The car buying process may strike a bit of fear into your heart. Maybe you would like more information so you can do a better job at negotiating. You will find things go much more smoothly when you go into it prepared. Use this advice to get everything you deserve.
Look all over the Internet searching for deals. The Internet will save you a lot of money. After you find a great deal on the car of your dreams, you can visit the dealer and make your purchase. If the source isn’t too far away, go get it yourself.
Before you go out and look at cars, line up your financing. You can talk to a bank or a credit union about it. You are likely to get more advantageous terms by doing so, and can confidently visit a car dealership understanding the limits of your budget. But if you’re looking for someone you can trust to protect your new car, nano car paint protection has everything you are looking for.
When negotiating, you shouldn’t be focusing on the monthly price. Instead, consider the total overall price. Dealers can make the monthly price just about anything, but it will just increase the total price you pay. You should instead focus on negotiating the best deal on the overall price of the car and the financing you get. Then, you can think of how much you will be paying each month.
Discuss cars with people in your life that you trust. Are they satisfied with their cars? Do they regret their purchase? Do they know of a car that’s really good? Talking with friends and acquaintances is a thing to do when shopping for a new car.
Never limit your options when shopping for a car, and that means not settling on a dealership if you don’t have to. You might be shocked to discover that the car you want is available on a smaller lot, or even from an individual private owner. Make good use of your local classifieds and social media sites that can help you narrow your search and possibly find the right car at a great price.
Take a potential winning vehicle for a spin before buying! It is important to get behind the wheel to get the feel of the car before purchase. There is no substitute for the actual experience of driving the car. For example, you might discover that there are handling issues or that the car is noisy or bumpy.
Look for a car on the web. Practically all makes and models are available to you online. Prior to visiting a dealership, make sure you know as much as possible about the cars that interest you. You can find out as much information as you would like to know by searching online.
Consider checking out local auto shows to find out what’s available. Auto shows are a unique opportunity to compare many different makes side-by-side under one roof. It will also give you a chance to talk to many knowledgeable people all in one location. You should be able to walk out of an auto show with a good idea of the cars you’d like to look into further.
Never agree to an as-is warranty if you purchase a used vehicle. You’ll regret it afterwards if you do. At the very least a dealer should offer you a 30-90 day warranty when you purchase any car. Should the engine or transmission stop working once you’ve left the dealership, you are solely responsible for the cost of repairs.
The seller is trying to maximize profits. Although this should be obvious, it can be easy to forget this fact if the salesperson is very friendly. Don’t let them tack on expensive things you don’t need. Even bargain cars can increase by hundreds or thousands.
How economic your car is with gas is important. A car that gets good gas mileage may cost more up front, but will save you money over time. The fuel savings should be considered when budgeting for a car.
Don’t buy this next year’s car as soon as it is released for sale. Otherwise you will pay a very high price for the car. Let the cost go down some before buying it.
Shopping for a car at the end of the month is ideal. The individuals working on the car lot have goals to meet. Your sale could mean the different between success or failure. Take a couple days to negotiate at the end of a month to get a better deal.
Always speak to your insurance to get a quote on your intended vehicle. That car that seems so affordable at this point may not seem that way once you realize you will be paying a bundle on premiums. You’ll want to look for a vehicle that is decently priced, even after paying for the insurance.
You should not have to pay for the dealer to advertise your vehicle. You do not have to pay this cost. If this person says that you must pay it, then do not buy the car. They will stop you and give in.
It can really work out for you to buy your car later in the month. Dealerships try to meet monthly quotas. They will be more desperate to sell towards the end of the month. You can use that, sometimes, to find a superior price for what you want.
Always try and determine what you’ll need a car for before trying to decide what type to go after. For instance, if you tend to drive on interstate roadways, look for great gas mileage cars. Figuring this out will help you find the car that best fits your needs.
Before visiting a dealer, research the trade-in value of your old vehicle. You will be able to know what dollar amount you can possibly get from the deal, and this can help you in figuring out an acceptable price for the new vehicle.
You aren’t going to magically find the best deals for you. You need to figure out how to get the deals, and how to work with salespeople and their tactics. You must be able to analyze their arithmetic and do your own. This article has provided you the tips you need to succeed.
When you have looked for a new or used car, have you been frustrated and confused by the process? Perhaps all you needed was some helpful advice. Keep reading for some useful tips on how to buy a new car.
What To Do Before Visiting The Car Lot
You need to be informed when you step onto the car lot. How much can you afford to spend? How many passengers will be in the car? Is fuel economy a particular concern? Do you want two or more doors? Get it all down on paper, and bring it with you when shopping so that you don’t forget. One thing to make sure you do is get your existing car presented well, so that you get a good trade in valuation. In order to present your car in the best possible light, using quality car wash products will ensure your car will look it’s best.
Don’t let a salesperson talk you into purchasing a vehicle that you are unable to afford. A lot of people are swayed into buying a sports car by a salesperson. The salesperson’s job is to sell the car at the highest price, so do not give in.
Negotiating helps to save you a lot of money towards your purchase. A person should never end up paying the sticker price. Dealers pump these prices up so they can come down.
