Fancy Knock-Out Dinner Made Cheap

This is the perfect pasta when you want to blow your guests out of the water. Cook this at home instead of a pricey meal at a restaurant and you'll be amazed how much money you will save. It has the kind of buttery, salty flavors that aren't easily duplicated with jarred sauces and the comfort food appeal which makes it perfect year round. If you have a few extra dollars to splurge on prosciutto instead of ham and white wine instead of chicken broth, it will make the dish extra special but it works great either way. I think it's best with fresh pasta and I used a trick I saw recently on Jamie Oliver's new show: buying fresh lasagna sheets and cutting them into the desired thickness just before cooking. If you'd rather use dried pasta stick with thicker pasta like tagliatelle or linguine.

Buttery Pasta with Prosciutto
2 oz prosciutto or ham
1 tablespoon butter plus 1 teaspoon
1/2 medium onion
3 sheets fresh lasagna or 6 oz dried pasta
1/4 cup white wine or chicken broth
Grated Parmesan cheese

Add 1 tablespoon butter to a medium sized pan until melted. Add onion and cook until soft but not browned. Add prosciutto or ham, stir to mix and add white wine or chicken broth.
Cook until liquid has reduced by half. Meanwhile, use a sharp knife to cut the fresh pasta into desired thickness. Cook until al dente and reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid.Once liquid in the pan has reduced by half, turn off heat, add fresh cracked pepper and 1 teaspoon butter. Toss with hot pasta and add pasta cooking liquid if sauce seems too dry. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and serve.

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Used books are cheaper than Amazon

Tomorrow marks the yearly used book event put on by the Housing Works Used Book Cafe in Soho. Whether you're a book addict or you're always meaning to read but never have the time (I'm somewhere between these mindsets), you'll find everything from the latest paperbacks to dusty old French cookbooks. All books (plus cds and records) are $1 each. I've seen people show up to haul books off with suitcases, so buy to your heart's content. Housing Works Used Book Cafe
126 Crosby Street
10 am - 6 pm

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Food on a stick and other summer entertainment

Nothing marks the beginning of summer like a good NYC street fair. If you scoff at the street closures and disruption to your neighborhood you may need to find your own street fair favorite booth. I enjoy the strange live infomercials, the endless array of cheap "cashmere" pashminas and the random food. There's usually a good crepe stand, lots of fried dough and at least a few foods on sticks. Starbucks even set up a booth at last week's fair on Amsterdam on the UWS and passed out free coffee gift certificates. Too bad they expired the next day. I guess that teaches me for grabbing six of them. Check out the NYC Street Fair Schedule photo from Ed Yourdon on Flickr

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Like regular delivery, but even less effort required

When I first discovered menupages.com I was ecstatic. Now I could check the offerings of hundreds of restaurants across the five boroughs without moving from my bed. I threw out my stack of delivery menus and browsed to my stomach's content. But I soon learned that not all restaurants on menupages delivery and not all the menus are current. And, when it came to picking up the phone I always felt apprehensive. Did I really want to speak to a human? Enter seamlessweb.com and delivery.com. Just browse their ever-expanding list of participating restaurants, make a few clicks, enter your credit card information and you've got dinner, human-contact-free.
Bottom Line: Ordering dinner has never been more lazy
www.menupages.com
www.seamlessweb.com
www.delivery.com

photo from devinlynnx on flickr

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GMA Summer Concert Series

It might be a little early to see Boyz II Men (really? are they still around??) at 8am on a Friday morning, but considering it's free, why not stop by on the way to work? Good Morning America is holding their annual summer concert series as usual in Bryant Park. Check the schedule here or the detailed list after the jump.

