Don't forget to head over to ALL THINGS MANDY to check out what she came up with for her 3 meals. Here is the link to her video. ruclips.net/video/QsgbYd59bjk/видео.html Thanks for watching 😁
Mandy sent me and 5 minutes in and I'm a new sub! I love her channel and have watched every video. I'm sure I will be binge watching yours in the near future, aka starting now. I love that you're also trying to make your food beautiful on a budget. Because a meal is inexpensive it doesnt have to look like it. I also like that you use pantry items. Most people have the majority of these things & should go without saying if you dont, don't worry. It's fine. Can I give you a tip this quick? Tip: you can use the almost empty mayo jar as your container for the tuna salad. Add all the ingredients and shake shake shake. Using every drop of mayo and less dishes to do plus if there is any left that's your container for the fridge. I use the large mayo jar for pasta salads or dressings😊
@@susielisle922 Hello there 😁 and welcome to my channel. That's a great tip about the mayo. Thanks for sharing. Glad you are enjoying my content so far. 👩🍳 Have a great rest of your week.
I make mayonnaise go further by blending it with natural greek yohurt. It makes a lighter dressing. Also, it's really worth making homemade mayonnaise. All it takes is an egg yolk, oil and a pinch of mustard. Delicious!
I use bacon bits, mayonnaise, sour cream and diced tomatoes to make a BLT dip that I serve on toast as a sandwich filling. The dip goes further than using strips of bacon to make traditional BLT sandwiches.
Michelle knocks it out of the park again! I am going to make some of these over the next three days, going to look for the egg slicer next time I am at IKEA and thank you especially for the pickle directions!
I love how educational your videos are and how much help you offer to those that may need it! These fresh meal ideas are amazing and would definitely beat the heat! I want to try that Hawaiian Pasta Salad this week!
Thanks Mandy 😁 I LOVED your meal ideas. Hoping my Ardent fam will go over and check out your video! Thanks for doing this with me. We'll have to do it again sometime. 👩🍳
I love these ideas! Whats great is the way you didn't leave the meal at just a sandwich, I think have the second component - either a macaroni salad or a lettuce salad - is such a good idea to make the meal feel more full.
Thank you so much 😁 I'm so glad you like my meals. I know I'm eating smaller amounts at my meals during the heat, but it's nice to have that container of pasta salad in the fridge for snacking.
Some St.Vincent de Paul Societies/Thrift stores are able to help working families with one month's bills when unexpected expenses or loss of income happens. They know that once a family falls behind, it is next to impossible to catch up and then the people spiral downward, and often lose their home, and generally if kept afloat, the families can make it through.
I like when I learn something in a video. I was shocked at the normal size family in the US. I literally had all of these recipes on my menu for todays prep. I have a dear friend that is 89 and we go to lunch fairly often and she has a hard time cooking. So I take a cooler to lunch and take her favorite homemade meals to her. Tomorrow I'm taking the pasta salad. She will eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner for the next 3 days!! The pasta salad is good with frozen peas and sweet corn too! I'm still using my air fryer a lot. It's still hanging around 100ish with heat index here in Missouri. Stay cool and safe!
Hi Michelle 😁 I was kind of surprised at the family size too. That's so nice of you to take your friend some good eats. What a great friend you are! I haven't been using my air fryer as much as I thought I would because it takes a little while to heat up and its noisier than my regular toaster oven.
@@ArdentMichelle I basically replaced my toaster oven with the air fryer. Mine doesn't make any noise. Like at all! I have to watch the time to make sure it's running!
@@ArdentMichelle it’s a Cooks brand. Did he eat up fast? Must be honest I don’t preheat anything except cookies. I just add about two minutes to the cooking time and it works great for me. It’s big enough for me to make 3 to 4 servings of most things.
I think this maybe be my favorite video of yours. Your food choices are fresh and easy. I will definitely be making pickled veggies soon. Thanks for what you do.
Another great, creative video! Loved the addition of your home crafted pickles. Definitely need to try sharp cheddar and sweet pickle sandwiches! Our on-board finger sandwich luncheon went really well, your strawberry/cream cheese with lemon zest was the biggest hit of the day! Back home now, catching up on paperwork in my office. Sundays are good quiet days for that. It’s STILL raining, thankfully our house is on the crest of a hill so no flooding, but the river that intersects our property is very full. Hoping that Canada is getting rain for those wildfires. Thanks again for an inspiring video!💕 I also wanted to say that it’s great of you to research the electric assistance, there are so many struggling these days.
Hi Susan 😁 First off, thank you so much for your support 💜 You're awesome- and so good to me! 😁 and secondly, 🥳 Yay! I'm glad you're family liked the strawberry cream cheese finger sandwich. That's so awesome. I love hearing about your life. Wow I'm hoping the river doesn't overflow and cause problems. 😳 It's 71 degrees here in Irvine right now-but it's been hotter lately- in the 80's. Hopefully I have a short to release soon. So far I'm failing miserably in that department 😂 I've had a lot going on. I'll release an update of some behind the scenes info on Patreon in the next few days.
@@ArdentMichelle sounds good! I never seem to remember to go to Patreon so I’ve probably missed all sorts of things. Our house is 163 years old and has never been affected by the fairly common flooding in Vermont so I think we’re fine. I do worry about others that are not so lucky, I can’t even imagine the devastation from all this water! Every day is in the mid to upper 80’s and rain, so it’s very humid (87% last time I checked) and not very pleasant. But then again, as always, it could be worse. Hope you are staying well and that your family is thriving. Did Justin decide to quit his channel? He’s a very talented young man and made some beautiful food. Be well, and I’ll go on over to Patreon soon!
@@susans9491 The weather is a force to be reckoned with and it seems more extreme than it used to be. 🌨🔥 Justin is a great cook but he has such a full schedule that he stopped posting. In fact he just made me some tacos this morning that were amazing! It's my birthday - so he wanted to treat me. 💜Have a great rest of your weekend friend 😁 and stay cool
Well done, Michelle! Pickles are one of my favorite condiments! No doubt these that you prepared were delicious --- and no added colorings, etc typically found in "store-bought" pickles. Your channel is not only great for budget conscious cooking ideas; you are also doing a community service with your helpful suggestions/resources for those in need of assistance.