Think about what kind of vehicle you want to buy before going to a dealership. You should do some research online to learn more about different kinds of vehicles before you make your decision. You can also get a good idea of the expected price range of your desired car, so you won’t be caught unawares by a slick salesperson.
Get Your Finances Sorted First
Pay attention to the overall price of the vehicle and not just the monthly payments. The dealer can set the monthly payments at any amount, but this will extend your terms, resulting in a very high purchase price. Focus on negotiating a great price first. Then you can adjust the monthly payments.
When shopping for a car, it is wise to arrange financing in advance. This is simply for your own peace of mind. Though the dealership’s finance department may get you a better deal than the bank, it’s still wise to know what the interest rates will be prior to shopping.
Shop at month’s end. Everyone has a quota to meet each month. You might find a salesman is more willing to cut you a better deal if he is in the last week of the month and is still short of his quota.
Social security numbers should not be given until a deal is made. Many dealerships will try to get this information from you early in the game, and they will run your credit. If that ends up not being the dealership for you, getting credit reports pulled at several dealers may actually harm your financing options. Make sure the deal is ready before you start spouting out your Social.
While you think you are sure of what you want, it can be hard to locate it. Perhaps, you can’t get the exact features or color that you are looking for. You’ll live without heated seats!
Warranty Gotchas To Look Out For
Avoid As-is warranties when purchasing used cars. You will end up regretting this decision. At minimum, a dealer should provide you with a warranty of 30-90 days upon purchasing any vehicle. You are going to end up paying to fix the car, even if it breaks down right after you drive it off the lot.
The goal of a salesperson is to make the highest commissions. Some people forget this as they shop. Watch out for the add-ons and extras that might get attached to the purchase price. The most simple car can quickly rack up thousands more in extras.
Don’t overlook gas mileage. More economical cars may cost more upfront, but you can save thousands on gas over the next five years. You should consider your budget over the next five years instead of only taking into consideration what you want to spend on a car.
It’s usually better to do car shopping at the end of the month. Car salesman need to hit a quota per month, so this time is optimal for shopping. Come in a few days before the month ends so you can negotiate over time if you need to.
When you have your desired offer, mention the trade-in. You may not get the best deal for your old car, but you should be flexible as you do have a sales price on the new car you like. You need to seal the deal now that you’ve gone through all this effort.
It’s very important to test drive a car before you think about purchasing it. There may be problems with a vehicle that you may not notice without first test driving it. Really put your potential vehicle to the test, so there are no surprises when you decide to buy.
Be aware of low monthly payments which mask an extremely high total price. It is easy to get distracted trying to find that monthly payment that fits into your budget. There are salesmen who will definitely take full advantage of this and give you lower rates if you sign for a higher price tag. Also, read the fine print in your contract before you write your name on the dotted line.
Talk to your family or coworkers about dealerships they have used. See if their dealers are recommended. Find out about the service level and how their car is running after six months. If you are recommeneded to a dealership a few times, go there.
Get A Mechanical Report Before Signing On The Dotted Line
A mechanic’s inspection is key to a used car purchase. This will help you see any electrical or mechanical problems before you finalize the purchase. If any are found, you will have leverage when negotiating a fair price.
Have an appraiser look at your car, or find out its blue book value. If you trade in your car, you should know what you can get out of it. Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to haggle if you are offered a price that is unrealistically low for your trade-in vehicle.
Everything you’ve read here should guide you as you look for your next car, truck or SUV. With these tips, buying a car will be smooth sailing. Save this piece to read whenever you need to.
Cooking your food has turned into an incredible alternative nowadays when you need to stay healthy and fit. Particularly in these times that quick foods and restaurants are blasting all over, it might be enticing to simply snatch those moment dinners, however obviously, it is dependably vital to stay healthy and administer a healthy weight too.
Has it ever been in your brain that home-cooked suppers are cheaper and a healthier alternative? What’s more you know its safe in light of the fact that you set up it yourself. Setting up your food together with relatives even help makes a more terrific bond, and its such a great amount of enjoyable to do.
So better minimize your quick food utilization and begin cooking healthy and delightful food in your kitchen. What’s more in the event that you’re a who have the energy to cook for your family, these straightforward healthy cooking tips that will help you together with your family, stay away from the propensity of consuming outside, and begin sparing your cash in addition to carrying on with a healthy lifestyle.
To help in cooking your healthy dinners, here are a couple of healthy cooking tips that will help you in adhering to a truly healthy cooking.
1. Pick Healthy Parts. Strive for crisp vegetables and apples and oranges. Natural ones are better decisions yet in the event that you don’t have admittance to natural vegetables, verify that you completely wash them with running water particularly verdant vegetables.
2. Pick a healthier method for cooking your food. Flame broil, heat, meal, steam, or microwave foods. Rather than profound fricasseeing, you can likewise stir fry. Additionally pick systems for cooking that can hold the shade, the essence and the supplements of the vegetables and different fixings.
