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The Frugal Foodie Cookbook Review and Giveaway

By

** The giveaway associated with this review has ended. Thanks for entering! **

I recently had the chance to review The Frugal Foodie Cookbook by Lynette Rohrer Shirk and Lara Starr. The title of this book says it all!

Lara Starr is a baker, blogger, and a cook with a calculator. Lynette Shirk is a four-star Frugal Foodie who has cooked at Masa’s, Postrio, Chez Panisse, and Williams-Sonoma. Together they have cooked up a recipe-filled guide to eating better than ever on less. The Frugal Foodie Cookbook will show you hot to creatively and cleverly use ingredients and leftovers to produce wonderful, inexpensive meals for any occasion.

The Frugal Foodie Cookbook covers everything from roasting coffee at home to concocting inexpensive, crave-worthy casseroles and whipping up snacks on a budget. Starr and Shirk feature irresistible recipes like Shaves Shrimp Rolls, Gourmet PBJ, and Exponential Chicken—which stretches the bird over five different courses. With hundreds of delicious dishes and expert advice, The Frugal Foodie Cookbook will keep you living well and eating better.

When I saw the description of this cookbook, I thought that this was the cookbook for our family. It had to be with that description since that is how we cook at our house. OK, it is how my home chef husband cooks. I consider myself a guest contributor in the kitchen. I contribute when I want to.;) The first recipe we tried was the scrambled egg recipe. We never really use a recipe for scrambled eggs but my husband and I also don’t agree on how to make scrambled eggs. We had nice fluffy eggs that morning for breakfast and for a dish later that day. I admit I forget what that second dish was but it was yummy too.
The tips sprinkled through out this cookbook are great for someone who is just starting to live on a frugal food budget or for the veteran frugal cook.
I have a list of other recipes to try from this book and my husband is now eager to start roasting his own coffee beans with the tips offered in this book!

So would I recommend this book? Most certainly! It is a very easy cookbook for a beginner or home chef. It would make a great present so think of the holidays coming up and who would love to have this as a gift!

You can find The Frugal Foodie Cookbook at Amazon or your other favorite online or local bookstore!
Take a minute to check out The Frugal Foodie Cookbook blog too!

I am pleased to add that Viva Editions has offered to giveaway one signed copy of The Frugal Foodie Cookbook to one of my blog readers!

Details:
This drawing will end Saturday, October 31st at 11:59pm EST. I will pick the winner using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to reply with their address. You must include your email address in your comment or have it in your profile so you can be contacted if you are a winner! Please make sure I can see your email address!!! You must complete the Mandatory Entry for the additional entries to count.

So how do you enter?

Mandatory Entry: Tell me your favorite frugal recipe or cooking tip. That’s it.
I’ll try to make a summary post at the end of this giveaway!

Additional Entries:
1) Follow me on Twitter. Leave a comment with your twitter name.
2) Tweet about this giveaway with this tweet:

RT: Win The Frugal Foodie Cookbook! @simplybudgeted http://bit.ly/4UOJm #giveaway #cookbook #recipe #book 10/31 Enter daily!

Leave a comment with the URL for your tweet. (One Tweet per day until end of giveaway!!) Another Twitter entry option that is DAILY!!! Get tweeting for these entries!
3) Blog about this giveaway and provide a link to the blog post. Leave a comment with the URL to the blog post.
4) Add my blog to your blog roll call. Leave a comment with the URL and where to find the link.
5) Follow me publicly through the Google Friends Connect on my side bar. Leave a comment with your name that you subscribe with.
6) Subscribe to my blog using the Subscribe To option on the sidebar. Leave a comment stating you subscribe.
7) Enter one of my other giveaways or leave a comment on one of my other posts. Come back here and leave a comment here letting me know which one. (NOTE: This must be a new entry/comment dated after this is posted but it can be on any post.)

