Daily Deal for Thursday, August 28: Cook's Illustrated cookbooks, 50% off.

What were you expecting to do with all those summer tomatoes and zucchini?

I'll tell you what. First, sign up for a free membership with Cook's Illustrated here. They're the folks who make cooking simple, even for those of us who can barely boil water.

Then go into the sit back and wait for your special offer email: a cookbook summer clearance sale, featuring 50% off some of Cook's best-selling titles.

For example, The Best 30-Minute Recipe book, usually sells for $35, now selling for $17.50 under this promotion. Baking Illustrated, also $17.50. Italian Classics usually sells for $29.95, is selling for $14.95 under this promotion.

In addition to these savings, you get a whole host of other freebies when you become a member, including instructional videos and recipe guides.

Bon appetit!

Every day, WalletPop will be bringing you information about a fantastic freebie. Like what you see? Check back tomorrow for more!

AmMed Direct is offering a pretty cool box of free stuff willing to fill out this quick form. According to the company:

Your FREE Better Care Kit™ includes:

• FREE Diabetic Desserts cookbook – 96 full-color pages of mouth-watering desserts including lemon meringue pie, apple crisp, chocolate bundt cake, and many more
• FREE Meal Planning Guide – with useful nutrition advice to simplify your healthy food choices
• FREE copy of the Better Care Magazine – with 5 food secrets that reveal how you can enjoy healthier, more delicious meals
• FREE Test & Feel Better Guide – with practical facts about blood sugar testing to keep your diabetes in check
• FREE Test Log – to help you keep track of your blood sugar levels
• FREE special issue of our popular Diabetes Directions newsletter with important diabetes news, health tips and delicious recipes
  

Every day, WalletPop will be bringing you information about a fantastic freebie. Like what you see? Check back tomorrow for more!

In an effort to convince you to buy their products, a lot of food companies are offering free cookbooks in exchange for filling out a quick online form. Today I'm highlighting two: Jiffy and Ragu.

Fill out this form to get a free copy of Feed Our Kids Well: A Recipe for Living from Ragu, with recipes featuring its "new 90-second microwaveable Ragú Fresh & Simple Pasta Sauce Pouch."

If you'd rather make corn muffins, Jiffy is offering a "FREE Updated Recipe Book. It now includes nutritional facts and camping recipes." Just fill out this form.

And don't be afraid to substitute store brands when you try the recipes! Check out this Fantastic Freebie from yesterday to receive a similar cookbook from Sun-Maid® Raisins & Dried Fruit.

Every day, WalletPop will be bringing you information about a fantastic freebie. Like what you see? Check back tomorrow for more!

Most avid home chefs -- at least the ones I know -- would never pass up a free cookbook. If you fill out this form, Gooseberry Patch will send free copies of its Fall Favorites with Sun-Maid® Raisins & Dried Fruit and Gooseberry Patch Family Favorite Recipes with Sun-Maid® Raisins & Dried Fruit.

A suggestion: uncheck the boxes to receive free tips and special offers unless you feel like you don't receive enough promotional email already.

Every day, WalletPop will be bringing you information about a fantastic freebie. Like what you see? Check back tomorrow for more!

The prospect of a cookbook from Merck might not sound too appetizing -- Zocor brownies anyone?

But apparently the Go Red Light & Easy Recipes cookbook is filled with heart-healthy recipes. If you fill out this form, they'll send you a free copy.

Christiane Jory has written a cookbook containing gourmet recipes made with items exclusively from the 99-cent Only Store. There are more than 100 recipes featuring appetizers, side dishes, main courses and desserts and not one of the ingredients cost more that .99. Christiane and her cookbook has been featured in major newspapers and on TV shows like Good Morning America. I watched a video of her on the 99-cent Only Store's website making appetizers from Pillsbury bread stick dough and a can of pumpkin pie filling.

The 99-cent Only Stores feature a wide array of food including milk products, fresh produce like potatoes and berries, canned goods and spices and nothing costs more than .99. I don't know about you but I'm impressed! Even if you don't live near a 99 cent Only Store, you could still make use of these recipes, using ingredients you get on sale.

You can buy the 99-cent Only Stores Cookbook online at Amazon for $10.39 new or Barnes and Noble for $11.65 new.

Marlene Alexander is a freelance writer and dollar store diva. She writes about free decorating tips and ideas using only items from the dollar store.

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