The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook (Paperback)

~ Lynette Rohrer Shirk (Author), Lara Starr (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"We have always known that delicious and nutritious meals can be prepared at home for less than a family spends off the value menu at the local fast food stop.The Frugal Foodie not only features tasty recipes that stretch the food dollar but also includes fun and useful tips for kids projects, beauty remedies and edible gifts."

-- Rima Barkett and Claudia Pruett, authors of Cooking Dinner: Simple Italian Family Recipes Everyone Can Make.

"Shirk and Star will have you whipping up delectable meals on a shoestring. Just think of all the cute shoes you can buy with those savings—you'll truly be strutting your stuff in the kitchen!"
—Ame Mahler Beanland, co-author of the New York Times Bestseller Nesting: It's a Chick Thing© and Postcards from the Bump

"This is the perfect book for the times. Actually, it’s perfect for any time! Cook up any of these delicious low-cost recipes, and you can put the extra money toward something else! If you love saving money, and you love food, you’ll love the The Frugal Foodie, these recipes do not skimp on flavor!"

Nina Lesowitz, author of Living Life as a Thank You and The Party Girl Cookbook

"Delicious fun! With kitchen goddess savvy and Betty Crocker smarts, Lynette Shirk and Lara Starr have concocted a gem of a cookbook that is both entertaining and practical, simple, yet resplendent with excellent recipes. The perfect gift for any foodie, this will be a staple in kitchens for years to come."

Margie Lapanja, author of Romancing the Stove, Food That Rocks, and Food Men Love


"During a difficult economy, nothing could be better paired with good food than simple wisdom and humor. Lara Starr & Lynette Shirk serve it all up with a generosity of spirit that will keep a smile on your face and extra change in your pocketbook." --Jennifer Sauer, author of The Way to Tea

Product Description

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 Budget Crunch Gourmet Cookbook keeps hungry readers living well and eating better.

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Product Details Paperback: 216 pages Publisher: Viva Editions (September 8, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 1573443638 ISBN-13: 978-1573443630 Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches Shipping Weight: 1.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,464 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	83% buy the item featured on this page: The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook 4.8 out of 5 stars (8) $10.85
	7% buy The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: 200 Gourmet Recipes for Any Budget 5.0 out of 5 stars (3) $10.17
	5% buy Family Feasts for $75 a Week: A Penny-wise Mom Shares Her Recipe for Cutting Hundreds from Your Monthly Food Bill 4.8 out of 5 stars (31) $12.21
	2% buy The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl 4.5 out of 5 stars (93) $10.75

