I learned this one from my mother, who is one of the most organized cooks that I know. Mis en Place is the French way of saying -- make sure that all of your stuff is in order and in its place. Cooking, like any other tactical thing you do around the house, is a process and the easiest way to get from start to finish is to plan ahead. As you begin thinking about a meal grab a piece of paper and a pen and mark down each and every ingredient you will need. Bring your list with you to the grocery store and when you get home begin organizing the ingredients. I personally like to measure out the ingredients before beginning to cook and have a number of bowls and ramekins that help keep things organized during cooking. Organizing yourself and having all of your things in their proper places makes the process and the clean up that much easier.
Oh yeah... one more word of advice... Clean as you go and keep the sink free from excess dishes. This will also ensure that all things are in order and the process of cooking will be much more enjoyable.
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