The Cheap Gourmet

$1000 Culinary Shopping Spree from Tastebook

Tastebook.com was featured on The Cheap Gourmet blog this past March, when I discovered their unique website which allows you to create your own cookbook. Since then, I've been playing around with the different templates, adding my own recipes and attempting to choose recipes from Tastebook's vast collection. Each cookbook can hold up to 100 recipes and I've currently narrowed down my choices to around 450 recipes.

Today, I was heading over to Tastebook.com to continue working on my new cookbooks when I discovered they are hosting a $1000 Culinary Shopping Spree. The winner receives a $1000 gift card and can buy anything they desire at Cooking.com.

If you've never shopped at Cooking.com, you're in for quite a treat. They have everything under the sun to help make you a Cooking Superstar! And, their prices are very reasonable. I purchased a fabulous Margarita Glasses and Pitcher Set for only $29.95 a few months ago. The set is constructed from thick glass. The pitcher holds 84-ounces and the glasses hold 10-ounces each. I bought the set specifically for my mind-altering pink margaritas. I wanted clear glass to highlight the gorgeous color of the drinks ;-)

The $1000 Culinary Shopping Spree is easy to enter. Three entry options are available including:

1. Register to become a Tastebook.com member (it's FREE!)
2. After becoming a Tastebook member, share recipes with your friends and family for additional sweepstakes entries.
3. Enter the contest by submitting a post card through the U.S. Postal Service.

Complete details can be found at the Tastebook.com website. The contest runs from June 11 through July 14th and is open to residents of all 50 U.S. states, with the exception of Rhode Island and Colorado. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older to participate.

I absolutely love the Tastebook cookbooks and plan to create different ones for my favorite friends and family members based on their culinary preferences. Currently, Tastebook is offering a 20-percent discount on your first custom cookbook. Details can be found on the Tastebook.com home page.

If you are creating a Tastebook cookbook, please let me know. I'm always looking for people to share recipes with and would love to hear about your favorite culinary delights. Using the Tastebook templates, I can easily add your recipes to my customized cookbooks. So, don't be a stranger. Drop me a note and let me know your favorite Tastebook recipes.

Good luck with the contest. Although I hope I win the $1000 Culinary Shopping Spree, I'd be just as happy to hear you won it. Don't delay... go to Tastebook.com and become a member. However, I must warn you, it's addicting and will make you salivate like crazy. You might want to attach a bib before you start browsing the recipe collections, LOL.

Exotic Cruise Vacations - A great way to relax and eat gourmet food all day long!

Exotic cruise vacations are notorious for offering some of the world's finest gourmet cuisine. A friend of mine recently returned from a 12-day Mediterranean Cruise. She talked non-stop for over an hour about the delectable cuisine and how she gained 10 pounds because she couldn't resist tasting every morsel presented to her. Even the photos she uploaded to her online photo gallery were focused more on the food than the sightseeing.

My in-law's recently took a 7-day Alaska Cruise. Again, their main focus was the food. Although they loved whale watching and enjoyed several spa treatments, nearly all of their photos were taken in the dining room. There were photos of gorgeous ice sculptures, banquet tables filled with exotic foods and five-star dining rooms with seven-course meals. The food presentation was truly a work of art.

Next month, my daughter's best friend and her family are embarking on a 7-day cruise to Aruba. Hannah brought over brochures and a DVD of their upcoming cruise vacation and I have become obsessed with the idea of cruising ever since. I've always considered exotic cruise vacations to be for the wealthy, but after a bit of research I've discovered this is not the case. In fact, cruises are one of the most economical vacation packages available.

I located a place called Cruise Vacation Center; a one-stop shop for worldwide cruise vacations. Cruise Vacation Center is affiliated with all the major cruise ship lines including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruise, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Holland America and Cunard.

Cruise destinations include Africa, Alaska, Antarctica,Australia, Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean, Coastal, Costa Rica, Cruise to Nowhere, Europe, Greece, Hawaii, Mediterranean, Mexico, New England, New Zealand, Pacific Coastal, Pacific Northwest, Panama Canal, South America, South Pacific, Southeast Asia, Tahiti, Transatlantic, Transcanal, Transpacific and a World Cruise.

