Comments on: A big meal plus leftovers for less than a buck. (Hint: Let others do most of the cooking.)

By: Donna Freedman

Donna Freedman — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:10:02 +0000

@Rosa: What a great story. Thank you for sharing it. And you’re right — everybody loves fresh bread.

By: Rosa

Rosa — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:57:43 +0000

One year, my husband & I were really, really broke – rent was regularly late & just covering the heating & light bills & buying enough food to eat was very difficult & not always achievable. I was absolutely obliged to go to a potluck for my job – yes, I was working full-time, but at a job paying about minimum wage, & my husband was out of work & his unemployment benefits were gone. I was panicking – what could I bring when I had few ingredients in the house, no money to buy more, & payday wasn’t for 14 days? (I was paid monthly). And I didn’t want to look bad or cheap (as opposed to frugal). Inspiration struck! I happened to have a lot of flour, some yeast, a little honey left in the bottom of a jar, and a few eggs. I made a few loaves of home-made challah (braided egg bread), and brought it in, along with a bit of butter and some home-made jam I had on hand. It cost me no additional cash up front, and the ingredients only cost about $3 anyway, so I think my contribution was one of the least costly. I’m glad I had them on hand, though. I didn’t have the $3 in cash. And it was the most popular item at the party, and everyone oohed and ahhhed over the golden, still warm loaves. I was so relieved! A few hours of careful work not only rescued me from embarrassment, but made me the hit of the evening – everyone either asked fir the recipe or swore they could never bake bread. Desperation & creativity, combined with willingness to put in extra time & effort, can be a life-saver.

By: What the Cheapskate is Reading | Northern Cheapskate

What the Cheapskate is Reading | Northern Cheapskate — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:25:14 +0000

[...] at Surviving and Thriving you’ll learn how to score A big meal plus leftovers for less than a buck. This reminds me of my early working days when I worked in a group home for developmentally [...]

By: Top 10 Links of the Week: 7/9/10 – 7/15/10 — Cooking Grand

Top 10 Links of the Week: 7/9/10 – 7/15/10 — Cooking Grand — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:04:03 +0000

[...] Surviving and Thriving: A big meal plus leftovers for less than a buck. (Hint: Let others do most of… Donna Freedman waxes poetic about potlucks. Most helpful? This gem: “Deviled eggs are a big hit [...]

By: chacha1

chacha1 — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:47:45 +0000

Hi all, I love potlucks and I love deviled eggs (recommendation for really jazzing them up: add a spoonful of pickle relish or mango chutney!) but thought I would share re: stale bread.

French toast and/or bread pudding are really easy to make, are a great destination for slightly-aged bread and milk, and can be made either sweet or savory. To make a savory bread pudding, mix in some lightly sauteed onions and shredded ham, bacon, or even leftover roast beef or barbecue, and season with herbs instead of sugar & cinnamon.

By: Debbie C.

Debbie C. — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:49:03 +0000

I enjoyed reading this article very much! Thanks for reviving an old yet great idea! This is not only great for our wallets but excellent for our moral, giving spirits and emotional health too! It encourages Friendships by giving us all a chance to get together and we can save money on a shrink too by discussing our problems with out pals. It also showcases cooking talents ( if we have the time and the Dinero) so it can give those of us who want our ego stroked a little bit a little chance to show off and also practice recipes or try out new ones! Having a Pot Luck is an excellent idea for so many reasons. Your Beverage ideas are good ones too, and Drinks do get over looked. If bringing Kool-aid or a Drink Mix is a bit embarrassing to us, we can always mix in some cut fresh fruit, whatever is on sale of that we have the money for and make a kinda non-alcoholic Sangria, but servr soon after adding the fruit so it does not ferment etc. You can also put it all in a blender with ice a frosty frozen drink is always appealing!

By: Monroe on a Budget

Monroe on a Budget — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:49:14 +0000

One of my recurring tips has been to PLAN for potlucks, especially if you are in social circles where that is common socializing behavior and / or the kids are known to say “oh, yeah, there’s a potluck tomorrow”.

When pantry items that are easily convertible to potluck dishes go on bargain prices, you snap them up and put them in your pantry. Examples: cake mix, cupcake decorations, whipped topping mix, assorted flavors of gelatin mix, chocolate chips, mayo, mini marshmallows, pasta, assorted canned beans to make a bean salad, crushed pineapple or other canned fruit, all the ingredients for oatmeal cookies, etc. I had not thought of tea or lemonade mix but you’ve got a good point on that.

Since the only question about potlucks is WHEN they will happen, the only thing that might throw you off this plan is when the potluck hostess dictates what you will bring. (I’ve seen that done with the intent to “have a good mix of food.” The reality is: I’ve only been to one potluck where the food selections were really limited, and it was a picnic in 90 degree weather where nearly every family thought the most practical contributions would be baked beans and fruit salad.)

By: Carnival of Money Stories – Signs of Summer Edition

Carnival of Money Stories – Signs of Summer Edition — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:34:53 +0000

[...] Donna Freedman over at Surviving and Thriving discusses how you can exploit a potluck as a frugal meal (or two). [...]

By: Your Garden

Your Garden — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:08:22 +0000

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