| How does Basic Cooking differ from Gourmet | | | | Salad: |
| Cooking? | | | | Basic salad would consist: |
| Basic Cook: | | | | -Iceberg lettuce 1/2 (shredded) |
| I think the majority of us are basic cooks. In my | | | | -1 garden tomato |
| opinion, being a basic cook means that the meals are | | | | -Shredded carrots (2) |
| planned, time consuming and tasteful. Basic cooks | | | | -Green onions (4) |
| have tried and tested meals that suit their individual | | | | -½ chopped cucumber |
| family's taste. Basic cooks know what they like to | | | | -Choice of dressing |
| eat and approximately how long it will take to | | | | Gourmet Salad: |
| prepare those meals. With our busy life-styles basic | | | | Tropical Fruit Salad with Mint - serves 8 |
| cooks want their family's well feed with healthy well | | | | 1/2 cup chopped onion |
| balanced meals. Every family has his/her favorite | | | | 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper |
| dishes and will proudly claim that the recipes for | | | | 2 (10 ounce) packages mixed greens |
| those favorites are family secrets. Generally, people | | | | 4 thinly sliced chicken deli meat, chopped |
| will go to restaurant for a gourmet meal. A gourmet | | | | 1 tomato, chopped |
| restaurant serves the highest quality food. With a | | | | 1/4 tsp onion powder |
| sense of adventure you can learn how to cook | | | | 3 dashes garlic powder |
| gourmet meals at home. | | | | 1 pinch ground black pepper |
| Gourmet Cooking: | | | | 2 pinches salt |
| Epicure is a connoisseur meaning having an acquired | | | | 3 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing |
| refined and discriminating taste in foods and wines. | | | | Saute onion and bell pepper until soft; set aside to |
| An old French alteration (influenced by gourmand, | | | | cool. |
| glutton) of gourmand. Gourmet meals involves | | | | In a large salad bowl, combine the onion, pepper, |
| high-quality ingredients with skilled preparation. | | | | salad greens, deli meat and tomato. Sprinkle with the |
| Gourmet cooking involves only high quality and fresh | | | | onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper and salt. |
| ingredients. Let us compare. In basic cook if a recipe | | | | Toss to mix. |
| calls for garlic usually powdered garlic is used. With | | | | Pour on enough salad dressing or vinegar to coat, |
| gourmet cooking only fresh chopped garlic is used. | | | | toss again and serve. |
| Consider if herbs are called for shop locally or | | | | Recipe provided by: free-gourmet-recipes |
| consider growing your own. Having your own herbal | | | | I am not suggesting cooking only basic or gourmet. |
| garden saves money and make a world of difference | | | | Consider alternating between basis and gourmet |
| in the taste of your gourmet experience. Not only do | | | | cooking. Gourmet cooking is more time consuming |
| are herbs taste bud delights but they carry health | | | | and expensive than basic cooking. My comfort level |
| benefits. In basic cooking we may defrost meat or | | | | was basic cooking but after my initial trial and error |
| use frozen vegetables. Not in gourmet cooking ONLY | | | | period gourmet cooking became quick and easy. The |
| fresh. Gourmet chefs consider their meals works of | | | | advantages are greater taste and quality. Compare |
| art. There is a balance between colors and texture. | | | | the costs of dining at a gourmet restaurant and |
| Cooking time is important because it effects color | | | | consider the money saved learning how to cook |
| and texture. | | | | gourmet at home. Your family and friends will take |
| Let us compare a Basic Cook Salad to a Gourmet | | | | pleasure in in your new gourmet meals. |