I spent about two hours at Cruise Vacation Center comparing cruise lines, amenities, staterooms, best sailing dates, ports of call and prices. My husband and I will be celebrating our 7-year anniversary on December 29th and I want to surprise him with an exotic cruise vacation. Although I haven't booked our reservation yet, I found a fabulous deal on a 3-night cruise to the Bahamas. Since it departs from Port Canaveral, we won't have to purchase airline tickets, which makes the cruise even more affordable.

The cruise I felt would be perfect for our romantic getaway is on Royal Caribbean and the cruise ship is Monarch of the Seas. What really sold me on this package (besides the price!) was the gourmet food. According the Cruise Vacation Center website, one restaurant, Portofino offers pasta (my all-time favorite food), classic burgers from Johnny Rocket's (my husband's favorite food) and gourmet five-course meals in the main dining room.

Monarch of the Seas also offers plenty of entertainment inclding a dramatic two-story lounge, nightclubs and bars. I can shop till I drop in the five-story Centrum lobby lined with boutiques, sip champagne in the Champagne Bar and enjoy live shows that parallel Las Vegas and New York. The best part is, since Cruise Vacation Center offers bargain prices, I can afford to upgrade to the Royal Suite which includes a private balcony and whirlpool bathtub.

If you're thinking about a romantic getaway, family vacation or weekend getaway with your best friends, check out Cruise Vacation Center. Be sure to visit the "Specials" page and call the 800-number to ensure you obtain the best deal possible. Once I get my "secret" honeymoon package booked, I'll be certain to give you an update. And, I'm certain you'll see lots of gourmet food photos once we complete our romantic getaway!

Celebrating "National Old Friends, New Friends" Week

"National Old Friends, New Friends Week" is hosted from May 18th-25th and it couldn't have come at a better time for me. As many of you know, my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer last year. I've spent the last month with her and am currently back home to celebrate my daughter's high school graduation. Next week, I will return to continue caring for mom. It's been a bittersweet time, but I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to spend this time with my life mentor.

Mom has always been an amazing cook. Everything I know about cooking, I owe to her. In fact, a few weeks ago, mom had a craving for ham salad. I'd never made ham salad before and actually turned my nose up at it, but I gotta tell you -- this stuff is amazing! I'll share the recipe with you in my next post. Today, I need to express the importance of friendship.

My good friend and business associate, Viveca Stone-Berry recently founded DogCaptions.com with her brother and humorist-photographer, Richard Stone. DogCaptions.com is offering the "Barker's Dozen" Friendship Card Pack, a collection of 13 all-occasion cards with adorable photos of dogs (and one cat!). Each card has a funny or uplifting caption printed on the front and are blank inside, leaving plenty of room to express your love and gratitude.

I've experienced an outpouring of love from old and new friends during mom's illness. My friend, Patty, treated me to lunch one day and provided me with transportation to and from the airport. My friend, Evelyn, called me several times and sent me humorous and inspirational emails. Viveca, of DogCaptions.com sent me a wonderful Kathryn Ponder book, a "Barker's Dozen" Friendship pack, a fabulous tote that folds up so you can carry it in your purse, and adorable bookmarks (called Bark Marks -- too cute!).

Mom's neighbors frequently stopped by to visit, bring food, take down the trash, scoop up dog poop and show their love. Her friends offered so much love and support to both of us. Their love and friendship made all the difference in the world. They offered a shoulder to cry on, a hug, a smile, a prayer.

Think about all the people who are important in your life. Take advantage of "National Old Friends, New Friends" week to reconnect with your friends and family and remind them how important they are to you. Go buy a "Barker's Dozen" Friendship Pack today and send cards to everyone who is important to you. Not only will you brighten their day, you'll be doing something to save a pet's life. How??

When you purchase the Barker's Dozen Friendship Pack this week, DogCaptions.com is donating up to 50% of the profits to three animal shelters. These organizations help spread the word about spaying/neutering services, adoption services, and provide shelter and medical services for these animals.

