Top Chef presents the official companion cookbook to the No. 1 rated food show on cable television! Featuring 100 fabulous recipes from the first three seasons of the show, including dishes from the Elimination Rounds and the Quick-Fire Challenges. In-depth discussions with contestants, judges, and crew reveal the inner workings of the show, and lavish photographs take readers behind-the-scenes into the Top Chef pantry and the competition sites. This cookbook will have aspiring culinary contenders reliving classic show moments and relishing new recipes just in time to obsess over Padma’s outfits in Season 4.

Thanks, Thrifty and Thriving!

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Living gluten-free can be expensive. Thanks to Amy from Mommysavers who brings us this round-up of gluten-free deals!

Gluten-Free Coupons:

• $1.00/1 Nestle Juicy Juice Fruitfuls
• $2.00/2 Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss Creamer
• $1.00/1 Breakstone’s Sour Cream
• $.75/1 Food Should Taste Good
• $1.00/2 Deboles Pasta Products

Gluten-Free Deals on Amazon:

*Gift Idea:
Sahale Snacks Explore Taste Gluten-Free Gift Box (6 Flavors)
Price: $17.90 + Free Super Saver Shipping

Glutino Parmesan and Garlic Bagel Chips Gluten Free, 6-Ounce (Pack of 6)
Price: $18.00 + Free Super Saver Shipping ($3.00 per bag)

Glutenfreeda’s Instant Oatmeal, Variety Pack, 6-Count Packets (Pack of 8)
Subscribe & Save Price: $31.43 + FREE Shipping ($.65 per packet)

GoPicnic Ready-to-Eat Meals, Turkey Stick + Crunch, 2.8-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6)
Price: $16.58 + Free Super Saver Shipping ($2.76 per meal)

Popchips 11-Flavor Variety Pack, 3-Ounce Bags (Pack of 12)
Price: $25.50 + Free Super Saver Shipping ($2.13 per bag)

Miracle Noodle Shirataki Rice, 8-Ounce Packages (Pack of 6)
Subscribe & Save Price: $14.72 + FREE Shipping ($2.45 each)

Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Gluten Free Cereal, Whole Grain Brown Rice, 12-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 4)
Subscribe & Save Price: $14.81 + FREE Shipping ($3.70 each)

Gluten-Free Vitacost Deals:

*Save up to 43% off retail prices on gluten-free foods
*Free Shipping on orders of $49 or more.
*Plus, when you register for a new account you’ll receive a code valid for $10 off a $10 order.
*Refer a friend and earn $10 after their first purchase, no limit to the rewards you can earn.

Ener-G Light Tapioca Loaf Gluten Free — 8 oz
Retail Price: $4.05
Vitacost Price: $2.75
Sale Price: $1.99
You Save 50%

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten and Wheat Free Pizza Crust Mix — 16 oz
Retail Price: $4.29
Vitacost Price: $2.59
Sale Price: $2.12
You Save 50%

Larabar Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip — 16 Bars
Retail Price: $27.04
Vitacost Price: $17.69
You Save 34%

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pancake Mix — 22 oz
Retail Price: $5.19
Vitacost Price: $3.69
You Save 28%

*View the Mommysavers Discussions on Living Gluten-Free:

• Trying to go Wheat/Gluten Free: Any good ideas?
• Going Gluten-Free. Help!
• Gluten-free Recipes

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I love Greek food.  The best part is that it’s usually pretty healthy.  Double yay.  So, this Kindle cookbook deal caught my eye. Right now, you can download The Olive and the Caper: Adventures in Greek Cooking for just $2.51. That’s 87% off the retail price of $19.95.  I can’t wait to read this one!

The post Another Great Kindle Cookbook Deal: Save 87% on The Olive and the Caper: Adventures in Greek Cooking appeared first on Frugal Bites.

I am loving Kindle Cookbooks.  Since I use my iPad for recipe viewing in the kitchen anyway, they’re so much easier than the standard bulky version of cookbooks (which, by the way, I still love and collect).  What’s great about them is that they don’t take up space (other than on your hard drive) and they’re frugal.  In most cases, they cost less than their traditionally-printed counterparts.

Today, I spotted the Saveur New American Comfort Food for just $3.99 on Kindle. That’s an 89% savings.

Book Description:
From the pages of Saveur magazine, one of the world’s premier food publications, comes a celebration of the enormous range of regional American and international dishes that have shaped the classic comfort foods of today. A steaming bowl of udon noodles, a bubbling serving of macaroni and cheese, a hearty helping of huevos rancheros, a perfectly browned grilled cheese sandwichthese are just some of the 100 mouthwatering recipes in this extraordinary volume that highlights the pleasures of comfort food in all its diversity. Brimming with more than 200 stunning photographs and memorable sidebars that present the people, ingredients, and techniques involved in the recipes, Saveur New American Comfort Food is an unforgettable journey behind the scenes of our favorite heartwarming dishes.

