Elevate even the simplest meal
During tough times it's difficult to keep one’s spirits up. When the pantry is also pretty bare, preparing meals can be a daunting task. That’s when it’s especially important to make meal time as comforting as possible without adding cost.
The Facts
- Rising costs of housing and food make life stressful
- Mealtimes should be comforting
- Even simple food can feel special
The rising cost of living puts pressure on more and more households. For many it becomes increasingly difficult to escape the stress of trying to make ends meet. When the food budget no longer stretches beyond basic staples, meal time becomes especially challenging, and it is easy to feel deprived.
Fortunately, there are a few ways to elevate even simple meals, without adding any significant cost. While food is the main element of any meal, where and how it is eaten also matter.
Start with the table setting
Get some nice dishes and placemats from a thrift store or a garage sale. The point is not to have a complete dinnerware set. Just enough for everyday meals, with patterns and colours that look good together. Even when dinner is simply served on a tray!
Buy a few decorative items from a dollar store to set a special table on Valentine’s day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Xmas, birthdays – or any other day when spirits need lifting. Just one or two items already set a festive tone.
Candle light and soft music separate mealtime from the stressors of a busy day, regardless of how simple the actual meal turns out to be.
Make simple food a bit more special
Recreate childhood meals for a bit of nostalgia, and experiment with basic staples to discover new comfort foods. Necessity being ‘the mother of invention’, be creative with what's on hand. Be proud of making something out of almost nothing!
To turn food into comfort food, use herbs and spices. Aim for different textures, such as soft beans on crunchy toast. Grow fresh herbs on a window sill and use as a colourful garnish. Bake something for a sweet treat. Or try a new recipe as a challenge and for a sense of accomplishment.
Fall back on soups and stews
Soups and stews offer quick servings of warmth and comfort. Even when there are only odds and ends to work with, soups and stews are perfect to stretch every ingredient as far as it will go. A small amount of meat feels like more when it ends up in every spoonful. A few wilted vegetables get new life.
Broth spreads flavour from fat, herbs and spices. Flour can thicken a soup that might otherwise be lacking heft.
Use new cooking techniques
Experienced cooks are familiar with a few simple techniques that can elevate any meal. Novice cooks can learn these techniques quickly from online sources. Browning, balancing acidity, and building ‘umami’ can turn basic ingredients into satisfying meals.
- Browning and sweating: Cook onions, garlic, or cheap root vegetables slowly in oil until soft and golden to build a deep, savory flavor base. Fry spices in hot oil to extract fat-soluble flavor compounds.
- Deglazing the Pan: Pour a splash of vinegar or water into the hot pan after frying or sautéing to scrape up and melt caramelized bits into a quick sauce.
- Balancing with Acid: Add a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar at the very end of cooking to cut through heavy, flat, or starchy flavors.
- Layering flavours: Stir in a spoonful of tomato paste, soy sauce, or a scrambled egg while simmering grains and beans to boost the flavour.
- Contrasting textures: Top soft or mushy dishes like instant noodles, rice bowls, or mashed potatoes with cheap crunch, using toasted breadcrumbs, crushed crackers, or scallions.
- Emulsifying sauces: Swirl a pat of butter, a splash of starchy pasta water, or a drizzle of oil into simple grain or noodle dishes to create a glossy, cohesive coating.