Adding vinegar to the hot pasta for Hawaiian macaroni salad, then mixing a little milk to the mayonnaise before adding is good. It can be a bit runny but will thicken up in the fridge.
Hello 😁 I should have mentioned in the video that Hawaiian macaroni salad normally has some vinegar. I mentioned it in my post. Thanks for sharing this info about the milk too.
I thought pasta salad and BLT/egg salad sandwiches when I saw your groceries. Here dill is just called dill. I've been getting a pickled onion cheese a lot here lately I'm in love with it. You did great. When I plan a family meal I plan for 2 adults and 2 kids, normally I want enough for 4 adults so if it's younger kids then you have leftovers but it's 2 adults and 2 teens then it will still be enough. Love your work Michelle
As far as dill goes, my understanding is that "dill" encompasses the entire plant - both the dill seed and the dill weed (leafy part). For dried spices, they're labeled as "dill weed" or "dill seed" depending on which part of the dill plant it is from.
It's relaxing and enlightening to watch your videos. I really liked this one because it is a great example of lunch ideas to take to work that are simple, yet delicious and inexpensive. I'm definitely going to make pickled onions this week!
Hi Cathie 😁 So, I haven't always eaten mayo- so it's like I'm discovering how amazing it is for the first time 😂 I don't want to gain weight over the summer though so I better not make it too often! How are you doing? Are you staying cool?
@@ArdentMichelle hi friend 🥰 ya mayo’s awesome but it’s usually made with soybean oil so I have to avoid it cuz I’m allergic. ☹️ We’re trying to stay cool. 😭 Yesterday was yuck 🥵🥵 I CAN’T WAIT for fall! lol 🍁 🍂
@@CathieG haha 😂I am SO WITH YOU on that. I LOVE fall and the cooler temps. However, I'm doing a deep dive into summer food now, so I guess that's nice for a change. I have a couple of frozen treat videos coming up for you! 👩🍳
Save the liquid from a jar of pickles as it comes in handy to add flavoring when you're out of the pickles themselves. It can also be used to make refrigerator pickles veggies as is or add your own spices. Or add a cup or 2 to a crockpot pork roast and toss in an onion. Yes, use the spices and pepper if there are some in the jar. Some like homemade popsicles with pickle liquid or maybe you have a shaved ice machine. Bottom line, don't automatically throw food out or drain it down the sink. But pickle liquid can be poured down the drain with some salt or baking soda as a substitute for vinegar in homemade drain cleaner.
Prices are usually higher where I live (Ottawa, Canada); none the less, your creativity still inspires me. Love how you still manage to stretch fresh produce to create such variety. Being on a tight budget so often leads to bland meals/menus. Thank you and bravo!! 🏅🎉😀
Honestly, in the summer, the bacon doesn't have to be the star of the BLT sandwich. I love getting different types of tomatoes all summer, when they're cheap, and putting them center stage
Hi Michelle! I’m so glad you tried the cheese and pickle sandwich!! As I said, we eat them a lot, and never tire of them. Also, I’m blessed with a garden and am making lots of bread and butter, and dill pickles right now. A tip for everyone, you can add a sliced yellow onion to your refrigerator bread and butter pickles. It adds flavor and they taste just as good as the cucumbers. Love your channel and all you do!! ❤❤❤
Yay! 🥳 Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to pick up more of the Persian cucumbers to make another jar- specifically just to be able to eat some more of those cheddar and pickle sandwiches 😂 Love the idea of throwing a few onions in with the pickles. Thanks for your awesome tips! 💜 and I'm so glad you are enjoying my channel.
I love pickle and cheese sandwiches. Of course it has to have red onion too. Also a cheese and arugula sandwich. I especially like it with pepper jack. Oh, and I've also done quick pickled peppers in a brine. I used orange peppers this time, sliced into strips (good for sandwiches) or diced (used in a stirfry with sautéed onions, celery, tomatoes, beans or whatever I have including pickled peppers) or in salads. It's a good way to use up veggies to prolong there life especially if you catch cukes or peppers at a good price and buy alot.
My kids loved pasta salad for school lunches that were very similar. Macaroni, mayo, green relish, tuna, red onion, peas and salt and pepper. Easy, one pot meal to throw together quickly in the morning. Love the variety of meals you made from the same ingredients. Craving a cob salad now.
Hi Sheila 😁 Glad you like my video. It was pretty basic, but sometimes that's what's good 😂 I've been in a bit of a salad phase ever since the heat hit my area.
@@calihapamama oh wow. I've never tried that- and never would have thought to do that. Interesting 🤔 too bad I just ate the last of my potato salad. I'll try this next time I make it.
I love the fact that you gave nutritious, well balanced, and delicious ideas for this challenge. I dont often see a variety of vegetables in these extreme challenges, you made it seem easy! I never thought to pickle my own cukes and onions, definitely going to try that.
Thanks so much! 😊 I always discover so much while doing these challenges, that's why I enjoy them so much. Glad you like my video. Thanks for letting me know.
I love an open face sandwich and usually get the Walmart Texas Toast bread. The thick cut is excellent for open face and it always has 18 slices. Thank you for the excellent ideas, Michelle.
You just keep doing amazing things! I also watch and love All things Mandy. I grew up eating a macaroni salad with tuna. It had mayo, green pepper, celery, and boiled egg, salt and pepper. I also add Old Bay! It is soooo yummy! A meal if you serve it on lettuce leaves.