DogCaptions.com will send you a special gift when you purchase the Barker's Dozen cards this week. They have lined up some amazing sponsors who are giving you some pretty great gifts for FREE.

Share your love. Brighten your friends day. Help an animal. Go to DogCaptions.com today and pick up a pack or two of these adorable cards. Doing so will make the world a better place ;-)

Wine Bible Offers An Amazing Selection of Wines Online

WineBible.com is one of the most informative sites on wines I have ever found. What originally drew my attention to their website is the fact that they sell Virgin Wines. I have always admired Sir Richard Branson. Not only is he the founder of Virgin Records and Virgin Airlines, he also created Virgin Mobile. I've had cell phone service with Virgin Mobile for years and absolutely love their service and affordable plans. But, I digress.

I located Virgin Wines at WineBible.com and learned some fascinating information about wine. At the Wine Bible website, you can discover the history of wine, wine grape varieties, wine producing countries and anything else you could ever want to know about wines.

Unfortunately, WineBible.com wines are currently available to residents of the United Kingdom. However, their website is a wealth of knowledge for anyone interested in learning more about specific types of wine, how to pair them with food and their origins.

The good news is, by using WineBible.com, I discovered a Pinot Noir wine I was interested in and when I "Googled" it, I found a supplier in the U.S. I also discovered, "The World Atlas of Wine" by by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson which was promoted on WineBible.com and available through Amazon.com. With a click of a button, I was able to purchase this book through Amazon's U.S. division.

While I wish I could take advantage of the many delectable wines and resources offered at WineBible.com, I found their online Wine Guide to be extremely informative and helpful. Additionally, I know there are many visitors to The Cheap Gourmet Blog who reside in the U.K. who can take advantage of the deep discounts and wine resources located at this wonderful wine site.

Even if you don't live in the U.K., take a moment to stop by WineBible.com. You'll find a wealth of knowledge on French Wine, Spanish Wine, Italian Wine, Virgin Wines, how to buy wine online and much more. It's one of the best wine websites I've ever found and I hope you will enjoy it too!

SBS Teas Birthday Celebration - Save 15% on May 15th

SBS Teas owner, Lady Babs, is celebrating her 65th birthday on Thursday, May 15th. She invites you to celebrate in her joy of being eligible for "Senior Discounts" and is offering everyone a whopping 15% discount on their entire purchase.

If you've never tried SBS Teas, now would be an excellent time to order. Be careful though... once you try these high-quality loose leaf teas you'll never settle for anything less. SBS Teas offers a wonderful selection of custom-blended teas including black, green, white, chai, oolong, organic, iced teas and more.

Not a fan of tea? No worries...SBS Teas also has an amazing selection of coffees and cocoas. My favorite coffees include Bird Friendly Organic, Black Forest Cake and Rainforest Crunch. My favorite cocoa selections include Belgian Dark Chocolate, Raspberry Chocolate and Triple Fudge Hot Cocoa.

If you're like me and can't get enough coffee, tea or cocoa on the inside, you'll flip over the amazing SBS Teas body products. These all-natural products include body wash, body lotion, body scrubs and bath perfumes. These delightful bath and body products are available in a variety of scents including: Chocolate Decadence, Blackberry Sage, London Lemon Curd, Vanilla Grapefruit and Zen Tea.

Mark your calendar to join Lady Babs in her 65th Birthday Celebration on May 15th and save 15% on your ENTIRE ORDER! The discount will automatically be deducted from your order at check-out.

While you're waiting for Lady Babs birthday to arrive, take a moment to download The Cheap Gourmet's FREE Tea Report -- "Think Outside the Cup - Cooking with Tea". This 16-page report focuses on the many ways to combine tea with cooking. You'll learn how to use tea as a spice, meat and vegetable marinade, meat tenderizer and more.

Click on the banner below and place your order on May 15th to save 15%. You're going to love the massive collection of custom-blended loose leaf teas, exotic and flavorful coffees and rich, decadent coffees and soothing body products. Enjoy! and be sure to wish Lady Babs a Happy Birthday!

