I absolutely love finding ways to save money on food while still being able to cook delicious frugal meals for my family. As a frugal shopper, I’m always on the lookout for new budget-friendly frugal dinner ideas, and recently I stumbled across a cookbook on Amazon that caught my attention. It’s called “Easy and Frugal”, by Sarah Walker Caron, and it has been a game-changer in my kitchen when it comes to frugal meal ideas.
One of the things I love about this cookbook is that it has $ signs next to each recipe, indicating how expensive or inexpensive it may be to make. This helps me quickly identify recipes that fit within my budget. Additionally, the cookbook is filled with helpful tips for saving money on groceries, such as buying meat in bulk and freezing it until needed to get a lower per-pound price. These tips have been invaluable in helping me stretch my food budget and make the most of my grocery shopping trips.
In a recent video on Youtube I shared some amazing frugal meals from this cookbook that are perfect for frugal shoppers, like me, who are looking for super easy meals that won’t break the bank.
Crispy Coconut Drumsticks
The first recipe I made was Crispy Coconut Drumsticks. Drumsticks are one of the most inexpensive cuts of chicken, and I always try to find them on sale for less than a dollar a pound. This recipe is simple and requires just a few ingredients that you likely already have on hand.
To start, I preheated my oven to 425 degrees and spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray. In one bowl, I whisked together one egg, a tablespoon of milk, and a little salt. In another bowl, I mixed together Panko bread crumbs, shredded coconut, and garlic powder. Then, I dredged the drumsticks in the egg mixture, coated them in the dry mixture, and placed them in the 9×13 pan. I baked the drumsticks in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes until they were fully cooked through and crispy. The prep time is less than 10 minutes, but the cooking time may take a little longer due to the bone-in drumsticks. Once they were cooked, I had delicious and crispy drumsticks that are relatively healthy compared to fried chicken. I served them with a simple salad made from whatever vegetables I had in my fridge for a budget-friendly and tasty lunch but this could also be diner.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Next up from the “Easy and Frugal” cookbook, I made Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup with Lime and Avocado. This recipe may have a few more ingredients, but it’s still relatively low-cost. In a slow cooker, I combined chicken breasts, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, minced garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. You can cook this on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender. Once the chicken is cooked, shred it with a fork and stir in the juice of one and a half limes and 3 sliced tortillas. The original recipe calls for corn tortillas, but I used flour because that’s what I had on hand. I served the soup hot and if you want, you can add diced avocado but I don’t like warm avocado so I didn’t. You can also top it with whatever you like, I used sour cream and cilantro. This soup is flavorful, comforting, and perfect for a budget-friendly meal. It’s a perfect meal for a busy day, as I can set it in the slow cooker in the morning and come home to a delicious and comforting bowl of soup in the evening.
Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Pork Carnitas Taco Recipe
Now, let’s move on to a mouthwatering slow cooker cilantro lime pork carnitas taco recipe that’s perfect for gatherings or potlucks. This recipe is also from the “Easy and Frugal” cookbook, and it’s a budget-friendly and easy-to-make option that will impress your guests. To start, you’ll need a pork butt, which I was lucky to find on sale as a manager special for cheap. Pork butts are often more affordable, especially when they’re bone-in, but boneless works just as well for this recipe. You’ll want to dive up an onion and add two crushed cloves of garlic to add to the slow cooker.
Next, season the pork with some pantry staples. About a teaspoon of oregano, a teaspoon of ground cumin (though you can eyeball it), and a liberal amount of salt and pepper all over the pork butt should do. Massage the seasoning into the meat, making sure it’s well-coated on all sides.
Place the seasoned pork butt in the slow cooker and nestled the onions and crushed garlic around it. I set the slow cooker on low for 10 hours and let it cook slowly to perfection. After about 7 hours, my pork was falling apart and cooked just right.
To add some freshness and flavor, I squeezed the juice of one lime over the pork and sprinkled about two tablespoons of chopped cilantro. I then shredded the pork using two forks, mixing in the lime juice and cilantro as I went along. The aroma of the tender and flavorful pork was irresistible.
I decided to take this delicious dish to a friend’s house for a last-minute potluck. I brought along some corn tortillas, sour cream, salsa, cilantro, cheese, and fresh avocado to set up a make-your-own taco bar. It was a hit among everyone, and we enjoyed a fun night with good food and good company. Frugal meals don’t need to be boring and can be shared!
The leftover pork carnitas were just as delicious the next day. A friend of mine used them to make a delicious breakfast hash that she said was out of this world! The flavors had melded together even more, and the meat was incredibly tender and juicy. It was a fantastic way to repurpose the leftovers and can stretch a budget even further.
If you’re looking for a slow cooker, this is the one that I have and have loved for years! And, if you love slow cooker meals, check out this Slow Cooker Chicken Piccata Recipe I made last week!
Why I love This Cookbook!
That’s what I love about the “Easy and Frugal” cookbook. It provides recipes that are not only delicious and easy to make but also easy on the grocery budget, it’s also great for meal planning. The cookbook includes helpful tips like using affordable cuts of meat, buying in bulk, and making the most of leftovers, all of which can save you money on groceries without compromising on flavor or quality. There are recipes for ground beef, one pan recipes, rice, pasta and more for your path to frugal living.
You can get your own copy of Easy and Frugal here to get all the frugal meals recipes and don’t forget to check out my next video for more easy and frugal recipes and inspiration. Remember, the next time you’re on Youtube, make sure you’re watching Meals With Maria! And be sure to also follow me on facebook twitter instagram.
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