Michelle since you had ways to get help with your electric bill maybe you and others will appreciate these tips. Someone commented about finding "expired" food I'm assuming in the pantry or cupboard. The dates on the package is a best use by date not an expiration date. Of course if there are oils they could be rancid but that's not always the case. I suggest smelling it. You will definitely know if it's rancid. Wnole grains and nuts are also iffy because of the oils. I just picked up a name brand organic peanut butter with a best use by date of 2018. I typically would NOT by that but it was only a quarter so I figured it was worth a shot and it's fine. Also estate sales are good places to get food and usually it's pretty darn cheap .
@@ArdentMichelle Times are hard, maybe harder than ever. Maybe moreso for more affluent people who've never had to deal with financial hardship so don't know the penny pinching skills. It's time to share our skills to help each other as much as we can.
Mayonnaise is super easy to make. It's an egg with oil of your choice, salt and an immersion blender.. The only issue is it doesn't keep like store bought, but I think that's a good thing. I was just thinking..I hope you know that I love sharing ideas with you because you've shared so many with us. I just hope it comes across that way. You're one of my favorite channels and I get too excited to share. Lol.
I LOVE it when you share with me. 😁 This is how I learn. You all have taught me so much and truly influence the content I make. Keep those awesome tips coming 😂
AM: I made pickled red onion in January, lwe added some to our salads last night---delish! They last a long time in the frig--I also ferment hard boiled eggs and cucs...simply delish! They really last a long time in the frig! :) A real time & cost save! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
Isn't summer food great? Macaroni salad is a fave of mine too. I add a bit of sour cream if I have it to lighten the mayo up a bit. Pickling is on my list this summer so will by trying your small batch recipe, thanks! Everything looks delicious A.M., another winner!
Making your own mayo, relishes and pickles, etc. etc. is sooo awesome---like you did, make it the way YOU like it! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :) LOVED THE VIDEO, GOOD JOB!
Hi Kendra 😁 yes, you have to try it. It's so dang satisfying and so delicious too because they go in so many different things. I'm telling you the sharp cheddar pickle sandwich is AMAZING!
I’ve been a subscriber of you and Mandy for years. It was super cool to see your videos pop up back to back in my feed! It confused me for a second but then it clicked and I was like “OOOOH A COLLAB!!!” ❤😂
Great meals for a hot summer! I'm looking forward to trying your pickled onions recipe and the refrigerator pickle slices. I'm organizing my kitchen/fridge/freezer when I'm staying inside out of the heat. I have found some long-past expired foods to toss, and I have also found some canned/jarred items that are perfectly good and can be put to use!
Yay! Glad you like my summer meals. 😁 I just discovered a delicious frozen treat with some expired mandarin oranges that I found hiding in a lower cabinet. Releasing a short on that soon.
FYI the dates are "best use by dates". I am currently eating pickles and peanut butter (not together) both with a best use by date of 2018. I would usually hesitate if there are oils which could be rancid but I picked up a sealed jar of name brand organic peanut butter at an estate sale for a quarter so I figured I would give it a shot. That brand if I was foolish enough to pay the price would have cost me about $7.00. I do hesitate to buy opened food at estate sales (spices or other pantry goods but that's just me).
Have you made vinegar? I had no idea it was so easy and you can use fruit and veggie scraps. Just add water and sugar. I also bought a roll of testing tape so I can measure the acidity. Apple strawberry scrap vinegar is my favorite for salads, but also worked well for refrigerator pickles. As always, thank you for your creativity
No I haven't tried making my own vinegar yet but this sounds like something that needs to be added to my bucket list. 👩🍳 I'm imagining that the apple strawberry vinegar is amazing! 😋
Awesome 👍 I thought they were spectacular, just remember to customize the amount of sugar and salt to your own liking. I felt like this recipe for the single jar of refrigerator pickles was perfect for me. Let me know how it goes. 👩🍳
As always your food looks great! I also love macaroni salad. BLTs are my go to quick meal. Thinly sliced cucumber on them is great!! I love that you had so much produce. I can't wait to try your pickle recipe. Thank you for another great video. Blessings! I love Mandy's channel too and am super excited about the collab.
Hi Tina 😁 I'm so glad you liked my video and that you also like Mandys channel. I had a lot of fun with this collab and it's so nice to connect with other creators in my niche. Let me know if/when you try the pickles how you like them. Just remember to taste it and adjust the amount of sweetness to your own liking. 👩🍳 Have a great week.
Wonderful video. Im going to try the pickle recipe. We are doing most all of our own cooking. So sal,t oils, and surgar are in our control. It feels like we are eating at a fancy restaurant because we take the few extra steps to kick up the flavor. Thank you 🎉❤🎉❤
Hello 😁 Yes I agree. Once you know how to make these things it really kicks up your cooking a notch. 👍 Let me know how you like the pickles - remember to customize it to your liking though with the salt and sugar.
Funny, I asked my husband what he wanted for dinner tonight and he said egg salad sandwiches. I guess he knew I boiled 1/2 dozen eggs yesterday for egg salad and to add to salads. I live in Nevada so with the heat we want lighter meals. I plan on serving cantaloupe as a side. Dinner is easy tonight!
Love it 😁 I've been craving cold fruit too. I have a short list of produce items I want to pick up at Samsclub and then just have them prepped in the fridge.
Hi michelle! Just wanted to come on here and say that there’s plenty of weeds that are edible!! not sure if the dill weed bothers you because of weeds from your garden, or the other kind of weed lol 🤣 either way I enjoy both haha but there’s actually a ton of common weeds that grow naturally that are edible! Every area is different but I know a lot of people who live off grid forage for wild weeds to use as greens in their cooking and I’ve never done it myself but foraging is something I’ve always wanted to get into! Not sure if that’s something you might be able to do in your area but your comment on the dill weed made me think that it might even be another way to save some money
Hello 😁 This comment made me laugh "the other kind of weed" 😂😂 It doesn't really bother me that they call them weeds, just kind of odd and funny too. Not all bottles are labeled as weeds so I think it indicates a different part of the plant, from what I'm understanding by some of the comments. Yes, I agree...lots of delicious food grows in the wild. I grew up in Alaska where people used to eat fiddle head ferns. They grow in abundance there. Truffles is another that comes to mind. 😋 Mushrooms, garlic, onions, etc. Foraging would be fun but I think I would need to do a lot of research first and travel a bit to find a good area for it.
