I am attempting to give the amazing Alouette Cheese Fall Gourmet Cheese Giveaway to the randomly selected winner. The first winner was contacted three times via email and her name was published on the blog. Unfortunately, she never contacted The Cheap Gourmet to confirm her mailing address.
On Wednesday evening, a second winner was randomly selected by Contest Machine. The chosen winner is Jennifer Phillips of Indiana (yeah, Hoosiers! my home town!). Jennifer, if you are reading this please contact me no later than midnight tonight to claim your Alouette Cheese prize. Two emails have been sent to you using the email address provided when you entered the contest. Check your spam folder just in case the emails didn't arrive in your inbox.
If Jennifer has not claimed the Alouette Cheese giveaway prize by this 11:59pm EST on Friday, November 6th, I will select a third winner. This time, I will use a different selection method.
If you entered the Alouette Cheese contest, please submit your name, email address, phone number and mailing address (no P.O. Boxes) via the Comment box below. Please note, all comments are moderated and I will not publish your personal information.
If Jennifer does not claim her prize, I will select a person from the entrants who provide their information via the comment box below TODAY.
In order to be entered into the final drawing for the Alouette Cheese prize, you must have previously entered and you must provide your contact information as per the instructions above.
The final winner will be selected and contacted by email and phone. If I am unable to reach you, I will select the next person on the list until I find someone who confirms their mailing address. I need to submit this information to Allouette Cheese immediately so they can send the prize to the winner.
Don't delay! If you want a second chance at winning the gorgeous cheeseboard, free cheese and various other goodies, send your contact info to me TODAY!
Good Luck!
The Cheap Gourmet
P.S. Please take a moment to download The Cheap Gourmet's complementary "Gourmet Wine and Cheese Menu" by clicking on the link below. This is in PDF format and requires Adobe Reader.
Samantha's suggestion to slow down and savor life is "When taking the bus home, get off a few stops earlier and enjoy the walk".
I couldn't agree more with Samantha's suggestion. It's amazing the wonderful things you can see, smell and hear when taking a leisurely stroll. Not to mention, walking is great exercise that increases endorphin production and makes you feel good!
Congratulations Samantha. Please check your email for instructions to confirm your mailing address. Once you have confirmed your address, I will submit to Corrinne, the marketing director of Alouette. Your prize package will be sent directly from Alouette.
May your gift help you create many slow down and savor life moments for years to come! Congratulations!
To those who entered, but did not win, don't worry. The Cheap Gourmet will continue to offer a variety of contests and prizes throughout the year.
In case you missed the previous post, I have created a wonderful Wine and Cheese menu planner complete with recipes for finger foods, fruit and veggie trays, dips and desserts. The menu is in PDF format and requires Adobe Reader to view.
It's not too late to enter the Alouette Cheese Gourmet Fall Cheese Party Giveaway. But, you better hurry because the winner will be selected at midnight on Halloween night, October 31st. My dear friend, Maeme, was gracious enough to open her home and host The Cheap Gourmet's wine and cheese party. It was a huge success and tons of fun. Here's Maeme enjoying one of Alouette's spreadable cheeses.
Kim, shown below, brought two bottles of Chocolate Wine, which was a big hit. After all, who doesn't love chocolate? The chocolate wine is definitely more of an after-dinner dessert wine. A small glass or two is the perfect accompaniment with a piece of dark chocolate and a slice of brie cheese. Thanks for the chocolate wine Kim. It was delightful!
We indulged in a bounty of finger foods, salads, veggie tray, fruit platter, nuts, candies, crackers, breads and cheeses. As you can see, everyone loved the luscious Alouette cheeses and were extremely impressed by the gorgeous cheeseboard that's part of the Gourmet Fall Cheese Party giveaway.
Delane loved Alouette's spreadable spinach and artichoke dip.
Bonnie's favorites included the spreadable Sundried Tomato and Basil and and Creme de Brie.
I have compiled a Wine and Cheese menu which includes several of the dishes served at The Cheap Gourmet's Wine and Cheese party. I hope you enjoy the recipes and wish you the best of luck in the drawing.
The winner of Alouette's Slow Down and Savor Life Gourmet Cheese giveaway will be announced on the blog on Monday, November 2nd, 2009. The winner will be notified via email to confirm the mailing address for their prize. If the winner does not respond within three days, a new winner will be selected at random. Be sure to check the blog and your email to see if you win!
I am thrilled to announce this month's contest. Readers of The Cheap Gourmet blog will have a chance to win a bountiful prize from Alouette; an industry leader in cheese making. Alouette is sponsoring the "Let's Slow Down and Savour Life Wine and Cheese Giveaway." One lucky winner will receive a Gourmet Fall Cheese Tasting Party Giveaway valued at $150.
Entering Alouette Cheese, "Let's Slow Down and Savour Life Wine and Cheese Giveaway" is simple. All that is required is to post a comment via the entry form below sharing what you do to slow down and savour life.
I'll begin...My tip for slowing down and savouring life is to reserve a minimum of one night per month to share good food and conversation with your best friends. Keep it simple by serving an assortment of cheeses, cheese spreads, crackers, breads and fruits. And, don't forget the wine or sparkling cider!
ALOUETTE GOURMET FALL CHEESE TASTING PARTY GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
The Cheap Gourmet is hosting Alouette's "Let's Slow Down and Savour Life Wine and Cheese Giveaway". Readers will receive ONE entry by submitting their favorite tip for slowing down and savouring life in the box provided via the entry form.
The Gourmet Fall Cheese Tasting Party Giveaway begins October 5th and ends at 11:55pm Eastern Standard Time on October 31, 2009. The winner will be selected at random through the contest hosting site of Contest Machine. Contest is open to legal US citizens aged 18 and older. See contest entry form for additional terms and conditions.
The winner will be contacted via the email address provided in their entry on November 1, 2009. The winner will have three days to claim their prize. Otherwise, their entry will be disqualified and a new winner will be selected.
Upon verification of their prize, the winner must provide their mailing address to Alouette Cheese. The Gourmet Fall Cheese Tasting Party Giveaway prize will be awarded directly through Alouette.
Individuals who submit more than one entry will automatically be disqualified.
PRIZE DETAILS:
The winner of Alouette Cheese "Let's Slow Down and Savour Life Wine and Cheese Giveway will receive the following items:
Mariposa Gourmet Two-Toned White Teak and Bamboo Wooden Cheese Board with Wine and Cheese Accessories
Stainless Steel Cheese Name Picks with marker
Customized Cheese Rating Cards with Pens (party of 10)
Alouette recipe cards for entertaining
Alouette coupons for Baby Brie, Spreadable and Crumbles
Slow Down and Savour Tips
Submit your slow down and savour tip via the entry form below. Watch your inbox on November 1st to see if you are a winner. Additionally, the winners name will be posted on The Cheap Gourmet blog. Good Luck!
The Alouette logo emblazoned on the two-toned wooden cheese board.
The Alouette cheese board provides two fold-away compartments which store cheese and wine accessories. Cheese accessories include a fork, cheese spreader and cheese cutter. Wine accessories include a cork screw, wine ring and stopper.
Compartment doors slide underneath the elegant wooden cheese board for easy storage.
On September 11, 2009, we launched the First Official Cheap Gourmet Contest. All that is required is to vote for your favorite food and enter your email address by filling out the form below. One lucky winner will receive an adorable "Barker's Dozen" Greeting Card gift pack containing 13 happy-yappy cards with envelopes packaged in a reusable vinyl tote.
