"With her playful spirit and lovingly chaotic home life, Alex MacLaren has captured the hearts of parents everywhere simply trying to get dinner on the table. From elevating inexpensive cuts of meat with bold flavors to employing her secret weapon-cheese-to transform any vegetable, shes mastered the art of balancing her budget and schedule with the joy of family mealtime. More than 1 million followers turn to Alex for real-life kitchen inspiration, drawn to her skill for making the most with whatever is already in her fridge or pantry. These tricks and techniques are the core of her beloved catch phrase: "We use what we have." Her recipes empower and encourage readers to actually look forward to preparing dinner after a long day (even if they forgot to thaw the chicken) rather than resorting to takeout. Alexs recipes are accessible, while also offering bold, exciting flavors. With most meals costing less than $20, her repertoire includes comforting classics, such as Weeknight Beef Stroganoff and crowd-pleasing favorites, like Chicken Parm Garlic Toast. She even finds clever ways to make dinner feel extra special, like satisfying her familys takeout cravings by packaging her homemade creations in real takeout containers, just for fun.

Unfussy and inspiring, We Use What We Have will empower home cooks to get in their kitchens and cook great, simple meals"-- Provided by publisher.