Yikes, I just wrote a kinda long message and it just disappeared! I don't know how that happens but I hate it when that happens! Oh well, my break is over. Great video, your food looks delicious. Definitely going to try your dressings. I'm going to check out Mandys channel in a little while. How fun to collab!😊❤
Hi Vinny 😁 That's a lot of money. Yes, try this recipe. It's so easy and delicious too. When you check out ALL THINGS MANDY, let her know I sent you. 😁 and I'm sorry your message disappeared. I've actually been struggling with the RUclips app all day. 😞
@@ArdentMichelle I subscribed and told her you sent me. I'll let you know what he says about your pickles. So looking forward to making them for him....and me. lol
Don't forget to head over to ALL THINGS MANDY to check out what she came up with for her 3 meals. Here is the link to her video.
ruclips.net/video/QsgbYd59bjk/видео.html
Thanks for watching 😁
I've subscribed to Mandy too now. Will be checking out her videos as I trust your recommendation. 😀
@@sharonlynch9926 That's awesome. Please tell her I sent you 😁
Mandy sent me and 5 minutes in and I'm a new sub! I love her channel and have watched every video. I'm sure I will be binge watching yours in the near future, aka starting now.
I love that you're also trying to make your food beautiful on a budget. Because a meal is inexpensive it doesnt have to look like it.
I also like that you use pantry items. Most people have the majority of these things & should go without saying if you dont, don't worry. It's fine.
Can I give you a tip this quick?
Tip: you can use the almost empty mayo jar as your container for the tuna salad. Add all the ingredients and shake shake shake. Using every drop of mayo and less dishes to do plus if there is any left that's your container for the fridge. I use the large mayo jar for pasta salads or dressings😊
@@susielisle922 Hello there 😁 and welcome to my channel. That's a great tip about the mayo. Thanks for sharing. Glad you are enjoying my content so far. 👩🍳 Have a great rest of your week.
I make mayonnaise go further by blending it with natural greek yohurt. It makes a lighter dressing. Also, it's really worth making homemade mayonnaise. All it takes is an egg yolk, oil and a pinch of mustard. Delicious!
Thanks for sharing this. 😁I'll have to try homemade mayo.
One thing I love about your videos is how even on a budget you manage to include so much fresh produce.
Glad you are enjoying my content 😁 Thanks for letting me know!
I use bacon bits, mayonnaise, sour cream and diced tomatoes to make a BLT dip that I serve on toast as a sandwich filling. The dip goes further than using strips of bacon to make traditional BLT sandwiches.
Patrice that is brilliant 💡 Love this idea. Saving it. Thanks for sharing this.
Two of my favourite channels doing a collab? Such a fun and relaxing way to spend a Sunday morning when I haven’t had a great week at work.
Sorry to hear you've had a rough week. 😞 Hope you like our videos. 😁
Michelle knocks it out of the park again! I am going to make some of these over the next three days, going to look for the egg slicer next time I am at IKEA and thank you especially for the pickle directions!
Thank you so much 😁 Yay! Glad you are going to look for the egg slicer. It's so inexpensive there.
I love how educational your videos are and how much help you offer to those that may need it! These fresh meal ideas are amazing and would definitely beat the heat! I want to try that Hawaiian Pasta Salad this week!
Thanks Mandy 😁 I LOVED your meal ideas. Hoping my Ardent fam will go over and check out your video! Thanks for doing this with me. We'll have to do it again sometime. 👩🍳
I love these ideas! Whats great is the way you didn't leave the meal at just a sandwich, I think have the second component - either a macaroni salad or a lettuce salad - is such a good idea to make the meal feel more full.
Thank you so much 😁 I'm so glad you like my meals. I know I'm eating smaller amounts at my meals during the heat, but it's nice to have that container of pasta salad in the fridge for snacking.
Some St.Vincent de Paul Societies/Thrift stores are able to help working families with one month's bills when unexpected expenses or loss of income happens. They know that once a family falls behind, it is next to impossible to catch up and then the people spiral downward, and often lose their home, and generally if kept afloat, the families can make it through.
Thanks for sharing this 😁 Some of the summer electric bills can be overwhelming for families.
I like when I learn something in a video. I was shocked at the normal size family in the US. I literally had all of these recipes on my menu for todays prep. I have a dear friend that is 89 and we go to lunch fairly often and she has a hard time cooking. So I take a cooler to lunch and take her favorite homemade meals to her. Tomorrow I'm taking the pasta salad. She will eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner for the next 3 days!! The pasta salad is good with frozen peas and sweet corn too! I'm still using my air fryer a lot. It's still hanging around 100ish with heat index here in Missouri. Stay cool and safe!
Hi Michelle 😁 I was kind of surprised at the family size too. That's so nice of you to take your friend some good eats. What a great friend you are!
I haven't been using my air fryer as much as I thought I would because it takes a little while to heat up and its noisier than my regular toaster oven.
@@ArdentMichelle I basically replaced my toaster oven with the air fryer. Mine doesn't make any noise. Like at all! I have to watch the time to make sure it's running!
@@allyrooh3628 hmmm....🤔 what kind do you have? Does yours take time to heat up?
@@ArdentMichelle it’s a Cooks brand. Did he eat up fast? Must be honest I don’t preheat anything except cookies. I just add about two minutes to the cooking time and it works great for me. It’s big enough for me to make 3 to 4 servings of most things.
@@allyrooh3628 ok. I’ll try that with this one.
I also love macaroni salad but only my own homemade.
The store bought mac salad just doesn't hold a candle to homemade.
Hi Pat 😁 I have to agree with you on that.
Agreed, the store bought stuff usually has too much mayo and has something that leaves a bad aftertaste.
