Melissa d'Arabian and her helper Abby (Mike Vulpo, NeonTommy)

The Food Network host and San Diego resident shared affordable dishes from her “Ten Dollar Dinners” cookbook that would be perfect for Mother’s Day.  “You need the recipes now,” she told the guys in the crowd. “It’s going to be here before you know it.”

With the help from a 7-year-old audience member named Abby, the season five “Next Food Network Star” winner first prepared rosemary chocolate chip scones. “Mini chocolate chips can turn anything special for the kids,” the mother of four said as she shared the recipe’s ingredients.

After the scones, d’Arabian served up her Provencal tomatoes, inspired by her husband from the South of France who always does the dishes. “I do the cooking, it’s only fair,” she joked.

During the hour-long cooking demonstration, the chef also cooked her own butter with caramel sauce that’s “way better than toast and jam.” She also made time to create spicy fried rice with a sunny side up egg on top.

Abby was the only lucky audience member to taste the food. Based on the smells, however, there’s no doubt the brunch was a success.

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