20 MEALS FOR $40 || EXTREME BUDGET MEALS || CHEAP MEALS

[@allthingsmandy]

$40 Meal Plan and Shopping List: docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTFJQRSwCNx-CTMuX8p7sazRLmsVKf0sXFOUOh6pwXCN8rBV9UFvuDUW00RgdIzWJp6oKLl8FzU2oJI/pub

[@lisaregister115]

When my kids were 29:06 little we made somethkids they called macaroni and cheese casserole. I used 2-3 boxes of cheap macaroni ( had to make bigger batches as they got older). Cook as directed on the box and added a package of frozen broccoli. Then cut up a pack of cheap hot dogs into coins and cook in a skillet. Mix everything and serve. Sometimes we would use up leftover meat or veggies to change things up. I hardly ever had leftovers. It used to be about $3.00 to make. Not sure what it is now.

[@allthingsmandy]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@mariaelizalde9627]

Mandy, try my recipe for enchilada sauce instead of Wal-:Mart’s brand. My recipe is tastier and much cheaper with what is in my ingredients and goes much further. I use the standard roux recipe (2 Tbsp oil, 2 Tbsp flour, 1 cup water). I’ve been making this recipe since 7th grade home economics class so I don’t have the exact measurements for the seasonings. Try 2 tablespoons Gephardt’s chili powder, (I don’t deviate from this brand because of flavor but you may use a generic) salt 1 teaspoon, pepper 1/2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, dash onion powder, and cumin 1/4 teaspoon. Adjust seasonings to your preference. Note: My ex asked me to give his current wife this recipe.

[@allthingsmandy]

That sounds amazing! It must be if your ex wants his new wife to cook like you! lol. That made me chuckle! Thanks for sharing!

[@shelzp7272]

@Maria You gave me a good laugh about your ex husband asking you to give your recipe to his current… excellent… 🎶

[@deannealbrecht774]

Add a pinch of cinnamon to it as you're browning the spices in the tomato paste. That tiny bit just adds an amazing shoosh to the flavor.

[@christinatareski8882]

Totally stealing this. Sounds amazing.

[@chrisnutter6933]

❤ wrote it down and I’ll be trying it and I don’t even make Mexican food very often

[@user-sr2qz7uw2t]

Mmm, gumbo starts with a roux of flour and oil. No flour and water added to thicken. (About fell off my chair!) Check Louisiana chicken gumbo recipes. Okra and tomato is great together!

[@nancydavidson2295]

As a person that preps for natural disasters, because we live in a flood prone area, your skillet meals are of interest. Should disaster strike, we will be using a two-burner camp stove, The fewer pots and pans I can use, the less the cleanup. I can have on hand, canned chicken for the chicken, canned chicken soup, maybe canned peas for the broccoli, rice for the one recipe. Maybe canned Vienna sausage, canned black beans, canned tomato sauce with added spices and rice for the other recipe. Canned cabbage, canned potatoes and vienna sausage for the third dinner. Thank you for your ideas. I think people that live in RVs would appreciate these recipes too.

[@allthingsmandy]

Thank you so much! And thanks for watching!

[@jonicabeird4657]

I love your excitement when trying the enchiladas! All the recipes look great! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@allthingsmandy]

Yay! Thank you!

[@hardywifesweetlife1746]

Yum! Love okra! Especially from the home garden in the summertime! Thank you!!!

[@allthingsmandy]

So good!

[@denisekimble60]

Great video! Yes, canned potatoes do crisp up when frying.

[@allthingsmandy]

Good to know! Thanks!

[@kaykrausman8012]

Hi! Thank you for featuring my budget gumbo idea. However, no tomatoes or okra used. I just make a roux out of flour and oil, add about a cup of frozen seasoning blend (approx $1.38 at Wal-Mart), some leg quarters, sliced smoked sausage (any brand), water, bouillon powder or cubes, black pepper,pinch of red pepper, granulated garlic, and Tony's to taste. Cook until chicken is done and de-bone it. I always make it the day before, so fat comes to the top in the fridge overnight, and I can remove it. Adjust spice level with Tony's. Serve over rice. It really is a budget friendly meal and freezes well (without the rice). Have a great week!

[@allthingsmandy]

Thanks Kay! I was so interested in your idea and did some research but your recipe sounds so good and so simple! Gonna give that a try for sure!

