Have you ever thought that cooking with more healthy options was just too expensive? When Dawn Hall realized how difficult it was becoming to stretch her grocery budget just so she could eat healthier, she decided to write the Busy People’s Fast & Frugal Cookbook, for those who were struggling with the same thing.
After I looked through each recipe in Dawn’s cookbook, I thought to myself, “This is like semi-homemade cooking…only healthier!”
Dawn has created every recipe in the Busy People’s Fast & Frugal Cookbook to be seven ingredients or fewer and prepared in 30 minutes or less.
To cut down on prep time, Dawn utilizes many prepackaged products, but specifies the salt-, sugar-, and fat- free versions.
To maximize the grocery budget, Dawn spends money on low fat options of high fat products (such as cheese and butter) and almost always uses egg whites instead of whole eggs, but saves her hard-earned money on things like pasta. The higher cost of whole-wheat pasta, for instance, isn’t worth her benefit, unless on sale.
Each recipe in the Busy People’s Fast & Frugal Cookbook is just as the title says: fast and frugal (IF you’re trying to maintain a more healthy diet).
Here’s an example of one of Dawn’s recipes that you’ll find in the Fast & Frugal Cookbook:
PENNE IN CREAMY ITALIAN SAUCE
Isn’t it nice to know that we can enjoy creamy pasta without all of the fats usually associated with cream sauce?
1 (16-ounce) box penne pasta
1 can pitted ripe (black) olives
1 cup fat-free sour cream
1 (14 ounce) jar pizza sauce
1 (14.5-ounce) can Italian diced tomatoes
½ cup low-fat ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon garlic salt
Add 3 quarts of water to a large Dutch oven or soup pan, and bring to a boil over high heat.
Once the water is boiling, add the pasta. Return to a boil and stir occasionally.
Open, drain, and discard the liquid from the can of olives. Place the drained olives in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 1 minute; set aside.
Once the pasta is cooked, drain and return to the pan.
Stir in the sour cream, pizza sauce, tomatoes, ricotta cheese, garlic salt, and the heated olives. Return the pan to medium heat and cook until all ingredients are fully heated.
Alongside each recipe, Dawn also gives nutritional information, an itemized grocery list, and suggested side dishes.
If you’re a cookbook collector or are trying to eat a bit healthier, you’ll like the Busy People’s Fast & Frugal Cookbook!
384 pages by Thomas Nelson.
GIVEAWAY ALERT:
And, if you’re one of my readers, you have a chance to WIN a copy of Dawn’s cookbook!
To enter, leave a comment telling me whether or not eating healthy is important to you and what you do to help cut costs of preparing healthy foods for you or your family.
For additional entries (must do above first to qualify):
Become a follower or subscriber and comment letting me know!
Blog about my giveaway and comment with your link!
Entries accepted until November 7.
___________________________________
Tags: Dawn Hall Busy People's Fast & Frugal Cookbook cookbooks Busy People's Cookbook book reviews frugal recipes recipes blog giveaway giveaways
54 comments:
I am always looking for ways to eat healthier without having to spend a lot of money. I'm still trying to figure it out, but I do better at each shopping trip.
Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!
I think feeding my family healthy is very important, but eating healthy's expensive! I try to cut costs by making a weekly menu and sticking to it. I also try to make all my kids snack foods instead of buying prepackaged ones. It's healtier and I know what are in the snacks.
Happy Saturday Sharefest :)
OOh I love healthy food. I eat my main meal about 1 pm or so. Dinner is small - usually somethinglike fruit,cheese and rice crackers. Saves money and keeps me slim.
We rarely go out to eat so I'd love this book as I do all the cooking.
Eating healthy is important to me, and it can be expensive, but I usually only buy the fruits/veggies that are in season, and fill in the rest with frozen; I stock up when there is a great sale on items we eat regularly, and I try to stay away from packaged foods.
Eating healthy is very important, we buy from discount stores in our area that sell fresh produce. It's very helpful on the pocketbook
it is very important and try to but do not obsess on it thanks minsthins at optonline dot net
It is important but I like food that taste good too so it is a balance. I cut costs by trying to make a menu and shop off the menu. I use coupons on all I can to save money
we are trying to eat healthier and including more fresh veggies and fruits
msboatgal at aol.com
Eating healthier is important to me. One thing that I do is to take advantage of farmer's market deals. The other day one vendor had a deal where you could fill a bag of red, yellow, orange, and green bell peppers for 5 dollars total. I had about 20 peppers in my bag and found lots of creative ways to use them :)
this cookbook looks like a perfect one for our economy right now. I am always trying to find ways to eat inexpensively and healthy! I make a lot of things from scratch to save money.
This looks like a GREAT book!!
I love to cook but with prices going up on EVERYTHING it gets harder and harder to cook cheap AND healthy.
One thing I like to do is find marked down anything - and stock up on it. Freezing it or doing whatever I can with it to make it last longer.
