explore interesting recipes with ease, such as hard seltzers. If you prefer the classics, like an old fashioned or a martini, you have access to those too.
Plus, whether you’re looking for a light afternoon sip or a stiff party, there are plenty of options for whatever you’re in the mood for. You can check out these bottled cocktails that are boxed and ready-to-ship, check out your local grocery store or even make your own.
They’re Cost-Effective
Bottled cocktails prevent you from having to purchase entire liquor bottles. Plus, some cocktails require niche garnishes and odd additions that end up getting wasted if you only make one cocktail. The cost-savings are all part of what makes bottled cocktails worth your attention.
Opt for Bottled Brews
Bottled cocktails aren’t just a new trend. These types of cocktails provide great benefits and make happy hours a lot easier for everyone involved. With the wide variety of cocktails available, you’re guaranteed to find a blend you’ll love without the hassle of making it yourself.
If you loved this guide, check out the rest of our posts. We write helpful blogs about traveling, recipes, and more.
Food
9 Subscription Boxes That Make the Perfect Gift
You know that frustrating feeling when you just can’t find the perfect gift for your friend or family member? It’s not that you don’t know what they like, but after years of gift-giving, you feel like you’ve run out of options.
So how do you keep your gifts meaningful and exciting, year after year? You gift them a subscription box.
Themed subscription boxes can have surprising items that you may not expect but your friend, sibling, or mom will undoubtedly love.
To prove how many options you have when gifting subscription boxes, here’s a list of a few of the most popular ones.
1. Bloombox Club
For the people in your life who have dreams of covering their home in plants, this is the subscription they need. Or, they may want to improve their outdoor garden.
Bloombox delivers seasonal boxes of plants, from perennials and trees to vegetables and tropicals. There’s also a whole section of indoor plants.
Or, this subscription gift box is a great option for those who have had more than a few plants die in their care. Every plant comes with clear care instructions to make it as easy as possible to keep them alive.
2. Brew Tea Co.
For the tea lovers of the world, this subscription box is perfect. You can order your friend’s favorite teas and even a teapot for loose leaf tea.
It’s an easy way to stay stocked up on a monthly basis so they never have to worry about running out.
It’ll also give them a chance to try out new brews and explore flavors they may not have considered before.
3. Rare Birds Book Club
With this book club subscription box, you can select from two mystery blurbs. All the books are recently published works by female authors, and the title of the book will be a secret until it’s delivered.
Your birthday gift recipient can participate in discussion chats about the book and plan on receiving the next read every 3, 6, or 12 months.
4. Bloom & Wild
For that special someone in your life who deserves fresh flowers all the time. Whether your love is romantic or platonic, this subscription box is a wonderful option for fans of bouquets.
When the flowers arrive, they’re ready to bloom. So the full breadth of their beauty can be enjoyed for days.
5. Wild Deodorant
Another one of the subscription box ideas that work to support the earth and fight climate change is Wild.
Once you order a case and your first deodorant scent, your subscription includes three refills for your case as frequently as you need them.
Plus, Wild offers some beautiful scents like jasmine and mandarin blossom, pina colada, and mint and eucalyptus. It’s hard not to want to try them all right away.
These deodorants are also aluminum-free and there are sensitive skin scent options.
6. Baker Boxx
If you have friends or family who got really into bread-baking during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, this box was made for them.
They can receive a new baking recipe every month, complete with all necessary ingredients and instructions. There are a few different themed options, including one that is exclusively bread recipes.
7. Seasonal Candle Subscription
Candles are one of the most popular gift ideas for your aunt who’s hard to buy gifts for, or your colleague who covers their desk in nice-smelling things.
These boxes come with eco-friendly soy candles in a variety of scents. They arrive seasonally and are packed with some extra mini-gifts to make the experience that much sweeter.
8. Smol for Cleaning
Everyone has a friend who is always looking for ways to make their life more earth-conscious. And that’s what makes this eco-friendly cleaning subscription a fantastic gift option.
