I can always remember watching TV chef Rick Andreoli Montreal talking about how homeowners should look to try and have a couple of staple dishes which they are able to cook, and to cook those dishes well. This was certainly something that stuck with me and the idea that you always have something in your locker for any event is a great one. These dishes can help you out of a jam if someone comes around unexpectedly, or if there is a dinner party to be had and you wish to wow your guests, whatever the weather, these are the kind of dishes which you should work hard to nail down.
Breakfast/Brunch
There are many reasons why you may ned to whip up a quick breakfast or brunch, and in such a situation a bowl of cereal and toast just isn’t going to cut it. This is why it will be important to work on making a dish such as eggs Benedict or some tasty pancakes, super simple and perfect for the situation.
Pasta Dish
It is always great to have a pasta style dish in your arsenal too, and the reality is that in most cases they are very simple to make and tasty too. You could think about a gnochi, a stuffed pasta dish such as cannelloni or perhaps even simply working on nailing a sauce like carbonara or bolognese. The key to this is mostly in the sauce, which is where you should think about focusing on.
Meat Heaven
When it comes to creating a meat dish the choices are endless of course, and this is why having a certain dish which you feel comfortable cooking, for most common meat choices, will be a smart idea. For example you could work hard on making a delicious steak and peppercorn sauce dish, slow roasted pork and a nice Mexican chicken dish. Again most of these can be very simple to prepare and delicious too. The key to cooking and preparing any meat dish is practice, once you learn how to properly handle, prepare and then cook the meat, you will feel comfortable delivering it whenever the time comes.
Slap-Up
There may be many occasions whereby you are not going to have much time to prepare, which is why you ought to think about a slap-up meal that you could create. Basic ingredients with a simple cooking process to deliver a tasty meal, that is the epitome of a slap-up meal.
Dessert
And finally it will be in your best interests to come up with a signature dessert which you can present with pride. Again you can focus on simplicity here and look at creating something such as an Eton mess, which tastes great and is incredibly simple to prepare.
Work hard on creating the dishes that you love and the dishes which you feel very comfortable preparing or guests. Do this and you’ll be ready for all situations.