Each 5x7 greeting card is graced by a photograph of dogs in action - running, playing, swimming, sleeping. Beneath the photo is an appropriate caption guaranteed to bring love and happiness to the recipient. Cards are blank inside so you can write a personal note, include your favorite Cheap Gourmet recipe, or photos of yourself, family or beloved pets.
There is no "catch" to The Cheap Gourmet Contest. Your email address will only be used to notify you when you win the contest. One lucky winner winner will be chosen at random at midnight on October 2, 2009 and notified by email on or before October 5th. The "Barker's Dozen" Gift Pack will be mailed directly to your home or office at no charge to you.
With each sale of Dog Caption Cards, 25-percent of the proceeds are donated to animal rescue organizations. If you would like to offer support to our furry friends or interested in selling the cards to raise funds for your local animal shelter, visit www.HappyDogCards.com. (You can also earn 25-percent of each sale by joining the affiliate program!)
In the meantime, simply select your favorite food and enter your email for a chance to win. Only ONE ENTRY per email or ISP address.
P.S. Stop back often as we will be hosting another contest next month. We will be offering an amazing Cheese and Wine party gift set valued at $150. Stay tuned - you're going to love all the future Cheap Gourmet Contests!
Last weekend my husband and I attended a birthday celebration for friends who were both turning 60. Being such a milestone birthday, friends and family organized a semi-surprise party and planned a feast for royalty.
In July, I ordered mini cupcake pans from Easy Bakeware, which I had not had a chance to try out. Several years ago, another friend of mine taught me how to make cupcake cakes. The guest list included several children and I thought mini cupcakes would be a great way to keep them away from the "grown-up" cake until it was ready to be served.
I was preparing several dishes for the party and needed to save a little time, so I purchased boxed cake mixes and canned icing. Overall, I baked about 225 mini cupcakes. Although I only had two 12-cupcake mini muffin pans, the Easy Bakeware made the process a breeze!
I used mini muffin paper baking tins and filled each about 2/3rd's full of batter. Baking time per batch was 13 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. I used three types of cake batter - French Vanilla, Dark Chocolate and Butter Chocolate. The Butter Chocolate was by far my favorite; although all of them were quite tasty and addicting!
Next, I cut a cardboard moving box into a 24"x18" rectangle and covered it with foil. I had purchased decorative letters and colored sprinkles at the store. For the cupcakes used for the mini cupcake cake, I spread the icing evenly using a small icing knife, then placed one letter on each mini cupcake.
As you can see, I used white frosting for the cupcakes with letters. It reads: "Happy 60th Birthday Maeme and Carl". I alternated flavors on each row. The first, third and fifth row are French Vanilla cupcakes, while the second and fourth rows are chocolate cupcakes.
Using some of the extra mini cupcakes, I created little islands on the sides to fill in the extra space. I purchased paper palm trees attached to a toothpick. These palm trees gave me fits because they had this teeny-tiny square adhesive covered in paper. The paper had to be removed and the palm trees stretched out and attached to the other side. Considering it was 4am when I was finishing up this cake, not all the palm trees came out uniformly. As they say, it's the thought that counts!
I used the butter chocolate mini cupcakes to create the islands and used a piping bag to swirl the icing. I placed 3 to 4 "island" cupcakes together and then placed one on top of the stack to create the illusion of an island. I then used white icing to pipe around the edges of the cardboard and topped with colored sprinkles.
This was my first attempt at making a cupcake cake and while it isn't perfect, it was certainly a huge hit at the party. I placed the remaining cupcakes on dessert trays and when we departed the party, I noticed only 3 were left. The cupcake cake was completely devoured.
Not only was the cupcake cake a lot of fun to make, it didn't take much time and the guests absolutely loved it. Homemade gifts are always a great way to make people feel special. Even though I used boxed cake mixes, I could not have been more pleased with the final product.
If you are wondering how I transported the cake, I simply covered it loosely with foil. The palm trees helped keep the foil off the icing. I drive a Toyota Rav4, so the cardboard platform fit perfectly in the tailgate area. We drove extra careful to make certain we didn't need to make any sudden stops or take corners on two wheels ;-)
The possibilities of cupcake cakes are endless. Grocery stores, dollar stores, and party stores carry a wide range of novelty items that can be used to create all kinds of theme cakes. If you don't own a pasty bag and piping tips, you can place icing inside a sandwich bag and snip one corner off. Piping the icing on the cupcakes is considerably more efficient than using an icing spreader.
After using the EasyBakeware muffin pan, I can honestly say that I will be converting ALL my bakeware to this brand. The pans are made from silicone (I think!) and are super easy to clean. The muffins popped out easily and there was little mess to clean up.
EasyBakeware is currently offering FREE bakeware. You can receive any piece of bakeware for free, but will have to pay the shipping cost of $7.95. I've seen this type of bakeware in stores and the average retail price is $19.95 to $24.95 per piece!
If you're like me and love to bake, I highly recommend giving EasyBakeware a try. Click on the banner below and take advantage of the free offer before it's too late.
The past few weeks, I've been adding several updates to The Cheap Gourmet blog. Many of these changes have been behind-the-scenes, so I wanted to provide easy access links to help you locate the newly added sections.
First, The Cheap Gourmet has joined forces with Fatigue Be Gone to provide weekly "Fruit and Veggie Day" menu planners. Each Friday through the end of August, we will provide free menu planners consisting of fruit and veggie recipes. Learn more about this exciting (and free!) nutritional program and download the first issue of Fruit and Veggie Day Menu Planner via the "Fruit and Veggie Day" Announcement.
Second, I have added a new "Cooking Contests" section. This will be a work-in-progress and new contests will be added on a frequent basis. The contests are listed alphabetically by expiration date. I am a huge fan of cooking contests and want this section to be easy to navigate so you receive the fullest benefit. Any comments and feedback on the "Cooking Contests" section will be greatly appreciated.
Third, in case you missed it, Easy Bakeware is currently running an awesome special. EasyBakeware offers a wide range of baking and cooking items. Presently, they are offering FREE Bakeware. You can order one item for free, but need to pay the cost of shipping and handling. I ordered the red silicon mini muffing tin and the cost of shipping was $7.95. You can order as many items as you'd like. Upon checkout, Easy Bakeware deducts the cost of the most expensive item, which you will receive for free. Check out the Easy Bakeware post for further details.
Last, but not least, I am working on creating recipe categories. Many readers have commented it has become increasingly difficult for them to locate their favorite recipes and asked if I could arrange them by category. I am happy to accommodate your request and will be working on this throughout the month. At present, The Cheap Gourmet offers nearly 200 recipes, so this project might take a few weeks to complete.
As always, I appreciate your feedback and comments. My goal is to make The Cheap Gourmet your preferred cooking and bargain shopping website. If there is anything you would like to see more or less of, feel free to contact me via the "Contact Me" link or by posting a comment below.
Thank you for your patronage and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
I am excited to announce "Fruit and Veggie Day" ~ a fun way to improve your health. Fruit and Veggie Day is the brainchild of my friend and business associate, Viveca Stone-Berry. Viveca is the founder of FatigueBeGone.com and author of "Fatigue Be Gone Jumpstart Guide"; a step-by-step guide for easy transition into a healthy, energetic lifestyle.
