SHORTCUTS to make EASY, QUICK MEALS // WHAT I BUY TO MAKE DINNER FAST! 

Yes! I loved watching Semi homemade! And 30 minute meals with Rachel Ray! We can’t always spend hours in the kitchen. Shortcuts is def a necessity most evenings!

An alternative title to this video is “How I cooked dinner the first few years of my marriage when I was 19 and didn’t know how to cook!” 😂 I swear we lived on Hamburger Helper and Rice A Roni.

I 💯 agree with you on frozen/canned. Most "fresh fruit and vegetables" are picked before they are ripe or even frozen ice stored

I'm going to show your videos to my teens, they don't love to scratch cook (yet), but I think this would be a great help to them. Thanks!

Thank you, Mindy for recommending and validating the use of convenience ingredients and semi-homemade meals! I love to cook from scratch but I work lots of hours and am simply too tired to cook EVERY meal from scratch. I made a southwestern pasta dish similar to one of your recent recipes this weekend and really enjoyed the simplicity and it allowed me time to spend doing things other than cooking!

I love Hamburger Helper Stroganoff, I use Impossible ground, and I add in a finely chopped onion to the ground, then add the helper, it is really good, you can also cook up some mushrooms to add, or use the mushrooms instead of any meat. I make mac and cheese [store brand] then add 2/3 cup sweet basil marinara sauce [Catelli], then we use a personal size can of chili infused light tuna, yummy, quick meal. also we use parm cheese [grated]

My favorite quick muffin is yellow cake mix and a can of pumpkin. I add walnuts or pecans sometimes too. And make it at whatever the box says. So moist and a great quick breakfast. And it’s vegan!

Yes!!! A Mindy and Jen video will be awesome 👏👏👏

I just made a frozen tortellini meal with some sauce, Rotel, and homemade meatballs (which were made months ago and in the freezer). I didn't know 2 other people would be eating with us so I made up some canned green beans as well and the meal fed us all, 4 adults. I love the frozen pastas!

Microwave baked potatoes are the only way to go! I didn’t know people baked them regularly. ?? 6-10 min and it’s done and delish!

I use these shortcut-scratch, semi-homemade tips often. One of my favorites is using a rice-a-roni type box mix (I use the Aldi brand), any flavor, and, once prepared, extend it with plain white cooked rice. I also add various ingredients like a vegetable or two (frozen broccoli, kale, or spinach are faves), extra seasonings to taste, and a protein or beans. I find the boxed mix a tad too salty and seasoned, and this extends the meal to feed more people plus I like the favor more.

You mentioned slicing the cooked sausage/kielbasa, and putting it in a skillet with BBQ sauce. We do this, but add ranch dressing too. Very good.

I never thought to buy frosting from a store’s bakery! I always learn new things from you.

My husband loves that tortellini! We all do. I make it about once a week. I also get that frozen broccoli every week.

These types of "convenience" meals saved me many nights when I was working full time and everyone got home "starving" about the same time.

Mindy, when I make a good cake I always do the semi-homemade cakes. I use the cake mix, 3oz. Instant pudding mix depending on the flavor of the cake. I usually make my frosting but if I don't have the time to make frosting I just buy it.

I have difficulty cutting due to an injury to my right hand. When I need cabbage I just use bagged coleslaw

Thanks for the video!! I’ve been binging your content the last few days. Also, your hair looks SOO good in this video!!!

Hamburger Helper is the 🐐. I stretch it by using a little less hamburger, but add a little more milk and water plus some no yolk noodles (they cook in the same time!). Makes enough for myself and my daughter plus two leftover meals!

Made the enchilada dish tonight. We used chicken taquitos as I do not eat beef. It was amazing. Definitely will make again

As someone who doesn't like buttercream I have purchased the elite icing from my grocery store bakery. It's the name they use for the cool whip based frosting

I loved all your ideas and concepts! This fits my lifestyle! Hope you will do more!

I love watching your videos, I am not a mom yet, but we are in the process of trying, and your videos are so encouraging!!! I keep thinking about my friends who eat lots of all organic, nothing frozen or canned, and I get so worried thinking I'm going to be a bad mom because, well we eat what I've listed above. Thank you for being a good roll model and being so encouraging! 🥰

Love your shorter haircut ❤️

Short cut meals are needed especially during school time. Thank you!

Thank you for all the easy ideas! So timely with school and holidays coming up fast . Super excited about the upcoming collab with Jen Chapin. ❤️

I love these shortcut meals! Things have gotten busy over here at our house, so I’ve definitely been making some more shortcut type meals recently.

Most restaurants don’t really cook a lot of things from scratch either, they buy many things from food suppliers… So if they can do it, so can we. 🙇🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙆🏻‍♀️

Would you consider doing a gluten free budget video? Gluten free items are expensive and I could use some new ideas.

This was a really helpful video! I loved watching Semi Homemade on the Food Network. Thank you so much for sharing.

Love this video! I’m always looking for shortcuts. Can’t wait to try the taquito dish. Brilliant idea!

I just recently, last week as a matter of fact, purchased taquitos and they were such a game changer. I was so excited to see these in your video. Great item to make quick meals with.

Great ideas. Thank you!

Love your Hair, MINDY!! Thanks for quick & budget meals. God bless you,MINDY & your family!!

I love Sandra Lee!! I always think you are so good at giving me ideas about how to better approach meals for my family! Thank you!!

Love this! Great ideas, as always. I also cook mainly from scratch, but shortcuts are needed and welcomed!! Thanks again for another awesome video. I love your haircut/color, very cute!

I loved alot of your prepared food ideas Mindy. I thought the taquito enchilada dish and the ravioli lasagna were both great sounding and very easy to put together recipes.

Thank you for the meal ideas and I'm loving your hair in this video ❤️

Haha, I totally used cheapo Ramen as a sort-of shortcut tonight. I sautéed a bell pepper and a few mushrooms in sesame and olive oils, added the noodles and their packets, some soy sauce, fried an egg in it, and added a bit of cheese on top. It was yummy, and not completely unhealthy. I would love more videos like this, and I’d love more demonstrations of actually using those ingredients-the visual helps cement the idea in my mind.

That taquito bake looks amazing ! I have always cooked semi homemade ! You get to be so creative that way and it’s delicious ! Thank you for the great ideas !

I'm glad I watched this video. I was planning on a quick clean out of my freezer for dinner tonight and I know have taquitos (very few left in the box) in there. I totally intend on trying to recreate something similar with them. Thank you!

I started making these pizza braids, a few months ago. Great recipe.

Going go try this next weekend ;) yours look great! Love watching your videos.. you have my support 🙏💪

I loved her show semi-homemade. Tfs

Love the ideas! I’ve made the lazy enchiladas recipe by Salty Cocina and they were incredible… I love your idea with the rice though… gonna have to try that too!

Love your videos thanks ❤️ 😊 this is great thanks 😊

This is how I cook ALOT of the time - maybe I’m just LAZY🤔😬 lolol. Honestly, I know stay at home Mom’s who don’t even cook EVERYTHING from scratch - WHO the heck has THAT kind of time??! 😎. Always appreciate your time AND money saving ideas! Have a blessed day

Also another frugal way to frost cakes is to use instant pudding and 1 3/4 cup milk. Combinations are endless.

Wow the dinner looks delicious 😋 I will have to try that TFS! Also your hair it looks great!

I love your new look! So fun 🤩. Great video as always. Thank you for sharing ❤️

💙💙 looks amazing 🙂

Love the new hair and brows. Great meal ideas. Thank you.

Yes!! Totally remember that show!! Haha

Looking forward to seeing your video with Jen. I enjoy her recipes and have been watching her channel for a while.

we have a local grocery store here in Utah that makes Delicious butter cream and cream cheese icing that I frequently buy-especially over the holiday for parties or get togethers. I'll make homemade cookies and buy their icing! It's great! I've also been known to just pick up their bakery cookies and icing for kids to decorate with friends at playdates and such to keep it simple and easy!

Love your new hairstyle! And great video as always - packed with good ideas!

Great video.. I make that taquito recipe all the time.. so easy and good!!

I loved how Sandra Lee had themes to her dinners. I wish that show and 30 Minute Meals with Rachel Ray would come back on.

Awesome recipes ideas, thanks for sharing 🎃🎃🎃

I remember watching that show with Sandra Lee. I do that same trick with the cake mix. But I usually try to make my own icings.

I love the taquito dish.

I make a Stromboli with homemade dough and left overs all the time. It works with lasagna, sloppy joes, chili, taco meat. If you have enough for about 1/3 of a family meal, wrap it in dough and you will have enough for the whole family.

Oh wow I haven't thought about Sandra Lee in years! Great video as always. Love your hair!

Great video!

I do remember the show Semi Homemade!! With 6 kids thats the way i cooked and still do.

The Taquito casserole was extremely interesting!❤

Loved the taquito recipe. I’d love to see more of these semi homemade meals!

I just used a roll of pizza dogh to make a taco pizza type casserole! Love keeping canned dogh on hand!

Yes I love these videos! Thanks Mindy :)

Good ideas!!

I used to love that show!! 😂

Love your hair, Mindy.

I LOVED that show with Sandra Lee / Semi-Homemade

Walmart use to sell the big container of buttercream frosting in the specialty baking aisle or with the wedding supply section. I just saw it posted at my local Walmart so maybe try looking at yours.

Mindy and family have a great week have fun thanks from Oklahoma

I loved that show

Your new hair style looks so good to you 👍

Although they all sound great ( some I already do) that taquito one looks really, really good and easy.

As for the chicken you can get it at Costco for under $5 bigger and better than Walmart

Great ideas

I buy most of these items regularly. Especially, as a mom of young children, this is the best idea to get quick, healthy dinners on the table when everyone is screaming MOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!! Thank you for having a place for us exhausted parents.

I didn’t know you can buy icing from the bakery ! Good idea.

Thanks

great video 😊

I am trying to eat a keto diet at the moment just to try a few food options but I still love watching you videos because you are such a positive person........Also unlike others I am not inerested in browsing clothing stores but I have a real fascination as to what Americans can buy in their supermarkets......Even for Australian standards by local supermarket is small and the range they have there is downright boring.......I travel and extra 20 minutes just do get to a supermarket with a bigger choice of food.

Hello from Norway. Nice video.

Outstanding

Great video and ideas

I am LOVING your videos, I devour them (pun intended) every night when I'm nursing my baby lol Do you have a recipe for that sheet pan tortellini and veggies?

Those bottles of Slap Ya Mama spice over your shoulder made me laugh out loud.

I love that I can adjust these recipes since I"m only cooking for one. I'd use an 8X8 pan and one of those pre-cooked bowls of rice for the taquito casserole. I love making the lasagna with ravioli recipe when I'm in the mood for something Italian.

Hi which dip did you use for chicken salad? Thanks Mindy Jennifer 🤗🍁

Veggies are flash frozen at picking time…so the nutrients are way better and fresher !

I watched semi homemade in high school lol

I'm going to have to try that taquito casserole I'm wondering if my youngest is autistic will even eat it he has food issues so it's hit and miss with him

Mmmmmpepperjack 😋😋😋 I’m sitting here talking to the screen and agreeing with whatever you’re saying lol

Does any one know if you need to spray your dish before adding the minute rice. It’s what’s for dinner tonight, can’t wait!!👍🏻

I loved the show Semi,-Homemade with Sandra Lee! I also have a cookbook by a shopping channel host that is the same concept and it uses what he terms supermarket shortcuts which I think is a great thing. It's a terrific balance between still cooking at home but yet saving you some of the time that you need to depending upon which season of life you are in at a given time. When I was working before my stroke, there were nights that I would come home and not feel like cooking for my just myself so I would have cereal and toast for dinner or eggs and toast or something like that simple but I tried to do better and one shortcut I use is my indoor grill. I did a happy accident one night with frozen chicken breasts because I hadn't thawed any out. Did you know that if you take a frozen chicken breast and put it on an indoor grill (AKA a George Foreman) and cook it it comes out very moist and delicious. It takes a little bit longer to cook it when it's frozen but it's great. I could put a couple of frozen chicken breasts in, throw in a bag of the frozen vegetables in the microwave or maybe make a microwave baked potato and I would have a reasonably nutritious dinner in 20 minutes or less with leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day. I could come home throw things in the microwave and on the indoor grill and then go get my clothes changed and take care of the dogs and then by the time I was done with that, dinner was almost ready. I'm also a huge fan of frozen vegetables and fruit. I love buying the 4 lb bags of frozen sliced strawberries and blueberries from Sam's Club. They are good value and are quite tasty. Same goes for frozen vegetables. Very simple to have ready in just a few minutes and a great way to get an easy vegetable into your diet. Thanks for this content, Mindy! I have to say I think this coming weekend's football game between Oklahoma and Nebraska will not be pretty for us Husker fans given all the upheaval over the weekend. I just hope it's not too embarrassing for us! But I will be watching l, cheering for the Big Red!!🏈🏟️

more semi homemade stuff please

Honey I'm 25 years old and I still remember Semi Homemade with Sandra