Everyone knows that trying new things is the best way to grow and move forward. This means you must try a new recipe when you cook. It can be scary to try a new taste for the first time, but it can also be fun. You will not only get to eat a delicious meal, but you will also learn some important cooking skills.

Process of cooking breakfast in healhty fast food concept. Adding ingredients to box with meal, woman’s hand in plastic glove, fruits, berries, nuts on wooden table, top view

Let’s have a look at some of the reasons you should try a new recipe: 

It’s A Great Way To Learn New Skills 

When you try a new recipe, you’re learning how to do something new. This can be a very rewarding thing to do, especially if you like to learn new things. This is true especially if the recipe is hard. If you can make a complicated dish, you know you can do just about anything else in the kitchen. So don’t be afraid to try hard recipes, because they can help you learn how to cook better.

Also, trying out new recipes is a great way to get better at cooking. Even if you’ve been cooking for a long time, you can always learn something new. By trying out new recipes, you can add to your list of skills and learn new ones. Try the most amazing chicken scarpariello recipe to start!

By trying out new recipes, you can add to your list of skills and learn new ones. Try this the most amazing chicken scarpariello recipe to start!

It’s A Great Way To Explore New Flavours

One of the most fun things about cooking is trying out new tastes. And what better way to do this than to try new recipes? Because there are so many recipes, you’ll find something with a flavour combination you’ve never tried before.

This is a fantastic opportunity to experience new kinds of food and broaden your cooking skills. You might even find that you like foods that you didn’t like before. So don’t be afraid to try recipes from other cultures. You might be surprised by how much you like them.

You Can Impress Your Family And Friends 

One of the best parts about cooking is that you can show off your skills to your friends and family. And trying new recipes is the ideal way to do this. When you try something new in the kitchen, it shows that you are willing to take risks and are always willing to learn.

This is a great opportunity to show off your culinary skills and stand out from the crowd. Plus, it’s always fun to amaze your family and close friends with a delicious meal you cooked yourself. So, if you want to show people how good you are, try cooking something new. You will not be let down!

You Can Get To Know Other Cooks 

Cooking is a fantastic way to meet other people who like to cook. If you try a new recipe, you can talk with other cooks about it. This is a good way to get feedback on the recipe and find out more about it.

Also, cooking is a wonderful way to meet new people and make new friends. By cooking with other cooks, you’ll be able to make friends that will last. So, if you’re looking for a way to meet new people, try cooking something new! You won’t regret it!

It Can Help You Discover New Foods You Enjoy 

There’s a good chance you’ll like a new recipe if you try to make it. This is because most new recipes are tasty. You might even make the dish over and over again.

This is a great way to find new foods that you love. By trying out new recipes, you can add to your cooking skills and find new foods that you may love. So, if you want to find some new favourites, try cooking something new! You will not be let down!

You Can Learn How To Combined Different Flavours

One of the greatest things about cooking is starting to learn how to mix different flavours. By trying out a new recipe, you can try out different flavour combinations and find out which ones go well together.

This is a good way to give your meals more depth and flavour. It’s also a great way to learn about different tastes and how they work together. So, if you want to get better at cooking, try making a new recipe. You won’t regret it!

In the end, there are many good reasons to try a new recipe. By making a new recipe, you can improve your cooking skills, meet other cooks, find new favourite dishes, acquire skills, and get creative in the kitchen.

Cooking at home can be a fun and rewarding experience. Not only do you get to customize your meals to your liking, but you also save money in the process. However, many people find themselves struggling to create dishes that are both delicious and satisfying. If you’re one of those people, don’t worry – we’ve covered you! In this blog post, we will share four helpful tips to help you easily create mouthwatering dishes at home. Let’s get started!

Balanced diet food background. Healthy nutrition. Ketogenic low carbs diet. Meat, fish, nuts, vegetables, oil, beans, lentils fruits and berries on dark background. Top view.