[@lsu52frog]

That is the way we make gumbo also. Definitely no tomato and a dark roux for Gumbo. I'm sure hers was good ,but it looked more like a soup than Gumbo.

[@wolchfam]

I made a meatless meal last night (Friday in lent). It was bean and cheese tostadas. My husband and daughter both said they didn’t miss the meat. Made refried beans from dried beans (home canned them) added cheese, shredded lettuce and tomatoes. Since I wasn’t going for budget meal I added salsa, sour cream and guacamole for topping options. Yummy. Also I made my own tostada shells from leftover corn tortillas.

[@allthingsmandy]

Sounds great!

[@raykeiperiii]

I look forward to watching your upcoming videos. Your very down to earth and have many great meal ideas... Keep them coming

[@allthingsmandy]

Thank you so much! Keep watching!

[@cozycalicocrafts680]

This menu was such a hit last time that we are following it again this week. My husband says the gumbo is his favorite dish from your channel. Our whole family knows All Things Mandy now. We love all your recipes.

[@Lellieg8]

I love the Margaret Homes cabbage, it's so good. We do something really similar, but instead of potatoes we eat it over rice. I'm going to try the potatoes next! Thanks for the idea

[@allthingsmandy]

Sounds great!

[@dianaobrien463]

Mandy. Thanks for all the ideas. I never tried the can of cabbage with my sausage and potatoes but will try You look great in the color red!!

[@60kkm]

We tried the enchiladas for dinner and they were delicious! We have an over abundance of zucchini and tomatoes from the garden right now so this is one more thing I can do to use some. I just chopped some of the tomatoes and cooked them in the pan for a bit first before adding the rest and I added seasoning since I didn’t get any from the rotel that I didn’t use. Thank you!

[@allthingsmandy]

Yay! So glad you enjoyed it!

[@cozycalicocrafts680]

I just made the Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Rice. It. Was. Awesome! Even my pickiest son got two servings. Plus it made a ton of food. I counted 7 servings. So excited.

[@ginnytalbert2524]

All the recipes look fantastic added plus is its on a budget!

[@allthingsmandy]

Glad you like them!

[@bettyehayden2392]

I season my beans by using some boullion and a couple of bay leaves. its good.

[@allthingsmandy]

Sounds great!

[@poshnpourcooking]

Wow! I love your energy! ❤xx and recipes!

[@missinginia]

Lots of great ideas! I would have loved to see the cost breakdown per meal.

[@allthingsmandy]

Great idea!!

[@Pineapples8theWorld]

Hot tip! If you are gluten free like me, you can use corn tortillas instead of the flour tortillas in the vegetarian enchilada recipe! I make something similar like, every week. So, SO glad to see options that aren't just full of wheat products for every meal. Can't wait to try some of these (legit cannot wait to try the skillet sausage, cabbage, and potatoes!)!

[@allthingsmandy]

Thanks for sharing and thanks so much for watching!

[@tinashort9098]

My Instant Pot is the literal sunshine of my life!!! I love your channel so much!!! I found you through Brooke, Southern Frugal Mama, and you and her remind me so much of myself. Our cooking styles and the way we shop are so similar!!! Thank you for this lovely video ❤

[@allthingsmandy]

Awesome! Thank you! Welcome to my channel! Brooke is the best!

[@pamelagillikin9056]

These recipies look delicious. Thanks for sharing and have a great day.

[@allthingsmandy]

Thank you! You too!

[@frugallydelicious]

I solemnly swear that I love your shirt! Lol. I love me some HP! I've never cooked beans in the Instant Pot. I need to try that! It would save a lot of time!

[@deborahbordelon-jd7ns]

Love chicken gumbo I'm from Louisiana so do it alot different I make my own roux look forward to trying your other recipes thanks for sharing

[@allthingsmandy]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@80skindagal]

Hello 👋 I tried the canned seasoned cabbage for the first time with smoked sausage and really enjoyed it. The enchiladas looked delicious.

[@allthingsmandy]

It was so good!

[@darlenebailey1784]

The chicken, rice broccoli recipe looks great. Will try that for sure. Thanks for sharing

[@allthingsmandy]

Thanks for watching! It was so good!

