'Budget Bytes: Over 100 Easy, Delicious Recipes to Slash Your Grocery Bill in Half'

"The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for 30 years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found." ~Calvin Trillin, American writer

As glorious as summer is, there is always one small worry in the back of my mind: My husband and I are teachers who don't get regular paychecks in the summer. I teach summer school and he does some freelance work, but there's not that assurance of two paychecks of a certain amount arriving roughly a week apart at the end of the month. Despite carefully budgeting throughout the year and saving for a trip to the beach, there's the fear that one flat tire, one trip to the ER, one SOMETHING could undo our carefully laid summer plans and send us into the red. So, I usually try to pinch some pennies with the groceries. This was how I discovered "Budget Bytes" by Beth Moncel.

In an attempt to avoid too many nights of leftovers and PB &J, I went to the Internet looking for some tasty new dishes that I could try inexpensively. I found the "Budget Bytes" blog and cookbook. Beth has a degree in nutrition science, so when she set out to cook deliciously and cheaply, she approached it in a very logical manner and began tracking her spending with extreme precision. She was able to cut her grocery bill in half. Soon, her loyal blog readers were able to do so as well.

However, you don't have to be on a strict budget to enjoy what this cookbook has to offer. She categorizes recipes by "Bread and Butter" (less than $1 a serving), "Frugal Foodie" and "Sensible Splurges." The recipe I just tried out with my family came in at about $1.95 a serving. (We're a family of five, but since my youngest daughter made a plain quesadilla and didn't eat any of the fajita fixing, the four-serving size still applied to us.) It really was such a clever way to stretch a chicken breast, and to make delicious fajita-style vegetables without a grill or iron skillet. My husband has requested it "go into the rotation." I think it will, even when those paychecks roll in at the end of August.

OVEN FAJITAS

Total cost: $7.78

Cost per serving: $1.95

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

SEASONING

1 tablespoon chili powder $0.15

1/2 tablespoon paprika $0.07

1/2 teaspoon onion powder $0.03

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder $0.02

1/4 teaspoon cumin $0.02

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper $0.02

1 teaspoon sugar $0.02

1/2 teaspoon salt $0.02

1/2 tablespoon corn starch $0.02

FAJITAS

2 small (or 1 large) onion $0.64

2 medium green bell peppers $1

1 medium red bell pepper $1.50

1 pound chicken breast $1.99

2 tablespoons vegetable oil $0.04

1 medium lime $0.40

8 (6-inch) tortillas $1.20

1/2 cup sour cream (optional) $0.42

1/4 bunch cilantro (optional) $0.22

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix all of the ingredients for the fajita seasoning in a small bowl and set aside (chili powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, sugar, salt and corn starch).

Cut the onion and bell peppers into 1/4- to 1/2-inch wide strips. Place them in a large 9×13-inch casserole dish. Slice the chicken breast into very thin strips and add it to the casserole dish with the vegetables.

Sprinkle the seasoning over the meat and vegetables. Drizzle the vegetable oil over everything and then use your hands to toss the ingredients until everything is well coated in oil and seasoning. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Squeeze the juice from half of the lime over top of the meat and vegetables after it comes out of the oven.

Scoop a small amount of meat and vegetables into the center of each tortilla. Top with a few sprigs of cilantro, a dollop of sour cream and an extra squeeze of lime if desired.

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About Brooke

Brooke Clubbs is a Jackson mom of three, a freelance writer and a communications instructor.