(NC)—With frugality winning over frivolity, cooking at home is all the rage these days. As more Canadians are embracing the trend of home cooked meals over restaurant dining and pricey take-aways, they're rediscovering their kitchens. “Homeowners are starting to realize that their beautiful kitchens are not just for show anymore. A practical kitchen will pay off in the long run and will actually increase the resale value of your home,” says Joe Pizzale, owner and chef, RoomServiceCatering.ca in Mississauga and frequent guest on Breakfast Television Toronto.
Whether an experienced chef or a beginner, it's never too late to explore the joys of home cooking. Pizzale offers his tips to make the kitchen more conducive to meal preparation:
• Stock your pantry. A well-stocked pantry is one of the best keys to being able to prepare great meals in a hurry. Having plenty of ingredients tucked away in your refrigerator, freezer and pantry will do wonders for creating home cooked meals.
• Have the right tools for the job. Having the right set of tools makes all the difference. Make sure you have everything you need – good quality cookware, measuring tools and a great set of knives all contribute to making meal prep quick and easy.
• Invest in a great kitchen faucet. The average kitchen faucet is used more than 40 times a day! Choose a faucet with functional features. The Pilar faucet by Delta features a pull-down spray head and touch-technology, making it easy to keep hands clean without spreading any germs.
• Consider upgrading your equipment. Appliances are a vital part of the culinary experience. When the time comes to replace your key appliances such as your stove or refrigerator, upgrade them to energy- efficient models. They'll save you money on your electricity bill and will greatly improve the cooking experience in your kitchen.
• Add a secondary work station. Consider installing an additional sink in your kitchen island. Whether you use it for faster clean up or as a bar area, an extra work station will make it easy for two people to work together without being in the same traffic flow.
- News Canada