For my best friend's birthday last weekend, I attended a gourmet cooking class.  While it was delicious, I can't eat this way every day because for me, "gourmet" food is much too rich in price as well as calories and fat.  However, it got me thinking about ways to re-create the flavor of some of the recipes, while reducing the price and improving the nutritional content as well.  I know I'm not alone in my quest for great tasting foods that don't break my budget, since, according to IFIC Food Insight, "taste" and "price" continue to top American consumers' list when purchasing foods and beverages.  So, if you're like me and want to take some of the "richness" (money and calories) out of gourmet cooking, you may find these tips helpful.

• Sub-in different choices of meat.  Sure, the recipe calls for filet mignon, but I have found that chicken breast is just as tasty and much cheaper!  (I've even wrapped it in bacon for an added twist).  To give you an idea, according to my local supermarket, 4 ounces of chicken is priced at $1.00, whereas 4 ounces of beef tenderloin is priced at $3.50.  An added bonus?  Opting for chicken will cut your calorie, total fat and saturated fat content considerably, while giving you the same amount of protein!
• Choose frozen and canned produce.  Does the recipe call for produce such as string beans, broccoli flourets or diced tomatoes?  Frozen or canned produce is less expensive and offer great nutritional benefits.  For example, canned tomatoes contain greater amounts of the antioxidant lycopene than fresh tomatoes.
• Check out the dollar store.  I've seen everything from $60 bottles of wine to authentic spices all priced the same--99 cents!  Often times, the quality matches that of which you'll find at any regualr supermarket.  Just be sure to check expiration dates.

     I still plan to occasionally indulge in gourmet cooking, however, with an eye to my budget, waistline and tastebuds, I'm happy to experiment with my own style of gourmet in the meantime!