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Buzz Feed
22-04-2025
- General
- Buzz Feed
As An Everyday Home Cook, These Are The 11 Little Ingredient Swaps I Make Weekly To Stay Under Budget Without Sacrificing Flavor
Hi, I'm Sydney — a busy mom of three who's had to rework my grocery list after my local store's prices all grocery stores, realistically. Gone are the days of getting a dozen eggs or a pound of ground beef for less than $6. When staples like avocados ($1–$2.50 each) or 32‑ounce tubs of Greek yogurt ($4.29) started feeling like luxuries, I began experimenting with alternatives that still let me put delicious, family‑approved meals on the table. Based on real local prices and lots of trial and error in my own kitchen, here are 11 smart, everyday swaps that answer all the little questions (like how to use up every drop of that chickpea liquid) and provide detailed guidance on yields and storage. Let's get into it! 1. Eggs → Tofu Scramble or Aquafaba for Baking The Swap: Tofu Scramble How: Crumble one block of tofu to replace roughly 4–5 eggs in a large scramble. Sauté with chopped onions and garlic, add a pinch of turmeric for color, and a dash of black salt to mimic that 'egg' aroma. Everyday Tip: Mix in any leftover veggies or a sprinkle of cheese for a hearty breakfast. Aquafaba for Baking How: Use 3 Tbsp of aquafaba (the liquid from your chickpea can) as a direct substitute for one egg in recipes like pancakes, muffins, or brownies. 2. Ground Beef → Mushroom + TVP Blend (or Ground Turkey with Beef Bouillon) The Swap: Mushroom + TVP Blend How: Rehydrate 1 cup of dry TVP (yielding about 2 cups rehydrated) in water with a bit of beef bouillon. Finely chop and sauté 1 cup of mushrooms with onions until browned, then mix with the TVP (and, optionally, a smaller portion of ground beef if desired). Everyday Tip: Add a splash of Worcestershire or soy sauce to enhance the meaty flavor; this blend works well in tacos, meatloaf, or spaghetti sauces. Ground Turkey with Beef Bouillon How: Brown ground turkey (usually $4.49–$6.49/lb) and stir in a diluted teaspoon or two of beef bouillon to recreate a beefy taste in your dish. Everyday Tip: Incorporate grated onions for moisture and extra savory flavor, which is ideal for burgers and meatloaf. 3. Avocado → Edamame 'Guac' or Pea & Ricotta Spread The Swap: Edamame 'Guac' How: Boil a 12‑oz bag of shelled edamame, then blend with 2 Tbsp lime juice, 1 small garlic clove, and a pinch of salt. Top with a few diced tomatoes if desired. Everyday Tip: This substitution delivers a similar creamy, green consistency with extra protein at a lower cost than buying multiple avocados. Pea & Ricotta Spread How: Mash a 12‑oz bag of peas with about 6–8 oz of ricotta. Add lemon zest, salt, and pepper. 4. Maple Syrup → Date Syrup or Brown Sugar 'Caramel' The Swap: Date Syrup How: Simmer 12 oz of pitted dates in enough water to cover for 10–15 minutes until soft, then blend until smooth. Optionally, add a pinch of salt or vanilla extract. Everyday Tip: Use as you would maple syrup on pancakes or oatmeal — the yield is about 1 cup of syrup per 12 oz bag of dates. Brown Sugar 'Caramel' How: Combine 1 cup brown sugar with 1 cup water in a saucepan; simmer for 5–7 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in a pat of butter or a splash of cream for extra richness. Everyday Tip: A sprinkle of salt finishes it off nicely — ideal over desserts or morning toast. 5. Ground Chicken → DIY Grind from Chicken Thighs The Swap: DIY Ground Chicken How: Purchase chicken thighs at $3.99/lb, trim any excess fat, and pulse in a food processor until coarsely ground. Use this as a substitute in recipes requiring ground chicken (like meatballs or burgers). Everyday Tip: A quick brine or marinade (salt and water) before grinding can add extra moisture and flavor. 6. Canned Non-Alcoholic Beverages → Mocktail Syrup & Fizzy Jam Drinks (plus Iced Herbal Teas) Local Prices: • Sparkling prebiotic drinks: $0.16/fl oz • Flavored sparkling water (store brand): $0.03/fl oz; name-brand: $0.03–$0.04/fl oz • Herbal tea bags: $4 per 20 bags The Swap: Mocktail Syrup & Fizzy Jam Drinks How: For a homemade syrup, simmer about 2 cups of frozen fruit (or use leftover jam) with 1 cup sugar and 1–2 Tbsp of vinegar until the mixture is syrupy (yields roughly 1 cup). Mix 1–2 Tbsp of this syrup into 8–10 fl oz of sparkling water, add a squeeze of lemon or lime. Everyday Tip: Garnish with a sprig of mint; it's a fun twist on your usual prebiotic or flavored sparkling water. Iced Herbal Teas How: Brew 20 tea bags (a $4 box) into a strong concentrate, chill, and serve over ice. Everyday Tip: Freeze any leftover juice in ice cube trays and drop them in for a slow-release flavor burst. 