3. Attempt some healthier options to fat and foods high in cholesterol. You can additionally discover natural flavors and other healthier decisions. Stay away from transformed foods however much as could be expected. Continuously check the mark of transformed foods assuming that you can’t escape with purchasing one. You can likewise discover choices to meat. Soya protein,
4. Use Olive oil or Canola oil for your searing necessities. You must be conscious of the diverse sorts of cooking oil and verify that you know which around them is the healthier decision. Think about what amount of unsaturated fats they hold. The more unsaturated fat, the more unhealthy is your cooking oil.
5. Eliminate sodium or salt. Despite the fact that you may need to add salt to season your formula, discover different substitutes, for example, herbs and other characteristic flavors and eliminate your salt. Salt could be unhealthy particularly the individuals who are overweight and the individuals who have issues with their pulse. Check the names of handled foods, as you can just figure out if the salt substance is high, yet obviously, one great thing you can do is to dispense with the high-sodium element and substitute it.
6. Settle on the low-fat parts. Assuming that you can’t totally dispose of fat in the elements, for example, margarine or milk, pick those with less fats. You can additionally extemporize on a formula to help you abstain from using more and escape you in utilizing fats for your formulas. Obviously, one exceptional recommendation for you is to take out those fixings with high fat substance. You can likewise alter your formula to dispose of those unhealthy fixings.
7. Choose entire grains instead of those greatly refined items. Around the mixed bag of grains that you can utilize are tan rice, grain, wheat, oats and rye. In the event that you are purchasing baked goods, additionally look at assuming that they are created out of these entire grains.
8. Accompany low-fat cooking practices however much as could reasonably be expected. Stir fry as opposed to utilizing the profound fricasseeing systems. Trim the fattening some piece of the meat before attempting to cook it too.
9. Pick your cooking oil sagaciously. Cooking oil has extremely vital impact in cooking and to your health too. By picking oils that hold unsaturated fats, for example,sesame, safflower, olive and canola can help more level cholesterol level that is useful for your heart. In any case utilizing these oils within an expansive amount can likewise pack more than enough calories so better cut your utilization considerably or quarter when you can.
10. Make your veggies with salt. What might you pick; a cabbage without flaws or the particular case that has it?. Anyway your decision is cured with insect poisons, and its destructive to your health. In this way, better take your vegetables in a bowl with water and no less than 2 tbsp of salt before cooking them. This helps to decrease the synthetic mixes of insect sprays, abandoning you with just natural and more secure veggies.
Green verdant vegetables require less time to cook. So as opposed to cooking it with meat and different fixings, hold up until all the elements are just about done. At that point include your veggies the most recent moment. This is sufficient to cook the vegetables, however it will hold the shade, flavor and the supplements.
Healthy cooking is restricted to battle health-related issues, for example, weight, which is the heading health issue of numerous individuals today. More individuals are getting large and overweight due to unhealthy practices, misfortune of activity and awful dietary patterns. Also, numerous individuals are getting extremely occupied with their professions so they select to consume stuffing suppers found in quick food over cooking their dinners at home.
Cooking healthy foods and having a nutritious diet could be extremely gainful for individuals who need to abstain from getting corpulent or overweight. Turning to a healthier lifestyle and a more sensible diet prepare to longer, healthier life. Healthy consuming and healthy cooking may as well go together when we need to accomplish satisfaction and keep our forms fit as a fiddle. These are conceivable constantly, despite the requests of our occupations, assuming that we just pick it for ourselves and for our families.
These basic but healthy cooking tips will clear your route into a healthier diet, yet the most significant thing you might as well know is to enjoy when you cook as negative feelings can likewise influence the manner in which you cook therefore influencing the taste of your food.
It need not be an expensive project to do your own DIY flower arranging for a wedding and you do not have to be an expert to make a church look fabulous for the big day.
Some of the best wedding flower arrangements are very simple and do not require many flowers.
The bride and bridesmaids flowers are better made by a florist but the church can be made to look fantastic by anyone with just a basic knowledge of flower arranging. I have done it!
Doing a DIY flower arrangement makes it so much cheaper and can be done by a group of friends helping out another friend on their wedding day.
Firstly you need to visit the venue where the wedding is to take place and decide what is required i.e. pedestal in the entrance, pew ends, pedestal and flowers on the altar, and last but not least windowsills.
Next comes the colour scheme. This could depend on the time of year and the bride’s preference. Maybe green, white and yellow for spring, pink and cream for summer and the darker reds and orange for autumn and winter.
I always think decorating pew ends is very effective and they are very simple to do.
Here are some simple ideas to give that WOW factor to any DIY wedding flower arrangement:
Buy little plastic containers shaped like shovels from the garden centre, fasten in a piece of wet oasis and arrange your flowers. These are of course quite small but a little trail of ivy or ribbon really finishes them off.
They can then be attached to the pew by threading ribbon through the handle of the container and tying it on.
Spray carnations are a good flower to use for this type of DIY wedding arrangement as they are small, cost-effective and with a little gypsophila look good.
Pedestals are easy to do. Just use a bigger piece of oasis, a bigger container and bigger flowers!
Lilies, spray chrysanths, carnations are very useful here because they fill the spaces quickly and last well.
Window sills are my favourite. A long container is required and a whole block of oasis. Insert flowers and foliage and the arrangement can be as wide as the sill if you wish by putting in foliage at each end horizontally.
