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Centerville mom's cookbook published

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Contributed photo Erin Chase, a Centerville mom of two, recently won free groceries for a year from Walmart for her video on "How to Save When Buying Proteins."

By Jill Kelley, Staff Writer Updated 1:48 PM Friday, December 25, 2009

CENTERVILLE — Around this time last year, Erin Chase was learning she had won free groceries for a year for a video she made sharing her money-saving shopping and cooking tips.

This year, the Centerville mom of three is attending book-signings for the cookbook she wrote sharing the same information.

The “$5 Dinner Mom Cookbook,” published earlier this month, has 200 recipes for meals that each cost $5 or less to make.

Some of the meals include Apple Dijon Pork Roast, which costs $4.30 to make; Orange Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry, $4.94; and Grilled Margarita Chicken, $4.80.

The cookbook is based on Chase’s blog, 5dollardinners.com, that she started about 16 months ago.

“When I think about where I was this time last year, I was still very new into blogging (about four months) and still really focused on the site, making a meal and getting it up there every night,” she said, adding that it has been pretty crazy since then.

“Actually, the day I mailed the contract for the cookbook I found out later that day that I was pregnant!” she said.

The following week, she appeared on “The Rachael Ray Show” to discuss her blog.

“That was in April,” she said. “April was an exciting month.”

After that, she said, “I hunkered down to write, and I really didn’t do much else.”

Chase said she benefitted from the fact that about 65 percent to 70 percent of the recipes in the book were ones she had already written on the site.

“I just had to edit them,” she said. “Then I did write quite a few new recipes.”

Also in her book are chapters on strategies for shopping, couponing and meal-planning.

“I knew I was going to have those three chapters in the beginning (of the book); they are just like the main focuses on site,” she said. “Putting them all together is how you really save on your grocery bill.”

Also, each recipe comes with its own “Frugal Fact” related to that meal.

“They can be really helpful when you’re shopping,” she said.

When asked what her favorite meal in the book is, she noted the Grammy’s Pasta Salad ($4.80) and the Pickapeppa Beef Stew (cost, $4.92).

“I’m really a big fan of Pickapeppa stew a sauce from Jamaica. It just has an interesting flavor; not real spicy, but will leave a tingle on your tongue.”

She said her boys favor the Provolone-Wrapped Chicken (cost, $4.95).

“They just gobble it up,” she said.

Having experienced such a whirlwind year, including a recent appearance on “Good Morning America,” Chase said she doesn’t know what the coming year might hold.

“I just want to do what I can for this cookbook,” she said. “I am excited to share this concept with more people.

“Inspiring and encouraging other people is always going to be my main focus,” she said. “Now it’s just on a larger scale.”