![\"thai](\"http:\/\/www.stormysweitzer.com\/recipes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/thai-chicken-salad.jpg\")
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Shredded roast chicken with pomelo pieces, unsweetened coconut flakes, red peppers, green onions, and minced garlic. A dressing of almond butter, chili flakes, coconut aminos and fish sauce. Arugula as a base.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It turned out to be an incredibly popular post on Google+, with more comments and sharing than I typically get.<\/p>\n
In reading through people\u2019s comments, a few things stood out:<\/p>\n
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- People love interesting flavors.<\/li>\n
- The way food looks is often as important as the way it tastes.<\/li>\n
- Experimentation is fascinating!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
One person\u2019s take: \u201cif experiments were not done on food, we would not have such a vast diversity found in different food across the world today.\u201d<\/p>\n
And, boy, do I love that diversity. \u00a0Though I was a picky eater as a kid, cooking experimentation and improvisation \u2013 and a learned tendency towards adventurous eating \u2013 have led me to some amazing discoveries about myself and the foods I now eat. \u00a0These discoveries are for another day, though.<\/p>\n
Cooking Improvisations vs. Experiments<\/h3>\n
So what\u2019s the difference between cooking improvisation and experimentation, you might be asking yourself?\u00a0 Here are the definitions and my interpretation of them:<\/p>\n
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\n im \u00b7 pro \u00b7 vise<\/strong>verb<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\/\u02c8impr\u0259\u02ccv\u012bz\/To make do with whatever materials are at hand or<\/em>invent with little or no preparation<\/em>. Also, devise,\u00a0contrive,\u00a0make do,\u00a0concoct,\u00a0throw together.<\/em>In other words, no plan or prep; just pulling fridge finds together in a way that you think will taste good right now without worrying whether you\u2019ll want to recreate it later.<\/td>\n ex \u00b7 per \u00b7 i \u00b7 ment<\/strong>verb<\/strong><\/em>\u2003\/ik\u02c8sper\u0259\u02ccment\/Try out new concepts or different ways of doing things<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(as in order to gain experience).\u00a0 A<\/em> methodical trial and error procedure to discover, test, or verify something.<\/em>In other words, taking a more structured and intentional approach to trying new flavors and combinations so that you can make recipe improvements or use ingredients more confidently over time.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n The thai-style chicken salad was an improvisation.\u00a0 I had no idea how it would turn out and whether it would be worth repeating \u2013 at the time I didn\u2019t really care.\u00a0 We were hungry and I just happened to have some ingredients that, based on prior experience, I thought would combine well together and taste good.\u00a0 (The truth is, it was too much of a good thing.\u00a0 I would definitely simplify it next time and remove a couple of the ingredients.)<\/p>\n
When I have more time, want to test out a recipe, perfect one I\u2019d like to share, or even try unfamiliar ingredients and flavor combinations, I perform kitchen experiments.\u00a0 I am deliberate about what I\u2019m doing, taking notes, paying attention to flavors, smells, and amounts.<\/p>\n
In my opinion, conducting experiments makes improvisation easier (because you gain familiarity with what works or doesn\u2019t) and the results of cooking are more likely to turn out well.<\/p>\n
![\"Play](\"http:\/\/www.stormysweitzer.com\/recipes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Play-with-your-Food-Pinnable-from-Maoomba.jpg\")
6 Ways to Play With Your Food (Or How to Conduct Kitchen Experiments)<\/h3>\nHere are half a dozen ways to experiment \u2013 or play \u2013 in the kitchen that can help you fine-tune your tasting skills and improve your improvisational cooking abilities:<\/p>\n
Sample things when you can.<\/strong>\u00a0 Did you know that many people who work in the produce section of local grocery stores and markets, as well as the people who sell their produce at farmers markets, are often very willing to cut a piece of fruit \u2013 and maybe even a vegetable \u2013 for you to taste?\u00a0 Sometimes, free samples of other foods are offered.\u00a0 Take advantage of these experiences to learn how unfamiliar foods taste to you before you buy them.\u00a0 What did you like?\u00a0 What didn\u2019t you like?<\/p>\n
Get to know your ingredients well.<\/strong>\u00a0 People who can eat a meal and tell you what\u2019s in it, aren\u2019t born knowing what things taste like. \u00a0Sure, some people have exceptional sensory perception, but, generally speaking, they have also spent time becoming familiar with ingredients and are intentional about doing so.\u00a0 Fortunately, that means, we can be to. \u00a0It is through this study of ingredients that you can begin to cultivate your palate and discern particular flavors in your food.<\/p>\n
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- Smell them, taste them, combine them, see how they react when you cook them \u2013 how the texture, tastes, and smells change\u2026 Open up your spice rack and crack open those bottles \u2013 sniff them, spoon out a bit to taste.\u00a0 Become one of those people who has to smell and touch all the produce.<\/li>\n
- Compare different types of the same food \u2013 like dark to light honey, green to black cardamom, Tahitian vanilla to Madagascan vanilla, store-bought tomatoes to garden-fresh heirlooms \u2013 to see what differences you notice. \u00a0Eating a variety of similar, but different, ingredients is one of the best ways to notice unique aspects of foods \u2013 how their colors, textures, flavors, aromas, etc. vary. \u00a0Have fun while you\u2019re doing this by throwing a tasting party \u2013 compare notes with each other!<\/li>\n
- Combine ingredients to get a sense of how they taste together; look to different cuisines to learn typical combinations of spices, herbs, and other foods. Sometimes combinations are out of this world; sometimes they\u2019ll make you \u2013 for lack of a better term \u2013 gag.<\/li>\n
- Savor your food; really pay attention to what you are eating and put your sense to work \u2013 what do you notice, how do you feel?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Take a cooking class or read regional cook books.<\/strong>\u00a0 Become familiar with cooking techniques and how flavors are combined and ingredients used across different cuisines. \u00a0See what quantities and amounts are recommended.\u00a0Doing this gives you a foundation and well-tested structure\u00a0upon which you can improvise and\u00a0express your own cooking creativity.<\/p>\n