Friday, June 6 -- Ashanti and guest

Friday, June 13 --Cyndi Lauper

Friday, June 20 -- Boyz II Men

Friday, June 27 -- Maroon 5

Friday, July 4 -- Chaka Kahn

Friday, July 18 -- Miley Cyrus

Monday, July 25 -- Feist

Friday, Aug 1 -- Broadway cast of the hit musical "Rent"

Friday, Aug 8 -- The Jonas Brothers

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Hummus Manifesto

I am a hummus snob. Growing up outside of Detroit, I took for granted the creamy simple hummus at the Lebanese restaurants around town. I never liked grocery store hummus but the hummus I found at my college cafeteria brought the dish to new lows. It looked like concrete paste one might use to lay bricks.

So I took to making the lemony, garlicky stuff myself. This hummus blows the store-brought variety out of the water because fresh garlic gives it a spicy taste that can't be duplicated through mass-production. I found that not only is making hummus cheaper than buying it pre-blended, it only takes five minutes. Really.

Bottom Line: I am a hummus snob and so can you

Recipe for the best hummus ever
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 large clove of garlic, peeled and cut into chunks
2 tablespoons lemon juice (ideally fresh but from concentrate works just fine)
1/3rd cup tahini
water, as needed Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. If you're using a mini food processor (like I did), reserve 1/2 of the can of chickpeas and add them back in after the rest of the ingredients have been blended.
Process until smooth, adding water as needed.

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May is Bike Month

At first glance, NYC might seem like a bicycling death trap, but the truth is that there are plenty of great paths in the city where you can calmly pedal your cares away. As far as investments go, we think a bike is an amazing one. Check out Craigslist for deals. Not ready to commit? Beg, borrow, or steal. Or do the right thing, and rent.

Once you've secured some wheels, check out one of these great biking options:

1. Coney Island Ride
This is a do-it-yourself trip, but it's well worth the effort. You start at the Brooklyn Bridge and make your way through Prospect Park and, five miles later, to Coney Island. For most of the ride, you'll be on a great, historic bike path (created in 1894!) that runs along Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway, and (bonus) your final destination is the beach. Make it an all-day affair and feast on delicious pizza at Totonno's before you head home.

2. Free Moonlight Ride
Want to try a BYOB of a different kind? You provide your own wheels (of the bicycle or rollerblade sort) and join a free, guided nighttime tour of either Central or Prospect Park. The Prospect Park ride starts at 9pm on the second Saturday of every month, and the Central Park ride takes place at 10pm on the first Friday of every month.

3. Free Day Rides with the Five Borough Bike Club
This cool club costs $20 to join, but anyone can sign up for one of its day trips (for free). What will you get? How about guided rides to destinations ranging from Queens to the Hudson River Valley? Or maybe you'd rather explore the Jersey Shore or cycle through the Greenwood Cemetery? The sights are sure to be sweet, and your fellow readers are guaranteed to be friendly (we think it's an FBBC requisite).

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Haggle haggle haggle

Inside everyone lies the heart of a haggler. Sure, it may not come easy, but that never-take-no-for-an-answer, don't-be-afraid-to-walk-away attitude is in you. Here are three bargaining tips to bring out the worst in ya:

1. Take the high road. Ask if they have a competitive price matching policy. Most national stores and many small stores have fine print policies that promise to match a competitor's price. Search for an item online before you head to the store and be prepared to show them the lowest price you've found. Try this even if a competitor is having a seasonal sale. If you're not having luck with a sales clerk, push to speak with the store's manager who may be more wary of loosing your business to a competitor.

2. Start the haggling. Four simple words: Can you do better? Asking if they can give you better a deal on the price leaves them with the burden of figuring out how much of a discount they're willing to offer. It doesn't feel too aggressive and it's worked for me many times.

3. Make a lower offer. Think of what you really want to pay and lower that by 5-10%. Tell the salesperson you were hoping to pay the lower amount and you ask if they can help you out. If it's a small ticket item be ready with the cash since saying you can only pay $15 for a $20 item and pulling out two $10 bills and asking for change is embarrassing.

Bottom Line: If you don't ask for a lower price, you won't get one!

