Local recipes: Learn to cook new foods based on your current duty station

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May 19, 2020 5:26 AM PDT
1 minute read
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SUMMARY

What’s for dinner? No really, we are all tired of cooking the same things, so can we have some new ideas? Quarantine has the vast majority of folks cooking more than normal. And naturally, we want to switch it up a little. Don’t get bored …

What's for dinner? No really, we are all tired of cooking the same things, so can we have some new ideas? Quarantine has the vast majority of folks cooking more than normal. And naturally, we want to switch it up a little.

Don't get bored from cooking the same dishes over and over again. Instead, use your current duty station to help provide some inspiration.


Start by looking at where you're stationed and what local fare they have to offer. Then consider what dishes you can find around town and how you could be making them at home. Simple? Sure. But it's also an easy way to switch up your current menu.

Go straight to restaurant menus, or Google based on town or local ingredients for even more variety.

What base is home-for-now?

Southern states have soul food and countrified home cooking. There's pimento cheese (YUM), chicken salad galore, and about as much banana pudding as you can stand.

In the Midwest there's BBQ, deep-dished pizzas, so many casseroles, Cincinnati-style chili and bierocks.

Overseas you'll find European dishes, Hawaiian fare, sushi and noodle dishes -- but in their true forms, not Americanized versions.

And that's only the beginning.

Fresh ingredients for the trying

Finally, you can find new ingredients to inspire your cooking by checking out local markets. Now is a great time to support small businesses, but they're also hot spots for items you don't normally use. Ask a worker for recommendations (from a distance) for some insider experience while you're at it. Or, when planning your garden, add in some unique locally based plants.

As a military family, one of the biggest perks is the chance to move around and experience new cultures. Just because you're stuck at home doesn't mean you can't still use your location to try new things. Consider cooking outside of your comfort zone -- while drawing inspiration from the locals -- for tasty new dishes that the whole family can enjoy.


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