What is The Thrifty Plate?

The Thrifty Plate is full of recipes and tips for foodies on a budget.

On this site, there are a wide variety of recipes. From enchiladas to sushi, entertaining a large group to romantic dinners for two, you can find dishes to fit every category. Yet all of these recipes have one thing in common, each serving costs less than $5. By focusing on in-season produce, purchasing ingredients on sale, and providing substitutions for ingredients that you may already have, I look to save a penny wherever possible, and focus on amazing meals that fit your budget.

There will be times when fresh ingredients are a necessity, but I will also use cheap pantry staples, to keep your wallet happy (when it doesn’t skimp on flavor). My main focus is creating delicious foods that are sure to please the harshest critic, while doing it all on a budget. Some of my recipes may take longer to prepare or cook, but the effort is well rewarded and the end result does not disappoint. Preparation and cooking times are included, to allow you the time to prepare when necessary.

I also love coming up with creative ways to use random pantry ingredients. I hate having food sit uneaten in my pantry and always get a thrill from coming up with new recipes on the fly while looking in the cupboard. I picture it like an at-home version of Chopped. Incorporating easy to find, common ingredients in my recipes will ensure that most home cooks can easily recreate the ones you will find here. If something more specialized is required, I try to provide a substitution option when possible.

Who is The Thrifty Plate?

 

My name is Victoria Mall and I have always loved to try new foods. Residing in Denver, Colorado, my passions include cooking (obviously), camping, reading science fiction (and every other genre), and eating pistachio ice cream. I live with my long-time boyfriend and we are proud pet parents of two dogs and a cat. Living with roommates in college ignited my passion to cook for people and try new recipes. With my mother’s penny-pinching ways instilled into me from a young age, I always look for affordable ways to make delicious recipes.

How to Use this Site:

  • Click on the main links at the top of every page to search for recipes by course, such as breakfast, main dish, appetizer, etc.
  • Check out the scrolling banner on the home page displaying the most popular recipes.
  • Head over to the right hand column under the banner to search for specific recipes and keywords.
  • Under the search bar, you can find links to my most recent recipes.
  • Below that you will find popular recipe tags, which offer a larger variety of categories to narrow your recipe search. These categories include seasons, dietary restrictions, and methods of cooking, among others.
  • Feel free to leave a comment on any recipes that you try!

Keep an eye out for Thrifty Tips – they are scattered throughout all of the recipes and marked by this logo. The information included in the Thrifty Tip box is a recipe-related life hack meant to save you $$$!

Contact Me:

Feel free to contact me by emailing thethriftyplate@gmail.com.