You have the most wonderful food budget videos I have ever seen. It is very comforting watching them too. I watch all of them! Thank you for your delightful food challenges. :)
These videos are such a valuable source of information for anyone needing to reduce food costs. It takes a lot of planning and work to live successfully on an extremely low budget. I love how you are able to add so much flavor to every dish.
Thank you so much 😁🥰 So true that it does take a lot of planning and extra time. Unfortunately a lot of people don't have the time. ☹️ Hoping my channel helps a little.
You have to be the best I’ve seen for budget meals on RUclips! I’m so happy I’ve found your channel. I love that you are so creative and make delicious meals out of so little! ❤
Congee is so good with a fried or poached egg on top, and still super affordable. Also, I love tomato congee. Just throw a chopped tomato in with the water/broth while it's cooking.
I always learn so much watching your videos ... this one is extra special as I found out about rice porridge ... fun fact , Bruce Lee used to eat it every morning for breakfast 🙂 Thank you so much for making my day ,you truly are a much needed ray of sunshine 🥣🍚🌞
Thank you so much 😁 It was kind of shocking how good it was. Even my son was surprised. We kind of expect a watered down version of rice, but that wasn't it at all. Can't wait to try this dish with a bigger budget and better toppings.
You commented on the carrot being a staple during these challenges; they are so nutritious and it’s always good to see them included. I noticed the variety, fruits, veggies and grains, some oils. You do present a variety of foods and it’s a feast for the eyes, as well.
I like the way you breaded the tomatoes. I have a few green tomatoes that a friend gave me. I will try breading them with water as I am out of eggs. 😋 Am also going to fry them in the airfryer to save on oil. Edit: I added a bit of chicken bullion to the water. It gave the tomatoes a nice depth of flavor. I also fried half of them and air fried the other half. While both were tasty, I think the ones fried in oil were a bit tastier. 😋 Thanks for innovative ideas.
Hi Pat 😁 That's definitely very creative to add the chicken bouillon to the water for the tomatoes 👍 Great idea. I loved them plain but they were even better with ranch on the side.
Try using the water from chickpeas You beat it untill it's frothy Vegans often use it in baked goods in place of eggs ..You could try to use crushed seasoned corn flakes and corn starch and water as well.
Tvp- always rehydrate with broth, like chicken or beef (whatever you are trying to mimic). Then sauté in a skillet, using oil/butter, to get a crisp texture. I always add worchestshire sauce to the beef for flavor and poultry seasoning for chicken flavor. I think that’s all I do. It’s just important to rehydrate in broth and then spend the time to crisp up. Not quick but tastier than many veggie faux meats.
Your videos are more informative than others because of your knowledge. Like you know lots of dishes from other countries even from minority. I am from Korean and I was surprised that you mentioned "Juk". We mostly eat it when we're sick because it is very easy to digest. Next time when I go grocery, I'm gonna get chicken and make my chicken juk. Love your videos always! Thanks
Hi Song Kim 😁 🥰 I appreciate the complement! I love learning about dishes from other cultures. Its so much fun for me! These challenges help me discover lots of different dishes. Thanks for watching my videos and taking the time to comment.
That was wonderful. Just goes to show how wonderfully you can eat for so little money. My suggestion to anyone who can't eat beans is to include quinoa, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or walnuts to their meals for some great nutrition.
The TPV can be used to make veggie burgers (think Boca burgers), also can be used as taco "meat", use it in chili instead of ground meat. You can make veggie "meat balls" for spaghetti or "meat ball" subs. Season it for veggie "sausage " crumbles for "sausage" gravy over biscuits or "sausage" pizza topping. TPV has several uses. These are just a few I use it for.
The tomato chicken bullion is tasty because of all the chemicals in it. Almost too tasty. As a cancer survivor, I make my Mexican rice using tomato sauce and a little tomato paste plus vegetable broth.
When I was in college and POOR, there was an asian grocery across the street from my apartment that sold 5 pound bags of rice for $2. I ate congee almost every day. I made mine with bouillon too and drizzled a tiny bit of toasted sesame oil on top. Not exactly a balanced diet but it was cheap and filling. To this day, when I'm recovering from a tummy bug, the first solid food I will make is congee because I know it will stay down.
Love your videos, always inspirational. Regarding the textured vegetable protein, I just use it like ground beef. Soak it first in bullion. If you use the chunky variety, it can be thrown into a casserole and cooked along with the vegetable and liquids. It is very versatile and an inexpensive protein.
Hi Michelle, I just wanted to say that despite your recipes (most) not really being my cup of tea so to speak, I am finding myself binge watching them due to your very pleasant voice and presentation. So thank you, wishing you well! 🙏💜 P.S I noticed in one of your videos buying avocados and my tip for you is to always (try) to buy ones that still have the little stem in the top of them, from where they were connected to the tree, especially if they are still quite a bit unripe. When the stem is kept in tact the avocado will continue to ripen and develop flavour, when they are loosening is a sign avocado is perfectly ripe. I learned this from friends who grew their own avocados. 🥑 Enjoy! 🌻
Hello 😁 I'm very flattered. Thank you so much. 🥰 I have very diverse tastes in food but not so much meat. What's your favorite type of food to eat? As for the avocados, I don't think I've ever seen them sold with a stem still on them here in California, but now I'll definitely be looking for some with the stems still on. Maybe in the farmers market? Thanks for sharing this! 😁
Another great video! Can’t wait to try millet! My kids would have really loved your videos as young, preverbal children. They would have loved watching the food go from store to table (especially the Duros, I had seen street vendors sell those in big bags, but I never knew what they were.)
That's a great complement. Glad you think your kids would find my content entertaining. I learn so much from my channel just by exploring. We have so much more to discover 😊 Thanks for watching!
Yes congee! I always made it for my kids, when they had colds/flu, with garlic, ginger, turmeric and chicken bouillon! It really settled their stomachs. I still sometimes make it for dinner for hubby and I when I have leftover rice and don’t want fried rice. Yours looked wonderful- I’ve never used brown rice for this, will have to try it!
Thank you so much 😁 I definitely want to try this again with fresh garlic and also the ginger sounds amazing! I'm excited to try this again with a bigger budget. Thanks for sharing!
