The Cheap Gourmet

How to Make Restaurant Quality Sauces at Home

Yesterday, I was in the process of making Philly Cheese Steaks when I realized I was out of cheese sauce. One area of cooking that I have never excelled at is making sauces. I love sauces. They can enhance or completely alter just about any food. The problem is most store bought sauces contain lots of ingredients that aren't all that great for you like tons of sodium and the evil MSG.

I immediately went online to locate a homemade cheese sauce. The ingredients were few and the recipe quite simple. Problem was the sauce ended up being a big ole' glop of yuckiness. Needless to say our Philly Cheese Steaks were served naked.

I decided that I was going to conquer my sauce illiteracy once and for all. I scoured the Internet for sauce recipes and cooking videos. Then I discovered "How to Make Restaurant Quality Sauces at Home".

This instant download ebook is packed with mouth-watering sauce recipes including Merlot Sauce, Roasted Red Pepper Sauce, Mushroom Sauce, Peppercorn Sauce, Mustard Tarragon Sauce, Hazelnut Cream Sauce and Orange Sauce.

One thing I love about ebooks is the fact that I can print out the recipe. If I slop food on it, it's no big deal. I just print another copy. The second thing I love about ebook cookbooks is they are affordable. I don't know if you have priced hardbound cookbooks lately, but the cheapest ones I have found are in the $30 to $40 price range.

What sold me on "How to Make Restaurant Quality Sauces at Homes" is the fact that I can save a boatload of money on sauces. Just last week, I paid over $12 for a bottle Merlot Wine sauce. By mastering homemade sauces, I can easily slash my cost by 75-percent.

If you love sauces as much as I do, check out "Restaurant Quality Sauces". For only $11.95, this cookbook is a great deal. It's backed by a 100% Satisfaction, Money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. And, best of all, if you order today you will also receive a free bonus gift of "Chef Richard's Chef's Special Sampler" - a collection of 20 tastebud tantalizing delights.

Dessert University: Cook Like a Chef, Even If You Can't Boil Water

Dessert University is the coolest thing I've ever seen! This multi-media collection includes over 100,000 recipes and step-by-step videos you can download to your computer and access at any time. The Dessert University package includes chocolate recipes, vanilla recipes, dessert recipes, candy recipes, sweet recipes and cooking lessons.

With Dessert University you can learn how to make any dessert known to man (or woman!). Expert videos will teach you how to make brownies, torts, truffles, cakes, exotic desserts, international desserts, death-by-chocolate desserts, gourmet quality desserts, and even health conscious desserts. You will be the envy of your friends, family and neighbors and everyone will invite you to their pitch-in events. With the click of a button you can quickly and easily become a master in the kitchen!

By now you're probably wondering how much this culinary training course will cost you, right? Believe it or not, Dessert University is currently available for only $34.95. Yes, you read that right -- you can have access to mouth-watering, tantalizing-tastebud sensations for a mere $34.95. There are no limits and no recurring fees. Once you pay the $34.95, you will have instant access to the entire Dessert University program.

This all-in-one package includes:

• The complete Dessert University Digital Download System
• The official Dessert University eCourse featuring 50 pages of step-by-step directions
• 1500 downloadable Video Tutorials
• Thousands of original recipes perfect for any party or social gathering

Order today and you'll receive Special Bonuses including: Candy Recipes, Unlimited Updates and FREE Membership to Dessert University Members group, which includes Live Personal Support.

If you're like me and LOVE desserts, you are going to go bananas over the Dessert University package. And, if for any reason you aren't completely satisfied with your purchase, it's covered by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

What more can I say? I love Dessert University and think you will too. Dessert University normally sells for $97, but if you hurry you can grab your copy for only $34.95. Don't delay or you'll miss out on this special price!

Click here to learn more and ORDER your copy of DESSERT UNIVERSITY.

TasteBook: How to Create Your Own Cookbook

I recently discovered a unique website, TasteBook.com, where you can create your own cookbook. I'm currently working on building my own and am having a blast. With TasteBook.com, you can add your own recipes or upload more than 20,000 recipes from Epicurious, Gourmet and Bon Appetit.

The TasteBook is a hard cover book with a spiral ring inside. I find this design to be perfect for a cookbook, because you can take the recipes out of the book. What I plan to do is remove the recipes, make a copy and then if I slop something on the recipe, I won't ruin my cookbook.

TasteBook offers a variety of pre-made cookbooks. You can open one of the pre-made cookbooks, delete any recipes you don't care for and add recipes from other TasteBook collections. Additionally, you can upload recipes from the three places mentioned above or you can add your own.

