The Cheap Gourmet

What's for Lunch? Seven Simple Lunch Ideas

Are you tired of eating leftovers and fast food lunches? If so, you'll love these easy-to-prepare meals for people on the go! If you plan on brown-bagging your lunch, I recommend making these recipes the night before. That way, you can grab your lunchbag as you head out the door. If you work from home or serve these recipes on weekends, you'll be happy to know all of them can be made in 30 minutes or less! Enjoy and Bon Appetit!

Monday: Sesame Ginger Turkey Salad: For less than $5.00 you can have a wonderful salad that will tantalize your tastebuds. Prepare the turkey the night before and reheat in the microwave before adding to the salad greens. Delicious!

Tuesday: Healthy Lunchmeat Wrap with Fresh Fruit: This is one of my personal all-time favorites! Make the sandwich wrap the night before and wrap it in butcher's paper or plastic wrap. Place the fruit in a Tupperware container and you have a cheap gourmet lunch that is certain to satisfy!

Wednesday: Spring Vegetable Soup: This soup is packed with flavor and super easy to make. I recommend making this soup one or two nights before. The flavors marry to create a burst of fresh flavor in every bite!

Thursday: Caribbean Caesar Chicken Salad: Baked chicken combined with fresh pineapple and mango chunks atop a fresh bed of romaine lettuce provides a delightful island flavor!

Friday: Gourmet Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich: This unique twist on a classic favorite is more like dessert than lunch. Dark chocolate peanut butter, raspberry preserves, macadamia nuts and shredded coconut are certain to delight your tastebuds and your sweet tooth! 

Saturday: Spicy Garlic Grilled Chicken Wings: This is my highly regarded "secret" wings recipe. Serve with potato salad, baked beans and fried pickles for a flavorful meal that is certain to please!

Sunday: Grilled Gourmet Sandwiches: Let your imagination run free and experiment with these super simple, exceptionally tasty gourmet sandwiches!

What's for Dinner? ~ Seven Cheap Gourmet Dinner Suggestions

Are you wondering what's for dinner? If so, here are 7 super simple cheap gourmet dinner suggestions:

Monday: Balsamic and Olive Oil Marinated Pork Shoulder Steaks. This entree is perfect with sides of macaroni and cheese and green beans. Add a slice of bread with butter or dipping oil or a hot dinner roll.

Tuesday: Baked Mahi Mahi Fish. Mahi is a delightful white fish with mild flavor. If Mahi Mahi isn't available, substitute with Talipia or Cod. Serve with a baked potato and peas or green beans.

Wednesday: Brie Stuffed Chicken Breast. This entree pairs well with roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes or baked potato and a side of corn.

Thursday: Gourmet Meatloaf. Pair with a fresh garden salad, mashed potatoes and green beans, corn or peas, and a hot dinner roll.

Friday: Gourmet Flatbread Pizzas. By the end of the week most people are too tired to cook. Try these indiviual personalized pizzas for a quick, easy meal.

Saturday: Gourmet Crab Legs. This super simple recipe yields scrumptious tasty crab legs so delicious you don't even need melted butter! Serve with a side salad, baked fries and corn-on-the-cob.

Sunday: Herb Crusted Chicken Breast. This is the perfect Sunday meal! Serve with baked sweet potato fries and steamed aspargus or mashed potatoes and green beans.

Chicken Breast Stuffed with Brie Cheese & Wrapped in Bacon

Last night, I whipped up an amazing chicken breast stuffed with brie cheese and wrapped in bacon. Unfortunately, my digital camera broke and I was unable to photograph my creation. However, it was so amazing I HAD to share the recipe with you. Once I purchase a new camera, I'll make the recipe again and add some photos to this post. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this delicious entree as much as we did!

Chicken Breast Stuffed with Brie Cheese and Wrapped in Bacon

Ingredients:

2 6-ounce Chicken Breasts

3 strips Bacon

4 slices Brie Cheese

Directions:

• Rinse chicken breasts and pat dry with a paper towel.

• Place chicken inside a quart-size plastic bag.

• Using a hammer, gently pound chicken until it's about 1/2-inch thick. Or, use a meat mallet.

• Place two 1/4-inch slices of Brie cheese in the center of the breast.

• Fold chicken breast twice, making sure cheese stays tucked inside.

• Wrap each breast with 1-1/2 slices of bacon. Secure with toothpicks.

• Place on broiler pan, then place in broiler.

• Broil for 7 minutes, then turn chicken breast and broil for another 7 minutes.

• Remove from broiler and let sit for 3-4 minutes.

• Remove toothpicks.

• Transfer to serving plate and enjoy!

HURRY! Don't Miss the Cooking.com Kitchen Makeover Contest

Cooking.com is currently hosting a $2500 Kitchen Makeover Contest. Entries must be received by midnight PST on Wednesday, February 11th. The winner can choose any products they would like from the Cooking.com website, with the exception of large appliances and products from merchant partners. A complete list of merchant partners and official sweepstakes rules are posted directly on the website.

