Same! My brother lives with us too and also works but it's so hard. I think the only reason we're surviving is his extra income and the fact our landlords are amazing and haven't raised the rent at all since we moved in, in 2020.
It never occurred to me to make granola from oatmeal packets. Brilliant. There are a lot of short cuts in your recipes that use a prepared ingredient to get us 75% of the way there - like the oatmeal or the ravioli in the lasagna. That's really handy.
Being creative like that helps cut down on how many ingredients you have to purchase to make a dish. Your channel is very different because of how creative you are with what you have.
I'd love to see a video on stocking your pantry with some staples you consider useful so that when it's time to shop for $50 a week or so, you have some items on hand. I usually tuck away some extra money for a few months, then every quarter do a more expensive one-shot grocery trip to stock up on staple items like rice, spices and seasonings, oil, butter, and stock up on any meats that are on sale, so that my weekly hauls are usually milk and produce for the week.
I love the thoughtfulness you put into your recipes! For French toast, you could try your coffee creamer in place of all or part of the milk when you don’t have sugar or vanilla. I did that once and it was delicious. It was subtly sweet and I just topped with a little drizzle of grape jam I’d heated to the right consistency for drizzling.
I want to share how helpful it is that you share so much about cooking methods and why you approach cooking in various ways. For example, toasting rice, blooming spices, using butter and oil for browning and flavor. Not only are you providing economical recipes, but you're TEACHING so much about how to get the most out of your ingredients!
I never thought to make granola out of instant oatmeal. You mean I don't have to spend 7 dollars on a bag of granola?! Thank you for that little trick!
Granola is so expensive but sooooo easy to make from scratch. Also most recipes are super adaptable to whatever you have on hand. Definitely make granola!
After dipping in egg mixture, coat that French toast in your granola before cooking. Any cereal crushed (particularly captain crunch) will make delicious French toast.
I just found your channel and I’m so grateful I did! I’m a single woman with an extremely limited grocery budget ($35/week) because I’m focusing my finances towards homeownership.
I previously commented about my red meat allergy (I worded it differently at the time because a lot of people don't know that red meat isn't just beef - it's also pork, lamb, venison, basically any meat that you would eat besides poultry or fish). The week you did that was based around chicken made me happy because it was almost all food I could eat! (The only thing I couldn't, if I remember correctly, was the type of pasta sauce you used, but obviously I would be able to just pick a different kind to accommodate that.) I really appreciate all of the work and research you put into giving people ideas for how they can accommodate their dietary needs and still enjoy the food they're eating, AND on a budget. It's clear thst you really care about your audience. ❤
Their was a woman that was allergic to meat. Doctors found out she was being bitten by micro isnects Or she was being exposed to micro bug faeces. After getting rid of bugs she could eat again.
I’m one of your OG subscribers. Im so glad you aren’t changing the channel. People know this channel & you by the name. I’m here for whatever content you put up. Your channel thrives because you deeply care about helping others. I’m grateful for that.
Rebecca, I appreciate how much time you put into your videos. It does not go unnoticed. I really love that you won't use ingredients you didn't buy because we do not have the extra items that some people "add" into their 5 ingredient meal that end up being 15 ingredients. If you say 5 ingredients or a certain thing, then I know that's what you're going to deliver. That last taco meal sounds delicious & a nice vegetarian meal for us. Great video. 😊
I am so pleased for you that your channel has grown . The fact your followers are good people is because your hardworking is appreciated. Also, you keep it positive and drama free. All very welcomed. Yes, I too enjoy this series even though I cook for one I still need ideas on saving money
Great to see so many Alton Brown tips and tricks at play! To that end what about a “cooking tools” review from Dollar Tree? How good is a $1.25 spatula? Will the foils pans hold a casserole? Love the videos and the name is perfect!
I was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and my hospital offered a 5 week class about it (backed by the ADA) - 2 of the classes centered around how to eat. Two approaches weee recommended: (1) count carbs and sugars, not exceeding amounts that vary between men and women; or (2) use a 9 1/2” plate, fill 1/2 of the plate with non-starchy vegetables, 1/4 of the plate with protein, and the remaining 1/4 of the plate do starchy vegetables (bread, pasta, whatever). Option 2 seems so much easier and sustainable lifelong to me. This episode was fabulous! So many good ideas - each of my friends eats a different “diet” and your ideas help me figure out a plan that I can adapt to each of them. Your efforts into planning your content is MUCH appreciated!!
@stephanieshanks3372, I did the plate meals with my mother. She was on 10mg insulin per day, and within months she was diabetes free. No more insulin. Of I did a lot of research into what foods. Things I have long since forgotten. Take care, and I wish you good days ahead.
For the leftover bread, you could make cheese and tomato open grill sandwiches. Just pop all the cheese and tomato on the bread, pop it under the grill. Add salt and pepper and while it's not the most exciting, it's a simple easy breakfast. Or a cheese and tomato toastie is also delicious.
I've never ever been to a Dollar Tree since I am not even from the us, and I still love your channel! You provide me so many ideas and tricks for saving a coin on food and still eating good. You are a precious gem ❤I am so happy for you and your growing channel :)
What drew me to your channel is your very down to earth and unstressed nature. Some people are so keyed up that it is off putting to me. I love the straightforward nonjudgmental, accepting tone of your videos. Thank you for your hard work and instruction
Sorry if this is part 2, but I like the Alliteration of Dollar Tree Dinners. I like the mix of stores. Also, I forgot the oil in my hash browns, but I remembered to leave them alone and they turned out better than the past.
I actually went dollar tree,we are getting some cold weather, and here in Texas, cold means trouble,so I got canned food. I made meals as I went along the aisles. Did get some cheese,it was only .50 for each block. For 100 dollars. I got so much food. Thank you for the inspiration ❤
I appreciate your channel so much. What I particularly appreciate with your budget videos is that you actually stick to the products that you purchase. I have seen so many of these budget videos from other creators that add so many "pantry staples" (sugar, flour butter, so many spices etc that can cost a lot to purchase) that in my opinion it ceases to fit into the amount of money they have set and are not as useful to people who are trying to follow it.
