You may be startled to learn that It is quite startling to know from a recent research has said that while men enjoy eating more than women, they also prefer cooking their own meals. That's not it—around 58 percent of women admit that their husbands are better cooks than them.

Men, the reasons are aplenty for you to start cooking!. For some, health might be the first priority, while others might prefer getting the workload off their spouse. Some may find it an attention grabber for women tool to impress the ladies, while some may see it as saving the money that'd be spent spent on food purchased from outside on eating out, to and probably invest that in something that lasts longer… like gadgets, may be!

Well, whatever be the reason, it is always useful to learn a few recipes, which can be come to your rescue at times when there aren't many options to eat out. And, in no time, you'll find cooking to be can be like meditation – a total stress buster. Here we are, spilling a few essential tips that can make cooking for men simple, effortless, and non-monotonous.

#1 Meditate For Taste

Spilling ideas out of our box:

1. A study shows that chanting mantras or praying before meals can increase the food's energy level. It is like breathing life into your food. If you want the food that you eat to benefit you, chanting 'Om' or 'Om Namah Shivaya' after the food is served can help.

'Meditation is equal to creativity. Meditation is equal to the ability to maintain calm in panic and bad situations', says Khurshed Batliwala (Bawa), cooking expert and founder of a very well-known café in Bangalore, India. Bawa has had experiences of a new recipe clicking as soon as he comes out of meditation. One of his recent innovations has been a dish made of pulse spice powder and blueu cheese that has left his guests begging for more. He also believes that meditation is what takes him and everyone else to a space of calm. 'If you are calm, you don't panic in case of kitchen slip ups. Else, you'll end up spoiling a very beautiful meal', he adds. Accept what has happened and see what you can do. In case nothing works out, you have the option of dining out. Your kitchen is like a laboratory—there are factors you can control and those that you cannot. Do what you can and take it easy with meditation. The loving kindness and calm with which you cook will show in the bonding you share with the ones who eat it.

#2 Start Now – It Is Never Too Late

While you might still be thinking about places to dine out, I tell you, take to the kitchen or, if you don't have one, design one. All you need is a stove, an electric oven or a microwave, a few essential condiments, and the vegetables of your choice. 'It is a little bit of theory and a little bit of intuition. That's it—it ain't rocket science', says Debayan Das, a fourth year grad student who loves cooking what he loves to eat. This coming from another man proves that YOU CAN ALSO DO IT. You just need to make the first move.

To make things easier for you, we have got a  list of the most basic to some highly advanced recipes . What are you waiting for? Don the apron and pick up that knife!

#3 Take Expert Advice

Did you know that the best chefs in the world are men inspired by moms? Cooking requires an eye for even the finest detail, which comes with observation and patience. Observing your mom while she is cooking, paying keen attention to online tutorials, and closely following a recipe book can give you an edge over those who cook just for the sake of it. 'Take it easy and cook with a calm mind', suggests Kaushani Desai, Ayurvedic cooking expert. Patience is the key. And something that can help boost your patience is meditation.

Meditation settles your otherwise restless mind  and takes you to a space of understanding that it takes time and effort for any skill to grow or nurture, and so it is with cooking.

Don't worry. Avoid hurry.

#4 From Following Patterns To Breaking Them

Once you are clear with the basics of cooking, you can start experimenting with something new and out of the box and come up with a recipe of your own. Let those be your signature meals. You can even keep a kitchen journal – a record of your creative outbursts. 'If you wish to learn, don't fear to make a fool of yourself', quips Bawa. You never know, one of your kitchen slip-ups might end up being an innovative dish.

Bawa believes that cooking is only limited by one's imagination. You can take it to the great, greater, greatest heights of your imagination. Creativity is already present in you and it can be evoked. If there is no creativity, you cannot bring it from somewhere. It is like applying heat to corn and getting popcorn. There is inherent creativity in you, and relaxing with meditation can help you tap that source. You just need to play around with your recipes. However, it is good to make sure you are clear about your basics before you advance to a higher level. 'Get the pace first and then try a marathon', adds Adwitiya Kumar, a technical associate and a young cooking enthusiast.

#5 Cooking Healthy

While developing the required skill set to be able to cook well is one thing, there are a few things that Kaushani believes are quite important to cook a healthy dish. The five things to remember when you want to cook healthy are: your state of mind, your head fully covered, nails cut, hands cleaned, and the ability to enjoy cooking.

If you have come home from a hard day at work, you are less likely to enjoy cooking unless you see it as a stress buster. If cooking is another household chore for you, then meditation can help. Meditation helps you fall in love with just everything. When tired, you can meditate to welcome freshness; when you are dull, you can meditate to welcome some rejuvenating energy; and when you feel off, you can meditate to switch on. In short, meditation can help you calm the restless mind. Once calm, you are more likely to cook a tastier meal. Surprised? Well here's why – food is energy. And it gives us energy. The energy that is carried in food is the energy that we will absorb. If the food has high energy, we are likely to feel happy, else dull.

Did you know that our food's energy level is determined by the person who is making it – the one who is cutting vegetables, boiling it, sauteing it, and serving it. It is determined by the state of mind of the person who's directly in contact with the food. So, if you want your beloved to be happy, cook a meal with love, not anger.

#6 Choose Your Equipment Wisely

Just like a wise choice of friends adds sweetness to life, a wise choice of equipment will decide how well it appeals to your taste buds (and also how long you live)!! Avoid using aluminum vessels as they pose serious health hazards. The materials best suited to cooking a healthy meal are cast iron, ceramic, stainless steel, and non-stick. Bawa mentions adds, 'Using the right type of vessel can rea top and bottom of the vessel to equal temperature and gives food a unique and uniform taste lly enhance flavors and make cooking a very enjoyable experience'. One of his most favorite vessels is Bomstad (please check if this is how we spell it)a cast iron skillet, which is manufactured in France. It gives him the liberty to leave food to cook on low flame while he meditates for 20 minutes. The utensilpan heats the top and bottom of the vessel to equal temperature and gives food a unique and uniform taste. 'Isn't it nice that the vessel does all the work and you get all the credit', jokes Bawa.

#7 Spend A Little More Time On Presentation

Spilling ideas out of our box

How about putting on some music. Just a little change from silence to music can make cooking a fun activity if you feel it is drudgery initially.

Once you are done with cooking, it is smart to spend a few more minutes to garnish what you have prepared with love. Food should appeal to not just your taste buds but also your eyes to make someone fall in love (with the food and the person who made it). It has proved to be a major turn on for women. Aren't you more likely to enjoy a meal if it is more visually appealing while being tasty? 'You can even try new ways of presenting food every time you cook the same dish—that's something I do to bring newness to my dishes', sharessays food buff Tushar Kathuria, a Ddemand Ggeneration Eexecutive at QED Baton and a food buff.

From a Man's Platter:

“Cooking for me is meditation. When I come out of it, I am totally refreshed. While cooking takes me to a meditative state, meditation enhances my culinary skills. Patience, intuition, and mindfulness are tools most required in the kitchen, and meditation has helped me sharpen these. A little bit of practice and a little bit of intuition, and you've got it right. I have been cooking for 10 years now, but I never once felt it was monotonous, because I use my creative streak to make it different every time. Meditation makes cooking simple, effortless, creative.” – Pranav Desai

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