Saving Money on Great Food With Classic Chicken Stock, Demi Glace, and Other Gourmet Sauces

Some of us are lucky enough to have professional culinary training. Then again, maybe luck is not really a factor. Good culinary schools are grueling. Anyone who knows a trained chef has probably heard the stories about how hard it is to make it through, and getting started in a professional kitchen is even harder. It can be a nightmare. It's not for everyone. But you don't have to go quite that far to make some really good meals at home. There are many reasons for learning some new cooking skills, including health factors, financial factors, and even some social factors. Here are a few things to consider when you want to make some great meals at home while you have fun and save some money.

Most cooks and chefs seem to agree that fresh ingredients are the key to good dishes. A few professional chefs have even confessed that they do not have to really do much to make a meal great when the ingredients are of the highest quality. They just let the ingredients speak for themselves. When it comes to buying foods and ingredients, it really is worth it to try to buy from local, privately owned businesses when you can. This is especially true with produce. Farmers' markets are popping up all over the place, and they are making it easier than ever to buy great, fresh produce at low prices. It may be easier to go out at 2am to an all-night grocery store chain, but some of them can be pretty pricey, especially if you are trying to get organic produce. If you can find a family green grocer who is a regular at a local flee market, farmer's market, or market district store, it's a good idea to become pals. Family owned produce businesses tend to provide great fruits and vegetables at really good prices. Once you get to know the owners, they usually give even better deals, especially if you tend to buy a lot at a time. While you are at it, it's not a bad idea to ask for advice on cooking the things you buy, and just on cooking in general. Many of these grocers have been in business for decades, talking with customers and exchanging ideas and recipes. They usually have some great recipes and advice for making everything from seasoned squash to a great chicken stock.

Another thing that you can do to take your cooking to the next level is to check out the gourmet sauces available on some websites. You can get everything, from hot sauce to barbeque sauce to the perfect demi glace sauce, bottled and ready to go, and usually at a reasonable price. These sound like they would be easy enough to make yourself, but they are usually not. Sauces usually have a lot to them, beyond the basic ingredients. Many chefs say it takes them years to really perfect certain sauces. It's really easy to mess up a sauce, but the ones that are done right can really make a dish. You can make an average chicken breast, brisket, fish fillet, or vegetarian dish taste like something from a five star restaurant with the right sauce. It's worth it to check out some of the sites, experiment, and see which sauces work best with your cooking patterns.

Another simple tip is to check out the internet for cooking sites and new equipment. You can find so many easy, fast, delicious recipes, and even videos to walk you through the cooking process. Kitchen appliances have also gotten less expensive, and a few new gadgets can save you tons of time and stress. A small investment now in some new cooking gear, sauces, and spices, can end up saving you a fortune when you consider what you would have paid to have a comparable meal at a restaurant. And, let's face it... bragging rights are pretty fun too. It's great to know that you can create a meal that will delight your family or guests. A little of online recipe research, a trip to a family green grocer, and a quick online purchase of the right sauces may be all you need to become the next culinary star in your circle of friends and family.

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