From my cookbook…Good eats on the cheap
Everyone enjoys good food, regardless of taste preferences. Let’s talk about delicious food that is also a great value.
There are over 300 recipes in my recently published cookbook, Everyday Cooking for Everyday People Like Us (Click on the link in Note 1 to get your own copy). Even in these inflationary times, we can prepare delicious meals for our family and do so in a way that does not break the budget. And it’s all in the cookbook!
Value in uncertain times
If you have been following the news over the past few years, you are aware that the state of the economy is a concern for many Americans. Inflation, increasing debt (especially credit card debt), rising interest rates, increasing home prices, layoffs, and the uncertainty of what AI (artificial intelligence) will do to our way of life are on everyone’s mind. We are all looking for ways to save a few bucks where we can.
As you will learn later in this post, one of the themes of my cookbook is to enhance the value of your kitchen efforts. Read on to learn how owning and using my cookbook can not only decrease your food budget, but also make you want to say “Uummm, uummm good!”
Some benefits of this particular cookbook
There are many benefits from my cookbook, Everyday Cooking for Everyday People Like Us, that you won’t find in traditional cookbooks. Besides the stories that accompany each recipe, there are tips and techniques to ensure that each dish you prepare turns out flawlessly. I talk about how to best set up your kitchen and stock your pantry. We discuss the best tools. Yes, indeed, using the proper tool ensures that meal preparation and cooking are a pleasure, not a chore. “What are you talking about, Dave?” you say. Well, it may seem elementary, but it’s the simple things. The feel and action of a quality knife that is sharp and appropriate for the job. Used on a quality cutting board, secured to the counter with a nonslip mat, so you can be safe and efficient at the same time. Have you ever used a dull or poor-quality vegetable peeler? Yeah, throw that thing out and get a good one. How about high-quality cookware that is suitable for the task? Nonstick pans? Cast iron? Carbon steel? Have you ever used a cheap stockpot with a thin bottom and had your food scorch? Yup, we discuss all of this in my cookbook. It’s these added discussions that are a bonus not available in many cookbooks. That adds unplanned value. This is no ordinary cookbook!
Cookbook themes
When you purchase my cookbook and read it, you will learn many new things. Wait! What? Did he say, read a cookbook! Yes, you will want to read this cookbook because it offers a wealth of knowledge that will enhance your culinary skills and enjoyment in the kitchen. And, because each recipe includes a story and picture of the prepared dish, it’s actually fun to read! While I own and have benefited from the typical church fundraiser, PTA, or ladies auxiliary cookbooks, few if any of them contain much information beyond basic measurements and the actual recipe, shortened to fit as many on a page as possible.
As you read my cookbook, you will find there are several themes throughout the book. The first and most important is that when you prepare a meal for someone, you do it with love. Yes, cooking for your family or guests is an act of love. I discuss how preparing meals can and should be an enjoyable experience rather than a chore. Besides wanting to eat a variety of foods, the joy of cooking itself is what really attracted me to it. However, the most important theme in the cookbook is being economical in the kitchen. Yes, I’m talking about purchasing high-quality food (on sale or reasonably priced when available), using proper techniques that save you time and money, and planning ahead so that you have leftovers for the workweek and can stretch your food budget. It’s these themes that make this cookbook stand out from others, and why I hope you will get one for yourself. So you can show your love for others. Your family and your guests will thank you!
A few examples
The first example I would like to provide is the multiple uses of a rotisserie chicken. When you buy a rotisserie chicken, you are not only enjoying an excellent meal tonight, but you're also setting the stage for the week. What do I mean by that statement? Let’s dig a bit deeper and examine how a rotisserie chicken offers tremendous value. I get mine from Costco, and at $4.99, I don’t know how you can find a better use of five bucks. Afterward, we’ll read about the exceptional value of a pork roast.
Rotisserie chicken
The first meal is the night you bring home your chicken. Accompany the chicken with your choice of David Giustozzi’s Baked Potatoes #1 or #2, and a green vegetable such as David Giustozzi’s Italian-Style Broccoli or Gina Rhodes’ Brussels Sprouts. That, my friend, is a wonderful meal that is very wallet-friendly.