Use quality ingredients:

This is number one for a reason. The quality of your ingredients will make or break your dish, so it is important to use the best that you can afford. When it comes to producing, opt for fresh over frozen whenever possible. Frozen fruits and vegetables can often be watery and lacking in flavor. For meat and poultry, go for organic, free-range options like baby goat as they tend to be more flavorful and tender. And when it comes to pantry staples like spices, oils, and vinegars, choose brands that you trust and that have a good reputation. Also, don’t be afraid to splurge on unique ingredients from time to time. A little luxury can go a long way in making your dish even more delicious!

Learn new spice combinations:

One of the best things you can do to make your dishes more exciting is experimenting with different spice combinations. Try pairing spices you wouldn’t usually think go together and see what kinds of flavor profiles you can create. You might be surprised at how well certain spices complement each other.

If you’re unsure where to start, plenty of resources can help you come up with new and unique spice combinations. Do a quick search online or pick up a cookbook dedicated to exploring different spices and their flavors. Once you have a few ideas, head to your local grocery store or specialty market to pick up the ingredients you’ll need.

Invest in the right tools:

Having the right tools in your kitchen can make all the difference in cooking. If you don’t have essential items like a good knife, cutting board, cleaning tools or measuring cups and spoons, now is the time to invest in them. These things will make prep work much more manageable and help ensure that your dishes turn out just how you want them to.

In addition to essential kitchen tools, some specialty items can be helpful for certain dishes. For example, if you love baking, investing in a good set of baking pans and cake molds can help you create beautiful and delicious desserts. Or, if you’re into making sauces or stews, an immersion blender can be a lifesaver. It’s incredible how much difference having the right tools can make!

Take your time:

Rushing through the cooking process is a surefire way to end up with a subpar meal. To create something truly delicious, take your time and savor each step. From prepping ingredients to cooking them, pay attention to what you’re doing and enjoy the experience. Not only will this help you create a better dish, but it will also make the whole process more enjoyable for you.

So there you have it – four helpful tips that will help you easily create mouthwatering dishes at home! Remember to use quality ingredients, experiment with new spice combinations, invest in the right tools, and take your time while cooking. With these things in mind, we are confident that you’ll be able to create delicious and satisfying meals that your whole family will enjoy.

Chinese New Year (also known as the Lunar New Year) began February 1st, 2022. The celebrations last around 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year’s Eve (January 31st this year). Inspired by the celebrations, let’s look at some tasty Chinese New Year’s inspired food, including some that can be made on a barbecue grill.

If you are celebrating the event yourself, you could even host a barbecue party. We know it’s cold this time of year, but with the help of a patio heater or a fire pit, you can host a barbecue any time

of year. You could even set off some fireworks or Chinese lanterns whilst you’re outside, but be careful with these, stay safe and be aware of any laws or guidelines on the use of this equipment.

Now, let’s take a look at some Chinese New Year foods, traditions and facts.

Traditional Food on Chinese New Year

In Chinese New Year tradition, a reunion dinner also known as nián yè fàn, is held on the New Year’s Eve. Families gather at or near the home of the most senior member of the family. The New Year’s dinner is usually very large and includes dishes of meat like pork and chicken, as well as some fish (which can all easily be done on a barbecue if you’re celebrating a Chinese New Year slightly different from tradition).

Other traditional foods include noodles, fruits, dumplings, spring rolls, and sweet rice balls. As well as a vegetarian dish originally consumed by Buddhist monks known as “Buddha’s delight”, which is served both on the eve and first day of the year. The ingredients of this dish vary.

Most of these dinners are served alongside a communal hot pot to signify the coming together of family members. Speciality meats like duck and Chinese sausage (lap cheong in Cantonese) and seafood like lobster and abalone (a family of several marine snails) are also enjoyed, particularly in Southern China. These specialty meats are usually saved for special occasions throughout the year.

Other Chinese Traditions

Due to tradition, the fish is not eaten completely and the leftovers are stored overnight. This is because the phrase “may there be surpluses every year” sounds the same as “let there be fish every year in the Chinese language. With “fish” being a homophone for “surpluses”, much like new and knew are pronounced the same but mean different things.

Interestingly enough, though not connected to the New Year’s fish, it is considered bad etiquette to finish your meal completely in China. Though some Western countries think it’s rude to leave food on your plate, the opposite is true in China as it signifies that the food wasn’t filling enough and the host didn’t give you a big enough portion. Instead, it is recommended to leave behind a little bit of your food to show you are satisfied.

