Nickle and Dined; How to Eat Gourmet on a Poor Girl's Budget

For dinner tonight, why not whip up some corn-meal crusted chicken breasts with corn, tomato, and zucchini risotto and sautéed squash blossoms? If you're thinking a meal like this would break the bank, think again. 

High quality, gourmet food on a budget is possible. But don't take my word for it, instead come to the Portsmouth Free Public Library this Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. to talk with Amy McCoy, self-proclaimed food geek and author of Poor Girl Gourmet: Eat in Style on a Bare Bones Budget. 

Her book, born from her blog of the same name, includes "88 budget gourmet recipes featuring seasonal ingredients, including soups and salads, entrees, vegetables and sides, bakery and desserts, and splurges."  Virtually every recipe costs $15 or less and serves four people. 

By the way, in case you were wondering, the aforementioned chicken entrée, which was featured on McCoy's blog, costs an estimated $6.96 for two people.

A successful freelance TV producer for 13 years,  McCoy was able to eat at a very high standard without much concern for cost; however, all of this changed in 2008 when the economy took a nose-dive, profoundly effecting her work. 

Job opportunities thinned out until they became completely non-existent and McCoy was left with a dwindling bank account and a lot of time on her hands. 

In retrospect, this was a blessing in disguise because after 13 years, McCoy grew weary of production, her creativity constantly relegated to the back-door as her work was oriented more around budgets, schedules and the like. 

Always an imaginative gal, McCoy was finally able to invoke her inner creativity, which had been stifled for so long. She looked upon her love for food and her sudden financial quandary as inspiration.

"I had previously taken a food writing class and the instructor suggested that we keep a food blog," says McCoy.

She heeded the advice, albeit a bit late, and took to blogging  recipes and meals she created on a budget without sacrificing quality. 

In addition, she offers up encouragement and advice, peppered with humor and levity, to individuals taking their first forays into vegetable gardening. 

McCoy, who has quite the vegetable garden of her own, lives close to several farms and has a lot of easy access to fresh foods. She realizes, of course, that not everyone enjoys this convenience, so she offers up ample advice in terms of where to buy the best ingredients at the best price, including ethnic markets.

McCoy's book came as a bit of a surprise. After developing her blog, she decided to send it to her instructor with no real intention other than showing the fruits of her labor. 

Clearly impressed, her instructor mentioned her blog in a newsletter, which in-turn peaked the interest of a publishing agent who contacted her about developing her blog into a book. 

This chain of events was something McCoy could never have imagined and was sincerely flattered and taken aback. 

"I felt like a 'poser' and I didn't know what I was doing, " said McCoy jokingly when initially considering the prospect of writing her own book. 

After a lot of hard work and research, McCoy finished her book and is confident that it appeals to a wide range of people. 

With respect to quality, McCoy understands that everyone doesn't have the high-standards she does, so the recipes in her book are easily adaptable and flexible to suit anyone.  While recipes don't necessarily mean that shoppers must clip coupons and shop sales she stresses that "you have to plan ahead."

To gain some insight on how to buy gourmet on a budget or to purchase her book, visit  the Portsmouth Free Public Library this Monday at 6:30 pm. 

McCoy will have a question and answer session, and offer treats, of course. If you can't make it to the event,  you can visit her blog here.