Love your blog!
Just started following you!!
OOps. Forgot to put the link:
http://thenotsoperfecthousewife.blogspot.com/2009/10/cookbook-giveaway.html
Eating healthy is very important. I shop at Aldi (a very no-frills supermarket) to keep our costs down. I only buy fruit and veggies in season and I have a huge garden, too! I also glean apples from my brother's unwanted tree.
WE have been changing our diet to eat healthier for about the last 6 months. I have been looking for cookbooks that have recipes that are good and healthy. Most of mine that I have now are really good, but also full of fat and calories :-).
I think eating healthy is very important. We shop at the local farmers market to save money.
We try to eat pretty healthy in our family and get a lot of things from the farmers market or with coupons to save some money.
I plan out a 2 week at a time menu and stick to it. I try to change up our dinners with a variety of foods. I also think meals made from scratch are healthier than those with lots of preservatives. Thanks for the giveaway!
I so need this book!! Eating healthy is important to me, but it is difficult on a hectic schedule and limited budget.
Thank you for the chance to win this book!
Hugs,
Jamie
jamiejaws AT gmail.com
I would love this book. I am always trying to cook better healtier meals for my family. I use many blogs to find the best pricing and coupon shop too. thanks trishbazin@yahoo.com
Eating healthy is important to me. I try to buy healthier products when they are on sale and stock up on them. Thanks for the giveaway, the cookbook sounds great!
mattandjen[at]gmail.com
Healthy eating is important, so I try to cut costs by finding hearty vegetarian main meals. Or, if I am making something with meat, I try to bulk it up with things like lentils or bulgur.
Thank you for this giveaway!
ceevegnashville [at] gmail [dot] com
Healthy eating is definitely important to me. I keep lots of frozen veggies in the freezer. It saves me time, they don't spoil and often are much cheaper than fresh. Thanks for the giveaway! utgal2004[at]yahoo[dot]com
I do try to cook and eat healthy-I cut down on costs by buying cheaper cuts of meat and somedays cooking veggie meals
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
Eating healthy is important for my family...we have switched to using olive oil and try to cook veggies just till required so that all the nutrients stay in
We eat cheaper and healthier by shopping the local farmers market. The prices are always cheaper!
I blogged here http://mommylikes.blogspot.com/
Eating healthy is important to us. We save by shopping in bulk and plan make ahead meals.
I follow your blog.
mishiareads(at)gmail(dot)com
Eating healthy is important, but prob not as much as it should be.
Eating healthy is very important to me. I try to use coupons for healthier foods whenever they are available.
Eating healthy is always important. I try to cut costs by keeping leftovers and taking them for lunch the next day at work
gerrie.shaeffer@yahoo.com
email subscriber
gerrie.shaeffer@yahoo.com
Eating healthy is very important. I help cut costs by doing a lot of shopping at Farmers markets
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
We try to eat healthy. Our son (who has a genetic disorder) has to be on a low fat diet. We shop at *Trader Joes* love that place.
This looks like a good cookbook to try out.
Take care,
Amy
www.crumbsonmyfloor.com
We love eating healthy, but we want it to be tasty as well.
I usually buy in big bulks & use lots of coupons.
:)
jerricapuck@yahoo.com
follower.
:)
jerricapuck@yahoo.com
Eating healthy is super important! One thing I always try to remember is to never shop hungry. If I shop hungry I waste money buying unnecessary food that is usually super junky as well! Thanks for the giveaway!
I just found your blog! Love it! I'm a follower!
I stock up when the good stuff is on sale. Healthy is important - as long as it's balanced with all the other demands of life...
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
I'm a follower!
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
We posted about this at Winning readings:
http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/11/fast-frugal-cookbook.html
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
Eating healthy is important to me. I save money by being a member of Savings Angel. They coordinate coupons and sales for me so I can buy great food at a great price.
Eating healthy is important at any age but it seems it's harder to get away with unhealthy eating the older you are - so my husband and I are watching what we eat more.
BevE
merryweatherbookblog(at)gmail (dot)com
I'm a new follower : D
BevE
merryweatherbookblog@(gmail) dot com
Eating healthy is very important but often very hard these days
plb8156@aol.com
I subscribe
plb8156@aol.com
I think one's family healthy foods is very necessary. I shop at Meijer's which has an awesome selection of fruits and vegetables-buy for my family
aunteegem@yahoo.com
follow blog
aunteegem@yahoo.com
It's VERY important to me! One thing I do is buy all of my produce at the farmers market- good quality for less money!
follow your blog
Eating healthy is very important to us. I try to buy in bulk to help keep down costs.
I follow your blog.
Healthy eating is very important to us. We use coupons when we can.
I like to buy as much fresh produce as I can. We eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies as snacks.
We usually eat at home. I am always scouring the net for new and interesting recipes.
Post a Comment