The Laid-Off Gourmet

This guy takes hotel room cooking to a whole new level

2009-08-14T17:33:00.002-04:00

Saw this video at Lifehacker.com and thought it was genius. We just got back a couple weeks ago from vacationing in SoCal, and we did a lot of hotel room cooking, but mostly microwaving oatmeal, the occasional PB&J sandwich and my ingenious apple-Jarlsberg wrap (apple slices and Jarlsberg Lite cheese wrapped in a low-carb tortilla and microwaved). We saved a bunch of money by not going out to breakfast even once in two weeks.

But British comedian George Egg thinks big -- like spinach tortellini and scratch English muffins big. Check this out:

I'm still here!

2009-08-08T20:22:00.002-04:00

Decided to post a little something after I forgot to renew my domain and the holding place page defaulted to nasty porn (why???).

I'm contemplating whether I should keep this blog alive since I've got shrinkingsisters.com and my gigs at Examiner.com.

How's about this? When I find a great deal or a money-saving tip, I'll post it here.

Here's one: If you're a fan of Fit Flops exercise sandals, right now you can get a pair in silver and red for only $25 at Shoestation.com. That's about half the price of usual. Not every size is available but there are a few and they run rather large.

Here's some cheap fun

2008-12-11T23:21:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Not employed but not unemployed

2008-12-11T22:43:00.002-05:00

An update: I resigned from that job that I got last month, but I'm not unemployed. I'm just a freelancer now and that feels really good. The full-time gig was too much for my many other side projects.

The biggest goal will be feeling the need to get out of the PJs -- you can do a lot of work in your jammies while drinking coffee and talking to the dog.

It'll be good though. The house will once again be clean all the time (my procrastination tool) and I'll be able to get back to the gym and finally review all these fitness DVDs for Shrinkingsisters.com that are clogging the home office floor.

So that's what's new in the zoo.

You want coupon codes? I've got coupon codes

2008-11-22T00:22:00.006-05:00

Thanks goes to Dealcatcher.com, a fantastic site for online bargain shopping. Sign up for their e-mails and save big bucks:

Aeropostale 30% off - use coupon FRIENDS08 (Exp 11/23)

Alternative Apparel 40% off - use coupon CEF183 (Exp 11/26)

Ann Taylor 30% off - use coupon FRIENDS08 (Exp 11/23)

Ann Taylor Loft 30% off - use coupon FRIENDS08 (Exp 11/23)

Art.com 30% off - use coupon FF2008 (Exp 11/21/08)

Eddie Bauer 20% off - use coupon FRNDSAVE (Exp 11/24)

Land's End: 20% off - use coupon SHARE with pin 00008692 (Exp Unknown)

New York & Co 30% off - use coupon 9815 (Exp 11/26)

Quicksilver 40% off - use coupon FFN8 or FFN81 (Exp 11/23)

Ralph Lauren 30% off - use coupon HOL2008 (Exp 12/8)

Roxy.com 40% off - use coupon FFN8 or FFN81 (Exp 11/23)

Rugby 30% off - use coupon HOL2008 (Expires: 12/8)

Sports Authority 25% off - use coupon TSAFEPL (Exp 11/23)

Shop Ecko 30% off - use coupon FRIENDS (Exp: 11/23)

Mama, don't let your babies grow up to be disillusioned bloggers

2008-11-17T11:29:00.001-05:00

Laid off no longer!

2008-11-05T18:23:00.004-05:00

When the Laid-Off Gourmet is no longer laid off (as of next week), what does she do?

Go work and still keep this puppy going.

The posts will be more sporadic, but just because I'm working again doesn't mean I'm not on the lookout for a bargain or a cheap-o recipe!

Stay tuned! Better yet, subscribe with the RSS feed and you'll never miss a post.

My sis and I will still be posting on Shrinkingsisters.com, so check us out there.

Good luck to everyone else in their job searches.

Free food on election day roundup

2008-11-02T00:54:00.004-04:00

Tuesday promises to be fruitful no matter your political persuasion. Here's a little roundup of the free swag you'll get just for voting:

Starbucks! Free tall coffee just for sayin' "I voted."

Ben & Jerry's! Free scoop of ice cream from 5-8 p.m.

Krispy Kreme! Free star-shaped doughnut with red, white and blue sprinkles to each customer wearing an "I Voted" sticker.

Here's how you've gotta work it. Starbucks first, because you only need to say you voted. Then Ben & Jerry's because everyone's getting free ice cream. Then save Krispy Kreme for last because they may nab your "I Voted" sticker, thereby removing any physical vestiges of your voting (just in case any other freebies, like booze, pop up).

