The Cheap Gourmet

More Goodness from Real Simple Magazine

If you are a regular reader of The Cheap Gourmet blog, then you probably already know that the December Giveaway is a One Year subscription to Real Simple magazine. If you aren't familiar with Real Simple, check out their website at www.RealSimple.com. 

All that is required to gain an entry for the giveaway is to submit a comment on the blog. One winner will be selected at random on December 31st. So, leave a comment and check back on Jan. 4th to see if you are the winner. The winner will also be notified via email in order to obtain your mailing address.

The December issue of Real Simple is packed with great holiday gift ideas, entertaining ideas and plenty of tasty recipes. Below is a snippet of what you will find in the magazine and on the Real Simple website.

10 Ideas for Sugar Cookie Dough: There’s no such thing as too many cookies during the holidays: from entertaining to gift-giving, these edible treats are a winter essential.  Rather than spending hours assembling several different recipes, why not use the same basic dough “dressed up” in different ways? The December issue of Real Simple has ten totally different, delectable variations for sugar cookies that originate from one easy recipe. Add dried cherries and sliced almonds for delicious drop cookies; shape the dough into twists and dust with coarse sanding sugar for sparkling sugar twists; create jam thumbprint cookies with your favorite fruit preserves and more.

Hors d’Oeuvres Made Easy: Holiday entertaining and finger-food often go hand in hand; the December issue of Real Simple shows you how to make those fussy-looking snacks without all the fuss. We provide you with 11 appetizing, inventive recipes – all of which can be made in advance – that are sure to delight guests with even the choosiest of palates. Sophisticated bites like Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Crisps with Radicchio, Prosciutto Crostini with Lemony Fennel Slaw, and Carmelized Onion Tarts with Apples will make your holiday gathering seem extra fancy (without all the work.) Best of all, most of our recipes have twenty minutes or less of hands-on time.

10 Things I Love About Real Simple Magazine

This month's giveaway is a one-year subscription to Real Simple magazine. Real Simple is one of my favorite publications because it truly does simplify my life. In the spirit of December countdown, I would like to share 10 Things I Love About Real Simple magazine:

10: Home and Organizing: New Uses for Old Things ~ Got rubber bands? Real Simple shows you how to use them to decorate Easter Eggs, open jars, bring order to your dishwasher or wrap a gift.  Have an old Twister game mat lying around? Use it as a tablecloth for a children's party (although grown-ups like it too!). Tired of searching for hair barrettes, scrunchies and ponytail ties? Use a… (click here for the answer).

9. Green Living: This section of Real Simple shows you how to recycle and reuse anything. Did you know you can use plastic grocery bags as knee pads, hand protectors, paint brush preservers, and rain hats? Discover more recycling tips and start the New Year off by being green!

8. How to Pack a Suitcase: Planning to travel during the holiday season? If so, you don't want to miss this great video on packing your suitcase. Learn the secrets of packing light and avoid expensive luggage fees!

7. Beauty and Fashion: Ever wonder what ingredients are in your skincare products? Real Simple provides a comprehensive list to help you determine what to look for and what to avoid.

6. Health and Nutrition: Ready to shed those extra pounds? Real Simple provides 20 Little Ways to Drop Pounds, which includes smart tips for taking off and keeping off unwanted baggage.

5. Mind and Mood: Do you worry too much? Are you stressed out? Need more energy? Too wound up? Real Simple provides simple techniques to stay calm, become energized and stop worrying, along with 29 low-cost, make-you-smile ideas.

4. Money: If you're like most people, you're looking for ways to slash expenses. Real Simple shows you How to Save $5,000 in 2010 without cutting back on essentials.

3. Holidays and Entertaining: Need help planning a party? Real Simple has you covered. From weddings to birthdays and baking to buying gifts, you'll find everything you need to make every occasion special.

2. Food and Recipes: Looking for decorative tabletop ideas? Real Simple provides a gallery of 26 Beautiful Table Settings guaranteed to make your guests feel special and turn you into a decorating goddess.

1. Food and Recipes – It only makes sense that my favorite section is Recipes! This year I plan to focus more on healthy foods that provide fewer calories but offer a burst of flavor. Have you ever noticed that a lot of healthy foods taste like cardboard? Well, no more! Real Simple offers an entire section dedicated to Healthy Meals. Start the New Year off in the right direction by including these tasty, yet healthy, recipes into your weekly meal planning.

Learn more about Real Simple magazine at www.RealSimple.com. Order a subscription for yourself and a friend. And, while you're there be certain to subscribe to Real Simple newsletters to receive Weekly Tips, Daily Finds, Daily Thought and Daily Recipes.

The Cheap Gourmet November Winner and December Giveaway

The Cheap Gourmet is pleased to announce Roxanne of NewSmyrnaBeachMom.com as the winner of the November Giveaway. Roxanne has won the Holiday Greeting Card Gift Pack from DogCaptionsCards.com. Congratulations Roxanne! Please check your email account for information about how to receive your gift and thank you for being a loyal fan of The Cheap Gourmet Blog!

