Local blogger Amy McCoy is living the American dream: she just had her first cookbook "Poor Girl Gourmet" published by Andrews McMeel (May 18, $16.99).

McCoy was a busy freelance producer for network and cable television until the recession hit and freelance work all but disappeared. That's when she had to give a second thought to gourmet food dining with little concern for price.

She found a new mission there on her gentleman's farm in Southeastern Massachusetts: to eat the best food she could while spending as little as possible. She created a blog and off to the races she went, offering up her insights and recipes for gourmet meals for less. The subtitle of the book is "Eat in Style on a Bare-Bones Budget."

Her cookbook is lovely and chock full of recipes and photos and we'll feature her in Lifebeat Food at the end of May.

Yum - Roasted chicken legs with olives.