If you read the Harry Potter series, you may remember Amortentia, which in their lore is the most powerful love potion in the world. What I found interesting about it is that it is supposed to smell differently according to who sniffs it, depending on what they find attractive. I remember wondering what it would smell like for me, and I guess for me it would smell like a kitchen with freshly baked bread, old pages of books, and coffee.
What are your favorite scents? Scents have the power to transform our day in a snap, and there’s a whole science to back that up. Our sense of smell is connected to the same part of the brain that is also responsible for our perception, emotions, and memories. This is the reason why a simple whiff of jasmine can help lift our mood in an instant or send us back to a time spent with a special someone who may have used a similar scent in the past, whether it happened two or 20 years ago. At a time and in an environment where stressors are all around, it’s time for us to tap into the power of scents and make them part of our daily life.
Danarra offers an array of relaxation essentials –Relaxentials, if you will--with fine, subtle, and unique fragrances. Packaged in handy roll-on bottles, they are small enough to carry in your pocket or in a pouch along with your other self-care and beauty essentials. It's a spa-to-go!
Classic Mint. Nothing quite matches the soothing power of peppermint and eucalyptus on a tired day. Both these notes are infused in this classic fragrance that leaves you refreshed and relaxed with every application.
Lavender. Whether it’s a quick lunch nap at the office or catching up on sleep during the weekends, this scent will help summon those much-needed Zzzzzzzs.
Green Tea. From the commute to work, meeting deadlines at the office, to concentrating on that documentary on Netflix, we need focus to get things done. A dab of this scent pulls your attention to where it’s supposed to be.
Flowery Citrus. The power of these two notes in one fragrance is everything you’ll need for an optimistic day ahead. Flowers and citrus are up there among the best mood-lifters, reminding you of sunshine and summer no end.
Young. When you’re young, you want to be everywhere. Keep your vibe fresh, and fun in any get together with friends with this scent.
Sports. If you’re always outdoors and active, sweating it out in the gym or on the jogging track then this energizing and refreshing marine scent should be worn as often as your Fitbit or wrist pedometer.
Look at me giving cooking tips. ;p Spending time in the kitchen is great fun, especially when you are feeling inspired. There are so many different meals you can prepare and cook, and once you are done cooking you can then move into preparing desserts - this is especially useful when hosting guests, which I love doing. For a lot of people, they enjoy making new things and trying different recipes, for example, this African chakalaka recipe in an instant pot. Although it may look complicated, once you start breaking down the recipe, it’s easily done.
My Instant Pot is my bestie
Are you looking for simple ways to improve your cooking? From making sure you use the correct ingredients to using sharper knives and pulling out the recipe book, below is our guide on simple ways to improve your cooking.
Ingredients matter
A rookie error a lot of cooks make when starting out is not realizing the importance of including every ingredient in a recipe. Each ingredient has its own characteristics, which add certain dynamics to a dish. Without it, you are essentially changing the flavor profile of the dish instantly. It’s also worth noting that good quality ingredients matter. If you haven’t got the budget, purchase affordable ones but in some instances, make sure you are buying good quality ingredients like fresh herbs or good quality meat - you can really tell the difference if not.
Try when cooking
When making a sauce for your spaghetti bolognese or making a creamy sauce for your carbonara, make sure you are trying the sauces as you are adding the ingredients to them. We’ve seen it happen many times, the chef just adds ingredients to their sauce without knowing how it tastes. By doing this, how do you know you need more salt or herbs? It could be that the sauce is perfect how it is but by you adding the new ingredients you change the flavor profile completely and ruin it.
Prepare in advance
Prep is key to a successful meal. If you know you’ve got guests coming round for dinner later, prepare the food now and then cook just before they arrive. By preparing in advance, you take away the stress of having to do it all when they are there - especially when all eyes are on you in the kitchen. You can cut up the vegetables, prepare the herbs, and get the meat ready, this way you just need to cook. Then you can spend more time catching up with your guests and entertaining than cooking.
The above are three simple ways to improve your cooking. Combine all three methods in order to be more efficient when in the kitchen. Try to not stress and give yourself as much time as possible when cooking meals.
What tips do you have for improving your cooking? Are there any tips that you think are more useful than the others? Is there something we have missed that you can share that our readers will benefit from? Let us know in the comment box below. We would love to hear from you. :)
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