With the economy in a bit of a downturn [1], eating like a gourmet foodie can seem a bit extravagant. Cooking a three-course meal for your entire family while on a budget can seem downright difficult. Yet Christiane Jory, author of The 99 Cent Only Stores Cookbook [2], believes you can do it easily by shopping at dollar stores. And before you start rolling your eyes — I know you're doing it because I did — I should mention that the book actually contains recipes for things that sound delicious. I mean, what about gruyere beignets, salmon souffle and Pinot Noir poached pear tarts doesn't sound good?

I first heard about this book on NPR [3] — you can listen to the whole story online — and thought it was absolutely fascinating. While I don't think I could eat this way completely — sorry folks, I've become a fresh fruit and veggie snob — I do think it's fantastic to show people how to create good tasting food on the cheap. And besides, with the economy the way it is, this book might end up as a must-have for all of us!

So what about you? Do you think you could make gourmet-tasting meals from the 99 cent store?