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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews 5 star:  (6) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.8 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Stretching the Dollar, August 30, 2009 By  Amos Lassen (Little Rock, Arkansas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)       Starr, Lara and Lynette Shirk. "The Frugal Foodie Cookbook", Viva Editions, 2009. Stretching the Dollar Amos Lassen I do not, as a rule, review cookbooks but this one has so much in it that I am doing so. We are living in hard economic times and all of us want to know how to save a buck. I say start with this little book; for only $15.95 you can save so much. "The Frugal Foodie Cookbook" shows us how to be creative and clever in the kitchen and to make inexpensive and delicious meals. There is something for everyone and about everything that has to do with food. The recipes made my mouth water and I found myself experimenting as I read. There are hundreds of dishes and a lot of advice and you will find yourself eating better and spending less. This book is perfect for the times we are living in now. The book is lots of fun and delicious as well. What else goes so well with good food but wisdom and humor and the book has all three. 7 of 9 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Tasty Recipes!, August 31, 2009 By  S. Chatfield (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook is an unassuming little cookbook with a misleading name but some excellent recipes. I think this book sometimes veers more toward the quick and inexpensive rather than true "frugal foodie" territory, but the recipes I tried were nonetheless really delicious! While some of the recipes seem a bit out of place on the basis of "frugal" (pork chops and beef tenderloin instead of cheaper and more time-consuming cuts of meat) or "foodie" (imitation Egg McMuffins), those I did try were well worth the effort. The fruit crisp in the "Brunches" section was so tasty that I made it twice, once with a mix of blueberries, blackberries, plums, nectarines, and pluots, and another time with a variety of stone fruits. Although I thought I'd tried pretty much every variation on crisp, crumble, and cobbler, this one used a different technique: the "crumble" part is made with egg as the only fat and then melted butter is drizzled over the top. This is nice in that it skips an annoying step (cutting in the butter) and also yields a tasty and crisp topping. My only issue with this recipe was that it calls for about twice as much butter as is really needed. When made with half the butter, though, this crisp recipe is definitely a keeper. The second recipe I tried was the lemon-and-asparagus pasta. This is again one of those dishes that I've made many variations of, but Frugal Foodie presented a new and tasty version. Lots of butter coats the intensely lemon-y pasta, and cooking the asparagus in a bit of vegetable stock results in tender and flavorful veggies. We added dots of goat cheese on top for a little tang, but either way this is a very yummy pasta dish that I'll be adding to my summer repertoire. Finally, I tackled the apricot preserves. I've always been really intimidated by canning, but when I saw three pounds of apricots on sale for ninety-nine cents at the grocery store, I knew this was the time to be daring! I messed up the recipe, accidentally leaving out the last-minute addition of lemon juice until the jars were already in their hot-water bath, so the jam had to be refrigerated or frozen to be safe to eat. However, even with the error, the preserves were still absolutely delicious! I definitely look forward to doing more preserving in the future...and next time, hopefully I'll get it right so I can have shelves lined with beautiful jars! Plusses of this cookbook include some truly delicious and creative recipes, as well as more typical recipes that are likely pretty reliable and tasty if my recipe testing is any indication. There are also various tips sprinkled throughout the book that might be helpful to those just starting to try and cut down on their food budget. A negative is that the selection of truly unique recipes is padded with quite a few basic recipes like oatmeal and eggs. These may be helpful for a college student or beginner cook but are probably not really necessary for someone more seasoned in the kitchen. The book also lacks any photos and is sprinkled with distracting quotations that don't add much to the reading experience. Overall, I think this book is geared more toward busy moms or students than foodies who want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen getting the most out of inexpensive ingredients, but it likely serves that group well and definitely includes some culinary gems. Photos of the recipes I tried are here: [...] 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Good Food, waste saving and cost saving recipes, October 30, 2009 By  Chris Phillips "Word Coach" (Roswell, GA 30076) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Frugal Foodie Cookbook by Lara Starr w/Lynette Shirk ISBN 978-1-57344-363-0 Review by Chris Phillips A small book like this, at 6.9" x 6", will be lost on many a cookbook shelf. However, there are plenty of reasons to keep this one on the counter and handy. Printed in the style of the "Dummy" series books, there are tips, hints and quotes interspersed throughout this delightful collection of recipes and more. Starr and Shirk have found and included many recipes that most cooks will be looking for at times when running short of specific supplies or ingredients. From the "3-in-1 Eye-Opening Mix" (pg. 18) through "Best Dressed Salads" with a chart to show how to mix herbs together (pg. 62) and to "Cents-able Solutions: Savvy Substitutions" (pg. 114, 115) with a chart showing common substitutes for things that might not be in the pantry. There are recipes of all qualities and styles where the gourmet can vary ingredients for that special taste or the rushed mom can have things already prepared for immediate serving up for dinner. There are tips in marquee boxes like "Processor Points" delineating how to clean the blade and how to really clean the compartments. There are "Cents-able Solutions" like the one mentioned above in a different style of marquee box. Interspersed throughout are short quotes from famous and infamous persons. Zsa-Zsa Gabor - "I'm a marvelous housekeeper, every time I have a man, I keep his house." To by M.F.K. Fisher - "Almost every person has something secret he likes to eat". The recipes are good and easy to follow. The ingredients are listed first so the pantry can be checked before starting. However there is no index or cross reference to help find something specific. Even the chapters and entries in the table of contents do not provide any type of sorting, just titles of the sections are referenced there. This book will help anyone trying to save money by trying to use what is already in the pantry. The recipes are simple enough to follow and there are tables and charts throughout to help with substitutions and changes. However, this is not the book for someone who already does this on a regular basis. With the odd size of the book, the missing index and references to items in it, and the odd and limited table of contents it could becomes harder to use than others that are available. [...]		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Required Reading for anyone who wants to save food money As one who writes regularly about being thrifty, I am always suspicious of new books claiming to save food money. Read more Published 24 days ago by Wendy E. Thomas 5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect addition to the cookbook collections of budget stressed families Not since "The Supermarket Handbook" by Nikki and David Goldbeck has there been such an invaluable and highly recommended guide to making the most of one's food purchasing... Read more Published 1 month ago by Midwest Book Review 5.0 out of 5 stars Save Time and Money with The Frugal Foodie Cookbook I love The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook. It's fun to read, and the recipes are both frugal and doable. Read more Published 1 month ago by Baker Mom 5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book, great recipes, clever writing and my daughter gave it 5 stars Starr and Shirk have written a great cookbook! My daughter, who is 7, decided that Gingerbread Cupcakes must be shared with her school friends. Read more Published 1 month ago by Rebekah S. Conner 5.0 out of 5 stars So clever I just received my copy in the mail today, and I love this book! The recipies sound delicious, but even more, I like the way the author writes. Read more Published 2 months ago by Bargain seeker Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Viva Editions (September 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573443638
• ISBN-13: 978-1573443630
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,464 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stretching the Dollar, August 30, 2009

By	Amos Lassen (Little Rock, Arkansas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Starr, Lara and Lynette Shirk. "The Frugal Foodie Cookbook", Viva Editions, 2009.
Stretching the Dollar
Amos Lassen
I do not, as a rule, review cookbooks but this one has so much in it that I am doing so. We are living in hard economic times and all of us want to know how to save a buck. I say start with this little book; for only $15.95 you can save so much. "The Frugal Foodie Cookbook" shows us how to be creative and clever in the kitchen and to make inexpensive and delicious meals. There is something for everyone and about everything that has to do with food. The recipes made my mouth water and I found myself experimenting as I read. There are hundreds of dishes and a lot of advice and you will find yourself eating better and spending less. This book is perfect for the times we are living in now. The book is lots of fun and delicious as well. What else goes so well with good food but wisdom and humor and the book has all three.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tasty Recipes!, August 31, 2009

By	S. Chatfield (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook is an unassuming little cookbook with a misleading name but some excellent recipes. I think this book sometimes veers more toward the quick and inexpensive rather than true "frugal foodie" territory, but the recipes I tried were nonetheless really delicious! While some of the recipes seem a bit out of place on the basis of "frugal" (pork chops and beef tenderloin instead of cheaper and more time-consuming cuts of meat) or "foodie" (imitation Egg McMuffins), those I did try were well worth the effort.

