What I like best about The Frugal Foodie Cookbook is that to make three different recipes I did not need to buy a single ingredient. Not having to go to the store saved me time and money – plus I got delicious food out of my pantry!
The authors’ food philosophy is to keep it simple but not necessarily cheap:
Bring frugal is about getting the most value from your food. It doesn’t mean using absolutely the least expensive ingredients. You could probably pare your food budget down to pennies if you lived on potatoes and ramen noodles – but would you call that living? Making smart choices about how, when, and where you spend your money will fill your pantry and menus with delicious options.
I tried two recipes (I never got around to the third, no-knead bread) and both turned out great.
I made teriyaki chicken by marinating chunks of raw meat in a broth that took me 10 minutes to put together (soy sauce, sesame oil, white wine, chicken broth, sugar, honey, orange juice and garlic). Instead of simmering the meat in the broth on the stove, as recommended, I skewered the chicken and tossed them on the grill. My friends gobbled them up.
Next I made raisin scones with a cinnamon glaze, above. Scones are super easy to make (combine flour, oats, brown sugar, baking power and soda, salt, butter, and milk). The glaze was a matter of mixing together sugar, milk and cinnamon. Scones freeze well and by cutting the dough into small wedges I made twice as many, about 32 instead of 16.
The 189-page book covers regular meals, party food, kids meals, midnight snacks and thrifty gifts. It’s a relatively small book that is handy to have in the kitchen when your cupboards are full but you’re not sure what to make.
I’m bummed to be giving away this book because I’d like to make a few more recipes. But as per my habit, I’m giving away my review copy to one reader who leaves a comment on this post by Friday! If you don’t win, you can buy the book from Amazon for $10.85. Or check your library.
Related:
Every Tuesday I review a book about saving money. Send me your book to review!
Book review – The smartest way to save – don’t spend
Book review – Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
The ultimate in frugal cooking…most of you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry!
BEER BREAD
1 can or bottle of beer
3 cups flour (they say self rising, but whatever you have would work fine, I should think)
3 tbsp sugar
Mix dry ingredients, then add beer, using a wooden spoon & then your hands. It will be sitcky.
Pour into a loaf pan, bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. Holy yummy carb-y goodness 🙂
Hmmm..and I was just inspired by sharing this–I think I will try it this weekend with pumpkin ale! 🙂
Maggie, this sounds fantastic! I have all the ingredients, too. Hmmm, maybe I will take a break from blogging soon and put this in the oven!
Added this book to my Amazon wishlist. Looks great!
I love the idea of being able to make dinner out of things I already have!! Invariably, I decide (on the way home from one of my daughter’s many after school activities) that I’m going to make some yummy recipe I’ve never made before from a cookbook I rarely open. I arrive home with a hungry child, the best intentions and missing at least one crucial ingredient! Then I flip through cookbook after cookbook trying to find a recipe that WILL use food I already have in the house… and end up making canned soup and peanut butter sandwiches because it’s gotten too late to do anything! I would LOVE a copy of this book!!! (LOVE your blog!!!)
Those scones are what caught my eye….Mmmmmm.
Casey – I am right there with you, Sista.
Maggie – That beer bread sounds good – seriously, that’s all there is to it?
I would love to have a copy of this frugal cookbook. I have trouble coming up with recipes out of my own pantry.
I’m always looking for a new easy recipe to try. This sounds GREAT! I tried my hand at baking foccacia bread after watching Lydia’s Italian Table over the weekend. This book would give me an excuse to try even more recipes. Especially with the holidays coming up too. I usually send out food (sweets mainly) gift baskets. I’m searching now for new additions.
And Maggie, that beer bread sounds super easy and yummy! I may try that one this weekend too! MMmMMm…
On the beer recipe – if it calls for self-rising flour, you need to use that or add baking powder otherwise you will have flat bread. The book sounds terrific. I end up wasting food because I don’t use it fast enough and this book would help with coming up with recipes.
Awesome! Thanks for the opportunity.
I may join a cooking club and the chicken teriyaki recipe sounds good. I have to cook every night and I would love some more recipes for my life on an extreme budget. I would love this cookbook!