Next, I'm excited to announce our December giveaway. This month, Real Simple magazine, a division of Time, Inc. Lifestyle Group is generously offering a one-year subscription to their amazing magazine.

I received a complimentary copy of the December issue and let me tell you, this magazine is packed with holiday gift ideas, health and beauty tips, fashion and party accessories, holiday decorating ideas, quick-and-easy recipes, and tons of money-saving coupons from a wide range of popular stores and manufacturers.

 Here are just a few items you'll find in the December issue of Real Simple magazine:

* 50 Gifts Under $50, plus stocking stuffers under $15 and inspired ideas for homemade presents

* 10 Sweet (and quick) Holiday Cookie Recipes

* No-nonsense Strategies for Better Winter Skin

*Easy Make-Ahead Hors d'Oeuvres

*How to Make Your Favorite Clothes Last Longer

* How to Save on Seasonal Decorations and Avoid Holiday–Air-travel Charges

*Party Accessories: 17 Dazzling Finds for $90 or under

* Happy Wrapping: 21 Inventive Ideas to Festoon your Presents

In sticking with the theme of Real Simple, the only eligibility requirements for The Cheap Gourmet December Giveaway is to leave a comment on any blog post. This giveaway is open to residents within the continental U.S. One winner will be selected at random on January 1, 2010. This prize is provided directly through the sponsor.

I encourage you to grab a copy of the December issue of Real Simple magazine. Not only will you find great gift ideas and deals, you will discover a plethora of unique vendors offerings exceptionally unique gifts. Real Simple is an fabulous gift idea; particularly for those on your list who are hard to buy for.

Learn more about Real Simple magazine by visiting their website at www.RealSimple.com. Take advantage of the Special 2-for-1 Holiday Offer. Buy one subscription and receive a second subscription for free!

Please support our sponsor whose generosity allows The Cheap Gourmet to provide exciting and exclusive giveaways to our readers.

Good Luck in December Giveaway and have a wonderful, love-filled holiday season!

Delicious Living Magazine

I am SO excited! I recently stumbled upon Delicious Living magazine and feel like a kid in a candy shop. I was introduced to Delicious Living many moons ago while working at a popular health food store in Indianapolis. Our boss was incredibly creative and as soon as Delicious Living arrived on the counters, she would grab a copy so her chefs could get to work on creating something new.

When we moved to Colorado, the nearest health food store was 20 miles one-way and I kind of lost track of the magazine. Ironically, Delicious Living is published in Boulder and at one time I was only 15 miles away from their office. If only I knew then what I know now.

Anyway, to this day, I still have Delicious Living recipes glued on index cards which I use in our family's monthly meal planning. What I love most about the recipes offered in the magazine is they always taste so good that even my picky "meat-and-potato" husband enjoys them.

So, imagine my surprise when I discovered the Delicious Living website! I can subscribe to the magazine once again AND I have access to their vast database of recipes 24/7. Life can't get any better!

For those of you who love cooking contests, check out the Delicious Living Recipe Contest. I'm going to get to work tweeking one of my appetizer recipes and get it submitted. The first prize winner walks away with a $150 gift certificate to the health food store of their choice, while one runner-up in each category is rewarded with a $75 gift certificate. I'd be pleased to win, how about you?

Delicious Living is a fabulous website and I think you will be pleased with the content, recipes, health notes, podcasts and more. Check them out online at www.DeliciousLivingMag.com.

Saveur Magazine

Saveur Magazine is one of my all-time favorites. Not only will you find magnificent recipes, you'll also learn about the history of foods, discover secret cooking tips, and read food articles that will spark your imagination and inspire you to create new dishes in your own kitchen.

Order a one-year subscription to Saveur Magazine by clicking on the link below. Doing so will net you an annual savings of 56-percent. You will receive 9 issues of Saveur Magazine, with a fresh issue delivered straight to your mailbox every six weeks. To learn more about Saveur Magazine or to start your subscription, click on the link below.

Eating Well Magazine

Introducing Eating Well Magazine

Oftentimes people associate gourmet cooking to rich, calorie-laden foods. While this can be true, gourmet cooking can also include delicious, healthy foods. Eating Well Magazine is an excellent resource for learning how to incorporate healthy foods that actually taste good into your diet.

A one-year subscription of Eating Well Magazine is a mere $14.97. This consists of 6 issues for about $2.50 each. Quite a bargain, wouldn't you agree?

Each issue is packed with healthy recipes, cooking tips, product suggestions and more. Give it a try. If you don't like it, you can cancel your subscription, so you really have nothing to lose.

To start your subscription and begin eating well click on the banner below.

Herb Companion: Eat Your Weeds

Herb Companion is a wonderful resource for learning about the many uses of herbs. It is the site of Herb Companion Magazine; a publication focused on gardening and cooking with herbs. Each issue is packed with healthy living advice, gardening tips and recipes.

The Herb Companion website offers a wealth of information to help visitors learn about the many benefits of herbs. While there, scroll to the bottom of the home page and visit other popular Ogden Publications sites including: Mother Earth News, Natural Home, Utne Reader and Herbs for Health.