John, I admit, I did laugh a bit about freeze-drying Hamburger Helper. Growing up, I sure heard about it enough, saw the ads, but never had it. My mother was a great cook, did most things from scratch, and things like that were just an unneeded expense in a household that avoided expenses. Once on my own, I generally ate the same way, buying ingredients instead of prepared foods. But if you like it, and it works for you, great! I know how much you like getting things on special, saving money. So do I. As for retired at 62, good for you. I'm about to turn 60, have been retired for a while now, as is my wife who's just a few months younger than I am. I see too many people spend everything they make (and then some in many cases), staying permanently in debt and forced to work. We lived way under our means, which helped us in two ways. We saved money for retirement, of course, but we also accustomed ourselves to a less lavish lifestyle than most people in our income range. I wish more people would understand just how powerful that double-benefit of frugal living really is.
My mom was a good cook and my grandparents were even better. So much so that I dedicated my last recipe book to them since they inspired me so much in the kitchen, As for the HH when I was a young pup and married we lived on HH and rice a roni. The military didn't pay much and that is what we could afford. A very cheap meal. 1 pound of hamburger and a box of HH. Was yummy then and still is for me now. At todays prices there is no way I could have made these 32 meals for under 40.00 from scratch. Thanks for watching!
@@JohnInBibs LOL, I feel even more in common with you! My father's mother was a good cook, but my *mother's* mother was actually trained in a Parisian cooking school, and her cooking was outstanding. When I was first married (and soon with a child), I was also making little (
did I hear you say you retired. well, just congratulations.. I also do some hamburger helper but mine mostly consist of leftovers so far. I take all my leftovers from supper and bag them up, then when I get enough of whatever I fd them as single portions. I hope to do larger batches. my son in law loves hamburger helper.
Great idea. Like it. I’ve freeze dried many a box of potatoes au gratin which has worked out great. I also like how realistic your meal portions are. Great video
Hey John, If you stir once, then just move the pouch up and down, the noodle won’t dissolve. This is also the method we’ve always used for gluten free pasta as well. 😃 Happy Retirement!
Yep, great minds do think alike. It was Stroganoff and Beef Pasta that I had made and FD’d. I remember adding shredded cheese to something, but I had several boxes of hamburger helper and didn’t FD everything. With a Small FD, I can only get 2 pounds per tray and didn’t have the room you do. I cooked something up separately, but can’t recall what I added cheese to. I wish I had thought about adding mushrooms to the Stroganoff, that sounds good and it wasn’t until I read up on it, that I found out mushrooms is what most of it has (often without noodles). I also wish I had a Price Chopper near me, it seems they have the good stuff on sale quite a bit. Walmart is the cheapest place near me, everywhere else is too expensive. Huh, you’re older than me! I figured with all the talk about going to work in previous videos that I was the older one. I’m retired too, but that’s because I’m disabled and have been on Social Security Disability since 2019. Welcome to retirement! Have you run into the “problem” of trying to figure out when you ever found the time to go to work yet? 🤣
Not sure why your videos haven’t been showing up in my feed. I bought HH spaghetti on clearance. Never again. It was so disgusting. No wonder it was on clearance. It doesn’t taste anything like all the other HH flavors. Never thought to add ‘shrooms to the stroganoff. For a richer flavor, how do you think it would taste if you diluted heavy cream or half and half in the water? Happy retirement by the way! Quick and easy meals makes for more time for play! Hope you’re spending retirement doing whatever you love. I turned 64 in February, and I’m trying to hold out til I’m 67 for my retirement. Hopefully 2 1/2 years will fly by!
@@JohnInBibs that sounds amazing. It’s always good to have a hobby or two. I have too many of them, lol! Between my chickens, the garden, crafting, sewing canning and freeze drying….I can’t afford to retire 😆
Congratulations on the retirement. If you were using 80% beef, would you drain and rinse the hamburger? Just a note, when freeze drying hamburger, I have rinsed with broth made from bouillon. I think that helps retain some flavor. But I am wondering if I need to rinse when putting in a recipe. Thanks!!
The verdict is out on 80%. I don't use it but I have seen others who have been fding do it both ways. Some swear you don't have to rinse and others swear that you do need to, I used to rinse my 93% but no longer do. Sorry not much help there but I would hate to advise you incorrectly.
@@JohnInBibs thanks. I think it also has to do with storage conditions. If you can keep it in a cooler location, it probably does ok. Maybe not 25 years, though.
I just recently started. Mainly to save space. I do like to vacuum because if anything has a leak it becomes obvious. It really is a matter of what you like to do though, I have no problem doing it either way
Check for used ones. I just sold mine because I went with another brand and sold it for $1500. Still a lot of money but it saved me that much and much more