Anything to help keep my pantry rotation . . . thanks for the great ideas! Beer bread sounds tempting because it has so little in it.
Would love a copy of the Frugal cookbook, always trying to find quick and easy recipes that my family of 5 will all enjoy and agree on. I love the idea of using items on hand.
Can’t wait to try the teriyaki chicken reciipe!!
Thanks Julia : )
I have found it is more creative and enjoyable to figure out what I can cook based on what I have at home rather than go to the market in order to make something. By doing this, I have eliminated throwing out food that has gone bad. Any cookbook that focuses on the use of staples is a winner in my opinion!
Sounds like a neat book. I have a lot of foodstuffs at home, in the freezer, on the shelf, etc. that I would love to use up. I would love a copy of this book.
Sounds like a great book! I’m adding it to my Amazon wishlist too.
This book would be my husband’s dream come true – he’s thrilled beyond belief when I make dinner and say “I used up something in the freezer/cupboard/refrigerator..”
Does the book happen to have nutritional info for the Weight Watchers in the crowd?
Sounds like a rewarding book, this way you use up left overs instead of tossing them out. Defianlty intrested.
This sounds like such a great concept for a cookbook! Too many feature recipes that require purchasing one or two obscure ingredients that end up sitting in a cabinet until they expire because no other recipes call for them. I love the idea of being able to come home and make dinner from what I already have in my cabinets.
I love learning new recipes and trying food I’ve tried before! My favorite thing to do is buy food that has been discounted at the market for a quick sale. I recently purchased (cheap)creme fraiche (you can also make your own) which I spread on some white corn from the farmers market. So good!
Help me out here! I’m a recent college grad living on my own and I just got my very first job (!), AKA basically I’m broke AND don’t know how to cook anything. I would love a copy. Thanks for the consideration!
We just bought a house and money will be tight. I can’t wait to see what ideas the book has for cooking, entertaining, and thrifty gifts for Christmas.
you know how kids are always saying “theres nothing to eat” after you just spent $100 at the market? well, thats ME !!! hahaha i am not very creative & figuring out what to do w/leftover ingrediants makes my head spin. i usually end up with boring chicken (what???you can mix your own stuff up to make a marinade?) just steamed vegatables (i am excited if i remember to melt butter over them) and what do i do with the mega box of bread crumbs (feed the birds?) bargin babe, i need help & this book…and if i go to amazon, i’ll end up being un-frugal & end up buying way too much stuff!!
Mmmm, those scones look yummy! It’s always nice when you can make something that eaisly freezes so you can pull it out later to enjoy.
Hubby and I are reccent college grads and are living on a crazy budget! This book would be such a great asset!
Looks like a great book. Trying to budget and cook healthy to lose weight can be a challenge and shopping from the pantry is pretty awesome. I’m pretty sure that anyone of the people responding will cherish the book. Will put it on my Amazon wish list maybe I will get it as a present!!!
hubby has been unemployed for more than 8 months now, we need all the help we can get! would love to try some frugal recipes!
I am always looking for new ways to use up the staples I keep on hand. This book sounds like a great kitchen reference! Thanks for the recipes. I’m definitely trying the bread and the chicken.
Here’s a quick one that I use (and now everyone at my house is getting a little burned out on it!)
Oven BBQ Chicken
i package of boneless chicken (breasts, tenders, etc.)
1 Bottle BBQ Sauce (I use Bullseye Original because there is no high fructose corn syrup)
Pre heat oven to 350. Line a baking dish with foil. Wash the chicken. Put the chicken on the foil in the baking dish. Take a fork and pierce the chicken pieces. Pour about half the bottle of BBQ sauce over the chicken. Close the foil over the meat. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Voila!
I serve with rice or potatoes and a salad or green vegetable.
Serves 4-6
This would be a great book to have!! Especially for starving students or new workign professionals… Thanks for the info!!
That looks like a great book. I am enjoying your reviews and tips.
Okay, me + The Frugal Foodie = life partners! I NEED that cookbook!
Oh Barbara I hear you! I come home from the market and my kids say you didn’t buy any thing good! Ug! I want to get the book so they can cook for me!
