Tip 7 - Embracing Your Inner Iron Chef

Today's blog is part seven of our 10-part series on saving at least $1000 (or more) this year with very little pain on your part. Most of the tips will be easy and won't disrupt your routine!

Most everyone has seen the television program, The Iron Chef.  When you watch it, you know you're about to see a battle of culinary genius, the likes you've never seen before. Your breath is held in anticipation - waiting to see what the secret ingredient will be for that episode. Will it be something as foreign as bull testicles or something as innocent as mushrooms? Who knows? All you know is these cooks can take the most obscure item and turn it into a feast fit for the cover of Epicurious. The taste buds dance at the beauty of the plated meal, which makes you forget for a second that there's no way in Hell you would ever eat cow balls, but they somehow manage to make cow balls look delicious.

What do you have in common with these cooking masters? How does imitating them help you save money? These folks know how to cook, and so should you! They take the ingredients they have on hand and make a tasty meal out of them. Cooking your own meals is one of the top ways to save money. Now, I know, everyone likes to eat out, including my cheap ass. Let's keep it in perspective, however. We went out to dinner last week, and what I spent on that meal equaled a full one-third of my grocery budget for the week! Obviously, I wouldn't trade that time with friends for anything, but imagine if I did that three to four nights per week. Can you see how that adds up? Not only that, cooking your own food is a lot easier (and more fun) than it sounds.

How do you get started?

• Think about what kinds of food you like to eat. You want to cook foods that you find delicious. Based on what your family likes, start attempting to make those dishes at home.
• Keep a well stocked pantry with items that you can throw together into a meal and fast. If you have to go to the grocery store, you're going to cave and get takeout. I always have staples like flour, eggs, milk, rice, beans, tomatoes, vegetables, meats, cheese, etc. I can make a meal at anytime just by shopping in my own pantry or refrigerator.
• Go online and find recipes. Perhaps you like lasagna, but don't know how to make it. Simply Google "Lasagna Recipes." The 'net is full of great suggestions. Check out various lasagna recipes and attempt the one you feel most comfortable trying. If a recipe has 20 ingredients and takes two hours to make, skip it. We're going for yumminess, not complexity.
• Choose your recipe website carefully.  If you're a novice, you probably don't want to start with Bon Appetit or Saveur.  While their food is eye candy for the eating soul, the recipes often require ingredients and a skill level you don't have. Work your way up to the more advanced recipes. For now, visit sites like Betty Crocker or Kraft. They will have very easy starter recipes to help you hone your cooking skills.
• Learn to use your crock pot. The crock pot is truly one of the most awesome inventions of all times. You can throw in a piece of meat, some spices, then turn it on and leave it. What a feat of engineering. You cannot screw up a crock pot meal. It's impossible.  Visit this site to see some neat ideas!
• Join Pinterest. They have some of the most amazing food I've ever seen on that site. When I see a recipe I like, I pin it and look at it later when I'm out of ideas. Check out what your friends are pinning. That will help you try dishes you've never thought of. I've also made some great dishes from recipes my friends post on Facebook.
• A recipe is a guide, not a law. As you get more comfortable, you can tweek the recipe to your taste buds.  You can usually adjust the spicing, for example, without screwing up the recipe. Baking is another matter, and should NOT be tweeked, unless you're a really good cook. Baking is chemistry. 
• Most important, don't give up if the first meal you try isn't stellar. I remember the first time I made steak and gravy. It was inedible and resembled burnt water with some onions floating in it. Now, it's one of my best meals. 

Happy cooking and don't forget to share with your friends on Facebook!

Amanda Z
Domesticology


AmandaZ is the (mature) stay-at-home mom of Pork Chop, Southern gal, thrifty bad a$$ and writer of Domesticology101.com. This blog tackles all things domestic - from child rearing to cooking and home improvement to frugality. All done with a touch of humor and common sense. This is definitely not your mama's home economics site!