Get, Prep, Go!

This post is very different from what I usually write. But I was asked by a couple of my friends to put down how I plan my cooking and prepping up for the week. I was too overwhelmed to see that my friends saw this as a skill I had and wanted to learn from me.

I am not sure how I picked up these skills but it could be seeing my parents shuffling between work and home, or maybe living together with the girls who became my lifelines rather than just roomies, or just my love for staying organized and prepped for an apocalypse! (Sometimes having an anxiety disorder has positive effects too — it makes you want to be prepared for everything.)

Andrew Zimmern said — "Everything happens in the kitchen. Life happens in the kitchen." So true! My kitchen is my safe place. This is where I spend most of my time when not working or reading. When in the kitchen my radio is always on and I am always listening to music and singing along.

Keep the counter clean — A clean counter gives me joy and makes me want to start making something delicious. Apart from the dish rack and the basic oil and spices, I don't keep the counter crowded.

Wash and clean as you go — Used a spoon for tasting? Don't pile it up in the sink, wash it immediately. Finished your cup of tea? Rinse the cup right then and there. This is a game changer.

Sunday is prep day — I chop vegetables, cook dals and lentils, prep sauces and freeze them. This means weekday cooking takes less than 30 minutes.

Plan your week's menu on Saturday — This helps with grocery shopping and ensures you don't open the fridge 20 times wondering what to cook.

Batch cooking is your best friend — Make large quantities of staples like rice, chapati dough, and dal that can be repurposed across multiple meals.

The kitchen is where I feel most like myself. Where music meets mango pickle and where everyday magic happens.