I would love to have this cookbook so I can feed my family frugally 🙂
I loove beer bread! Thanks so much for the recipe! My Mom used to make it when I was a kid. I have such fond memories of coming home from school to the smell of warm beer bread, yum!
I can’t wait to try the scones!
Well, this is this first time I’ve entered a comment regarding your book reviews and this one is right up my alley. I have practiced frugal cooking for quite some time and been inspired by blogs such as Money Saving Mom and $5 Dinners (that’s for the whole family not just one person). I have really cut back in our family household budget and groceries are one area that I have really succeeded in reducing our monthly budget without any problems or feeling deprived. I plan my menu around store loss leaders and sales, stock up when a phenomenal sale hits and cook from scratch. I would greatly appreciate this book and would make it a regular resource for meal planning. I don’t think folks believe one can actually eat healthier and cheaper when cooking from scratch and being willing to try new foods or ways to prepare a dish. I really enjoy reading your blog. Sincerely Pauline
As a mom who cooks 4 to 5 times a week , this would definitely come in handy! Thanks for the chance.
I teach Korean women to cook Western food, so this is right up my alley for being usefull!
Would love another scone recipe!
This sounds great! I am working 2 jobs, so having recipes that will use what is already in my house would be a great time saver and help me cook at home more often.
My library doesn’t seem to have it, but the first recipe has wine, which I don’t keep around the house. Would like to see other examples
How great it would be to have this book on hand…my husband is not well and I can’t always get to the store. This would be such a great help.
Easy black bean soup:
Saute one onion, 1/4 inch dice, in 2 t. oil in a 3 qt. sauce pan, until soft. Add 2 t. cumin powder and 3 cloves crushed garlic to the onions and saute 30 seconds. Add one can refried lowfat or no fat black beans. Stir well. Add water until it’s the desired consistency (about 1-2 cups). Add 1 can drained and rinsed black beans and 1/2 jar of your favorite salsa. Throw in a handful of frozen corn. Adjust amount of water as necessary. Heat to simmering and serve.
OMG..teriyaki chicken looks awesome. Can’t stop myself to try it with red wine. Enjoyed it very much.
I have lots of cookbooks, but one for cleaning out the pantry would be fantastic! Thanks.
Frugal Black Banana Bread
If your bananas go black before you can eat them, freeze them until you’re ready to bake with ’em.
1/2 cup margarine/butter
1-1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
4 Tbs sour cream or unflavored yogurt
1 tsp baking soda
3 defrosted bananas
1-1/2 cup flour (I use 1/2 white, 1/2 wheat)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup goodies (chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, or other yummy filler)
Cream margarine & sugar. (I soften the margarine in the microwave and stir – it’s easier but not as fluffy a bread.) Add eggs, beating well after each addition.
Sift flour & salt together.
Smash baking soda, sour cream, and bananas together.
Alternately add flour and banana mix to sugar mix, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and yummies after last flour addition.
Pour in greased/floured loaf pan. Bake 350F for 45 – 60 miinutes.
I love the easy to do cook books but never know if they are any good. I hpe to be the winner of course but if not I may take you’re word on the book and buy it my self. Thanks for all your awesome tips.
A lot people want this book!!! I truly get excited when I can cook/bake something that doesn’t require another trip to the store. It was great when my son was home from college and i’d say ‘Ethan would you please run to the store for an onion’ and he would look at me like I was nuts but had to have that onion or can of chicken broth or whatever! But now that he is back at school the creativity kicks in and SURPRISE dinner is served! And by the way, there is nothing wrong with a can of soup and a sandwich after a cold evening watching your daughter play soccer until 7:00!
It sounds deceptively simple, but most things are. There’s nothing wrong with, say, making your own lattes at home with microwaved milk, strong brewed coffee and shot of your favorite syrup.
I’d love to win this cookbook. Admittedly, I’m not the most well-versed in the kitchen and usually buy pre-made stuff from the store because most cookbooks make things feel so complicated. Right now, my husband is going back to school, so anywhere we can cut costs would be a blessing!
sound like a great cookbook!
I have a similar recipe for scones, but it requires me to get a lemon (for the lemon peel) and cream from the store. This one is even easier to whip up.
The scone receipe sounds simple enough and so I will try it this weekend. I love the fact that there are instructions included on how to freeze them – not everyone has lots of members in their households.