Can also top with soy sauce and/or sesame/ Chile oil. it is worth searching the internet for congee recipes- such an Asian staple with loads of healthy variations. Thanks for reminding me. Also, I appreciate the no -bean rule on this post. So valuable!!
Hi O Soniye 😁 Thank you so much. It's nice to be missed 😊 I have been dealing with an issue with my fur baby and it has been taking ALL of my time. Glad you liked my video!
Awesome video! Such a creative use of ingredients. We tried duros several years back, but just salted. The lime juice/hot sauce would really enhance the taste. I think you will really like the Rancho Gordo beans. We had their pink Rosa beans when they were in stock and the flavor was over-the-top delicious.
You have such good tips. Try this one for freezer burned veggies or veggies stuck together. Put in metal colander and pour boiling water over to thaw - refresh - and separate. Thanks again
I haven't used TVP on its "own" yet, but I do use about half TVP and half meat to stretch the meat and just to practice using it. I use 1 cup TVP rehydrated in broth/bouillon and 1 pound of meat. Brown up the TVP first to get it going, then add your meat and finish cooking/browning/crisping up. I also save the broth I used for rice with that meal or later. The only thing I can think of is copycat PF Changs lettuce wraps that I've used it for, but I know there's something else 🤦♀️. Sorry for the long comment!
Hello there 😁 Don't apologize, I love reading comments from my viewers 😁Thanks so much for sharing. I love the idea of using the TVP in the copycat PF Changs lettuce wraps. That sounds amazing! Those are delicious! I would love to make those!
Thanks CG 😁 They teased me endlessly about those tiny bags of tortellini 😂 It was kind of a bummer that they lost the pretty green color when they were boiled. My red potatoes lost their color as well, but it was still good. Is it weird that these things are important to me? lol
Hi Camelia 😁 Thank you so much! 🥰 I hope that my viewers will go check out your channel. Congrats, your video is doing VERY well 👍 I just noticed you dropped another $1 challenge video. Gonna check that out tonight. I love watching these videos. Keep em coming!
Hi Michelle! Another wonderful video full of good info, as always. You’re so thoughtful of others and their dietary restrictions. I have to make everything from scratch due to allergies, so I understand those needs. I just wanted to add a couple things. My spouse is Japanese American, and we always made Okayu for the kids when they were sick. It’s normally a 5:1 ish water to rice ratio. We use short grain white rice.I haven’t tried it with brown rice. Depending if they were nauseated or not, we’d either use water, chicken stock, or miso as the base. Daughter allergic to fish, so no dashi (fish stock) base. It is so soothing and comforting when you’re feeling under the weather. Also, I love, love, love millet. I cook it a lot. You def needed more water ( esp if a porridge), but it’s trial and error. Sometimes I’ll make a porridge (instead of oatmeal) for breakfast, or do a more traditional recipe with garlic, onions and corn as a side, or cook it with veggies and meat. It’s very versatile. For one, I’d do 1/4c millet to 1 or 1 1/4 water or broth, depending on the dish. Millet is great because it expands a lot when cooked. . I cover the pot, cook for approx 25 min, then take it off the heat and let it steam some more for about 5-10 min. I love how you experiment with food, I’m the same way, 😊❤
Hello there 😊 Thank you so much 😁 I would love to try the congee with miso. Thanks for sharing how you cook okayu and millet. I'm wanting to try the millet as a breakfast porridge next. I'm hoping to pick up a bag of it this weekend. I'll follow your cooking instructions. Thanks so much for sharing the info! 👨🍳
I’ve missed your videos. I can’t wait to try millet now! And that soup looked absolutely delicious. Also the duros that you fried at the end.. we have also topped with cinnamon and sugar with a drizzle of chocolate sauce or honey and a cup of cocoa ( if just using cinnamon sugar) or with coffee if you’re using the drizzle. It’s one of my favorite holiday treats.
Hi Rachel 😁🥰 I'm glad you miss my videos. It's kind of odd being a creator, because I miss you guys too. It took me FOREVER to finish this video. I LOVE that idea with the duros.👍 I'm so excited to try them with the cinnamon, sugar and chocolate. yum! 😋 Thanks for sharing this!
Hi Michele, Great video. TVP is a wonderful meat substitute. You mix equal amounts of TVP with boiling water and let it sit for 10 minutes. Spice it as desired and use it in chilies, goulashes and anywhere else you would use ground beef crumble. It’s a staple in vegan pantries.
I just love these videos. the tortellini soup looked great but because I've only ever had it creamy rather than brothy, I kept wondering how to make it that way with what you had. You may know this already, but if not, I thought I'd share. If you would have cooked the potatoes and carrots or even just the potatoes first and blended them, it would have provided a creamy thicker base for the soup without adding any other ingredients. But really loved the ideas here. Especially the rice porridge!
Thank you 😁 Oh wow that is interesting. I bet it's good in bread. I've been experimenting with the millet lately. I couldn't help myself. New video coming soon 😂
Hooray for congee! Sometimes I make a congee-style savory oatmeal for breakfast. Just make a thin oatmeal and season it the way you would congee. Soy sauce, ginger, garlic, scallions, etc. So comforting.
Corn meal is a staple in southern Africa. Usually a stiff porridge is made and then eaten with meat, chicken or fish and a sauce. It also makes a good breakfast with milk and sugar or butter, or even a dollop of pork fat.
Hi Jeanne 😁 Thanks for sharing this info. I would love to try this recipe on my channel. I watched a video the other night of a family in Moldavia eating a chunky yellow cornmeal in a similar fashion. I definitely want to try this.
It was a very interesting video. I have never tried using Millet either, but now I think I will try. The congee also looked more flavorful than I thought it would. I do know how to cook TVP. To rehydrate it you need 3/4 cup plus 2Tbsp water or broth. You boil the broth or water then remove it from the heat. Place the TVP in a bowl, pour the water or broth over it and let stand 5-10 minutes. Once it is ready it can be used in place of ground meat. It is good in Chili, Sloppy Joe's or in Taco filling.