There are other deals in some parts of the country but these deals are nationwide. Know of any others?

A mani-pedi with a PediPaws saves money

2008-11-01T14:38:00.003-04:00

I'd seen the TV commercials, gotten the spam e-mails. But when the PediPaws dog nail trimmer finally showed up at Bed, Bath & Beyond (the Beyond part), I finally bought one. Twenty bucks, no shipping and handling, no telephone up-sell.

I was going to go the cheapo route and use a Dremel on his nails because I had read that it worked just as well. But do you want to inhale a cloud of dog nail dust? (Didn't think so.)

We used the PediPaws today on Mr. Lucky and it worked great. The guard kept his nail dust corralled and kept us from mangling his tooties. And the $20 it would have cost for a nail trim at the vet paid for the gizmo.

The holidays will be tight, so here's where you can find Black Friday ads

2008-10-24T12:05:00.004-04:00

There are many Black Friday ad spotters out there, but TGI Black Friday neatly organizes the holiday ad circulars and also lets you know when they'll be released.

So far, Toys R Us has released its Big Toy Book and among the bargains: a free $25 iTunes gift card with the purchase of an iPod Touch (so don't think that Toys R Us is just for kidstuff).

And for more money-saving holiday tips, check out my pal Stacey's blog Frugal Holiday Tips.

Free tacos, laid-off buddies! But is it worth the calories?

2008-10-23T13:06:00.004-04:00

Jason Bartlett of the Tampa Bay Rays may have not been on the winning team in the first game of the World Series but he did win America a free taco by stealing a base in the Rays 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday night.

What we want to know is will we strike out on our diets if we eat it?

Turns out the free crunchy beef taco will only set you back 170 calories. There are 10 grams of fat and 3.5 grams of that are saturated fat. But there's no trans fat and you do get 3 grams of fiber and a somewhat respectable 350 milligrams of sodium.

You can snap up your free taco between 2 and 6 p.m. your time Tuesday, Oct. 28 at any particpating Taco Bell.

Linens n Things is liquidating but the sales are no big deal yet

2008-10-18T13:19:00.003-04:00

I got a jumpstart on the big Linens n Things going-out-of-business sale since my local store was closing sooner, but I just checked on their Web site and the sales are no big deal yet. It's best to wait a few weeks until the discounts get steeper, then forage around for stuff. And now comes word that Mervin's will be liquidating its stock as well.

Don't go to these liquidation sales with anything specific in mind and don't buy junk you don't need. Last week I picked up pillows for the guest room and 5 dark chocolate bars, which I do indeed need for nutritional benefits :)

The chocolate, not the pillows.

Coffee at Office Depot, chocolate at Linens n Things

2008-10-10T10:31:00.004-04:00

Sometimes you can find the best deals on "fancy foods" at the weirdest places. I was in Office Depot earlier this week buying batteries when I spotted a 2-pound bag of Costa Rican coffee on sale for $6. SIX BUX! Seriously cheap.

Later this week, I was checking out the last gasps of my Linens n Things, which is closing, and I picked up some Lindt and Scharffen Berger dark chocolate for 30 percent off.

Cheap chocolate and coffee (and pillows): What could be better?

Gas for $3.13, baby!

2008-10-08T14:23:00.003-04:00

That's what I paid for my fill-up yesterday.

OK, here's the catch, penny pinchers: It's only for people with a Rick Case Rewards card. If you bought a car at any Rick Case dealership around the country or even go there for a test drive you can get a Rewards card, which will entitle you to the gasoline discount.

Rachel's yummy yogurt dirt cheap at Publix

2008-09-27T20:51:00.004-04:00

Rachel Rowlands started making yogurt more than 20 years ago in Great Britain and last year the yummy dairy products made their debut in the U.S.

The lowfat yogurt, with flavors such as Vanilla Chai, Plum Honey Lavender and Orange Strawberry Mango started popping up in natural food stores at premium prices. But lately Publix has been carrying the line and selling it at the crazy-cheap price of 50 cents a container. I'm hoping this isn't a fluke and I'll always be able to get it at this price.

If you're looking for a gourmet yogurt at a store-brand price, check 'em out.

Update: Checked yesterday and they're back up to a buck apiece -- dang it! But I dare say they're still worth a dollar splurge.

Talk about breakfast, win prizes!

2008-09-23T18:36:00.002-04:00

Over on my other blog, Shrinking Sisters, we're running a contest. Let us know your favorite quick and healthy breakfast ideas and if we like it we'll send you a $5 Starbucks gift card.

