WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog/media/feedlogo.gif WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Lou's Clues: Subtracting the additives ... and make a cheaper, healthier mealhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/26/lous-clues-subtracting-the-additives-and-make-a-cheaper-h/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/26/lous-clues-subtracting-the-additives-and-make-a-cheaper-h/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/26/lous-clues-subtracting-the-additives-and-make-a-cheaper-h/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As you've probably guessed by now, I'm a big fan of home cooking. That's not to say that I don't enjoy a good meal out once in a while, or that I can't appreciate the convenience of the occasional microwave dinner, but chances are if I can make it from scratch, I will. And this isn't just a matter of pride -- it's a matter of health. This week I'm going to let you in on the wonderful world of FOOD ADDITIVES, and I'm not talking vitamins or artificial flavoring. I'm talking the chemicals you often find in processed foods that are no good for you.

Let's take a look at some of the nasty little things they're putting in our food:

MonoSodium Glutamate (MSG): You all know about this stuff, as in -- "I'll have the Chow Mein, but hold the MSG, please." But what harm does this stuff do besides leaving your head feeling like the world globe at Epcot? According to a noted author and neurosurgeon, Dr. Russell Blaylock, it seems that MSG and artificial sweeteners cause "excitotoxic" damage, which is to say, they kill sensitive neurons. Doesn't sound bad enough to you? Consider this: this kind of neuron death is a contributing cause to sudden cardiac death. Think avoiding the takeout from Golden Palace is enough to keep the MSG out of your system? Think again -- MSG can be found in everything from diet drinks to hot dogs to dressings and chips.

Continue reading Lou's Clues: Subtracting the additives ... and make a cheaper, healthier meal

Lou's Clues: Subtracting the additives ... and make a cheaper, healthier meal originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Chef LouieChefLouieEconomizerfeaturedFoodSaving moneySavingMoneyChef LouieMon, 26 Oct 2009 10:00:00 ESTLou's Clues: The skinny on fat savingshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/18/lous-clues-the-skinny-on-fat-savings/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/18/lous-clues-the-skinny-on-fat-savings/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/18/lous-clues-the-skinny-on-fat-savings/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I read a ton of advice on how to save money in the kitchen, and most of the advice comes from the very areas that make us spend more money!

I mean really, an appliance company telling us to buy a freezer so we can save money buying bulk, or, the mailed coupons that tell us that we can save 50 cents on a box of cereal, or with this coupon code, we can buy 10 boxes and save $5!

That's great, assuming I have any use for those 10 boxes, but most of the time... well, let's just take a look at some of the more practical things this old chef does to save.

Continue reading Lou's Clues: The skinny on fat savings

Lou's Clues: The skinny on fat savings originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>groceriesgrocery shoppingGroceryShoppingChef LouieFri, 18 Sep 2009 15:30:00 ESTLou's Clues: Chef Louie's Dinner Party, Pt. 2http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/07/lous-clues-chef-louies-dinner-party-pt-2/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/07/lous-clues-chef-louies-dinner-party-pt-2/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/07/lous-clues-chef-louies-dinner-party-pt-2/#commentsFiled under: ,

tomatoesIn my last blog, I introduced you to the Chef Louie Dinner Party with my quick and customizable recipe for some rockin' ravioli. This week, we're continuing the party with my "quick" and easy sauce, as promised. I also have a great recipe for you to finish off the festivities: dessert ravioli!

First up, the sauce. This is a pretty basic tomato-based sauce that can be used for any kind of pasta, so bookmark this blog! You're going to want to come back to this one later.

To begin your sauce, you will need your aromatics: a stalk of celery, an onion, and a carrot, all finely minced. Once they're prepped, pop those babies into a high-sided fry pan over medium-high heat with a shot of olive oil, and let them cook until they soften (about 8 minutes). While that is cooking, chop up six tomatoes, being careful not to lose any juice. Once the aromatics are softened, add the tomatoes into the pan. Next, pour a nice glass of wine (about a cup and a half) for the sauce -- and one for yourself (I leave the measurement up to you on that one!). Cook another five minutes, then lower the heat to warm, and pop some minced garlic and Italian seasoning in the pan along with salt (to taste), a good shake of freshly cracked black pepper, and some red pepper flakes. Don't hesitate to dip in with a spoon and test the flavor - if you need more of one spice or another, just add it in! That's what home cooking is all about, after all - making things the way you like them.

