That ingredient that you just "had" to buy but ended up (793 views)

Beth,

That reminds me of the pricey bottle of walnut pesto that I bought at the farmers market (shopping outside in the nice weather is prime for impulse buying) and I think I only used 1/2 of the jar. And I will be using that walnut oil this week....

I've never heard of coffee flour before so just looked online. It sounds interesting, bet it gives a nice flavor.

I'm with you, finding a new ingredient/item that you like, whether something more novel or something you can enjoy often is always good.

Granulated honey! I had it in my mind and on my list, but once I found it I couldn't find the recipe that called for it. It's still sitting there.

Sherry vinegar. I had always heard it's so incredible and you have to get it!!! Is it nice? Yes. Do I ever really use it? No. Has it revolutionized my life? No.

Same here but, thankfully, the stuff keeps forever.

I *thought* I'd made a bad buy at Penzeys -- their "sweet curry - regular," but then I decided to sprinkle it on some Delicata squash (along with other spices like hot pepper flakes, garlic salt, lemon pepper and the other things we always put on: brown sug, butter). OMG That addicted me so much to the spice, that I began adding it to all my soups I make in my Instant Pot. NOW, I'm almost out of it and can't stand being without it so we are making a special trip to go buy some from our local Penzeys.

(Why I originally didn't think it was for us: we use HOT curry, not SWEET. Sweet on savory foods usually is a turnoff. So is cinnamon. So is nutmeg (golly, I hate that stuff). But I've learned to love the tang of those if used in moderation...along with curry powder. OHHHH soooo good. Gotta go get more. It's even good in cream of cauliflower soup. ANY soup. Anything. LOVE IT NOW!! Still buying Madras HOT, however. Addictive.)

Well, the first thing I thought of was the local wheat flour that I picked up at a market this summer, stuck in the freezer, and have never used! But, for the most part, I seem to pick up spices. Just the other day I ran into World Market to pick up some smoked paprika for chorizo and I also bought some sumac. I know I have some recipes in my to-try folder with it and I know I can use it to mix up some za'atar, but I don't have immediate plans for it! I once bought some Chinese five spice and it hung around forever, but it still smelled so strong when I opened it and I did end up using it all and even buying more eventually. The herbes de Provence didn't fare so well and it seemed to lose its potency more quickly. Also have a bottle of Everything Bagel from TJ's hanging around. Such interesting things in this thread! I've been considering gochujang and harrisa and pomegranate molasses for awhile, but haven't acquired them yet

It was specialty flours in our house - the Husband was into flour blends for a while we went to the co-op and got all sorts: sorghum, buckwheat, rye are the ones I remember. I still have several small tubs of something in the freezer with a cup or less. I should just pull those out and use'm up.

And for a while I was making my own gluten free flour mix, and after a couple years of mixing my own, I realized I could just buy a small bag of Bob's Red Mill when I needed it. So now I have these half bags of potato starch, rice flour and something else also languishing in the freezer.

Ah, speaking of Penzey's, which jiggled the early morning brain cells - I have two bottles of cardamom pods in the cupboard. Bought that when I was trying to teach myself how to cook Indian food.

Varaile,
If you are looking for something to do with your cardamom pods, these pistachio cardamom butter cookies from Epicurious are awesome--the best new cookie recipe I've made in quite some time.

Check out the King Arthur Flour website for recipes to use the potato starch.  I have a bread recipe (not GF) that it can be used in, but I sub potato flakes rather than buying another ingredient. 

If you use a peel to bake bread or pizza, rice flour is great for sprinkling on it to prevent the dough from sticking since it doesn't absorb water as readily as wheat flour.  I also sprinkle some on parchment squares when I form balls of pizza dough for later use.  Would probably work to keep fresh pasta from sticking too, though I haven't tried that yet.  

Charley - Your Trader Joe's bottle sitting until growing old made me laugh because I have had many bottles of mysterious things from TJ's sit unused, too. I think I have several right now. I think it's those taste tests they offer. I get all jacked (usually) when I'm in TJ's. I drink the wine, I drink the coffee, I eat the food and drink samples...and then I'm hooked on whatever they are selling but too often the jars get home and then just sit around.

I *can* vote for their Alfredo Sauce (in a jar). I doctor it up...sauteed onion, garlic, bell pepper, broccoli, artichoke hearts, cilantro, parsley, pinches of spices. Cook for a bit. Then boil some pasta and toss it and some of the pasta water AND some half and half...and maybe some Parmesan...maybe a small lump of butter... It's good. I do same with other brands from market, too. When I want something easy and fast.

BTW: The Instant Pot does a nice job on almost whole broccoli (head broken into 3rds, say) for 1 minute, then manual pressure release (not natural...I think that might over-steam it). I was surprised at how nice it came out. Not mushy. Then I placed that in a bowl and continued to use the IP (on SAUTE) for making the sauce. That Saute setting is very handy. I use it lots. I set it to low and gave it a stir every now and then, mostly when I added ingreds. I turned it off for a bit while the pasta was cooking. LOVE it! And gonna do that from now on.

Anyway, it would sure be nice to have a thread that tells of great PRE-MADE stuff we can buy and use (or doctor up). Especially those interesting ones from TJ's.

Those Dirt Bombs look to die for!!