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Well Fed, Flat Broke: Recipes for Modest Budgets and Messy Kitchens
A down-to-earth cookbook that proves you don't need a lot of money to create nutritious, beautiful meals at home.
In this winsome cookbook, blogger Emily Wight offers fantastic recipes, ideas, and advice on how to prepare imaginative, nutritious, and delectable meals without breaking the bank. Perfect for students, families, and anyone on a budget. Well-Fed, Flat Broke proves that while you may occasionally be flat broke, you can always be well fed.
This collection of 120 recipes ranges from the simple (perfect scrambled eggs, rice and lentils) to the sublime (Orecchiette with White Beans and Sausage, Mustard-fried Chicken). Chapters are organized by ingredient so that you can easily build a meal from what you have on hand. Well Fed, Flat Broke has flavours to please every palette including Thai, Dutch, Indonesian, and Latin American-inspired recipes such as Kimchi Pancakes, Salvadoran Roast Chicken, and Pantry Kedgeree, reflecting a diverse array of affordable ingredients and products in grocery stores, markets, and delis.
Emily is a working mother and wife who lives with a picky toddler in one of Canada's most expensive cities. She offers readers real-talk about food, strategic shopping tips, sound advice for picky eaters, and suggestions on how to build a well-stocked, yet inexpensive pantry. Cooking every night can be challenging for busy families who are short on time and lean in budget; Emily includes plenty of one-pot dishes to keep everyone healthy, full, and happy.
With friendly charm and practical advice, Well Fed, Flat Broke will have you eating like a millionaire without having to spend like one.
Emily Wight is a writer and home cook who's been blogging about food for the past six years.
In this winsome cookbook, blogger Emily Wight offers fantastic recipes, ideas, and advice on how to prepare imaginative, nutritious, and delectable meals without breaking the bank. Perfect for students, families, and anyone on a budget. Well-Fed, Flat Broke proves that while you may occasionally be flat broke, you can always be well fed.
This collection of 120 recipes ranges from the simple (perfect scrambled eggs, rice and lentils) to the sublime (Orecchiette with White Beans and Sausage, Mustard-fried Chicken). Chapters are organized by ingredient so that you can easily build a meal from what you have on hand. Well Fed, Flat Broke has flavours to please every palette including Thai, Dutch, Indonesian, and Latin American-inspired recipes such as Kimchi Pancakes, Salvadoran Roast Chicken, and Pantry Kedgeree, reflecting a diverse array of affordable ingredients and products in grocery stores, markets, and delis.
Emily is a working mother and wife who lives with a picky toddler in one of Canada's most expensive cities. She offers readers real-talk about food, strategic shopping tips, sound advice for picky eaters, and suggestions on how to build a well-stocked, yet inexpensive pantry. Cooking every night can be challenging for busy families who are short on time and lean in budget; Emily includes plenty of one-pot dishes to keep everyone healthy, full, and happy.
With friendly charm and practical advice, Well Fed, Flat Broke will have you eating like a millionaire without having to spend like one.
Emily Wight is a writer and home cook who's been blogging about food for the past six years.
272 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2015
13 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 25, 2023
A fun read, filled with different but accessible recipes and advice on eating well on a tight budget. Perfect for the current economy. The author’s quirky personality adds a great deal to the pleasure of the book.
August 27, 2015
Such a fun cook book! I'd never read Emily's blog and just happened to see this on the New shelf at the library. I don't usually read cook books, but the title and cover intrigued me, and it turned out that her writing was just so funny and relatable! Looking forward to trying some of the recipes. I don't think I've ever read a Canadian cook book, so there were many recipes unfamiliar to me. I really appreciated how she wrote at the beginning of each section a very brief and easily understood explanation of dietary, economic, and human rights considerations related to the food in each section, but in a very practical and sensible way.
June 18, 2021
I enjoyed this cookbook and its approach to eating well on a tight budget. Most of us can relate to the author needing to prepare meals on a budget. This cookbook does a good job of giving you new ideas of what to cook that you can add to your repertoire at home. The layout of the book is easy to follow and pictures help give you an idea of what a dish should look like when finished. As far as I am concerned, the author helps me feel confident that I would be able to make these delicious- looking dishes. You can certainly catch the whimsical spirit of the author in these pages through the fun colors of the recipes and presentations of her dishes. If you are looking for something to help get you out of a rut, or if you think you cannot afford to eat well on a budget, definitely give this cookbook a look!