Agreed. Especially when butter is four or five dollars a pound, and a bottle of oil isn't much less, using these fats in a "budget meal plan" without factoring them into the budget is just cheating as far as I'm concerned. Fats are very important on a budget and important for health, and they should be accounted for in a budget as they can be a significant expenditure.
I really like the instant oatmeal stove-top granola, not just because it's a terrific little trick, but because it makes a small portion. The smaller-yield recipes are great for trying out something new and varied with the ingredients on hand without having to make a big batch of that something.
I love your channel. I'm nearly 67 yo and for the first time in my life, I've had to apply for food assistance and will be finding a foodbank to go to until the decision is made. I only eat one meal a day, but I try to make sure it's as nutrient dense as possible. I'm always looking for ideas to help with the cost of food. Thank you!
You can sometimes find in the spice section of dollar tree cinnamon sugar for $1.25 to keep on hand. It works for french toast but sometimes I just sprinkle it on my buttered rye toast. You can also make sweetened tortilla chips with it. I love your channel and all the things you come up with to give diversity to your meals.
I was going to make lasagna for dinner but after I started making the sauce I realized I didn't have lasagna noodles so I just used the pasta I had I just layered the ingredients and it turned out just fine I thought my hubby wouldn't like it but he did. The only difference was the difference w as the pasta. Use what you have in your pantry and you can create special and unique recipes.
I’m actually making your Knorr Speedy Lasagna this weekend. If I didn’t have the ground beef already defrosting in the fridge, I would totally make those rice and black bean salsa tacos. But I know what I’m making next! And yes I basically make one main thing on the weekend for the next week. I don’t mind eating the same thing for a bunch of days and it means I only have to cook once.
@@janispeterson6381 My hate of cooking is higher than my boredom level. 😁 Plus, I usually do something like taco filling or a casserole that I can change up a topping or something. It’s not exactly the same every day. It is mostly the same but I can switch it up a bit.
I made the Knorr Lasagna a couple weeks ago. I thought it was ok, and my family loved it, but now I want to try the ravioli lasagna. if you use the meat ravioli's you don't need to buy meat and if you get the cheese raviolis, no need for ricotta cheese.
All the information you give is very much appreciated. It is so incredibly helpful, I think so many of us are really struggling to get decent meals that we can afford at this point, so thank you so much! 🧡
Another great video. Thank you for the peek behind the curtain. Most viewers would never know how much work and creativity goes into every episode on these channels. Very grateful that you put last week’s recipes, notes, and shopping list in your Etsy shop. Best $1.99 I have spent in a long time. Would love to purchase this week’s as well. Since I find that most packaged oatmeals are too sweet for me, I usually “strain” the dry oatmeal and save the sugar/cinnamon/maple seasoning to use in other recipes.
We make baked ravioli quite often. So fast and fairly cheap to make with hardly any prep work if you are using jarred sauce. We often add cottage cheese or plain yogurt to our scrambled eggs, it changes up the texture so it's not as blah.
I just sent your channel to my grandson. Him and his girlfriend are on a tight budget and your recipes will be perfect for them. Thanks for your hard work and dedication.
We appreciate you. I like that u make things that I don't have to eat 5 times. I live alone and a lot of the other youtubers have a larger family, so yours is so nice for me.
From what I have read from several chefs, the heat from frying the rice burns off the extra starch particles, so no rinsing needed. However cooking rice via boil/instant pot/rice cooker etc you should rinse the water until mostly clear and make SURE to let it dry (I lay mine out on paper towels then curl them up and pour rice right into the cooker). Hope this helps.
I have never ever ever thought about using oatmeal as a granola. I occasionally try oatmeal thinking I will like it and never do lol. But yogurt parfaits!!!! That looks amazing!!!
I wanted to say-thank you so much for not using beans very often. Most budget food channels go super heavy on beans because they’re so economical, but my spouse has a hard time with the sensory side of beans, so those recipes rarely work for us. I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into your videos 😊 how do you keep track of recipe ideas/research? Also, I totally feel being hungry all the time because you’re always researching recipes, etc. I always get hungry while watching your videos 😂
You’re doing a great job and keep up the good work…keep moving forward with your creative ideas and inspirations …you’re helping more people then the people that may have critiques or opinions about different things you may incorporate you’re doing an amazingly awesome job…I’m enjoying the content for new meal ideas and everything🥰I’m a seasoned cook as well and I still love trying and creating new recipes so I’m all in as a new subscriber literally joined today lol🥰❤️💕💯
You are awesome Rebecca ! The work you put into these meals, the planning , going and getting the stuff, showing us how to cook the meal, serving it, the presentation,the budget of it all, your time and effort.It's fantastic of what you do and I personally really appreciate all you put into it. Thank you ,for all of it !
An adoring Canadian here! Groceries are much more expensive here, but I LOVE your ideas, and I'm using them to try new things and budget better. I think you would really love the YT channel Glen and Friends Cooking. Specifically their playlist for The Old Cookbook Show. Glen has a huge collection of antique cookbooks from the 1700s to 1949 - and every Sunday he makes a recipe from one. He's very knowledgeable about how measurements and foods have changed over the centuries - then he and his wife taste the dish at the end. Super relaxed, casual, but crazy informative!
I found your channel a few weeks ago and have been binging all ur videos. Ur ideas are so helpful and I just love how genuine and empathetic u seem ❤ I also watched Clara all the time and I have that Depression Era cookbook that u use in some of your videos. I've been cooking out of it for years . I've steered away from the stuffed raccoon and stewed squirrels though 😂
Would you consider putting recipes in description so I can take screenshot? Always looking for new recipes to get out of a rut!😊 I’m enjoying this series!
I've been watching a few of your videos and ... I fell in LOVE with your channel. What a good way to help people make recipes under a budget when EVERYTHING is expensive. I will have to try some of your recipes. They actually look very good. Thank you for all the efforts and work you do for us. You got a NEW SUBSCRIBER ... ME 😊 Keep up your amazing work ! Sending love your way from Canada 🇨🇦❤❤❤
I love your content. It is understandable and based in reality! I am returning to work after a few years break. I'll do almost all the cooking and have had time to do it, but that will change soon. So, having a resource that I can go to for ideas and info on shopping is invaluable. There isn't a cafeteria where I work, so I need to make sure I am taking a good balanced meal and snacks with me as well as leaving some for my partner. AND having quick, easy, and healthy meals to batch cook or that will take very little time when I get home from work. Thank you for your hard work and inspiration!
