Guiltless Gourmet: Save Money, Savor Flavor

Who chickens do save more money as in serving more people and preparing more meals, but as some of you guys do too, I tend to buy the boneless and skinless to save time! But I will say, that one day I will try to buy a whole chicken, and see how creative I can get! :)

the costco rostisserie chicken is very very good! and cheap!

I've never been able to get that much from a whole chicken. I guess I'm a spoiled American, and I should try harder to use the whole chicken. I do buy them and roast them, though...although it costs about the same as buying a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store. I do make my own salad dressing...but I sometimes splurge on Paul Newman's salad dressing (which is great for a marinade as well as dressing, and it doesn't have the preservatives of other dressings). Salad dressing is easy though, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon...easy. And fresh herbs are the best! Trader Joe's sells basil in pots and they are great. I use fresh basil with eggplant dishes, tomatoes (grilled tomatoes, basil and cheddar cheese...yum) and I grow rosemary in my patio area (so good!) and thyme and sage and mint.

I ALWAYS ALWAYS BUY CHICKENS WHOLE! YOU CAN MAKE CHICKEN IN A CAN WHERE YOU STAND YOUR CHICKEN STRAIGHT UP OVER A CAN OF BEER, SPRITE OR COKE. YOU CAN ALSO COOK IT IN A ROASTER, ON YOUR ROTISSERIE ON YOUR GRILL AND IN A CROCKPOT WITH A CAN OF MEXICAN TOMATOES FOR CHICKEN BURRITOS.

we have started cooking a whole chicken for the first time this summer and it has been very nice. We usually roast it whole but use the various parts for different meals over the next few days. We also make a wonderful homemade salad dressing with olive oil, vinegar, honey and fresh lime juice. We particularly like it on a salad with flank steak and feta cheese.

Love this...so up my alley. Although I've never boned a chicken, it sounds like something I need to be doing. And great reminder about homemade salad dressings. It really is easy and what a savings. I'll be making one tonight.

I also love fresh herbs and home made salad dressing. Some times I try to cut calories by mixing 1 part vinegar, with 3 parts tomato juice or v8 juice and then I add my favorite herbs. If you like tomatoes then you will like this salad dressing and there is no fat in it!!!

I like to buy the whole chicken already cooked from the deli. we will eat our first meal with side dishes. I then turn the left overs into chicken salad for a easy second no fuss meal.

Chartrj - even if you roast your chicken whole, you can stretch your budget by using the carcass to make stock. Just gather the bones after dinner and simmer them with onion, carrot, celery and a bouquet garni (1 bay leaf, a couple parsley stems, 2-3 peppercorns, and a pinch of dried thyme) for 6 hours. You'll have a delicious brown chicken stock. Use it immediately or freeze it for later.

I love all these tips.I already buy chicken whole, but usually just cook whole thing , I wll have to try these ideas.

I myself bought a food dehydrator and dry some of my spices that I grow throughout the summer. They are not fresh but they are better than what you buy in your spice aisle at your local grocer. HINT.... As soon as they are dried put them in quart baggies and seal them after removing all of the air. To remove all air you will fill your bag with as much as you wish to store, then zip seal it all but 1/2 inch. Insert a straw into that opening and suck out all the air possible and then as you pull the straw out of the bag, keep sucking so that you do not let in any air. Seal quickly and keep until ready to use and then reseal the same way again.

Great article! I've been doing all these things for many years and it amazes me when I see people spend so much money on prepared, convenient foods when they can easily, inexpensively make it themselves. One of my favorite budget-friendly suggestion is to shop at farmer's markets for fresh fruits and veggies. Besides getting fresh produce you're supporting local farmer's and saving money because there's no middle man (or woman).

I love this article! I try to buy whole chickens, but I do grab boneless, skinless breasts as time savers. I love making my own salad dressings from EVOO. They are always so yummy! I also plan on having my preschool aged children help me plant a herb garden soon.