Find it today: https://ent.sharelibraries.info/clien...
Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
Find it today: https://ent.sharelibraries.info/clien...
Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
December 7, 2015
This was super fun to read. Very on point attitude about paying attention to your food source, pending budget and logistics, and paying attention to the people that don't have enough.
As a cookbook... we don't like anything but your typical bland north american food (eg no curry, kimchi, offal etc) so we probably wouldn't make or eat anything listed unless it is super basic (eg eggs).
At the same time, can I get a giant hell yes for a cookbook that finally acknowledges how expensive avocados are in Canada?! $1.25 is the SALE price for a puny one in my city, in general. And it will only be perfectly ripe for a 27 minute period while you're at work.
As a cookbook... we don't like anything but your typical bland north american food (eg no curry, kimchi, offal etc) so we probably wouldn't make or eat anything listed unless it is super basic (eg eggs).
At the same time, can I get a giant hell yes for a cookbook that finally acknowledges how expensive avocados are in Canada?! $1.25 is the SALE price for a puny one in my city, in general. And it will only be perfectly ripe for a 27 minute period while you're at work.
August 18, 2015
I enjoyed this cookbook and its approach to eating well on a tight budget. Most of us can relate to the author needing to prepare meals on a budget. This cookbook does a good job of giving you new ideas of what to cook that you can add to your repertoire at home. The layout of the book is easy to follow and pictures help give you an idea of what a dish should look like when finished. As far as I am concerned, the author helps me feel confident that I would be able to make these delicious- looking dishes. You can certainly catch the whimsical spirit of the author in these pages through the fun colors of the recipes and presentations of her dishes. If you are looking for something to help get you out of a rut, or if you think you cannot afford to eat well on a budget, definitely give this cookbook a look!
Ashley C. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.
May 3, 2016
Many of these recipes did not tempt me, and they used spices and ingredients that I would have to buy, and if my husband and I did not like them, would make the recipes quite pricey - unlike the title claims.
I'm not a fan of kale - it makes me feel like I've been eating a scrub brush, and that dislike eliminated a lot of the recipes. I can substitute chard, beet greens, or spinach, all of which I like, but most of the recipes were not enticing enough to bother.
I will try a barley risotto - I love both barley, and rice risotto; so I hope that it will be a popular recipe in our house, but I haven't had time so far.
I'm not a fan of kale - it makes me feel like I've been eating a scrub brush, and that dislike eliminated a lot of the recipes. I can substitute chard, beet greens, or spinach, all of which I like, but most of the recipes were not enticing enough to bother.
I will try a barley risotto - I love both barley, and rice risotto; so I hope that it will be a popular recipe in our house, but I haven't had time so far.
November 28, 2015
I didn't have a favourite cookbook until I bought this one. Every recipe I've tried has been both relatively simple but super tasty.
I used to have a suspicion of budget cookbooks as a home for bland can-of-soup-type recipes, but Emily Wight manages to make simple, affordable, and delicious meals without straying into the processed food aisles.
A few of my favourites from the book
-Channa Masala (closest to authentic I've ever tasted)
-Peanutty Soba Noodles with Kale (super duper easy and so tasty)
-Delicata tacos with corn (squash tacos! Yum!)
I'd strongly recommend this book to everybody!
I used to have a suspicion of budget cookbooks as a home for bland can-of-soup-type recipes, but Emily Wight manages to make simple, affordable, and delicious meals without straying into the processed food aisles.
A few of my favourites from the book
-Channa Masala (closest to authentic I've ever tasted)
-Peanutty Soba Noodles with Kale (super duper easy and so tasty)
-Delicata tacos with corn (squash tacos! Yum!)
I'd strongly recommend this book to everybody!
September 18, 2015
I wasn't familiar with Emily Wight's blog of the same name, but I did like this cookbook. She has created recipes that are healthy and yummy, but inexpensive to prepare. At the beginning of the book she goes over nutrition, cooking healthy, dealing with picky eaters, and stocking your pantry. Then at the beginning of each section of recipes (pasta, eggs, chicken, etc.) she gives information about how to source quality items on a budget. There were a few recipes I want to try and overall most of the recipes looked pretty easy to make.
