12 Ways to Create a Menu That Will Make Your Friends Think You’re a Chef

If you love to cook, then you surely want to wow your friends when you have them over for dinner. One of the best ways to do that is to educate yourself and also to learn from the pros. The tips in this article will help you amaze your friends with your culinary creations.

Research Recipes

Spend some time with recipe books and online researching a variety of delicious recipes. That way, you’ll build your own collection and have something that’s perfect for any occasion.

Take a Cooking Class

Maybe that seems obvious, or even too obvious, but learning from a pro is a good investment of time and money. You’ll not only learn how to prepare dishes but also how to use different equipment and techniques effectively.

Invest in Quality Equipment

You don’t have to buy the most expensive knives, pots, and pans you can find, and they won’t automatically make you a great cook, anyway. However, you should shell out the extra money on quality items because they function better and last longer.

Sear Your Steaks

Most people grill steak because that’s what they’re used to and they don’t know how to sear them the way restaurants do. Learn how to do this; it’s not that hard and adds a huge wow factor.

Use a Meat Thermometer

An inexperienced cook may serve meat that’s undercooked. At least you can usually cook it longer even if the appearance suffers from having been cut open. Even worse, though, is overcooking meat, rendering it tough, dry, and flavorless. A meat thermometer helps you get meat to the perfect internal temperature.

Get Good at Cooking Rice

For a lot of people, cooking rice is frustrating because it always seems to come out too wet and mushy or too dry and sticky. If you get good at cooking rice, you can use it as the base or a side of so many different meals.

Make Your Own Tortilla Chips

Instead of buying bags of the big-name brand chips, make your own restaurant-style tortilla chips. All you need are flour or corn tortillas, oil, seasoning, and an oven.

Mix Your Own Vinaigrette Dressings

Skip the bottled dressing and impress your guests with a unique homemade vinaigrette. You’ll have fun experimenting with different blends of oils, vinegars, and seasonings as you create your own delicious dressings and marinades.

Butter Things Up

Butter is an easy way to add a tremendous amount of flavor to food. Don’t be afraid to use copious amounts of it; it’s a principal tactic of almost every professional chef.

Master the Heat

Cooking at too hot or too low a temperature can ruin a meal. Learn what’s right for each recipe you prepare. Make sure you also know whether your own stove runs a little hot or cooler and compensate accordingly.

Salt, Season, and Taste as You Go

As you cook, you should be adding seasonings as you go, and you should always be taste-testing as well. This helps you avoid oversalting, which can wreck the meal, and underseasoning, which leaves food not ruined but bland.

Understand the Power of Presentation

How you arrange and present a meal can make a powerful presentation. A related tip that many pro chefs follow is to use a variety of colors, which is pleasing to the eye.

 

10 Beers American Boomers Can’t Stop Guzzling

Each generation has its favorites when it comes to everything from apps to restaurants. They have clear preferences for certain beers as well. Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millenials each have favorite beers that are their go-to beverage for a night out.

According to Visual Capitalist, these are the most popular beers for each of these generations. 

10 Beers Americans Can’t Stop Guzzling