Make Do with What You Have: 100 Delicious New Recipes from Favorite Old-School Meals―From the host of Delicious Miss Brown and the Holiday Baking Show

by Kardea Brown

The New York Times bestselling author of The Way Home returns with 100 fantastic recipes—mouthwatering and budget friendly updates of her favorite childhood meals.

From Kardea Growing up in a household with a single parent taught me how to make use of things we already had because money was simply tight. Even though my mother struggled, I never felt that struggle. I never skipped a meal because my mom was super resourceful. She made gourmet meals with simple pantry/fridge staples. With the rising cost of groceries, some families are forced to decide whether to put food on the table or keep the lights on in their homes. I am no stranger to “struggle”, and I believe a cookbook of this kind is NECESSSARY.

Make Do with What You Have offers dozens of recipes for every meal and occasion, good fulfilling food, inspired by her family’s Gullah cuisine, that doesn’t skim on flavor.

RECIPES

Breakfast—Geechee Egg Rice, Mom’s famous breakfast sandwiches.

Lunch—Momma Pat’s Deli wraps, Not your average sloppy joe.

Dinner—“The Poor Man’s Meal”, Mom’s famous lasagna.

Desserts—Grandma’s Bread pudding, Mom’s goodie bars.

Filled with inviting and tasty food that won’t break the bank, illustrated with 120 color photos, Make Do with What You Have allows you to enjoy great meals every day.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

Published November 11, 2025

Reviews

[Deborah Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good recipes, simple and achievable, just like in her Food Network show. With an awareness of the current economic state and kitchen basics, this is a great cookbook to have in my collection.

[Alicia (PrettyBrownEyeReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cookbook by Food Network star, Kardea Brown. She shares about her Charleston/Sea Island upbringing as well as her time in college and working professionally in the New York area. I really enjoyed the familiar tone in which she writes. She refers to the readers of the book as cousins.Her love for food is evident in the book but what also comes across is her love of music. She quotes and mentions various artists throughout. Also, her faith is evident. She writes about the opportunities she has had in life and how it is connected to the Divine.

The photography in this cookbook is top tier. The photos are vivid and make you want to pull up to Kardea’s stove and make a plate. The recipes are not complicated and have a Southern feel to them. She gives advice about the simple ingredients everyone should have on hand to make these recipes and try new foods for themselves.

This is a good cookbook for someone who is starting their cooking journey. The recipes and ingredients are familiar and not intimidating. Also, this is a good book for learning the culinary history of Coastal Carolina.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the message behind this book - use what you have to make a great everyday meal - and I also love the author's Jersey roots (she moved here from the Low Country to go to grad school). She was cooking these meals in a tiny apartment kitchen in Bayonne, which is so impressive. I liked the seafood section the best, along with the gumbo and jambalaya recipes. These are mostly mains (pretty dinner oriented) with few casseroles added in. There is a photo for most recipes, and while some involve more active cooking than I like, the directions are very straightforward.

This is a great, accessible Low-Country style cookbook. I don't see these recipes making it into my daily rotation, but they are good.

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was already a fan of Kardea's but had never read any of her cookbooks. With her being from Charleston not far from where I was raised, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. Her old-school Southern root recipes sound delicious yet not overly complicated. They aren't diet food by any means but there are lots of healthier tricks that can be used with them as well.

[Sharon Dube · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautiful cookbook with great pictures of each recipe. That being said the only recipes I might try are the ones found in the final chapter: Flour, Sugar and Butter. I will write a few of them out to try, but I will be sending this book back to the library and buying a copy for ongoing use.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this cookbook! I loved her introduction & I am trying several of her recipes. What a wonderful woman

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that there was a fairly large seafood section, and the dessert section looks really good.

[Carlton Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always enjoyed watching Kardea cook. This book is full of her favorite recipes with a nice selection of low-country foods.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great person and great recipes.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Brown and her cookbook concept—some tasty recipes. She really deserves a better editor, though!!!

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS is a cookbook for someone on a college student budget

[Felita Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Way Home: A Celebration of Sea Islands Food and Family by Kardea Brown is a warm, soulful collection of 125 delicious recipes that celebrate Southern cooking, family traditions, and Gullah/Geechee heritage. Filled with comforting classics, coastal favorites, and irresistible desserts, this cookbook goes beyond recipes to share stories, culture, and the love that brings people together around the table. With approachable instructions and vibrant flavors, The Way Home is perfect for anyone who enjoys heartfelt food with history, heart, and a true taste of the Lowcountry.