MEAL IDEAS FOR WHEN MONEY IS TIGHT 

OMG this looks so delicious I cannot wait to try making it. I love your videos and the way you explain things in your calm voice❤

I make those lentils but thicker and stir in fried onions and serve over rice. Very cheap and delicious with a ton of protein! I will try it as soup too.

Have you ever made spaghetti aglio e olio? It's just spaghetti tossed together with garlic fried in olive oil, and it's delicious!

Yay! Hi neighbor! Having my cup of coffee while watching this. Delicious, affordable, and easy as always. ❤

Good morning Michelle. Wish I had known about the zucchini earlier this week as my zucchini was getting soft and I couldn't think of a good way to use it. Lol. I will definitely try this next time.

LOVE LOVE LOVE your videos. you probably think we must be getting sick of them BUT WE ARE NOT ! Dont stop being you and experimenting with food and combinations and different countrys and and and... just dont stop !

Love soup ! So inexpensive and easy to turn most ingredients or even leftovers into a delicious soup.

I've just about tried all the Larabar flavors over the years. The holiday flavors are nice when you can catch them. They have gingerbread and pumpkin spice. Quite yummy!

The “over-toasted” garlic bread is just how I like it. Super crunchy

I always look forward to your videos. It helps me to meal plan for the week. Those wraps last week were delicious! Love the way you make all the food so attractive. It is true that we eat first with our eyes. :-)

I always freeze my ginger. It's so easy to grate just what I need while it's frozen and toss the rest back into the freezer.

It’s always such a pleasure to see your videos!!! I’m just not a pasta fan but I can definitely get on board with the lentil soup!!! I love lentils in any form! Lentil meatballs are one of my favorite things!! Happy Sunday Michelle!!!❤

I could be full as a tick, but I always get hungry watching you make delicious food. Thanks for some more great ideas❤

Stale bread is great for dipping in soups or sauces. It soaks up all that juicy awesome flavour.

It is super easy to make homemade Lara bars. That might make a great video!

I love tomatoes too. Sometimes I'll just have two or three tomato slices with some salt and pepper sprinkled on them as a snack. Here in the South they have tomato sandwiches. It's just some mayo and tomatoes on bread.

What was it you used for your garlic bread? Haven’t heard of it - what is it and where do you buy?

I bought some lentils-now I just have to cook and try them! Thanks for your motivation and instruction- I’m betting they will taste good! ♥️🇺🇸♥️

Yummy meals Michelle. I make pasta the same way. Hope you can get a big pumpkin cheap and make some soup.

I had'nt thought of mixing nutritional yeast with olive oil and than toasting it on a roll to make garlic bread. Great idea . I have used the Parm. Of course . Ive noticed the Nutritional yeast also has a good amt of protien in relation to the serving size. Thanks again for your videos !

Gonna start to use more lentils. Soup looks delicious! Love those flavors!❤😊

💟 👩‍🍳 Michelle it’s always good to see you and I so enjoy all your ideas and tips. SOUP season is year round for me. One pot cooking and a few ingredients go a long way. I love lentils especially the red ones. I haven’t tried a tomato based version yet. Ginger is ingredient in many things. My aunt introduces me to a delicious butternut squash soup and paper thin garnish of ginger at serving time with toasted day old bread with a bit of olive oil a rub of garlic. Potatoes are so satisfying in soup. I often have left over breakfast potatoes and sausage when I dind out and always have chopped onion in the fridge. I sauté the left overs and add them as a garnish on lentil or black bean soup. Veggie sausages work well too. I am an intermittent vegetarian. Have a week full of blessings my friend 🩵.

I didn't know that Walmart changed its prices nationwide. I can get pasta for 98 cents a lb here!

When I first saw the title I did a double take because I thought it said, Meals that make you broke. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

You are part of my Sunday. I love your video. My sweet son died this week. He was 42yrs and they think he died from a diabetic coma.

Always love the simple ingredients

Yay

I over bought meatballs (10-4 pound bags!) to make for my sisters funeral and still have 5 pounds left so always looking for recipes that calls for them lol so that soup I will have to try! I used to by the large variety pack of those Lara bars from Amazon and you're right, they are delicious! Thanks for the great video Michelle!❤

Great ideas! Thanks.

