Mid Week Philosophy: MISE EN PLACE

I try to use this technique whenever I bake or cook.   For baking, I separate each ingredient into a smaller bowl and then check each ingredient against the recipe before I start putting them into the mixing bowl. I find it particularly useful when I am baking,  because baking  tends to be more precise.    I just saved myself  the other day:  sometimes I don’t put on my reading glasses when I am going through the recipe (shame on me)  and instead of reading 1-3/4 cups of flour,  I read 1-1/2 cups.  Once I went through all the ingredients again, checking them with the recipe,   I realized my mistake.  Instead of throwing out all the ingredients, I just had to deal with the flour and make an adjustment.

It’s also useful in cooking, especially with a new recipe.  If you don’t have all the ingredients laid out, you are rushing to add them and sometimes will miss something or put too much in!  (guilty as charged:  I just did it the other night.  Forgot to measure out the heavy cream which was to be added at the end and thus  forgot to put it in !!) It’s definitely more relaxing if you are prepared.  And it’s essential when making a stir-fry!