I'm so glad you're here! You work hard to do creative, yummy ideas. My favorite RUclips content ❤ I just love the wholesomeness. I love fruit syrups on French toast! Apple pie filling is yummy too.
I love the baked ravioli idea! To make it more decadent food, you can make breadcrumbs from your stale bread, mix it with salt/pepper/oregano, and then toast in butter. This would add a nice tasty crumb to the top of the dish 😊
Hi Rebecca, in my experience when I make a fruit compote from frozen fruit; I omit water. The frozen fruit tends to have plenty enough as it defrosts. We also do not strain it. I often make it out of frozen blueberries. 😊Btw I made the red beans and rice recipe with sausage; we loved it 😍 Wow! That granola topping turned out perfect! What a simple idea. Oh my gosh those tacos looked yummy! I’m making that
I actually rely on your videos so much because I don’t have the time or money to try out all these different dollar tree items and thanks to you I don’t have to. You’re recipes are so good as well!
Thank you for the french toast hack of drying the bread out overnight. I love french toast, and hadn't thought of that before. Will definitely make it that way from now on. And thank you for your channel. You have no idea how much you help people. ❤
Happy to be part of the "bunch!!" So thoughtful & down to earth. Thanks for understanding we are all different, but we still have to feed ourselves & our families.
I appreciate you too!!!! I remember when I came here just to comment I was worried about you potentially using a metal spatula on nonstick. "But you were like, nah, it's not metal, I got this." I appreciate the kind empathy you express and have enjoyed watching your channel grow.
Oh My Goodness❣️❣️ I just love watching you! I appreciate your thoughtfulness towards everyone who has a need for your meal plans and recipes! God bless you❣️❣️😊♥️😘
We have a new DT with a freezer section, but the only thing I ever bought were those addictive frozen spring rolls. After watching your channel I looked around at the non-freezer area and have come home with shelf stable milk, some fat egg noodles, spices, dry beans, their last 3 jars of vegetable buillion, and more candy than I need. Thank you for expanding my boundaries.
Cinnamon is great on all fruits. We're used to thinking of it as a warm spice to be used with fall fruits like apples and pears, but personally, I love cinnamon with strawberries (and cherries, and really any kind of berry). It helps mellow some of that tartness. That granola hack is great.
Another wonderful video 🙂 because of where I live and being on a tight budget I shop about once a month. One thing I always try and do is get my pantry items. Things like salt, pepper,oil, small bag of flour, small box of sugar, garlic powder, hot sauce ECT. I was wondering if you could do a budget pantry video. It might give me new ideas to add to mine. The nearest Walmart and Dollar Tree is an hour and a half from where I live. That's why I just do my major shopping once a month. I do have a dollar general here in town tho
I never knew to leave the bread out overnight to dry it out for French toast, no wonder why mine comes out soggy!🤣 Thanks for the tip! Love this channel and all you do!
BTW, I learned so much for the Dollar Tree 'game' you ?created (or I made up from watching how you shop?). When I go into a non grocery store (Family Dollar, Dollar General, etc0, I try to cruise the food aisle asking - what would I make tonight. It really helps my abilty to meal plan on the fly, coming up with alternatives (always great to avoid the same old same old meals), saving money . . . basically helped me exercise my ability to think about meal plans. Thank you.
I love that you consider your viewers' preferences and requests. :) I've been a type 1 diabetic for 20 years now, and I'm happy that you want to explore some diabetic friendly recipes. You are correct in assuming that the whole grain and low fat recommendations for diabetics are a bit outdated now. The idea back then was that almost all fat caused heart and artery issues, and diabetics are already at high risk of having those health issues, so the experts wanted to remove as much fat from the food as possible. There was also a misconception that diabetics needed a relatively low protein diet to protect our kidneys, but that is also incorrect unless the kidneys are already severely compromised. What was left after all these misconceptions was carbs, so diabetic diets in the past were, counterintuitively, very carb heavy, especially from whole grains. Whole grains are still the recommended grains IF you are going to use grains, but a reduction in carbs is generally the new recommendation, with a heavy focus on low carb vegetables and high(er) protein meals. Fat is considered okay now in moderation, as long it's "the healthy kind." However, you generally can't really go too wrong with a low carb meal for diabetics, as long as you add some low carb vegetables and fruits. Sadly, many "greens" (especially the fruits) aren't entirely budget friendly, but some definitely are. Low carb vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, carrots in moderation, cabbage, radishes, lettuce, celery, green beans, brussels sprouts. Low carb fruits include all types of peppers, avocados, tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries.
I love your videos. You absolutely do not need to change the name of your channel. I don't do my shopping at Dollar Tree but I really appreciate your meal plans that can work at any store.
I absolutely love your channel. You are such a wonderful person and I know that you really care about your viewers and do all you can to help others. I'm not exactly on a budget but I'm very bad about over buying certain items and then I'm not sure what to do with them. Or food that looks good at the time (I'm looking at canned soups here....lol) but then don't use. You give me great ideas for how to use them up in creative ways. I'm against food waste of any kind so these ideas keep me from letting that food just sit there. I know that even the simple foods I buy is a luxury, so I want to make sure I'm not being wasteful. Thank you Sweet Rebecca!
I love watching your videos! I have been watching you since before you went viral and have used sooo many of your recipes for myself! I’m a household of one so you are greatly valued here 🥰
The $50 budget is amazing. By using some of the budget challenges like this it has really cut down on my spending. I do get stuck in a rut on recipes. Your videos do give me more inspiration.
This series has been invaluable to me this past week. Thank you ❤😊 would you be able to get back to depression era recipes or maybe give ingredients meals??
I do like when you say that you didn’t like something you created. Maybe you can do a video on how to stock a pantry. Those new to cooking or on their own for the first time might find that helpful.
Thank you for all the work you put into your videos. You are sharing recipes and recipe ideas that make tasty and filling meals. Not just well this will fill you up. I’m going to try making the granola, I love a crunchy topping for my yogurt!
