I pay for Costco's $120 executive membership even though I only shop for 2. Here are some of my favorite buys.

Nothing can compete with homemade sauce, so I always make my own with Cento San Marzano peeled tomatoes.

I use these canned plum tomatoes for rich Sunday meat sauces and fresh pizza marinaras.

A pack of three cans is $12 at my local Costco.

Kirkland Signature organic chicken stock is good enough to compete with my homemade version. It also contains less sodium than other brands I've seen, so I don't feel too bad about not making my own.

I use the stock in ribollita, French onion soup, risotto, and chicken cacciatore.

Just about any recipe that calls for water can be improved by using good-quality stock instead.

A box of six containers of chicken stock costs $10 at my location.

Kirkland Signature Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano-Reggiano hold up for months in the refrigerator, so I always purchase both at Costco.

I get triple the cheese than I would if I bought a block at my local grocery store.

I paid $11.50 and $10.80 per pound for Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses, respectively.

Though nearly 4 pounds of Nestos fire-roasted peppers may seem excessive, I always run out before my next trip to Costco.

I put them on everything from salads and sandwiches to my morning eggs.

Each jar of peppers costs $8.70 at my store.

I love having scallops as a treat, and though the ones from Kirkland Signature aren't cheap, each bag is enough to make four dinners.

As someone who's worked in many restaurants, I think these are the best-quality frozen scallops available.

When they thaw, they smell like they just came out of the ocean. Just be sure to dry them thoroughly before cooking.

A bag of scallops costs $36 at my location.

Although my local grocery store usually carries Purdue or Tyson chicken for a bit cheaper, I prefer the Kirkland Signature version.

I'm willing to pay more for Kirkland Signature's quality because the chicken always tastes delicious.

On this trip, I paid $25 for chicken thighs.

I love cooking with kalamata olives, especially when making dishes like pasta puttanesca.

However, I often steer away from them because most store-bought brands require tedious pitting. Thankfully, with the Parthenon brand, all the work is already done.

The olives themselves hold up well for several weeks in the refrigerator, so I don't have to worry about waste.

A jar of kalamata olives costs about $8 at my location.

Kirkland Signature top-round steak is excellent for London broil.

I cut the meat into 1 ½-pound pieces, vacuum seal each portion, and freeze them.

I paid about $30 for a top-round steak at Costco.

I love the quality of Kirkland Signature cage-free eggs, an ingredient that's essential for so many dishes.

At $4.70 per 24-count package, the price can't be beaten.

Even my local Walmart can't do better on the price of paper towels.

I find the Kirkland Signature paper towels to be every bit as good as top brands like Bounty.

A 12-count pack costs $19.50 at my store.

I like La Croix because it doesn't have the artificial taste I often detect in other flavored waters.

Unlike Pellegrino or other sparkling mineral waters, it's completely sodium-free.

A 24-count pack of La Croix usually costs $9 at my local Costco.

As someone who spent many years in the wine business, I always buy a few bottles of Kirkland Signature Barolo when available.

Barolo is a northern Italian wine made from the Nebbiolo grape, and its style can vary widely.

This one is on the lighter side and is very dry yet refreshingly acidic, with a pleasant touch of spice. It pairs beautifully with anything from London broil to scallops.

It may have a plain label, but it's among the best values I've ever seen for an Italian wine.

Each bottle costs $20 at my store.

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