coping with a culinary disaster

I had a culinary disaster several weeks ago – the first in quite a while. I was staying at my Mum’s place for a few days, and made pears poached in port for dessert. As the wonderful aroma of the liquor filled the house, we all eagerly anticipated dessert. However it was not meant to be, as at tasting time it became quickly evident that, not being entirely familiar with Mum’s kitchen, I had mistakenly used salt instead of sugar! No tips or hints would have saved that dish, as it was clearly beyond repair. Instead, we had strawberries marinated in liqueur with ice cream, which was equally as enjoyable. Thank goodness I did a taste-test and discovered my mistake before serving it!

Culinary disasters happen to the best of us, and the most important thing to remember when this happens is to keep cool. The attitude of the host is the key to a successful party. Make the best of a situation and improvise. Put out some nibbles, ensure the wine is flowing and everyone will be happy.

Always ensure you always have a few extra staples in your fridge or pantry, which can be used if disaster strikes. Jars of olives, marinated vegetables and feta can easily be put together to make an antipasto platter if you burn the soup. Frozen vegetables can be microwaved in minutes should you mess up the accompaniments. A frozen dessert is a useful stand-by.

By observing the following four tips, you will greatly lessen your chance of a culinary disaster:
1. Read the recipe before you commence cooking (refer to the article “How to Read a Recipe” on our website)
2. Ensure that you have all the ingredients on hand.
3. Never measure any ingredient over the bowl or pan that you are using.
4. Get in the habit of using a timer. Set it to five minutes less than the recipe suggests, as cooking times can vary.

using a timer will help avert a culinary disaster
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