Each year thousands of cookbooks get published, so many that it’s really easy for good ones to slip past your radar.  Fortunately for me this one did not.  I was actually preparing to review another book when I heard about Family Feasts for $75 a Week, but as the resident Frugal Foodie the title instantly caught my attention. The author Mary Ostyn is a mother of ten - if anyone could show me a few more tricks she is the one. 

In Family Feasts for $75 a Week Mary expands on some of the same techniques that we have explored with our own Frugal Foodie articles. She gives you the basics of being a frugal Chef, but she takes it a step further by reminding you the benefits of having a few extra dollars in your pocket, and that cutting back on dollars doesn’t necessarily mean cutting back on flavor.  A little planning and careful shopping go a long way. With this book she strives to teach new converts, and existing frugal shoppers alike, ways to lower their food cost with simple strategies.  Strategies like keeping a food journal for a month to find the hidden costs in your shopping habits, or getting into the practice of making double portions and freezing the extras for future meals.

In the chapter called “Come Shopping with Me” we learn some hidden pitfalls in purchasing things in bulk, tips on getting the best deals on higher ticket items like fish/seafood, meat, and dairy.  In my favorite section, “Guerrilla Shopping” you will learn about the price book, which is a notebook where you compile a list of all the various food items you usually purchase, the cost, and from where you get them. By referring to the book every time you sit down to write your grocery lists or comb through the sales fliers it will help you see when and where you are paying too much for certain items. Utilizing the price book could result in multiple stops at various stores to make sure you are getting the best deal on your shopping day, but in most cases it’s worth it. The price book idea may seem time consuming or a little intimidating, but once you get it set-up you will be surprised at how easily it is too stay on top of it and as a result make sure you are not over spending.

In addition to all the great advice that’s offered, the book also contains 200 recipes that are easy to prepare and, of course, very budget friendly. The recipes form a wonderful collection of regional favorites and ethnic inspired dishes all made from scratch.  Some of the recipes may call for a can of beans or diced tomatoes but that’s as processed as it gets. I tried the Cheddar-Pear pie and the West African Peanut Chicken (both recipes are below).  The pie was a nice change of pace from the more traditional apple and cheddar; the West African Peanut Chicken had such a rich flavor that the first thing that comes to mind when eating it is definitely not cheap eats. 

This useful and fun book has given me a much needed boost in continuing my own frugal cooking endeavors. 

West African Peanut Chicken

From Family Feasts for $75 a Week by Mary Ostyn, Oxmoor House (2009).

serves 4 to 6 prep time: 30 to 40 minutes

• 1/4 cup peanut oil (or any cooking oil)
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
• 3 medium-size onions, minced or pureed in food processor
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups pureed tomatoes (or 2 cups tomato sauce and 1 cup water)
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 2 ripe tomatoes, diced

1. Heat oil over high heat for 3 to 4 minutes in a deep pot or large heavy skillet. Add chicken pieces, half at a time, and fry on both sides until nicely browned. Once all chicken pieces are cooked, set aside in a covered bowl to keep warm.

2. Add onions and garlic in same pot; cook until onions are soft and begin to brown, stirring occasionally. Add pureed tomatoes and 1 cup water; reduce heat to medium, bring to a simmer, and let simmer for a few minutes.

3. Return chicken to pot. Stir in peanut butter. Mixture will look clumpy for a minute, but will mix in nicely once it heats up. Add cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt. Simmer over low heat 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Stir in diced green pepper and tomatoes; simmer for 3 to 4 more minutes.

Cheddar-Pear Pie

From Family Feasts for $75 a Week by Mary Ostyn, Oxmoor House (2009).

makes one 8- or 9-inch pie prep time: 50 minutes

• 1 Push-in Pie Crust (recipe follows)
• 4 large ripe pears, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Topping:
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Press crust into an 8- or 9-inch pie pan.

3. In a large bowl, combine pears, sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Pour into pie crust. In a medium-size bowl, combine topping ingredients until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over filling.

4. Bake until crust is golden and cheese is melted, 25 to 35 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Serve warm. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.

Push-in Pie Crust

From Family Feasts for $75 a Week by Mary Ostyn, Oxmoor House (2009).

makes one 8- or 9-inch pie crust prep time: 5 minutes

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons milk

1. Place flour, sugar, and salt in an 8- or 9-inch pie pan. Mix with a fork. Add oil and milk. Mix again, until all ingredients are combined.

2. Press dough into the bottom and against the sides of pan with your fingertips. If you like, you can make a scalloped edge on the crust, pinching dough between your thumb and index finger.

3. If you are using this crust for a pudding-type pie, bake empty pie shell in a preheated 425°F oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Otherwise, bake for the amount of time recommended in your pie recipe.

About Family Feasts for $75 a Week

Written by blogger mom and penny-pincher extraordinaire Mary Ostyn, who prepares three meals a day for her family of 12 for $800 to $900 a month, this book is stuffed to the gills with Mary's expert, in-the-trenches tips on savvy food shopping, plus 200 delicious recipes for homecooked meals that make the most of economical ingredients. Mary 's real-world advice teaches real-world families how to save in more ways than one.

Available at Amazon.com

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