Cost Caveats

I just wanted to list out the things to keep in mind as you glance at my costs that will now be included in most posts going forward!

1) This only includes new ingredients I must purchase. This means that typically spices and baking basics (think flour, sugar, vanilla, cornmeal, etc.) are already included because I keep my kitchen full of those.
2) This also means some "staples" will not be included. For instance, rice. I buy large portions of rice at once and only use a cup or so at a time, making the bags last a long time. I do not include this in my cost, but also believe it would not add much since just a fraction of a container is used each time.
3) All costs are based on meals for TWO people, but I will note when the portions came out much too large or much too small (which is rare for my kitchen.) Please adjust the cost accordingly if you are cooking for a different number.
4) I purchase all of my meats, seafood, and vegetables from Whole Foods. I only purchase sustainable seafood and grass-fed free-range meat (a standard for Whole Foods.) This means these are at the high-end of a cost for a meal but I believe you achieve the best results with the best ingredients. However, clearly you can spend less by going to a non-gourmet supermarket.
5) Costs are by the meal. So the cost includes the entree as well as the side dishes. You'll have to estimate on your own to determine what just a piece of this meal would be.