Continue reading Lou's Clues: Chef Louie's Dinner Party, Pt. 2

Lou's Clues: Chef Louie's Dinner Party, Pt. 2 originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Chef LouieFri, 07 Aug 2009 10:00:00 ESTLou's Clues: Dirt cheap dinner partieshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/22/lous-clues-dirt-cheap-dinner-parties/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/22/lous-clues-dirt-cheap-dinner-parties/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/22/lous-clues-dirt-cheap-dinner-parties/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Hello, WalletPop readers! Chef Louie here again, bringing you the best in cheap eats with dinners meant to save you mucho dinero! This week, we're going to broach a subject that many think can't be done on the cheap: dinner parties!

If you're like me, you love eating with friends, but you hate all the expense and time that goes into buying all of the ingredients, the drinks, the supplies. Some of you probably even hate all the time that goes into prep and cooking. Well, hate no more, because this week I am introducing you to the concept of the Chef Louie Dinner Party, where the cooking is as much an opportunity to party as the eating!

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Lou's Clues: Dirt cheap dinner parties originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>cheap dinner partiesCheapDinnerPartiesChef LouieChefLouiefoodraviolishrimp ScampiShrimpScampiChef LouieWed, 22 Jul 2009 13:00:00 ESTTwisted Traditions: Italian shepherd's piehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/14/twisted-traditions-italian-shepherds-pie/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/14/twisted-traditions-italian-shepherds-pie/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/14/twisted-traditions-italian-shepherds-pie/#commentsFiled under: ,

This week I'm bringing you a hearty, thrifty remix of one of the most popular recipes of all time: hamburger pie! Also known as shepherd's pie, this traditional Irish dish consists of a meat base (originally lamb), a layer of vegetable (usually green beans), and mashed potato as the topper. It's a delicious, easy-on-the-budget dinner that can feed an army!

You know, growing up, everything and everybody was Italian. For years I thought there was a singer named Nat Kingcola, and that the kitchen appliance that keeps our food cold was called an ice-a-box! Obviously, food was no different -- if there was any way to make a dish more Italian, my family found it.

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Twisted Traditions: Italian shepherd's pie originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>cheap eatsCheapEatsChef LouieChefLouierecession eatingRecessionEatingSheperds PieSheperdsPieChef LouieTue, 14 Jul 2009 17:30:00 ESTLou's Clues: Saving with saladshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/29/lous-clues-saving-with-salads/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/29/lous-clues-saving-with-salads/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/29/lous-clues-saving-with-salads/#commentsFiled under: ,

Summer has officially arrived, which means humid air and a veggie garden ready for the eating. Sounds like salad time to me! Problem is, take a family of four to a salad/buffet restaurant, and you can easily be out 30 bucks or more -- and that's without drinks. What's a family to do? Bring the salad bar home, of course!

Throwing together a salad bar at home is easy. Super easy. Ridiculously easy. All you need are your favorite greens, an assortment of fixings, some dressing, and people to help you eat.

First up: the greens. I like to start with a head of iceberg lettuce, and a head of Romaine. Give them a chop or tear, then rinse them off, and take them for a spin in a salad spinner. If you don't have a salad spinner, just toss the greens into a large colander and give them a good shake to get rid of the excess water. Add a little sliced onion and chopped fresh tomato to the mix, and you're all set! (Store any leftovers of this mix in a large Ziplock bag, and it can be used for side salads or another round of salad bar any time over the next week).

Continue reading Lou's Clues: Saving with salads

Lou's Clues: Saving with salads originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>cheap eatsCheapEatsChef LouieChefLouieeating on a budgetEatingOnABudgetfresh greensFreshGreensfrugal feedingFrugalFeedingkids and saladsKidsAndSaladssaladssummer saladsSummerSaladsChef LouieMon, 29 Jun 2009 16:00:00 ESTLou's Clues: Chicken on the cheap!http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/22/lous-clues-chicken-on-the-cheap/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/22/lous-clues-chicken-on-the-cheap/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/22/lous-clues-chicken-on-the-cheap/#commentsFiled under: ,

Besides saving money, I'm a freak for saving time. I know how difficult it is to work all day, then come home and cook yourself and your tribe a great dinner before you all waste away from starvation.

OK, that may be a little dramatic, but I know that when I get home I am famished, and I bet you are too! So let's blow the dust off that crock pot you got as an engagement/graduation/first-apartment gift many moons ago, and put it to good use.

