The most expensive ingredient you use?

[Rashid]

There are many ingredients we just cannot live without and some, which are more "exotic", tend to also be a tad overpriced. Do you have such pricey ingredients? Which one?

[mcnerd]

In my frugal household its probably white pepper and cardamom.

[Ralphy]

Hmm.. i cannot recall any.
I do the sopping and i don't think i ever bought something more expensive.. We use pepper, but the regular one and salt and other known spices, and they all have a reasonable price.
________
Emilia live (http://camslivesexy.com/cam/Emilia)

[Spiritwolf]

In our house its always seafood and the thing we cant live without.... Fruits and Veggies, they are so expensive, but we need them... they are a must here anyway, I wish they were a lot cheaper,but unfortunately NOT!!!

[NOCHEF&JUSTLOVESFOOD.YUM]

With me, I would have to say Saffron. I just LOVE it! But, it does go a long ways, so used correctly it is not really that exspensive. I am salaried and work about 60 hours a week so I find a new recipe, buy the best ingrediants that I can, and try the recipe "as is". If I like the outcome, I can change it to my personal tastes next time. Cooking for me, and the love of cooking and presenting to family and friends is a big thrill.

[Samuel]

Caviar. Really expensive stuff. A true delicacy. Only used it once. I wish I lived in Russia...it's cheaper over there! Or Iran...or Japan. Also, the bone spoons are high-class. :rolleyes: It tastes very...different. I mean, so many flavors in one bite.

[she_cookie]

I think olive oil is the most expensive ingredient i use in the kitchen..
I always have it in the house (actually.. in the kitchen) and i use it pretty often when i cook.
That's the only expensive ingredient i use, the rest have normal prices :)
________
grape ape (http://trichomes.org/marijuana-strains/grape-ape)

[Denton15]

I don't buy it very often because it is expensive, but my most expensive ingredient is probably saffron. My husband was Cornish and he loved Saffron Cake which is more like a fruit loaf than cake. If you are interested the recipe is here http://www.greenchronicle.com/connies_cornish_kitchen/saffron_cake.htm

[wildfire]

I've seen several people say saffron, and I think I have to agree. Although recently I have been using a lot of caviar, so that might have moved up to the most expensive ingredient.

[Big Daddy's House]

Dough Boy, that abuser is no longer with us either. His post were also deleted.

[Dough Boy]

Thank you.

[Tuscan chef]

Saffron, when possible truffle. vanilla from Mauritius islands

[Big Daddy's House]

I've never used truffle or the oil.

I've used saffron. I priced some at the local market the other day and it is INDEED expensive.

[QSis]

Imported pure vanilla and fleur de sel, are the pricier things I use most often.

Lee

[samue1eb]

I would have to say extra virgin olive oil and vanilla bean paste (for ice cream).

[Big Daddy's House]

Vanilla beans, themselves, are expensive.

[Whoopie Pie]

I would have to say, olive oil, vanilla beans and cheese. I like good cheese! Thankfully between BJ's club and Trader Joe's, I can get cheeses at a more reasonable price than supermarkets and specialty stores. We also have a local Italian importer that has a small market, that carries spectacular products at great prices, for instance DOP San Marzano tomatoes for under $3 per 28oz (I think that is the size).

[Big Daddy's House]

I would have to say, olive oil, vanilla beans and cheese. I like good cheese! Thankfully between BJ's club and Trader Joe's, I can get cheeses at a more reasonable price than supermarkets and specialty stores. We also have a local Italian importer that has a small market, that carries spectacular products at great prices, for instance DOP San Marzano tomatoes for under $3 per 28oz (I think that is the size).



Especially EVOO. It is said to be more expensive that REGULAR olive oil. :eek:

[Semigourmet]

and depending on the brand BDH it can be very high in price.

[cookingwithliz]

sesame oil, saffron and caviar all of which I don't use very often.

[awesomeapril]

Everything is pretty expensive when my kids won't eat anything and I throw a bunch away.
:(
When do taste buds come in? Late teens? Argh.

haha when my sister and I were little she was very picky, but it worked out well for me because I got to eat what she didn't want!

[Big Daddy's House]

I just boght some celery seed the other day, and even THAT is expensive as well!

Seem that ALL dried herbs has gone up in price!!

[awesomeapril]

When I splurge on food, its normally cheese. I love good cheese.
My sister brought me back balsamic from Italy that is the best I've ever had. I think that must have been pretty expensive... haha not to mention that she had to check it and fly it over!

[Big Daddy's House]

And speaking of cheese, Parmesano Reggiano has also gotten ridiculously expensive!

[lovemypa]

Sesame oil and cheese for sure. Meat's not cheap either, really.

[HattoriHanzo]

The most expensive ingredients I use would be truffles, vanilla bean and saffron. Luckily with truffles a little bit goes a long way. I noticed that some posters found evoo expensive. In Adelaide I can buy a 4 L flagon of very fresh oil for about A$ 24 . Over here a Cray ( lobster) average size can set you back A$50 to A$80 dollars especially near Christmas. That is the down side of a healthy export market. Same with King prawns. Normally around A$35 / kilo.

[bhardy501]

I have a small bottle of Vanilla bean paste it was kind of pricey but its worth the expense. You use about 1/4 to 1/2 the amount of it that you would use of vanilla extract. The other item I dont mind spending extra on is my meats. We have a small butcher shop that has amazing meats. Its the only place I get my Brisketts for smoking. World of difference in buying good quality meat over Wally Worlds mass packaged stuff.

[stormbind]

me.

Time is money. I'm not suggesting that my time is particularly valuable, but cooking uses a disproportionate amount of it because I don't know what I am doing. And then, after throwing away my sixth burnt effort, I have to clean my mess!

That is expensive.

[chefette]

It would either be all the different salts I sue (my current favourite is sea salt that has been soaked in red wine and oregano - it makes the best roast potatoes) or French cheeses but that's only because I *have* to get them from France itself so have to catch the train over hehe.

[callstar]

Smoked Paprika - about $8 for a tablespoon worth. Amazing taste but I probably paid too much.

[jimbo]

Smoked Paprika at Penzeys is $16/pound. Amazing the markup at the grocery store.

[HattoriHanzo]

I read a blog where a person cooked up a a Bolognaise and used a bottle of 1996 Penfolds Grange Hermitage in the sauce . This wine normally sells for about A$600. He was a nutter !!

[Big Daddy's House]

Don't remember using a wine for Bolgognaise.

[HattoriHanzo]

Red or White wine is an important ingredient in traditional Bolognaise sauce.

[LuvsToCook]

I also don;t know that wine can be mixed in bolognaise sauce. Can you give us some of your recipe using wine in bolognaise sauce?