‘ happiness solutions insight ‘ ‘‘How I conquer anything with a smile Host of Food Network’s Ten Dollar Dinners a third time that I started saying, Okay, all those experiences to the table. So at a certain point you have to wonder, is if the game is ‘Who can get the food on MELISSA’S TOP 10 and mom of four Melissa d’Arabian, 41, God sort of beckoning you? Is God say- the table when there are four scream- MONEY-SAVING TIPS reveals the four-point philosophy that has ing, ‘Hey, hey, dummy’? It reminded me ing kids?’ that’s a game I win. My game of this story, where a huge rainstorm may not be the one that they ultimately “I know what it’s like to budget— helped her achieve her dreams comes and this guy who had so much decide makes sense for the show. That’s where it’s not just I’d like to save faith in God is stuck in his house. A okay. At least I’ve won in that game.” money, but it’s I’m not sure how I’m ure, I can get stressed and feel rowboat comes and the man in the going to make ends meet,” says overwhelmed,” admits Melissa boat says, ‘Hop on—I’ll rescue you,’ Tease out the wants Melissa. “That’s a really stressful ‘‘ d’Arabian in an exclusive inter- but the guy says, ‘Oh no, I have faith from the needs place to be, so if I can make some- S body’s life a little less stressful, that’s view with FIRST. “Like in the first in God.’ Then a helicopter comes: ‘I’ll 3 “With The Next Food Network Star, the huge.” Her strategies: couple days of filming The Next Food rescue you.’ ‘No, no, no, I have faith in further I got, the more I wanted to win,” Network Star.” Who could blame the God.’ And in the end, the guy dies and 1. Opt for grade B maple syrup. It acknowledges Melissa. “But interest- works just as well in recipes as the mom of four daughters (Valentine, 4, goes to heaven and says to God, ‘Well, I ingly, the further I got along in the pro- “real” stuff and costs about $2 less. Charlotte, 3, and twins Margaux and thought…I had faith in you!’ And God’s cess, the less I needed to win. Because I Océane, 2) for being flustered while her like, ‘What are you talking about? I sent 2. Soak dried beans in water overnight. A bag of dried beans can fellow contestants ridiculed her abili- you a rowboat, I sent you a helicopter.’ said, ‘I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing and God can do with it what He be up to 70 percent cheaper than the ties on national television? Yet Melissa So you know what? If I didn’t take the canned version. held her own in the fifth season of the opportunity to go to France, I pictured wants. It’s just out of my hands.’ Where 3. Submerge the whites of scallions competition—and won top honors God saying, ‘What are you talking I get peace is really trusting in God’s path for me. And the reason I can have in water. The greens will grow back with her smile intact. “Every day for me about? I came back to you with several for a steady supply. is really about gratitude,” explains the offers. I did the best I could with the that faith is because I’ve seen it in action Anaheim, California, native of how she in my own life. That’s the good news 4. Stock up when chicken is on sale. worldly people I have at my disposal, Each cut (thighs, breasts, etc.) goes copes. “If I can stay in a place where I’m and you said no.’ So I went. And that’s about being 41—there are all these things that have happened, events that I on sale every six weeks and can be feeling grateful for everything I have, it’s where I met my husband.” frozen and used as needed. hard for me to get too down.” It’s that didn’t understand fully at the time, but I can now look back and say, Oh, I can 5. Use herb “leftovers” in sauces. attitude that’s eased heartaches like los- Reframe the game T ie the stems you’d usually toss (like ing her mother to suicide when Melissa into one you can win see why that happened. So in current parsley) and add to sauces. Then fish 2 circumstances that don’t appeal to me, was just 20. “My faith is a huge part “When I first arrived on the set of The them out after cooking. I’m much better about saying, Huh, it of getting me through the good days, Next Food Network Star, I was a bit 6. Repurpose onions, celery leaves is going to be very interesting to see how bad days, stressful days,” she says. Here, overwhelmed by the amazing résumés and carrot scraps. Store them in Melissa shares her recipe for success. of the people around me,” admits God is working this into my life.” a freezer bag to mix with leftover Melissa, who—despite not having for- chicken pieces and bones to make Scan for signals sent Be open to unlocking homemade stock as needed. mal culinary training—applied for the your true gifts 1from above reality show by submitting a video on 4 7. Cook with canned salmon. It’s “At 32 I was living in Santa Monica and how to make homemade yogurt. “But “I pray every day, right when I get out 75 percent cheaper than fresh wild working for Disney,” Melissa recalls. for me the key was to focus on what I of bed, which realigns me with turn- salmon and tastes the same when used in recipes like salmon cakes. “One of my business units was Euro do bring to the table. I call that play- ing it all over to God,” says Melissa. Disney, and I would fly out there once a ing a game I can win. If the game is “But during The Next Food Network 8. Buy 5- to 10-pound potato bags Delicious on a dime quarter. One day the CFO there offered Star, I never once prayed, Let me win. I on sale. If there aren’t big bags on ‘Who’s the very best cook?’ or ‘Who has sale, it’s cheaper to just buy the “Everyone knows how to serve me a fantastic job. But I thought, the best knife skills?’ I’m not going to focused on praying that I just be more frozen pizza for six bucks,” loose potatoes you need for the day What if I do this and spend two years in win. It’s going to be very hard for me open and aware of His will for me…to and check back for sale bags. says Melissa, whose Food Europe? If I really want to get married to convince the world that I have better give me the strength to access the gifts Network show Ten Dollar 9. Look for ground beef in 5-pound and have kids, I’m probably going to be given to me. I don’t believe in God as Dinners kicks off its second knife skills than someone who’s been to packages. Divide into six “one- season in January 2010. “What putting my career in front of that. So I culinary school and has been cooking the Santa Claus model of Please, God, poundish” portions to freeze. You’ll people need this show for is, turned down the job and they came professionally for 15 years. A game I can let me have this, this and this…though I get an extra meal out of the pack. ‘How do I do interesting and back to me with a more attractive offer. win: I have four kids and a husband. get wanting to do that, so it’s not meant 10. Choose smaller heads of cabbage. new recipes?’ If it’s not good But I still thought, I’m not going to put I’ve lived abroad. I’ve been a career to be a criticism. But for me it’s Keep me The larger ones can be heavier and enough for dinner parties, then aside what I want in life for a little more woman. I’ve been a working parent. I’ve open. Help me access my strengths so I pricier, and you’ll only use half the it doesn’t belong on my show.” money. It wasn’t until they came around been a stay-at-home mom. I can bring can do what You want with the day. head for recipes like slaw.

Photo: Jenny Acheson. Hair and makeup: Kathleen Brown. Prop stylist: Matthew Mattiello. 42 First for women 12/7/09 Lauren Ralph Lauren dress. Roberta Chiarella necklace. Text: Lorraine Sullivan. 12/7/09 First for women 43