Fruit and Veggie Day isn't some far-fetched diet plan where you are forced to eat nothing but kiwi or strawberries for a week. In fact, it isn't a diet at all. It is simply making a conscious decision to eat nothing but fruits and vegetables for an entire day once a week. Give it a try. You'll be amazed at the difference it makes!
An entire series of events surrounds Fruit and Veggie Day, which you can read about further down in this post if you would like. It's really a great story, but not everyone cares to hear the details. For those of you who like to cut to the chase, this section is for you.
Each Friday, The Cheap Gourmet and Fatigue Be Gone will publish a new Fruit and Veggie Menu Planner. This gives you time to shop over the weekend. On Monday, we commit to eating only fruit and vegetable dishes throughout the day.
We invite you to participate in this energizing nutritional experiment and interact with us. Share your fruit and veggie recipes. Ask questions. Offer feedback and suggestions. Share your results.
In reality, you can't get much cheaper than eating fruits and vegetables and they are far better for your body than fast food or processed garbage. Research shows eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fiber offers a host of health benefits.
This experiment is presented compliments of The Cheap Gourmet and Fatigue Be Gone. There is no fee. We aren't charging for the menu plans. You don't have to interact if you don't want to, but we'd love it if you did.
All you have to do is:
Stop by the The Cheap Gourmet blog each Friday to download your menu plan.
Or, subscribe to The Cheap Gourmet RSS feed (upper right corner) or Viveca's newsletter. It's that simple.
Every week through the end of August we will publish menu plans consisting of two Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner recipes, plus six healthy snacks. Choose one recipe from each category and follow the plan outlined in the guide.
We hope you enjoy the recipes and reap an enormous boost in energy. Feel free to share the Fruit and Veggie menu planners with friends, family, co-workers and neighbors. We look forward to hearing from you and thank you for joining us in our journey toward vibrant health!
Viveca and I met in a health and wellness forum. We both suffered from similar ailments and were sick and tired of being sick and tired. In our quest to feel better we tried a myriad of products, remedies, alternative therapies and nutritional programs.
Viveca has recovered from adrenal fatigue; a little-known disorder that affects nearly 80-percent
of Americans. Throughout her quest to regain her energy, Viveca went to
various doctors and specialists and tried numerous prescription
medications, nutritional products, alternative therapies and altering
her diet. She shares her experiences, along with what worked and what
didn't in "Fatigue Be Gone Jumpstart Guide" ebook.
A few weeks ago, Viveca and I were conversing by phone and she told me that she and a friend visit local food markets each weekend to purchase their fruit and veggie day
menu items. There's nothing better than spending a few hours with a
good friend and discovering a plethora of fresh (and oftentimes
organic) fruits and veggies. If you would like to locate local Farmers Markets visit LocalHarvest.org.
Each Monday Viveca, her husband, Michael, and her friend eat nothing but fresh fruits and vegetables. They juice, create smoothies, make fruit salads, vegetable salads and even desserts! When
she told me this story, I wanted to join in the fun.
Although we live
in different states and can't shop together, we can offer support,
share recipes and feel great together. As we discussed inviting our
friends and family to join us, we were struck with the idea to share
our concept with readers of our blogs. After all, the more the merrier
(and energetic!).
We decided to offer complimentary Fruit and Veggie Day menu planners each week for the rest of the summer. Many of the recipes are extracted from "The Diva Diet"; a cookbook I wrote for people suffering from autoimmune disease.
If you're tired of feeling tired all the time, I HIGHLY recommend Viveca's guide. For less than $10 you can discover simple techniques to help determine if you are suffering from adrenal fatigue. Printable questionnaires can be filled out and provided to your doctor. She even reveals one simple home test that only requires a small glass of water and your spit. It's amazing what your spit can reveal about your health.
*This ebook is sold through Clickbank; the most trusted provider of information products. It's backed by a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee. You have nothing to lose, and a whole lot of energy to gain. I don't mean to come across sounding like a sales pitch. It's just that Viveca's book changed my life and helped me regain my energy. I'm excited to share it with others because it feels great to feel great!
In closing, we are excited to have you join us in Fruit and Veggie Day. If the mood strikes you, please Tweet us, or post a link to Facebook or Myspace, or Stumble us. Our goal is to help people feel better and have plenty of energy to enjoy life!
The first time someone mentioned mahi mahi fish tacos to me, I turned up my nose and thought they had lost their mind. Seriously, fish tacos? Yuck! But, was I ever wrong and I'm certainly glad I was "brave" enough to give them a try.
My first experience with Spicy Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos was at the Ale House over in Daytona Beach, Florida. I was about 3 weeks into recovery from having extensive dental work done and my diet was still limited to soft foods. The only thing that concerned me about the dish was it was served with a red cabbage slaw, but I figured I could scrape if off if my healing gums weren't ready for that much chomping.
It was in love at first bite. I vividly remember the experience because I consumed the entire meal. It was the first "real" food I had eaten in 21 days. I savored every bite and attempted to figure out what spices the Ale House used to create this masterpiece of a taco.
Although the following recipe isn't exactly the same, it has a fabulous kick from marinade which is offset by the mildness of the Iceberg lettuce. My husband doesn't like red cabbage, so we opted for green lettuce instead. Feel free to use either because they both taste great!
1/2 cup fresh Cilantro, chopped 3 Tablespoons Frank's Red Hot Sauce or Tabasco Sauce 1 teaspoon Kosher salt (or 1-2 teaspoons table salt) 1 Lime, juice only 1/4 wedge Iceberg Lettuce or Red Cabbage, shredded 1 medium Tomato, diced 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded (optional) 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil 1 pound skinless Mahi Mahi fillet, cut into two 8-ounce fillets 8 small Flour Tortillas (or 4 large if you prefer to make these into burritos)
DIRECTIONS:
1. For marinade, combine cilantro, hot sauce, salt and lime juice in a medium bowl. 2. Add mahi mahi fillets to marinade and gently toss to cover. 3. Cover bowl with lid or plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for one hour. 4. After fish has marinated, preheat oven to 300-degrees Fahrenheit. 5. Wrap tortillas in foil and place in oven. 6. Add oil to 12-inch skillet and heat on medium setting until oil begins to slightly ripple. 7. Carefully add mahi mahi fillets and cook 4 to 5 minutes per side. 8. Transfer mahi mahi to a plate and separate fillets into bite-size pieces using a fork.
9. Remove tortilla shells from oven and unwrap.
10. Fill center of tortilla with mahi and top with lettuce, tomato and cheese.
11. Fold into a taco or wrap into a burrito and serve immediately.
Easy Bakeware is an online kitchen retailer with corporate headquarters located in West Hartford, CT. Easy Bakeware offers a full line of bakeware, cookware, entertaining necessities such as trays, platters and barware, coffeemakers and grinders, wine racks, kitchen carts and a wide range of tools including mixing bowls, strainers, colanders, cutting boards, cookbooks and BBQ tools.
Easy Bakeware is currently offering customers the opportunity to obtain any bakeware pan for free. You can try any of their silicon baking pans or burnless bakeware for the cost of shipping. Yesterday, I ordered the silicon mini muffin pan and the cost of shipping was $7.95. I don't know if you've ever priced silicon bakeware, but it is usually pretty expensive. The retail cost of the mini muffin pan is $19.95, so in actuality I received a 40-percent discount.
