Thrifty Tomato Frugal Foodie

I've been on a mission to add some new frugal recipes to my repertoire. 

Check out the other posts in the series so far...

Eating Well On a Budget

Budget Cookbook series

This time I worked on The Frugal Foodie Cookbook : Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook  by Lara Starr with Lynette Shirk. 

I love that this book is all about the idea that frugal cooking is NOT about just using only dirt-cheap ingredients, but getting the most out of the food you can afford. 

That is exactly what I learned from this book. It is full of wonderful tips and tons of tasty recipes that I was excited to try, but what I took away from this was delicious twists on some recipes I already make or love. 

I tried the Sweet and Sour Glazed meatloaf. I forgot to get a picture, but it got the seal of approval from Tomato-Papa.  Two helpings in he told me, "You can make this again" in between bites. 

I also made Sushi Salad. It was easy and fresh. Like a loose sushi roll.  I had recently gotten rice, cucumber, avacado, and crab meat on sale so it was the perfect storm for this recipe tasting. I made some fried cream cheese wontons to do with it and add some crunch, but I'm pretty sure the un-healthiness of them cancelled out any benefit from the salad. It was a yummy lunch anyway!

To wrap this book up I tried the Coffee Mug Cakes. They are basically Warm Delights ( Betty Crocker) with stuff that you have on hand in your kitchen. I have gotten W. D.'s a few times free with coupons, but they were just ok. I wasn't a big fan, but I keep getting them everytime they are free! I thought this would probably taste about the same, but this recipe is so much better! It really is an easy, quick chocolate cake recipe baked right in a coffee mug. Don't tell Tomato-Papa ( who is the chocolate lover in this house ) that I split the recipe in half between the two mugs so that I could just try a little. Next time, I will make him the full recipe in one mug. Topped with some vanilla ice cream it was a really great and frugal dessert! 

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