May 5 // Creativity in the Kitchen

some ideas for how to make food a little more appetizing

Hello! Normally, our Thursday emails include a one-page meal plan, but today we’re going to do something a little different and share some food for thought about how and why to make beautiful-looking food 😉

If you would still like some help planning your meals this week, you can refer to a previous Thursday email from the Meal Inspiration archives such as this one or this one.

Here are three ways to bolster your creativity in the kitchen:

Do It For The Picky Eaters

I (Hope) plan to share one day about the extent of my picky eating as a child and young adult, but suffice to say: I was always the pickiest eater in the room, anywhere I went. I didn’t eat a green vegetable until I was 19. I understand picky eaters.

If you have picky eaters, you might be surprised by what a difference it can make when food is presented beautifully and colorfully. Many people think they don’t like broccoli just because they’ve only ever had it steamed and lightly salted. What about broccoli that’s sautéed to crispiness with ghee and sliced garlic?

Many kids wouldn’t choose to snack on a bell pepper or some sliced cucumber. But if they see it on a cheeseboard as part of a rainbow, and they see other foods they do like on there? It’s far less intimidating and the main message their eyes send to their brains and tummies is “Get ready for YUM.”

Garnish = Instantly Fancy

This simple trick makes just about any meal look fancy and carefully prepared: throw some herbs on top! Sure, it won’t fool an experienced foodie, but for normal family dinners? It makes the dish look finished and thoughtful. Here are some easy ones:

• cilantro on top of your quesadillas

• sprigs of thyme on top of scrambled eggs or beef stew

• parsley on top of spaghetti

• rosemary on top of roasted vegetables or chicken

• a mint leaf on top of a mocktail

• basil on top of pizza or a fruit salad

Some non-herby garnshishes:

• a drizzle of honey over a yogurt parfait

• a beautiful pat of butter on top of pancakes

• lime wedges with quesadillas

• lemon wedges with fish

I’d love to hear: What are some of your favorite garnishes that make a dish more beautiful and flavorful?

Minor Ingredient Improvements Pack a Punch

I thought I hated pepper because I had only ever had it from shakers or packets. Once I started simply grinding fresh pepper, I fell in love. Same with garlic: garlic powder and fresh garlic are different foods. Canned green beans are not interchangeable with fresh or frozen.

I’m not saying you suddenly need to buy only organic, locally grown ingredients, but…using extra virgin olive oil instead of vegetable oil, or Kerrygold butter instead of Country Crock? You’ll notice a difference.

Investing in a quality spice blend is worth it, too. This is a great thing to find at your local farmer’s markets. Some of my favorite small-business spice brands are Alchemy Spice Co and One Good Knife. Trader Joe’s seasoning blends can greatly inspire your cooking too!

There’s lots more I could share here—and please send in any questions or ideas!—but hopefully these three points are a good way to start. Making beautiful things is empowering! Maybe you can disassemble some of the things you’ve been taught or that you dreaded about how kids relate to food, and create new patterns in your family!

You can also keep sticking around and getting these emails for some ideas 😉

Warmly,

Hope from Family Scripts