During the EasyBakeware campaign, you can order as many items as you like. Upon checkout, the MOST EXPENSIVE item you purchase will be deducted and you receive it for free! However, there is no obligation to purchase additional items. Simply click on the banner, choose your free gift and pay for shipping.
If you aren't familiar with silicon bakeware, all I can say is it is a must-have item. There is no need to grease the pan or use muffin tins. Simply pour the batter into the mold, bake, let cool, flip the pan over and poof - everything just slides right out!
This is an exceptional offer and one I hope you will take advantage of. Personally, I couldn't live without my silicon bakeware. It has saved me hours of frustration and scrubbing those little muffin tin holes. Don't you just hate that? There's nothing worse than having to scrape little pieces of burnt on muffins out of tiny little holes!
I don't know how long EasyBakeware will be extending this offer. If you want to try silicon or burnless bakeware, click on one of the banners and place your order. EasyBakeware is deemed an Equifax SecureSite, so you can submit your order worry-free!
When you receive your bakeware, please stop back by and let me know what you purchased and how you like it. I'd bet money that you will wonder how on earth you ever lived without this amazing product!
Don't delay! Go grab your free EasyBakeware pan and start baking!
Rock shrimp stuffed with asiago cheese and jalapenos is the perfect summertime food. This delightful seafood dish can be cooked on the grill, under the broiler, on a flat top griddle or in a skillet. Talk about versatile!
Rock shrimp stuffed with asiago cheese and jalapenos makes a great appetizer and is perfect for entertaining. It also makes a great entree and can be paired with red potatoes, corn on the cob, baked beans, potato salad, green beans, seasoned rice or anything else you enjoy combining with shrimp.
Rock shrimp are deep water crustaceans, harvested in 120 to 240 feet of water. They have a hard exoskelton and taste similar to lobster. When preparing this recipe, you will need to remove the shell by using a pair of sharp kitchen scissors to snip the back of the shell away from the body and tail. Rock shrimp have a sand vein which can be removed by rinsing under cold running water.
NOTE: Prior to preparing the rock shrimp recipe, place 12 toothpicks in a small container filled with water. Soaking the toothpicks prevents them from burning and makes them easier to remove when the shrimp is cooked.You can also use wooden or metal skewers if desired. Place 3 to 4 shrimp per skewer and cook as directed below.
ROCK SHRIMP STUFFED WITH ASIAGO CHEESE AND JALAPENOS Serves: 4 to 6 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 8 minutes
INGREDIENTS: 24 Rock Shrimp, peeled and deveined 8 ounces Asiago Cheese, shredded 1 medium Jalapeno Pepper, seeds removed and minced 12 slices Bacon
DIRECTIONS:
1. Place 12 toothpicks or wooden skewers in a container filled halfway with water. 2. Wash shrimp in cold running water. Remove shell and butterfly shrimp by cutting lengthwise along the back, leaving tail section intact. Be careful not to cut all the way through. Pat dry with paper towel. 3. Finely grate asiago cheese. 4. Mince jalapeno pepper and mix with cheese.
5. Cut bacon slices in half. 6. Stuff each shrimp with 1 teaspoon of cheese mixture.
7. Wrap each shrimp with 1/2 slice of bacon and secure with toothpick or place on skewer.
8. Place shrimp on a broiler pan or grill and cook until bacon begins to crisp; about 4 minutes. 9. Turn shrimp and cook until bacon is done; about 4 minutes. 10. Transfer to plate and serve immediately.
DUE TO OVERWHELMING RESPONSE, BETTY CROCKER HAS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED THIS PROGRAM. PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER TO SEE IF THE PROGRAM IS REINSTATED.
When you join the Betty Crocker Community you will receive new and delicious summer recipes, along with the Betty Crocker newsletter, money-saving coupons for Betty Crocker products, and access to the recipe collection box where you can easily store and access your favorite recipes. Talk about making life easier!
It takes less than 2 minutes to join the Betty Crocker Community. Simply fill out the information form and you will have immediate access to exclusive member benefits. Each month, members obtain printable coupons which can amount to over $100 in savings per year.
During the month of June, members of the Betty Crocker Community can save up to $9.05 with coupons. Selections include Betty Crocker Warm Delights, Supreme Brownie Mixes, Reese's Puffs Cereal, Lucky Charms, Cheerios, Fiber One Chewy Bars, Yoplait Yogurt, and Romano's Macaroni Grill Dinner Kits.
Members can order from the Betty Crocker store which includes bakeware, cookware, small appliances, gadgets and tools, cookbooks, home care items including trash cans, vacuum cleaners, laundry care, kitchen textiles and cleaning tools. If you subscribe today, you will receive free shipping on store orders of $50 or more.
The Betty Crocker Community allows members to interact with other passionate foodies to share recipes, tips, tricks and obtain or offer advice. Members can upload photos, submit recipes, obtain "how-to" advice and enter recipe contests.
I must admit... the Better Crocker Community is somewhat addicting. My brain is in overload thinking about all the delightful summer recipes I can make. Considering I live in Florida, it's practically summer year-round, so we really enjoy eating light on a regular basis.
This is an excellent opportunity to save time and money in the kitchen as well as meet new friends and share ideas. Best of all, it doesn't cost one single penny to join. Take advantage of this offer by clicking on the banner below. I look forward to seeing you in the forums!
The following Balsamic Glazed Chicken over a Bed of Long Grain and Wild Rice is a quick and easy recipe that bursts with flavor and leaves you feeling full and satisfied. It is light enough for a summer dinner, yet hardy enough for a cold winter night.
The balsamic glazed chicken over a bed of long grain and wild rice recipe was developed during our "clean out the pantry" week. I really enjoy engaging in clean out the pantry week because it forces me to be creative and helps reduce our food inventory.
I'm dangerous when it comes to grocery shopping. I'm worse than a shopaholic at the mall. I take advantage of buy one get one free specials and proudly present my fistful of coupons. But, I have a tendency to go overboard in my attempt to save a buck. My spending sprees eventually end up in excessive inventory that gets shoved to the back of the pantry.
Chicken is perhaps one of the easiest meats to cook with because it is so versatile. Did you ever watch, Forrest Gump? If so, you will remember the long list of shrimp ideas that Bubba rattled off. I'm the Bubba of chicken. I can come up with a thousand ways to prepare it.
I hope you enjoy the following recipe and encourage you to take part in your own clean out the pantry week. You might be surprised by the wonderful concoctions you can come up with! If nothing else, you can save yourself some big bucks by not grocery shopping for a week. And, if your meal sucks, you can afford to go out to dinner ;-)
BALSAMIC GLAZED CHICKEN OVER A BED OF LONG GRAIN AND WILD RICE Serves 2 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
1 box Uncle Ben's Long Grain and Wild Rice 2 4-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes 1/4 Vidalia Onion, chopped 1/2 Green Bell Pepper, seeded and chopped 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar 1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning Blend 1/2 teaspoon Goya Adobo seasoning Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Prepare Uncle Ben's rice as per package directions.
Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towel. Cut into 1-inch cubes.
Rinse and dry vegetables. Using a clean cutting board and knife, chop vegetables into bite-size pieces.
Mix Mrs. Dash, Adobo, and black pepper and sprinkle over chicken.
