[ansel12]

I hope he puts together an imitation gourmet, stamp book cookbook, many of us budget cookers would like that.

One that uses cheap food, powdered seasonings instead of fresh, substitutes such as bulk bullion instead of homemade, limited ingredients instead of sprigs of, little dashes, and tablespoons, of things that the poor don’t buy.

[jiggyboy]

Re powdered seasonings, I've had very good luck indeed with some spice mixes you make yourself:

Emeril Lagasse's "Bayou Blast"
Paul Prudhomme's Blackened Seafood spice mix

And if you're in a city with ethnic grocery stores (and Batali certainly is), an Indian grocery store is a real find: foil packets of Indian spice mixes or jar of concentrated cooking sauce are a buck or two and are good for a half dozen meals for a family.