It’s also seen as bad luck to flip a fish in China. Superstitions range from turning the fish bones symbolising turning your back on someone in a traitorous way to an old fishing superstition that says it could cause a boat to capsize – similar to the butterfly effect, where a butterfly flapping its wings could cause a typhoon. Instead, you’re going to have to eat straight through the fish.

Food Meanings

Each item of food served on a Chinese New Year reunion dinner has a meaning behind it. The noodles are made longer than usual to symbolise long life. Chicken is served as it’s believed to be something that any humble family can afford.

A lot of the Chinese New Year’s food is chosen because of homophones or homonyms, such as the word for “apple” also meaning “peace”. Just like pen can refer to a pen for writing or a pen for

holding animals. Other foods are chosen for meaning things like “luck”, “fortune/money”, “fertility” and so on.

Food to Serve Up

So after reading the history of Chinese New Year you may already have some ideas. Skewered meat and fish make up a lot of Chinese barbecue, so you can’t really go wrong. Try some barbecued chicken with hoisin on, though hoisin is usually associated with duck it goes great with chicken too.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Over 1.5 million Americans are vegan. With reasons that range from ethical consumption practices to improved health, their ranks are expected to grow.

However, alternative diets require alternative vegan protein sources. Typical guidance involving a balanced diet may not hold true, which requires some creativity and thoughtfulness.

Luckily, that’s what being vegan is all about. What if you’re on the fence? If you’re trying to decide whether to go vegan or not, information is everything, which is why research matters.

When you consider veganism, one of the big questions you’ll be faced with is protein. How can you get it into your diet without traditional standbys like meat?

We’ve assembled a guide to the five best vegan protein sources for you to start including in your diet today!

1. Nut Protein

Achieving a balanced diet in today’s world isn’t easy, even if you’re a vegan. It can be tempting to go for easy options, like quick snacks, junk foods, and sugar. 

That’s why dietitians recommend that vegans, in particular, get a little protein at every meal. There’s no reason to consume it all at once. With options like nut protein, this option is easier than ever before. 

Almonds and pistachios have six to seven grams of protein per quarter-cup serving. Nuts are easy to include alongside lunch or on top of your breakfast cereal as an easy garnish. Of course, if you have a nut allergy, there are other easy choices.

2. Legume Protein 

One of the best vegan protein sources is peanut butter. Some people are allergic to tree nuts but not peanuts since peanuts are part of the legume family.

Peanuts offer 9 grams of protein per quarter-cup serving. If you eat plain peanuts, this adds a quick protein punch to your day. 

Be wary if you get protein through peanut butter. Traditional peanut butter brands, such as Jif and Skippy, include lots of sugar and trans fats in that serving of peanut butter. Click for more to find the best peanut butter source available!

3. Lentils

One of the most popular sources of vegan protein is lentils. They’re cheap and versatile, which is a win in any vegan’s book. You can tuck lentils in soup, tacos, chili, and so much more.

A serving of lentils offers 12 grams of protein. No matter what type you prefer, lentils are often cheap if you buy them in bulk.

4. Grains

Don’t be so quick to dismiss grains as empty carbs! Instead, healthy grains are a crucial part of your diet and can serve as a great source of protein. Your morning oatmeal, for instance, equals five grams of protein.

The trick is to focus on healthy grains. When searching for the best vegan protein sources, don’t be afraid to get creative, which may include trying things you’ve never heard of!

Grains like teff, amaranth, quinoa, barley, and millet are a great way to start. If you’ve never tried them before, you might love them!

5. Protein Powder

If you’re a dedicated bodybuilder, you may find yourself missing whey powder. After all, it was a quick, convenient way to boost your gains in the gym.

Luckily, there are great vegan protein powders available. It’s a great way to get a quick hit of protein when you need it, even if experts recommend naturally incorporating most of your protein intake into your regular food.

Best Vegan Protein Sources

Finding the best vegan protein sources takes time. But with some creativity and experimentation, you’ll be able to find the protein sources that work for you!

