I'm an executive Costco member and cookbook author. I swear by these 10 ingredients for simple, delicious meals.

I swear by Costco's food selection.

Alyse Whitney

When I was developing recipes for my cookbook "Big Dip Energy: 88 Parties in a Bowl for Snacking, Dinner, Dessert, and Beyond!" I visited Costco frequently, stocking up on dairy, produce, and crunchy dippers.I was there so often that I realized, based on my spending habits, I'd already have money back if I upgraded to an executive membership. So, I moved on up to the black-card lifestyle.Over time, I've streamlined which cost-saving items are worth buying in bulk. Some of them are everyday staples for simply delicious meals, and others are little upgrades that transform a basic dinner into something spectacular.

I'll buy S&W Organic chickpeas for quick, protein-packed meals.

I use chickpeas for salads, soups, and homemade hummus.