Click HERE for more info.

Craig Ferguson offers a fun, free activity -- voting!

2008-09-23T11:49:00.003-04:00

My friend Tracy posted this on her blog Middle-Age Sexy and I thought I'd post it on mine.

Does it take a Scotsman to explain how important it is for every American to get out and vote?

Yes it does.

Who needs a fancy-schmancy pedicure?

2008-09-18T10:20:00.006-04:00

Things like pedicures get ditched when you're not working. But time spent in the laid-off gourmet's official shoe, the flip-flop, can take a toll on tootsies.

Here's what can work: Get yourself a PedEgg. I'd seen them advertised on TV but lately they've made their way to drugstores like Walgreens. So I got one for $10 and I was amazed at how well it works. Actually it did a better job on my heels than most professional pedicurists.

And guys, they just introduced one in a manly black color for your he-man feets.

Free breakfast alert!

2008-09-16T09:59:00.004-04:00

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Ikea stores are giving away breakfast until 10:30 a.m. as part of its Seize the Days promotion. That's eggs, home fries, bacon and coffee.

They also have other great deals. Click HERE for more info.

My deep and abiding love for Clearly Canadian blueberry water

2008-09-08T20:08:00.002-04:00

I went back to Big Lots today and bought the entire case of Clearly Canadian sugar-free blueberry sparkling water -- it's that good (and that cheap). Liter-size bottles are $1 and I haven't seen the stuff anywhere else. Plus they all have pictures on the back of b-baller Steve Nash.

But that's the thing with Big Lots -- if you find something you really like, buy it ALL because you never know whether you'll see it again.

Check out TJ Maxx for gourmet cookware deals

2008-09-03T13:39:00.004-04:00

I had a TJ Maxx gift card burning a hole in my wallet so I headed over there last week and picked up a gorgeous Cuisinart 2-quart covered saute pan for $17. It's a great place to find open-stock items like this, since many times the pieces are from random sets that have been broken up.

The Laid-Off Gourmet visits Albertson's

2008-08-29T10:53:00.003-04:00

If you live in South Florida, get yourself to your local Albertson's RIGHT NOW. I just came back with a load of groceries, including organic mac and cheese, Muir Glen tomatoes, Barbara's Bakery cereal, Silk chocolate soymilk and a Happy Birthday banner.

Grocery items are 50 percent off; general merchandise, like toiletries and office supplies are 70 percent off and greeting cards and candles are a crazy 95 percent off. (If you're looking for Spanish Bar Mitzvah cards, you're in luck.)

There is a lot of Lean Cuisines left, lots of ice cream, lots of cereal and salon-quality hair products. Tomorrow's the last day for all the Albertson's that are converting to Publix stores and I'm predicting a hoarding madhouse.

Eating 'clean' on a budget

2008-08-26T09:43:00.003-04:00

The latest issue of Clean Eating magazine is out and promises that a family of four can have a work-week's worth of tasty, healthy real-food meals for less than $50.

Dishes include Black Bean Tostadas, Thai-Style Tofu & Noodles, and Sesame Mango Chicken With Brown Rice.

This quarterly magazine has shot off like a rocket in popularity since its birth last fall. It's packed with lots of healthy meal ideas based on the "clean eating" principal followed by athletes and weight lifters.

Check out the latest issue HERE.

LoveFoodHateWaste: Love it!

2008-08-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

Just discovered the impressive LoveFoodHateWaste.com, a British site funded by WRAP, the Waste & Resources Action Programme.

There is a ton of info on making sure food doesn't go to waste, which is good for your wallet and the environment.

There are food storage tips, leftover recipes, tips to save money on your grocery bill and lots more.

One really useful page is their "use by and best before" factsheet.

From the mailbag: Big Lots cautions

2008-08-20T10:05:00.002-04:00

Got a comment on my Big Lots post. It's a good heads-up and I agree, you really need to check labels:

Big Lots is kinda fun and a good way to kill some time. But, after shopping there for several years all over the country, I've slowly discovered that most of the stuff you see has originally been pulled for some hidden reason. It's rarely overstocks and promos. And, since the economy has been worse, you see the dregs. Stay away from cosmetics, or anything not regulated very well thanks to current FDA. For example Gatorade aspartame is a little dangerous after expiration. I've even tried their electronics, and found huge QA issues. Their international foods is good. However, something as simple as Basmati rice turned out to be a bad batch. Sorry to be the debbiedowner; BL is still fun -- just a little more work/skill is required.