picture from inmagine
My job often sees me interviewing chefs and bakers, and one recurring question I always pose is this: "What is the one piece of advice you'll give to aspiring cooks?"
Their replies range from "Always read the recipe once in its entirety before cooking" to "Invest in a sharp knife". Valuable advice definitely, but if you asked me - which you probably wouldn't, which is why I'm blogging about this - I would say: "Never pile the dishes in the sink!" Trust me, it's something I've learned from all the recipes I've been testing.
Have a think. To make a simple chocolate cake, you would require:
- Measuring cups and spoons to measure the ingredients
- A knife to portion the butter
- A heatproof bowl to melt the chocolate
- A whisk or electric beaters to cream the butter and sugar
- A bowl to hold the butter and sugar
- And if you're separating the eggs from the yolks, another whisk and bowl to whip up the egg whites
- A baking tin for the batter
Here's what I'd do:
- Measure out all ingredients, then plunk measuring spoons, cups and knife into the sink
- Put the chocolate to melt
- Wash all that are in the sink - this shouldn't take too long and the chocolate should have melted by the time you're done.
- Remove chocolate from heat and leave to cool slightly.
- Cream butter and sugar
- Whisk egg whites
- Add chocolate, yolks and other ingredients into the creamed butter.
- Fold in egg whites.
- Dump all used bakeware into the sink.
- Pour batter into the tin, then place it into the oven to bake.
- Wash all that is in the sink - this will take longer than the first round of washing up, but your cake's probably not gonna be ready that soon anyway!
- Wipe down the tables, twiddle thumbs and perhaps take a quick shower.
- Cake's ready.
- Serve and eat in peace, comforted by the knowledge that all you have to wash at the end of this is the greasy cake tin.
