Cheap Summer Party Tip #4: Pantry Raid

The convenience of bottled dressings and marinades might save time but won't help your wallet. Get reacquainted with your pantry and think about how all those cans and bottles can spice up your food. Remember to always check the expiration date on cans and bottles to make sure that they are still good.

• Spicy Savings - Oh those little bottles of spices such as coriander or cumin! They were purchased for a special recipe and then never opened again. Browse through your pantry and give those spices a good sniff! Think about how they can enhance salads and side dishes. Try toasting them on high heat for a few minutes to release their oils and make them more pungent. Look online for simple recipes that use the spices that you have.
• Canned Foods - Beans please! Bulk out potato salad, salsas, pasta salads, and just about any other side dish with canned veggies or fruits. Add garbanzo beans to pasta salad or a can of corn to salsa. Make both your food and dollar stretch!
• Oil and Vinegar - Mix up your own marinades and dressings for green and pasta salads using the oil and vinegars that you have on hand. It doesn't have to be a fancy balsamic vinegar or gourmet oil as sometimes that can overpower a dish. Simply add a splash of fruit juice or a dash of spice into a basic O&V mix to boost its flavor.