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Do we have any other Pioneer Woman fans here? Right now, you can get The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (Enhanced) for just $3.99 on Kindle ($29.99 list price). I have this cookbook, and it’s filled with gorgeous photography and delicious recipes. Perfect if you use your iPad in the kitchen for reading recipes like I do! Be sure to verify the price before you check out, as Amazon Deals don’t last long.

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Why is ALDI so much cheaper than other supermarkets?  Curious shoppers want to know how they can offer groceries for 20-50% less than their competitors without compromising quality.  After visiting the ALDI Test Kitchen and headquarters in Batavia, IL last week I now have a better understanding.  Let’s clear one thing up right away: It’s not by offering inferior products.   ALDI products undergo considerable testing by their own staff and 3rd party consultants before deemed worthy of offering to the marketplace.  The ALDI business model has been so successful because of their staunch attention to streamlining the process from start to finish.

Why is ALDI so much cheaper than other supermarkets?

• ALDI stores offer a narrow selection of 1400 high-volume products as opposed to the typical 40,000 or more by supermarket giants.  Because they only offer products with high turnover, their overhead is lower.  Perishable products like milk, meats and produce arrive 5-7 times per week, so there’s no need to rotate inventory for freshness.
• No coupons or credit cards are accepted.  Debit cards are accepted.
• Customers “rent” a cart by depositing a quarter, and return it at the end of their trip which eliminates the need for ALDI associates to corral them.
• ALDI employees well-trained to multi-task.  Only 3-4 employees are required per shift, which helps keep cost down.  They are put to use in all areas:  stocking, cleaning, and checking out.  They work hard, but are compensated well.  In the Chicago area, ALDI associates start at $12.65 per hour.  Plus, part-time employees with as few as 20 hours per week are eligible for medical and dental coverage.
• Stocking the shelves is also much faster.  Products don’t have to be taken out of the box at ALDI.  Boxes are designed with colors that blend in with the product packaging – an effort known as the ”invisible case” project.   Heavier things like flour and sugar are left on the pallet.  Milk arrives on racks so that 80 gallons can be shelved in just five seconds.
• Stores use energy-efficient refrigeration and lighting.  New stores use a lot of natural lighting; older stores are being retro-fitted with energy efficient lighting.
• Produce is individually packaged and sold by the unit to avoid weighing at checkout.
• Sale signs are reusable and can be changed manually.
• At ALDI, the checkout process moves at lightning speed.  Since ALDI stocks their own private label items, they also design the packaging for optimal efficiency.  With  3-6 large UPCs on each package, scanning is much quicker.
• Customers purchase bags (or bring them from home) and bag their own groceries.

Did you enjoy this information?  Order my book:  Instant Bargains: 600 Ways to Shrink Your Grocery Bill and Eat Well for Less

ALDI milk arrives on racks to facilitate restocking

Multiple UPC codes on packaging make scanning easier

Products are shelved in boxes

Sale signs are reusable at ALDI

Sale signs are changed manually and reusable

Produce at ALDI is packaged to avoid the need for weighing

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Making homemade condensed cream soups is one way to save money and end up with a healthier product at the same time.  Once you get the hang of it, you’ll want to add your own seasonings and flavors according to taste.  In my book, Instant Bargains, you’ll find dozens of other recipes that will help you save money in the kitchen.

Note:  These recipes makes a roux which can be substituted for the can of soup.  It doesn’t make the finished soup product.

Homemade Condensed Cream Soups

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When I tell people I run a deal site and give advice on how to snag groceries for less, most people jump to the conclusion that I use a lot of coupons.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  There were times in my life that yes, I clipped coupons.  A LOT of coupons.  I also had more time then.  As a busy mom, I now feel I’ve got more effective ways to use my time.  I still clip high-value coupons when I see them.  I just don’t go nuts with the Sunday paper.  And, I STILL don’t spend a lot on groceries.

There are so many other ways to save money, shrink your grocery bills and eat well for less.  My book, Instant Bargains, includes 600+ tips on how to do just that.   The book doesn’t just include my own tips, it includes advice from my friends, family and the Mommysavers Discussion Forum Members.   I want to offer you a copy of my book as well as $25 to spend at ALDI.  If you haven’t discovered ALDI yet… why not?   Read more about Saving Big Bucks at ALDI on Mommysavers.

We’ve got multiple ways to enter this giveaway.  Our winner will receive a copy (I will autograph if it you’d like) as well as a $25 ALDI gift card.  Both are great resources to help you shrink your grocery bills! I will choose one winner at random on Wednesday, August 15th.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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