Love the granola idea!! I'm definitely going to give that a try. I also loved seeing you share the ravioli "lasagna" tip. I've been making my lasagna that way for years. It's so much easier than making lasagna from scratch. I forgot to comment yesterday, but I agree with others that I would miss the Dollar Tree Dinners name if you rebranded. I don't think you content needs to be exclusively Dollar Tree meals to keep them name, so I'm glad to hear you aren't going to change it. 🙂 As for diabetic-friendly meals, they don't necessarily have to be low carb. I was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago and now eat carbs regularly thanks to a tip I learned a couple of years ago from a registered dietician who is also a certified diabetes educator. The key is to not just eat carbs on their own. They should be paired with protein and/or fiber to decrease how quickly the carbs are digested. For example, if I want a banana, I wouldn't just eat the banana on its own. I would pair it with something like peanut butter or Greek yogurt. I think eating super low carb is actually the older way of thinking when it comes to diabetes. The more recent thinking is balancing the carbs to make them more blood sugar friendly. That all being said, I do try to get my carbs from whole foods like fruit, grains, veggies, etc. I limit things like chips, candy, etc. to just an occasional treat since they are "empty" carbs.
I'm not sure if you read the comments- but since you don't like the french toast that you made enough to have it a second time- how about a savory french toast? We often make it for brunch and I prefer it to syrup laden versions. Simply use your eggs and milk to soak the bread, then while it's cooking sprinkle with s&p. You can go a step further with parmesan cheese, or really any cheese. The kids like it with a schmear of marinara sauce, chives and a sprinkle of italian seasoning....like faux pizza? lol Loving this series!
“Dollar Tree-ish Dinners” popped into my head as a new-ish channel name idea but I’m in the camp that feels it’s fine as is. Love ya and thanks for what you do!!! ❤
I never would’ve thought to make boxed jambalaya but your video last week inspired me! I love your videos and see your kind heart in everything you do, thank you!
I so enjoy your content because my son is grown now so, I’m basically cooking for myself these days. However, he still has to have his Mama’s cooking, too! I appreciate your meal ideas! It’s helped me out a lot! Thank you!❤
the yogurt french toast, yes! when my son first started eating solids, i would do pretty much exactly this but with plain greek yogurt to add extra protein and calories to his meal. it always worked wonderfully.
The color of your study walls is so pretty! This black bean salsa is a staple for us now, chips and salsa are my husband's favorite so it's good to have some filling protien in it and it is very versatile for my vegetarian diet!
I enjoy your videos so much. I have learned a lot. You have me feel like we are just talking in your kitchen. You are so natural. Thank you for all you do for those families on a budget trying the best they can. ❤ P.S. I watched your old videos when you were blonde. I didn’t recognize you. 😂 Love your red hair.
Heck no, don't change the name! I love this channel and love that you do meals from WalMart, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, etc. You are my go-to for tasty, inexpensive meals.
I don't use any sweetener in French toast, I like it savory. I put a bit of basil and oregano in the egg mixture. After it's cooked, I sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese while it's still really hot. It's really good. A friend of my mother's made Cheese Surprise , a traditional grilled cheese sandwich made into French toast. You mentioned being a resource. Yes, you are that, but I also consider you my friend!! I enjoy "cooking" with you!!
When you made the French toast instead of milk you can use the flavored coffee creamer. It has sugar and extra flavoring. I just tried this and it was yummy.
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Can't tell you how much I appreciate the 50 for 2. My husband and I both work but the price of groceries is killing us.
Same! My brother lives with us too and also works but it's so hard. I think the only reason we're surviving is his extra income and the fact our landlords are amazing and haven't raised the rent at all since we moved in, in 2020.
@@sammivd4763 hang in there! 😘❤
Same. Single mom of 2!
This lady has some great ideas.
And it's easy to double this for a family of 4!
I love that you don’t assume that everyone already has a well stocked pantry at their disposal. So thoughtful!
It is very thoughtful. Because I am not good about keeping well stocked pantry.
It never occurred to me to make granola from oatmeal packets. Brilliant. There are a lot of short cuts in your recipes that use a prepared ingredient to get us 75% of the way there - like the oatmeal or the ravioli in the lasagna. That's really handy.
I'm so glad that was helpful! I love trying new ways to work with what you've got
Being creative like that helps cut down on how many ingredients you have to purchase to make a dish. Your channel is very different because of how creative you are with what you have.
Heck yeah I agree
Yeah, the oatmeal to granola was pretty epic.
I'd love to see a video on stocking your pantry with some staples you consider useful so that when it's time to shop for $50 a week or so, you have some items on hand. I usually tuck away some extra money for a few months, then every quarter do a more expensive one-shot grocery trip to stock up on staple items like rice, spices and seasonings, oil, butter, and stock up on any meats that are on sale, so that my weekly hauls are usually milk and produce for the week.
I love the thoughtfulness you put into your recipes!
For French toast, you could try your coffee creamer in place of all or part of the milk when you don’t have sugar or vanilla. I did that once and it was delicious. It was subtly sweet and I just topped with a little drizzle of grape jam I’d heated to the right consistency for drizzling.
Was going to mention this very thing! Glad you beat me to it :) the French Vanilla creamer in particular would be a fantastic choice.
I've done this before when I didn't realize I was out of milk, I had cinnabon flavored creamer, yum!
Melted jam or jelly is a great French toast topping!
I want to share how helpful it is that you share so much about cooking methods and why you approach cooking in various ways. For example, toasting rice, blooming spices, using butter and oil for browning and flavor. Not only are you providing economical recipes, but you're TEACHING so much about how to get the most out of your ingredients!
I’ve literally learned so much on this channel! Love it so much 😊
I never thought to make granola out of instant oatmeal. You mean I don't have to spend 7 dollars on a bag of granola?! Thank you for that little trick!
I'm so glad that was helpful!
Granola is so expensive but sooooo easy to make from scratch. Also most recipes are super adaptable to whatever you have on hand. Definitely make granola!
After dipping in egg mixture, coat that French toast in your granola before cooking. Any cereal crushed (particularly captain crunch) will make delicious French toast.
Great tip! I bet that is amazing!
