I love going out to eat. The food, the ambiance, not having to do the dishes, all of it is wonderful except, the price.

When my husband and I decided we needed to cut back on spending, we knew dining out was no longer in the budget. Since I really love restaurant quality food, I decided to learn how to make it myself. I soon discovered I could make really good food, for a really great price. I now enjoy eating at home even more than eating at a restaurant (although I still really hate doing the dishes).

Since we all know restaurants mark up food drastically in order to make a profit, you can re-create restaurant quality dishes that fit within your budget. Key factors in making good, quality, restaurant style food for a low price include: using what you have, creativity, and improvisation. If you are missing one small ingredient, such as garlic salt, use garlic powder and salt instead. Stock up on items you use often, and tailor your menu to fit what’s on sale.

There are many benefits to re-creating restaurant style dishes at home. You are able to adjust recipes to your taste, food preferences, or food allergies without the hassle. You can impress your friends and family by re-creating some of their favorite recipes and adding personal touches to these dishes. Plus you can eat your favorite food regularly and fit it in your budget.

I want everyone to be able to enjoy quality food for cheap, which is why I decided to include recipes on walletwhisperer.com. Feel free to take my recipes and tailor them to your preferences, or recreate your own favorite restaurant style dishes. You do not have to be a professional chef, I myself am a self taught cook. Trust me, if I can learn how to make restaurant style dishes, anyone can!

Every recipe includes instructions about how I got each ingredient for a specific price. The ‘price breakdown’ is meant to be a guideline. I understand you may not be able to get that exact ingredient for the same price, but you can learn techniques to finding lower prices. I hope these recipes and ideas help you stay on a budget, and have fun in the process. If you have any questions at all on the recipes or the pricing just ask.