If you enjoyed this article, check out the rest of our posts here!

Coming up with new and fun dinner ideas to make every night can be really difficult. Between picky eaters and busy schedules, making dinner can start to feel like a chore that you don’t want to do. But, whether we like it or not, making dinner is just something that has to be done. 

The new year is the perfect time to revamp your Rolodex of go-to meals and to start enjoying cooking again. We’ve put together a few ideas to help make dinnertime as stress-free as possible in the new year. 

1. Explore a New Cuisine

It can be easy to fall into the routine of only making the same few meals — you know how to make them, you know they taste good, and you know you can get your kids to eat them. However, eating the same thing over and over again can take out the joy of cooking and having a meal with your family. 

Try stepping out of your comfort zone by exploring new cuisines. For example, if you don’t live on the east coast, lobster is probably not something you would ever think to try out. Luckily, LobsterAnywhere delivers live lobster right to your door no matter what state you live in.  

2. Get Your Kids Involved

Getting your kids’ input on what to have for dinner can help get them excited about cooking and make mealtime a lot easier. This is especially helpful if you’re dealing with picky eaters or kids who don’t like eating. Once you’ve decided what they want to try, let them help you make the meal too! 

3. Try a Meal Kit Delivery Service 

Meal delivery kits take all the decisions out of what to have for dinner. You can get pre-portioned ingredients delivered right to your door, along with step-by-step instructions for how to make the dish. Not only is this a great option for avoiding food waste, but it also gives you new ideas for what to make in the future since you can hang on to the recipe and make it again. 

4. Meal Plan for the Week

Coming up with a meal plan each week can take the daily stress out of figuring what to have for dinner. It also helps make your trips to the grocery store a lot easier since you will have all your recipes and ingredients in mind when going to the store. 

If you want to save extra time in the evenings, you could even meal prep for the week. By making your meals ahead of time, you can simply throw them in the oven or microwave and have dinner on the table within a few minutes. 

5. Get on Pinterest

Buying cookbooks can become really expensive and take up a lot of space in your home, but searching for recipes online can be difficult when you don’t know what you’re looking for. That’s why Pinterest is a great place to look for new recipes. You can use search terms as broad as “dinner ideas” or as specific as “gluten-free, dairy-free dinner that takes less than 30 minutes” and will be given tons of unique and fun options to choose from. 

Breeding, KY, USA – January 08, 2019: Instant Pot pressure cooker on kitchen counter with beans and rice.

Instant Pots are one of the hottest household items, and they have been for several years at this point. They’re a great way to make food fast, and they’re versatile.

Some people are afraid to use them, however, because they are pressure cookers. Pressure cookers are associated with explosions that have led to severe burns and other injuries.

With that in mind, the following are things to know about using an Instant Pot and how to do so safely.

How Does an Instant Pot Work?

Instant Pot is a brand name. These are electric pressure cookers, or in some cases, multicookers. A pressure cooker works by making heat under a very tight seal. Then, the temperature, which is higher than water’s boiling point, makes it so the steam can’t escape. The steam cooks food much faster than using the oven or stovetop.

Because of the steam and pressure, you can reduce cooking time by as much as 70%.

It does take anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes for the machine to come up to pressure, and in some cases, you want the pressure to dissipate gradually. For example, if you’re making meat and you release it right away, the meat can get tough.

Is it Safe to Use an Electric Pressure Cooker?

As mentioned above, pressure cookers can be dangerous. The traditional stovetop pressure cookers got a pretty bad reputation years back because the lids were somewhat easy to take off before the release of pressure. Now, the modern versions have safety features that are intended to help keep you from being able to release the lid while the pressure is high. You still need to be careful because they aren’t entirely risk-free, but they’re safer than some of the previous versions of pressure cookers that you might associate with this style of making food.

You do need to make sure that you don’t fill an Instant Pot more than around halfway because the pot has to be empty enough for there to be a safe pressure that stays that way through the duration of cooking.

Even if you don’t want an Instant Pot, there are also basic pressure cookers available, but again, they tend to be safer than older models.

You shouldn’t put any body parts over the Instant Pot during quick release because steam blows out, and it can burn you.