I just found your channel and I’m so grateful I did! I’m a single woman with an extremely limited grocery budget ($35/week) because I’m focusing my finances towards homeownership.
I previously commented about my red meat allergy (I worded it differently at the time because a lot of people don't know that red meat isn't just beef - it's also pork, lamb, venison, basically any meat that you would eat besides poultry or fish). The week you did that was based around chicken made me happy because it was almost all food I could eat! (The only thing I couldn't, if I remember correctly, was the type of pasta sauce you used, but obviously I would be able to just pick a different kind to accommodate that.) I really appreciate all of the work and research you put into giving people ideas for how they can accommodate their dietary needs and still enjoy the food they're eating, AND on a budget. It's clear thst you really care about your audience. ❤
So true ,also thanks for the red meat info
Their was a woman that was allergic to meat. Doctors found out she was being bitten by micro isnects
Or she was being exposed to micro bug faeces. After getting rid of bugs she could eat again.
I’m one of your OG subscribers. Im so glad you aren’t changing the channel. People know this channel & you by the name. I’m here for whatever content you put up. Your channel thrives because you deeply care about helping others. I’m grateful for that.
Rebecca, I appreciate how much time you put into your videos. It does not go unnoticed. I really love that you won't use ingredients you didn't buy because we do not have the extra items that some people "add" into their 5 ingredient meal that end up being 15 ingredients. If you say 5 ingredients or a certain thing, then I know that's what you're going to deliver. That last taco meal sounds delicious & a nice vegetarian meal for us. Great video. 😊
I look at my dollar tree in a whole different light! Since I found this channel !!
Amen about the "3-5" ingredient recipes ending up being many more ingredients! Glad you said something.
you could sweeten the french toast batter if you wanted to by adding some of your coffee creamer to it!
Especially if it's Cinnamon flavored coffee creamer. A melted jelly or a slow heated jam works in a place of syrup as well.
Great idea!
I use it in my oatmeal and grits.
I am so pleased for you that your channel has grown . The fact your followers are good people is because your hardworking is appreciated. Also, you keep it positive and drama free. All very welcomed.
Yes, I too enjoy this series even though I cook for one I still need ideas on saving money
Your attention to detail and empathy is so refreshing
Great to see so many Alton Brown tips and tricks at play! To that end what about a “cooking tools” review from Dollar Tree? How good is a $1.25 spatula? Will the foils pans hold a casserole?
Love the videos and the name is perfect!
I was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and my hospital offered a 5 week class about it (backed by the ADA) - 2 of the classes centered around how to eat. Two approaches weee recommended: (1) count carbs and sugars, not exceeding amounts that vary between men and women; or (2) use a 9 1/2” plate, fill 1/2 of the plate with non-starchy vegetables, 1/4 of the plate with protein, and the remaining 1/4 of the plate do starchy vegetables (bread, pasta, whatever). Option 2 seems so much easier and sustainable lifelong to me.
This episode was fabulous! So many good ideas - each of my friends eats a different “diet” and your ideas help me figure out a plan that I can adapt to each of them. Your efforts into planning your content is MUCH appreciated!!
@stephanieshanks3372, I did the plate meals with my mother. She was on 10mg insulin per day, and within months she was diabetes free. No more insulin. Of I did a lot of research into what foods. Things I have long since forgotten. Take care, and I wish you good days ahead.
For the leftover bread, you could make cheese and tomato open grill sandwiches. Just pop all the cheese and tomato on the bread, pop it under the grill. Add salt and pepper and while it's not the most exciting, it's a simple easy breakfast. Or a cheese and tomato toastie is also delicious.
I've never ever been to a Dollar Tree since I am not even from the us, and I still love your channel! You provide me so many ideas and tricks for saving a coin on food and still eating good. You are a precious gem ❤I am so happy for you and your growing channel :)
What drew me to your channel is your very down to earth and unstressed nature. Some people are so keyed up that it is off putting to me. I love the straightforward nonjudgmental, accepting tone of your videos. Thank you for your hard work and instruction
Sorry if this is part 2, but I like the Alliteration of Dollar Tree Dinners. I like the mix of stores. Also, I forgot the oil in my hash browns, but I remembered to leave them alone and they turned out better than the past.
I love your channel! If you ever need an idea could you do a “lower” carb dollar tree or Walmart low budget week? Thanks for all you do 😊
I actually went dollar tree,we are getting some cold weather, and here in Texas, cold means trouble,so I got canned food. I made meals as I went along the aisles. Did get some cheese,it was only .50 for each block. For 100 dollars. I got so much food. Thank you for the inspiration ❤
I appreciate your channel so much. What I particularly appreciate with your budget videos is that you actually stick to the products that you purchase. I have seen so many of these budget videos from other creators that add so many "pantry staples" (sugar, flour butter, so many spices etc that can cost a lot to purchase) that in my opinion it ceases to fit into the amount of money they have set and are not as useful to people who are trying to follow it.
Agreed. Especially when butter is four or five dollars a pound, and a bottle of oil isn't much less, using these fats in a "budget meal plan" without factoring them into the budget is just cheating as far as I'm concerned. Fats are very important on a budget and important for health, and they should be accounted for in a budget as they can be a significant expenditure.
I really like the instant oatmeal stove-top granola, not just because it's a terrific little trick, but because it makes a small portion. The smaller-yield recipes are great for trying out something new and varied with the ingredients on hand without having to make a big batch of that something.
I love your channel. I'm nearly 67 yo and for the first time in my life, I've had to apply for food assistance and will be finding a foodbank to go to until the decision is made. I only eat one meal a day, but I try to make sure it's as nutrient dense as possible. I'm always looking for ideas to help with the cost of food. Thank you!
You can sometimes find in the spice section of dollar tree cinnamon sugar for $1.25 to keep on hand. It works for french toast but sometimes I just sprinkle it on my buttered rye toast. You can also make sweetened tortilla chips with it. I love your channel and all the things you come up with to give diversity to your meals.
Yes I love the cinnamon sugar from Dollar Tree too. I sprinkle a little on my applesauce to bring it up a notch. Also good on buttered toast.
I buy cinnamon raisin bread for French Toast - great taste.
