Thanks for checking in! This is the inaugural Feast on the Cheap post and I thought I’d start by introducing myself.
I’m Mary Anne Ellicott-Rittenhouse and for the past 20 years I’ve worked as a caterer in Westchester and Eastern Long Island dishing up everything from haute cuisine to comfort food using a variety of original recipes and re-worked family favorites, courtesy of my mother and grandmother. My mantra is simple: I believe that delicious, healthy, homemade food should be easy and accessible – and shouldn’t require a massive bank account or massive amounts of time.
With one cookbook under my belt, my goal now is to share cheap and chic menus that won’t break the bank. More and more people are picking up the spatula in lieu of the takeout menu and rediscovering the joys – and frustrations – of whipping up a meal at home.
While home-cooked meals are undoubtedly more cost-effective than takeout, those lengthy ingredient lists can really add up, especially if it’s your first foray into an understocked kitchen. Thanks to the trials, tribulations and frequent phone calls from my two New York City-based children who are weaning themselves off delivery, I’ve been more inspired than ever to create recipes that taste like a $100, but cost under $30.
The recipes and instructional videos you’ll find on this site will outline in detail not only how to prepare tasty, homemade fare, but how much each meal will cost in total, and per serving. Keep checking back, I’ll be updating the site with new info several times a month. Forget the “five dollar” footlong, fast food and greasy takeout, it’s time to Feast on the Cheap!