|
|
My Story: Why I Don't Use Recipes
contributed by S
Home
Lifestyle
Groceries and Food
Meal and Menu Plans
My Story: Why I Don't Use Recipes
A few years ago, I worked with a man (who had a reputation for being very frugal) whose wife had a reputation for being a very good cook. I asked her once what recipe sources she used most for meal-planning. She said that she rarely cooks from a recipe because she finds she usually spends more money that way. Her answer surprised me at the time, but I understand now what she meant. When I start with a recipe, I often end up buying expensive, out-of-season and/or processed foods like canned soup. When I start by shopping in the fridge, freezer and pantry, I do a better of job of using ingredients on hand and spend less at the grocery store. Besides the money savings, there are other advantages to cooking without formal recipes, such as:
- Dishes are often healthier; a vegetable prepared in a simple way like steaming usually has fewer calories and salt than the same vegetable in a casserole or fancy sauce.
- I am more likely to eat produce in season when it's the cheapest and best-tasting. If I choose a recipe in August that calls for fresh asparagus, I end up paying several dollars a pound more than the April price (and I'm disappointed in the quality).
- I have opportunities to get creative, and have even "invented" some dishes that become favorites.
I do have a huge collection of cookbooks and recipe files, and a list of recipe websites. But more often than not, I go to these sources for ideas and then adapt recipes according to what I have on hand, or what is on sale that week. My "go to" resource is a small binder with notes on ways to use specific ingredients. It includes some basic and favorite recipes, but the majority of the booklet is simply notes. One page has ideas for using leftover cooked chicken and another lists ways to use the last 1/2 cup of applesauce.
Cooking strictly from recipes can be fun and a great way to experiment with new ingredients or regional specialties. But for day-to-day cooking, the best way to save money and reduce waste is often to leave the cookbook closed and just go for it with what you have on hand combined with your experience and imagination.
"My Story" is a regular feature of The Dollar Stretcher. If you have a story that could help save time or money, please send it by MyStory@stretcher.com
Take the Next Step
- Check out our coupon page and save money on your favorite products. click here
- For all things "Groceries & Food," please visit www.stretcher.com
Share your thoughts about this article with the editor: Click Here
Subscribe to TDS Newsletters
Join over 250,000 other subscribers!
To subscribe, check the newsletters you wish to receive, enter your email address and then click Subscribe.
View the TDS privacy policy.
|
Money problems? Struggling with credit card debt? What you need to know about bankruptcy? Trouble repaying student loans?
|
Get free money-saving articles in your inbox!
Sign up for our free weekly eNewsletter Surviving Tough Times.
Looking for an answer to a frugal living question? Click here to ask a
Dollar Stretcher Stretchpert!
Copyright 1996 - 2013 "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." All rights reserved unless specifically noted.
Contact the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton FL 34280
941-761-7805
"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.
| About Us | Privacy Policy | Writer's Guidelines | Sponsorship | Media | Contact Us |