I was going to make lasagna for dinner but after I started making the sauce I realized I didn't have lasagna noodles so I just used the pasta I had I just layered the ingredients and it turned out just fine I thought my hubby wouldn't like it but he did. The only difference was the difference w as the pasta. Use what you have in your pantry and you can create special and unique recipes.
I’m actually making your Knorr Speedy Lasagna this weekend. If I didn’t have the ground beef already defrosting in the fridge, I would totally make those rice and black bean salsa tacos. But I know what I’m making next! And yes I basically make one main thing on the weekend for the next week. I don’t mind eating the same thing for a bunch of days and it means I only have to cook once.
I'm the same! especially if it's a meal I really look forward to eating again
I wish I could be a mono eater, but by day 3, I just can’t keep eating the same thing!!
@@janispeterson6381 My hate of cooking is higher than my boredom level. 😁 Plus, I usually do something like taco filling or a casserole that I can change up a topping or something. It’s not exactly the same every day. It is mostly the same but I can switch it up a bit.
I made the Knorr Lasagna a couple weeks ago. I thought it was ok, and my family loved it, but now I want to try the ravioli lasagna. if you use the meat ravioli's you don't need to buy meat and if you get the cheese raviolis, no need for ricotta cheese.
The Knorr lasagna was a hit with my daughter and grandkids!
I've made the ravioli " lasagna" a lot. My husband likes it so much he actually came home with 2 huge bags of ravioli.
Thanks!
I love how badass you are when you butter the pan holding the whole stick with your bare hand! You are too funny!
All the information you give is very much appreciated. It is so incredibly helpful, I think so many of us are really struggling to get decent meals that we can afford at this point, so thank you so much! 🧡
Another great video. Thank you for the peek behind the curtain. Most viewers would never know how much work and creativity goes into every episode on these channels. Very grateful that you put last week’s recipes, notes, and shopping list in your Etsy shop. Best $1.99 I have spent in a long time. Would love to purchase this week’s as well. Since I find that most packaged oatmeals are too sweet for me, I usually “strain” the dry oatmeal and save the sugar/cinnamon/maple seasoning to use in other recipes.
Sifting the sugar out of those packers for another use is genius. Thanks for passing that along!
I would love it if you kept doing these 50 for 2 videos! They work great for my daughters and me! Thank you!
We make baked ravioli quite often. So fast and fairly cheap to make with hardly any prep work if you are using jarred sauce.
We often add cottage cheese or plain yogurt to our scrambled eggs, it changes up the texture so it's not as blah.
You could put cottage cheese , plain Greek yogurt or sour cream in the baked ravioli as well
I just sent your channel to my grandson. Him and his girlfriend are on a tight budget and your recipes will be perfect for them. Thanks for your hard work and dedication.
We appreciate you.
I like that u make things that I don't have to eat 5 times. I live alone and a lot of the other youtubers have a larger family, so yours is so nice for me.
From what I have read from several chefs, the heat from frying the rice burns off the extra starch particles, so no rinsing needed. However cooking rice via boil/instant pot/rice cooker etc you should rinse the water until mostly clear and make SURE to let it dry (I lay mine out on paper towels then curl them up and pour rice right into the cooker). Hope this helps.
That’s exactly how I learned as well and it works so much better!
I am excited for this day to day. I'm getting extra videos! I love to listen to you when I'm working and then watch it all over again when i can. ❤
I have never ever ever thought about using oatmeal as a granola. I occasionally try oatmeal thinking I will like it and never do lol. But yogurt parfaits!!!! That looks amazing!!!
I wanted to say-thank you so much for not using beans very often. Most budget food channels go super heavy on beans because they’re so economical, but my spouse has a hard time with the sensory side of beans, so those recipes rarely work for us. I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into your videos 😊 how do you keep track of recipe ideas/research?
Also, I totally feel being hungry all the time because you’re always researching recipes, etc. I always get hungry while watching your videos 😂
You’re doing a great job and keep up the good work…keep moving forward with your creative ideas and inspirations …you’re helping more people then the people that may have critiques or opinions about different things you may incorporate you’re doing an amazingly awesome job…I’m enjoying the content for new meal ideas and everything🥰I’m a seasoned cook as well and I still love trying and creating new recipes so I’m all in as a new subscriber literally joined today lol🥰❤️💕💯
You are awesome Rebecca ! The work you put into these meals, the planning , going and getting the stuff, showing us how to cook the meal, serving it, the presentation,the budget of it all, your time and effort.It's fantastic of what you do and I personally really appreciate all you put into it. Thank you ,for all of it !
You are a true treasure! Keep it up!! ❤
An adoring Canadian here! Groceries are much more expensive here, but I LOVE your ideas, and I'm using them to try new things and budget better. I think you would really love the YT channel Glen and Friends Cooking. Specifically their playlist for The Old Cookbook Show. Glen has a huge collection of antique cookbooks from the 1700s to 1949 - and every Sunday he makes a recipe from one. He's very knowledgeable about how measurements and foods have changed over the centuries - then he and his wife taste the dish at the end. Super relaxed, casual, but crazy informative!
I found your channel a few weeks ago and have been binging all ur videos. Ur ideas are so helpful and I just love how genuine and empathetic u seem ❤ I also watched Clara all the time and I have that Depression Era cookbook that u use in some of your videos. I've been cooking out of it for years . I've steered away from the stuffed raccoon and stewed squirrels though 😂
Syrup can also be used on waffles, pancakes, oatmeal, and yogurt . Lots cheaper than the strawberries, but not as nutritious.
Would you consider putting recipes in description so I can take screenshot? Always looking for new recipes to get out of a rut!😊 I’m enjoying this series!
You don’t need to rebrand. We love your content because we enjoy your pep and honesty!
I've been watching a few of your videos and ... I fell in LOVE with your channel. What a good way to help people make recipes under a budget when EVERYTHING is expensive. I will have to try some of your recipes. They actually look very good. Thank you for all the efforts and work you do for us. You got a NEW SUBSCRIBER ... ME 😊 Keep up your amazing work ! Sending love your way from Canada 🇨🇦❤❤❤
I love your content. It is understandable and based in reality! I am returning to work after a few years break. I'll do almost all the cooking and have had time to do it, but that will change soon. So, having a resource that I can go to for ideas and info on shopping is invaluable. There isn't a cafeteria where I work, so I need to make sure I am taking a good balanced meal and snacks with me as well as leaving some for my partner. AND having quick, easy, and healthy meals to batch cook or that will take very little time when I get home from work. Thank you for your hard work and inspiration!