The fruit crisp in the "Brunches" section was so tasty that I made it twice, once with a mix of blueberries, blackberries, plums, nectarines, and pluots, and another time with a variety of stone fruits. Although I thought I'd tried pretty much every variation on crisp, crumble, and cobbler, this one used a different technique: the "crumble" part is made with egg as the only fat and then melted butter is drizzled over the top. This is nice in that it skips an annoying step (cutting in the butter) and also yields a tasty and crisp topping. My only issue with this recipe was that it calls for about twice as much butter as is really needed. When made with half the butter, though, this crisp recipe is definitely a keeper.

The second recipe I tried was the lemon-and-asparagus pasta. This is again one of those dishes that I've made many variations of, but Frugal Foodie presented a new and tasty version. Lots of butter coats the intensely lemon-y pasta, and cooking the asparagus in a bit of vegetable stock results in tender and flavorful veggies. We added dots of goat cheese on top for a little tang, but either way this is a very yummy pasta dish that I'll be adding to my summer repertoire.

Finally, I tackled the apricot preserves. I've always been really intimidated by canning, but when I saw three pounds of apricots on sale for ninety-nine cents at the grocery store, I knew this was the time to be daring! I messed up the recipe, accidentally leaving out the last-minute addition of lemon juice until the jars were already in their hot-water bath, so the jam had to be refrigerated or frozen to be safe to eat. However, even with the error, the preserves were still absolutely delicious! I definitely look forward to doing more preserving in the future...and next time, hopefully I'll get it right so I can have shelves lined with beautiful jars!

Plusses of this cookbook include some truly delicious and creative recipes, as well as more typical recipes that are likely pretty reliable and tasty if my recipe testing is any indication. There are also various tips sprinkled throughout the book that might be helpful to those just starting to try and cut down on their food budget. A negative is that the selection of truly unique recipes is padded with quite a few basic recipes like oatmeal and eggs. These may be helpful for a college student or beginner cook but are probably not really necessary for someone more seasoned in the kitchen. The book also lacks any photos and is sprinkled with distracting quotations that don't add much to the reading experience. Overall, I think this book is geared more toward busy moms or students than foodies who want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen getting the most out of inexpensive ingredients, but it likely serves that group well and definitely includes some culinary gems.

Photos of the recipes I tried are here: [...]

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Food, waste saving and cost saving recipes, October 30, 2009

By	Chris Phillips "Word Coach" (Roswell, GA 30076) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Frugal Foodie Cookbook by Lara Starr w/Lynette Shirk ISBN 978-1-57344-363-0
Review by Chris Phillips
A small book like this, at 6.9" x 6", will be lost on many a cookbook shelf. However, there are plenty of reasons to keep this one on the counter and handy. Printed in the style of the "Dummy" series books, there are tips, hints and quotes interspersed throughout this delightful collection of recipes and more.
Starr and Shirk have found and included many recipes that most cooks will be looking for at times when running short of specific supplies or ingredients. From the "3-in-1 Eye-Opening Mix" (pg. 18) through "Best Dressed Salads" with a chart to show how to mix herbs together (pg. 62) and to "Cents-able Solutions: Savvy Substitutions" (pg. 114, 115) with a chart showing common substitutes for things that might not be in the pantry. There are recipes of all qualities and styles where the gourmet can vary ingredients for that special taste or the rushed mom can have things already prepared for immediate serving up for dinner.
There are tips in marquee boxes like "Processor Points" delineating how to clean the blade and how to really clean the compartments. There are "Cents-able Solutions" like the one mentioned above in a different style of marquee box. Interspersed throughout are short quotes from famous and infamous persons. Zsa-Zsa Gabor - "I'm a marvelous housekeeper, every time I have a man, I keep his house." To by M.F.K. Fisher - "Almost every person has something secret he likes to eat".
The recipes are good and easy to follow. The ingredients are listed first so the pantry can be checked before starting. However there is no index or cross reference to help find something specific. Even the chapters and entries in the table of contents do not provide any type of sorting, just titles of the sections are referenced there.
This book will help anyone trying to save money by trying to use what is already in the pantry. The recipes are simple enough to follow and there are tables and charts throughout to help with substitutions and changes. However, this is not the book for someone who already does this on a regular basis. With the odd size of the book, the missing index and references to items in it, and the odd and limited table of contents it could becomes harder to use than others that are available.
[...]