Every new year, we promise to make big changes in our lives. This year, Tim Hagedorn, a Food and Trend Innovator in our Test Kitchen, has some different options for your New Year’s resolutions. Here are some little bad habits he thinks we should all resolve to break this year, as well as some new, good habits to start. These little changes make a big difference in your daily meal prep.
Tim Hagedorn, Pampered Chef Food & Trend Innovator. Tim worked at a number of Michelin-starred, fine-dining restaurants in Chicago before coming to Pampered Chef. He believes that cooking isn’t just about putting food on the table, but learning, exploring, and creating special memories that enrich people’s lives.
New year’s resolutions don’t always require a huge amount of effort to have an impact on your everyday life. Here’s a list of four little resolutions I think everyone should consider making this year.
1. Stop holding your knife the wrong way. The Chef’s Knife is one of the most important tools in your kitchen. There are few times where I don’t use it, which is why I think it’s so important to practice good knife skills. Of course, it’ll take time to get comfortable using some of the techniques in the video below. It just takes a little practice.
Tonight, when you’re getting dinner ready for your family, take one second to practice your pinch grip, rock slice, and claw grip. Then tomorrow, take two seconds, and the next day, take three seconds, and so on. You’ll be better, faster, and safer with your knife in no time.
Three More Homemade Sauces to Keep Handy
- Chimichurri is a cilantro and parsley condiment that’s great to have on hand to spice up grilled foods or vegetable side dishes.
- This easy pad thai sauce adds oomph to stir-fries, veggie noodles, or rice.
- A healthier Alfredo sauce made with Greek yogurt is a nice alternative sauce for pasta night.
It’s also safer. Leaving a spoon in a pot full of hot soup is asking for trouble. It’s one more thing to get snagged on or bumped into. Get creative and use an empty can as a spoon rest if your recipe calls for a can of beans or tomatoes. Or use the empty package your vegetables came in. Just don’t leave the spoon in the pan.
What bad cooking habits do you want to stop? What good habits do you want to start? Tell us in the comments below.
Good advice. And empty your bowl of veggie trimmings into the compost!
Or, wash those veggies thoroughly before you trim and peel, and make your own wonderful broth with them to add punch to mashed potatoes, gravy, soups and stews.
I’m going to practice more with the proper knife usage so I’m more professional at cooking shows!
Practice proper knife usage; practice makes perfect 🙂
To just plan cook good stuff. Living alone it’s easier to make a salad or have cheese & crackers. Last night I made the sweet potato soup in the Deluxe Cooking Grinder. Wasn’t too bad after I put half a sleeve of crackers in it. I think it’s a texture thing. Thank you for the tips.
I liked number two try making from scratch is healthier and can be fun learning new ways
I started making my own sauces a year ago, and now I make them in really large batches, freeze them, and give them to my friends! Now if I only knew how to can/jar, I”d be in heaven!
Such great, useable tips!
The most disgusting habits in cooking is to test the food by one spoon many times and over the pot ,I hate it and it’s drive me to pok
My father in law keep doing it and I never eat the same food I cook at day on next day.
I don’t know why he keep doing it…
He also keep putting the dirty dishes of the cat for washing with our dishes.