Crock Pot Chicken and Fennel Stew

Here is a dish that is delicious, healthy, and so easy that it cooks itself -- and of course, it's cheap! At least once a month you can usually find whole chickens on sale at the supermarket for under a buck per pound. These are usually 2.5-pound to 3.5-pound yard birds, which are the perfect size for this dish.


Continue reading Lou's Clues: Chicken on the cheap!

Lou's Clues: Chicken on the cheap! originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>crockpotcrockpotrecipecrockpotrecipesChef LouieMon, 22 Jun 2009 13:30:00 ESTLou's Clues: Hamming it up - the finale!http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/14/lous-clues-hamming-it-up-the-finale/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/14/lous-clues-hamming-it-up-the-finale/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/14/lous-clues-hamming-it-up-the-finale/#commentsFiled under: ,

Okay, ladies and gents, here it is: your final week of Hamming it Up with Chef Louie. And we're wrapping it up with one of my favorite ham recipes: ham croquettes!

I don't know about you, but I know that when I carve up a ham, there are always a few small shavings that get left behind. These pieces are perfectly edible -- they just didn't quite make the cut of the other slices. Save these pieces! We're using them today.

In addition to these shavings, you will need a few slices more of ham, finely minced. Put all these pieces together and you get what I fondly call "ham shrapnel."

Continue reading Lou's Clues: Hamming it up - the finale!

Lou's Clues: Hamming it up - the finale! originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Chef LouieChefLouiefeaturedfoodfrugal mealsFrugalMealshamham croquettesHamCroquettesstretching your meal budgetStretchingYourMealBudgetChef LouieSun, 14 Jun 2009 11:00:00 ESTLou's Clues: Ham and cheese, please!http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/08/lous-clues-ham-and-cheese-please/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/08/lous-clues-ham-and-cheese-please/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/08/lous-clues-ham-and-cheese-please/#commentsFiled under: ,

Last week, I gave you a recipe for what I consider to be the most flavorful ham dinner on the planet -- maybe even the universe. This week, I've decided to extend both your food dollar and that warm, tasty ham flavor throughout the week in the form of a unique cold cut.

First things first, let's fire up that inexpensive slicer I had you buy a few weeks ago. Take a hunk of the leftover ham (assuming you didn't eat it all -- as good as that recipe is, this might be a problem), and make some thin, cold-cut-style ham slices. Place a layer of ham slices flat on a sheet of saran wrap, and layer it with your favorite sliced cheese. I usually make the slices two long, about 8 inches or so, overlapping slightly. Go ahead and do this to create at least 6 ham-and-cheese layers, then roll these delectable layers up tightly. Wrap the plastic wrap over the log, and twist the ends to seal.

Put the roll into the microwave for 30 seconds on high, then let it chill out in the fridge over night. The warmed cheese will allow log will keep its shape once chilled, resulting in a super-tasty ham and cheese spiral loaf. Cut a few nice, big, round slices of goodness, slap it on your favorite bread, top with a good, stone-ground mustard, and voila! You have yourself a quick and tasty ham-and-cheese sammie.

Continue reading Lou's Clues: Ham and cheese, please!

Lou's Clues: Ham and cheese, please! originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Chef LouieChefLouiefoodChef LouieMon, 08 Jun 2009 12:00:00 ESTLou's Clues: Hamming it up!http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/01/lous-clues-hamming-it-up/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/01/lous-clues-hamming-it-up/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/01/lous-clues-hamming-it-up/#commentsFiled under: ,

Last week, I gave you a great recipe for one of my favorite cold cuts -- roast beef. This week, we're moving on to another popular lunch meat: ham!

I think ham is just about the most versatile meat on the market today. Don't believe me? Then consider this: one day of good ham prep could help feed you for the better part of a week -- heck, even longer if you make the right dishes.

Ham can start as a Sunday dinner, get sliced into sandwich meat (using that handy slicer you bought two weeks ago) for Monday's lunch, chopped into tasty croquettes for Wednesday's dinner, and the bone can be simmered for a few hours to make a tasty ham and bean soup! Freeze the soup, and you have something that can be reheated in a few weeks when life has you too busy to make a proper meal.

See? A little ham goes a long way -- and at bargain basement prices, too! In my experience, ham can usually be found at about a buck per pound. Cheap, versatile, and tasty: ham is one of the ultimate money-saving, flavor-giving foods around.

