Utilize your Market

I work at a grocery store that goes above and beyond the normal chain of stores. Since I started working there I have learned some tricks to help you save money and ensure you with fresh and flavorful food.

USE YOUR DELI COUNTER!
Most high end grocery stores have an excellent meat and cheese counter that goes unnoticed. I have heard that people think that just because they have more expensive items, people assume that it is ALL going to be more expensive. Not true. Whether you are shopping for one or 5, the deli counter gives you a much better deal. You can get yourself a few slices for yourself or a pound of ham, turkey, salami, cheese, or pancetta for MUCH cheaper than the pre-packaged. You know why? You aren't paying for the production, packaging, transportation, and mark up of the food.
Want proof?
The suggested retail price of Hormel® pepperoni is $3.49 per 8-ounce pillow pack.
--In a deli...you can get 2-ounces, which is a 1/4 c, for $1.16 or less.

USE THE BULK SECTION!
At a lot of grocery stores, there is a bulk section somewhere in the back. You can buy nuts, grains, flour, dried fruit, teas, herbs, spices, sugars, legumes, candies, and snacks. Think of what you could do with that. You could find a recipe for banana bread that you want to make for a neighbor who is taking care of your house while you are out of town. You just cleaned out your pantry because you were going to be gone for two weeks. You can go to the bulk section in your market and buy the 2 1/2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of roasted walnuts, and the 1 1/4 cup of sugar that you need for that exact recipe. You will save approximately $8-12 and only buy as much as you need.

Think of the spices you have in your spice cupboard. How long have they been there? Your spices should be replaced every 6 months to ensure freshness and health. I don't know when, but in the last 5 years, spices in a bottle on the shelf have increased in price by 7-8% annually. If you have 10-15 spices that you keep on hand, and replace them every six months, that is approximately $177 dollars per year at $5.90 per spice. You can go to your bulk section and purchase the spices you use for approximately  $78 at $2.60 per spice.

USE YOUR PROTEIN COUNTER!
Read the ads or coupons for your grocery store when you are planning you meals for the week. If you see something in the meat/seafood department that you are interested in, purchase a good amount of it from the counter. You can vacuum seal it and freeze it for later use. This week, at my work, we had a great sale on Sirloin Tip Roast. Buy one get one free. That is a great deal! I purchased 5lbs total and went over to the meat counter and asked them to grind it for me. Making it into hamburger means that I can use it as a super lean burger, ground beef, or meatloaf. I used the deal and asked a simple question and got 5lbs of VERY lean meat for $10. If you ask those questions, there is a 99% chance that they will be happy to do what they can to help you.

I hope that you guys are having a great week! Enjoy :)



SOURCES:
http://shop.mccormick.com/products.cfm
http://www.herbco.com/c-393-garlic.aspx
http://www.hormelfoods.com/brands/hormel/HormelPepperoni.aspx

Try Something Different

There is always that question that you ask your family before you start to make dinner:

"What type of food do you want? Italian? Mexican? Chinese?"


Well, how about Basque? Basque style cooking is one that has a very rich history in the North Eastern part of Spain and France. The food in this culture is held in higher standard than politics. To the Basque people, food is the connecting link between all peoples and cultures. If you want to understand another culture, look at its food. The flavors, cooking style, use of proteins, and serving of said food can tell you a lot about the location and history behind the culture. They use what can be grown/procured from their region and that's all. They have their own unashamed devotion to their food and culture that is somewhat of a rarity these days.  Food is a crucial part of Basque culture, so important that gastronomic societies, where men meet to cook, eat and engage in other social activities exist throughout the country.

The great part about Basque cooking is that it is very simple. It thrives on in season, local, and sustainable ingredients that are indigenous to their region. Since we live in the Pacific Northwest, I use ingredients in this next dish that are readily available to us here.

Basque Soup:

1/2 pound pepperoni (I use Fiorucci pepperoni from a deli)
1 chicken breast
1 lg leek
2 cloves garlic
4 carrots chopped
2 c cabbage chopped
1 potato chopped
1 can each: Garbanzo Beans, Kidney Beans, Chicken Broth
1 large can chopped tomatoes
dash salt
1tsp thyme
1/2tsp pepper

Saute pepperoni in a dutch oven/oven safe pot for 5 minutes and remove. Saute chicken until cooked through and remove. Saute leek and garlic for 2-3 mins and then add carrots and cabbage. Now add everything else back into the sauce pot. Cover and bake at 325 degrees for 2 hours.

Very easy, affordable, and it gets better the longer it sits! Enjoy :)