Ayesha Curry's 6 Commandments of Kitchen Organizing
Your Best Year Ever continues into 2016! This month, Ayesha Curry, author of the forthcoming The Seasoned Life: Food, Family, Faith, and the Joy of Eating Well, shares her tips for healthier cooking and happier entertaining.
The kitchen can be an intimidating place. I get overwhelmed sometimes myself. Just as an overstuffed, disorganized closet can lead to the well known "I have nothing to wear!" cry, if utensils and tools aren't organized and handy in the kitchen, it can result in a downward spiral of endless takeout boxes. I learned that having certain things in a certain spot makes me more apt to get a meal prepared, and in the end, I feel like I have accomplished something and am less stressed. Also having an arsenal of kitchen tips helps as well. Here are a couple of tips!
1. Keep a salt and pepper cellar by the stove.
There are endless kinds of vessels to store salt in, from functional to super chi-chi chic. (I love this one.) Regardless, it makes a world of difference to always have these seasoning staples on hand by the stove. Less running around searching cabinets and rummaging through containers to find what was most likely staring at you in the face the whole time (I do this with my car keys!).
2. A good set of knives goes a long way.
They don't have to be expensive, but having a variation makes preparing your meals so much easier. Example: A serrated knife, or bread knife will slice through a tomato or fresh loaf of bread with ease. No tomato pulp and less crumbs. A chef's knife is classically perfect for chopping and quick slicing. It really makes a difference!
3. Salt your food!
Pasta water is the one thing I think people forget to salt. It should be salty like the sea. This ensures that your noodles won't lack flavor and for some reason, I feel like it makes the water come to a boil faster-if anyone knows why, let me know! [Editor's note: Salt water has a lower heat capacity! Twenty percent salt water heats up almost 25 percent faster than pure water.] Desserts and baked goods should always have a little pinch of salt in them. This actually balances sweetness and livens fruit that may be in the dessert. It's genius.
4. Buy a fish spatula.
You don't have to only use it for fish! My friend Amanda told me she uses it for everything from scooping up multiple baked cookies to flipping a delicious grilled cheese sandwich, and I do now too (such a copycat). It really is great and actually very multi-purpose. The openings within the spatula allow pockets of air under whatever your flipping, so you can do so with ease.
5. Meal prep.
The most efficient thing you can do is pick one day per week for an hour or two of meal prep. If you're looking to eat a bit healthier, this tip is for you! Lay your veggies and proteins out on baking sheets and roast away. YOU CAN ROAST ANYTHING! Root vegetables like sweet potatoes, parsnips, and carrots are perfect for roasting alongside a cut of meat that will cook around the same amount of time. Then, all you have to do is transfer everything to containers and it's on hand and in the fridge for the rest of the week! Sometimes I'll add a super grain like quinoa to have as a base. When I know I'm going to have a busy week, this solves all of my meal problems for the entire family.
6. Experiment!
Be playful in the kitchen and don't be afraid to use those beautiful pots and pans you got as a housewarming or wedding gift. Cooking is all about trial and error, and figuring what goes well together. I've had epic fails of the "LET'S NOT EVEN GET INTO THAT" variety (making soup while 7 months pregnant and having a dutch pot explode all over the place comes to mind). But I've had even more epic triumphs by experimenting, which has turned out some dishes that are now family staples. Just have fun.
These are my tips. Though they seem simple, they are incredibly helpful and make moving along in the kitchen a tad bit easier. Give it a try!
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