If you have never visited Cooking.com, you're in for a treat! This is one of my favorite kitchenware merchants. They have pretty much anything you could possibly need for cooking, including a fabulous recipe collection.

One feature of Cooking.com's recipe collection is you can search recipes according to your lifestyle. With a few clicks of your mouse, you can find a variety of recipes suited to your needs. Cooking.com offers recipes for people on low-sodium diets, vegans, vegetarians, low-carb dieters and more. It's a nice feature that helps you find exactly what you are looking for quickly and effortlessly. Additionally, you can add your favorite recipes to the website - cool beans, eh?

Should you decide to shop during your visit to Cooking.com, be certain to take advantage of the $7.95 flat-rate shipping offer. Enter Coupon Code C98329 at checkout. Some restrictions apply. The flat rate is not available for residents of Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Territories or Canada.

I wish you the best of luck in the sweepstakes. If you win, please stop by and let us know! Now, hurry on over to Cooking.com and get your entry in. Time is ticking....

Super Simple "Leftover" Chicken Pasta Recipe

The following Super Simple Chicken Pasta Recipe was created using leftover chicken and a variety of pastas. Do you ever have boxes with just a little bit of pasta left in them? If so, this recipe is the perfect solution!

Here's what you need to make this tasty dish. Feel free to add or delete spices and veggies to create your own unique pasta dish.

8 ounces Dried Pasta - I used penne, shells and bowtie pasta

1 or 2 Chicken breasts, diced (You could use dark or white meat or a combination)

2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 cloves Garlic, minced

1/2 White or Yellow onion, chopped

1 Green Bell Pepper, chopped

1 Jalapeno Pepper, seeds removed and minced

1 Tomato, seeded and chopped

1 ounce freshly grated Parmesan Cheese (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Using a 6-quart pot, fill about 2/3rd's of the way with water to boil the pasta.

Place the pot on a stove burner and turn on High. Add about 1 teaspoon of salt, if desired and a teaspoon of olive oil (helps to keep the pasta from sticking).

Add pasta to boiling water and cook for 10-12 minutes.

Add 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil to 12-inch skillet. Place on stovetop burner and turn heat to Medium.

Add garlic and onion. Saute until onion becomes translucent; about 4 minutes.

Add green bell and jalapeno peppers and cook for 3 minutes.

Add diced chicken.

When pasta is thoroughly cooked, drain water and add to veggie mixture in the skillet.

Reduce heat to Low.

Add tomatoes and gently toss. Cook all ingredients for 4-5 minutes.

Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Feel free to add in additional spices such as Mrs. Dash, basil, oregano or parsley.

Transfer to serving bowl and enjoy!

Add a yummy salad and freshly baked bread (Pillsbury has a fabulous French bread loaf!) for a satisfying meal.

Attention All Java Junkies - Get Your Fix with the "I Love Coffee Kit"

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a Java Junkie. If I don't have 3 cups of coffee in the morning, I'm pretty much grumpy all day. There's just something about a good cup of Joe that makes me happy (and keeps me regular, LOL!).

I can honestly say I've tasted just about every coffee on the planet. From the ridiculously expensive, but oh-so-exquisite, Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee to the cheapo no-name brands and everything in between. I pretty much like 'em all unless the flavor is too strong or bitter. I'm not a big fan of Espresso. It makes me a little too zingy.

A few years back, I worked with a woman who was starting her own coffee business. She specialized in organic coffees and roasted the beans herself. It was good stuff! 

I helped her with sales copy and marketing materials in exchange for coffee. Each month she sent me a shipment of freshly roasted beans. It was like Christmas! I'd practically run to the door and rip the package out of the UPS driver's hands. If this sounds like something you'd do, you're a Java Junkie too!

The business was starting to take off when she was called to military duty. Unfortunately, I lost contact with her and all attempts to locate her have failed thus far. I was sad to lose track of a wonderful business associate and sad to lose my coffee :-(

I'll admit it... I was spoiled. I didn't have to pay for coffee and it was shipped, freshly roasted, right to my doorstep. Thing is, I really don't care for store brand coffees. I was introduced to high-quality organic coffees way back in the 90s while working at a health food store. I received an employee discount and could drink all the coffee I wanted at work for free.

The thought of having to actually pay for coffee was more than I could bear. Like I've said before, they don't call me The Cheap Gourmet for nothing!

Which brings me to the primary focus of this post.

I discovered Gevalia Kaffe years ago. I've had service with them 3 or 4 times and am currently receiving a monthly shipment.

I'll be honest. The coffee is somewhat pricey, but it's worth every penny. In reality, it is no more expensive than high-quality coffee purchased at a retail store. Plus, there are some serious perks and high-end gifts for coffee club members.

