splendid savings

When I leave church on Sunday, The Splendid Table is playing on our local NPR station. The show is sometimes a little too don't-we-all-love-our-villas-in-Tuscany for me to take, but most of the time they offer interesting conversations and recipes. It's great for a Sunday afternoon.

Today the host, Lynne Rossetto Kasper, gave a brief excursus on "how to eat like a gourmet for less money" that I found interesting. It seemed worth passing along.

• Look for the sell by date and if it’s today barter; ask for 50 % off – they have to sell it. Then either use it that day or freeze it.
• If you don’t cook, learn to do three simple easy things: make a simple salad with a homemade dressing; learn to boil up some grains; or learn to grill vegetables. If you can do those three things you can put together a meal that is low on the food chain, super cheap, and super healthy.
• Every steak or chop starts out as a roast; buy the roast and cut your own steaks or chops and you can save some money.
• If you want ethnic ingredients, go to the neighborhoods where these cultures shop. You’ll save money and get a good lunch out of the deal.
• Buy imported food and wines where the dollar still has some strength and real estate is still inexpensive like Chile or Argentina.

I know we don't all want to eat like gourmets and I like the idea of thinking creatively about how good food and affordable food don't have to be mutually exclusive. Again, not terribly profound, but worth passing along.

GIve me a couple of days and I'll t ry to come up with some accompanying recipes.

Peace,
Milton