With the cooler weather well and truly here, you may be looking for ways to inspire you to get into the kitchen instead of ordering takeaway.
Let us help you get inspired this season.
1. Organise your kitchen
The first thing you need to do is get your kitchen in order. If it’s been a while since you organised your kitchen, purchased new kitchen supplies and given the area a deep clean, now is the time.
So what are our best organising tips for your Inner West kitchen?
Purge and clear
One of the best ways to organise your kitchen is to pull everything out and clear it out. Think about every item in your kitchen: is it working? Is it useful? When did you last use it? Do you love it?
This is a really hard step, but to have a functional and well-organised kitchen, you may need to make some hard decisions. Remember to donate or sell any of those working items you no longer need.
Deep clean
You have everything out of your cupboards so use this time to give the kitchen a deep clean. Grab some cleaning cloths, and spray everything down with a homemade mix of one part white vinegar and one part water (although you shouldn’t use vinegar on stone or ceramics). Vinegar cuts through dirt easily, making cleaning quicker.
Once you’ve wiped everything out, take the time to plan where you will store everything and make sure those items you use often are in easy-to-reach places.
2. Do a cooking class in a regional cuisine
Have you ever wanted to learn to cook Japanese street food? Or what about a Middle Eastern banquet? Now is a great time to learn.
Sydney Cooking School runs a wide variety of short cooking classes, while Cucina Italiana runs classes on a variety of Italian cooking styles.
Alternatively, there is a huge range of cooking classes from across the country and around the world available virtually, including Class Bento, Relish Mama, CozyMeal and The Jamie Oliver Cookery School.
3. Take a wine appreciation class
If you love sharing a glass of wine with friends and family over a slow dinner, a wine appreciation class can help you learn how to pair your favourite foods and wine. The Sydney Wine Centre runs a couple of wine appreciation classes. For complete beginners, there is the Introduction to Wine Course, which you can follow with the Wine Appreciation Course, ideal for those wanting to develop their knowledge of wine.
4. Get ideas from local chefs
Many of your favourite local Australian chefs will have cookbooks and websites where you can gain some handy tips as well as some tasty recipes to add to your repertoire.
Bill Granger has some fantastic Australian recipes that are easy to prepare, allowing you to wow your family and friends. Why not try his Moroccan Fish Stew, Caramel Chicken or Coconut Rice Pudding with Mango, Lime and Orange.
Maggie Beer is still a firm favourite for many, with The Cook and the Chef still available on iview and on almost every afternoon on ABC. There are plenty of great comfort recipes on Maggie’s website, including Cured Ocean Trout, Belly Bacon, Quince and Brie Tart and a Bittersweet Chocolate and Apricot Jam Tart.
MasterChef Australia winner Adam Liaw is a great go-to for beautiful meals. Adam hosts The Cook Up with Adam Liaw on SBS Food as well as Destination Flavour. Try his Green Laksa, Kimchi Fried Rice or Yum Cha Mango Pancakes.
If you prefer vegetable-based meals, Alice Zaslavsky is your woman. Alice is a foodie at heart, and shares many of her recipes on ABC’s News Breakfast. Cook up her Seven Spice Butternut Squash Tagine, Broadbean, Asparagus and Soba Noodle Salad or the Overnight Garden Focaccia.
5. Work with seasonal produce
There is no doubt that you will always get the best results and best taste from seasonal, fresh produce. While the supermarkets often stock produce year round, you are best to head along to the local farmers markets to find the freshest seasonal produce. There are plenty of farmers markets around the central Sydney area including Orange Grove Market in Leichhardt, Cambridge Markets EQ in Moore Park and Carriageworks Farmers Markets in Redfern.
For fresh, in season seafood, don’t forget about the Sydney Fish Markets.
Wanting to prepare before you go? Check out the Seasonal Food Guide so you know what you’ll have available to cook with.
Can we help with your Inner West home?
Whether you’re ready to sell or need help to rent your investment property, we have the experience and local knowledge to make your property journey easier.
Looking for help selling your home or renting your investment property? Our team at Belle Property Balmain support homeowners across Balmain, Balmain East, Birchgrove, Rozelle and Lilyfield. Feel free to get in touch for a no-obligation discussion or property appraisal.