Add olive oil to a 12-inch skillet. Heat oil over medium heat for 2 minutes.
Carefully add chicken to skillet; making sure pieces do not overlap. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes and turn.
Add chopped vegetables to chicken.
Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until chicken is done and vegetables are crisp-tender.
Reduce heat to low. Pour in balsamic vinegar and gently mix until chicken and veggies are coated.
Simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes.
Place rice on plates and top with chicken and vegetable mixture. Serve immediately.
I encourage you to click on the hyperlinks in the ingredients list. Each website offers a wealth of cooking tips and yummy recipes. Vidalia Onion is currently hosting "Sweet Times" cooking contest. Grand prize is $1,000 cash!
If you like receiving free stuff, click on the Freefly's banner below. I subscribed less than two weeks ago and have already received a 20-pack of Nicorette gum, a Greenies chew bone for my dog, samples of Bragg's live food products, and samples of Bodycology products through Walmart. I actually enjoy going to the mailbox now :-) Check 'em out. You'll love it!
Today is the one week anniversary of me falling down the stairs and breaking my right foot. At first, I thought it was a nasty sprain, but as the day wore on and my foot began to swell up to the size of Texas, my husband insisted I needed medical attention. Six hours after the incident, I was sitting in the ER feeling like an idiot.
Due to my injury, I haven't done much cooking this week so I don't have any new concoctions to share with you. However, I have had plenty of time to sit in my favorite recliner and surf the Web for cheap gourmet deals. I am happy to report I found quite a few that I will be posting throughout the upcoming week.
The first deal of the week is an unbeatable offer from Boca Java Coffee. Boca Java is by far one of my favorite brews. Their corporate headquarters are located in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Since I am a Floridian, I like to support local businesses. But, I'd buy Boca Java even if they weren't located in my home state because their coffee is so darn tasty.
What I love about Boca Java is the fact they roast your coffee to order and ship it the next day. You can rest assured knowing your beans are fresh and haven't been sitting on the grocery shelf for God only knows how long. There's nothing worse than stale coffee. Yuck!
Boca Java is currently running a smokin' deal that is hard to resist. For a limited time, you can receive four (4) half-pound bags of coffee for only $9.95 and that includes shipping! That equates to a mere $4.97 per pound of premium, fresh roasted coffee delivered to your doorstep. Considering I can't drive since I broke my right foot, home delivery is the perfect solution for me :-)
Boca Java offers an extensive range of coffee choices. You can choose from light, medium or dark roasts; flavored coffees; and whole beans or ground. A few of my favorites include: Brew of Bravery, Coastal Costa Rica, Cool Breeze Colombian, Guatemalan Adventure, Palm Beach Passion and Sumatran Sunset.
If coffee isn't your thing, Boca Java offers a wonderful selection of teas, chai and cocoa. Teas are available as loose leaf or tea bags. Chai and cocoa are powdered mixes and include Wild Raspberry Chai, Spiced Chai Latte, Tahitian Vanilla Chai, Double Dark Chocolate Cocoa, Caramel Praline Cocoa and my personal favorite, Chocolate Hazelnut Mocha - Yum!
Last, but not least, Boca Java offers a fabulous line of food products including mixes and sauces, snacks, baked goods and candy. You MUST try their Bali's Best Iced Tea Candy. Infused with real tea extract, this delectable treat is 100% natural and contains zero trans fat. Best of all, it costs less than a dime per piece. Now that's a bargain!
Take advantage of this exceptional offer on extraordinary coffee today by clicking on the banner below. You will be taken directly to Boca Java Coffee website where you can chose your selections. Let me know when your order arrives so we can enjoy a "virtual cup of Joe" together!
Tired of the same old red beans and rice recipe? Looking for a way to spice up this protein-packed, high carbohydrate meal? If so, you're going to love today's gourmet red beans and rice recipe. Best, of all, it's easy to prepare and is super affordable.
My husband was raised on red beans and rice. When I suggest making it for dinner, he gives me that "I'll eat it if I have to, but I'd rather not" look. Personally, I could eat red beans and rice at least three times a week. I love it! Did you know that eating a high carbohydrate meal before bedtime can help you sleep better?
I'm an insomniac. Or, maybe I'm a night owl. I've always been one who prefers to stay up 'till the wee hours of the morning and sleep in. That's why I love being self-employed as a writer. I can make my own hours and don't have to crawl out of bed at the crack of dawn. But, I digress...
I haven't been sleeping well lately and really needed a good night of rest. I knew red beans and rice would do the trick, but also knew my husband would prefer something else. So, I decided to get a little creative and see how I could jazz the recipe up to suit both of our tastes.
We were blown away by the results and think you will be too! I used Zatarain'sRed Beans and Rice New Orleans Style box mix. Personally, I think their brand is the best. It doesn't leave an aftertaste in your mouth like some of the other packaged red beans and rice mixes. For those reducing their salt intake, Zatarain's has three new reduced sodium products, one of which is red beans and rice.
By the way, Zatarain's is currently hosting a $2500 Jambalaya Throwdown contest. Original recipes must be submitted no later than July 31st, 2009. Click here to read the complete rules.
In case your wondering, I had a wonderful night of sleep after consuming this meal. If you have trouble sleeping, I hope this recipe can help you get your zzzzz's.
1 box Zatarain's Red Beans and Rice New Orleans Style 1/2 package Johnsonville New Orleans Brand Smoked Sausage (3 sausages, sliced 1-inch thick, then quartered) 2 Toufayan Bakeries Whole Wheat Flatbreads 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
DIRECTIONS:
Slice Johnsonville New Orleans Smoke Sausage into 1-inch thick rounds, then slice rounds into halves or quarters, depending on your preference.
In a 2-quart pot, add sausage and cook over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, or until edges start to brown. Place a paper towel on a small plate and place sausage on top to drain.
Add sausage to Zatarain's Red Beans as Rice and cook per package instructions.
Place one Toufayan Whole Wheat Flatbread on a plate.
Top with red beans and rice and spread mixture to the edges.
Top with 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese and serve immediately.
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Beer of the Month Club makes the perfect Father's Day gift. This unique club offers rare, microbrewed beers from all across the United States. Each month your dad will receive one 12-pack of fresh, unique, flavorful beers that will make his friends green with envy. Each 12-pack includes three bottles of four different beers.
Once your dad tastes Beer of the Month Club brews, he'll never be able to drink regular beer again. This can actually work to your benefit because Clubs of America is currently offering a $25 instant savings with the purchase of any 12 month subscription.
Another great feature of Beer of the Month Club is there are no minimum requirements. You can send your father one 12-pack of tastebud exploding brews or establish an autoship account for eternity. Seriously, Beer of the Month gives you full control over your shipment frequency and if you only want one 12-pack they won't hound you to buy more.
I purchased a one-year subscription for my husband's 40th birthday last year. Every time his beer arrives he is like a kid on Christmas Eve. This is truly a gift that keeps on giving. My husband only shares his prized mircobrewed beers with a few select friends. They think I am a Goddess for buying my husband the coolest gift on the planet. Who knew all it took to be adored and admired was a 12-pack of exotic beers once a month!
If your dad isn't a beer drinker, Clubs of America offers all types of monthly subscription clubs. Maybe your father would prefer cigars, chocolate, wine or pizza. Although the Pizza of the Month club is a little pricey, recipients receive three enormous 9-inch deep Chicago-style pies. For the pizza consummate, this is the ultimate gift. Not to mention, it pairs perfectly with the Beer of the Month Club!
