Happy is a cook that plans well

There is always some amount of excitement when a decision is taken to cook a dish. But there could be frustrations if planning is not done. Here are a few things one should remember before deciding on making any item.

1. First and foremost it is important to know if those who will be offered that dish would like to eat it. Placing a dish on the table with no takers could be the worst disappointment ever.

2. All the paraphernalia required should be ready at hand – knives, utensils, apron…….  Checking should be done to see if they are available. Where a dish needs to be baked it is better to check if the oven is in a working condition.

3. Sometimes there will be no gas in the house or the current will be off. These days of load shedding this is a frequent occurrence.  Blindly planning without ascertaining the situation should be avoided . 

4. There are certain chores where assistance of a maid may be required. It is always better to plan anything only when the maid is around.
They have the tendency to just stay away without notice. This has happened to me many times.

5. Certain dishes require more time. This fact should be taken into consideration as there is no point in getting a dish ready way past eating time.

5. If it is a new dish the recipe should be there to follow.

6.  Last but not the least all the ingredients should be available. I remember I had sent my husband with a list of ingredients for a particular dish I was planning to make. I was expecting guests. I eagerly waited for my husband’s return and to my shock I forgot to buy the main ingredient. I did not know what to do. I quickly opened my pantry and the fridge and looked around to see if anything else could be prepared and what I prepared was not something that anyone would eagerly look forward to eating as it was one of my usual dishes. 

Happy is a cook who plans well.