From cleaning sprays to laundry detergents and dishwasher tablets, this subscription box has everything you might need to start cleaning for the earth.
9. SnackPerk
Lastly, a snack subscription box. For your friend who just can’t get enough snacking in throughout their day, you know they need a lot of options.
These boxes, which you can find at https://snackperk.com, offer all the popular snack brands in one box. Or, you can opt for one of their other subscription boxes that includes more traditionally nutritious snacks.
No matter what kind of snacks they tend to eat, SnackPerk comes with granola bars, crackers, cookies, chips, and inevitably a few surprise items.
Bonus: FabFitFun
If you’re still not sure what kind of box your birthday recipient will enjoy, pick a subscription box like FabFitFun. It comes with a variety of fun products from skincare to fitness to lifestyle.
It’s an especially great option for your friend who never knows what they want or your mom who deserves to treat herself.
Subscribers can select what items they want to receive, and they will also receive a few surprise items. They can keep whatever items bring them joy and swap anything that doesn’t float their boat.
Subscription Boxes for Everyone
There truly is a subscription box for every person in your life. Plus, it takes out some of the guesswork when you’re trying to figure out what would make the best gift.
Let the subscription boxes do the work for you, and sit back while your gift becomes your friend or family member’s favorite gift every time.
If you’d rather treat yourself and your friend at the same time, check out these quality travel tips for every location worth visiting.
Food
How Can I Choose the Best Chinese Restaurant in My Local Area?
Did you know that 1 out of 3 Americans is ordering Chinese food at least once a month?
Whether you’re moving to a new area or your go-to spot has been disappointing you, you might be wondering what you can do to find the absolute best restaurants near you.
Are you ready to enjoy your dining experiences to the fullest? Keep reading to learn 5 tips that will help you locate the best Chinese restaurant near you.
1. Set a Budget
Affordable and quick Chinese takeout is a staple for millions of busy Americans. If you’re on a tighter budget, then you need to look for fast-food restaurants that are known for offering great deals. If you’re on the hunt for Asian fine dining, then you can never go wrong with restaurants like Hiro88 Sushi Pan-Asian cuisine where you can treat your taste buds to the finest Eastern flavors.
2. Consider Your Favorite Dishes
Since the best Chinese food can be quite subjective, you should take some time to think about what your favorite dishes are. If orange chicken is your go-to meal, then your search should try to focus specifically on that dish. To narrow your search results a bit, you can try googling “best orange chicken near me” instead of “best Chinese restaurant near me” so you can weed out any restaurants that don’t serve this dish.
3. Look at Online Reviews
The internet has made it so easy for people to share their honest opinions and give businesses the spotlights they deserve. Whether you stick with a general search engine like Google or look at apps like Postmates, you can scroll through Chinese restaurants in your area and see which get positive reviews. You also have the option to narrow your search so you’re only showed restaurants with a high average rating.
4. Ask People You Know for Recommendations
It’s a lot easier to explore your local Asian cuisine when you get suggestions from friends, family members, neighbors, and even coworkers. Ask anyone you trust for restaurant recommendations and make a note of what they always order. Once you have a list of the top picks, you can look into each restaurant further to see if something is worth trying.
5. Check Out the Restaurant’s Atmosphere
Checking out a restaurant’s atmosphere will not only help you gauge if the place is sanitary, but you can also see if you can imagine yourself dining inside. If you don’t want to visit the place in person, then you should be able to get an inside and outside look at the establishment online from photos.
Are You Ready to Eat at the Best Chinese Restaurant?
If you follow these tips, you’ll be able to find the best Chinese restaurant near you. No matter what your unique tastes are, you’re guaranteed to discover your perfect match.
Did you enjoy this article on how to locate the best Asian cuisine in your area? If so, our site is the ultimate resource for foodies. Check out our blog so you can have access to more excellent culinary guides and news.
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