live frugally, but stylishly and deliciously

I think the best way to live frugally and deliciously is to learn to cook, and invite your friends over for dinner. While groceries are expensive, they are still less expensive than going out to eat all the time. I’ve got a collection of cookbooks that I love. I’ve found some websites that I love. and I’ve found some friends that I like to cook for. Way better than going out for dinner, because you can stay at your table forever, you don’t dread sorting out the check at the end of the meal, there’s seconds if you want them, and you can progress from sitting at the table eating dinner to sitting on the floor drinking wine over the course of a long, slow evening.

so nice.

and I think the thing I’ve learned about cooking for other people, is that simple is usually best. Just make simple things that you know how to make already and enjoy cooking, and it will all be all right. And invite your guests to bring/make something too, it will get everyone involved and make less work for you.

... of a plant thief.

I admit it, I steal cuttings of plants from homes in my neighborood. Spider plant babies, philodendron tendrils, stalks from out-of-control succulents. Things that are really easy to propagate. I never take much, just a little bit here and a little bit there. I take them all home and start them, and so I have plants in my apartment, without paying for them.

Well I pay for the pots, which I get at the thrift store for 50 cents each.

Plants make me so happy… and whenever my plants get big enough, I give away cuttings, so that I can balance out my plant-karma… please don’t judge me too harshly… :)

It is incredibly expensive. In fact, food in general is very expensive in the Bay area, for reasons I don’t understand. So I think I will try to have a baking weekend once per month or so, where I bake a bunch of rolls and a few loaves of bread, and stick them in the freezer. That way I’ll be able to make good bread and rolls for lunch and dinner, it won’t take too much time, and it will be comparatively inexpensive. I mean, $4-$5 for a loaf of bread? Come on now…

And homemade bread, how luxurious can you get? :)