Use Spices To Cook Like A Connoisseur On A Paupers Budget!

Don’t have the money to make delectable dishes? nnOr just don’t know the secrets of flavoring with spices and herbs, and making food stretch? nnThe former is never right no matter what your income is. nnIf you have the money to buy enough food to at least feed your family then you have enough money to make whatever you feed them enjoyable, even if it’s a vegetable dish. nnYes, with the right spices or herbs, and recipes, the children in your family will come to love vegetables. My family has several favorite veggie dishes that our kids like so much they want seconds. And the main secret to them are the different spices we use. nnThese dishes range from ratatouille, eggplant Parmigianino, to stewed tomatoes and stuffed zucchini (for info on these or other recipes feel free to email me at sweetstuff245@hotmail.com). nnJust as they do with vegetables; spices, herbs, and sweeteners are the secrets to making all foods delicious. nnThese three food miracle workers can be relatively inexpensive if you know where to look. nnIn most health food stores (and in select supermarkets in growing numbers) there is a wondrous invention called a BULK section. nnI’m sure everyone knows what this is, but in case you don’t I’ll explain: nnIt’s a section of a store that has all types of different flours, beans, cereals, spices, herbs, and much more. nnEach of which are in separate containers or large plastic buckets with a scoop, that allows you to buy as much or as little as you want of whatever spices or other food they carry. nnThe store provides you with bags and twist ties, for your convenience. nnSpices are an excellent example of how cheap it can be to shop in bulk. Most small jars of spices or herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, etc... Cost anywhere from two dollars a bottle to four ninety nine (which is technically five dollars a bottle). nIn a bulk section you can buy these same spices, getting twice as much (or more) for less than a dollar or a little over. nnTalk about savings! Herbs and all kinds of spices are much cheaper bought this way than paying the extravagant prices you are charged for a pre packaged bottle of the same spices. nnFlour and other cooking and baking necessities are also much cheaper if bought in a bulk section nnNote: buying in a bulk section does not mean you have to buy a lot of everything! You could buy only one cup of flour in a bulk section if you wanted to or one tablespoon of any spices or herbs. nnIdeally you should shop around at whatever different stores in your area have bulk sections, and compare prices to make sure you’re getting the cheapest price. nnBring a calculator to the store and be prepared to do a little brain work to figure it out. nnAnother money saving trick is to substitute ground turkey for ground beef in recipes. Here you might prefer the taste of beef but in terms of the money you save it will certainly taste heavenly to your budget. nnYou can spice up bland omelets, scrambled eggs, soups, meat patties and more with the correct spices, and herbs. nnHere is a recipe for deliciously spicy eggs, that won’t dent your wallet: nnFor scrambled eggs try using 1/4 teaspoon thyme and pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and oregano, and 3 eggs. Mix the eggs, spices, and herbs together in a bowl. nnHeat a frying pan on medium heat until very hot, and then add your oil (preferably olive oil or coconut oil) to the pan. Wait a few seconds until the oil starts to smoke, then pour the eggs from your bowl into the pan. nnHave a fork in your hand ready to scramble the eggs with, because they’ll start cooking instantly. Scramble the eggs for 30 seconds to a minute. Then use a spatula to scoop them out onto a plate. nnDo yourself a favor and follow these tips to start saving money today.n