Quality vs Quantity
My mum always said good jewellery was more important than expensive clothes. Who cares that the dress is second hand when the gold is 24 carat and the rubies real.
She could spot a good emerald at 100 meters, across a crowded restaurant. And would hiss phrases like, “opal and diamond cluster at 2 o’clock”. To which my sister and I would obediently swivel our eyes to the 2 o’clock position and goggle at said opals and diamonds.
Applying the quality over quantity principal to ingredients can produce big savings at the supermarket. By making a luxury ingredient the star, few people will pay much attention to the supporting cast because a little of something truly good has the power to transform whatever it is with.
Given the chance, I would without question, choose to eat only the very best. All organic, hand reared, grain fed food, tenderly tickled onto my plate. But if like me you want to eat well and spend less, then the best of everything is out of the question.
Food is all about flavour and texture (O.K. and nutrition). So I buy the best quality flavours I can afford. Interestingly the best isn’t always the most expensive. Whole spices from the Indian supermarket are cheaper than stale, ready ground spices. But just as a violin must be played or it reverts to being a piece of wood (I read that somewhere) so ingredients have a “life”. “Best before” generally means exactly what it says.
Bulk buying treats, and eeking them out can be good value, but only if you use them before they become stale or rancid. Because where it really matters is in the mouth. It’s helpful to identify what luxury ingredients are really important to you and team them up with inexpensive accompaniments.
When you shop, try and buy only one luxury ingredient a week; but do so thoughtfully. Then take care how you use it.
Here are some of my “luxe” favourites, and back ground cast. Yours may differ from mine but you’ll get the idea...
Quality
I buy the best quality bacon I can afford. Often the cheaper the bacon, the higher the water content. Why pay for water weight? Good cured bacon has loads of flavour and keeps well. A little goes a long way adding flavour to a wide variety of really inexpensive but delicious and fashionable dishes
A chunk of parmesan or gruyere cheese will add really good flavour to a really inexpensive dish like soufflé, risotto, pasta, pizza, gougere, gratin or Mac n cheese. Use sparingly and lovingly
I buy a few proper “made from actual meat” sausages for good sausagey flavour. Cheaper “flavoured” sausages produce neither a satisfactory flavour nor texture Avoid if possible! Instead try snags made with pride by a butcher not a factory, with fresh herbs and spices. Freeze in packs of 3 and use with inexpensive seasonal veg, pulses, rice or pasta
Chocolate should always make your toes curl. In fact, if its not moan inducingly good something is wrong. Buy the best you can afford. For good chocolate flavour avoid “looks like chocolate” products made with vegetable fat. Likewise you often get what you pay for with cheap cocoa, a brief flirtation with flavour but no follow through. A mere mouthful of good chocolate can transport you to a better time and place
Save the cold pressed, single origin, olive oil for dressings, salads and bread, the places where the distinctive flavour of the oil can be appreciated. Use a cheapie for roasting the spuds. Store your good oil in a dark bottle away from direct sunlight.
Save the really good balsamic vinegar for dressing and drizzling, if you boil it you evaporate away hard earned cash, use a cheapie for reduction type sauces.
Good coffee – nuff said.
Stock can make or break a dish – use real stock for consommé, and other clear soups like noodle and dumpling soups or reduced sauces. Use powder only where no one will notice.
Pasta, everyone has their own preferences. I use dried pasta for spaghetti and weeknight meals. For lasagne, fettuccine or entertaining I make my own with flour and eggs, ultra inexpensive! But I’ll put Kalamata olives in the sauce and serve it with real parmesan
Quantity
I buy 5kg bags of house brand flour. 11 % gluten is sufficient to produce decent bread. No one has ever complained they’re just grateful to eat my bread and baking
Tinned tomatoes, the cheaper the better. They are only ever one component in a dish.
Eggs, sorry cheap for me. I’m not proud of battery farming but we by cheap eggs and support other causes.
Butter/spread, milk and other staples, they're all house brand again.
Fresh Veggies, we eat loads of whatever is at the peak of its season, fresh, cheap and delicious. Buy loads and eat it up.
Frozen Veggies, there aren't many meals I can think of that don't include at least some veggies. I keep a stock of frozen to supplement the fresh. Spinach and green beans (low carb, versatile and long keeping) are always in my freezer and I also often have some mixed veg to add to a cottage pie or that type of dish. I don't find peas as useful as beans but buy em if you like em. Frozen stir fry blends can also be a life saver. I add them to one pan rice dishes when fresh are in short supply. No effort and no waste.