October 24, 2015
Lovely, well written cook book. The author is smart, funny and actually has good articles along with wonderful recipes I've never heard of. A few of my bookmarked ones include Dutch Meatballs, Ed's Potato Moussaka, Strawberry Salsa, Vanilla Scones. Can't wait to try some of these. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that she has a taste for Indian food and spices. We don't eat spicy things so there were sections that I wasn't really interested in for our family. If you do like these, go check it out. Definitely worth a look.
February 4, 2016
I'm always on the lookout for new ways to make dishes. I like the way the author writes about food and eating and cooking. I could relate to her words - "Some days I cook because I have to, other days I cook cause I love to." There are some interesting flavors that I want to try as well as pearl barley - never had it, now I want to try it. I will become a regular reader of her blog. She is clever.
August 4, 2015
I liked this cookbook because I liked the author's writing and humor. Did I try any dishes? No, but I enjoyed the read. That's how I usually roll with cookbooks; not quite how cookbook authors imagine their books being used.
October 28, 2015
I love cookbooks that utilise cheap ingredients (lentils, beans, eggs, in-season veggies) and make something delicious out of them. I think everyone should be able to learn how to feed themselves well while on a budget.
May 28, 2020
Just finished my first read-through and I'm excited to try a few of the recipes.
I enjoy that this is a Canadian book, without succumbing to the tropes of Canadian cuisine.
Healthier recipes abound without being precious, and there are lots of vegetarian options too.
I enjoy that this is a Canadian book, without succumbing to the tropes of Canadian cuisine.
Healthier recipes abound without being precious, and there are lots of vegetarian options too.
April 1, 2015
This book offers a delicious new take on affordable eating. A fantastic and fun addition to anyone's kitchen!
August 2, 2015
There are lots of different recipes in this book. I wish there were more pictures of the food.
October 13, 2015
This carried great, innovative recipes if you're on a tight budget but still enjoy a variety in flavours!
November 9, 2015
Wonderfully creative recipes. The colour font made it a bit of a challenge to read under some lighting.
March 22, 2016
Some really great recipes but not enough accompanying pictures. Oddly enough there are plenty of the author in various states of sitting, posing and cooking.
June 3, 2016
Great book with a very fun writer...she has lots of great simple ideas. I would have given this 5 stars but I found the printed red and green text difficult to read.
July 21, 2019
I have been extra broke lately, so I have been trying to read a bunch of budget cookbooks to help me cut down on my food budget (which is what I spend the most money on). As others have said, this cookbook isn't really for the "flat broke." This definitely isn't a budget book.
One of the main problems I have with this book is how much meat there is in it, especially red meat. Red meat is one of the most expesive things to buy.
Another issue is that even though this book is separated by "ingrediant" so that you can flip to what you have on hand, some of the organization is pretty nonsensical. For example, one of the chapters is *sugar*. Ah, yes, sugar. That thing you have on hand and want to feature as the main ingrediant in meal but don't know how to do it. <--a sentence no one has said, ever. The "Sugar" chapter is just a way to label a desert chapter and pretend you are sticking with your "ingrediants" theme. Similary one of the chapter is called "vegetables". But that isn't helpful for the supposed goal of helping you make recipes based on what you have on hand. If you have winter squash on hand and are trying to figure out what to do with it, reading recipes about cabbage slaws and zucchini bakes won't help you. A "vegetables" chapters is simple a way to make a side dish chapter, or for people whose main focus is always meat. Which is definitely not me, and also not flippin' helpful if you are broke!
Other criticisms:
Too many pictures of the author. Other people have said there were too many pictures of the author and not enough of food, which is also true. But I love a lot of cookbooks that have few pictures of the food, and they are still great cookbooks. Pictures are expensive to add into books, so I understand why publishers and authors sometimes decide to have few pictures. So I could give this book a pass if it had almost no pictures. But It has a LOT of pictures. Just mostly of the author standing against walls or sitting on stairs in dresses laughing.
The font choice in the kindle edition is really hard to read: Light green, light blue, and light pink font for everything,except when something is Bright this-must-be-a-link-to-something-oh-wait-it's-not Blue. Not a very legible book.
Also, a lot of the recipes use an ingrediant only once, or only a small amount, so you might buy something and then need to come up with some other way to use it up. That sentence is unclear; What I mean is, if you buy an ingrediant for a recipe in this book, it is unlikely you will see that same ingrediant in another recipe. Even if the item isn't expensive, it can still be a pain to buy something and then have it cluttering up your fridge until it goes bad.
