I’ve had the amazing opportunity to chat with Melissa d’Arabian of Food Networks Ten Dollar Dinners on a few occasions and I’m a huge fan of not only her, but her recipes. Her potato-bacon torte is a staple in my house and now she has even more recipes to share with all of us in her very first cookbook, Ten Dollar Dinners.
“Ten Dollar Dinners: 140 Recipes and Tips to Elevate Simple, Fresh Meals Any Night of the Week” has 11 (yes, 11!) chapters filled to the brim with yummy recipes and amazing tips to keep you within your budget. One of my favorite sections in this book, aside from the recipes of course, is the pantry snapshot that features all of the items you should have in your pantry at any time.
Another thing I love about this book is that within the chapters, and the recipes, Melissa offers tips for saving money on the individual recipes. Just because you are eating on a budget doesn’t mean you have to eat blah food, and Melissa proves that throughout the entire book.
I’ve been making some of the recipes all week in my house and I’m hooked. My favorite so far is Melissa’s 4-step chicken. She starts with a recipe for 4-step chicken piccata and then offers a chart with other ways you can prepare the chicken. I made mine with mushrooms, red wine, and blue cheese. Holy wow is all I can say. Even Scott was sopping up the sauce from his plate. It’s also a super quick weeknight meal. I think it took less than 20 minutes (if that) for me to make.
Additionally, with each recipe there is a scale to let you know if the dish is downright cheap, middle of the road, or pricey. This pricing scale helps you play with your weekly budget. This book is really a must have for families of multiples because it really shows you how to stretch your dollar to feed your family (side note: Melissa is a mother of twins).
One lucky reader has a chance to win a copy of Ten Dollar Dinners (in stores tomorrow!). Simply fill out the info in Rafflecopter to enter to win.
Check back later for some mouth watering recipes from the book! Thank you again to Clarkson Potter for providing me with a copy of the book for review!
You can see my previous interviews with Melissa here. Be sure to tune into Melissa’s two shows, Drop 5 lbs on Cooking Channel and Ten Dollar Dinners on Food Network. You can find more info, including videos about the book, on Melissa’s website.
I would love to get more easy cooking ideas.
I love cooking! I would love to get some new idea for meals for my family!
I stretch my dollars by buying certain items in bulk & planning “like” meals together, as to not waste left-overs!
We try and buy meat (on sale) in bulk, but split it up in freezer bags for meal portions, so we can defrost only what we need by the time we get home. Summer, most veggies come from the garden.
Would love some new ideas for feeding my family AND keeping on my budget!
I stretch a dollar by menu planning (so we don’t go to the grocery store multiple times a week) and planning like meals together so we “repurpose” left-overs.
Definitely buying things in bulk and freezing them (plus labeling and storing well).
I’m always looking for healthy, economical ways to feed my house of testosterone! Two little boys eat more than me at every meal plus a meat-loving husband adds up to expensive meals. I find I can buy inexpensive cuts and use the slow cooker to make multiple meals? Saves time and money!
Hope I win!
looks like it will be a great cookbook
I try to find the cheapest version of items I buy and I buy in bulk when I can
I save money by cooking from scratch most nights of the week. We have one cheat night a week but usually that is just ordering delivery pizza which isn’t too expensive and makes everyone happy.
I haven’t been good at stretching out money when it come to cooking. That’s why I need to win!
I buy almost everything in bulk (Sam’s is our basic grocery store!) I divide and vacuum seal the portions for later use.
I stretch our dollar sometimes by doubling a recipe but not doubling the meat. No one notices that I only used half the meat and it tastes just as great.
I stretch my dollar by planning my meals (based heavily on flyers :)) for a one to two week period 🙂
Leftovers are lunch the next day. Period.
I find myself adding beans to just about everything. They help stretch the dollar and are pretty tasty!
I use pasta, frozen veggies and other staples
I have loved watching her on the Food Network, and would love to have her cookbook too!
oops – missed what I was supposed to comment about :} I love to make a crockpot of shredded chicken (when I get it on a great deal!). Then I use it in a meal or two for the week, and freeze the rest (makes for easier meal prep later).
I stretch my dollar by only buying what’s on sale or what I have coupons for!
I buy meat in those big packages and then divide them into meal-sized portions in baggies to stretch our dollar. And make most meals from scratch. I’ve discovered it’s really not hard to whip up a batch of pancakes without Bisquick. 🙂
As a mom of multiples I use coupons and only shop sales. I also buy in bulk and freeze based on portions for my family.