I grate my onions in mac salad,tatoe salad,meatloaf,egg salad.A way to control the strengh,debi😎
That would work 👍
I think this maybe be my favorite video of yours. Your food choices are fresh and easy. I will definitely be making pickled veggies soon. Thanks for what you do.
You're welcome 😁 so glad you're enjoying my content.
Another great, creative video! Loved the addition of your home crafted pickles. Definitely need to try sharp cheddar and sweet pickle sandwiches! Our on-board finger sandwich luncheon went really well, your strawberry/cream cheese with lemon zest was the biggest hit of the day! Back home now, catching up on paperwork in my office. Sundays are good quiet days for that. It’s STILL raining, thankfully our house is on the crest of a hill so no flooding, but the river that intersects our property is very full. Hoping that Canada is getting rain for those wildfires. Thanks again for an inspiring video!💕
I also wanted to say that it’s great of you to research the electric assistance, there are so many struggling these days.
Hi Susan 😁 First off, thank you so much for your support 💜 You're awesome- and so good to me! 😁 and secondly, 🥳 Yay! I'm glad you're family liked the strawberry cream cheese finger sandwich. That's so awesome. I love hearing about your life. Wow I'm hoping the river doesn't overflow and cause problems. 😳 It's 71 degrees here in Irvine right now-but it's been hotter lately- in the 80's. Hopefully I have a short to release soon. So far I'm failing miserably in that department 😂 I've had a lot going on. I'll release an update of some behind the scenes info on Patreon in the next few days.
@@ArdentMichelle sounds good! I never seem to remember to go to Patreon so I’ve probably missed all sorts of things. Our house is 163 years old and has never been affected by the fairly common flooding in Vermont so I think we’re fine. I do worry about others that are not so lucky, I can’t even imagine the devastation from all this water! Every day is in the mid to upper 80’s and rain, so it’s very humid (87% last time I checked) and not very pleasant. But then again, as always, it could be worse. Hope you are staying well and that your family is thriving. Did Justin decide to quit his channel? He’s a very talented young man and made some beautiful food. Be well, and I’ll go on over to Patreon soon!
@@susans9491 The weather is a force to be reckoned with and it seems more extreme than it used to be. 🌨🔥 Justin is a great cook but he has such a full schedule that he stopped posting. In fact he just made me some tacos this morning that were amazing! It's my birthday - so he wanted to treat me. 💜Have a great rest of your weekend friend 😁 and stay cool
@@ArdentMichelle Oh my goodness, 💐🎂🎉🥳🎈🎊HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!🎊🎈🥳🎉🎂💐 Now I have an excuse to send you something!
@@susans9491 Thank you so much😁
I think you do quite enough for me already😂 I have a lot to be grateful for this year 🥰
Well done, Michelle! Pickles are one of my favorite condiments! No doubt these that you prepared were delicious --- and no added colorings, etc typically found in "store-bought" pickles. Your channel is not only great for budget conscious cooking ideas; you are also doing a community service with your helpful suggestions/resources for those in need of assistance.
Thanks Jean 😁
Adding vinegar to the hot pasta for Hawaiian macaroni salad, then mixing a little milk to the mayonnaise before adding is good. It can be a bit runny but will thicken up in the fridge.
Hello 😁 I should have mentioned in the video that Hawaiian macaroni salad normally has some vinegar. I mentioned it in my post. Thanks for sharing this info about the milk too.
I thought pasta salad and BLT/egg salad sandwiches when I saw your groceries. Here dill is just called dill. I've been getting a pickled onion cheese a lot here lately I'm in love with it. You did great. When I plan a family meal I plan for 2 adults and 2 kids, normally I want enough for 4 adults so if it's younger kids then you have leftovers but it's 2 adults and 2 teens then it will still be enough. Love your work Michelle
Thanks so much 😁 I'm glad you are enjoying my content. I bet I would like the pickled onions with the cheese also. 😋
As far as dill goes, my understanding is that "dill" encompasses the entire plant - both the dill seed and the dill weed (leafy part). For dried spices, they're labeled as "dill weed" or "dill seed" depending on which part of the dill plant it is from.
Thanks for shedding some light on this 😁
It's relaxing and enlightening to watch your videos. I really liked this one because it is a great example of lunch ideas to take to work that are simple, yet delicious and inexpensive. I'm definitely going to make pickled onions this week!
Glad you enjoyed this video 😁 Thanks for letting me know
Yay for salads🎉
Thanks for the creamy Italian dressing recipe. Can’t wait to try. Thank you for yet another thoughtful video.
Your welcome 😁
I love macaroni salad and especially if it has tons of stuff in it! 🤩😍🥰
Hi Cathie 😁 So, I haven't always eaten mayo- so it's like I'm discovering how amazing it is for the first time 😂 I don't want to gain weight over the summer though so I better not make it too often! How are you doing? Are you staying cool?
@@ArdentMichelle hi friend 🥰 ya mayo’s awesome but it’s usually made with soybean oil so I have to avoid it cuz I’m allergic. ☹️ We’re trying to stay cool. 😭 Yesterday was yuck 🥵🥵 I CAN’T WAIT for fall! lol 🍁 🍂
@@CathieG haha 😂I am SO WITH YOU on that. I LOVE fall and the cooler temps. However, I'm doing a deep dive into summer food now, so I guess that's nice for a change. I have a couple of frozen treat videos coming up for you! 👩🍳
@@ArdentMichelle ooooh can’t wait for that! 👍🏻🤩😍🥰
Thank you for these delicious and creative summer recipe ideas.
My pleasure 😊 Thanks for tuning in.
That macaroni salad looks delicious!
Glad you think so 😁
I love both your shows. Your foods always look so delicious.