Thanks so much and also thanks for sharing with me how you use TVP. 😁 I think I'll try this next time. I loved the protein content. I think it would work well for a low cost budget. Have a great rest of your week!
Best video yet! Woohoo! That congee was great and reminded me a lot like Risotto, but my favorite was that tortellini soup. That was amazing and so delicious. Keep it up ❤
I really like your videos. Have you ever thought about growing sprouts? I grow lentils and bean sprouts. I also grow soil microgreens. I like sunflower seeds, peas and beans. I usually sprout indoors during the winter months to supplement my vegetable intake. Thanks for your videos, I only wish we had a WinCo and Aldi's here in Denver.
I haven't grown my own sprouts yet. I wish I had a window that gets more sun ☹️ I do want to try sprouting though. Your welcome and thank YOU for watching my videos. I'm glad you enjoy them. 😁
@@ArdentMichelle Oh, for sure! Millet is and has been one of my favs for years! I have it both sweet and savory and love it in my home-made breads! :) Thanks again for the lovely video! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
I so enjoy when you do these challenges! I'm going to try all these recipes: I think I have everything needed already in the pantry/fridge except millet. Thanks for these creative ideas!
Hi Gail 😁 Thank you so much. I'm so glad you like my extreme challenges. I have a lot of fun doing them. Let me know how your meals turn out. I think I'm going to pick up some millet and try a porridge with it this weekend. I love these new discoveries 👩🍳
Hi I am a new viewer to your channel and I really enjoy your content. I am newly retired and it is so important to make my food money stretch along with eating healthy for myself and my husband. I am sorry also about your work situation but will be glad to see more videos in the future.
Hi Cindy 😁 Welcome to my channel. I'm so glad you are enjoying my content and hope that it will be helpful to you with your meal planning. Saving money on food is important for so many of us right now. Thank you for the well wishes 🥰 I appreciate the comment.
Thank you so much 🤗 I'm glad my videos are relaxing to you. I still don't have an air fryer. 😂 One of my viewers said she puts cinnamon and brown sugar on the duros and drizzles with melted chocolate. That sounds delicious!
We use millet in Russia to make breakfast porridge. 1 cup of millet plus 2 cups of water, cook until water almost evaporates, then add 2 cups of milk and cook until it becomes thick (about 15-20 minutes). Add a bit of salt and sugar (we make it relatively sweet). In the end add 20-30 grams of butter. You can cook it with raisins of you want to add extra flavor. You can also use millet as a side-dish or a separate dish. Fry some onions with carrots (may add tomatoes and bell peppers), combine with 200 gr of millet, add 400 gr of water and cook in a covered pan for 20-25 minutes. Salt, pepper.
Hi Olga 😁 Thank you for sharing. I'm gonna pick up some more millet and try this. I get so bored with breakfast foods and have been looking for more non-egg breakfast ideas. Have a great rest of your day!
I love your videos. Thanks so much. However, could you please do a video with budget friendly meals using additional protein? Due to health issues I need more protein and wondered if you could do a video on high protein, budget friendly meals.
Ahhh Jook (Congee), I would save chicken, turkey bones then freeze, and pull them out to thaw later to simmer as a base of my soup, I also add my dehydrated vegetable scraps that I ground into a powder for flavoring a soup base as well, taste like my g-ma use to make
Duros, or churritos as we called them in my neighborhood (they have a few different nicknames and spellings), were my number one favorite snack growing up! I still crave them whenever I want a crunchy snack, but I don’t live somewhere they’re easily available.
I may have seen these before, but never knew what they were or how to cook them. There is a hispanic market near me that I've been wanting to go to, and I'm wondering what other glorious foodie finds can be discovered there. 😋 I still don't understand why these puff up or how these were first discovered 😂 another viewer just told me about how she eats them sometimes with cinnamon and sugar and drizzles of chocolate and I definitely want to try that.
@@ArdentMichelle go to the market! I spent my childhood shopping at them, and they have so many hidden gems. Sometimes they'll even have cheaper versions of other foods you regularly buy. It's at least nice to be able to support a small family business.
You are so creative as always, so well done. 🙂 The you tuber Atomic Shrimp from England has also done a £1 for one day challenge this past week. It is also excellent. I admire you both for creativity. Thank you.
Showed my husband your euros, he said we gotta get some. The grocery and Walmart didn’t sell them but the little Mexican market had a big bag. Delicious.
TVP...textured vegetable protein. Usually in the bulk bins. Inexpensive. Cooks just like ground beef...season it the exact same way you would as if you were using hamburger.
I love this video!! Ty for these videos. I love how you like to experiment with recipes from different areas of the world. Btw: I love how you said “who’s laughing now” lol 😂
You’re fortunate to have access to a bargain supermarket. We have one grocery store and one natural food store an hour away from our tiny town. The closest Walmart it over two hours away. I garden, raise quail and chickens as well as hunt. Looking to add goats to our property.
I do feel fortunate to be near lots of grocery stores, however, I'm NOT able to garden where I'm at. I would love that. 🌱 Also, being in the country away from a large population is so peaceful. 😊
Hi Wendie 😁 I looked and I think that the Lakewood is the closest to you, but still a bit of a distance ☹️ You should definitely go. It's worth it if you plan to stock up on a few things.
I like that you’re doing something without beans because I have trouble eating them as well and I just recently learned that 100 calories of broccoli has more protein than 100 cal of beef😊. It just made me wonder how many other vegetables have a lot more protein in them than we are aware of.
I know about the sweet rice. In Trinidad and Tobago, where I'm from, we have a mix of different cuisines coming together, African, Indian and Chinese being the most dominant.
I didn’t do a dollar a day challenge but you inspired me to do something I’ve not done in a long time, plan my meals based on a certain budget and not just what I was as in the mood for. I eat very frugally normally cuz I cook from scratch for most meals. I went to Italy a few years ago and realized their food is so good mostly cuz of fresh ingredients. So I do cook that way. Thanks for the last item you cooked. I’ve seen them at winco and wondered what on earth they were. I’ll have to try getting some next time I’m at winco
Oh but anyway I did an Aldi’s haul today and came away with a lot of food to make for the next month honestly. Stocked my shelves and freezer as well as my produce bin. So thank you for the inspiration. I have a whole list of recipes I’m gonna try because of this channel that I’m telling all my friends about. I love what you have been doing.
