Food processor: Put your PC to work in the kitchen
Let your computer be your sous-chef
By Alyson Munroe
Vancouver’s Shannon Richardson loves to cook. She collects food magazines, scours the web for recipes, creates weekly menu plans, and bakes squares and shortbread cookies for colleagues during the holidays. This year will be different, though, as it’s her first as a mom. She knows the only way she’ll be able to manage it all is to plan ahead.
Get organized
That’s exactly what Globe and Mail food columnist and LCBO’s Food & Drink magazine food editor Lucy Waverman recommends. “Make a list of the types of events you’re planning, like cocktail parties and Christmas dinner,” she says. “Use your computer to search for recipes that fill your menus, including those that can be made ahead of time.”
For example, Christmas pudding and chocolate truffles can be made well in advance and kept in the freezer. Divide your list into what you can do early and what needs last-minute preparation. Waverman advises cooks to always grocery shop with a list.
Find culinary inspiration online
Unless you’re an expert, Waverman says, you should only use web sites that test their recipes, such as Epicurious, Food & Drink magazine and Baking 911.
Richardson’s favourite, Allrecipes, offers printable recipe cards which are perfect for clipping and adding to your recipe box. She also appreciates the reader reviews, saying they often help her to choose a recipe.
Turn to food tools for your cooking queries
If you come across recipes with unfamiliar measurements or strange ingredients, you can find handy conversion charts, substitution tips and other food tools online.
It’s always nice to include the recipe when you give food as a gift. Head to our Template gallery for free recipe card templates. And if you’re used to people asking you for your fabulous spinach dip recipe at parties, keep copies in your purse so you can hand it over instead of e-mailing it later.
Basket bounty
If you still find yourself in a rush, order food baskets and goodies online to save time and hassle. Here are some Canadian options to consider:
Quick tip
Sending a gift basket with your own homemade goodies? Create personalized jar labels and lids. Try our homemade preserves labels, or go to HP to find canning kits.