Thank you so much 🤗
Save the liquid from a jar of pickles as it comes in handy to add flavoring when you're out of the pickles themselves. It can also be used to make refrigerator pickles veggies as is or add your own spices. Or add a cup or 2 to a crockpot pork roast and toss in an onion. Yes, use the spices and pepper if there are some in the jar. Some like homemade popsicles with pickle liquid or maybe you have a shaved ice machine. Bottom line, don't automatically throw food out or drain it down the sink. But pickle liquid can be poured down the drain with some salt or baking soda as a substitute for vinegar in homemade drain cleaner.
great tips, many of which I've done on my channel. Although, the popsicles idea sounds very interesting 🤔 never thought of that one!
Ooh, I also found pickling spices at the Dollar store. And it can be used for both sweet or traditional
Oh nice! Thanks for sharing! 😁
Prices are usually higher where I live (Ottawa, Canada); none the less, your creativity still inspires me. Love how you still manage to stretch fresh produce to create such variety. Being on a tight budget so often leads to bland meals/menus. Thank you and bravo!! 🏅🎉😀
Thank you so much! 😁
I can’t believe two of my faves made a colab! Love love love this
Glad you approve of our collab 😁 I like watching her videos too.
@@ArdentMichelle both of you, along with a couple of others have really helped me to pare down my budget, but not feel like I was eating on a budget.
@@rachelhero3413 that’s awesome. 😊 I love that.
@@rachelhero3413 so glad my channel has been helpful.
I like these summer meals!
Glad you like these 😁
Everything looks delicious! Thank you for sharing. 😊
My pleasure 😁 Thanks for watching!
Honestly, in the summer, the bacon doesn't have to be the star of the BLT sandwich. I love getting different types of tomatoes all summer, when they're cheap, and putting them center stage
same here. 👍
Hi Michelle! I’m so glad you tried the cheese and pickle sandwich!! As I said, we eat them a lot, and never tire of them. Also, I’m blessed with a garden and am making lots of bread and butter, and dill pickles right now. A tip for everyone, you can add a sliced yellow onion to your refrigerator bread and butter pickles. It adds flavor and they taste just as good as the cucumbers. Love your channel and all you do!! ❤❤❤
Yay! 🥳 Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to pick up more of the Persian cucumbers to make another jar- specifically just to be able to eat some more of those cheddar and pickle sandwiches 😂 Love the idea of throwing a few onions in with the pickles. Thanks for your awesome tips! 💜 and I'm so glad you are enjoying my channel.
I love pickle and cheese sandwiches. Of course it has to have red onion too. Also a cheese and arugula sandwich. I especially like it with pepper jack. Oh, and I've also done quick pickled peppers in a brine. I used orange peppers this time, sliced into strips (good for sandwiches) or diced (used in a stirfry with sautéed onions, celery, tomatoes, beans or whatever I have including pickled peppers) or in salads. It's a good way to use up veggies to prolong there life especially if you catch cukes or peppers at a good price and buy alot.
@@sherimetschan961 sounds like some good eats 😋
This is totally my vibe… I love egg salad I love BLTs and I love macaroni salad now I have to go make some ! thanks Michelle…
Hi Wendie 😁 Glad you like this. How's the weather over there? You're near Hollywood right?
My kids loved pasta salad for school lunches that were very similar. Macaroni, mayo, green relish, tuna, red onion, peas and salt and pepper. Easy, one pot meal to throw together quickly in the morning.
Love the variety of meals you made from the same ingredients. Craving a cob salad now.
Hi Sheila 😁 Glad you like my video. It was pretty basic, but sometimes that's what's good 😂 I've been in a bit of a salad phase ever since the heat hit my area.
Mac Salad with tuna was my dad’s go to hot weather meal.
@@calihapamama I also made some potato salad with some potatoes that were getting old. I think I like dill pickles better in that though.
@@ArdentMichelle I like potato salad with thinly sliced cucumbers in it. My husband's grandma used to make it that way.
@@calihapamama oh wow. I've never tried that- and never would have thought to do that. Interesting 🤔 too bad I just ate the last of my potato salad. I'll try this next time I make it.
I love the fact that you gave nutritious, well balanced, and delicious ideas for this challenge. I dont often see a variety of vegetables in these extreme challenges, you made it seem easy! I never thought to pickle my own cukes and onions, definitely going to try that.
Thanks so much! 😊 I always discover so much while doing these challenges, that's why I enjoy them so much. Glad you like my video. Thanks for letting me know.
I love an open face sandwich and usually get the Walmart Texas Toast bread. The thick cut is excellent for open face and it always has 18 slices. Thank you for the excellent ideas, Michelle.
Hi Margee 😁 You're welcome. Thank YOU for watching my video!
Love this idea 😁 What's your favorite kind of open face sandwich?
@@ArdentMichelle I like it toasted with tuna salad or egg salad. I also like to make cheese bread in the toaster oven. 🥰
@@margeebechyne8642 I like cheese bread too. This is giving me a great idea for a new video in the near future. 😂
@@ArdentMichelle Very cool! I look forward to seeing it!! 😉
You just keep doing amazing things! I also watch and love All things Mandy.
I grew up eating a macaroni salad with tuna. It had mayo, green pepper, celery, and boiled egg, salt and pepper. I also add Old Bay! It is soooo yummy! A meal if you serve it on lettuce leaves.
Awe...thanks Penny. 🥰 I'm not a tuna eater but I think if I was, I would really like that combo.
Thank you for the great ideas. Also learned... planning to repeat ingredients reduces waste.
Your welcome 😁 Glad you like my video and found it helpful.
I didn't notice the link regarding power assistance
Hello 😁 Thanks for the reminder. I knew I was forgetting something. I just added the link. Let me know if you need anything else.
I come all things Mandy love watching her.❤❤
Yes she is awesome 😁 Welcome to my channel. I'm so glad you're here. I hope you'll decide to stay awhile. 👩🍳
Another awesome video, Michelle! You are my new hero! Blessings 💕
Awe....💜 Thank you so much Esther. I'm grateful for the help. 😁
Michelle since you had ways to get help with your electric bill maybe you and others will appreciate these tips. Someone commented about finding "expired" food I'm assuming in the pantry or cupboard. The dates on the package is a best use by date not an expiration date. Of course if there are oils they could be rancid but that's not always the case. I suggest smelling it. You will definitely know if it's rancid. Wnole grains and nuts are also iffy because of the oils. I just picked up a name brand organic peanut butter with a best use by date of 2018. I typically would NOT by that but it was only a quarter so I figured it was worth a shot and it's fine. Also estate sales are good places to get food and usually it's pretty darn cheap .
