Make Do with What You Have: 100 Delicious New Recipes from Favorite Old-School Meals

Make Do with What You Have: 100 Delicious New Recipes from Favorite Old-School Meals by Kardea Brown, New York Times bestselling cookbook author and host of Food Network's Delicious Miss Brown, is a heartwarming celebration of Southern comfort food, resourceful home cooking, and the family traditions that turn simple ingredients into memorable meals. Building on the success of her debut cookbook, The Way Home, Brown shares more than 100 approachable recipes inspired by the childhood meals and kitchen wisdom that shaped her love of cooking. Drawing on her experience growing up in a single-parent household, she demonstrates how everyday pantry staples, affordable ingredients, and a little creativity can produce satisfying dishes without sacrificing flavor. Rooted in the spirit of making the most of what is available, this collection brings fresh energy to beloved old-school favorites.

Organized around breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, the cookbook offers a delicious assortment of Southern-inspired classics, comforting family meals, quick everyday dishes, and nostalgic homemade sweets. Breakfast favorites include Geechee Egg Rice, Sausage and Grits, and On-the-Run Breakfast Sandwiches, while lunchtime offerings feature Turkey Burgers, Tuna Melts, and Ramen Chicken Noodle Soup. For dinner, Brown introduces satisfying dishes such as Grilled “Poke” Chops, Chicken Mafé, and “The Poor Man's Meal”, combining familiar comfort foods with her signature creativity and bold flavors. Desserts include Ma's Goodie Bars, Warm Sticky Apple Pudding, and Lemon Snowball Cookies. Accompanied by more than 100 color photographs, the recipes emphasize practical preparation, accessible ingredients, and the pleasure of sharing homemade food with family and friends.

Comforting, practical, and filled with personality, Make Do with What You Have is especially appealing for Southern cooking enthusiasts, African American cookbook collectors, budget-conscious home cooks, busy families, and readers who appreciate nostalgic recipes with a modern twist. More than a collection of affordable everyday meals, the book celebrates family resourcefulness, culinary creativity, and the tradition of making something extraordinary from ordinary ingredients. Brown's inviting approach reminds readers that delicious, meaningful meals do not require elaborate shopping lists or expensive ingredients—just a well-stocked kitchen, a little imagination, and a love of good food.