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Dr. Laptop

Normally I would not be comfortable shipping my laptop to get it repaired. But, after months of maddening trouble with a loose power jack (this is when the connection to the a/c adapter is loose and requires constant wiggling to get the computer to run), I was desperate. Then I found www.PowerJackRepair.net...in Wheeling, IL.

My first refuge for repair was the Geek Squad at Best Buy. Mistake. They told me the only way to fix my problem was to replace the motherboard and that it would be less expensive to just buy a new laptop. Distraught, I searched online and found that the part was inexpensive and the repair, although it involved prying the computer open and soldering on a new part, was a common repair. While I was searching online I saw an ad for a repair shop in Wheeling, IL that offers power jack repairs for $125, including labor, parts and return shipping. Fittingly, the website is www.PowerJackRepair.net. The computer repair centers I contacted in NYC started repairs at $175 plus exorbitant fees for replacing the part. When I called them and asked if they would discount their pricing to match the quote on www.PowerJackRepair.net, they laughed at me. So I wrapped my laptop tight in bubble wrap and shipped it to Illinois.

Now, www.PowerJackRepair.net isn't exactly the prime spot for customer service. My laptop was shipped back to me in the original packaging without a receipt or record of service. But it arrived completely fixed and in record time. The laptop arrived in Wheeling on Wednesday morning and I received an email from DHL showing that it was sent out that same evening. It arrived to me Friday morning. I would really recommend this option to save a few dollars over expensive NYC computer repair shops.

Bottom Line: Sometimes NYC is a rip off. Wheeling, IL is apparently cheaper for computer repairs.
www.PowerJackRepair.net

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Free Yoga

I heard about Yoga to the People a few months ago while waiting in line for the free show at the UCB Theater (nope, still haven't made it into one of those free shows yet). I had planned to look into it but then New York Magazine went and beat me to it. They wrote a blurb on several free yoga classes across the city in their Peace and Quiet 2008 issue - check it out!

Bottom Line: Free Yoga for all!
http://nymag.com/guides/mindbody/2008/42827/

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Tater Tots 4 Ever

At 2 am, there is nothing better than free tater tots. Really, there's nothing better. And if you're at The Trash Bar in Williamsburg, free tater tots are what you'll get. As many as you want. All night long. Perhaps there's a limit but I didn't reach it. Plus they keep a loop of old school music videos from Ted Nugent playing and some sweet drink deals. Live music in back, tater tots in front: 2 am at it's finest.
Bottom Line: Celebrate the high life at Trash Bar
Trash Bar
265 Grand St between Driggs and Roebling
www.thetrashbar.com

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Airline Psychic

I have horrible luck finding inexpensive flights. Prices always seem to increase the day I decide to purchase and then decrease weeks after. Now I check Farecast.com first. The website keeps track of airline prices and predicts the best time to purchase. Based on average prices paid for flights, farecast.com determines if prices are on the rise and you should purchase soon or will be likely to fall and you should wait it out. Brilliant!
Bottom Line: Telepathy for your wallet
www.farecast.com

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Housing Works

Housing Works is the queen mum of thrift stores. It sells the same basic goods as other second hand stores, but it has the atmosphere of a debutante's dressing room with the brands and style to match. Plus all proceeds go toward AIDS research and support in NYC. Stop in any of the six locations in Manhattan or the location in Brooklyn Heights or check out their window auctions online. Hold out for their seasonal sales, too. For a $10 entry fee (tax deductible, as are all purchases at Housing Works), you can browse the top selection of goods they hold on to for months. And if you're really thrifty, resell your finds on eBay. I've seen never-worn Manolos, fur coats, beautiful vintage furniture and clothing from Versace, Prada and Gucci, all at far below retail prices. The more often you stop in, the more likely you'll be the first to spot a great deal.

Better yet, donate your gently used chic goods to Housing Works. According to this month's Elle Decor magazine, restaurateur B. Smith donates samples from her home-furnishings line to Housing Works. Ever think you'd find a one-of-a-kind designer sample at a thrift store?