NOTE: I received a copy of The Frugal Foodie Cookbook from Viva Editions to support writing this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Comments

  1. After putting a stick of butter on the butter dish save the wax paper or whatever encased it and use the little bit of leftovers to help grease a pan before using it.

  2. My favorite frugal cooking tip is to make bread pudding with leftover/stale bread! It tastes amazing.
    Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
    hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

  3. I follow your blog with google friend connect!
    Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
    hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

  4. [email protected] I make this when I can find boneless beef roasts on sale:

    Take a boneless beef roast, shaped like a london broil. 2-3lbs at the most. Top with onion soup mix packet, cover with tin foil, bake for 3 hours at 300 degrees. Cheap and good!

  10. If there is leftovers I am googling recipes to find other uses for other wise they would sit in my fridge. So why let food go to waste. I try to use my pantry a lot too.

    [email protected]

  15. Frugal tip: Making your own dough! Like for a pizza, rolls, buns, etc. The kind of dough without yeast… fast, cheap and EASY!
    erdickey(at)gmail(dot)com

  19. Dry milk. It is so cheap and can be used in many ways while cooking.
    fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

  20. I buy frozen vegetables as much as I can to save money since non frozen are usually more expensive.

    shopgurl101 at gmail dot com

  29. TIP: when making lasagna – spray the aluminum foil on top with Pam – so the cheese doesn't stick!

  33. One of my most frugal meals is just having breakfast for supper! Eggs and toast is a winner and so easy!

    heatherlbrandt (at) verizon (dot) net

  34. My number 1 tip is to find some good recipes that can be frozen for later! As a new mom, having frozen stuff tucked away in the fridge has been an absolute lifesaver (or at least budget saver) many times!

  36. Fav receipe is Tuna Fish Cassarole…always a family pleaser and super cheap!
    bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com

  37. I stock up on meat when its on sale and freeze it for later. That way, we never eat meat that we had to pay full price for.

  41. My favorite frugal cooking tip is to try to eat lots of seasonal veggies rather than pre-packaged foods. I'm always amazed at the bulk I can get for $10 from our produce market vs. what I spend at the grocery for other foods!

  44. Hi.. I found your blog thru the Product Review Place and I've fallen in love with it.. I don't know if this giveaway is for non U.S readers but still I'll go ahead and share my frugal tip – Have a meal of leftovers once a week. It clears up the fridge and ensures that everything gets consumed, plus a little of many things adds variety:-)
    Blessings

  47. My cooking tip is pay a little extra for the non-stick aluminum foil! Even the Kroger brand is great.

  48. I take chicken breast and marinate them in lowfat italian dressing, bake them and right before done sprinkle a bit of cheese on top and its delicious, easy and fast.

  50. My favorite frugal cooking tip is to make Refrigerator & Pantry Soup. Combine leftover veggies, pasta, noodles, rice or meat from your leftovers in the fridge. Add additional items from your pantry to round out the ingredient list fora proper soup (canned tomatoes or what ever!); fill pot with water and simmer. Season to taste and you're done! You can't get much more frugal than that!

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

  53. Frugal Tip: Invest in a food sealer & simple canning jars. We seal up single servings of meat (we buy in bulk, on sale)for the freezer & dry goods we seal in the glass jars using the vacuum seal attachment for our food sealer.

    andrea.kruse at gmail dot com

  57. We raise our own chickens (just a few,) so we have fresh eggs for cooking all year round!

    Thanks for the chance to win, would love to have this cookbook!

    Jamie
    jamiejaws AT gmail.com

  58. I use a magnet to hang my recipe card to the stove hood so it's at eye level and doesn't get dirty while I'm cooking.

  59. When a recipe calls for half an onion, the question then is what do you do with the other half? I bought ziploc containers that are marked specifically for onions, garlic, tomato paste, etc… so that each time I have that product left over it goes in there and it doesnt acquire the taste or smell of some other food. I want my onions to smell like onions and my garlic to smell like garlic.