If you aren't already sold on ordering the Beer of the Month for your dad, consider this... You don't have to go out shopping and deal with rude sales clerks. You won't have to fight for a parking spot. You won't have to wonder if your dad will like your gift. You don't have to buy gift wrap.
All you have to do is click on the banner below, select subscription frequency and voila! - instant gift delivered straight to your dad's doorstep. And, if you're lucky, he'll share one of his brews with you.
In closing, you must be of legal drinking age to order from Beer of the Month Club. As always, please drink responsibly and never drink and drive!
Would you like to receive brand name samples, printable coupons and free stuff? Would you like to be the first to know about sweepstakes and giveaways? Would you like to become part of an exciting online community where you can interact with members and find out what they think of a product or offer your opinion? If so, you are going to love MySavings.
MySavings is one of the largest online communities for free brand name samples, coupons and free stuff. After spending about an hour at MySavings, I entered dozens of sweepstakes, downloaded rebates and coupons for coffee, cheese, yogurt, Betty Crocker Brownie Mixes and Frosting, General Foods International Coffee (love that stuff!), Science Diet dog food and many more. After totaling up my coupons, I can save over $70. That's a lot of moohlah for an hour of my time!
I ordered a boatload of free samples. I'm probably going to need to bake some brownies for my postal carrier because she is going to be in overload once my samples start rolling in :-)
I ordered free makeup from L'Oreal, tea from Mighty Leaf, Hellman's Light Mayonnaise, Dunkin' Donuts coffee, Wholesome Sweetener's Organic and Raw Honey, Tide Total Care laundry detergent, and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
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Today, I'd like to share a supersimple summer salad with grilled chicken and a side of bread with melted brie cheese. This recipe takes less than 15 minutes to prepare and is packed with protein, calcium, fiber and flavor!
You can make this super simple summer salad using a prepackaged salad mix. However, I prefer to use fresh ingredients. It is actually cheaper to buy the vegetables and chop them your self. The salad will be much fresher and crisp and tends to last longer than the bagged salad mixes.
Perdue Chicken offers prepackaged chicken breasts, which are perfect for adding to salads. They are the perfect portion size and come in a variety of flavors. The Italian marinated chicken works great with this particular recipe. You can also use packaged chicken strips or plain chicken breasts. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination!
Super Simple Summer Salad with Grilled Chicken and Bread with Melted Brie Cheese Serves: Two Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 14 minutes
Salad Ingredients:
2 6-ounce skinless, boneless Chicken Breasts 1/2 bunch Romaine lettuce, stems removed and chopped 1/4 head Iceberg lettuce, chopped 1 Carrot, diced 1 stalk Celery, diced 2 Green Onions, chopped 1 medium Tomato, chopped Salad Dressing Salt and Pepper, if desired
Bread Ingredients: 1/4 loaf Artisan Bread (found in the bakery of most supermarkets) 1/4 round Alouette Baby Brie, thinly sliced
Directions:
If using regular chicken breasts, add salt and pepper or other seasonings of choice. I like Mrs. Dash because it adds a nice flavor. You could also use McCormick's Roasted Garlic seasoning or marinate the chicken in 1/4 cup of Dale's Seasoning for 10 minutes.
Cook chicken in the broiler or on a gas or charcoal grill. Cook for 6-7 minutes per side or until center is no longer pink.
While chicken is cooking, prepare salad mix.
Wash and dry vegetables. If using packaged salad mix, empty bag into colander and rinse with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels.
Loosely chop romaine and head lettuce. Cut spine out of romaine leaves.
Dice celery and carrots.
Remove the root from green onions and slice thin rounds.
Quarter tomato, remove seeds (if desired) and cut into chunks.
Toss ingredients together and place in refrigerator until ready to serve.
Slice four 1/2-inch thick bread slices from Artisan Bread.
Cut four 1/4-inch slices of Baby Brie and place on top of bread.
Remove chicken from broiler or grill and place on plate. Allow to set for 5 minutes.
Place bread on baking sheet and place in 350-degree oven. Heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until cheese melts. Remove from oven.
Slice chicken into strips or cut into 1/2-inch chunks.
Transfer salad to serving plates.
Top with grilled chicken and add salad dressing, if desired.
Serve with two slices of baked bread with melted brie cheese.
We are so happy that Danny Veltri of Flip Flops Grill and Chill in New Smyrna Beach, Florida won the Hell's Kitchen competition. As Danny says, he is a culinary prodigy. The food at Flip Flops is amazing and we love his Mahi Gone Bananas recipe; regardless of what Chef Gordan Ramsay has to say!
Danny Veltri is a sweetheart and our community is celebrating his success. Currently, it is somewhat challenging to get a table at Flip Flops Grill and Chill. Two weeks ago, my husband and I attempted to attend the Grand Opening of Flip Flops. Unfortunately, there was a three-hour wait. Some of our friends joined us and they had children with them, so we opted to eat at another location. Sorry, Danny, but the kids had to get up early for school the next day.
We think Danny Veltri's accomplishments are astounding. This 23-year old man knows his destiny and is taking action to reach his goals. His enthusiasm for culinary arts is contagious and we wish him the best when he takes over the helm at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, NJ.
Fox Broadcasting and Hell's Kitchen are currently offering a contest. The Grand Prize includes:
Round-trip airfare for two to Atlantic City, NJ
Two nights accommodations at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
Ground transportation between airport & the Borgata Hotel
Dinner at one of the Borgata's fine dining restaurants
Select spa treatments
Admission to the Borgata's exclusive mur mur nightclub
$500 American Express Gift Card
This contest ends May 18th, so go to www.BBCAmerica.com and submit your entry today. Contest rules state only one online entry per person. More than one entry disqualifies entrants.
In closing, we offer our CONGRATULATIONS to our hometown chef.
I am excited to share this Philly Cheese Steak Quesadilla recipe with you. A few weeks ago I saw a commercial for a local restaurant offering two new cheese steak sandwiches; one of which was a quesadilla. What was ironic about it was my husband and I had been discussing the concept a few nights before.
To us, a philly cheese steak quesadilla seemed like a perfect fit. It also seemed less messy. I LOVE philly cheese steaks, but always end up wearing half of it. Do you have that problem too?
A few nights ago, my husband was attending an event and I had to fend for myself come dinner time. We had all the makings for cheese steaks sandwiches except for bread.
The light bulb went on and I decided to give the quesadilla concept a try. I am happy to report it was an incredible success. Even better, this recipe is super simple to make. The icing on top is you can make personal quesadillas to accomodate everyone's taste buds.
I love mushrooms on my philly cheesesteaks. My husband isn't too fond of those. I added fresh diced tomoatoes in the quesadilla and it added a nice flavor contrast. We've had cheese steak quesadillas three times in four days -- that's how addicting these things are!
"What's better than cheap gourmet food? Free gourmet food!" That's the subject line of an email I received earlier this week. I receive numerous email requests from companies wanting me to promote their product or service on The Cheap Gourmet blog. I'm very particular about who I allow in because I genuinely care about my readers and don't want to lead them into some scam. So, I conducted a bit of research.
I'm happy to report that the free gourmet food headline is legit. North American Import and Export is giving away one $200 gift certificate to the restaurant of your choice. All that is required for a chance to win is to publish a post on their website telling which restaurant you would choose and why.