"But Louie," you may be saying, "I've been eating ham my whole life, and it's never really rocked my world. It's too salty, or too dry, or just too... blah." Well, you're in luck, because I'm here to provide a recipe for ham that is out of this world: Chef Louie's Hot/Sweet Ham.

Continue reading Lou's Clues: Hamming it up!

Lou's Clues: Hamming it up! originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>chef louieChefLouiefeaturedfrugal cookingFrugalCookinghamham five waysHamFiveWayshotsweet hamHotsweetHamrecipesweekly mealsWeeklyMealsChef LouieMon, 01 Jun 2009 18:00:00 ESTLou's Clues: Tasty roast beef -- made at homehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/05/25/lous-clues-tasty-roast-beef-made-at-home/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/05/25/lous-clues-tasty-roast-beef-made-at-home/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/05/25/lous-clues-tasty-roast-beef-made-at-home/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Chef Louie again, here to save you money! Last week, I mentioned the benefits of buying a roast when it goes on sale at the supermarket, and then cooking and deli-slicing it yourself with your brand new $39 slicer instead of buying store-prepared cold cuts at $8.99 a pound.

This week, I'm providing my favorite roast recipe to make those homemade sammies even tastier! Why? Because I want you to provide the same cheap-and-healthy lunches I gave my kids.

First up, watch for the sale. You can, of course, pay the full price any time and still enjoy a tastier roast beef than you'd find in the packaged section, but you get more bang for your buck when you keep an eye on the sale papers and buy when prices are low. When that top round, bottom round or eye round goes on sale, grab up a few and do it up like this:

Continue reading Lou's Clues: Tasty roast beef -- made at home

Lou's Clues: Tasty roast beef -- made at home originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 25 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>chef louieChefLouieroast beefRoastBeefChef LouieMon, 25 May 2009 09:00:00 ESTLou's Clues: Welcome to Chef Louie's Gourmet on the Cheaphttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/05/15/lous-clues-welcome-to-chef-louies-gourmet-on-the-cheap/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/05/15/lous-clues-welcome-to-chef-louies-gourmet-on-the-cheap/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/05/15/lous-clues-welcome-to-chef-louies-gourmet-on-the-cheap/#commentsFiled under: ,

I'm chef Louie DeAngelis, and I am the original cheap date! Let me clarify that: I love to eat and eat well, but I refuse to pay high grocery bills.

So what's a chubby guy like me to do? Well, I could cut coupons until my fingers are numb, drive to the ends of the earth looking for a bargain, and buy toilet paper and dried beans by the ton at a big box store, but I've discovered that unless I have a plan -- a real plan -- I'm going to keep throwing money at a problem that has no end. I know plenty of you fall into the same patterns, so I'm here to help you make that meal savings plan and save you a fortune!

Let's start with lunch. It's a great idea to pack a bag lunch for yourself (and your kids, if you have them), but the price of cold cuts can definitely be a turn-off. I guess somebody's got to pay for all those chemicals and preservatives, and it might as well be you, right? Wrong. Do me a favor: take a look at the next sale paper you get from the local supermarket. Check out the front page and see that great deal on bottom round roast. That's right, the one that's $2.29 a pound this week. Now look on page three, where it highlights the everyday items, and notice the deli roast beef on sale this week at $7.99 per pound. Let me get this right, I'm going to pay someone $5.70 to cook something that I could easily make myself?? What's next, a chauffeur? Get the picture?

This is where the real savings are -- not using coupons for something you really didn't plan on buying, but rather saving wisely on the products that you DO use everyday! When giving advice, I always try to look back at cheap old me for inspiration. When my children got to school age (25 years ago), I wanted to pack them the kind of lunches I would like, but roast beef and the like were so expensive compared to PB&J and bologna. So I wised up and invested $39 dollars on one of those inexpensive food slicers (I still use it to this day, and yes, you can still get one for $39 in stores), and developed some great recipes for the tastiest, most nutritious cold cuts you will ever have.

My goal with each of my posts will be to show you how you can feed your family like kings with the budget of a peasant. I've done it for years, and I'm eager to share my secrets.

Salute!


Chef Louie hosts Good Day Food & Wine, a nationally syndicated weekend radio show. A culinary veteran, Chef Louie pledges to empower you in the kitchen, the supermarket, and help you eat better, entertain better and keep more of that hard-earned money close to home. Sign up for his free e-newsletter here.

Lou's Clues: Welcome to Chef Louie's Gourmet on the Cheap originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 15 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>foodChef LouieFri, 15 May 2009 12:00:00 EST