When your work is finished just one more thing to do to make that extra special effort for any DIY flower arrangement for a wedding – spray each arrangement with cold water to keep fresh.
You will be amazed at the result and what fun you have had doing it.
Why not have a go at doing your own wedding flower arrangements. It is very rewarding, great fun and not only that you will save yourself a fortune. Discover how from an expert: WEDDING FLOWER ARRANGING
Running is considered one of the best activities for fat burning being the key to losing weight fast. 60% of runners start running to lose weight and take advantage of all the benefits that running brings health and physical and mental well being.
To begin with, we highlight basics:
• It helps tone muscles,
• It improves shape and appearance
• It brings great benefits to the cardiovascular system.
• It helps you lose your weight fast and reduces the likelihood of developing serious health problems.
The benefits of running as usual for our general well-being are well known. Whether in a gym or outdoors, running can be a good way to keep your body. The benefits and advantages of running on our body are both physical and mental. Some of these benefits are listed below.
It is one of the simplest ways to burn excess body fat ways. Fitness instructors around the world place great emphasis on smooth and steady run, this not only works for people who want to lose weight, but also for those who want to keep fit.
Running every day for cardiovascular health
It reduces the risk of heart attacks. During the fastest exercise, the arteries and veins contract and expand more frequently, increasing its elasticity. This helps in the regulation of normal blood flow and prevent diseases such as high blood pressure. The benefits of running is also reducing the risk of developing diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes, and breast cancer.
The benefits of running also been found to stimulate the immune system, for when the exercise is practiced increased lymphocyte production is generated. A stronger immune system protects us against opportunistic infections such as the common cold. Running brings great benefits to people who suffer from depression. As we run, our body produces hormones known as endorphins. These help to regulate mood, so the person feels happier.
Lowering stress levels
Running daily also helps lower stress levels. In the highly competitive world of today, stress is something we all experience whether in our personal or professional life. The running daily can help lower stress and anxiety. Running can help make people look younger. Researchers believe that unlocks running muscle stem cells, which helps slow the aging process.
As you can tell, the benefits of running to lose weight fast are infinite. Many people seek the benefits of running to decrease weight fast. Running regularly is a very effective way to burn calories and lose weight.
A person weighing 70 kg burns about 110 calories per 1.5 km while jogging. For the benefits of running to lose weight fast should be noted that only you can decrease weight by burning more calories consumed.
To lose weight fast running, you should combine this habit with a healthy diet. Brokers have special nutritional needs, but the basic principles to lose weight fast tell us that besides running should reduce the intake of fat and calories, increasing intake of vegetables fruits and vegetables.
Achieving Flat Stomach and Abs
The best exercise for the stomach is free, easy and does not require any equipment. It is simply walking or jogging. If your abdomen has a little extra fat, you probably have your whole body. The fat is distributed on all the muscles of the body, but builds up in certain areas, like your belly. Your body can not eliminate fat only one area, that is why measures to reduce your abdominal area, you have to burn fat throughout the body.
Localized exercises are important, but they alone will not flatten your abdomen, just train the muscle that is below the fat, so burning calories should be your main goal to start exercising, you can later focus in toning the area. Cardiovascular exercises are proven as the best way to lose weight and running is one of the most simple and efficient. If you do not have the stamina to run, start by walking briskly or jogging, and go at your own pace, do not despair, anger slowly improving your fitness. This will also increase your metabolism and make you burn more calories.
In general, the advantages of running to lose weight fast are higher for those that are overweight. The effectiveness in the performance of running to lose you weight fast should run every day of the week or at least five days a week. Moderate exercise does not provide benefits for losing weight fast.
For most women, pregnancy is a time of great joy, excitement and anticipation. Pregnancy is a time of physical and emotional change when lots of changes occur naturally within your body. If you are a smoker, then use your pregnancy, or the time when you are planning pregnancy to quit smoking and stay quit after the baby is born. Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of non-syndromic orofacial clefts in infants. Smoking during pregnancy is a very bad choice. Pregnancy is a time to “listen” to your body – it is not a time to be dieting, and trying to lose weight.
How can I Achieve a Healthy Pregnancy
The key to a healthy pregnancy is planning it in the first place. Eating well can help you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy newborn – Healthy mum, healthy pregnancy. If you try to stay as healthy as you can during your pregnancy this will give you the best chance of delivering a healthy baby at full term.
As an expectant mother, your top priority should be healthy eating. Eating well should begin before you become pregnant so your body will be stocked up with the nutrients you need for a healthy pregnancy. Shortly after finding out that you have conceived you should see a doctor, as your doctor can explain to you about healthy pregnancy weight gain. Staying healthy is doubly important when you’re pregnant.
Exercise is also an important part of a healthy pregnancy, exercise can help you return to your pre-pregnancy weight faster and also have a faster, easier birth.
Adequate sleep is essential to promote a healthy pregnancy. Talking with a health care provider is one of the most important things women and families can do to prepare for a healthy pregnancy. Even before conception, it is absolutely essential to plan for a healthy pregnancy. A healthy lifestyle, even before you become pregnant is the best way to give your baby a healthy start. If you’re planning to become pregnant, prepare for a healthy pregnancy by taking care of medical and dental concerns beforehand. Pregnancy is NOT the time to be on a weight loss program.