The Cheap Gourmet is post #81. My vote went to Flip Flops Chill and Grill in New Smyrna Beach, FL. I love that restaurant! Not to mention it is co-owned by Danny Veltri, the "redneck chef" who made it to the finale on Hell's Kitchen.
If you want a chance to win a $200 gift certificate to your favorite restaurant, go check out the contest at North American Import and Export. Entries must be completed by midnight May 3rd. Only one entry per person! Winner will be announced May 4th.
I am a huge fan of Bacon Lettuce Tomato Sandwiches. As a child, my mom served BLT sandwiches at least once a week. She grew the lettuce and tomato in her garden and mom's BLTs were always bursting with flavor. After moving away from home it was hard to create a sandwich that tasted as good as mom's.
Yesterday, I had a craving for bacon lettuce tomato sandwiches. It's been at least a year since I last ate one and I wanted something spectacular. I'm probably one of the most frugal people you will ever meet and I can't stand waste; especially when it comes to food.
We had a few slices of leftover lunch meat and a tiny portion of Brie cheese. My mind went into overdrive as I concocted the following recipe on-the-fly. Personally, I think it's one of the best BLTs I've ever consumed. I hope you enjoy it too!
I cooked everything using a flat electric griddle. The same results can be obtained by using a skillet and toasting the bread, or by baking the bacon. If you have never baked bacon, it's super easy to do. Simply line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, place the bacon on the sheet and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 18 minutes; flipping slices halfway through.
I'm excited to share this gourmet BBQ Country Spare Ribs recipe with you. What began as an experiment turned out to be the best barbeque sauce I've ever tasted. The leftovers yield tastebud-exploding pulled pork BBQ that will leave you begging for more!
Country-style ribs aren't actually ribs. They are pork chops cut from the front of the loin near the shoulder. The attached bone is usually the shoulder blade. Country style ribs are meatier, yet less fatty than other rib cuts.
Packaged country-style ribs typically contain various sizes and thicknesses, making it difficult to cook to an even level of doneness. For this reason it is best to cook spare ribs in the slow cooker. Doing so will yield fall-off-the-bone meat infused with flavor.
The Sweet and Tart BBQ County Spare Ribs were served with homemade garlic, green onion, parmesan mashed potatoes; green beans with Canadian bacon; and Jalapeno corn muffins.
Keep an eye out at the grocery store and stock up on country-style spare ribs. These ribs generally sell for $3 to $4 per pound. Our grocer recently had them on sale for $1.99 pound. We purchased a 5-pound package and divided it in half. The entire meal cost less than $10 for two.
Gourmet Sweet and Tart BBQ Country-style Spare Ribs Recipe: Serves: 2 Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 6 hours
Ingredients:
2-1/2 to 3 pounds Country-style Spare Ribs 1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil 1 onion, quartered and sliced into 1/4-inch strips
Sauce:
1/3 cup Tamari Sauce (can substitute with Soy Sauce) 1/2 cup bottled Ketchup 1 Tablespoon prepared Mustard 2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar 3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar 2 cloves Garlic, minced 1 teaspoon Celery Seed Dash of salt and freshly ground black pepper (optional)
Cooking Directions:
Trim excess fat from ribs.
In a 12-inch round skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it begins to evaporate from the pan.
Carefully add ribs and sear for 3 minutes per side.
Transfer to slow cooker Crockpot.
Place onion slices on top of ribs.
Mix sauce ingredient together and pour over onions and ribs.
Cover and cook over high heat for one hour.
Reduce heat to medium and cook for one hour.
Reduce heat to low and cook for four hours.
Transfer to serving dish or individual plates and serve immediately.
I've been a fan of Rice-a-Roni since I was a kid. It was a staple in our household because it was a cheap food nearly everyone liked. With a husband and four kids to feed, my mom was not only the Cooking Queen, she was also the Queen of Frugality. Who knew her frugality would lead me to my destiny of becoming The Cheap Gourmet ;-).
Last week, our grocer was selling Rice-a-Roni as buy one, get one free. I love BOGO sales, don't you? Considering Rice-a-Roni is still one of my favorite "San Francisco treats", I stocked up. After all, this is probably one of the most versatile and easy-to-prepare dishes on the planet.
Today, Rice-a-Roni is owned by the Quaker Oats Company and offers 18 varieties. Although I haven't tried all of them (Yet!) my favorites include: Chicken, Beef, Red Beans and Rice, Rice Pilaf, Long Grain and Wild Rice, and Fried Rice.
Since I had purchased a total of 20 boxes of Rice-a-Roni, I decided to experiment a bit. I figured if my experiment failed, I would only be out a couple of bucks. But, I had a feeling my idea would work and I'm happy to report that it did!
I added one of my other favorite products, Campbell's French Onion Soup, to a box of Beef flavored Rice-a-Roni. The package called for 2-1/2 cups of water. I replaced the the water with one can of French Onion Soup and about 1 cup of water. It really "souped-up" the flavor and the onion chunks added a new layer of texture.
This dish is "souper" easy to prepare ;-). Did you like my pun, LOL! All that is required is one box of Beef flavored Rice-a-Roni, one can of Campbell's French Onion Soup and one cup of water. Food prep doesn't get much easier than that does it?
Follow the package directions for preparation of the Rice-a-Roni. Instead of using the full 2-1/2 cups water, replace with the French Onion Soup and one cup of water. Within 25 minutes, you will have a yummy side dish bursting with flavor.
This morning I received notification from Surgical Technician Schools that The Cheap Gourmet has been included in their list of 100 Best Blogs for Living Healthy on a Budget. This well-composed list offers a wealth of resources to help you save money while staying healthy during hard economic times.
Surgical Technician Schools 100 Best Blogs for Living Healthy on a Budget includes some of my personal favorite websites including: Kitchen Table Medicine, LIME, Fit Girl, The 99 Cent Chef, Cheap Eats and The Leftover Queen.
Although Surgical Technician Schools focuses on helping individuals locate educational institutions offering surgical technician degrees, they also provide news, information and resources to healthcare providers and their patients.
This is a relatively new site and it appears as if they are off to a great start. I encourage you to take time and visit their website. I'm certain you will find many helpful resources that can enrich your life while saving you money.
It is always a honor to be recognized and I would like to express my gratitude to Suzane Smith for including The Cheap Gourmet in this stellar list!
Thank you to all my loyal readers, new visitors and website professionals for helping make The Cheap Gourmet one of the best foodie blogs. I promise to continue providing recipes, bargains, product reviews and exceptional resources. Let us all unite and become passionate Cheap Gourmets! As they say, frugal is in and together we can become experts at saving money, staying healthy and eating well on a budget!
I recently discovered BargainFinds.net, a fabulous community of bargain hunters offering coupons, deals and bargains galore! At Bargain Finds you will discover entire sections devoted to Freebies, Hot Deals, Coupons and Travel Deals. There is an interactive forum where you can meet and mingle with other members and share your own bargain finds.
If you enjoy saving money, BargainFinds.net will soon become your favorite source. Whether you are looking for deals on gourmet food, fast food, healthy food or pet food, you're certain to find a coupon, discount code or rebate.
BargainFinds.net also offers a wealth of savings on items for home and garden. From lawnmowers to computers and candles to tabletop water fountains, there is something for everyone at this money-saving website.