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

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

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

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

This all-in-one package includes:

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

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

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

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

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

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day, Tuesday, April 29th

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Stores are offering free ice cream between the hours of noon and 8:00 pm on Tuesday, April 29th. Reason being is Ben and Jerry need your help to make a political statement. Ben and Jerry's label their ice cream as free of recombinant bovine growth hormones or rBGH/rBST. In other words, they don't add dangerous chemicals to their ice cream and they are proud of it.

However, Monsanto, the giant chemical company who manufactures rBST and other deadly chemicals are trying to ban the labeling of milk as hormone-free. Monsanto claims these labels are unfair because they imply hormone-free milk is safer than milk laden with the chemicals they manufacture. I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to eat pure ice cream and dairy products over products loaded with chemicals and hormones.

If you believe that you should have the right to know what chemicals are added to your ice cream and want to protect your consumer rights, it's time to join the crusade. Doing so, will earn you a free cone and let your voice be heard!

All you have to do to get your hormone-free cone from Ben and Jerry's is visit Citizens for Health website to download and sign the Ben & Jerry's thank you letter. Then take the letter to the nearest scoop shop to claim your free cone and your right to hormone-free ice cream.

Learn more about the dangers of rBGH and rBST at the following sites:

What are Monsanto and the FDA Hiding Regarding Controversial Cow Hormone?

rBGH, Monsanto and Corporate Agriculture Information about Intellectual Property Rights

rBGH Milk and the Cancer Connection

My Toastmaster Toaster Oven - May You Rest in Peace

My beloved Toastmaster Toaster Oven died yesterday. To the best of my recollection, my sister gave me my Toastmaster as a housewarming gift nearly 15 years ago. As you can see, it served me well. In our household the toaster oven is an integral part of cooking, so I decided to snoop around online and comparison shop. I love being able to shop from home, don't you? Especially with the cost of gas these days!

I came across a website called Wize. This consumer research and product review site provides a wealth of knowledge on just about any type of product you could ever want or need. Wize.com provided me with 132 toaster oven reviews.

You can narrow your search by clicking on various parameters such as price range or manufacturer. The first thing I did was check to see if Toastmaster still offered the model that died. Unfortunately, they do not, but they do have a toaster oven nearly identical. The Toastmaster TOV200 offers convection cooking, which is a feature I have oftentimes said I wish the old unit offered.

The reviews weren't all that favorable on the Toastmaster brand, so I decided to see what other options were available. Being cheap, I started out by looking at toaster ovens in the "Less Than $40" category. This yielded 19 results, but none had a very high WizeRank.

Wize.com has a rating system and each product displays a button showing how consumers rank their product. According the site, a rank of 90-100 means you can buy with confidence. 75-90 means the product might meet your needs. I was looking for a toaster oven that fell into the 90-100 category.

After reviewing the various price categories, I noticed a "New Releases" link. I clicked and there it was... the perfect toaster oven! First of all, this toaster oven is manufactured by Cuisinart. I LOVE Cuisinart products and have never had a bit of trouble with them. This stainless steel beauty can bake, broil and toast AND offers the convection oven I longed for. It has room for six slices of toast, which is perfect for my family. Now I'll be able to toast bread for our BLT's and no one will have to eat cold toast ;-)

Once I decided on my toaster oven, I was provided with three places where I could buy it online. Prices ranged from $99 through eBay to $139 through Amazon. Which do you think I chose? I clicked on the eBay link, entered my info and poof, my toaster oven will be on its way next week.

Although it cost a bit more money than I anticipated paying, I feel I got a pretty good deal. The Cuisinart cost $123.19 including shipping. If it lasts as long as the last one, the amortized cost is about $8.20 per year. That's quite a bargain, eh?

It was sad to dump my Toastmaster in the trash can. I felt as if I should have given her a proper burial considering all the years of service. So, I placed her in a trash bag and tied the handles in a bow.

Next time you need a toaster oven or want to research a variety of products, check out Wize.com. It's a really cool community where you can chat with a live representative and ask questions about the products or leave a review of your own. Overall, I give it 5-stars and will definitely use the service again.

