Frugal Café Blog Zone

Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on May 31, 2009

Lots of frugal recipes in Pearl Bailey's 1973 cookbook

One in particular is a 1973 gem, written by the great singer and actress Pearl Bailey (Pearl’s Kitchen, An Extraordinary Cookbook, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., NY). Part autobiography, part cookbook, I’ve had a lot of fun reading it this weekend. Pearl wrote it with a sassy, casual tone, and the book also includes recipes from friends of hers—other celebrities of the day—like Bing Crosby, Carol Burnett, Tony Bennett, Burt Reynolds, Victor Borge, Perle Mesta, Foster Brooks, and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Highly recommended reading for quick, cheap, hearty recipes and Hollywood and theatre nostalgia.

For all her fame and fortune, Pearl always enjoyed simple, inexpensive meals (“down-home cookin’”), and here’s one recipe of Pearl’s that looked like a winner for frugality, ease, and lots of vitamins.

Pearl Bailey’s Spinach with Oil and Garlic

…I am going to tell you about something else terrific. Cook the spinach 3/4 done in barely enough water to do the job, then pour off the excess water and pour in some cooking oil (as much as you and your family like). Then add oodles and oodles of garlic cut in very tiny pieces. Add salt and pepper. Simmer. If you have been eating spinach about once a year, the old way, then please do try it this way. I think it may change your schedule to once or twice a week.

Here’s a link for two other quick and money-saving recipes of Pearl Bailey’s: Pork Chops and Green Apples and Mama’s Cabbage.

Simple, inexpensive, and nourishing… easy, thrifty recipes from a great entertainer.

Categories: Business & Economy, Entertainment, Celebrities, Food, Drink, Frugal Kitchen Tricks, Government
Tags: cabbage, celebrities, celebrity, easy recipe, frugal, frugal recipe, frugal recipes, garlic, green apples, Hollywood, Pearl Bailey, pork chops, recipe, save money, saving money, simple recipe, spinach, thrift, thrifty