$6 EXTREME BUDGET CHALLENGE AT KROGERS

My viewer challenged me to try to do the $6 food challenge at Kroger. So in this video I'll be trying to make 9 meals for $6. This is an extreme budget challenge however, I'm only planning on making convenience meals in this one.
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[@patpeters6331]

I was surprised that you were able to get as many meals for $6 because Kroger/Ralph's is a pricey store. It speaks to your creativity and budget recipe knowledge.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks Pat 😁 I wasn't up for cooking a lot of meals this week. I'll definitely have to revisit this one in the winter.

[@hello-vs4me]

@patpeters6331 Kroger has thr best mark downs besides Ralph's also food for less is also kroger

[@LAactor]

​@@ArdentMichelle I wish I'd have known you were going because I am an insider on saving here. You MUST "Clip" the e-coupons in the member account online or else the savings won't happen. But between buying sale items of the week, using the special clipped coupons, I cut my bill in half. Otherwise it's pricey. Plus your's is a fresh fare version. A Beverly Hills upgrade of Ralph's. Back in the day they were so fancy, they had designer olives and a Whole Foods style self serve buffet. No longer.

[@countrygal3688]

I pick up reduced produce, meat, and staples all the time at my Kroger store. Just today, I got a bag of shredded cabbage for 80 cents, a bag of 6 tomatoes for 1.00, and 4 zucchini for 1.00. Yes, the produce needs to be used up soon, but I know what I will be using it tomorrow. Last week I picked up a bag of 4 large peaches for 1.00. I came home and made a peach cobbler. I always have my eyes out for such things.

[@lorimartin3724]

I shop the exact same way for those products at my Kroger as well. Thankfully I have a large freezer and food saver for the meats.

[@ArdentMichelle]

those are amazing deals!

[@938quilt]

a little red onion sliced thin in pasta salad is sooos good (well if you like onion it is LOL!)

[@ArdentMichelle]

I agree..... It was delicious in the cucumber tomato salad.

[@938quilt]

@@ArdentMichelle yep I kept watching and was like 'yay she found the onion LOL!" my mom used to say onion would fix just about anything

[@kelleyhoppock6171]

I just retired from a Dillon's which is our local Kroger division. The thing about shopping at Kroger is that they have weekly digital coupons and really good sales. I joined their boost program so I could get delivery at no charge . The program is called Boost and with it you get double fuel points, which can be used for groceries as well. It basically gives you a dollar for every dollar you spend to use towards groceries or a dollar off per gallon of gas every 1000 points. This month we got several free items. Plus I worked for Kroger long enough to get an employee discount. Your food looks tasty.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you. 😁 I've heard they do have some great coupons. I do think that might work out if I was to do a larger budget challenge, but $6 just doesn't buy much at a regular store these days!

[@kelleyhoppock6171]

@@ArdentMichelle I agree.

[@LAactor]

@@kelleyhoppock6171 Don't forget to clip the 4x point multiplier for friday service in the coupons.

[@lindawilson290]

No milk, no flour, no cheese, no eggs.....no problem!!

[@tinashort9098]

Yayyy!!! Hey Michelle!!! I agree with you on the bean broth!! When I cook beans I always make cornbread and I always have a bowl of broth with cornbread in it!!! It’s a staple here in VA!! Everybody loves beans and cornbread 😂❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

I'm planning on making a meal with a toasted hamburger bun and the beans and bean broth over the top. I just ran out of filming time. I'm already looking forward to cornbread again. I would actually be fine if summer only lasted a few weeks. 😂

[@CixiaKyrrah]

I like to make mine in the instant pot - no heating up the kitchen and it's fast

[@ArdentMichelle]

@@CixiaKyrrah I can't afford an Instant Pot 😂

[@Mamaisawake]

I tried two Italian dressings at dollar tree this week and both were excellent on pasta salad

[@ArdentMichelle]

Good to know! 😁Thanks for sharing that info with us!

[@LAactor]

Do you know the names? the pampas is supposedly not good as said by Becca from DT dinners

[@Mamaisawake]

@@LAactor one was creamy Italian so it looked more like Cesar or ranch, and I think the other said zesty Italian and it looked more like regular Italian dressing. But I don’t remember the exact brands. The creamy one was really really good.

[@Stephanie-ew8lw]

It’s really hot here 100°+ all week and my basil is getting huge…so tonight for an appetizer I made bruschetta on garlic toast. I always take the leftovers and make a pasta salad the next day adding zesty Italian dressing! So cool and refreshing and no waste!😅

[@ArdentMichelle]

great idea for leftovers.👍

[@patriciatzai]

The best on youtube!

[@ArdentMichelle]

💜

[@charlottekearn5185]

​@@ArdentMichelleI agree 💯!!!!!!

[@saraherber1887]

Great job for buying from a kroger/ Ralphs store. Only Giant Eagle grocery is priced higher than Kroger in my area. I agree regarding the bean broth. Delicious. My Kroger sells reduced price produce called red bags. Whatever is in the bag is 99 cents. I always look there first! Have a beautiful week. I hope California cools off. Here in the east, we are at 97 degrees. No oven cooking today!

[@ArdentMichelle]

I wish my Ralphs had those bag deals for the produce. That sound like an awesome deal!

[@chellesoup]

Cucumber tomato salad is the exact thing I crave during the hot months. Another excellent video!