I'm so glad you're here! You work hard to do creative, yummy ideas. My favorite RUclips content ❤ I just love the wholesomeness. I love fruit syrups on French toast! Apple pie filling is yummy too.
The oatmeal/granola idea was ingenious! I love that. Def got to try!!! Thanks as always
I'm so glad that was helpful!
I love the baked ravioli idea! To make it more decadent food, you can make breadcrumbs from your stale bread, mix it with salt/pepper/oregano, and then toast in butter. This would add a nice tasty crumb to the top of the dish 😊
Hi Rebecca, in my experience when I make a fruit compote from frozen fruit; I omit water. The frozen fruit tends to have plenty enough as it defrosts. We also do not strain it. I often make it out of frozen blueberries. 😊Btw I made the red beans and rice recipe with sausage; we loved it 😍
Wow! That granola topping turned out perfect! What a simple idea.
Oh my gosh those tacos looked yummy! I’m making that
Also, after you strain the strawberries to make syrup, save the fruit bits in the strainer and add to a smoothie!
thank you for the tips! I'm so glad that was helpful!
A restaurant I went to had breaded French toast. You could coat your bread in an oatmeal packet after soaking in batter. 😊 I love your videos btw!
I actually rely on your videos so much because I don’t have the time or money to try out all these different dollar tree items and thanks to you I don’t have to. You’re recipes are so good as well!
Thank you for the french toast hack of drying the bread out overnight. I love french toast, and hadn't thought of that before. Will definitely make it that way from now on. And thank you for your channel. You have no idea how much you help people. ❤
Happy to be part of the "bunch!!" So thoughtful & down to earth. Thanks for understanding we are all different, but we still have to feed ourselves & our families.
I appreciate you too!!!! I remember when I came here just to comment I was worried about you potentially using a metal spatula on nonstick. "But you were like, nah, it's not metal, I got this."
I appreciate the kind empathy you express and have enjoyed watching your channel grow.
I remember that! It’s black plastic, just a cheap set I’ve had for over a decade 😂😂
@@DollarTreeDinners keep going!!! You got this.
Oh
My
Goodness❣️❣️
I just love watching you! I appreciate your thoughtfulness towards everyone who has a need for your meal plans and recipes! God bless you❣️❣️😊♥️😘
We have a new DT with a freezer section, but the only thing I ever bought were those addictive frozen spring rolls. After watching your channel I looked around at the non-freezer area and have come home with shelf stable milk, some fat egg noodles, spices, dry beans, their last 3 jars of vegetable buillion, and more candy than I need. Thank you for expanding my boundaries.
That granola might just be a game changer. I like to do yogurt parfaits, but I can't eat a whole bag of granola before it goes bad. Thanks so much!
Cinnamon is great on all fruits. We're used to thinking of it as a warm spice to be used with fall fruits like apples and pears, but personally, I love cinnamon with strawberries (and cherries, and really any kind of berry). It helps mellow some of that tartness. That granola hack is great.
I add cinmamon heavily to fruit salads because it tastes delish and masks the inevitable browning of banana slices 😉🍌🤎
You are seriously the best budget content creator out there. Real food 😋
Another wonderful video 🙂 because of where I live and being on a tight budget I shop about once a month. One thing I always try and do is get my pantry items. Things like salt, pepper,oil, small bag of flour, small box of sugar, garlic powder, hot sauce ECT. I was wondering if you could do a budget pantry video. It might give me new ideas to add to mine. The nearest Walmart and Dollar Tree is an hour and a half from where I live. That's why I just do my major shopping once a month. I do have a dollar general here in town tho
Thank you im a senior on a fixed income your.recipies are very helpful😊
I never knew to leave the bread out overnight to dry it out for French toast, no wonder why mine comes out soggy!🤣 Thanks for the tip! Love this channel and all you do!
if you don't have the forethought to leave it out you can also dry it in a low temperature oven for a little while :)
Or very low toast setting
BTW, I learned so much for the Dollar Tree 'game' you ?created (or I made up from watching how you shop?). When I go into a non grocery store (Family Dollar, Dollar General, etc0, I try to cruise the food aisle asking - what would I make tonight. It really helps my abilty to meal plan on the fly, coming up with alternatives (always great to avoid the same old same old meals), saving money . . . basically helped me exercise my ability to think about meal plans. Thank you.
I love that you consider your viewers' preferences and requests. :)
I've been a type 1 diabetic for 20 years now, and I'm happy that you want to explore some diabetic friendly recipes. You are correct in assuming that the whole grain and low fat recommendations for diabetics are a bit outdated now. The idea back then was that almost all fat caused heart and artery issues, and diabetics are already at high risk of having those health issues, so the experts wanted to remove as much fat from the food as possible. There was also a misconception that diabetics needed a relatively low protein diet to protect our kidneys, but that is also incorrect unless the kidneys are already severely compromised. What was left after all these misconceptions was carbs, so diabetic diets in the past were, counterintuitively, very carb heavy, especially from whole grains.
Whole grains are still the recommended grains IF you are going to use grains, but a reduction in carbs is generally the new recommendation, with a heavy focus on low carb vegetables and high(er) protein meals. Fat is considered okay now in moderation, as long it's "the healthy kind." However, you generally can't really go too wrong with a low carb meal for diabetics, as long as you add some low carb vegetables and fruits. Sadly, many "greens" (especially the fruits) aren't entirely budget friendly, but some definitely are.
Low carb vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, carrots in moderation, cabbage, radishes, lettuce, celery, green beans, brussels sprouts.
Low carb fruits include all types of peppers, avocados, tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries.
I love your videos. You absolutely do not need to change the name of your channel. I don't do my shopping at Dollar Tree but I really appreciate your meal plans that can work at any store.