TasteBook is setup in sections including Appetizers, Soups, Salads, Entrees, Desserts, Beverages, etc. These sections are separated by tabs, making them easy to locate exactly what you're looking for. No more digging through your recipe index cards ;-)

Another cool feature of TasteBook is the ability to share recipes with friends and family. You can upload contacts from your email account and when you add new recipes to your collection, you can notify your contacts and share the recipes with them as well. The website suggests having family members contribute recipes, then publishing their own TasteBook to give as a gift.

The website is super easy to use. You begin by choosing a cover for your TasteBook. There are dozens of designs to choose from and all are tastefully presented for a highly professional look. After selecting your cover, you can upload your own recipes by using Copy and Paste. The template lets users upload a photo of the recipe and includes sections for the Title, Ingredients, Preparation Instructions and also any personal notes you might want to add.

The cost of each TasteBook is $34.95, which includes 100 recipes. If you don't order 100 recipes, you'll receive recipe credits, which can later be used to order additional recipes. When they arrive in the mail, simply add them to your TasteBook.

Once I have my TasteBook created, I'll let you know more about the process. However, for those of you eager to get started creating your personal Tastebook, go to www.TasteBook.com today. I can't wait to see how my book turns out. If you create a TasteBook, please stop back by and share your experience.

FREE Barilla Celebrity Italian Table Cookbook Program

Barilla, manufacturer of exquisite pasta and pasta sauces, is currently promoting "The Celebrity Italian Table Cookbook Program." For each person who downloads the 32-page PDF Cookbook, Barilla is donating $1.00 to America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization.

The Celebrity Italian Table Cookbook features recipes from five celebrities: Marisa Tomei, Stanley Tucci, Debra Messing, Natalie Portman and Chris Daughtry.

Leading Italian Chef, Mario Batali recreated the recipes and developed special menus for each. Infamous party planner, David Tutera offers creative and stunning table designs which correspond to each special menu, making each experience unique and special.

This downloadable PDF cookbook is a feast for the eyes and includes beautiful photographs of each dish, along with table settings, decorations and party tips.

Themes include: Romantic Dinner, Celebratory Feast, Girlfriends' Gathering, Family Night, Dinner Party and Babbo (Mario Batali's New York Restaurant).

Recipes include:

Eggplant Involtini with Ricotta and Scallions
Rigatoni with Basil and Gorgonzola
Mozzarella Sandwiches
Penne in Creamy Tomato Sauce
Sicilian Chickpea Fritters
Penne in Spicy Sauce with Capers and Olives
Spaghetti with Italian Tuna Sauce
Farfalle with Pancetta, Rucola and Truffle Paste
Steamed Cockles in a Habanero Chive Broth
Fettuccine with Pumpkin and Bread Crumbs
Mixed Fried Vegetables
Autumn Vegetables with Goat Cheese and Pumpkinseed Oil
Cherry Jam Tart
Chocolate Hazelnut Fritters
Orange Tart Capri-Style
Chocolate Cake from Abruzzo-Parozzo
Lemon Tart
Saffron Panna Cotta

As you can see, this FREE Celebrity Cookbook is packed with authentic Italian dishes which are certain to please your friends and family. AND, you'll be helping a good cause just by downloading the cookbook. Talk about a great deal!

To grab your copy of "The Celebrity Italian Table Cookbook" go to www.BarillaUSA.com. Don't delay! This offer will end soon and you don't want to miss your opportunity to grab a copy of this amazing cookbook for FREE!

470 Crockpot Recipes

Since we've been sharing Crockpot recipes this past week, I wanted to let you know about a place where you can get all the Crockpot recipes you could ever want. Over at Crock Recipe Pot, you'll find a phenomenal bargain -- 470 Crockpot recipes in digital format for less than $20. You can download them instantly and start cooking today!

470 Crockpot Recipes provides a solution for those who have a hectic lifestyle. And, who doesn't these days? All you have to do is prep your ingredients the night before. The next morning, get up 10 minutes early and pop everything into your Crockpot. When you come home from work, your house will smell divine and dinner will be ready. Now, that's almost as good as having a private chef isn't it?

Crockpots can be used to cook soups, stews, casseroles, meats, poultry, fish, seafood and even desserts. With 470 Crockpot Recipes you'll never be bored with the same ole' weekly meal routine. You could try something new for more than a year and never eat the same thing twice.

But wait, that's not all... (sorry, I couldn't resist!)

The founder of Crock Recipe Pot is a generous soul. When you order 470 Crockpot Recipes ebook, you'll also receive numerous bonus cookbooks including: Chicken Recipes, Fish Recipes, Chocolate Recipes, Desserts, Soups, Stews and much more. In fact, you'll receive a collection of ebook cookbooks which provide more than 8000 recipes. Now that's what I call a great deal!

