More than once I’ve heard someone say that “no one really likes scotch, they just drink it because they think they should.” To that I say “don’t waste scotch by drinking it if you don’t like it!”
Scotch is something that has no business in a budget-conscious kitchen, but I really enjoy it once in awhile. Luckily (?) we have a bar here that, in addition to having outdoor fire pits and the Grateful Dead on continuous loop, has quite a wall of scotch. If that sounds like a weird combination to you, all I can say is it’s very Oregon. Though there are many to choose from I always end up choosing one I know I love, the one with “the smokiest flavor in all of Scotland,” Laphroaig.
Someday I will go to Islay and witness the introduction of the barley to its “famous companion peat” myself, but in the meantime this little video is fun to watch. Like I’ve watched it six or seven times in a row fun. Mmmmm.
If you don’t have good knives it’s easy to underestimate how important they are to good cooking. If you’re used to good knives, it’s just about impossible to cook without them.
While the knives themselves are crucial, knowing how to use them is also key. I know I have some of the basic skills I need (fingers curled away from the blade!), but one of these days I’d love to sign up for a class (like maybe the knife skills 101 class at Allyson’s Kitchen since I have it on good authority that it’s worth it.)
In the meantime, Chef YouTube taught me a handy way to chop onions that keeps things all together on the cutting board. There are many different onion-cutting techniques immortalized on video, but I’ve been using this one lately and have been happy with the results. It seems so obvious now, but I always cut off the root end before.
Making a carrot into a flute is much cooler than making one into a pipe. Not that I would know. If the above video doesn’t totally satisfy your vegetable music desires, check out this guy’s videos too.
I have no doubt that two people can eat for less than $75 a week, but can they eat well? More about this blog...
Here looking for menus & grocery lists?
I try to post a menu and accompanying grocery list each week that will feed two adults for $75. See all menus and lists.
You also might be interested in my "tools I use" posts that discuss how I put together my lists and try to stick to my budget. I will be adding to this list somewhat regularly.
I'm still working out some kinks in the menu posts, so if you have any questions about the posts or suggestions to make them more useful, please let me know.
