3 Ways to Have More Fun in the Kitchen, According to Rachael Ray

Hear from Rachael to learn her tricks for enjoying your time in the kitchen.

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Rachael Ray

Host Rachael Ray as seen on Food Network's Rachael Vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook Off Season 1

Photo by: Anders Krusberg ©2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

Anders Krusberg, 2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

No matter how hectic the day has been or how spent you may feel come dinnertime, meals still need to get on the table, and for those times when you're left uninspired, Rachael Ray has a few tips for not just cooking food but relishing that experience in the kitchen too. At her live demo during this winter's South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Rachael explained to a packed audience that the key to enjoying cooking involves both a relaxed state of mind and preparation. Read on below to hear what she had to say.

"Get yourself in a good mood somehow," Rachael said. For some, that may involve music, and for others, a glass of wine may do the trick. "You can also get way ahead," she suggested, explaining that on days when you're not pressed for time, invest the effort in preparing a few make-ahead dishes, so that you'll have them when you need them.

Her final piece of advice focuses on proper preparation. Rather than spending the time on a busy weeknight to wash greens or cut vegetables, she said to "put everything away prepped" right when you get home from the supermarket. When it comes to meat, she recommends removing it from the package, drying it off, then moving it to a bag and getting the air out.

Grilled Chicken Caesar Mac

Photo by: Brian Kennedy ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Brian Kennedy, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Want to try Rachael's method of Week in a Day cooking? Get started with her Grilled Chicken Caesar Mac (pictured above), then browse more of her make-ahead recipes. And for 30-minute timesavers, check out these quick-fix staples.

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