When you join the coffee club, you can select the type of coffee you want (whole beans or ground), select from a wide range of varietals, how many 1/2-pound boxes you want, and how often you want your coffee shipped. You can change your selections at any time and suspend shipments whenever you need to.

The "I Love Coffee Kit"~ Perfect for Valentine's Day!

Gevalia is currently offering the "I Love Coffee Kit", which is perfect for Valentine's Day. For $22.95 (plus $5.95 shipping & handling), you receive:

• 2 half-pound boxes of Gevalia Kaffe

• 12-cup programmable coffee maker (It's very nice and brews a good cup!)

• 1 litre Stainless Steel thermal carafe

• 14-ounce Stainless Steel travel mug

You can receive this $168 gift for only $28.90! Now, that's what I call a bargain! And, there is no obligation to continue your subscription if you don't want to. However, I can tell you that once you try Gevalia coffee you won't want to go back to boring beans.

Gesh, I'm starting to sound like a saleswoman. Sorry about that! I'm really not trying to sell you anything. I just want everyone to know about this yummy coffee and the cool gifts ;-)

Seriously though, give Gevalia a try. If you don't like the coffee, cancel your subscription and keep the gifts. The best thing is, your gifts will help you save money because you can brew a pot of coffee at home, fill up your travel mug, and avoid spending money on a cup of coffee on your way to work. Eliminating that expense will more than cover your monthly subscription.

Click on the pretty picture below and take advantage of the "I Love Coffee Kit" order TODAY!

You might also enjoy the following articles (written by me!):

Coffees from Around the Globe

A Guide to Coffee and Tea Condiments

Gift Ideas for Coffee and Tea Lovers

 

Campbell's Supper Swap Sweepstakes

Campbell's (the infamous soup company) is currently hosting the Campbell's Supper Swap Sweepstakes, which ends on February 28, 2009. The Grand Prize winner will receive four (4) Chicago Cutlery 18-piece Knife Sets valued at $720.

The sweepstakes corresponds with Campbell's "Supper Swap Club" -- an innovative way to share food amongst friends. Campbell's offers a free downloadable brochure explaining the idea, along with tips for making your supper swap successful.

In a nutshell, the Supper Swap Club involves preparing monthly meals for other families. Everyone makes a meal (or more), then swaps their meal for another. I think this is a great way to share and have enlisted by neighbors to give this a try for a month or two.

What's exciting is one of my neighbors is on a raw-food diet. Although raw food isn't really on the Campbell's list of food exchange ideas, I am excited to learn more about eating only raw foods. I'm game for anything involving food and am eager to try a raw food meal.

If you enjoy cooking and sharing your recipes with others, give the Campbell's Supper Swap a try. Start by visiting www.CampbellsSupperSwap.com. Enter the sweepstakes to win the Chicago Cutlery Knife Set for you and your friends. Download the Supper Swap Club brochure.

Click on "Get Started" to create personalized evites for potential club members. If you win the Grand Prize, share your knife sets with participants. Be sure to entice them by telling them you will be sharing your prize if they share their favorite dishes! Afterall, a litle bribery never hurts :-)

The Campbell's Supper Swap website provides tasty, delicious recipes for the entire year. If you can't find what you're looking for, then head over to www.CampbellsKitchen.com, where you'll find recipes for breakfast to dinner and everything in between. You can setup your own recipe box to save your favorite recipes and retrieve them whenever you want.

Between these two websites, you should never need to wonder "What's for Dinner Tonight?"

Good Luck with the Sweepstakes. I hope you Win!!

Calling All Top Chef Fans - Enter the QuickFire Challenge Today!

Are you a Top Chef fan? Personally, I'm addicted to it. Although Stefan definitely has talent, he's a bit too arrogant for me. I'm rooting for Hosea and Carla and would be happy for either of them to win. Fabio seems like a great guy, but I'm not so certain he'll make it to the final four. And, while I hold nothing against Leah, when she quit during the fish cleaning challenge, I question her abilities as a Top Chef. Chefs can't quit no matter how tough the situation.

While watching Episode 11 last night, Top Chef aired a commercial inviting all chefs to enter the Quaker Oats Quickfire Challenge. Winners will be flown to New York City to compete against other Top Chef fans.

The Quaker Oats Quickfire Challenge ends on February 27, 2009, so it's time to get creative in the kitchen and test, test, test. However, before you begin be certain to read the Quaker Oats Quickfire Challenge rules.

My mind is racing with ideas after browsing the Quaker Oats recipes. I didn't realize you could do so many different things with oats. All this time, I've only eaten oats for breakfast or made cookies. Suddenly, a whole new world has opened up! I can't wait to get in the kitchen and start experimenting.

Even if you decide not to enter the contest, you can find exciting new recipes at both the Quaker Oats and Bravo TV websites. And, you're always welcome to try any of the recipes presented on The Cheap Gourmet blog.

Good luck with the Quaker Oats QuickFire Challenge!