Hi Allison 😁 Glad there was a recipe that you wanted to try, especially since this was a $1 a day video. That soup WAS very good. My son loved it also. He still talks about it. 😂
I use TVP as a ground beef replacement. The best recipe I have for using it is to add equal parts water and TVP, heat on stove till water is absorbed. Add one packet of taco seasoning and water needed on packet. Use this instead of seasoned ground beef for tacos.
If you've never tried congee before, you're missing out. It's very versatile and you can add just about everything. I especially like the combination of century egg, chicken with congee, which I think is Hong Kong style porridge.
You have the most wonderful food budget videos I have ever seen. It is very comforting watching them too. I watch all of them! Thank you for your delightful food challenges. :)
Hi Anne 😁 Glad you like my videos! Thank you so much for the complement. 🥰
These videos are such a valuable source of information for anyone needing to reduce food costs. It takes a lot of planning and work to live successfully on an extremely low budget. I love how you are able to add so much flavor to every dish.
Thank you so much 😁🥰 So true that it does take a lot of planning and extra time. Unfortunately a lot of people don't have the time. ☹️ Hoping my channel helps a little.
Thanks! I wanted to buy you a gnome but I want you to pick up the one you want! Thanks for all the great content!
You are so kind 😁 Thank you so much. I appreciate you 🥰
French onion soup..potatoes soup..can of veg beef soup and biscuits on top..Mac and cheese add peas..lots of dollar meals
I applaud you. You take ingredients we are not familiar with and turn them into dishes that one might try.
Hi Geraldine 😁 I love this complement. Thank you so much. 🥰
These types of videos of yours are my absolute favorite! You are a genius!
Thank you so much 😁🥰
You have to be the best I’ve seen for budget meals on RUclips! I’m so happy I’ve found your channel. I love that you are so creative and make delicious meals out of so little! ❤
Thank you so much! 🥰 I appreciate the complement.
You are a food magician! You can turn the most simple ingredients into something nutritious and delicious. I love these dollar a day videos.
Thank you for the nice complement 🥰 I like doing the dollar a day challenges too. I always discover new meals to eat.
Congee is so good with a fried or poached egg on top, and still super affordable. Also, I love tomato congee. Just throw a chopped tomato in with the water/broth while it's cooking.
hmmm....🤔 Since I love tomato, I bet I would love it like that. Thanks for the tip 👍
I always learn so much watching your videos ... this one is extra special as I found out about rice porridge ... fun fact , Bruce Lee used to eat it every morning for breakfast 🙂 Thank you so much for making my day ,you truly are a much needed ray of sunshine 🥣🍚🌞
BRUCE LEE? BRUCE LEE? OH I LOVE BRUCE LEE!!
Thank you so much 😁 It was kind of shocking how good it was. Even my son was surprised. We kind of expect a watered down version of rice, but that wasn't it at all. Can't wait to try this dish with a bigger budget and better toppings.
What a fun fact! I did not know that about Bruce Lee!
@@ArdentMichelle I totally look forward to that video 😃💜
@@michellelaclair I am too (obviously ,lol) ... he was certainly ahead of his time ..lost him way too early , same can be said about his son Brandon😢
You commented on the carrot being a staple during these challenges; they are so nutritious and it’s always good to see them included. I noticed the variety, fruits, veggies and grains, some oils. You do present a variety of foods and it’s a feast for the eyes, as well.
Hi Nancy 😁 Thank you so much for saying this because I'm always hoping that what looks good to me, also looks good to my viewers!
I loved the international porridge video shots, I love how you take us around the world .
Hi Michalene 😁 I'm so glad you liked my video and the style of it! Thanks for watching!
I like the way you breaded the tomatoes. I have a few green tomatoes that a friend gave me. I will try breading them with water as I am out of eggs. 😋 Am also going to fry them in the airfryer to save on oil.
Edit: I added a bit of chicken bullion to the water. It gave the tomatoes a nice depth of flavor. I also fried half of them and air fried the other half. While both were tasty, I think the ones fried in oil were a bit tastier. 😋
Thanks for innovative ideas.
Hi Pat 😁 That's definitely very creative to add the chicken bouillon to the water for the tomatoes 👍 Great idea. I loved them plain but they were even better with ranch on the side.
Try using the water from chickpeas You beat it untill it's frothy Vegans often use it in baked goods in place of eggs ..You could try to use crushed seasoned corn flakes and corn starch and water as well.
I enjoy your channel so much ❤️
Oh my gosh RB 😁🥰 That is SO generous of you! Thank you so much for supporting my channel. I'm glad you like my content. I appreciate you 🤗
Ok so I love your videos, but I honestly watch them because your voice is so calming!!! I love it!!!
Thank you for the complement 😁 I'm glad my videos are comforting to you. 🤗
Tvp- always rehydrate with broth, like chicken or beef (whatever you are trying to mimic). Then sauté in a skillet, using oil/butter, to get a crisp texture. I always add worchestshire sauce to the beef for flavor and poultry seasoning for chicken flavor. I think that’s all I do. It’s just important to rehydrate in broth and then spend the time to crisp up. Not quick but tastier than many veggie faux meats.
Thanks for the tip 👍 Next time I won't be intimidated by the TVP 😂. saving this comment. lol.
@@ArdentMichelle As a good protein option for vegetarians, you can also soak it in veggie broth, or something tomato based, miso, etc.
Your videos are more informative than others because of your knowledge. Like you know lots of dishes from other countries even from minority. I am from Korean and I was surprised that you mentioned "Juk". We mostly eat it when we're sick because it is very easy to digest. Next time when I go grocery, I'm gonna get chicken and make my chicken juk. Love your videos always! Thanks
Hi Song Kim 😁 🥰 I appreciate the complement! I love learning about dishes from other cultures. Its so much fun for me! These challenges help me discover lots of different dishes. Thanks for watching my videos and taking the time to comment.
Thanks! Love your videos and your beautiful voice! 😊
Hi Joanna 😁 WOW. Thank you for the super thanks and for the nice complement! I appreciate it so much!