Those scones look delicious!! I love the idea of this cookbook because I often look at my fairly full pantry and wonder what on earth I could make out of what I have…this would be great to win 😉
I grew up on a farm. We did not go to town for one item that we needed in a recipe. So my mom would substitute. She would tell me that we could figure it out. She taught me how to make syrup for the pancakes when we ran out of maple syrup. Hey you want to know what to do. Let me know and I’ll share.
Even now I still look for a recipe I can make without going to the store. However everyone in my neighborhood knows that my fridge and shelves are full. When we have an earthquake we will all eat — out of my kitchen!
Looks easy enough and scones are to die for – count me in!
Thanks so much for the tips! I love your blog, have been with you since the Daily News! Can’t wait to try recipes that include ingredients I already have!! I usually end up trying to use leftovers/pantry items in either a soup, or when I make fried rice. That is getting boring!
Here is one of my favorite casseroles, most ingredients are on hand. Potato/cheese casserole. Boil, drain, peel, dice potatoes. Put in a baking dish. Add any veggies (frozen peas, fresh carrots), cooked meat (ham works the best, but I have used leftover turkey, chicken, ground beef), salt and pepper to taste. Put cream of mushroom and cream of chicken on top and mix thoroughly. (Reduced fat works great!) Grate cheese, put on top. Bake at 350 until cheese is completely melted and the sauce is bubbly. Enjoy!!
Okay I read the details that I need to write regarding your post. I liked that you tried the recipes and they were successful. That it uses ingredients that are typically found at home in ones pantry and that it is a good sized recipe book and with a variety of things to cook, kids foods, party foods, gift foods and midnight snacks.
Thanks Julia, for once again making frugality fun! I made a great taco soup last night using all items I had in my cupboard and fridge….loving it during this cold and rainy weather!
My fiance and I are both currently out of work (or close to it) and have to struggle the first two weeks of the month to come up with something filling to eat. We’d love to have a copy of this book! As others have said…PB&J is usually our go-to meal because we’re too hungry/frustrated to try to think of something else!
My fiancee calls her version of those meals “fake it dinners”. Emptying the last vestages in the pantry prior to getting a new load from the grocery store. We had one such meal last night. Squash/chicken drumsticks in a honey mustard marinade/salad. Tasty/simple/inexpensive.
I’d love a copy of this book! Thanks for the opportunity.
I always love finding new recipes!!
A frugal cookbook–I love the idea. I want to make the scones already!
This book would make a welcome addition to my kitchen. I have been feeding my family of four nutritious thrifty meals for years. But, it sure would be nice to discover some new favorites.
Wow! This was obviously one of the most successful features on your blog. Who among us doesn’t appreciate simple, inexpensive meals, especially when we can weed out almost expired (or totally expired) ingredients in our pantries and fridges.
The teriyaki chicken sounds great, and I’m definitely going to make the beer bread (for my youngest son) and the scones for my friend/new mom, Lisa. Bonus… I already have pumpkin ale on hand!
If anyone is interested, I have an inexpensive, one dish meal guaranteed to please kids and adults alike. It saved me many times when my boys were young.
Thanks for being so generous to your fans by giving away a cookbook. I am sure we all could use it, but I’d like to keep it for awhile and then pay it forward by passing it onto someone else who could use it too.
Just discovered your web site and blog and I just love it. The cookbook sounds great and thanks to everyone for posting their frugal recipes. We love the Trader Joe’s beer bread so we’ll try the recipe above.
Thanks for all your great tips!
Here’s a quick, easy recipe for comfort food during the cold weather. I always have a box of Jiffy Corn Muffin mix in the pantry. Follow directions on the box for cornbread. When it’s golden, take it out of the oven. Top it with a can of heated chili con carne diluted to desired consistency (I usually add some finely chopped onions while the chili is heating). Top that with grated cheddar cheese (or whatever you have on hand). Return to oven until cheese melts and dish is bubbly. That’s it!!!
Wow what a wonderful gift idea. I would love the book for my 25 year old daughter (the cooke in the house). Having been cut back in hours I could you all the savings I could get and right from the pantry is definately a savings.