Image Credit: clspeace

I believe in cloning.

Now before you start thinking I’ve finally gone off the deep end, let me clarify. I don’t believe in human cloning, however, I see no ethical, moral, or religious reasons to avoid restaurant cloning. On second thought, scratch religious. Some of these recipes border on sinful and should be accompanied by a Surgeon General’s warning that it might be hazardous for your waistline.

What is restaurant cloning, you might be asking? It’s a little-known trick that has saved me countless dollars through the years and thanks to a new find online, will save me a lot more in the future.

Have you ever eaten at your favorite restaurant chain, for example, Cheesecake Factory, Macaroni Grill, or Red Lobster, and fallen in love with a dish? Wiping your mouth at the table, you vowed that you could eat it every day and never get sick of its flavorful appeal.

That is, until you looked at the bill.

I don’t know about you, but a twenty-dollar entree x seven is a bit much for my budget. Even if I had to settle for once a week that is still $80.00 a month that could have been spent better elsewhere.

This is where restaurant cloning steps in to the rescue. Many restaurant dishes can be prepared easily in your home kitchen and for a fraction of the cost. All it takes is a few ingredients, a little courage, and the right recipe. You don’t even have to figure out the measurements.

EveryLastRecipe.com has compiled a comprehensive listing of some of the most sought-after recipes from popular restaurant chains such as Outback Steakhouse, Benihana, Cinnabon, California Pizza Kitchen, Chili’s, Applebee’s and even Ben & Jerry’s. Due to the restructuring of CopyKat recipes, a site linked to by EveryLastRecipe, some of the links do not work. However, you can find all the CopyKat restaurant recipes at one location under the this category.

Of course, there are a few off-the-wall recipes, but for the most part, everything looks scrumptious. Although why anyone would want to clone food from Taco Bell is beyond me.

Bon Appetit!

[Hat Tip: Lifehacker]