[@tammifields4142]

Great video..... Everything looks Yummy!😋😋

[@allthingsmandy]

Thank you 😋

[@SuperMomMac]

Thanks for the great recipes! You are an outstanding cook! Have a great week!

[@allthingsmandy]

Thank you! You too!

[@cozycalicocrafts680]

We had the gumbo yesterday, and it was great! Plus super easy.

[@allthingsmandy]

Awe! Yay!!

[@nancyculp6968]

Mandy that is not how gumbo is made…you have to start off with a roux! A roux is equal parts of flour and oil. Let it brown to color of an old dirty penny. Then add in diced( small please) onion, bell pepper, celery and okra…only need about 1/2 to 1 cup. Let this all cook in roux very low heat. Then add in your chicken. You never use that much okra…it can make it slimy! Also, you should have saved half of the smoked sausage that you cut into half moon shapes to add to the gumbo. Some homemade cajun seasoning would have been nice, but you can just use S&P. Always use garlic in your gumbo. Gumbo is not a quick dish to make! It is a slow process for all flavors to mingle and come together. My family does not use tomatoes in chicken & sausage gumbo, thought there are as many ways to make gumbo as there are people! Lol. By using less okra you could have had rest of bag for other dishes or sides and stretched it. Basically you could have saved even more money by not using the okra or tomatoes. If you wanted a side dish with the okra & Rotel tomatoes, you could have cooked the okra in some bacon drippings with some diced onion S&P. Cook it until the okra breaks down and is browned, then add in the Rotel with little minced garlic or garlic powder. This is what my mother called stewed okra. Gumbo takes a whole diced onion, half of a bell pepper, diced with around one to two stalks of celery minced. Your chicken and sausage is the star of the dish…and best to use chicken on the bone( a whole fryer cut up, I save pieces like back and wings for stock to make chicken and dumplings…use whatever meat comes off of it for dumplings. You can always cook your whole chicken in slow cooker, debone, use broth for gumbo and dumplings. This way you are using some of the same ingredients to stretch your money. Then you could have used meat, rice, tomatoes onion, celery, garlic, and sausage to make these three dishes: gumbo, Jambalaya, red beans and rice and chicken & dumplings. 😊

[@allthingsmandy]

Thanks for sharing! I honestly have never had gumbo and looked up a recipe online but apparently it wasn't gumbo either! Lol. Your tips and recipes sound delicious! Will have to try!

[@vanessathompson7468]

Mandy, you eat gumbo with a spoon so you can have the juices with it. When you used a fork, I was like, let me let her know what she’s missing. Love your videos ❤️

[@allthingsmandy]

Thanks for the tip! I really didn't know what I was doing, lol!

[@vanessathompson7468]

My favorite gumbo is chicken and sausage. I use can chicken, Walmart sausage, package of the diced veggie blend and a package of gumbo base!

[@allthingsmandy]

Thanks for sharing!! Sounds great!

[@suebeiers2378]

Walmart now charges the higher price for the higher price substitutions.

[@80skindagal]

Kroger does the same thing.

[@allthingsmandy]

I did not know that....thanks for sharing!

[@TheReluctantVEGrANny]

Lots of delicious ideas. Thank you for sharing.

[@allthingsmandy]

My pleasure 😊

[@nancycarney]

I have cabbage and smoked sausage. Yummy. Making that skillet dish for lunch. Hubby is gonna love it. Thanks for all the ideas on a friendly budget.

[@allthingsmandy]

You are so welcome!

[@CybHoney03]

Just subscribed! I love your videos and you’re giving me so many ideas on budget friendly meals for my family of 4 ❤❤❤

[@allthingsmandy]

Yay! Thank you!

[@emily--m]

Newbie here. What a great video and thank you for sharing great recipes 😋. Never had Okra but will be making these recipes. Love your honesty 💝. Have a blessed and beautiful day 🥰

[@allthingsmandy]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@Foreverblessed1975]

I need to try the enchiladas for sure! They look yummo! Thanks for sharing

[@allthingsmandy]

So good!

[@cheryljohnson7838]

One of the best challenges I've seen on utube recently.

[@allthingsmandy]

Awe!! Thanks so much!

[@jeanharding517]

Thank you for sharing.

[@allthingsmandy]

Thanks for watching!

[@crystallee1650]

Thank you for the ideas.

[@allthingsmandy]

You are so welcome!

