![\"IMG_5539\"](\"http:\/\/www.relishments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/IMG_5539.jpg\" "\\"IMG_5539\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nBuy spices in bulk<\/strong> <\/p>\n Spices are expensive. They also have the ability to make a meal. So, whenever possible (and I can only think of one instance in the past couple years where this didn\u2019t work), I buy our spices from the bulk jars at our local food co-op. I\u2019ve bought a jars worth of herbs for 17 cents, which is a vast improvement over the 4 or 5 dollars you\u2019ll pay at the supermarket. And you don\u2019t need to buy new spice jars either, we just refill our supermarket jars.<\/p>\n Freeze fresh ginger<\/strong><\/p>\n This tip is from my mother-in-law and it\u2019s served us well. Don\u2019t be afraid of buying a big piece of fresh ginger at the supermarket because your recipe only calls for an inch (or, worse yet, avoid the recipe entirely). Buy it, use what you need and then store the rest of the ginger in a sealed plastic bag in your freezer. Next time you need ginger, just take it out. I don\u2019t even defrost it before grating it.<\/p>\n \u2026and nuts<\/strong><\/p>\n Maybe everyone else already knew this, but it was a long time before I discovered that nuts can go bad. So now, any nuts I\u2019m not using live in our freezer. Even better, we can buy nuts when they\u2019re cheap (or we\u2019re at Trader Joe\u2019s) and then use them when we need them. I generally don\u2019t defrost them before use either.<\/p>\n Use yogurt<\/strong><\/p>\n I don\u2019t think I\u2019m going to buy sour cream anymore. Why? Because I\u2019ve realized that the plain Greek yogurt that\u2019s almost always in our fridge is practically the same thing. What\u2019s the point of that? Next time, I\u2019m just using the yogurt.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t usually ask, but does anyone have a favorite kitchen tip or trick they\u2019d like to share?<\/em><\/p>\n