Closing Out the First Thrifty Week of 2015 #1 ~ Nathalie Dupree Times TWO!

Nathalie Dupree Cooks for Family and Friends, published in 1991. The book is a companion to the television series of the same name. There are over 300 recipes for everyday meals, casual entertaining and special occasions.  One caveat is the ingredients found in all the dishes are easy to procure.

As always Nathalie titles her chapters with kicky names starting with Everyday Fare, featuring entrées, appetizers, soups and pasta. Simply Smart are upscale recipes for both family and special events. The dishes in Putting on the Ritz are very elegant courses for special occasions with one meal featuring Cornish Hens and other recipes for aspic, duck, rack of lamb and fish in parchment paper.

A few menu suggestions are noted in a slim chapter. The remaining subjects covered are On the Side - salads, vegetables and grains, Sweet Inspirations - nothing but desserts and Breads, with a bagel or two recipe.

Nathalie Dupree Cooks: Everyday Meals from a Well-Stocked Pantry, published in 1995.  Another companion piece to a TV show by Nathalie. The recipes utilize basic pantry staples with a list of 150+ items recommended by the author. The premise of the book is basically the same one I employ, one MASSIVE (or The Big Shop as I refer to it)  shopping trip each month to stock up on staples and other household necessities and a refresher trip every two weeks to picky up produce and other fresh items.

There are a few "bomb shelter" staples which every house should have on hand at all times that can transformed into simple and quick meals. The recipes have various icons to alert the reader to items that may need to be purchased including Asian products, dairy and baking supplies.

The chapters range from appetizers, meals in a bowl, the meat locker, fish & poultry, pasta & pizzas, sweets, sides and salads.