[@carolinecoffey5404]

Hi Mandy nice recipes thanks for sharing 🇬🇧💕

[@allthingsmandy]

My pleasure 😊

[@bethanyg153]

I’m going to try the cabbage dish. If we like it, that would be a nice canned veg to keep for emergency preparedness.

[@allthingsmandy]

Great idea!

[@dianaobrien463]

That's a good idea thank you

[@carollott3466]

Margaret Holmes canned products a little on the costly side but are so worth it.

[@allthingsmandy]

It was so good!

[@ronnieclark9202]

I think you did an awesome job preparing 5 different meals for 4. I have enjoyed all your videos since you and Barrett did the collaboration. Trying to join your Facebook group. I need all the tips I can get. It’s just me and my husband now (son 30, daughter 25 both on their own). And I spend so much on groceries that go to waste. I really should be able to do what you do, and save money and food. Thanks so much for what you do!!!

[@allthingsmandy]

Awesome! Thank you! I'm so glad you are enjoying my channel!

[@bowenfamilyfarm9776]

Everything looks delicious, but I'm definitely trying the enchiladas tomorrow 😋

[@allthingsmandy]

OMG!!! My favorite!

[@lashortyislabonita623]

Hi Mandy.. Except for the Okra, loved all the menu ideas. Had never been able to eat Okra, my mom used to cooked it all the time, but I never liked the taste of it..

[@allthingsmandy]

Thanks for watching!

[@julieandres8246]

An idea for a quick budget friendly meal for 4 in England . Pasta Quills 41 pence Tuna x 2 £1.10 Pasta bake sauce 85 pence. Bag of salad leaves 60 pence . Baby tomatoes 69 pence and a Garlic Baguette 37 pence . Total cost £4.02

[@allthingsmandy]

Sounds great!

[@betterlivingonabudget]

The veggie enchiladas look amazing!

[@allthingsmandy]

OMG!! They were BOMB! These will definitely be on the regular rotation!

[@karenlyles1315]

I made your black bean enchiladas last night and they were a hit.

[@allthingsmandy]

Yayyyy! So glad to hear it!

[@kathy1138]

Wow, these dishes looked so yummy!

[@allthingsmandy]

So good!

[@Bythaway564]

Everything looks great. I have a question about what you have on your counter top. Under the crackpot. I need something for my tile counter top. Thanks

[@allthingsmandy]

It's just a cutting board. My goal is to get a huge butcher block one day!

[@lynnchristensen4439]

I haven't even watched it and I got excited❤️

[@allthingsmandy]

Yay!!!

[@sherrylg2006]

Love your shirt!

[@annmich4593]

Loved everything 💞

[@allthingsmandy]

Thanks for watching!

[@SouthernFrugalMomma]

Your new intro is 🔥

[@allthingsmandy]

Thanks sweet friend! It was time for something fresh and new! You da best!

[@jamievance9566]

Thank you for trying my recipe. ❤️

[@allthingsmandy]

My pleasure 😊

[@chrisromano4584]

We have used the can potatoes and it was just the same

[@allthingsmandy]

Thanks for sharing!

[@thenubalicious]

Looks good 😷💚

[@allthingsmandy]

Thank you 😋 It was GOOD!

[@patbuegeler7770]

❤❤i am a new comer to your channel. I ccx ame over from Brooke's channel.

[@allthingsmandy]

Thanks for coming

[@asimskentzos9231]

Like your videos and i understand it's a budgeting video but please try to get low sodium canned goods and cured meats.

[@allthingsmandy]

Thank you so much for watching! And for the tips!

[@gingerhammond6446]

Can pinto beans be used instead of black beans? My family doesn't like black beans...

[@allthingsmandy]

Absolutely! That would be delicious!

[@gingerhammond6446]

@@allthingsmandy Glad you think so...I love all your delicious recipes!

[@barbarasutherland8000]

☃️👍☃️💯☃️👏☃️😋☃️☘️☃️✌️☃️🧄🍅🍚🧅🥗🍗🍖🧀🫑🥔🍝☃️

[@allthingsmandy]

Thanks for watching!

[@reneesegovia290]

You failed when you put tomatoes in gumbo. Props to what you do. But that’s not gumbo

[@allthingsmandy]

Yeah, I learned a lot after doing this video.