Thanks Michelle! I LOVE Larabars! Pretty much all of the flavors! 🤩😋😍

Hi Michelle, the ginger looks so good. I need to go back to Winco on Wednesday and get some plant based meatballs, ginger, and crushed tomatoes. I am not sure if I have red lentils. I might. I bought some whole wheat spaghetti and some red lentil pasta. I am going to have to work with my caregiver on making these things. She is Mexican and makes great Mexican food, but she has never followed a recipe and is uncomfortable cooking outside of her comfort zone. We will learn together. I don't have room for a toaster oven unless I buy the Dash brand mini version, lol. But, I do have an air fryer. Oh, I almost forgot, I don't love fall as much as I used to anymore since i have been living in Washington and for two years North Dakota. Fall season tells me that the freezing temperatures and snow are coming. Brrr. I grew up in California. Two years in Bishop, the rest in San Bernardino county. So fall there is not so bad since winter is mild except for places like Bishop. 😂 Thank you for sharing.

Love soup! I've been making a fennel, onion or leek and potato soup. Slice the fennel thin and sautee\carmelize with the onions then add broth , potato, and carots, maybe thin sliced cabbage or kale. I've also added turkey sausage and used chicken broth and sometimes cream, but it actually still tastes good as a vegan soup without that stuff. Cheers to soup season! 🍲

When you were talking about needing your soup to be satiating, I feel the same. I like ti put some in my ninja to make it feel thicker. Have you ever put lentils in your spaghetti sauce? I use them instead of ground beef sometimes. Good stuff today!

I've added grated carrots, celery, any frozen veggies, or a can of beans (drained). Pass the Parmesan. Lentils and rice are a frequent meal here. Tina, Al's wife

I have found a jar of ground ginger and garlic at the grocery store that is very convenient to add to soups. It elevates the flavour big time. It's probably cheaper than buying fresh garlic and ginger and is very convenient, but may have additives.

Breaded zucchini sticks are one of my all time favourite things! We have a restaurant that serves them with a ranch dressing dip. I always order ‘zoo sticks’ when we are there 😊

Still too hot here (Henderson, Nv) for soup but hopefully in a month it’ll be cool enough. Does look yummy!

A pinch of sugar in the marinara really takes it up a notch.

I appreciate how you include healthy ingredients (lentils, zucchini, tomatoes, spinach, carrots, etc.) in your recipes. (I buy the ingredients, but they don't always get eaten before they go bad...)

Another simple way to use zucchini is make strips (I use a potato peeler) and lightly sautee them with olive oil and garlic, then serve on top of pasta, sprinkled with black pepper and parmesan. Quick simple summer supper, great for if your garden is over producing zucchini!

nomnomnom 😊

I love your white Dutch oven pot! I also love that you give us lunch box and snack ideas that are different from the typical stuff. Enjoy moving into soup weather!!!

Yum! Looks just like Rao’s marinara sauce. I made your garlicky lemon spaghetti dish yesterday for lunch and dinner.

Yummy video. Love your ideas. Definitely gourmet but on budget...it just doesn't feel like budget

Just one meatball on that spaghetti please! 1/4 lb big meatball! Need to use up a zucchini, will do it like you did in the air fryer

Thank you for these. I’m definitely trying the lentil one. I love the color of your nails! I don’t normally notice things like that! Lol

A Larabar with a cup of coffee or tea is a nice afternoon treat. I agree, the cherry Larabar is good, it must be the added dates. Thanks for this morning’s video.

When I did Whole 30, Lara Bars were allowed so I tried several different ones which were on the list. I liked them but they were a little high in calories.

As always good ideas with the tomatoes. It’s also a recipe for when you have no money but have pasta and canned tomatoes and some basic spices.

Thanks for some more great ideas. I love soups too. They are really delicious, cheap, and healthy all at the same time.

That’s exactly how I do my pasta sauce. ❤ Great video and ideas!

The shot of your finished spaghetti on the plate looked like a magazine pic. So pretty !

Looks delicious.

I use petite diced tomatoes with Italian herbs or garlic/oil (Walmart) in most of my sauces and soups anymore. I'm thinking about getting a 2qt crockpot to try making soup for one. Have you tried growing ginger? It's a beautiful plant. That root looks ready to plant.

great ideas

Love soup we are going into summer i can eat it at 40c,love your channel.

