Buddies urged to be more creative in the kitchen.

Oct 23 2010 by Cameron Hay, Paisley Daily Express

l VARIETY is meant to be the spice of life – but, for the majority of Buddies, familiarity is key in the kitchen.

A new survey has revealed that 86 per cent of people cook the same meals over and over again.

Cooking experts at Hotpoint conducted the research into the nation’s cooking habits and found a startling lack of confidence in our kitchens.

Spaghetti bolognaise, curry, fajitas, stir-fry and lasagne are the top five most-commonly cooked meals.

Meat and two veg, a roast dinner, chilli, burgers and chips and a jacket potato complete the top 10.

Busy lifestyles and a greater number of work commitments have led to almost a quarter of Buddies claiming they are thoroughly stuck in a creative rut, only cooking the same few meals week in, week out.

Tony Tobin, renowned restaurateur, said: “Having worked in professional kitchens for most of my life, I understand the pressure that cooking for other people can bring but, by following a few simple mantras, you too can be cooking confidently in no time.”

Now Hotpoint and Celebrity MasterChef 2010 winner Lisa Faulkner have teamed up to launch their Campaign for Cooking Confidence, which is aimed at giving people the culinary skills needed to add more variety to meal times.

Lisa said: “I learned the importance of planning ahead and have a grasp on what flavour combinations work well together. This has enabled me to take pride in my cooking and I feel much more at ease in the kitchen.”

For some more cooking tips, visit www.hotpoint.co.uk/vitalingredient