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Frugal Cooking Ideas and Recipes

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 8 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

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Frugal Cooking Ideas and Recipes

 

Everybody has to eat, and unfortunately, eating can be very expensive

However, there are ways to make eating less expensive, so you have money left over for other things - like rent or your mortgage payment, or for fun.

Whether you're a coupon queen, a frugal guru, or just someone trying to save a little money on the side, we've got something from you!

We're also always eager to learn your favorite frugal cooking tips, so type your blurb, and leave a comment sharing your tips with us.

If you've got a question you can also leave a comment or contact me, and I'll do my best to answer it.

Here are a few thrifty tips to keep your cooking on a budget. 

Please add your own tips to the list.

Make a meal plan

This one is really hard for me.
Make a meal plan for the week, or the month, and try to stick to it.

This way you won't have to run out to a restaurant or the grocery store at the last minute.0 points

Don't shop when you're hungry

If you're like most people you'll come back with a ton of food you don't need because it looks so good, if you shop when you're hungry.0 points

Buy foods in season

Buy foods in season, so you don't have to pay premium prices for them.

Try to arrange your meal plan around the in season items as well.0 points

Make your meal plan according to what's on sale

Check out your weekly circulars or coupon inserts, and try to plan your meals around what's on sale this week.0 points

Make extra for later

Double up batches of food that can easily be frozen, or saved for another meal later in the week.0 points

Do you you try to practice frugal cooking? 

If you do, then tell us your favorite recipe!

Do you you try to practice frugal cooking?

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Yes

Ashley says:

Deffinately! With a family of 6 to feed, You have no choice but to be Frugal!

Sarah says:

Yes!

No

princess10_08 says:

No. We eat out 1 to 2 times a day. It is becoming too much!

 
 
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Frugal Cooking Amazon Plexo 

Vote for your favorite frugal recipe book, or add your own to the list!

What are some of your favorite frugal recipes, or frugal foods to cook with? 

Sarah

I love to cook with food fresh out of my garden.

Tomatoes, strawberries, rhubarb ...MMM.

Posted June 11, 2008

Frugal Cooking Links Plexo 

Check out these great frugal cooking resources, then add your favorite frugal cooking resources!

You can even rate them!

Is your favorite at the top of the list?

McCormick - Spice Encyclopedia

The McCormick Spice Encyclopedia is the definitive more...2 points

Recipezaar's Frugal Recipes

Recipezaar:Recipes with Frugal in the title1 point

Thrifty meals for small families

Thrifty Recipes: Main Dishes<br more...0 points

The Hillbilly Housewife

Welcome, I'm Miss Maggie, the owner and creator of more...0 points

CheapCooking.com: Cheap recipes, easy recipes, chicken recipes

Get loads of free easy, cheap recipes plus article more...0 points

Better Budgeting Frugal Recipes

Try our FREE quick and easy FRUGAL RECIPES!0 points

Cooking on a Budget: OAMC, Make Ahead, Freezing & More

Community Forums - Cooking on a Budget: OAMC, Make more...0 points

CookingByNumbers.com

Cook great meals - tell us what you've got, we'll more...0 points

The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book - Online

This classic American cooking reference includes 1 more...0 points

Kraft Diabetic Choices Home Page

Lots of great information and recipes for people l more...0 points

The Official Ramen Homepage

Ramen Noodle Recipes0 points

Frugal Living 

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eBay

Frugal Cooking and Food Storage Guidelines 

One of the most important things to do when you are trying to cook more frugally is to only buy things that your family will eat, and that you will be able to use before the food goes bad.

These Food Storage Guidelines from the Virginia Cooperative Extension will be able to help you determine if you are storing your food in the best manner.

Of course your mileage may vary with some of their methods.

They say that you should only freeze bread for two or three months, while I know people who use it after a year in the freezer.

Cooking Resources 

So maybe you're just looking for some good cooking information? Which foods are best, what should I make? Well here you go! Enjoy these resources, and add them to your own frugal cooking mix.

High-Fiber Foods

Looking to add more fiber to your diet? Fiber move more...1 point

MyPyramid.gov

One size doesn't fit all. MyPyramid Plan offers yo more...1 point

What's in Season

A list of fruits and vegetables, and when they are more...1 point

Cooking Information Guides

We have gathered all the resources to help you lea more...0 points

We'd love to hear what you think about the frugal cooking lens! 

Or feel free to share your favorite frugal recipes!

Sarah

MarcyG, thanks, that's a great tip!

Posted February 25, 2008

MarcyG

Here is a frugal baking tip. A lot of recipes call for whipped egg whites. What you can do is buy a large quantity of eggs on sale. Then when you take them home separate them (egg whites and yolks). Freeze them in ice cube trays. When completely frozen put them in freezer bags and remove all the air with a drinking straw. They will keep for months. And always make sure to store the whites and yolks separately so your recipes turn out.

Posted February 25, 2008

GrillGirl

Yeah. Food is expensive and getting more so. This is a super lens idea. Yay. I like it and thank you.

Posted June 11, 2007

GramaBarb

Thanks for leaving your carmel-apple recipe on my guest book at http://www.squidoo.com/crockpotcookingdaily/
What a good idea! Love this lens on frugal cooking!

Posted June 04, 2007

Sarah

Thanks, that's a good idea yoursmiling chef!

Posted June 04, 2007

YourSmilingChef

You could put this info into an ebook for newlyweds... it's great!

Posted May 12, 2007

Recipes! 

All of these sites don't necessarily focus on frugal cooking, so you might have to dig through them to find some frugal recipes, but they should give you some cooking ideas!

Sometimes you just have to share, so add your own recipe links as well.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks!

I'm a desperate housewife. I live in the country. I love to cook delicious, abundant, satisfying food using the simplest of ingredients. Welcome to my...0 points

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Sarah

About Sarah

I'm Sarah, and I am am having fun trying new frugal, tasty meals. 


Of course it helps to have a husband who will eat anything :-)

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