7. Yogurt → Make Your Own or Blended Cottage Cheese The Swap: Make Your Own Yogurt How: Heat 1 gallon of milk to 180°F, cool to 110°F, stir in 1–2 Tbsp plain yogurt as a starter, then keep it warm; placing it in the oven with the oven light on for 6–8 hours works. Chill once set. Yield Comparison: The homemade batch can yield multiple quarts, reducing the cost to about $0.79 per serving. Everyday Tip: Flavor it with fresh fruit, honey, or jam once set, and use part of each batch to start the next. Blended Cottage Cheese How: Blend a 24‑oz tub of cottage cheese with a splash of milk until smooth for a creamy, protein-rich substitute. Everyday Tip: Use this as a base for dips, parfaits, or as a topping for baked dishes. 8. Vanilla Extract → Vanilla Sugar The Swap: Vanilla Sugar How: Split one vanilla bean (roughly $5) and mix it into 1–2 cups of sugar (from a $2.59 bag), letting it infuse for at least one week. Everyday Tip: Use it in baked goods, to sweeten coffee, or over cereal — this batch can flavor many recipes, drastically reducing repeat extract purchases. 9. Cooking Oil → Steam-Fry Technique & Rendered Drippings Mariya Borisova / Getty Images The Swap: Steam-Fry Technique How: Start with about 1 tsp of oil in your pan, then add small splashes of water or broth to prevent sticking, and finish with a light drizzle of oil if needed. Everyday Tip: This method cuts oil usage significantly while still achieving a good sauté on your veggies or meats. Rendered Drippings How: After roasting chicken or bacon, strain the warm drippings into a clean, heat-proof container. Storage: Refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month. Everyday Tip: Use a spoonful to sauté onions or mushrooms; the deep, savory flavor will enhance your dish without an extra oil cost. 10. Packaged Snacks → Bulk-Aisle Alternatives Local Prices: • Pre-packaged snacks are generally marked up due to branding and packaging. The Swap: Instead of buying branded snack packs, opt for bulk options: Bulk Popcorn Kernels: These can be popped on the stove or in a popcorn maker at a fraction of the cost. Bulk Store-Brand Crackers and Dried Fruits: Mix and match for a custom snack mix that kids will enjoy. Everyday Tip: These alternatives let you control portions and flavors without paying extra for packaging. 11. Cereal → Homemade Granola or Overnight Oats Catinsyrup / Getty Images Local Prices: • Name-brand cereal (16 oz box): Approximately $6–$7 • Rolled oats: $4.39 per 42 oz bag The Swap: Homemade Granola: Mix rolled oats (from a 42-oz bag costing $4.39) with a bit of oil, sweetener (like honey), and dried fruit; bake until golden. This batch can yield several servings, significantly undercutting the cost of a $6–$7 box of cereal. Overnight Oats: Combine rolled oats with milk or homemade yogurt and fruit in a jar, and refrigerate overnight for a ready-to-eat breakfast. Everyday Tip: Using rolled oats is a fraction of the cost and allows you to control sugar and flavor — resulting in a more nutritious, budget-friendly start to your day. There you have it: 11 grocery swaps backed by local pricing and real-life tips to help you beat rising food costs without sacrificing flavor. Whether you're switching out expensive eggs for tofu or aquafaba, cutting ground beef costs with a mushroom-TVP blend, or turning pricey maple syrup into homemade date syrup, each of these swaps offers a practical alternative that works in my kitchen and can easily work in yours. I'm curious: What swaps have you tried at home? Do you have any other smart ideas that help keep your grocery bill in check without cutting flavor? Share your thoughts in the comments, and for more no-nonsense kitchen hacks and smart grocery tips, follow me on Instagram at @sydneyinsuburbia. Want access to our free (!) library of 7,500+ recipes, including our top budget-friendly meals? Download our free Tasty app for iOS and Android to get 'em all — no subscription required. BuzzFeed
Washington Post
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
A play about the Parkland shooting is somehow both poignant and entertaining
'Guac' might not sound like a piece that naturally accommodates exultant air guitar. Manuel Oliver's solo show reflects on unfathomable loss and horror: the death of his 17-year-old son, Joaquin, and 16 others during the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Could there be room in such a performance for upbeat shredding?