Bottom Line: Finally, style comes cheap
www.housingworks.org

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The Best Block Party in Town

If you haven't spent an afternoon getting lost in the newest location of Whole Foods on the Lower East Side, then you must not be starved for space like I am. It occupies two floors and a sprawling 71,000 sq. feet (about 200 times the size of my apartment). If the beer room and cheese cave aren't enough to get you on the F train to 2nd Avenue, how about free food? Every Thursday from 6-8pm, Whole Foods Bowery sets up free tastings throughout the store. Bonus points if you can manage to get out the door without buying some of the food you've tried.

Bottom Line: Free food never tasted so good
Whole Foods Bowery
95 East Houston Street
Between Bowery and Chrystie Sts
212.420.1320
Thursdays 6-8pm

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Ode to eBay: Selling for Beginners

Oh, eBay, the holy grail of cheapskates and thrift-seekers. Doesn't everyone have a pile of things in the back of their closet to sell on eBay? I started selling a few years ago and I love it. It takes re-gifting to a whole new level. There are many sites with tips for eBay beginners, but here are my five basic tips for sellers:

1. Divide and conquer your closet. With a few exceptions, the best things to sell on eBay are brand name items. If the item is of exceptional quality like a cashmere sweater or a fur coat, you may be able to still get a good selling price, but you'll get the most hits with well known brand names.

2. Take quality photos. It doesn't matter how great the item looks in person if the photo is blurry or taken with a view of your messy basement in the background. Put the item on a black or white towel or against a wall and take a closeup photo. If there are any flaws or special details you want buyers to know about take a photo of those, too. Tell the truth when it comes to flaws or imperfections and don't try to hide them from a buyer. It's better to inform everyone than to have an unhappy buyer who will leave negative feedback.

3. Research what similar items are selling for by using the advanced search option on eBay. Search all completed listings to see what sold in the last 30 days and to find out details like what starting price and shipping price other sellers listed. It's tempting to start an item at .99 cents because the selling fee is low but I find it better to start at a higher price. You can get 20 bids on a low priced item and it will end up selling for less than a reasonably priced item. If you find many similar items, set your item a dollar or two lower than their price and people may be inclined to bid on yours first.

4. Don't get hung up on fancy details. Adding a pretty border and 10 photos probably won't make your item sell any better than if you have a clear and concise listing. Use simple terms in your title and think about what you would type in to search for the item. No one searches for exclamation points or LOOK NOW@@@ and you could be wasting space for useful descriptions such as the material, size, color or condition.

5. Don't be afraid to communicate with people. If a potential buyer emails you a question, use the option to post the question and answer on the listing in case others have similar concerns. Transactions can get heated quickly when people don't communicate. Try to resolve issues like an unhappy buyer or delayed shipping with the buyer before reporting them to eBay or leaving negative feedback.

Bottom line: Selling on eBay is easy, so just do it already!

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Reduced Cancer Popcorn

When I first heard that it is possible to make microwaved popcorn using just popcorn kernels and a paper bag I did not believe delicious popped corn could be so easy. Had the evil popcorn corporations fooled me into believing pre-packed bags with fake buttery flavoring (and a bit of carcinogens) were the only way? I have tried this simplified method it and I am a believer. That's right, just put some kernels in a small paper bag (I usually go with 1/4 cup), tape or staple closed, microwave for three minutes and you have fresh popcorn. I like to toss the kernels in a little olive oil and salt first. And if you're really missing that butter flavor melt a little in the mix after it's popped.

Bottom Line: Just the way we like popcorn: cheap and easy.

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Go Go...to GoGo Curry?

I've been making my way through Time Out New York's 2007 cheap list. One of the small spots they recommend is GoGo Curry in the garment district. I stopped by the other night and I was less than impressed. Sure, the portions are generous and the prices are right but it felt like a fast food joint for burly Japanese men.

I tried the basic chicken curry which turned out to be a heap of white rice topped with a breaded fried piece of chicken and a brown curry sauce. The sauce tasted more like beefy curry gravy and it became increasingly gelatinous as it cooled. But for $7.00, it was filling and tasted more interesting than typical fast food.