I absolutely love your channel. You are such a wonderful person and I know that you really care about your viewers and do all you can to help others. I'm not exactly on a budget but I'm very bad about over buying certain items and then I'm not sure what to do with them. Or food that looks good at the time (I'm looking at canned soups here....lol) but then don't use. You give me great ideas for how to use them up in creative ways. I'm against food waste of any kind so these ideas keep me from letting that food just sit there. I know that even the simple foods I buy is a luxury, so I want to make sure I'm not being wasteful. Thank you Sweet Rebecca!
one suggestion for mexican style rice... add some chicken tomato bullion with rice while cooking. i do this often then add some canned black beans.
LOL...I was just watching a older video of yours waiting for a new one to post...and up this one popped...LOL
YES, i love your channel ❤️ 💕 ♥️
I love your hair!! And of course your channel Your videos are the best and have given me so many ideas and recipes that I’ve made.❤
I love watching your videos! I have been watching you since before you went viral and have used sooo many of your recipes for myself! I’m a household of one so you are greatly valued here 🥰
The $50 budget is amazing. By using some of the budget challenges like this it has really cut down on my spending. I do get stuck in a rut on recipes. Your videos do give me more inspiration.
This series has been invaluable to me this past week. Thank you ❤😊 would you be able to get back to depression era recipes or maybe give ingredients meals??
The tacos would’ve been great as cheese quesadillas with salsa in there too!! 😋 amazing video as always 🥰
I do like when you say that you didn’t like something you created. Maybe you can do a video on how to stock a pantry. Those new to cooking or on their own for the first time might find that helpful.
Thank you for all the work you put into your videos. You are sharing recipes and recipe ideas that make tasty and filling meals. Not just well this will fill you up. I’m going to try making the granola, I love a crunchy topping for my yogurt!
Love the granola idea!! I'm definitely going to give that a try. I also loved seeing you share the ravioli "lasagna" tip. I've been making my lasagna that way for years. It's so much easier than making lasagna from scratch. I forgot to comment yesterday, but I agree with others that I would miss the Dollar Tree Dinners name if you rebranded. I don't think you content needs to be exclusively Dollar Tree meals to keep them name, so I'm glad to hear you aren't going to change it. 🙂
As for diabetic-friendly meals, they don't necessarily have to be low carb. I was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago and now eat carbs regularly thanks to a tip I learned a couple of years ago from a registered dietician who is also a certified diabetes educator. The key is to not just eat carbs on their own. They should be paired with protein and/or fiber to decrease how quickly the carbs are digested. For example, if I want a banana, I wouldn't just eat the banana on its own. I would pair it with something like peanut butter or Greek yogurt. I think eating super low carb is actually the older way of thinking when it comes to diabetes. The more recent thinking is balancing the carbs to make them more blood sugar friendly. That all being said, I do try to get my carbs from whole foods like fruit, grains, veggies, etc. I limit things like chips, candy, etc. to just an occasional treat since they are "empty" carbs.
Thank you so much for all your hard work. For your last bits of bread, I'd suggest a savory bread pudding. Maybe cheese & onion based.
I'm not sure if you read the comments- but since you don't like the french toast that you made enough to have it a second time- how about a savory french toast? We often make it for brunch and I prefer it to syrup laden versions. Simply use your eggs and milk to soak the bread, then while it's cooking sprinkle with s&p. You can go a step further with parmesan cheese, or really any cheese. The kids like it with a schmear of marinara sauce, chives and a sprinkle of italian seasoning....like faux pizza? lol Loving this series!
Omg I love your videos! You starve me to death!🤣🤣 you’re the best looking cook I’ve ever seen!!!!
I may have tried adding the yogurt to the strawberry topping. Great ideas. Thanks so much. Debi in Vicksburg, MS. 🥰🥰
“Dollar Tree-ish Dinners” popped into my head as a new-ish channel name idea but I’m in the camp that feels it’s fine as is. Love ya and thanks for what you do!!! ❤
I never would’ve thought to make boxed jambalaya but your video last week inspired me! I love your videos and see your kind heart in everything you do, thank you!
Thats the only way I make ravioli anymore, I haven't boiled it in years. I like to add bagged spinach leaves just for some healthiness, lol.
I so enjoy your content because my son is grown now so, I’m basically cooking for myself these days. However, he still has to have his Mama’s cooking, too! I appreciate your meal ideas! It’s helped me out a lot! Thank you!❤
the yogurt french toast, yes! when my son first started eating solids, i would do pretty much exactly this but with plain greek yogurt to add extra protein and calories to his meal. it always worked wonderfully.
Just tried the instant oatmeal granola with the strawberries and cream flavor....
it's probably the best granola I've ever had!
The color of your study walls is so pretty! This black bean salsa is a staple for us now, chips and salsa are my husband's favorite so it's good to have some filling protien in it and it is very versatile for my vegetarian diet!
I enjoy your videos so much. I have learned a lot. You have me feel like we are just talking in your kitchen. You are so natural. Thank you for all you do for those families on a budget trying the best they can. ❤
P.S. I watched your old videos when you were blonde. I didn’t recognize you. 😂 Love your red hair.
Heck no, don't change the name! I love this channel and love that you do meals from WalMart, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, etc. You are my go-to for tasty, inexpensive meals.
I don't use any sweetener in French toast, I like it savory. I put a bit of basil and oregano in the egg mixture. After it's cooked, I sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese while it's still really hot. It's really good.
A friend of my mother's made Cheese Surprise , a traditional grilled cheese sandwich made into French toast.
You mentioned being a resource. Yes, you are that, but I also consider you my friend!! I enjoy "cooking" with you!!
Yum that sounds good!!!
@victoriacross7090 I like it alot!! Also you can put pepperoni and or tomatoes on the sandwich.
That’s a great idea! I’ve never had savory french toast
@@hannahblume2000 It's so much better!
When you made the French toast instead of milk you can use the flavored coffee creamer. It has sugar and extra flavoring. I just tried this and it was yummy.
Great idea!!
You can add some of your liquid coffee creamer with your milk to give your French toast a differant flavor. French vanilla I can say is good
U truly are a gem. Like fr. Love your channel so so much. It’s practical, the meals are GOOD, EASY and AFFORDABLE!!!!