What food items do you splurge on $$$ wise?

Mithridites wrote: »

AnnPT77 wrote: »

My favorite dark-roasted crunchy peanut butter, which - unfortunately - is pricey.

What brand are you partial to? Sounds like something I’d want to splurge on too.
I’m really enjoying the switch from quantity to quality with my food these days.

Santa Cruz Organic Dark Roasted Crunchy (also comes in creamy). Hard to find, had to buy last batch online.

I'm not obsessively organic, so that part is coincidence. For a while when I first got well into eating peanut butter (recent, didn't like it for most of adult life), I was trying every brand I could find that was just peanuts and salt (had already quickly decided salt was important to me). I tried everything from store brands to national brands to health food type brands, from various store types, anything crunchy-style that was peanuts and salt. Some are mysteriously super-oily, some brands seem to taste slightly off or rancid as if the peanuts were old, etc. This is thick in a meaty way, tastes like fresh-roasted peanuts, and the dark-roasted aspect was a wonderful discovery.

I still try the odd new-to-me brand, but so far this is just better. Pricey, though, like 8 bucks a jar.

YMMV.

I'd say any fresh fruit or veggies I want. I don't look at those prices and I get what I'm craving.

beulah81 wrote: »

AnnPT77 wrote: »

Mithridites wrote: »

AnnPT77 wrote: »

My favorite dark-roasted crunchy peanut butter, which - unfortunately - is pricey.

What brand are you partial to? Sounds like something I’d want to splurge on too.
I’m really enjoying the switch from quantity to quality with my food these days.

Santa Cruz Organic Dark Roasted Crunchy (also comes in creamy). Hard to find, had to buy last batch online.

I'm not obsessively organic, so that part is coincidence. For a while when I first got well into eating peanut butter (recent, didn't like it for most of adult life), I was trying every brand I could find that was just peanuts and salt (had already quickly decided salt was important to me). I tried everything from store brands to national brands to health food type brands, from various store types, anything crunchy-style that was peanuts and salt. Some are mysteriously super-oily, some brands seem to taste slightly off or rancid as if the peanuts were old, etc. This is thick in a meaty way, tastes like fresh-roasted peanuts, and the dark-roasted aspect was a wonderful discovery.

I still try the odd new-to-me brand, but so far this is just better. Pricey, though, like 8 bucks a jar.

YMMV.

It is excellent, just like you say! At the moment walmart.com has it in stock. 6 jars for $34.08.

That's a really good price. If I weren't stocked up, I'd order some (I see they're out of single jars, too).

For those who may be interested, this looks like the one I enjoy: Just peanuts & salt. Santa Cruz has a wide range of peanut butters, including a Dark Roasted Crunchy (or Creamy) no-stir version, which is *not* just peanuts and salt, and is not the same, to me, enjoyment wise. Read carefully!

Good coffee!

Flavored gourmet balsamic vinegar. I go through tons, using it as salad dressing, marinade, on fruit, in slaws.

Once or twice a year, I drag out the car, drive an hour across town, and buy a case of wine bottle sized vinegars. I use about a bottle and a half a month. Heaven help me if all this vinegar makes my teeth fall out or something, but I’ve tried other brands and I do love this particular one. I told the clerk, who was kinda looking funny at me, that this was my weight loss secret, and they should put me in ads.

I went Monday, and nearly had a stroke at the final total, but then I reminded myself (rationalized?!) I don’t drink, and if I were buying wine on a regular basis, I’m sure a decent wine would have been easily twice the price.

I am fully stocked on enough dark chocolate, strawberry, blueberry, and honey/ginger (makes a great light and tangy stir fry) to last me at least eight months. Merciful heavens, I hate that drive, but the shipping on that stuff is ridonculous.

Best olive oils. Once I found a fav I order it in bulk.

Katmary71 wrote: »

My biggest splurge is herbs/spices. I get good quality from Trader Joe's and Costco but spend a good chunk of money on Penzey spices or The Spice House.

Yes, I can very much see this as something I want to do often. Usually I do find herbs and seasonings available by ounce and I only buy a small amount. When I see something different or very unique I will purchase. I have found few great Sea salt mixtures at Homegoods.