I loved this! I cant wait to see what you do with the beans you got especially the garbanzo beans... I need some new ideas!
Hi Sharon 😁 Thank you so much. I'm glad you liked my video. I'm excited to try those beans as well. It's almost crock pot season here in California 😂
That was wonderful. Just goes to show how wonderfully you can eat for so little money.
My suggestion to anyone who can't eat beans is to include quinoa, pumpkin seeds,
sunflower seeds or walnuts to their meals for some great nutrition.
Hi Barbara 😀 Glad you like this one. Great suggestions. I LOVE quinoa!
The TPV can be used to make veggie burgers (think Boca burgers), also can be used as taco "meat", use it in chili instead of ground meat. You can make veggie "meat balls" for spaghetti or "meat ball" subs. Season it for veggie "sausage " crumbles for "sausage" gravy over biscuits or "sausage" pizza topping. TPV has several uses. These are just a few I use it for.
Hello there 😁 Thank you so much for sharing how you use TVP. I'll definitely give it a try.
3 great meals. You did amazing as always.
Thank you 😁🥰
Love your channel so much!!!
Hi Ally 😁 Glad you like it. Thanks for letting me know 🥰
I'm so grateful that I can eat beans, and I'm sorry for people who cannot. You're a gem to consider those folks in your videos.
I feel the same ( about being glad I can eat beans, not about me being a gem )😂
I was so excited to see this video here this morning. Coffee and beautiful food--the day is starting off good!
Hello there 😁 It took me awhile, but I finally got this video out 😂😂
Ardent Michelle, you make the most amazing video's, educational, inspiring and beautiful to watch! Thank you🙏🧡
Thank you Tara Cat 😁 🥰I appreciate the complement, and I'm glad you like my style! 👩🍳 Thank you for watching my videos.
My Mexican relatives taught me to use the tomato/chicken bullion to always make Mexican rice. Yummy!
The tomato chicken bullion is tasty because of all the chemicals in it. Almost too tasty. As a cancer survivor, I make my Mexican rice using tomato sauce and a little tomato paste plus vegetable broth.
Hi Eugenia 😁 I love it that way also!
When I was in college and POOR, there was an asian grocery across the street from my apartment that sold 5 pound bags of rice for $2. I ate congee almost every day. I made mine with bouillon too and drizzled a tiny bit of toasted sesame oil on top. Not exactly a balanced diet but it was cheap and filling. To this day, when I'm recovering from a tummy bug, the first solid food I will make is congee because I know it will stay down.
Hi Monica 😁 Love the idea of sesame oil on top. I find congee to be so satisfying and comforting!
Love your videos, always inspirational. Regarding the textured vegetable protein, I just use it like ground beef. Soak it first in bullion. If you use the chunky variety, it can be thrown into a casserole and cooked along with the vegetable and liquids. It is very versatile and an inexpensive protein.
Hi Kerry 😁 Thanks for sharing how you use the TVP. I'll be trying this soon!
Hi Michelle, I just wanted to say that despite your recipes (most) not really being my cup of tea so to speak, I am finding myself binge watching them
due to your very pleasant voice and presentation. So thank you, wishing you well! 🙏💜
P.S I noticed in one of your videos buying avocados and my tip for you is to always (try) to buy ones
that still have the little stem in the top of them, from where they were connected to the tree, especially
if they are still quite a bit unripe. When the stem is kept in tact the avocado will continue to ripen and
develop flavour, when they are loosening is a sign avocado is perfectly ripe. I learned this from friends
who grew their own avocados. 🥑 Enjoy! 🌻
Hello 😁 I'm very flattered. Thank you so much. 🥰 I have very diverse tastes in food but not so much meat. What's your favorite type of food to eat?
As for the avocados, I don't think I've ever seen them sold with a stem still on them here in California, but now I'll definitely be looking for some with the stems still on. Maybe in the farmers market? Thanks for sharing this! 😁
I really enjoy learning how you manage to jam so much nutrition into such a small budget!
Glad you are enjoying my videos 😁
Another great video! Can’t wait to try millet! My kids would have really loved your videos as young, preverbal children. They would have loved watching the food go from store to table (especially the Duros, I had seen street vendors sell those in big bags, but I never knew what they were.)
That's a great complement. Glad you think your kids would find my content entertaining. I learn so much from my channel just by exploring. We have so much more to discover 😊 Thanks for watching!
Yes congee! I always made it for my kids, when they had colds/flu, with garlic, ginger, turmeric and chicken bouillon! It really settled their stomachs. I still sometimes make it for dinner for hubby and I when I have leftover rice and don’t want fried rice. Yours looked wonderful- I’ve never used brown rice for this, will have to try it!
That sound delicious!!!
Thank you so much 😁 I definitely want to try this again with fresh garlic and also the ginger sounds amazing! I'm excited to try this again with a bigger budget. Thanks for sharing!
Can also top with soy sauce and/or sesame/ Chile oil. it is worth searching the internet for congee recipes- such an Asian staple with loads of healthy variations. Thanks for reminding me. Also, I appreciate the no -bean rule on this post. So valuable!!
This was fun to watch! I have missed your soothing voice.
Hi O Soniye 😁 Thank you so much. It's nice to be missed 😊 I have been dealing with an issue with my fur baby and it has been taking ALL of my time. Glad you liked my video!
Awesome video! Such a creative use of ingredients. We tried duros several years back, but just salted. The lime juice/hot sauce would really enhance the taste. I think you will really like the Rancho Gordo beans. We had their pink Rosa beans when they were in stock and the flavor was over-the-top delicious.
Thanks so much 😁 I'm very excited to try the Rancho Gordo beans. 😋
Wow bravo! This inspiring and talented
Glad you think so! 😁
You have such good tips. Try this one for freezer burned veggies or veggies stuck together. Put in metal colander and pour boiling water over to thaw - refresh - and separate. Thanks again
Hi Dixie 😁 Thank you so much. That's a great tip 👍 Love this!
