The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook by Lara Starr
Release Date: September 8, 2009
Publisher: Viva Editions
Pages: 216
Source: book provided by the publisher for review
The recession has put a lot of strain on the grocery bill, especially for those with families or friends to feed. But that doesn’t mean having to skip gourmet food and a balanced diet. Noted chef and “four-star frugal gourmet” Lynette Shirk shows readers how to creatively and cleverly use ingredients and leftovers to produce wonderful inexpensive meals for any occasion. This book has everything, from roasting coffee at home to concocting inexpensive crave-worthy casseroles to whipping up snacks on a shoestring. Chapters include “Bankable Breakfasts,” “Lunch for Less,” and “Dinner on a Dime,” and feature irresistible recipes from Shaved Shrimp Rolls and Gourmet PBJ to an “Exponential Chicken” that stretches the bird over five different courses. With hundreds of delicious dishes and expert advice (including fun ideas for serving), The Frugal Foodie Cookbook keeps hungry readers living well and eating better.
Review: The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook is Lara Starr’s second cookbook. She says when writing the The Frugal Foodie Cookbook that she was “on the lookout for healthy, nutritious meals” that wouldn’t “break the bank”.
I really enjoyed this book. I am frugal (the frugal part) and cooking is one of my favorite pastimes (the foodie part). There are great recipes in this cookbook; some I already make and some that I have bookmarked to try out. The Mock Potato Salad piqued my interest. I like the author’s name, Kitty Litter Candy, for what I make called No-Bake Cookies.
Lara Starr uses a small dose of humor as she shows how to make great meals for less. The quotes given throughout this book are interesting. There is one that sums me up perfectly – “They take their pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost little” by Henry David Thoreau. A few recipes that I have been looking for, such as the starter for friendship bread and how to make your own ice cream sandwiches, are found in here. I think the best person to purchase this book would be someone learning to be frugal. Although I have been living frugally most of my life, I still really liked it. I even got a few new ideas and recipes to try out.