What Are The First Symptoms Of Pregnancy?
In my experience, very early symptoms of pregnancy are not always text book. There are many different signs and symptoms of pregnancy, and although most women expect certain symptoms to come with pregnancy, these do vary according to individual women and to their individual pregnancies. The earliest symptoms of pregnancy are generally nausea, fatigue, and breast tenderness, but not everybody experiences these. Nausea is actually a good sign as it tells the doctor that the pregnancy is likely to be going on well in terms of hormones. The most commonly looked for early sign of pregnancy is missing a menstrual period. Although you may find you have a lot of the symptoms, the only way to truly tell if you are pregnant is to obtain a positive pregnancy test. Blood tests can confirm a pregnancy within days of conception if pregnancy is suspected and you really can’t wait to find out. Women should always report worrying signs or symptoms to their doctor during pregnancy.
Pregnancy is an amazing phenomenon of nature that is the core of our existence. One of the easiest and best ways to avoid problems and complications during pregnancy is to get regular medical exams from your doctor or midwife. Pregnancy is an exciting time in a woman’s life, and you should take care of yourself and your unborn baby. During pregnancy women are offered a range of tests which are designed to check whether the baby is developing normally and if the pregnancy is going well.
Pregnancy is a very exciting time in most women’s lives, but for others an unexpected and unplanned pregnancy is not such welcome news. If the pregnancy is unexpected, you may be feeling scared or confused. This is a usual reaction to an unplanned pregnancy. There are many organizations that can and will assist, and it is always good to be able to talk to the father, friends and family to help get your feelings into perspective.
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We have all either been there or witnessed the scene unfold on television or in a movie. You know, that scene when a family piles in the car ready for what appears to be a trip of some length. As the car leaves the driveway someone turns to Dad (usually driving) and inquires about directions to their destination. In a voice just a bit more confident than is necessary the father figure replies that they need not worry as he knows exactly how to get where they are going. Sadly we all know that this scene usually ends with the family stranded in some dark and foreboding location with Dad still convinced he knows where he’s going.
Modern GPS technology has all but eliminated this archetypal scene from current film or television situations but the larger issue remains. In many very modern situations, GPS notwithstanding, making a real mess of things can still result when adequate planning is forgotten or ignored.
Such is the case with DIY home decorating projects, the subject of my thoughts today. A quick visit to some of the growing industries most popular online chat and advice rooms will turn up a shockingly large number of questions which have to do with spacial layouts, furniture arrangement, room organization and scale, proportion and size questions. One pleading post simply said (after offering a photo of a minuscule living room and a much too large sofa) “please, can anyone help me arrange my living room so that our new sofa will fit”. Sadly, in this case, even a shoe-horn would not help.
So what’s a self-empowered, modern homeowner to do?
In a word I would say ‘plan’, which in this instance means create a scaled floor plan of the room in question and, in similar fashion, measure any and all existing furniture pieces you intend to place in the room. If your situation requires the addition of new furniture to the room the same applies; measure first, purchase second. Only after understanding, on paper, the ramifications of that over-sized sofa can you proceed with confidence knowing that it will both fit and look attractive in a balanced and pleasing manner.
Many will protest that this type of floor-plan is for professionals and that mere mortals can’t hope to aspire to such technically challenging tasks. To this I say phooey.
Here are three options (the first two are free) to place in your hands the floor plan you need to begin your decorating project on solid ground:
1. Graph Paper and a Straight Edge. This old-fashioned method still works, if you are in a pinch. Graph paper is marked in quarter-inch increments. Take a measuring tape and walk the length and width of your room. Count boxes on the graph paper to coincide with the measurements recorded from your measuring tape. A simple rectangle or square will suffice but will give you documentation of the space you have. Smaller squares and rectangles will represent your existing furniture pieces and in no time you will have an accurate representation of your room. Study this. Commit this to memory and make no plans or purchases without consulting your plan.
2. Online Apps. Here are two high quality applications which can be installed on your computer, iPad and/or Iihone and will do the work described above with simple prompts from you. ( http://www.floorplanner.com/magicplan, http://www.homestyler.com/designer ) Practice and you’ll get very good at laying out rooms. Soon you’ll be the envy of all your friends as you plot and plan your next rooms re-design without the mistakes that can accompany a plan-less approach.
3. Hire Someone. In most urban areas it’s rather simple to find a competent young drafts-person that, for an hourly fee, can do the work described above. I really recommend #2 over this approach but if you are completely stuck and willing to fork over a few well spent dollars this is a way to guarantee you don’t make other mistakes that can cost you much more.
A loose definition of the word improvisation is to invent, compose, or perform something extemporaneously. For example if you’ve ever seen a Woody Allen movie, laughed at a sketch on Saturday Night Live or heard Miles Davis play notes of music not bound by this earth, you’ve experienced improvisation in action. As it is in movies, sketch comedy or jazz the joy of improvisational cooking is in the results that spring forth from inspired creation.
