While reading a recent copy of the Food Network Magazine, I found an article about this online restaurant wholesaler. Now, some things come in quantities much too large for me, but almost everything on this site is significantly cheaper than you can find at any store (even places like Costco).
Penny Pinching Tip #5: For non-perishable and consumable items, shopping online can lead to amazing deals.
My recent purchases include:
Plastic deli containers: If you're like me and cook a lot, you go through food storage containers pretty quickly; they start to smell, crack or get stained and then they go in the garbage. I bought 50 deli containers and lids for about $12 total, which is about how much I spend on 1/5 that amount.
Foil pans: I cook a lot of Shabbat meals, so I go through foil pans pretty quickly too. If you buy them in bulk here, they are only about 20 cents a piece!
Other items that are super cheap if you buy them here: plastic cutlery, foil, mixing bowls and other kitchen implements, parchment paper, etc.
Even with shipping, it's well worth it to buy these types of items online (if you have room to store them), as you can get incredible deals, sales and so on. Buying online can also be good for specialty items like spices, gluten free flour, etc.
Label: tip
I'm sometimes skeptical about kitchen gadgets. For example, an egg separator is (in my opinion) a ridiculous waste of money when your hand can do the same job for free. In addition, it literally only does one thing, and I prefer to spend money on kitchen gadgets that can multi-task so I can get my money's worth.
Penny Pinching Tip #4: Unless you will use it regularly (at least weekly), avoid kitchen tools that are restricted to a single task. If you use it that infrequently, you can probably substitute another tool you already own.
What kitchen gadgets do I think are worthwhile purchases?
You may have already recognized my love affair with my immersion blender. I have a pretty small kitchen, so I don't have room for a mixer or food processor, and my immersion blender can do the job of both. From blending soups to pureeing bananas for muffins to creating super-smooth and fluffy mashed potatoes--I don't know what I ever did without it. It is probably my most versatile kitchen tool, and the one I use most frequently (outside of the usual can opener, knives and such). Note: It's worth the money to invest in stainless steel rather than plastic, it will last much longer and you can use it with hot items.
I expanded my kitchen toolbox recently with the purchase of a mandolin, a super fun kitchen gadget that allows you to cut fruits and vegetables into uniform pieces (although watch your fingers!). Thus far, I have mostly used mine for slicing, but you can also julienne and chop. While I think I have pretty good knife skills, it still cuts faster and more uniformly than I can (yet). I bought a pretty cheap one ($7 on sale a BBB), but plan to invest in a higher quality version.
Another recent purchase: A micro plane ($9 on sale at BBB), which is basically a one-sided fine grater with a handle so you can grate ginger or spices, zest a lemon or shave cheese directly over your other ingredients, instead of having to first grate into a bowl or onto a cutting board. I've been experimenting with grating fresh spices like nutmeg and cinnamon (and yes, there is a HUGE difference between dried and freshly grated).
Other kitchen implements I use regularly: Tongs, wooden spoons, good quality knives, spatula, whisk, sieve.
Label: tip
I am continually shocked to see the lines for salad restaurants out the door and around the block. I understand there is a salad craze on right now--however, I think there is also a rather erroneous idea that salads are by definition healthier than a sandwich or some other lunch item. In fact, salads can often have higher fat and calorie counts (dressing, croutons and other salad accoutrement add much more than you actually get out of them), and don't keep you full as long so you end up eating more, sooner.
I eat salads for lunch frequently, and they can be filling and healthy if you make sure you have the right combination of fiber, protein, starch and a bit of fat. Here are the ingredients I like to use, broken out by category; you can do an awful lot of mixing and matching so you don't have to worry about getting bored!
greens:
spinach
arugula
romaine
baby lettuce
spring mix
radicchio
endive
veggies:
cucumber
tomato
peppers
avocado
radish
zucchini
yellow squash
fennel
carrots
celery
scallions
fruit:
strawberries
mango
pear
apple
blueberries
cherries
protein:
chickpeas or other beans
grilled chicken breast, salmon or tuna
canned salmon or tuna
feta or goat cheese
cubed tofu
starch:
beans
corn
rice
quinoa
pasta
millet
lentils
additions: (in moderation)
dried cranberries
slivered almonds
candied nuts (pecans, walnuts)
toasted pine nuts
crunchy asian noodles
dressing:
drizzle of olive oil
drizzle of sesame oil
balsamic vinegar
red wine vinegar
rice wine vinegar
I'm a snacker. Instead of eating large meals three times a day, I try and eat smaller meals and then a healthy snack or two in between. I usually try to have snacks that are filling and soothe any current cravings--sweet, salty, savory, etc.
Penny Pinching Tip #3: Prepare for the mid-afternoon munchies.
Everyone gets the mid-afternoon (and frequently mid-morning) munchies, but don't give into the urge to run across the street and pick something up (little purchases like $2 cookies and $4 fruit cups can really add up).
I keep an assortment of snack-worthy items at my desk and in the fridge at work: Fruit, cheese sticks, granola bars, dried fruit and nuts, rice cakes, PB&J, yogurt, cottage cheese, chumus, fresh veggies. This way, I ensure I always have what to munch on that's heathly (and much cheaper) [although there are definitely days that call for a little snack splurge].
In case you are looking to become a healthier and cheaper snacker, here are my usual go-tos:
cottage cheese + chopped pear
broccoli + chumus
carrots + chumus
rice cake + PB&J
rice cake + chumus
rice cake + PB + sliced banana
sliced apple + peanut butter
slice apple/pear + small handful almonds
3 pieces dried mango + small handful pecans
There are really an infinite number of snack combinations if you keep the right things at work (kind of like keeping a well-stocked pantry).
If you have other cheap go-to snacks you keep around, please feel free to share!