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Yay!!!❤

Hi Michelle, Yes, 🍁 fall is my favorite season of the year. I really get my soup ideas going, today we are having chili and cornbread 😋. I love lentils and that soup you made looks so good, I will have to go back and watch my collection of soups you have made for a reminder. I can literally eat one kind of soup after another and never tire of it. Soups are generally very budget friendly so that's always good. Also an excuse to eat more bread too. 🍞🍞🍞🍞🍞❣️❣️

Love these simple fresh recipes! Just curious.... Why do you add the pasta water to the sauce? Thanks!!!

I make lentil soup almost like yours, a little bit more lentils and I also add potatoes. To serve we have lemon juice and that makes all the difference! Love it. Great video!

I dip my crumb coated baked zucchini, in a yogurt horseradish mixture

Thanks for your videos

They look delicious. When money is tight, nothing beats pasta or soup.

The Lara bars are good if they're on sale. Pecan Pie is the best IMO. Kind bars are as qell, the chocolate cherry is almost like a candy bar. For a while, I had to give them up bc my body decided it didn't like chicory, which is in almost everything. But in small doses, I can take it

Your videos are like a warm hug ❤

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

I love soup season !!!

Everything looked great!

I add a splash of balsamic vinegar to my pasta sauce. Adds a great added flavor to it.

I love soup in the cooler months, which is coming up very soon here in the Midwest! Yum!

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love it

Always glad to get recipes that can be made inexpensively. I don't know if it's just my computer or if others have experienced the same thing. Despite having the volume on both the video and my computer at 100%, I can barely hear what you are saying - are you whispering?

love soups, especially on cool days...

Did you know you can save your pasta water and use it to thicken other dishes. It doesn’t change the flavor…the starch left in the pasta water will help thicken a sauce, a soup, etc. also, I use Melissa d’Arabian’s recipe for my pasta sauce. I just adjust it a little if I do not have everything she puts in. The main thing is using onion, garlic sautéed in bacon drippings, then add tomato paste and water( here is where you could use some of that pasta water). Now add in your seasonings: garlic salt, black pepper, few red pepper flakes, basil, oregano and little sugar( or diced up carrots if watching sugar). She adds in some wine( sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t). Of course she adds in ground beef( I add in a little ground breakfast sausage). The tomato paste thickens and gives depth of flavor. Here is her ingredients: carrots, celery, onion,garlic, bacon, olive oil, thyme, squeeze of lemon juice,pinch of cinnamon, salt, pasta water, pepper, tomato paste, red wine, parmesan cheese and one lb of ground beef. Serves with 14oz box of spaghetti. States she has leftovers after it serves four. She also adds her pasta straight from pot of cooking it in to sauce. I save my Parmesan rinds to flavor my sauce so it stretches my cheese farther. Plus, You could probably use a sprinkle of the nutritional yeast instead of the real cheese. There are options for lactose free cheeses at Whole Foods. I just bought: feta, cream cheese, cheese slices, they have shreds that you can use to make pizzas or your bread. I usually do not add all my sauce to the meat or meat to sauce. I will use it to make homemade pizza, or pasta bakes, and I will use any leftover sauce, add in little meat to make filling for stuffed bell peppers. Sometimes I add in a few black beans, green peas and very small amount of corn to make it more Mexican. I top mine with small pieces of bacon…but I have noticed a lot of people use cheese. Planning this all with just one pound of meat. The bacon I would use for the pizzas and peppers and just use the oil for the sauce. Also, if you have the carrots on hand make some cream of carrot & Ginger soup. Then I would use the carrots and crushed tomatoes for some homemade tomato soup. My son loves cheesy homemade bread- pizza sticks to dip in his soup. You can buy a round ball of pizza dough for $1.00 at Aldi. Makes up just right size of sticks or medium size pizza. This should cover a family of four for a weeks worth of meals. Get one dough ball extra and make a dessert pizza! Hope some of this helps. 😅

Honestly, I like the presence of tomato seeds and peels in my sauce! More natural, more fibre, plus, I get to use the tomatoes I’ve grown…

Why can’t you have cheese? 😭