A frugal cookbook from The Almanac

Tough economic times and cold winter weather sparks a desire for traditional, easy-to-prepare comfort food for many American families. Created by the food editors of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Everyday Cookbook is packed with delicious recipes that are all family favorites for generations. This collection contains 425 recipes that call for a short list of inexpensive ingredients.

The Everyday Cookbook is a hardbound edition, with more than 350 pages of recipes in 15 big sections, and 180 time- and money-saving tips! Here are a few samples for your readers:

Comforting Gingerbread
Serve this warm with applesauce or whipped cream, or dusted with confectioners' sugar.

1/2 cup corn oil
1/4 cup light-brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup milk
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup dark molasses
2 teaspoons ground ginger

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Grease an 8-or 9-inch square baking pan. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oil and brown sugar. In another bowl, sift the flours together, then add to the brown sugar mixture and stir until well blended. Add the milk, eggs, and molasses and stir to blend. Fold in the ginger. Pour into the pan. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a tooth-pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Makes 9 servings.

A Hungry Man's Quiche
Recipe for leftover holiday ham:

1 unbaked (9 1/2-inch) deep-dish pie shell
3 small potatoes, mashed
1/4 cup cubed cooked ham
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
5 large eggs
1 cup milk

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Prick the bottom of the pie shell with a fork in several places and prebake for 15 minutes; remove from the oven, then increase the oven temperature to 375°F. Layer the potatoes, ham and then cheese into the shell. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs and milk together, and pour the mixture into the shell. Bake for 30 minutes at 375°F. Reduce heat to 350°F and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac Everyday Cookbook is available for $24.95 in retail outlets and the food section of bookstores, and at Shop.Almanac.com.