Hi Sheri 😁 These are great points you're making. Also a great opportunity to purchase some discount food.
@@ArdentMichelle Times are hard, maybe harder than ever. Maybe moreso for more affluent people who've never had to deal with financial hardship so don't know the penny pinching skills. It's time to share our skills to help each other as much as we can.
@@sherimetschan961 agreed
Mayonnaise is super easy to make. It's an egg with oil of your choice, salt and an immersion blender.. The only issue is it doesn't keep like store bought, but I think that's a good thing.
I was just thinking..I hope you know that I love sharing ideas with you because you've shared so many with us. I just hope it comes across that way. You're one of my favorite channels and I get too excited to share. Lol.
I LOVE it when you share with me. 😁 This is how I learn. You all have taught me so much and truly influence the content I make. Keep those awesome tips coming 😂
Aw I already follow both of you and love this team up! Well done as always!
I figured I would have some viewers that subscribe to both of us. 😁 Glad you like my video!
AM: I made pickled red onion in January, lwe added some to our salads last night---delish! They last a long time in the frig--I also ferment hard boiled eggs and cucs...simply delish! They really last a long time in the frig! :) A real time & cost save! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
Isn't summer food great? Macaroni salad is a fave of mine too. I add a bit of sour cream if I have it to lighten the mayo up a bit. Pickling is on my list this summer so will by trying your small batch recipe, thanks! Everything looks delicious A.M., another winner!
yes, I'm definitely enjoying the summer foods theme. 😁 Glad you like my video. Thanks for letting me know 🥰
Love the salad focused meals, made me hungry!
Hi Done 😁 Yay! 🥳 Glad my food looks good to you this week.
I love how much information you give in your videos. I learn so many cooking tips. Your budget ideas are great and look so tasty.
Glad you are enjoying my content 😁
Absolutely stunning beautiful meals 😊
Thank you 😁 Glad you like them. Thanks for letting me know 🥰
Absolutely and thanks for sharing and commenting back!
Making your own mayo, relishes and pickles, etc. etc. is sooo awesome---like you did, make it the way YOU like it! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :) LOVED THE VIDEO, GOOD JOB!
Thank you 🥰
both of you folks are superior cooks--dts/usa
Awe...thanks so much 😁
I’ve never thought to try making my own pickles before, but it looks so easy and tasty that I’ll have to try it out!
Hi Kendra 😁 yes, you have to try it. It's so dang satisfying and so delicious too because they go in so many different things. I'm telling you the sharp cheddar pickle sandwich is AMAZING!
I’ve been a subscriber of you and Mandy for years. It was super cool to see your videos pop up back to back in my feed! It confused me for a second but then it clicked and I was like “OOOOH A COLLAB!!!” ❤😂
Yay! 😁 thanks for being a long time subscriber. I appreciate your support and I'm sure she does too. We timed our videos to release at the same time.
Oh My! I love All Thing Mandy. I have tried a lot of your budgets and hers.
I love watching her too. 😁 Thanks for being a supporter.
Hi Michelle couldyou show us some budget snack ideas?
I have some throughout my videos. Let me think about how I could do this into a video that people would watch 😁
New subscriber from All Things Mandy. Both of you are so clever and inspiring!
Welcome to my channel 🥳 Thanks so much for subbing!
Great meals for a hot summer! I'm looking forward to trying your pickled onions recipe and the refrigerator pickle slices. I'm organizing my kitchen/fridge/freezer when I'm staying inside out of the heat. I have found some long-past expired foods to toss, and I have also found some canned/jarred items that are perfectly good and can be put to use!
Yay! Glad you like my summer meals. 😁 I just discovered a delicious frozen treat with some expired mandarin oranges that I found hiding in a lower cabinet. Releasing a short on that soon.
FYI the dates are "best use by dates". I am currently eating pickles and peanut butter (not together) both with a best use by date of 2018. I would usually hesitate if there are oils which could be rancid but I picked up a sealed jar of name brand organic peanut butter at an estate sale for a quarter so I figured I would give it a shot. That brand if I was foolish enough to pay the price would have cost me about $7.00. I do hesitate to buy opened food at estate sales (spices or other pantry goods but that's just me).
Have you made vinegar? I had no idea it was so easy and you can use fruit and veggie scraps. Just add water and sugar. I also bought a roll of testing tape so I can measure the acidity. Apple strawberry scrap vinegar is my favorite for salads, but also worked well for refrigerator pickles.
As always, thank you for your creativity
No I haven't tried making my own vinegar yet but this sounds like something that needs to be added to my bucket list. 👩🍳 I'm imagining that the apple strawberry vinegar is amazing! 😋
Thank you for these yummy recipes. I am new to your channel came over from Mandy. Can't wait to see more like these
Thank you and welcome 😁
I will be trying your bread and butter pickle recipe :)
Awesome 👍 I thought they were spectacular, just remember to customize the amount of sugar and salt to your own liking. I felt like this recipe for the single jar of refrigerator pickles was perfect for me. Let me know how it goes. 👩🍳
Coming over from All Thing's Mandy.
Welcome 🥳 So excited to have you here. Hope you'll decided to stay awhile. 👩🍳
thanks for the electrical info...another successful menu...you smash it...dts/usa
You're welcome 😁 and thank you 🥰
Just found your channel! Love it!
Yay! Thank you! and welcome 😁 I'm glad you're here.
As always your food looks great! I also love macaroni salad.
BLTs are my go to quick meal. Thinly sliced cucumber on them is great!!
I love that you had so much produce. I can't wait to try your pickle recipe.