Want to become a product tester? Bargain Finds has you covered. I found this great place called SheSpeaks in the "Mystery Shopping and Product Testing" section of the forum. SheSpeaks connects manufacturers to product testers. Not only do testers get to be the first to try new products, they also get to keep them and it's all FREE!
Plan on spending at least 30 minutes at BargainFinds.net. Doing so could save you hundreds of dollars, help you make money through mystery shopping, and provide you with lots of free products. As if that weren't enough, you can also make new friends by participating in the forum.
Last, but not least, BargainFinds.net offers a great game arcade to provide a little stress relief after a hectic day of bargain hunting. Go check it out. You'll be glad you did!
Around my house, Sunday is a day reserved for simple snacks and a down-home Sunday dinner. Today, my husband decided to try something new in the snack department. I must confess, if I'm not careful he could very well pass me in the culinary arts game! Of course, I could always claim his improved cooking skills are a direct result of my impeccable food coaching ;-)
This afternoon he treated me to a super simple Sunday snack which can be served for many events. In a sense, this recipe is our version of Pigs in a Blanket, but much simpler and definitely tastier. Just for fun, we'll call them Gourmet Snuggle Dogs.
If you aren't familiar with Toufayan products, you're missing out. Toufayan Bakeries sell a wide range of products including: tortilla wraps, pita breads, bagels, bread sticks, lavash and these amazing hot dogs rolls called Snuggles.
Directions: 1. Preheat grill to 350 degrees or turn oven to 'Broil' setting. 2. Remove Johnsonville Sausage from package. 3. Place dogs on grill, turning frequently and cooking until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. 4. During final minutes, place Toufayan Snuggle Buns on grill to warm. 5. Place Sausage inside Snuggle buns. 6. Using a cutting board, slice snuggle buns in 2-inch slices and secure bun with toothpick.
While dogs are cooking, preheat cooking oil to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Gently place Pierogies into hot oil. Cook for approximately 4 minutes until light golden brown.
Remove from oil and place on paper towel lined plate to absorb excess grease.
Transfer snuggle dogs and pierogies to individual plates. Serve with sides of mustard for dipping the dogs and cheese sauce for dipping pierogies.
This super simple snack is great for tailgate parties, girls-night out, pool parties, and family gatherings. It's perfect finger food and guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone who enjoys sausage and potatoes!
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.
Flip Flops Grill and Chill is a quaint beachside restaurant located at 103 S. Pine Street 725 East Third Avenue in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Their motto is "Fine Dining in Flip Flops and Tank Tops" and they live up to their aphorism. Although we didn't see any diners wearing tank tops, the food was sublime and the service exquisite.
We arrived at Flip Flops around 7:30pm on a Thursday night. The restaurant was packed and a line of hungry patrons stood outside enjoying the salty air and gentle breezes. While waiting for our table, we noticed a framed newspaper article with a photo of the infamous Danny Veltri; the self-proclaimed "redneck chef" currently competing in Hell's Kitchen.
Come to find out, Danny is the Executive Chef at Flip Flops and would be preparing our meal. I don't know about you, but I've never had a celebrity chef prepare a meal for me. I've watched Danny in action on Hell's Kitchen and expected an intoxicating meal. I was not disappointed; nor were the other members of my party.
Flip Flops menu consists of so many incredible gourmet selections it was hard to make a decision. We began our dining experience with the Bahamian Conch Fritters appetizer, which were fried to perfection and accompanied by a zesty key lime-Dijon dipping sauce.
My friend, Gail, and I ordered the Tiger Shrimp Satays with Watermelon Pico de Gallo. Entrees are served with your choice of soup or salad and a side dish. Gail chose the Cranberry Spring Salad and I enjoyed the Southwestern Chicken soup.
Flip Flop's Tiger Shrimp Satays
Our men indulged in Mahi Mahi Gone Bananas; a wicked combination of blackened mahi and grilled banana halves, and Chicken Bruschetta; a divine char-grilled chicken breast topped with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and garlic. Each of us chose the Peppercorn Bleu Cheese mashed potatoes for our side dish, except for Mike who went with the Pineapple and Walnut Rissoto.
Flip Flop's Mahi Mahi Gone Bananas
Flip Flop's Chicken Bruschetta
Not only was our food cooked to perfection, it was beautifully presented and accompanied by a gorgeous edible orchid. I'm certain Chef Ramsay would approve of Chef Veltri's creations.
As we were wrapping up our evening, Hell's Kitchen was being aired on the three wall mounted TVs. All eyes were watching as Danny appeared on the screen. We thanked our server for the excellent service and asked her to thank the chef. She stated he was sitting at the bar and pointed him out.
I approached Danny Veltri during the commercial break and asked if I could snap a photo with him for The Cheap Gourmet blog. He eagerly accepted my invitation and participated in a mini photo shoot.
From Left to Right - Gail, The Cheap Gourmet, Chef Veltri, Mike and Brad
Although I was a bit starry-eyed meeting a celebrity chef, what I found most impressive was the humble attitude of Chef Danny Veltri. Instead of taking credit for our amazing meals, he introduced us to Chef Erik Amalfitano; stating Erik is the mastermind behind the gastro-delights.
We enjoyed everything about Flip Flops Grill and Chill. From the warm reception provided by the staff upon arrival, the exquisite food and presentation, the down-home feel of the restaurant and the graciousness of the chefs, Flip Flops provided us with a meal experience unlike any other.
Next time you're in New Smyrna Beach you absolutely must pay a visit to Flip Flops. While you're there be certain to tell Chef Danny and Chef Erik that The Cheap Gourmet sent you!
May 30, 2009 - Unfortunately Home Bistro has discontinued their service and closed their doors. The economic recession has hit everyone :-(
Home Bistro has authorized The Cheap Gourmet to provide special savings throughout the month of March on their Lighter Side selections. Not only will you save money, but you can also improve your health and lose some weight while you're eating gourmet!
Home Bistro offers chef-prepared meals delivered directly to your door. While many gourmet food delivery services charge outlandish prices for meals, Home Bistro has more than 55 items priced under $10. Not only are their meals affordable, they are filled with flavor and home cooked comfort.
Lighter Side selections are healthy meals that actually taste good because they are made from REAL food! Each selection is under 500 calories and contains 30-percent of the recommended daily allowance for fat and sodium. Meals are prepared to address specific dietary requirements including low-carb, lower-sodium, lower-fat and diabetic or vegetarian diet plans.
My personal favorites include: Salmon Fillet with Roasted Red Pepper Coulis, Ginger Garlic Beef with Brown Rice, Three Citrus Chicken, Ginger Garlic Chicken and Margarita Shrimp.
Take advantage of Home Bistro savings on Lighter Side meals throughout the month by using the following coupon codes:
Save $10 off purchases of $100 or more Enter Code: March10 (expires March 31, 2009)
Save $20 off purchases of $150 or more Enter Code: March20 (expires March 31, 2009)
You can save even more by purchasing in bulk. Here's the breakdown:
Purchase 5-9 Lighter Side meals and save an additional 10% Purchase 10-14 Lighter Side meals and save an additional 15% Purchase 15+ Home Bistro Lighter Side meals and save an additional 20%
Don't delay! These coupons expire at the end of March. All dinners are frozen, so now is the time to stock up and save. Check out the Home Bistro website today!
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