If you love Crockpot cooking, you'll want to invest in this amazing collection of Crockpot Recipes. Just click on this link to order your copy of 470 Crockpot Recipes TODAY!

Unusual Crockpot Recipe: Caramel Apples

My friend, Jo, shared an interesting Crockpot recipe with me the other day. It's really quite ingenious and I wish I would have thought of it a few months ago. You see, it's a Crockpot recipe for Caramel apples! I made four dozen caramel apples for Halloween. This technique could have saved me a LOT of time.

If you've ever made caramel apples, you know they can be kind of a pain. You have to be somewhat careful while melting the caramel. It's easy to burn and it's easy to keep too cool, which in turns make it setup, then it's hard to get it to adhere to the apple. I usually break out the double-boiler, but even still it's hard to control the proper temperature to sustain the smooth consistency required for coating apples. That's where the Crockpot comes in! It keeps it at the same temperature for a long period of time.

The following caramel apple recipe is so simple, you're going to love it! And, clean-up is a snap too. As you probably already know, the Crockpot is one of the easiest things to clean. Baked on food just slides right off. I love it!

Anyhoo, I digress. Let's get down to business. Here is the Crockpot Caramel Apples recipe...

Need an Energy Boost in the Morning?

Are you in need of an energy boost in the morning? Instead of reaching for that pot of coffee, make yourself a bowl of Blueberry Oatmeal Energize instead. This recipe is provided by Viveca-Stone Berry, founder of FatigueBeGone.com and author of "Fatigue Be Gone Jumpstart eGuide".

If you're feeling tired all the time and/or suffer from insomnia, you should check out Ms. Stone-Berry's guide. For less than the cost of a fatigue-causing lunch, Fatigue Be Gone Jumpstart eGuide can literally change your life. That's what it did for me.

Thanks to the information tucked in the pages of this guide my doctor was able to get to the bottom on the cause of my chronic fatigue. It's called adrenal fatigue and it affects nearly 80 percent of Americans. You can learn all about adrenal fatigue by visiting www.FatigueBeGone.com.

Blueberry Oatmeal Energize Recipe

15-20 Fresh, Frozen or Dried Blueberries
One serving of cooked Oatmeal
2 Tablespoons Flax Seeds
1 Tablespoon Wheat Germ
Itsy bitsy crunchy Apple slices
Slivered Almonds
Teaspoon of Cinnamon
Add 2 Tablespoons of Milk (soy, rice or almond are preferred)

You can use any type of oatmeal that you like. If you're in a hurry, you might prefer the quick and easy microwavable oatmeal. My personal favorite is rolled oats, also known as old-fashioned oats. They take about 15 minutes to cook, but I think they are more flavorful than quick-cooking or instant oats.

Once you try Blueberry Oatmeal Energize, stop by and let us know how you like it and the energy boost you experienced.

Guide to Organic Cooking

Guide to Organic Cooking Cookbook

This ebook is phenomenal! It contains dozens of scrumptious recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with recipes for delectable drinks and decadent desserts.

In addition to all these yummy tastebud exploding foods, the Guide to Organic Cooking Cookbook includes tips for growing your own herb garden, suggestions for growing an organic vegetable garden and secret composting tips!

As if that weren't enough, when your order today you'll also receive THREE bonus gifts AND the audio version of the cookbook. What's great about having the audio book is that you can listen to it while you are cooking. It's like having a chef on your shoulder!

Click here to take advantage of this special offer and order your copy of the Guide to Organic Cooking Cookbook today!

NOTE: Guide to Organic Cooking Cookbook is sold through Clickbank; an internationally-acclaimed digital products provider. Clickbank products are backed by a 100-percent, 30-day money back guarantee. If you are ever dissatisfied with your purchase, Clickbank will refund your money in full with no questions asked.

Cancer Cookbooks

On April 30th my mom underwent surgery for lung cancer. What was intended to be a partial lobectomy, turned into the removal of her entire lung. She then suffered from surgical complications and developed a staph infection. What was supposed to be a 5-7 day hospital stay, turned into 30 days.

It's common for patients who undergo major surgery to experience a lack of appetite. This can last for several months post-op. My mom has little to no appetite and says that nothing tastes the same. Foods she once loved now taste like ground-up cardboard. Yuck!

I went on a hunt for cancer cookbooks and found several that piqued my interest, but I wanted something that contained recipes that would be easy for mom to make.  I chose the following for their quick and easy recipes:

Something's Got to Taste Good

Betty Crocker's Living with Cancer Cookbook

There is an abundance of cancer cookbooks available online. Just type in "cancer cookbooks" at your favorite search engine and you'll be well on your way to finding something that suits your needs.