Thank you for another great video. Blessings!
I love Mandy's channel too and am super excited about the collab.
Hi Tina 😁 I'm so glad you liked my video and that you also like Mandys channel. I had a lot of fun with this collab and it's so nice to connect with other creators in my niche. Let me know if/when you try the pickles how you like them. Just remember to taste it and adjust the amount of sweetness to your own liking. 👩🍳 Have a great week.
🥪🥗 Hi, Michelle. I love sandwiches and macaroni salad. This video is a winner for me. :) 🥗🥪
Hi Debbie 😁 I'm so glad you are enjoying my summer content. That makes me happy. I hope you have a great week! 🌸
wonderful video 😊
Many thanks 😁
Thank you Michelle! I will be making all these recipes.
Yay! 🥳 Glad you like them.
First time here,awesome video, thanks, New subscriber😄👍👍
Yay 😁 🥳 Welcome to my channel! So glad to have you here. Thanks for joining us!
Wonderful video. Im going to try the pickle recipe. We are doing most all of our own cooking. So sal,t oils, and surgar are in our control. It feels like we are eating at a fancy restaurant because we take the few extra steps to kick up the flavor. Thank you 🎉❤🎉❤
Hello 😁 Yes I agree. Once you know how to make these things it really kicks up your cooking a notch. 👍 Let me know how you like the pickles - remember to customize it to your liking though with the salt and sugar.
Mandy says Hi! Subscribed, I’m in So Cal too so our prices and weather are similar.
Welcome to my channel 🥳 So glad to have you here.
Thank you so much for subscribing. And hello neighbor! 👋
Funny, I asked my husband what he wanted for dinner tonight and he said egg salad sandwiches. I guess he knew I boiled 1/2 dozen eggs yesterday for egg salad and to add to salads. I live in Nevada so with the heat we want lighter meals. I plan on serving cantaloupe as a side. Dinner is easy tonight!
Love it 😁 I've been craving cold fruit too. I have a short list of produce items I want to pick up at Samsclub and then just have them prepped in the fridge.
Subscribed to All Things Mandy.
That's awesome 👍 Did you let her know you were coming from my channel? It would be nice for her to know our collab was fruitful.
@@ArdentMichelle yes, I told her.
@@Dee-ps3um yay! Awesome 👍Thank you so much!
@@ArdentMichelle you are welcome!
Hi michelle! Just wanted to come on here and say that there’s plenty of weeds that are edible!! not sure if the dill weed bothers you because of weeds from your garden, or the other kind of weed lol 🤣 either way I enjoy both haha but there’s actually a ton of common weeds that grow naturally that are edible! Every area is different but I know a lot of people who live off grid forage for wild weeds to use as greens in their cooking and I’ve never done it myself but foraging is something I’ve always wanted to get into! Not sure if that’s something you might be able to do in your area but your comment on the dill weed made me think that it might even be another way to save some money
Hello 😁 This comment made me laugh "the other kind of weed" 😂😂 It doesn't really bother me that they call them weeds, just kind of odd and funny too. Not all bottles are labeled as weeds so I think it indicates a different part of the plant, from what I'm understanding by some of the comments. Yes, I agree...lots of delicious food grows in the wild. I grew up in Alaska where people used to eat fiddle head ferns. They grow in abundance there. Truffles is another that comes to mind. 😋 Mushrooms, garlic, onions, etc. Foraging would be fun but I think I would need to do a lot of research first and travel a bit to find a good area for it.
Have you looked into the cost of making mayo? Not sure if it’s cheaper or not but if oil is a pantry item it might be
I haven't made my own yet, but I've just added this to my bucket list. That's a great point for a budget item, especially since eggs have come down.
Hi Ardent Michelle, who sings that song at 12:45 ? What a great song !
Hello 😁 The song is called Dear Lily by Houses on the Hill.
@@ArdentMichelle Thanks ! 😀
Mandy sent me ❤❤
Welcome to my channel 😁 Glad to have you here and hope you will decide to stay awhile.
Can you use monk fruit instead of white sugar
I'm actually not familiar with monk fruit, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.
Yikes, I just wrote a kinda long message and it just disappeared! I don't know how that happens but I hate it when that happens! Oh well, my break is over. Great video, your food looks delicious. Definitely going to try your dressings. I'm going to check out Mandys channel in a little while. How fun to collab!😊❤
Oh and the bread and butter pickles! Definitely going to make that! Dale bought a 12 oz tub of them last week and paid $11. !!! Thanks!!!
Hi Vinny 😁 That's a lot of money. Yes, try this recipe. It's so easy and delicious too. When you check out ALL THINGS MANDY, let her know I sent you. 😁 and I'm sorry your message disappeared. I've actually been struggling with the RUclips app all day. 😞
@@ArdentMichelle I subscribed and told her you sent me. I'll let you know what he says about your pickles. So looking forward to making them for him....and me. lol
@@vinnydabarber Thanks for doing that 💜 and yes, definitely let me know how they turn out. Have a great week.
Is making croutons more cost-effective?
Yes. 👍 One loaf of bread would make a large amount of croutons as compared to buying a small bag at $1.44 (cheapest price at my local Walmart).
In Australia, dill is just labelled as dill. I've never seen it called dill weed before!
Yeah...I totally think that's a marketing faux pas. 😂
Dill weed refers to the leaves, dill is the whole plant 🪴.
I think they call it dill weed cuz they also have dill seed so if is so we kno the difference
What are the calorie content of these meals. Is it enough?
Hello 😁 I don't count calories but it was enough food for me and my family.
Mandy sent me
Welcome to my channel 😁 Glad to have you here. I hope you'll stay awhile.
Was that your pic in intro
Hello 😁 No it wasn't.
❤❤❤❤😊❤❤❤
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I just omit the pickles (as I don't like them or relish or cukes at all. They're diet foods as I will skip any meal that has them in it).
Understood 👍 Do you like pickled onions? Or do you dislike all pickled things?