The Cheap Gourmet

Join the Betty Crocker Community for New and Delicious Summer Recipes

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!

Balsamic Glazed Chicken over a Bed of Long Grain and Wild Rice

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:

1. Prepare Uncle Ben's rice as per package directions.
2. Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towel. Cut into 1-inch cubes.
3. Rinse and dry vegetables. Using a clean cutting board and knife, chop vegetables into bite-size pieces.
4. Mix Mrs. Dash, Adobo, and black pepper and sprinkle over chicken.
5. Add olive oil to a 12-inch skillet. Heat oil over medium heat for 2 minutes.
6. Carefully add chicken to skillet; making sure pieces do not overlap. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes and turn.
7. Add chopped vegetables to chicken.
8. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until chicken is done and vegetables are crisp-tender.
9. Reduce heat to low. Pour in balsamic vinegar and gently mix until chicken and veggies are coated.
10. Simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes.
11. 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!

Boca Java Coffee - Exceptional Deal on Extraordinary Coffee

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!

Gourmet Red Beans and Rice Recipe

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's Red 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.

GOURMET RED BEANS AND RICE RECIPE

Serves: 2
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

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:

1. Slice Johnsonville New Orleans Smoke Sausage into 1-inch thick rounds, then slice rounds into halves or quarters, depending on your preference.
2. 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.
3. Add sausage to Zatarain's Red Beans as Rice and cook per package instructions.
4. Place one Toufayan Whole Wheat Flatbread on a plate.
5. Top with red beans and rice and spread mixture to the edges.
6. Top with 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese and serve immediately.

Ready to save big bucks at the grocery store?
Click on the banner below to obtain printable coupons and product samples.

Beer of the Month Club: Perfect Father's Day Gift!

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!

Receive Brand Name Samples, Coupons and Free Stuff!

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.

MySavings also includes an entire section dedicated to surveys and product testing. I joined the Mills Advisory Panel, Minute Riceipe Club, Health Survey Panel, Covergirl Consumer Advisory Panel, Kraft First Taste, Allure Experts beauty products, In-Home Product Testing, SheSpeaks, General Mills Psst Panel, and BzzAgent.

Last, but not least, MySavings community forum offers interaction with thousands of consumers just like you. With nearly 30,000 members you're certain to pick up some great advice and locate additional deals.

I can't say enough good things about MySavings. If you want to save a boatload of money, receive free samples, become a product tester and try out new stuff, and interact with a great group of people, signup for MySavings today.

It's 100-percent free and if you aren't happy with it, simply unsubscribe. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Click on the banner below and you will be on your way to obtaining some of the best bargains on the planet!

Super Simple Summer Salad with Grilled Chicken and Bread with Melted Brie Cheese

Today, I'd like to share a super simple 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. While chicken is cooking, prepare salad mix.
4. Wash and dry vegetables. If using packaged salad mix, empty bag into colander and rinse with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels.
5. Loosely chop romaine and head lettuce. Cut spine out of romaine leaves.
6. Dice celery and carrots.
7. Remove the root from green onions and slice thin rounds.
8. Quarter tomato, remove seeds (if desired) and cut into chunks.
9. Toss ingredients together and place in refrigerator until ready to serve.
10. Slice four 1/2-inch thick bread slices from Artisan Bread.
11. Cut four 1/4-inch slices of Baby Brie and place on top of bread.
12. Remove chicken from broiler or grill and place on plate. Allow to set for 5 minutes.
13. Place bread on baking sheet and place in 350-degree oven. Heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until cheese melts. Remove from oven.
14. Slice chicken into strips or cut into 1/2-inch chunks.
15. Transfer salad to serving plates.
16. Top with grilled chicken and add salad dressing, if desired.
17. Serve with two slices of baked bread with melted brie cheese.

Danny Veltri of Flip Flops Grill and Chill in New Smyrna Beach, Florida Wins Hell's Kitchen Competition!

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.

Philly Cheese Steak Quesadilla Recipe - The Cheap Gourmet Original

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!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

Philly Cheese Steak Quesadilla Recipe
Serves 2
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

2 medium flour Tortilla wraps
4 slices frozen Philly Cheese Steaks
1/2 green Bell Pepper, diced
1/3 cup Red Onion, diced
1/3 cup fresh Tomatoes, diced (optional)
4 Tablespoons Ragu Cheddar Cheese Sauce

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Chop bell pepper, onions and tomatoes.
3. Preheat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Remove frozen Philly Cheesesteak meat from package. Break into bite-size pieces and add to skillet.
5. Add pepper and onion, stirring frequently.
6. Cook 5 to 6 minutes or until beef is thoroughly cooked.
7. Cover each quesadilla with 2 Tablespoons Ragu Cheddar Cheese Sauce. Spread cheese evenly and all the way to the edges.
8. Place half the meat mixture on one half of each quesadilla.
9. Top with fresh tomatoes, if desired.
10. Fold the other half over meat mixture and seal edges using the cheese sauce.
11. Place on baking stone or baking sheet.
12. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until tortillas begins to turn light brown.
13. Remove from oven, transfer to plates and serve immediately.

What's Better than Cheap Gourmet Food? Free Gourmet Food!

"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.

Free gourmet food contest rules can be found at http://www.nafood.com/pdf/contest-rules.pdf. Note, this is a PDF file which requires Adobe Reader to view.

Don't delay. Go post your entry at North American Import and Export and if you win, please let me know. Good luck!