Simple Potato Salad

Potato Salad
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Potatoes	4 medium
Oil	1 Tbsp
Vinegar	1 Tbsp
Thyme	1/16 tsp
Basil	1/4 tsp
Dry Mustard	1/8 tsp
Marjoram	1/4 tsp
Celery seed	1/4 tsp
Sugar	1/4 tsp
Celery	1/4 C
Onion	1/4 C
Green olives	2 Tbsp
Mayonnaise	1/4 C

Boil whole potatoes until tender.
Mix oil, vinegar, thyme, basil, dry mustard, marjoram, celery seeds, and sugar.
When potatoes are tender, peel if desired, and cut into 1/2 inch dice while still hot.
Pour oil and vinegar mixture over hot potatoes, tossing gently. Let sit for half an hour or refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
When cool, mix in chopped celery, minced onions, and chopped green olives.
Stir in mayonnaise until potatoes are lightly coated.
Serve chilled.

Notes:
Buy 'salad' olives rather than the perfectionist whole stuffed olives.
Go light on the mayonnaise. It doesn't need to be visible to taste like potato salad.

Simple Spaghetti Sauce

Spaghetti
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Onion	1/4 C
Garlic cloves	4
Oil	1 Tbsp
Tomato sauce	4 C
Basil	1 Tbsp
Marjoram	2 tsp
Oregano	1 tsp
Thyme	1 tsp

Chop onion fine, and crush garlic.
Heat oil in large saucepan, add onion, and saute 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute 3 minutes more.
Add tomato sauce, basil, marjoram, oregano, and thyme. Simmer for 20 minutes.

I find the flavors blend better if the sauce is allowed to sit for a few hours, or even overnight, and then reheated.

It's also a great crockpot recipe, left on low for 5-6 hours. Add the meatballs just before serving.

Simple Turkey Meatballs

Ground Turkey Meatballs
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

Ground turkey is an inexpensive alternative to ground beef. Personally, I find the texture different enough that it doesn't work as a burger for me. But meatballs come out great.

Ground turkey	1 pound
Garlic clove	4
Basil	1 Tbsp
Marjoram	1 Tbsp
Thyme	1 tsp

Crush garlic cloves, and add to ground turkey along with basil, marjoram, and thyme.
Use a teaspoon or a large melon baller to scoop equal amounts of turkey mixture on to baking sheet.
Roll mounds of turkey mixture into small balls and return to baking sheet.
Bake in 350° F oven for 30 minutes, until well browned.


A trick I learned to speed things along is to scoop out all the meat mixture before you go back and form all the balls. You get into a rhythm that speeds up the process.

Simply Frugal -- Herbs and Spices

Herb and Spices
Originally uploaded by Simply Frugal

The flavors you add to the basic foods can change a cornmeal concoction from Southern USA to Southern Italy with just a pinch of dried herbs.

If you live in a town with a food coop or a natural foods store, you can probably buy these in bulk at prices that are far less than the itty bitty jars on the shelf in the grocery store. If not, stock up first with cinnamon, chili powder, ginger, and vanilla extract, and add the rest as the budget allows.

Allspice
Basil
Bay leaf
Celery seed
Chili powder
Cinnamon
Cumin
Curry powder
Cloves
Dill weed
Ginger
Marjoram
Mustard, dry
Nutmeg
Oregano
Paprika
Peppercorns
Red pepper flakes
Sage
Tarragon
Thyme

Extremely Frugal recipes only use
Cinnamon, chili powder, and ginger.