I haven't used TVP on its "own" yet, but I do use about half TVP and half meat to stretch the meat and just to practice using it. I use 1 cup TVP rehydrated in broth/bouillon and 1 pound of meat. Brown up the TVP first to get it going, then add your meat and finish cooking/browning/crisping up. I also save the broth I used for rice with that meal or later. The only thing I can think of is copycat PF Changs lettuce wraps that I've used it for, but I know there's something else 🤦♀️. Sorry for the long comment!
Hello there 😁 Don't apologize, I love reading comments from my viewers 😁Thanks so much for sharing. I love the idea of using the TVP in the copycat PF Changs lettuce wraps. That sounds amazing! Those are delicious! I would love to make those!
I'm always so amazed at what you are able to come up with for so little money!
Thank you so much Sheila 😁🥰 I appreciate the complement and I'm glad you liked this video!
I really enjoy watching your videos! Thank you for all of your great ideas! ❤🥰
Thank you so much Karla. 😁🥰 I'm glad you like my videos!
Excellent Michelle 🤩🎉 You’re so funny - “Who’s laughing now?!” LOL 😂😆
Thanks CG 😁 They teased me endlessly about those tiny bags of tortellini 😂 It was kind of a bummer that they lost the pretty green color when they were boiled. My red potatoes lost their color as well, but it was still good. Is it weird that these things are important to me? lol
@@ArdentMichelle haha I’m the same! 😆
Oh my gosh! I love your channel 😊 Thank you so much. I’m in tears. Happy tears. You are awesome 🤩
Hi Camelia 😁 Thank you so much! 🥰 I hope that my viewers will go check out your channel. Congrats, your video is doing VERY well 👍 I just noticed you dropped another $1 challenge video. Gonna check that out tonight. I love watching these videos. Keep em coming!
Hi Michelle! Another wonderful video full of good info, as always. You’re so thoughtful of others and their dietary restrictions. I have to make everything from scratch due to allergies, so I understand those needs. I just wanted to add a couple things. My spouse is Japanese American, and we always made Okayu for the kids when they were sick. It’s normally a 5:1 ish water to rice ratio. We use short grain white rice.I haven’t tried it with brown rice. Depending if they were nauseated or not, we’d either use water, chicken stock, or miso as the base. Daughter allergic to fish, so no dashi (fish stock) base. It is so soothing and comforting when you’re feeling under the weather.
Also, I love, love, love millet. I cook it a lot. You def needed more water ( esp if a porridge), but it’s trial and error. Sometimes I’ll make a porridge (instead of oatmeal) for breakfast, or do a more traditional recipe with garlic, onions and corn as a side, or cook it with veggies and meat. It’s very versatile. For one, I’d do 1/4c millet to 1 or 1 1/4 water or broth, depending on the dish. Millet is great because it expands a lot when cooked. . I cover the pot, cook for approx 25 min, then take it off the heat and let it steam some more for about 5-10 min. I love how you experiment with food, I’m the same way, 😊❤
Hello there 😊 Thank you so much 😁 I would love to try the congee with miso. Thanks for sharing how you cook okayu and millet. I'm wanting to try the millet as a breakfast porridge next. I'm hoping to pick up a bag of it this weekend. I'll follow your cooking instructions. Thanks so much for sharing the info! 👨🍳
I really wish I had a store near me that has bulk bins. This was a great video, thanks for posting. 😃
Hello 😁 Everyone needs a Winco! Thanks for the complement and thank YOU for watching!
I’ve missed your videos. I can’t wait to try millet now! And that soup looked absolutely delicious. Also the duros that you fried at the end.. we have also topped with cinnamon and sugar with a drizzle of chocolate sauce or honey and a cup of cocoa ( if just using cinnamon sugar) or with coffee if you’re using the drizzle. It’s one of my favorite holiday treats.
Hi Rachel 😁🥰 I'm glad you miss my videos. It's kind of odd being a creator, because I miss you guys too. It took me FOREVER to finish this video. I LOVE that idea with the duros.👍 I'm so excited to try them with the cinnamon, sugar and chocolate. yum! 😋 Thanks for sharing this!
@@ArdentMichelle my pleasure! Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Hi Michele, Great video. TVP is a wonderful meat substitute. You mix equal amounts of TVP with boiling water and let it sit for 10 minutes. Spice it as desired and use it in chilies, goulashes and anywhere else you would use ground beef crumble. It’s a staple in vegan pantries.
Hi Phoebe 😁 Thanks for sharing this. I tried the TVP in a video after this. It was great.
I love Gnomes too! So cute!
They really are....by the way...I love your name. It makes me smile every time I see it 😁
I love WinCo❤️❤️ especially the bulk bins. You buy just the amount you need💕
I'm actually learning about Whole Foods 😂 They are my favorite. 💜 Thanks for watching!
I just love these videos. the tortellini soup looked great but because I've only ever had it creamy rather than brothy, I kept wondering how to make it that way with what you had. You may know this already, but if not, I thought I'd share.
If you would have cooked the potatoes and carrots or even just the potatoes first and blended them, it would have provided a creamy thicker base for the soup without adding any other ingredients.
But really loved the ideas here. Especially the rice porridge!
Hi Hillary 😁 That's a great tip 👍 That would have been nice!
I love this menu, everything looks so yummy👩🍳! I add millet to my bread dough, I love the nutty cruch it adds to it, keep up the good work🙂
Thank you 😁 Oh wow that is interesting. I bet it's good in bread. I've been experimenting with the millet lately. I couldn't help myself. New video coming soon 😂
Hooray for congee! Sometimes I make a congee-style savory oatmeal for breakfast. Just make a thin oatmeal and season it the way you would congee. Soy sauce, ginger, garlic, scallions, etc. So comforting.
Hi Erica 😁 I prefer my oatmeal creamy so that sounds delicious. I'll try it with the soy sauce, ginger, garlic and scallions. Thanks for sharing!
Corn meal is a staple in southern Africa. Usually a stiff porridge is made and then eaten with meat, chicken or fish and a sauce. It also makes a good breakfast with milk and sugar or butter, or even a dollop of pork fat.
Hi Jeanne 😁 Thanks for sharing this info. I would love to try this recipe on my channel. I watched a video the other night of a family in Moldavia eating a chunky yellow cornmeal in a similar fashion. I definitely want to try this.