After the first night, debone the chicken and save the bones and any skin. I like to cut the chicken up into bite-sized pieces and place it in a gallon zip-lock bag. If I’m not going to eat it immediately, I’ll flatten the chicken in the bag, label and date it, and then freeze it. Then, when I want some, I’ll break off appropriate-sized portions and use what I need, when I need it. I’ll then reserve the bones for the second dish of the week.
The second use of our rotisserie chicken is to make broth for one of several recipes using David Giustozzi’s Chicken Broth Two Ways. Then, I’ll make David Giustozzi’s Chicken and Dumplings or David Giustozzi’s Chicken Noodle Soup. This will provide several more days' worth of meals from our original rotisserie chicken.
At this point, you may be tired of chicken and want to have something else for dinner or lunch at work. When you are ready to put your original rotisserie chicken back to work, break off a portion of the frozen chicken and make David Giustozzi’s Chicken Bowl, a flavorful and healthy combination of sautéed chicken and fresh vegetables. You may or may not have any chicken left at this point, but if you do, you can use it a little at a time for chicken bowls, as I do.
Now, I mean, really. Think about how little money you have invested in well over a week’s worth of dinners and lunches! Now that’s value and being efficient in the kitchen!
Roasted Pork Butt
If you want one of the best meals you’ve ever had, regardless of price, you will want to make David Giustozzi’s Roasted Pork Butt. When I was a kid, my father used to buy pork butts to grind and make his own Italian sausage. Talk about good! I remember he used to be happy because, in October, whole pork butts would go on sale for $ 0.99 a pound. Imagine my surprise when I was able to buy bone-in pork butts for just $ 0.98 a pound this week! Granted, bone-in reduces the amount of total meat you get, but this is an exceptional value for 2025!
My dad would also use whole pork butts to make a recipe similar to David Giustozzi’s Roasted Pork Butt. I was never able to get his recipe, but I took his original concept and made something better! Two of the things he used to do, that I now mimic is to plug the roast with whole garlic cloves and use fresh rosemary, just picked from the garden. Now, there is a secret to the amazing flavor of this dish that I’ll just have to ask you to look for in the cookbook. You might never guess what it is, but it’s a well-kept secret behind the umami flavor in many meals.
After you have a meal or two from this 6- or 7-pound pork butt, you can do a couple of things. You can thinly slice some of the roast and freeze it in a zip-lock bag. When you are ready, take a slice out, quickly sauté it while still frozen, and place it on an Artisan bun (from Costco, of course. The packages are big, so I freeze them too), top with cheese and your choice of Dijon mustard and mayo, or both, and you have an incredible sandwich that is much less expensive than deli meat and does not have all of the nitrates and salt.
I’ll typically shred the remaining pork and freeze it in a ziplock bag, as I start to get tired of it after about four days. Just like the chicken, I break off a portion or use it all to make enchiladas, quesadillas, or nachos. Use your imagination, the possibilities are endless!
You get the idea
OK, so you get the idea that when you get your own copy of my cookbook, you will find multiple, economical ways to prepare delicious family meals that taste wonderful and are a great value.
That’s all for today!
David Giustozzi’s Roasted Pork Butt
What’s in it for me?
Good eats, that’s what!
Call to Action
Show someone how much you love them by preparing a delicious meal for them. Later, enjoy the time and money you save by relishing your leftovers, either for lunch at work or dinner at home. Take comfort in knowing you are eating healthy food you prepared. All because you made a good decision to follow the recipes and tips in the cookbook I developed just for you.
Besides getting a copy of the cookbook for yourself, it makes an excellent gift for those you love and care for, especially for those with a young family who are looking to save time and money in the kitchen. And learn a few things in the process! What a great idea!
Recommended Resources
Everyday Cooking for Everyday People Like Us by David Giustozzi
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Notes
Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on the sale of any of these recommended resources.
Everyday Cooking for Everyday People Like Us by David Giustozzi: https://amzn.to/437OhVQ