And finally; I dunno why but these recipes just weren't appetzing to me. I don't think people should factor that in as a criticism of this book because this is kind of a subjective thing. But mostly, these felt like recipes for people who don't really know how to cook but are starting to learn and want to pretend to be grown-ups. That's fine and all, but I wanted a cookbook that emphasized the FLAT BROKE part, I wasn't looking for a book that screamed "Look I am old enough to drink red wine so now i'm going to do that and have scrambled eggs for dinner. Eggs are cheap right?? That's thrifty!!"
Overall, not for me.
One of the main problems I have with this book is how much meat there is in it, especially red meat. Red meat is one of the most expesive things to buy.
Another issue is that even though this book is separated by "ingrediant" so that you can flip to what you have on hand, some of the organization is pretty nonsensical. For example, one of the chapters is *sugar*. Ah, yes, sugar. That thing you have on hand and want to feature as the main ingrediant in meal but don't know how to do it. <--a sentence no one has said, ever. The "Sugar" chapter is just a way to label a desert chapter and pretend you are sticking with your "ingrediants" theme. Similary one of the chapter is called "vegetables". But that isn't helpful for the supposed goal of helping you make recipes based on what you have on hand. If you have winter squash on hand and are trying to figure out what to do with it, reading recipes about cabbage slaws and zucchini bakes won't help you. A "vegetables" chapters is simple a way to make a side dish chapter, or for people whose main focus is always meat. Which is definitely not me, and also not flippin' helpful if you are broke!
Other criticisms:
Too many pictures of the author. Other people have said there were too many pictures of the author and not enough of food, which is also true. But I love a lot of cookbooks that have few pictures of the food, and they are still great cookbooks. Pictures are expensive to add into books, so I understand why publishers and authors sometimes decide to have few pictures. So I could give this book a pass if it had almost no pictures. But It has a LOT of pictures. Just mostly of the author standing against walls or sitting on stairs in dresses laughing.
The font choice in the kindle edition is really hard to read: Light green, light blue, and light pink font for everything,except when something is Bright this-must-be-a-link-to-something-oh-wait-it's-not Blue. Not a very legible book.
Also, a lot of the recipes use an ingrediant only once, or only a small amount, so you might buy something and then need to come up with some other way to use it up. That sentence is unclear; What I mean is, if you buy an ingrediant for a recipe in this book, it is unlikely you will see that same ingrediant in another recipe. Even if the item isn't expensive, it can still be a pain to buy something and then have it cluttering up your fridge until it goes bad.
And finally; I dunno why but these recipes just weren't appetzing to me. I don't think people should factor that in as a criticism of this book because this is kind of a subjective thing. But mostly, these felt like recipes for people who don't really know how to cook but are starting to learn and want to pretend to be grown-ups. That's fine and all, but I wanted a cookbook that emphasized the FLAT BROKE part, I wasn't looking for a book that screamed "Look I am old enough to drink red wine so now i'm going to do that and have scrambled eggs for dinner. Eggs are cheap right?? That's thrifty!!"
Overall, not for me.
January 26, 2021
This cookbook had its advantages and disadvantages. All the recipes looked yummy. They appeared interesting, yet still kept a more limited number of ingredients, affecting complications and cost (so good). The use of Asian and Dutch ingredients was cool, and great explanations.
The trouble is the inclusion of these ingredients, as well. While the efforts of the author were sincere, the author lives in Vancouver. Try as she might, prices vary based on availability, and availability varies in part due to demand by population. I am not saying there are no Asian groceries, nor that I do not have access to some of these ingredients, but (for me) a special trip to Chinatown or (to speak Canadian) T & T takes money in and of itself, and the prices are not necessarily cheap.
This is not exclusive to this book, nor the fault of the author. Prices are too much of a local concern to possibly help every area.
That said, barley is cheap. I make risotto at the drop of a hat. Based on a recipe in this book, I tried orzotto (risotto is rice, barley is called orzo -same as the pasta). Mind blown! The recipe was not only delicious, great new texture and more filling, it broke me out of my Arborio rice fixation. I am more willing to try other rides and grains to make risotto-like dishes. This helps me use up grains or make cheaper choices. Very broke-compliant.