How do you use a recipe? Do you follow each step and measure each ingredient with the precision of a chemist? Do you nervously meter out the baking time of your cookies by tapping your foot to the cadence of the timer? We perform this culinary art to please more than our stomachs, the reasons too numerous to mention. Whatever the reason we usually approach it with recipe in hand. Often times a recipe we don’t understand. The essence of Improv Cooking, with it’s somewhat Zen like approach, demands you’re imagination and instinct to help you solve the riddle of the recipe.
The Steps Towards Improv Cooking
Improvisational cooking is not so much reading and following a recipe as it is using skills and techniques to take a recipe to another level or create a recipe out nothing more than a larder full of ingredients. You have to possess a certain amount of skill and understanding before plunging in to any kind of cooking. Improv Cooking is no different. It forces you to trust your instincts as well. Follow these seven simple steps and you’ll soon be free to open the fridge and just start cooking.
#1 Taste As Many Different Styles of Cooking as Possible
This is probably the simplest of all the Improv techniques to learn and master. Just eat as many different cooking styles as you can. The axiom is straightforward. The more you’re exposed to, the more imaginative you’ll become. Fill your headphones with nothing but Britney and it certainly would be difficult to imagine Charlie Parker’s saxophone. Consequently, eat nothing but the same restaurant or home cooked food all the time and your cooking vocabulary will reflect it.
#2 Understand the Basic Fundamental Techniques of Cooking
You can’t pick up a trumpet and expect to sound like Miles Davis without knowing a few things first. I won’t go into all the things that could and will go wrong. I’m sure you get the picture. Well, Improv Cooking follows the same rules. You can’t expect to be able to whip out a perfect Coq Au Vin without knowing the techniques involved to do so. But, the rewards will be greater once you do. The following list is more than just the basic fundamentals though. I’ve listed all the techniques and methods that matter to the experienced cook.
The Oven Group
Roasting – Cooking with dry heat that surrounds the food with as much direct heat as possible.
Pan Roasting – The wary little secret of every professional kitchen. This is a combination of method of starting the food in a hot sauté pan then finishing in a hot oven.
Broiling – A cousin to grilling, this is direct heat cooking with the heat source above the food instead of under it.
Braising – Moist heat cooking usually achieved in a sealed container like a Dutch oven, tagine or stoneware crock.
Baking – A dry heat method of cooking usually referring to breads, pastries etc.
The Wet Group
Boiling – Cooking in a large quantity of liquid, usually water.
Steaming – Cooking in a sealed container with a small amount of liquid (usually water but not especially) with the food suspended over the liquid so that it only comes in contact with the steam vapors.
Poaching – Best known as a method to cook egg, fish and perhaps chicken. This is cooking in a hot still liquid where the liquid never reaches more than a bare simmer.
The Frying Group
Sautéing – Cooking in a hot pan with little or no fat (butter, oil etc.)
Pan Frying – Very similar to sautéing, except done with more fat. Sometimes enough to almost immerse the food.
Stir-Frying – The Asian method of cooking in an extremely hot pan, usually a wok, with very little fat while keeping the food almost in constant motion.
Deep-Frying – Cooking by totally immersing the food in hot fat. The fat does the job of cooking by encircling the food with heat, thereby allowing it to cook faster sealing in natural juices and flavors. If done properly it’s not the health demon most people assume it is.
The Outdoor Group
Grilling – Cooking over direct heat with the food usually supported by a grate of some sort. This method can be performed indoors as well with the right equipment.
Smoking – This is actually two sub groups. Hot smoking is cooking at temperatures that will cook the food at the same time it infuses the food with smoke flavor. Cold smoking is done with the heat source separate from the cooking chamber so the food is enveloped in low temperature smoke that will infuse flavor without cooking.
Rotisserie – Like grilling, this method does not necessarily have to be done outdoors for the lucky few that have the capability in a well-equipped kitchen. Either way this is cooking with the food suspended over or next to direct heat and rotated via by some mechanical means.
The Sauce Group
Here’s where it gets a little dicey and can separate the cooks from the pretenders. Some of these techniques are best learned at the elbow of someone who’s been there before. But don’t let that stop you from digging in and trying on your own. You may come with some pretty awful stuff, but the attempt will teach you a lot.
Stock – A cornerstone of cooking, whether, meat, fish, poultry or vegetable. A low and slow cooking that’s meant to draw the true essence of flavor into a liquid form.
Brown Sauce – Usually made with beef or veal, but can be made with any brown stock made from roasted bones, flavored with aromatic herbs and vegetables.
Demi-Glace – Similar to brown sauce only made without a thickener and reduced to thicken and intensify flavors.
White Sauce – Also known as Béchamel, made with milk and or cream and thickened with a roux (flour and butter paste)
Veloute – Constructed very much like white sauce, except the milk is replaced usually by a light colored stock of either meat or poultry. It is often enhanced with egg yolks and butter at finishing.
The “Aise” Family – This includes Hollandaise and all its progeny like béarnaise, choron etc. and mayonnaise and all its descendants like aioli, remoulade etc. These are all emulsion sauces with egg bases and a body made mostly of oil or butter.
Other Emulsions – This can range from aiolis or butter sauces to vinaigrettes, to pan sauces that are thickened or finished last minute with butter and or cream.
Gravy – A sauce in loose terms only. Gravies are usually made with the juices collected from roasting meats or poultry. The non-thickened varieties are sometimes called “Jus” in modern menu vernacular.
The Soup Group
The Hearty Family – This includes all the varieties you want to serve in meal-sized bowls like beef stew, chicken and dumplings, chili, chowder and minestrone.
Bisque – Usually and intensely flavored soup that’s been thickened with rice, potatoes or a flour paste called panade.
Purees – Similar to bisque in nature but usually made with a single vegetable flavoring and thickened by pureeing the entire mass via some mechanical or manual means. Often times these soups are finished with cream.
Creams – Any soup, thick or thin, where a significant portion of the liquid is either milk or cream.
Broth – Often confused with stock, both are liquids that have been flavored with aromatics. But the basic building block of stock is bones whereas broth is composed from pieces of meat giving it more collagen. This is the lip sticking quality that gives broth its viscous body.
Consommé – A broth that’s been clarified with egg whites
The Miscellaneous Group
This is a hodgepodge of techniques that will give you a little more depth to your creativity.
Papillote, Packages and Pouches – This is where the food is wrapped and sealed in paper, foil or sometimes a natural wrapper like corn husk or banana leaf. The packages can be cooked by baking, steaming, boiling or grilling.
Dumplings – This is a very broad category of foods and methods that includes many varieties that I’m going to break put into two families. The filled dough variety and the nothing but dough variety. The filled dough relatives have names like ravioli, dim sum, kreplach or pierogi. After filling, these succulent siblings can be steamed, boiled, baked or fried. The nothing but dough relations generally just go by the name “dumpling” but sometimes have the main flavoring preceding their surname such as apple or onion. Also on this branch of the tree are hush puppies, zeppoli and matzoth balls.
Croquettes – Usually a fried delicacy, but sometimes baked. A soft filling of any manner of meat, cheese, vegetable or fruit encased in a crisp shell.
Brining – Very popular these days. Besides turkey at Thanksgiving, it’s an essential step in the process of smoking certain foods, like salmon or ham. But will often stand on its own in foods like gravlax or prosciutto.
Paté – A French term to describe a dish made with forcemeat (ground) of innards or any kind of meat. But the technique occurs in other cuisine and has recently been tagged to concoctions of vegetables or fruits as well. Cold meatloaf is technically a pate.
Charcuterie – Pardon my French, but they did have a huge influence on the world of cooking. This term covers all manners of sausage making and preserving of meats.
The Baker’s Group
This group of techniques is where the art of cooking meets the science of food. Precision in measurement, combination of ingredients and technique is of utmost importance. Discipline and a strict adherence to formula must replace the looser attitude you can give to other areas of cooking. But, as in life, there are no absolutes. Once mastered, these techniques will reveal many ways to tweak and stretch a recipe to your will.
Yeast Breads – These can be savory or sweet, loaves, rolls or doughnuts. They can be baked, fried or steamed.
Quick Breads – The “Quick” generally refers to the active leavening that’s achieved with eggs, baking soda, baking powder, and any combination thereof. These can be baked in loaves or cups (then they’re called muffins). Or steamed in molds which will change their name to pudding.
Pies, Tarts and Cobblers – Be they one crust or two, hand held or deep dish, cream filled, fruit filled, custard or meat. The basic construction varies very little.
Cakes and Tortes – The basic building blocks of flour (usually wheat but can be any variation), sweetener (sugar, honey whatever) and leavening (very similar to quick bread) rarely change. The differences all come in the flavoring and final construction.
Icings and Frostings etc. – Really a sub group of cakes and tortes, but for this purpose it stands alone. I’m including in this arena fondant, buttercream, ganache, boiled icing and all the wondrous creations done with pulled sugar.
Soufflés and Mousse- A seemingly daunting hurdle to the novice, but once the simple construction of flavoring base lightened with egg whites in the case of soufflé or whipped cream for mousse is mastered the sky is the limit.
Custards – Learning how to manage both breeds, baked and stir-cooked over heat, opens opportunities for both sweet and savory variations.
Puddings – A difficult process to pin down because of the wide range of foods that can be called puddings.
#3 Learn the Relationships of Aroma, Flavor, Texture and Color
The relationships of aroma, flavor, texture and color are possibly the most important aspect of improv cooking. In order for any dish to be cooked well, the dish must be whole. It must appeal to all the senses completely and with harmony. Webster’s Dictionary describes these elements in the following way;
Aroma – A pleasant characteristic odor
Flavor – the taste experience when a savory condiment is taken into the mouth
Texture – The distinctive physical composition or structure of something, especially with respect to the size, shape, and arrangement of its parts.
Color – That aspect of things that is caused by differing qualities of the light reflected or emitted by them.
To make all of this work in harmony is no small task. Whether from recipes or you’re imaginations it’s the crux of all cooking. To neglect or diminish anyone of these elements would result in a dish that’s not complete. And by contrast, to enhance or over emphasize anyone of these elements as well would result in a dish that is off balance and probably not very appealing. So how do you know when you get it right? Is there a formula or system of measuring these elements that can insure all the pieces of the puzzle are in place? No, you just know when it works. Even though the balance of these elements is crucial, the right answer is up to you. Let your self go and become the dish or as was first said in Caddyshack “Be the ball!” Let your senses tell you what’s happening in that pot or pan. Smell, taste, look and even listen to the food as it cooks. It has a great story to tell if you let it.
