5 Ways to Make Cooking at Home More Enjoyable

Hi World! This is my first blog entry. I’m so excited. Starting a food blog has been on my mind for years and that makes this entry so special. I am a Thai transplant living in Washington DC, a city where like most urban cities, everybody eats out. In Bangkok we know a thing or two about food, but here, Happy Hours and brunches are filler words. But the reality is that not everybody can afford to dine out 3-4 times a week. If you are trying to save money for that sandy vacation or eat a little healthier, then this might be a great start.

Image: www.care2.com

1 -- Make cooking a habit 
Many times I've heard people say that cooking at home       actually costs them more than eating out. Sometimes this is true. For instance, if you only cook twice a month and say you are cooking a bowl of curry for dinner, then you’re looking at a long list of ingredients and an expensive bill. In addition, most ingredients are either highly perishable, or they come in a multiple-serving portion, so you might find yourself wasting a lot of it. On the other hand, precooked sauces might help you with food waste. But it will cost you as much as eating out plus cooking time. I know this doesn’t sound that encouraging so far, but I promise that cooking at home will work if you cook more frequently, make enough to last a few meals and use up all the ingredients before they go bad.

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2 -- Plan Ahead, Plan Smart
Planning, planning, planning is another excuse I've heard people say for why they are not cooking at home. Planning all your meals for the week sounds daunting, doesn't it? Even I agree. However, I think the secret to staying within budget is to spice up your staple grocery list with just a few special ingredients and make them the theme of the week instead of restricting to an elaborate meal plan. For example, when I get my hands on pricey herbs like basil, I make a few dishes with it such as pesto, basil stir-fry (Thai Kaprow) and a basil omelet. The dishes offer different feels, yet they are just a combination of basil and the things I already have in my pantry. This will permits you to stay within the budget and get your creativity going.    

When, ingredients are in their purest stage, they can more easily be incorporated...

3 -- Get Creative
We have been led to believe that pasta sauce can only be used with pasta. I mean, even the name suggests so! But have you tried pasta sauce as a dipping sauce for bread or chips? Perhaps you can use leftover pasta sauce in your favorite chili recipe? This way of thinking will allow you to open to new possibilities and make cooking on a tight budget everything but monotonous. Cooking is not a formula that everything has to be precise, but rather it is about what tastes good to you. It’s turning a leftover vegetable stir-fry into a delicious soup and reserving oil from frying bacon for an aromatic bowl of chowder. It’s pure creativity with a touch of frugality. 

4 -- Stick with the Raws
Try filling your grocery list with fruits, vegetables and raw meats rather than processed cans and bags because you can create more recipes with basic ingredients. When, ingredients are in their purest stage, they can more easily be incorporated with different herbs to completely transform the taste profile. Plus, wouldn’t it be better to know exactly what you’re putting in you mouth?

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5 -- Eat as You Need
I used to force myself to finish my portion at the restaurant and felt bloated when I left. The sad part was that I got used to eating more than I needed. Asking for a doggy bag is often too much of a hassle. You can prevent this all together by conditioning your body to eat a more sensible portion and cooking at home gives you a full liberty to do so. In the beginning, I would cook too much. But something interesting happened along the way, preparing my own meals made me appreciate food and listen to my body more. Now, I only eat half of what I used to, and feel completely satisfied.

I hope that this helps you realize that cooking at home is simple and very satisfying and that more of you will join me in this humble movement. Just put on the chef hat and keep cooking because before you know it, you will be able to save up for that dream trip plus a little extra pocket money. Before we meet again, I would like you to try some of the points above and share with me what you think.

Kob Khun Ka,
Preme