GoGo Curry has a strange gorilla/baseball theme. Portions are baseball plays: A small curry is a walk, then comes the single, double and finally triple (which, as you can imagine, is enormous). The gorilla mascot looms at the top of the neon menu which organizes dishes by main ingredient. Choices include chicken, shrimp and sausage with a variety of additional toppings like egg and cabbage. If beefy curry sounds like your thing you won't be disappointed.

Bottom Line: Hearty curry dishes that won't break the bank
GoGo Curry
273 W. 38th Street (at 8th Avenue)
212.730.5555

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Ten Web Sites...

...that will save you tens and tens of dollars.

1) Airfare Watchdog
Updated daily, this site combs the web for the cheapest flights out there. Combine Airfare Watchdog with Travelzoo, and you shouldn't ever have to pay for a full-price vacation again.

2) Top Button
Fashion savvy cheapskates will love this site, which provides information on local sample sales, online sales, and budget-friendly fashion events.

3) Housing Works Auctions
Think eBay on a much smaller, more philanthropical scale. Bid on gently used clothes and furniture, then feel good about the fact that all proceeds from sales go to charity.

4) Restaurant.com
Download coupons to use at select restaurants in the area.

5) Etsy.com
Need an inexpensive but interesting and most likely one-of-a-kind gift? Look no further than this online craft fair, brought to you by talented do-it-yourselfers throughout the U.S.

6) Craigslist
I know you know Craigslist. But the possibilities here are endless -- Furnish your apartment, buy a new [to you] TV, score some free plants... You can even find a cheap date if the need arises.

7) Overstock.com
Check this site out for discounted goods ranging from luxury sheets and towels to cheap barstools and, even, I kid you not, wedding rings.

8) Open Table
Make your life easier by making restaurant reservations online, then rack up points to earn free dining dollars.

9) All Recipes
Come on, kids; cooking's cool. It's also a whole lot cheaper than takeout or, of course, dinner out. Use the ever-so-useful ingredient search on All Recipes to figure out what you can whip up with the ingredients you already have lurking around your pantry.

10) eBay
The queen of shopping sites. If you want it, chances are eBay's got it. Plus, a little healthy bidding competition never hurt anyone.

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Cafe Mogador

I am always looking for a cheap restaurant that doesn't look or feel like a cheap restaurant. Sometimes you just need a place that feels like the food should be expensive and doesn't involve waiting in line or sitting in a cramped corner. Cafe Mogador is a quaint spot with delicious and interesting Moroccan cuisine. The hummus is very good (and I am hummus-obsessed) and the cous cous platters are served steaming hot and are almost too much food for two people to split. I also recommend the tangine dishes and their cocktails aren't half bad, either.

Bottom Line: Classy digs and cheap Moroccan eats
Cafe Mogador
101 Saint Marks Place
212.677.2226

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Dining for Dollars

I am a sucker for rewards programs. I sign up for frequent flier offers, I have a frequent flier credit card, I eat at restaurants that give me double points on said credit card and order flowers off of their online frequent flier mall. It's a sickness. So you can imagine why I love opentable.com. Not only can you make restaurant reservations without ever picking up a phone, you earn points with each completed reservation. Once you've racked up enough of those points, opentable.com will issue you a gift certificate good at any participating restaurants.

If more than 700 restaurants in New York aren't enough to pique your interest, opentable.com has restaurants in 47 states (I'm pulling for you West Virginia!!!) and seven other countries. I used the points I gathered from NYC reservations on a posh dinner in Las Vegas. Even better, you can make reservations for other names. Perfect for all of the administrative assistants out there (ahem).

Normally, 20 reservations gives you the points for a $20 gift certificate. But some restaurants offer up extra points for off times. Dine at one of those spots twice and you have enough points for the $20 gift card. Brilliant!

Bottom Line: Frequent restaurant diner rewards across the US and beyond!
www.opentable.com

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