Low-Carb Asiago Minestrone Soup

One of my favorite soups is Minestrone. I love the combination of the vegetables, beans and pasta. However, like many Americans I'm attempting to reduce my intake of carbohydrates. I decided to experiment with my all-time favorite Minestrone Soup recipe. I wanted to create a soup that would be filling, satisfying and full of flavor.

The following Minestrone Soup recipe is a hearty soup, yet offers a light mouth-feel. I added Asiago cheese for a boost of flavor and to replace the substance of the pasta. One ounce of Asiago cheese contains a mere .67 grams of carbohydrates. In comparison, one ounce of macaroni pasta contains approximately 5 grams of carbs. Asiago is relatively low in fat content, with one-ounce containing 8.7 grams.

This recipe will serve four as a main course or six as an appetizer. If you want to further enhance the flavor, make the soup the day before you plan to serve it.

Asiago Minestrone Soup
Serves 4 (main course) or 6 (appetizer)
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20-25 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 large White or Yellow Onion, chopped
1 cup Baby Carrots, sliced diagonally
3 cups Chicken Broth (use low-sodium if desired)
1 cup Water (add White Wine for a boost in flavor)
1 can (15-ounce) Diced Tomatoes (or use 2 cups fresh, seeds removed)
3 cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
1 bunch Swiss Chard, stems and leaves coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon dried Parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried Oregano
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper, freshly ground
1 medium Zucchini, chopped into 1-inch cubes
1/4 pound fresh Green Beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 can (15-ounce) Cannellini Beans (white kidney beans), rinsed and drained
1 cup fresh Basil leaves, chopped
1 cup Asiago Cheese, shredded

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oil in large stockpot over medium heat.
2. Add onion and carrots. Cook until onions are soft and translucent; about 5 minutes.
3. Add chicken broth, water (or white wine), tomatoes, garlic, Swiss chard, herbs and pepper.
4. Bring to a low simmer and cook 7-8 minutes.
5. Add zucchini, green beans and cannellini beans; stir to combine ingredients. Simmer for 3-4 minutes.
6. Add Swiss Chard and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until tender.
7. Add basil leaves, remove from heat and stir well to incorporate ingredients.
8. Ladle into serving bowls and top with  Asiago cheese.

Cafe San Diego: The Ultimate San Diego Dining Guide

Attention all San Diego residents and visitors! I just discovered Cafe San Diego, the ultimate San Diego Dining Guide. Ironically, a client hired me to write an article about San Diego restaurants. I explained to him that I had never been to San Diego and had no idea what restaurants were good or which to avoid. He said he had faith in my research abilities to figure it out.

I typed in San Diego Restaurants at Google and discovered Cafe San Diego. This website offered me everything I needed to write the article. It also made me want to hop on a plane and head out to California to indulge in some serious dining!

What's unique about the Cafe San Diego website is you can search by Cuisine, Neighborhood, Atmosphere and Special Features. Looking for a Bakery that offers breakfast specials? Need catering for a business luncheon? Ready for Happy Hour and Dancing? Just click on your criteria and Cafe San Diego will provide you with a list of restaurants offering everything you are looking for.

An added bonus is the San Diego Restaurant Coupons section. Packed with more than 60 money-saving coupons, you'll find everything from free appetizers and desserts to half-price entrees and discounted Sushi bars.

Once you locate a restaurant of interest, simply click on the "Full Listing" link and you'll be taken to a page which provides the address, phone number, directions and maps from Mapquest, hours of operations and methods of payments accepted.

I had no idea San Diego has such an abundance of restaurants. Nearly anything you could want is located in this beautiful city and Cafe San Diego makes it easy to locate whatever type of restaurant suits your fancy. Visiting the site reminded me of a friend who lives in San Diego whom I haven't seen for many years. I think I may have to take a business trip out West and pay a visit to several of the restaurants I discovered at Cafe San Diego.

In closing, my client was exceptionally pleased with his San Diego Restaurants article. But, he was even more pleased when I told him that all his restaurant needs are right at his fingertips ;-)