One of the rules when shopping for the purest and best ingredients in the supermarket is sticking to the perimeter. Fruits, vegetables, fresh baked breads, meats, etc. are all located on a shop’s perimeter. The middle aisles are canned, packaged, and generally processed foods.
I’m usually against most things in the middle aisles at the grocery store. But, on my limited budget I’m starting to learn that there are some healthy AND affordable products in those middle aisles.
I’m really snobby when it comes to certain things about food … I hate mass produced/marketed anything, large chain stores, or shortcuts in cooking.
But one of the things I alway struggle with (as I’m sure many of you do), is wanting to try a recipe and realizing you have none of the spices it calls for. And if you indulge in buying a particular spice, do you ever use it more than once? Fresh herbs are hard to store but using a dry herb you just spent $7 on and only using it once is hardly practical.
That is why I have to confess my latest guilty pleasure: McCormick Recipe Inspirations. The spice package includes about 5 or 6 spices that curtail towards a particular recipe. This makes EVERYTHING so much easier for those of us who don’t have a stocked spice rack.
Granted, this isn’t the best idea to do for every recipe, and it can’t hurt to build a collection (I’m sure as hell trying to) but if you’re only cooking once or twice a week, this is perfect!
Tonight I made fajitas with some spices that I just didn’t have on hand and didn’t want to buy. I used the garlic lime spice pack with garlic, onion, cumin, black pepper, oregano, and cilantro. Pretty tasty, give ‘em a try.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ashton Colleen Keefe. Ashton Colleen Keefe said: Want to know an easy solution for dinner if you don't have spices!? http://www.diaryofasweettooth.com/good-things-come-in-small-packages/ [...]
great idea, col! those fajitas look yummy. There HAVE been times when I won’t try a new recipe because I don’t have a particular spice nor the funds to buy a bottle of it. I’ll have to check those packets out next time I’m at the grocery store. Did you hear that Whole Foods isn’t charging customers tax on April 15th? Might have to go check it out down here for the first time then
Tax is HIGH here, as I know it is in the city too.
HI COLLEENIE, THOSE FAJITAS REALLY LOOK YUMMY==I HAVE A GREAT BUTCHER AT FOODTOWN==JUST A LITTLE FRIENDLYNESS TO THE GUYS BEHIND ALL THAT MEAT PACKAGING AND THEY WILL CUT ANYTHING FOR YOU=GRIND MEAT, ROLL IT , TIE IT, SLICE IT , ALL FROM THE SAME “SALE” CUT==AND EVEN GIVE YOU A LITTLE BAG OF SPICES FOR THE CORNED BEEF==FREE= I ONLY NEED THOSE SPICES ONCE A YEAR==THOSE BUTCHERS GET STUCK IN THE BACK AND AIM TO PLEASE THE FACE TO FACE CUSTOMER==LOVE TO HAVE THAT RECIPE==LOL,M
That’s such a good idea. I also try and be friendly and ask for cuts of meats that might not be out, or have something ground fresh, but I never thought about asking for spices. That’s genius! Thanks!
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