  62. I often cook a little extra knowing that lunch for the next day is sorted. Leftovers always taste amazing to the children. A quick, healthy alternative.

    marypres(at)gmail(dot)com

  63. I make my own mixes (such as a biscuit mix for pancakes,etc)-I also have a brownie mix recipe that is wonderful! Thanks!

  64. My favorite frugal cooking tip is to prepare meals that are used for 'planned overs'. If I cook a chicken – none of it goes to waste. I plan on making chicken ala king the next night, chicken and dumplings, and then chicken soup. I stretch everything as far as it will go.

    brn2lisn(at)gmail(dot)com

  65. Oh my Gosh! I have got to win this cookbook!!!

    My favorite frugal cooking tip would be to freeze leftover veggies u have during the week. On the weekend pull them out and use them to make a pot of yummy veggie soup!

    [email protected]

  67. Most of my meals are cheap. lol Beef stroganoff made with ground beef, a can of cream of mushroom soup, and egg noodles is a favorite in this house.

    justanarmywife09(at)gmail(dot)com

  69. I follow you as @katierysz

    My favorite frugal recipe is I take cheap, on-sale chicken (usually boneless skinless), then put it in a ziplock bag along with oil (any kind but I like olive or canola), brown sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic, minced green onions and a dash of cinnamon. I don't measure anything. I just do it by taste, but I'd say it's generally around 1/4 cup oil. Smoosh it all around and marinate for a few hours. transfer everything to a baking dish and bake until done! Easy and cheap!

  72. I love using bananas that are too brown to eat to make banana bread…it's way better than throwing them out! Thanks 🙂 sbcashortie (at) hotmail (dot) com

  75. My tip is to avoid recipes that have ingredients that you don't normally cook with on a regular basis. I have a pretty extensive spice pantry, but if a recipe calls for a spice that I don't keep on hand, I don't make it.
    Chrissy at knittoday(at)hotmail(dot)com

  78. Best tip: avoid processed, pre-packaged food. It makes meals healthier and much, much better.

  84. I belong to a gleaners group. I get tons of produce, that is in perfect condition. Saves tons of money.
    smchester at gmail dot com

  87. pulled pork recipe in crockpot is delicious and makes 2 nights worth of meals for cheap price. Pork roast!
    rbjj32825[at]lycos[dot]com

  89. My favorite frugal things to make are recipes with the fresh veggies and fruit from our local farmers market.

  90. My favorite frugal cooking tip is to grow your own herbs. They are inexpensive to grow, easy to take care of and some are perennials so you only have to plant them once. They really add a lot to your recipes and it's fun to experiment.

  91. My favourite frugal thing to make has to be meatloaf. I'd rather eat that than steak, any day of the week!
    :o)
    pippirose59 at gmail dot com

  96. A favorite frugal recipe is:

    Pistachio Dessert
    Ingredients:
    1 small box Jell-0 Instant Pudding, Pistachio Flavored
    1 regular sized can of crushed pineapple, do not drain
    1 c. mini-marshmallows
    1 c. chopped nuts
    1 small container of Cool Whip
    Green food coloring

    Directions:
    * Put undrained can of crushed pineapple into a large bowl, add dry pudding mix and combine well.
    * Add marshmallows and nuts.
    * Fold in Cool Whip.
    * Chill in fridge for several hours or overnight.

    Yummy and great if on a budget!

    readingatthebeach at gmail dot com

  102. my favorite frugal recipe
    fried rice
    take whatever you have leftover plus rice
    fry in pan with some oil and put some soy sauce on it an egg at the end and some seasoning
    voila .. agreat cheap meal (which is not unhealthy either)

    alex
    [email protected]

  106. Favorite tip: Planning all meals ahead of time and shopping just once a week. I do so much better this way than popping in and out of the store.

    gchristy at gmail dot com

  107. For Thanksgiving time use all the left overs and layer it in a casserole dish and put gravy over it! It's really yummy! Thanks! Like Turkey, mashed potatoes, carrots, etc.

    coolnatty12 at yahoo dot com

  116. Well my frugal tip is I buy my potatoes at Sam's Club you get double the amount for about a buck more than what the grocery store charges!

