Saturday, January 30, 2010

Mise En Place


Mise en place (meez ahn plahs) is a French term referring to having all the ingredients necessary for a dish prepared and ready to combine up to the point of cooking.

Ingredients for Veal with capers and lemon, polenta with arugula and brussel sprouts with pistachios

If you have taken one of my classes the term will be familiar to you. I am all about the mise en place.

If you have been a guest in my home you will recognize all the little prep bowls lined up on my counters.

Everything I need is measured, chopped, squeezed and ready to cook before hand. Yes, you will have a few more bowls and dishes to wash, BUT

mise en place makes life easier and allows me to chat and visit with my students, guests, friends and family while I'm busy putting a meal together.

Try mise en place the next time you are cooking or baking. Simply measure out all the ingredients before hand and set aside. Wash and chop everything you may need to combine. Make yourself a cocktail and relax.. having everything on hand will reduce your stress, enhance your cooking experience and guarantee you don't forget to add an ingredient to the recipe.



8 comments:

  1. I'm afraid I'm rarely organised enough for something like this! My most efficient system is putting my friends to work with me in the kitchen... I'm a great "orchestra" conductor and it makes the meal friendly and fun from pre-beginning to end! ;o)
    (none of them has complained so far!)

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  2. I often chop vegetables etc. in advance, but I seldom cook to a recipe, so I have to play it by ear when it comes to seasonings and other ingredients. I always think it looks ever so pretty when you lay everything out like this.

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  3. I did this before I knew what it was called. I'm a bit Type-A-ish, and it just made sense to me. Then I started watching Worst Cook in America, and found out at least I do *something* right, LOL.

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  4. I agree. It makes things so much easier.

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  5. I love this idea! I'm all about doing as much before hand as possible, though I typically don't go any farther than getting all of the ingredients out before I begin dumping them all together. I do, however, love stuff and happen to have lots of prep bowls. That means I'm ready to try this for my next meal.

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  6. It's absolutely essential for me to Mise En Place! Makes the whole process of cooking, easier and more fun!

    btw, So you know, I keep getting a pop-up on this page to sign in to Megan's Cooking site?

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  7. Chris- whatever works for you!

    Rachel - I am interested because I have many people tell me they don't use recipes.... How do you recreate a meal that you particularly liked? I write everything down..

    Amanda - leave it to the French to have a name for all things culinary.

    Nancy - Easy is also a good practice!

    Whitney - let me know how it works. And I'm with you. I LOVE kitchen stuff.

    Marguerite - Of course the french influence is all around you! I also just got that pop-up. I'm off to investigate!

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  8. Mise en place sounds like it will fit with my OCD a treat!

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Wow. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I love feedback... what with being a cook and all. I will respond to your comments via email (if you do not have a "noreply" address or here, below your comment) As always, Bon Appetite!

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