Thank you for showing it can be done. Love your channel.
Thanks for watching! 😁🥰
Fabulous. I love beans, I'm glad I don't have to substitute for them. However, I'm going to try it.
Thank you Cheriemonami 😁🥰 Glad you are going to give these a try!
Your voice is so soothing. I absolutely love watching your videos. 😁
Thank you so much 😀 I'm glad you are enjoying my channel.
It was a very interesting video. I have never tried using Millet either, but now I think I will try. The congee also looked more flavorful than I thought it would. I do know how to cook TVP. To rehydrate it you need 3/4 cup plus 2Tbsp water or broth. You boil the broth or water then remove it from the heat. Place the TVP in a bowl, pour the water or broth over it and let stand 5-10 minutes. Once it is ready it can be used in place of ground meat. It is good in Chili, Sloppy Joe's or in Taco filling.
Thanks so much and also thanks for sharing with me how you use TVP. 😁 I think I'll try this next time. I loved the protein content. I think it would work well for a low cost budget. Have a great rest of your week!
Best video yet! Woohoo! That congee was great and reminded me a lot like Risotto, but my favorite was that tortellini soup. That was amazing and so delicious. Keep it up ❤
Thanks Justin. 😁 I'm glad you liked my meals.
I really like your videos. Have you ever thought about growing sprouts? I grow lentils and bean sprouts. I also grow soil microgreens. I like sunflower seeds, peas and beans. I usually sprout indoors during the winter months to supplement my vegetable intake. Thanks for your videos, I only wish we had a WinCo and Aldi's here in Denver.
I haven't grown my own sprouts yet. I wish I had a window that gets more sun ☹️ I do want to try sprouting though. Your welcome and thank YOU for watching my videos. I'm glad you enjoy them. 😁
Millet is off-the-charts! good for you--and the taste is superb! :) Good job on the salad! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
Thanks so much Dawn 😁 Do you love the way millet smells too? 😂 I was slightly obsessed with the scent.
@@ArdentMichelle Oh, for sure! Millet is and has been one of my favs for years! I have it both sweet and savory and love it in my home-made breads! :) Thanks again for the lovely video! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
I so enjoy when you do these challenges! I'm going to try all these recipes: I think I have everything needed already in the pantry/fridge except millet. Thanks for these creative ideas!
Hi Gail 😁 Thank you so much. I'm so glad you like my extreme challenges. I have a lot of fun doing them. Let me know how your meals turn out. I think I'm going to pick up some millet and try a porridge with it this weekend. I love these new discoveries 👩🍳
Hi I am a new viewer to your channel and I really enjoy your content. I am newly retired and it is so important to make my food money stretch along with eating healthy for myself and my husband. I am sorry also about your work situation but will be glad to see more videos in the future.
Hi Cindy 😁 Welcome to my channel. I'm so glad you are enjoying my content and hope that it will be helpful to you with your meal planning. Saving money on food is important for so many of us right now. Thank you for the well wishes 🥰 I appreciate the comment.
I have seen peolle make duros in the air fryer. I have been wanting to try it that way. Love your channel. Your voice is so relaxing to me
Thank you so much 🤗 I'm glad my videos are relaxing to you. I still don't have an air fryer. 😂 One of my viewers said she puts cinnamon and brown sugar on the duros and drizzles with melted chocolate. That sounds delicious!
We use millet in Russia to make breakfast porridge. 1 cup of millet plus 2 cups of water, cook until water almost evaporates, then add 2 cups of milk and cook until it becomes thick (about 15-20 minutes). Add a bit of salt and sugar (we make it relatively sweet). In the end add 20-30 grams of butter. You can cook it with raisins of you want to add extra flavor. You can also use millet as a side-dish or a separate dish. Fry some onions with carrots (may add tomatoes and bell peppers), combine with 200 gr of millet, add 400 gr of water and cook in a covered pan for 20-25 minutes. Salt, pepper.
Hi Olga 😁 Thank you for sharing. I'm gonna pick up some more millet and try this. I get so bored with breakfast foods and have been looking for more non-egg breakfast ideas. Have a great rest of your day!
I love your videos. Thanks so much. However, could you please do a video with budget friendly meals using additional protein? Due to health issues I need more protein and wondered if you could do a video on high protein, budget friendly meals.
Hi Trudie 😁 Yes I can do that 👍 I'll plan to do this soon. Thanks for watching!
Amazing what you make with such a tight budget!
Duros are really good if you put them in a cinnamon sugar mix after frying.
Hi Hailey 😁 Glad you liked this video. Someone else mentioned the cinnamon sugar on the duros too. I'm excited to try. Sounds good, like churros. Yum.
Ahhh Jook (Congee), I would save chicken, turkey bones then freeze, and pull them out to thaw later to simmer as a base of my soup, I also add my dehydrated vegetable scraps that I ground into a powder for flavoring a soup base as well, taste like my g-ma use to make
Oh I love that idea of dehydrated vegetable scraps. 👍 Glad you share my newfound love of congee. 😁 Can't believe I'm just discovering this.
Duros, or churritos as we called them in my neighborhood (they have a few different nicknames and spellings), were my number one favorite snack growing up! I still crave them whenever I want a crunchy snack, but I don’t live somewhere they’re easily available.
I may have seen these before, but never knew what they were or how to cook them. There is a hispanic market near me that I've been wanting to go to, and I'm wondering what other glorious foodie finds can be discovered there. 😋 I still don't understand why these puff up or how these were first discovered 😂 another viewer just told me about how she eats them sometimes with cinnamon and sugar and drizzles of chocolate and I definitely want to try that.
@@ArdentMichelle go to the market! I spent my childhood shopping at them, and they have so many hidden gems. Sometimes they'll even have cheaper versions of other foods you regularly buy. It's at least nice to be able to support a small family business.
Wow…great gift!!!
Yes I thought so too. I love food gifts 😁
Thanks Michelle, still loving all your work & suggestions. ♡♡♡
So glad! 🥰 Thanks for your continued support!
I fried up the potato peelings from another video and I loved them. I put spices on them before I cooked. ❤️❤️❤️
Hi Edith 😁 They are tasty like that.
