chef louie

Whether it be a shelf, a cupboard or a complete closet or room, your pantry can be a scary place. It's that place in my life where $6.00 bottles of some celebrity Chef's spice blend gets eaten up like Pac-Man eats dots. It's the same place that swallows simple jars of paprika and garlic powder,...

I suppose it's a little unfair of me to keep extolling the virtues of my "Scratch Kitchen" concept without really telling you the staple ingredients you need to have on hand for this method to work. So, starting the week, I'm going to tell you about a Scratch Kitchen staple, the potato, and give...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...