What Can You Make?

There are so many things you can make in an Instant Pot, and the versatility is likely why they’re such a popular kitchen item. You can make pretty much any recipe in under 30 minutes, or at least most, although some things can take up to an hour. You can bake bread, roast an entire chicken, make chilis and stews, and you can braise meats quickly.

There are a lot of features of an Instant Pot that tend to be overlooked. For example, you can saute, which is something that sets them apart from a crockpot or pressure cooker. You can also cook frozen

meats, so you don’t have to wait for them to thaw out, which is something else your slow cooker can’t do.

When you’re using your Instant Pot, the items you put in it need liquid to cook. The liquid helps create the pressure that cooks the food. Even with meat, you’re going to need a bit of liquid—a cup a least, to make it correctly.

At the same time, if you put too much liquid and make something like a piece of meat, it will lose flavor, so you have to find a balance.

Natural vs. Manual Pressure Release

When your cook-time is finished on whatever you’re making in your Instant Pot, you’ll have to release the pressure. There are two ways to do this. If you use natural pressure release, the valve on the lid stays in the sealing position. Then, the pressure dissipates naturally over time, taking anywhere from 20 minutes to more than an hour.

You can also use the manual pressure release or Quick Release. You move your valve to the venting position, then the steam comes out, and the pressure is released. This is a faster option, but with a lot of liquid, it can still take around 15 minutes.

Overall, an Instant Pot is much safer than an old-school pressure cooker and is a convenient way to prepare a lot of things quickly.

Source: Unsplash/Hannah Tasker

Teaching children all about food, why it matters, and where it comes from is important. 

Cooking can aid in the development of skills like reading, problem-solving, planning, and making sensible choices. Getting them involved in cooking also gives them more control over their little lives, thus boosting their confidence. 

In order to help a child feel interested in cooking, you have to engage them in a way that is fun and exciting. If you’re not sure how to approach this, don’t worry – it doesn’t have to be complex. To get you started, here are five enjoyable ways to get kids involved in cooking:

1. Don’t Get Kiddy Friendly Equipment

It’s important not to feel pressured to get special child-sized equipment. They grow out of those items really quickly and they can actually hinder your child’s development of food preparation skills. Instead, invest in good quality cookware sets and knife sets and teach your kids how to chop safely. 

2. Choose Some Great Recipes

A great way to engage children with cooking is to have them help cook their favourite food. They will be excited about the results and already invested in what they are cooking. You can then get more creative and work on more creative kiddy friendly recipes. 

3. Make Some Time

The average American spends just 37 minutes a day preparing food and cleaning up the kitchen after cooking. With that in mind, it is no surprise that many people don’t feel they have time to have the kids help out in the kitchen. 

Instead of trying to squeeze the kids into a rushed cooking environment, start by cooking with them for just one meal a week. On a day you have more time, set aside a couple of hours to cook a meal. The more relaxed you are, and the less busy the timetable is, the more fun the family cooking session will be. 

4. Allow Curiosity

Curiosity is a fantastic way to get kids interested in the preparation and cooking of food, especially when it comes to nutrition. A study showed that kids who were allowed access to sensory food education, where they can touch, taste, and smell different kinds of foods, were more likely to choose fruits and veggies from a buffet.

Often we are told to stop children playing with their food when, in fact, it’s a great thing for them to do. Letting them touch, taste, and smell new things can actively spur on their desire to learn more about food, and help them choose foods better for their health too. 

5. Grow Your Own

A study from 2007 concluded that children are more likely to eat fruits and veggies if the produce is grown at home. Sure, it isn’t the most recent study, but if you have ever grown anything with a child you will have some insight as to why this research stands the test of time. 

Allowing children to grow the ingredients for their food promotes curiosity and a sense of ownership and pride. All home gardeners can attest to the fact that the food tastes better too! Even better, they gain a true understanding of where their food comes from and can learn about science and the environment throughout the process.

With the tips above, you can encourage your children to be curious and engaged in the preparation and cooking of food. As a family, you can look forward to enjoying delicious meals, lots of new skills, and plenty more quality time together.