  118. Whenever I make any kind of pasta sauce, I make extra and freeze the leftovers in zip lock bags. When I need a cheap easy meal, I just defrost the sauce and serve over pasta. [email protected]

  121. My favorite frugal meal tip: I like to use my free weekend time to cook up lots of different types of green veggies (broccoli, cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, etc.) and freeze them in freezer bags. That way, we can have healthy food all week with only defrosting time to wait!

  126. I save the ends of the bread in the freezer. After I have a bagful (or need room in the freezer), I toast them in the oven then grind them up for bread crumbs. I store them in an old bread crumb canister.

  127. I look for recipes online if I have leftovers or didn't use all of an ingredient. it gives us lot's of variety and I enjoy cooking new things.

  133. a fave frugal recipe is spaghetti. ground beef is cheap when on sale. a couple of cans of tomatoes, seasonings, a few drops of olive oil, onion, and you're done

    melanieinaz2003 at yahoo com

  136. We always buy our roasts when they are VERY cheap. And my easiest/frugal recipe is to put that in the crockpot with a can of beef broth and one packet of dry italian seasoning. Cook all day, shred it, add one more packet of seasoning…then put it on a hoagie bun, sprinkle with mozzerella cheese…melt the cheese in the oven…YUMMY!!!! 🙂

    happyhudsonites at sbcglobal dot net

  137. My favorite frugal recipe is for Scottish Fancies, a very easy cookie that's especially nice for teach kids with short attention spans to cook.

    Melt 2 T. butter, add 1 c. rolled oats, 1/2c. sugar, 1 t. vanilla extract, pinch of salt, then 1 egg. Stir, bake at 325 degrees for about 8 minutes.

  139. We only buy things we can use for more than one recipe. When lemons are in season we buy a bag full and freeze the juice in ice cube trays to use later in sauces etc.

  141. My mom always made steam bread for breakfast with our stale bread. It is so good smothered in butter! It was always a special treat when we had it…yet it was made from stale bread!
    [email protected]

  142. My favorite frugal tip is to use Supercook.com to figure out what you can make with the ingredients you have at hand. This can help you cut down on shopping trips when you're at a loss for what to make using only certain ingredients.

    [email protected]

  146. My most frugal meal is Spaghetti because everyone in the house loves and will eat the leftovers the next day 🙂

  149. I love to be frugal, and I love to not waste anything! I do have alot of tips and I look for new ones. One thing that I have been doing lately is cutting down the Meat that we eat at each meal and substituting more Veggies, this works well in casseroles and stirfrys. Along the same lines I usually serve a salad with every meal so that I can get the kids some veggies up front and begin to fill their tummys with something healthy. To get them to eat the salad easier, I make homemade croutons out of stale bread and I flavor them in different ways.I also scrape the plates before washing into a big bowl with other scraps and veggie clippings and feed them to our backyard chickens. Food is turned into leftovers or animal feed …nothing is ever wasted.
    [email protected]

  154. My most frugal tip is:
    When baking desserts like your cakes, brownies and etc. line the pan with aluminum foil so when it is done take out of oven cool, then lift onto cardboard. Your cake will be ready to frost, brownies ready to be cut and etc and you have no messy baking dish and you can transport your dessert with the cardboard to your carryin or your bake sale. So easy and no mess

    Nora
    [email protected]

  156. My favorite frugal meal tip is to make pasta & sauce.

    While heating the sauce puree leftover veggies and add to sauce. Dice up leftover meat and add to sauce.

  157. Whenever I have leftover raw chicken scraps after making a meal I make a stock out of them. Then I freeze it in 2 cup containers (those red topped lunchmeat containers are perfect) and use them for soups, gravies etc.