I look forward to trying more dishes, when ingredients allow.
The trouble is the inclusion of these ingredients, as well. While the efforts of the author were sincere, the author lives in Vancouver. Try as she might, prices vary based on availability, and availability varies in part due to demand by population. I am not saying there are no Asian groceries, nor that I do not have access to some of these ingredients, but (for me) a special trip to Chinatown or (to speak Canadian) T & T takes money in and of itself, and the prices are not necessarily cheap.
This is not exclusive to this book, nor the fault of the author. Prices are too much of a local concern to possibly help every area.
That said, barley is cheap. I make risotto at the drop of a hat. Based on a recipe in this book, I tried orzotto (risotto is rice, barley is called orzo -same as the pasta). Mind blown! The recipe was not only delicious, great new texture and more filling, it broke me out of my Arborio rice fixation. I am more willing to try other rides and grains to make risotto-like dishes. This helps me use up grains or make cheaper choices. Very broke-compliant.
I look forward to trying more dishes, when ingredients allow.
May 6, 2018
This might be a good book for a novice cook with a family to feed. The part at the beginning where the author editorializes on her life and food philosophy which is very sensible, but basic (everything in moderation, invest in a good pair of tongs, etc.). However, it dosen't really do what it says on the tin: the recipes are not at all for the 'flat broke:' many of them contain red meat and fish, wine, and other pricey ingredients. Likewise, I wasn't temped by most of the recipes. There a mix of white-girl versions of asian dishes (kimchi fried rice, Thai noodle bowls) that I have a better recipe for somewhere else, and retro American stuff (salmon ball casserole, rarebit) that sounds both unhealthy and unappealing. Since I'm gluten-free and don't eat a ton of meat, it just didn't work for me.
I jotted down about four recipes that sounded clever, but I will probably end up making my own improvements.
I jotted down about four recipes that sounded clever, but I will probably end up making my own improvements.
June 21, 2017
Interesting enough that I tabbed many pages and ran out of renewals from the library, but the tastes were weird to me. The tomato chicken curry was reminiscent of Campbell's tomato soup instead of tasting Asian - tasted good, but off somehow. Pasta with rapini and sausage also tasted good but seemed to be overloaded with ingredients. Lots of the recipes use too much fat and Worcestershire sauce features repeatedly. I would definitely recommend this to busy people who like to eat interesting food, but they probably don't have time to run across cookbooks like this.
August 27, 2017
I rounded-up to five from 4.5 stars. I've tried recipes from this book and they've all turned-out very well. My criticism is the same as others in that more pictures of the food would have been helpful (why were there so many pictures of the author?). And while the ingredients may not be expensive, I passed on a few recipes as the ingredient list was lengthy and I would have to buy something that I would only use in one recipe. The author's quirkiness made this a fun read even if you don't try the recipes.
March 10, 2018
25 pages in and she is still blathering on with nary a recipe one. I don't want a novel of your views on life. I want fucking recipes.
January 23, 2022
Well Fed, Flat Broke had interesting recipes that appeared easy to make.
December 15, 2022
Okay
Not really for the flat broke person or modest budgets. I didn't find any noteworthy recipes for my family to try.
Not really for the flat broke person or modest budgets. I didn't find any noteworthy recipes for my family to try.
November 19, 2024
The formatting of the ebook version is a crime against humanity.
May 10, 2021
I enjoyed this cookbook and its approach to eating well on a tight budget. Most of us can relate to the author needing to prepare meals on a budget. This cookbook does a good job of giving you new ideas of what to cook that you can add to your repertoire at home. The layout of the book is easy to follow and pictures help give you an idea of what a dish should look like when finished. As far as I am concerned, the author helps me feel confident that I would be able to make these delicious- looking dishes. You can certainly catch the whimsical spirit of the author in these pages through the fun colors of the recipes and presentations of her dishes. If you are looking for something to help get you out of a rut, or if you think you cannot afford to eat well on a budget, definitely give this cookbook a look!
April 18, 2016
Two of the recipes I made from this are essentially all I want to eat anymore (both fried rice), and her Roasted Radishes and Garlic recipe is a revelation. I'm planning to try many more recipes in the future. Knocking it down a star because there are not enough pictures of the food and too many pointless pictures of the author doing nothing involving cooking (standing against a wall...pouring tea...counting pennies...).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews