1980s BUDGET RECIPES 😋 Money Saving Meals for Families

[@vikkizoo1]

In 1980…81 I won a blue ribbon at the county fair for my twice baked potato…I still have the ribbon 😂

[@cooking_the_books]

I love that you still have the ribbon! 😊

[@yolandaponkers1581]

That is so awesome and good for you!!! Congrats on your win! ❤

[@jenniferruiz5250]

Can we have the recipe for your twice baked potatoes?

[@catherinedecota6039]

⁹​@@cooking_the_books

[@vikkizoo1]

@@jenniferruiz5250 I believe it’s on the tag attached to the ribbon. I’m out of state right now when I get home I’ll look. If it’s still there I’ll share. 🌈🌈🦋🦋

[@macsarcule]

Oh man, instantly recognized that cookbook! I totally forgot it! Yes, the somber, serious look. It was like “stop being fun, we’re being fancy now.” And the brown, yes. The 80s were very brown and beige. That dayglo / neon thing didn’t really get going until like 87/88. I’m always like “_yes_” when I see a modern depiction of a properly brown and beige 80s tv show or movie. It was not colorful! Also grew up in a small town (my graduating class was 17 kids) and the lunches were almost entirely made from scratch. Oh the dinner rolls they made. So soft and good. School lunch was very tasty at my elementary school. Wonderful dishes! Lots of memories in this one 🙂

[@cooking_the_books]

THANK YOU. The 80s were definitely brown! 😆I think season 1 of Stranger Things depicts the 1980s in the way I remember it and they do it so well.

[@cherylkostreba9131]

Love your program 😁 No shopping just prices and you eating what you cooked. Your very relatable. 👌

[@jokelly1762]

I could eat that broccoli casserole right this minute. 😊

[@bethhelminiak5063]

No officer, no crimes against humanity or deliciousness happening here!😅 Love you, Anna, thanks for the inspiration! ❤

[@donnareed-f8h]

well, dear, I just love your videos, your merry laughter, your apron, all the things!

[@cooking_the_books]

Thank you! ❤

[@AB2B]

The hamburger rice recipe reminded me a bit of American Goulash, but most definitely is super easy stuffed peppers. lol Delicious! Know what I'm making tomorrow night.

[@CharlottePrattParrott]

You never fail to make me smile. The twice baked potatoes is a perfect recipe for people who live alone. Love from an old lady in Georgia.❤🙏🏻🕊️

[@redrooster1908]

Thanks for cooking all these dishes so we can too. Doubly happy you are bringing back all things "cool and groovy" into our lives😂😂 (I just turned 60).

[@bbymks5]

Baked potato bar was my favorite lunch day at work.

[@rhiannonrecommends]

Can I just say how refreshing it is that you don't make a bit out of saying the word Worcestershire 😊

[@LesleyMVA]

I completely agree!!!

[@njsmkmmsthatsit3518]

And me...

[@pattycake8272]

Funny, I thought that too

[@Sarah-qt3vi]

Ha! Totally.

[@pattycake8272]

@@bonnieJoan77 your opinion means nothing here. Lol

[@stephaniepapaleo9001]

Loved this series and brought back memories of being comforted by a warm potato, ham cheese casserole and stuffed/unstuffed peppers and eating with my whole family, sharing our day. ❤ your channel really is nostalgic and fun! I’m learning that it’s ok to just have a few ingredients on hand, we can still eat a hearty dinner!❤

[@TaraannBudgetsandSelf-Care]

It's real life. You don't need to be serious. I love how honest and pure you are.

[@cherriaydelotte8327]

Refreshing,isn’t it!!! 🥰😃🤗

[@cooking_the_books]

A while back I was watching a video from another cookbook collector. They featured a book that according to them, "was not a book for serious collectors." I had to laugh because I definitely have TWO COPIES of that very book in my collection! 😂 I'm pretty sure this person didn't necessarily say this with mean intentions, but it made me giggle.

[@adrianstevens656]

I agree. Anna, you are just amazing 😊

[@ciral2872]

These recipes from the 70’s and 80’s are lovely a stroll down Memory Lane. 😊

[@SetCCC]

My mom used to make goulash which I still love. I think that was her go to simple cost effective dinner.

[@lashortyislabonita623]

Love the budget meals series and loved all the recipes in this video. I will definitely be making all of them.. ❤❤❤I was a teenager back in the 80’s and all our school lunches were cooked in the school cafeteria..

[@josephgioielli]

"Stock up if your scupermarket offers double coupons. Buy extra copies of the newspaper to get more coupons." I can still remember my mom and grandmother clipping coupons at the kitchen table.

[@edie4321]

I would no longer eat anything these corporations are promoting. My local Smiths was giving away free drinking water. The ad had the gallon of water with a tube of toothpaste next to it. This tolds me the water was heavily fluoridated and to pass. There are lawsuits going to have the very poisonous and never beneficial fluoride from our water. These corporations are not our friends.

[@Mommee77]

The cheesy broccoli bake would be a good way to use up some leftover chicken or turkey by adding it in.

[@cooking_the_books]

For sure, either of those would be great additions. 😋

[@happygardener28]

@@cooking_the_books my mom would do this with red sweet peppers, onions and any left over meat. But I don't remember the cottage cheese, so I'll have to give that twist a try.

[@rosezingleman5007]

I was thinking the same thing. I dislike tuna, but it looks like something that tuna or canned chicken would be great in? Maybe diced ham? Yum!

[@Adventures-with-Sisters]

Or ham.

[@kathytweedale6864]

Enjoying your videos from my home here in the UK, but I am an American expat. My Mom cooked many dishes similar to those you have shown on your channel. Makes me very nostalgic. Thanks Anna, you’re the best! ❤

[@Thisisit120]

I would love if you did this again this was so much fun. And there’s always old recipes out there right😊

[@MelindaWalker-p4x]

Thanks so much for this video series - I had that book in the 80’s and our food budget for2 was 15 dollars a week. We ate like kings on pennies

[@mariapaulastepanian9930]

How wonderful your channel is dear Anna! Thank you so much for all your hard work!❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@jamesallen01]

I do baked potatoes all the time. If you get a big fat one, it's really filling and being inexpensive is also a big bonus. Something about a baked potato is so comforting to me. I've actually never had it with broccoli, but I think I'll finally give it a try since I have some leftover ham I need to do something with. I also think I remember having that ground beef rice bake. Definitely sounds like something my mom would have done, and it's not too bad either.

[@Toad-In-A-Puddle]

I love mixing in my vintage PYREX bowls because the smaller of the 2 grab handles functions fairly well as a pour spout. FYI for viewers: PYREX labelling in all capital letters is vintage. Pyrex spelled with lower case lettering is modern.

[@BloodSweatandFears]

Oh thanks! I had no idea 😅

[@stuartpierce121]

Boy I feel old when 80s is vintage lol. I am 58 so I was a teen in early 80s! Thanks Jennifer 😊

[@angelaschaefer5883]

I am 51 years old and yes I feel very old.

[@stuartpierce121]

@@angelaschaefer5883 I get it lol Jennifer 😁

[@sheilagadde5975]

Good memories with the Twice Baked Potatoes.

[@lisapop5219]

I never had baked potatoes in school, much less a choose your own adventure potatoes. That would have been awesome

[@cooking_the_books]

I feel so lucky, most of our cafeteria food was really tasty!

[@katherinestojanovski6734]

Me neither ☹️. Anna was a lucky girl. My sons would lose their minds if they ever had the chance to have a baked potato situation at school, let alone, being able to choose a topping! That’s why I pack their lunches everyday.

[@strawberriesandsugarcubes]

I love that you called them “choose your own adventure” potatoes! I am going to call them that from now on 🩷

[@dianestroud8006]

I really liked the ideas for meatless dishes. Good for me for Lent & for my daughter in law who eats primarily vegetarian!

[@Yamp44]

I love making twice bake potatoes where I mix the flesh of the potatoes with devilled ham sandwich filling. I really love this idea of using mustard in the mix to make it more tangy. I'll have to try that!

[@gopugmama4408]

I love your budget meal recipes! Growing up in the 60s, with depression era parents, my mom never wasted anything. And, she was a great cook as well. My favorite dish my grandma made me was chip beef on toast, a recipe she had from the 40s. My Dad would not touch it, because he had too much of it in the Navy, lol!😂 He was not a picky eater at all, but there were two things he did not care and that was chip beef and mashed turnips. Thank you, Anna, for taking us down memory lane. Keep doing more vintage recipes, I love it. You are the sweetest cook and are well loved by this community!💖

[@cooking_the_books]

Thank you for your kind comment! ❤ I used to visit my grandparents for 2 weeks when school was out for the summer. Every single time I requested my grandma make creamed chipped beef on toast as one of the special meals I got to choose!

[@lisahinton9682]

This channel balways takes me back to my youth. Love your channel, Anna.

[@cooking_the_books]

Thank you! ❤

[@amandaobrien804]

Anna, you’re delightful! I’m watching you in mid-summer here in Melbourne Australia. Much of what you make is the stuff of 60s and 70s American sitcoms, and not the food I grew up on (although as a kid in the 1970s, I did have a copy of Betty Crocker’s Cooking for Boys and Girls which I loved). I find your videos comforting and very entertaining. Thank you!

[@Soniawithani]

I loved the series! I enjoyed all the videos. I giggled when the police sirens sounded when you were using processed cheese. BTW.. love that blue sweater!

[@susanbarnes6632]

These recipes all looked so tasty. Good recipes for winter. Thank you for sharing.

[@scarletrosita]

I did my chef training in the ‘80’s. Certainly wasn’t budget but these recipes give that crazy ‘80’s feel. Cheese and broccoli soup/fritters/tartlets etc. The days were always sunny.

[@hippy9309]

Same here!

[@Maiasatara]

Oh broccoli cheese soup!!!

[@juttadestiny6810]

@@Maiasataravery nice! ❤️🇦🇺

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

Certainly were better days than now! Family, friends & love.

[@beesnuts]

That hamburger rice skillet looks so good. I love stuffed peppers!

[@LillianC]

Your voice and personality really need to be on the Food Network, or ANY Food tv. I'm loving your videos!

[@cooking_the_books]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@Hope8x28]

I was born in the early 70s but I far my mom cooked none of the meals from the 60s, 70s or 80s. It has been a fun series. 😊

[@trinitywright7122]

This broccoli casserole that is not just broccoli, swimming and cheese. I am so stoked to see this and I'm positive it's delicious because you're making it and you make the best recipes out of the books And I love this green pepper, rice and meat thing. That is like a stuffed pepper, except you don't have to bake it forever in a day These are some good recipes girl. Thank you!

[@Sheltiemama55]

Great work! They all look great. Can’t go wrong with a twice baked potato. ❤

[@staceyn2541]

In other countries, they put tuna salad or baked beans on baked potatoes. Australia, I believe, has restaurants specializing in just baked potatoes with toppings. I do not understand putting cold toppings on a hot potato. The tomato rice skillet is almost what my family calls Spanish rice. I always add butter and parmesan to my serving. My kids love it. I make it directly in the oven dish, cover it and bake it. I have a bad back, so standing over the stove is not a great idea. Looked great as always! Looking forward to trying the broccoli recipe.

[@kikihammond5326]

I like that you did this series. A lot of people now need help with inexpensive meals ideas, but ones that are quick and easy to come together. I also like that you often "make do" with what you have in the pantry. This is how good cooks adapt, and when cooks who are still learning understand it's OK to adapt, they feel more in control of cooking.

[@drummerlovesbookworm9738]

Whenever it snows, I load up my oven with scrubbed, oiled potatoes heavily rolled in kosher salt (ala Outback). I use a thermometer to check for doneness because when they are the perfect temperature they are the most perfectly fluffy. Since just like here, potatoes, even from one big bag, can be very different sizes, so checking temps is key. Sometimes I whip up a fancy compound butter in little paper cups. Then I deliver them to the whole neighborhood for the most cozy snow day snack ever. Everybody loves it! 🥰 Crispy-skinned baked potatoes rule!!☃🌨🏂

[@cooking_the_books]

Brb, moving to your neighborhood! 😅

[@nicolette6327]

These look like some winners Anna! Thanks for more great ideas to feed these kids ha ha! ❤

[@sarahjanebaptiste9510]

OMG The same Corelle plates i grew up with for the baked potatoes!!! Thank you for being a real person! Such personality, passion, and knowledge.

[@CatsPajamas23]

The broccoli dish looks really good. Those dishes have a late 1970s-80svibe. 👍

[@jmonta21]

The 80s budget recipes have looked the best to me!

[@juliatepe5760]

I've enjoyed this series. I would try any of the ones you made today. The baked potato bar would be fun for Super Bowl Sunday! Thank you!

[@cooking_the_books]

Being and 80s baby, these were definitely close to my heart! ❤

[@debmoore629]

I love one pan , casseroles or soup because being just me now I can cook once and get multiple meals plus one or two for the freezer. Cost is always below $3 a serving and you can’t do that eating out! Really helps with the budget and variety to meal plan and then shop once a month for most of the ingredients.

[@cecoya]

One thing you can add to the skillet dinner is a can of beans (kidney or red) if you have a large family like I did it will go further and the cost is actually a bit less. Being a baby boomer myself the food had to go further to feed all us kids. But that is the stuff we usually ate daily though. Due to the "mom of the month" didn't have time lol. Thanks for sharing and you have a great day

[@cherriaydelotte8327]

I’m a boomer as well 😃 I sometimes get a chuckle with the slider craze…at my house we called it stretchin’ the burger😂😂😂

[@Robin-g7q5d]

You are Delightful! I had a good laugh,”There’s not much to say about this dish because it’s delicious!” I hope many people are watching as you teach them to cook with your easy, straightforward approach. I’m looking for more.😀

[@claudiaonstad1071]

Your bowls remind me of the bowls I used to have back in the 80’s. I have only 1 left. Betty Crocker is still my go to cookbook.

[@yolandaponkers1581]

I wish I’d been alive in the ‘80s! I also really appreciate your calming presence. ❤

[@karinberonius8799]

I grew up in the eighties, and yeah, I'd like a time machine. 😂 Back then, for example, the scammers had to read the personals in the paper and write a letter to the ones they'd want to take to the cleaners. Unlike "Daniel Owen" and others like him who does the same, only effortlessly, with "the touch of a button".☝️🙄

[@elainenicholls7648]

I have that cookbook...actually I have the whole set. I believe there were 30 books altogether.

[@TheSarahLindy]

I loved this series so much! I would totally watch more in this vein 😁

[@jbridges9574]

For those that don’t like the texture of cottage cheese, I’d suggest blending it in the blender for a few seconds.

[@Ogreletmama]

I would LOVE to see a similar budget SUMMER recipes! 😊

[@cooking_the_books]

Noted! Thanks for watching! ☺

[@bonniewills2814]

When I make twice baked potatoes I make them ahead of time and freeze them. The second bake takes a little longer, but if you get them out of the freezer ahead of time, it's so much easier.

[@grubbiez]

Ma'am. 👏 These casserole dishes are so cute! Will you consider doing a tour of your cookingware? 😍

[@cooking_the_books]

You know, I filmed one once a couple of years ago and then ended up not publishing the video. It was still early days for my channel and I wasn't sure if people would be interested. I've since added to my collection, so maybe it's time to try again. 😀

[@dreamweaver3406]

Thanks for making these low cost dishes this month. Some great ideas! Remember...next month is Valentines Day and Lent 🙂

[@cooking_the_books]

I have a little something planned for Valentine's day! ❤

[@nicolebrown6450]

Baked potato bars for LIFE!!!🎉 My school lunches were bomb. Home made food. I used to dream about it.❤❤❤

[@cydkriletich6538]

I would make the first and last dishes you prepared in this video. The first one looked really good…and quick and easy! The middle recipe…no, not for me or my hubby; neither of us likes bell peppers, green ones in particular. I love raw red bell peppers, but they give me instant heartburn to beat the band, so I just stay clear of all bell peppers. Thank you, Anna, for your channel and the effort you put into demonstrating these recipes. I am 74 years of age, so most of these are quite reminiscent of my early years.

[@liss.11]

Yep, that's basically stuffed pepper casserole! I made it for my 2 year old nephew last weekend & he gobbled it up!

[@pamjohnson9663]

The cottage cheese, broccoli dish makes my mouth water. I might add garlic.

[@tomsfoodfactory5086]

I think my Mom had that cookbook. I remember her making the cheesy broccoli dish. However, with 2 teenage boys and my Dad she needed to add some bulk so she would add either leftover chicken or canned chicken. I just remember that I always loved it!

[@lindaweber3083]

Loved the stuffed potatoe. Thank you for your work on these videos. ❤

[@Iluvpaws_1]

I love vintage cookbooks. Growing up we had a few gems like my mom’s 1970s microwave cookbook, and there was my 90s Williams Sonoma stir fry cb, and then mom also gave me a curry cb from 1970. I also think that first casserole would be amazing w bacon bits or hidden valley

[@abunchahooey]

Coming from another buttered bread crumbs fan, why didn’t I ever think of using them on twice baked potatoes? Yum!

[@cooking_the_books]

The crumb topping really sent those potatoes over the top!

[@mollysmith6055]

This cookbook brought back so many memories, wish I hadn't gotten rid of it. I used it often as a military wife since money was always tight. Those were all recipes my family liked. But I substituted canned mushrooms for the peppers in the Hamburger-Rice Skillet since we don't enjoy green peppers. And I could swear there was one in there called Big Wheel Burger Skillet that we liked too and it was kind of fun to cook, haha. So funny that what was 'budget' back then is now so expensive! Velveeta, chicken wings, skirt steak...those are all so high now. I hope you'll keep doing budget friendly recipes throughout the year...maybe once a month? Thank you for all the hard work you do to make such enjoyable videos, Anna.

[@rachelmitchell2144]

“I love broccoli and I love love love noodles… “ … that’s me too. That looked SO good!! Just love your videos. 😊 Thanks for all the work that goes into sharing these yummy recipes!

[@PeaShaped]

Funny how things come back around or really never left. We were eating the same foods in the 50's. Our kids ate the same and the legend continues.

[@illflyaway38]

I loved baked potato and chili day at school. A lot of kids just ate the inside of the potato, but I just picked mine up and ate the whole thing. Man, we had great cafeteria food back in the day! I can't think of much that I didn't eat.

[@carolwoodward6141]

Hey folks, hit that like 👍 button.

[@camerajen]

Sweet potato pineapple bake?? Yum!!! 😋❤

[@catherinejones5807]

I was given this cookbook (new) when I was a teenager in the early 1980’s. Still have it in my collection. The orange meringue pie was very good.

[@cherriaydelotte8327]

That’s super cool 😎 I have a bunch in storage and refuse to part with them. My husband thinks I’m crazy😂

[@cooking_the_books]

Orange meringue pie sounds amazing! 😋

[@catherinejones5807]

If my memory is correct, the orange meringue pie was not difficult to make and was inexpensive. You may want to do a series on budget desserts similar to your budget meals series.

[@catherinejones5807]

I’ve also been curious about substituting grapefruit or limes for lemons in lemon meringue pie.

[@carolwoodward6141]

I could hear the crunch when you tasted the broccoli 🥦 cheese 🧀 bake. Yum😊

[@cooking_the_books]

I love a crispy crunchy breadcrumb topping! 😋

[@lisaschneider7493]

I am an unapologetic and shameless Velveeta fan. And American cheese. Nothing melts like processed cheese! Great series!

[@cooking_the_books]

Girl me too. 😂 You cannot beat that melt. My friend found a vintage Velveeta recipe box and gave it to me for Christmas!

[@cherriaydelotte8327]

Me too, Lisa🤗 No shame in my game 😁😎👍

[@cherriaydelotte8327]

@@cooking_the_books That’s Cool 😎 😊👍

[@angelaschaefer5883]

There is Velveeta cheese slices in my refrigerator right now. I like them for grilled cheese. I ate two slices of cheese yesterday for snack. These days lots of people are horrified by people eating them. I don’t care,😂

[@BrowneyedGirlmjd]

Thank you so much for these for these videos. A grand slam home run. I don’t think I can pick a favourite decade. This was a wonderful series . Each set of recipes had something that I really really want to try,, Thats saying something, because I do pretty much everything I can to avoid cooking. You mean in this layout there isn’t a recipe for English trifle shepherds pie? 🤣 I would have thought that would be a slam-dunk!!! ❤️

[@cherriaydelotte8327]

😂

[@OkieJammer2736]

🎉 A WIN-WIN: ALMOST 40K SUBS + Your smiley 'Mm! Mm!' when you like the results + these really great recipes! Love all your content and your warm and fun style. Well done!

[@rw8873]

I remember seeing an ad for local supermarket to me doing a promotion where they giving special deals on meals for under $3.00/serving and saying it is a bargain?! I laughed right out loud. No bargain there, not when under a $2.00 and even $1 is possible and tasty. Thanks for doing this!

[@justme5544]

I LOVED this series! More please. 😉

[@angelaroberts6077]

That is a hearty jacket potatoe! I think I will make for dinner tomorrow. Thank you!

[@junktionfet]

That cheesy broccoli bake had me at "cottage cheese". I gotta try it! I love broccoli anyway

[@brendaturley3883]

Our high school made the absolute best yeast rolls, They would sell them at the holidays

[@kathrinekerns8398]

I found several of the Better Homes and Gardens cook books at a garage sale. Homemade Cookies, Soups and Stews, Casserole Recipes. They are great. I liked the Twice Baked Potato. Thank you for sharing.

[@luvzdogz]

So much nostalgia! I love this series of yours!

[@cooking_the_books]

Very glad you enjoy it! ❤

[@marcilk7534]

These definitely have 80s character to them. Reminds me of my childhood.

[@kmp629]

Oh boy, sweet potato pineapple bake sounds great!

[@jomcgee6094]

I live alone so I often make a baked potatoe for dinner!😊

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

Being from the 80s, 1st baby born 1983, let me say-the 80s were about some food! I had another in 85 & ended the decade with a late Dec ‘89 baby. So I was all about very healthy but easy food. We made some crazy food back then.

[@janehill5183]

Thank you for the recipe for the Hamburger Rice Skillet, it was yummy, use mozzarella and cheddar cheese. I enjoy your videos and have demention to friends. I found your videos because I read Lesson in Chemistry and Recipe for a perfect wife which take place in the 50s.

[@thomascurb9006]

The local restaurant Del Rancho sells a huge baked potato with different kinds of toppings. My favorite is barbecue.🤤

[@tamarac5560]

This is the kind of stuff I grew up on😊

[@nicolebrown6450]

You are adorable and I love your old school recipes. Childhood happy memories are here. " beef it up...without the beef" You crack me up. At the end of an emotional day, I find watching your videos so comforting. Thank you. ❤❤❤

[@cooking_the_books]

So sorry you had a tough day, but glad I could help brighten it up a little. ❤

[@susanmccoy1992]

I'm pretty sure my mom had that cookbook! I'd actually make all of these recipes! Thanks for all the work you do to provide videos.

[@paulabronfeld3233]

I love that you referred to Kugel!

[@brilliant5126]

I loved this series so much! Thank you for all the extra work. You are definitely right about cookbooks becoming a lot more "no nonsense" in the 1980s. 😂 I prefer the whimsy also.

[@RockyMountainHoosier]

That broccoli bake is SERIOUSLY good. I had to make some changes due to food allergies but OH MAN

[@cooking_the_books]

So glad it was a hit! 😁

[@RockyMountainHoosier]

@@cooking_the_books Honestly next time I'm gonna use the sauce to make a white lasagna -- there are some GREAT GF lasagna noodles. And for anyone else gluten free -- try putting pork rinds on top! SO GOOD

[@mamagoldielocks]

Loved this month's budget videos! My mom definitely made those potatoes and the broccoli casserole in the 80s!

[@youdeservethis]

I was having a rotten day. Thank you so much for your wonderful recipes! I am going to try the hamburger/rice one this week! I grew up in the 80s and boy do I remember that font!

[@cooking_the_books]

Very sorry you had a rough day! Hope my video helped at least a little bit. ❤

[@youdeservethis]

@@cooking_the_books all your videos brighten my day! Your gentle and infectious laugh reminds me of one of my best friends! I love seeing you taste the (ahem) interesting recipes. Those are my favourite!

[@melodysfiresidefarm]

My favorite past time for over 60+ years is reading cookbooks like novels! 😊 As we speak I’m reading one from 1896 and I thought of you loving Meal plans recipes. This book calls them “Bills of Fare” and they have them for all four seasons. Just thought I’d share that with you my much younger kindred spirit of cookbooks.

[@hattree]

One thing I've learned from Glen and Friends, is that recipe writing follows trends over time. At one time, a recipe was just a list of ingredients.

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

Sometimes a list of ingredients is still my recipe.