I just ate them that way in my last dollar a day video 😋
What a wonderful gift ! Great video as usual !
Hi Bernadine 😁 Thanks so much! Glad you liked this video!
If you would have washed a bit of your rice to get the starch water, you could have this kneed your soup with it. Looks yummy.
You are so creative as always, so well done. 🙂 The you tuber Atomic Shrimp from England has also done a £1 for one day challenge this past week. It is also excellent. I admire you both for creativity. Thank you.
Thanks so much 😁 I appreciate the comment. I'll check out his video tonight! Thanks for watching my video!
I love $1 challenges!
Bulk bins are the best!
Hi Dani 😁The bulk bins really are the best. 👍 It's easier to be creative when I can buy items in small amounts. Thanks for watching.
Showed my husband your euros, he said we gotta get some. The grocery and Walmart didn’t sell them but the little Mexican market had a big bag. Delicious.
Glad you liked the duros. 😊 It's always fun to discover new foods!
I enjoy u soooooo much! Keep ‘em goin!!!!
😁🥰👍
that was amazing I wish we had a wilco around here...Once again BRAVO!!
Hi Patricia 😁 Thank you so much
I love Winco! We switched to Winco earlier this year. We save a lot on our weekly shopping and in stocking the pantry.
yeah...they are THE BEST 💜
As someone with a legume allergy, I really really appreciate this challenge! ❤
Hi Alisha 😁 🥰Glad you liked my video!
Same
TVP...textured vegetable protein. Usually in the bulk bins. Inexpensive. Cooks just like ground beef...season it the exact same way you would as if you were using hamburger.
Thanks for letting me know 👍
Welcome. It's so much like hamburger a friend snuck into my nachos. I had no idea. Just gotta season it right 👌
Excellent job. I really enjoy your videos. 😊
Thank you so much. 😁Glad you like them!
I love this video!! Ty for these videos. I love how you like to experiment with recipes from different areas of the world.
Btw: I love how you said “who’s laughing now” lol 😂
Hi Frances 😁 I'm glad you like the same things I do 👩🍳 Yeah my sons were teasing me quite a bit about that tortellini 😂
I love your videos. Duros are so good. Thanks for sharing this.
Glad you like them! 😁 and you're welcome. Thanks so much for watching my videos!
I absolutely enjoy watching your videos. Your recipes look so yummy and I have to try the duros. You have the most soothing voice. 🙂❤
Hi Katherine 😁 Thank you so much! I'm glad you find my voice soothing. I appreciate you watching my video and taking the time to comment.
You’re fortunate to have access to a bargain supermarket. We have one grocery store and one natural food store an hour away from our tiny town. The closest Walmart it over two hours away. I garden, raise quail and chickens as well as hunt. Looking to add goats to our property.
I do feel fortunate to be near lots of grocery stores, however, I'm NOT able to garden where I'm at. I would love that. 🌱 Also, being in the country away from a large population is so peaceful. 😊
I love this! I want to make a field trip to Winco I live in mid Wilshire and there’s none in this neighborhood!
Hi Wendie 😁 I looked and I think that the Lakewood is the closest to you, but still a bit of a distance ☹️ You should definitely go. It's worth it if you plan to stock up on a few things.
You are brilliant with these challenges as always. Great job!
Hi Mary 😁 Thank you so much 🥰 I appreciate the complement!
I like that you’re doing something without beans because I have trouble eating them as well and I just recently learned that 100 calories of broccoli has more protein than 100 cal of beef😊. It just made me wonder how many other vegetables have a lot more protein in them than we are aware of.
You make a good point 👍 The protein in a variety of vegetables definitely adds up. Some people don't realize how much calcium is in vegetables also.
Thank you so much...I am so sick of beans, rice and eggs. Any help getting through the week without these 3 ingredients is appreciated.
You're welcome 😁 Glad you like this video!
I’ve read about the Rancho Gordo beans. What a great gift💥
That's what I thought! Who doesn't love food gifts? 😂
My favorite congee is with fish slices, yummy.
I know about the sweet rice. In Trinidad and Tobago, where I'm from, we have a mix of different cuisines coming together, African, Indian and Chinese being the most dominant.
I love you! ❤watching from Aussie xx
Awe.. thanks so much 😁🥰
Those first gnomes are so cute. I want one!
I love to cook with millet.
I want to try the millet now in a porridge! 🍲 I'm going to pick up some more this weekend. How are you cooking yours?
I didn’t do a dollar a day challenge but you inspired me to do something I’ve not done in a long time, plan my meals based on a certain budget and not just what I was as in the mood for. I eat very frugally normally cuz I cook from scratch for most meals. I went to Italy a few years ago and realized their food is so good mostly cuz of fresh ingredients. So I do cook that way. Thanks for the last item you cooked. I’ve seen them at winco and wondered what on earth they were. I’ll have to try getting some next time I’m at winco
Oh but anyway I did an Aldi’s haul today and came away with a lot of food to make for the next month honestly. Stocked my shelves and freezer as well as my produce bin. So thank you for the inspiration. I have a whole list of recipes I’m gonna try because of this channel that I’m telling all my friends about. I love what you have been doing.
Yay! 🥳 I'm so glad I've inspired you to try some of these recipes.
What a celebration of millet salad. Bingo. We forget these options.
True. 👍 I should be trying more of the grains. It was a pleasant surprise.
I love your videos. I am going to try making the soup with the tortellini. It looked delicious.
Hi Allison 😁 Glad there was a recipe that you wanted to try, especially since this was a $1 a day video. That soup WAS very good. My son loved it also. He still talks about it. 😂
I use TVP as a ground beef replacement. The best recipe I have for using it is to add equal parts water and TVP, heat on stove till water is absorbed. Add one packet of taco seasoning and water needed on packet. Use this instead of seasoned ground beef for tacos.
Hi Tammy 😁 Since I love tacos, I would definitely enjoy trying TVP this way.Thanks for the info.
Thank you! I loved this!
Glad you liked my video 😁🥰
If you've never tried congee before, you're missing out. It's very versatile and you can add just about everything. I especially like the combination of century egg, chicken with congee, which I think is Hong Kong style porridge.
Yum 😋