#4 Learn the Art of Accompaniment
Very few things we cook stand-alone. Even the most well-crafted stew or soup becomes even more complete and interesting by what it is served with. The gamut of choices can range from side dishes to condiments to beverages and even to the choice of lighting or music. In fact there are too many choices to discuss in detail. The best way to approach this dilemma is to first understand the goal. Because there are huge differences in these as well, a simple lunch for two suggests a different set of choices from a large family gathering or an elegant supper. Throw this into the mix along with your own level of ability or comfort with certain techniques and dishes and well I think you get my point. Perhaps the best way to approach this step towards Improv Cooking is to begin with what you know, because just as the right accompaniments can make a meal, the wrong ones can just as easily destroy it.
#5 Cook With Others
“One can acquire everything in solitude except character.”
Stendhal, On Love, 1822
Unlike jazz, comedy or any of the other improvisational arts, where the act of improv is rarely done alone, you rarely think of cooking as something that can and should be done with others. Yet there are the accidental improvisational sessions that happen all the time.
While developing the skills of Improv cooking, you should plan several intentional cooking sessions centered on a specific dish or meal that two or more people can prepare together. Cooking with someone else can magically open a door to your imagination.
#6 Taste Analytically
I started cooking because I wanted to understand the magic behind the food I was eating. Tasting smelling and analyzing ingredients to understand the effects each can have within a dish is an essential improvisational skill. The more you do it the easier it becomes to unlock the magic of a dish. This skill coupled with a solid understanding of technique will enable you to accomplish great things in the kitchen.
#7 Break the Rules.
Without a sense of exploration, which is the ultimate rule breaker, we would have never walked on the moon or experienced Nouvelle Cuisine. The space program produced hundreds of modern conveniences we enjoy today. Yet many food writers and Chefs look upon Nouvelle Cuisine with the same disdain as the embarrassingly wide collars and polyester clothing of the day. Nouvelle Cuisine left us with a legacy of pushing the envelope. Unlike any other period in cooking, Chefs were taking the expected and giving us a whole new way to see it. The foods, techniques and presentations that seemed far out and strange then have today become not only the norm for many Chefs, but a jumping off point to even wilder ways to cook. Breaking the rules is the mantra in many kitchens today. Savory foams, laser printed edible paper, carnival midway snacks served in the palaces of high cuisine are just a few of the ways rules are being broken. If something feels like a rule the next time you’re in the kitchen, then break it. You may create something inedible, but you will learn a valuable lesson. I can’t emphasize enough that once you combine your increased knowledge of techniques, flavors and construction your imagination will be free to see new avenues to explore. Soon the rules will start disappearing.
CHICKEN BREASTS IN MUSTARD PAN SAUCE IMPROV
Chicken Breast, boneless and skinless
Unsalted Butter
Kosher Salt
Fresh Ground Pepper
Veloute Sauce
Good Grainy French Mustard
Egg Yolks
Lemon Juice
Chives for garnish
Butterfly the chicken breasts or pound them to 1/2″ thick. Season each liberally with salt and pepper then set aside. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat until it foams and begins to brown. Add the just enough chicken to the pan so its not too crowded. Brown the breasts on one side then turn and cook for about 4-5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and lift the chicken breasts to a warm platter. Repeat the process again if you need to cook more chicken. If not, return the pan to the heat and add the veloute sauce. Stir in the mustard and reduce the heat to low. Scrape the pan to lift all the little bits of browned chicken stuck to the pan. Beat the egg yolks in a small bowl. Add a little of the warm sauce to the yolks to warm them then stir the mix into the warm sauce. Return the pan to the heat, but do not let the sauce boil. Finally, stir in the lemon juice and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the sauce and warm briefly. Serve the chicken topped with a little sauce and garnished with some snipped chives.
Improv Hint: The veloute sauce in this case should be a little on the thin side. The simmering in the pan, the mustard and the egg yolks will have an affect on making it a little thicker. Plan on about one-third cup of sauce per chicken breast.
Tobie began his career as part of a restaurant and tavern family in Chicago. As a student of liberal arts at Kendall College he discovered his calling in the restaurant industry. Leaving school before graduation, he accepted an apprenticeship under Chef John Snowden at Dumas Pere LEcole de la Cuisine Francais. The classic French apprenticeship prepared him for a career as Chef and consultant. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises re-opening of the legendary Pump Room in 1977 was his first project. Since then, he has used his creative talents working with restaurants all over the country. He currently resides in Minneapolis working with an active list of consulting projects including, The Sample Room, a renovation of an old bar to a modern eatery Ikes Bar and Grill, classic dining in downtown Minneapolis, Monkey Dish Bar and Grill ; an outrageous fun concept in suburban Chicago among others. His articles have appeared in various local publications and he makes regular appearances on radio and TV. He is working on a book called IMPROV COOKING.