[@ArdentMichelle]

same 😂 glad you can relate to my summer cravings!

[@jacki6301]

I love beans in my pasta salad. We usually use chick peas. Kroger stores, I feel, are more expensive than Aldi so I don't shop there. If it's your only choice, you have to shop their ads each week.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I think I'll do better there in the winter when I'm in the mood for cooking more.

[@moonstoneway2694]

Thanks. That's a good tip to buy a couple of the items you love and use often when they're on sale, so you don't have to pay full price when you run out. I didn't really try to budget on groceries very much when I was working and now that I'm out of the work force, I really do. I appreciate your skills.

[@DeterminedDIYer]

My mom grew so many cucumbers this year. They're still producing. We made pickles and have cucumbers for days. Next year I'm definitely growing a cucumber and a tomato plant. I make that pasta salad all the time btw. I put tomatoes and onions in it and if i have them, i put some olives in it.

[@ArdentMichelle]

That's great that she got so many cucumbers. I would be canning dills and bread and butter chips. I have a recipe next Sunday that's going to give you some more ideas for those cucumbers. I loved olives in that salad too! I think that's one of my summer favorites!

[@pek5117]

Those tri colour spirals are my favourite pasta. The bean burgers would have been good. You really should have put the jalapeno in them. I've had the zesty Italian chicken before and it's a really simple meal for people who work full time and don't wanna cook when they get home. Everything is just ready in your slow cooker. Well done Michelle and thanks for the video.

[@ArdentMichelle]

There are SO MANY THINGS I could have done with that jalapeno. It's a bummer that I forgot to add them to my burgers!

[@connieblack5276]

Wow excellent job for Ralph's. Winco is more my speed but I do love the produce department better.

[@CathieG]

Yum! 😋 I love pasta salad especially during the summer! I just made it the other day 🥰 Thanks friend!

[@ArdentMichelle]

welcome 😁 ...and me too! So refreshing to eat cold things. Stay Cool!

[@CathieG]

@@ArdentMichelle You too! 🥰

[@Emilyagnes-yb8fn]

Everything looks wonderful. Thank you for sharing 😊

[@ArdentMichelle]

welcome. 😁

[@charlottekearn5185]

Good morning Michelle, I love black bean burgers. Funny you made pasta salad on your video, I'm making that today, mine is also the tri colored pasta, you know what they say, " great minds think alike".😅

[@ArdentMichelle]

I found that salad to be so refreshing! Enjoy the good eats! 😋

[@VictoriaFerland-gu7rb]

I had every confidence in you 👩‍🍳 to nail the challenge. Italian dressing is so versatile. I use it on a warm potato salad. Beans 🫘 one of my favorite foods and I agree the bean broth or end of the soup is delicious. You inspired me to get in the kitchen. I had been under the weather and forgot about things that needed to be cooked. Oh! When tomato start to naturally dehydrate I roast them. Thank you again.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Welcome 😁

[@VictoriaFerland-gu7rb]

@@ArdentMichelle new recipe idea I saw . Okra burgers. 🍔

[@ArdentMichelle]

@@VictoriaFerland-gu7rb now that sounds interesting! 🤔

[@jmknudsen5357]

Two suggestions: I would have shredded the carrots in the pasta salad. I don't really hard chunks of carrot. The jalapeno could have been a great addition to the burger patties.

[@ArdentMichelle]

True 👍 I had planned to add the jalapeno to the burgers but just forgot. That's what happens when I try to cook after getting home from work 😂

[@twinnish]

You did great. The reality is a lot of us have plenty of food at home. We just are not making good choices about using it up and a lot of us have stuff in the cupboards and freezer/fridge that we should be using up. How about a no spend week? Sure you’re going to have some things in your cupboards that we won’t have but the reality is a lot of us aren’t going to Walmart or dollar stores either. The frozen vegetables in the back of the freezer and the odds and ends of meats and veg that we were going to turn into a soup and the little bits of pasta that are in the bottoms of the bags. The dressings, The cornflakes that we bought for a recipe, but have never used the rest of the box.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Great idea 👍 I'll do it soon!

[@estherhurst4741]

A hit, as usual! You are amazingly creative at being frugal. I always learn so much from you, my CA friend!

[@ArdentMichelle]

thanks so much for the support 💜 I'm grateful for it....and I'm so glad that you find my videos helpful.

[@lorita3488]

MAIN DISH PHILLY BUGERS with Carmelized onions Serves: 4 Prep time: 20-30 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Ingredients 1 lb. ground beef 1 teaspoon parsley flakes 2 Tbls. Worcestershire sauce, divided 4 Kaiser Rolls 4 teaspoons Dijon Mustard, divided 1 cup carmelized onions Onions, divided 1 package (3 oz.) cream cheese 2 cup shredded cheese of your choice 1 jar sliced mushrooms, drained Directions Combine ground beef, 1 Tbls. Worcestershire sauce, 3 teaspoons mustard and half of the carmelized onions. Form into 4 patties and broil or grill to desire doneness. Meanwhile, in small bowl, bleand cream cheese,shredded cheese, remaining Worcestershire sauce and mustard, mushrooms and parsley. Spread the cheese mixture on cooked patties, top with reserved onions. Broil or grill 30 seconds more or until the onion are golden. Seve on Kaiser rolls

[@rachelhero3413]

Great job! Love how you think outside the protein box!

[@LAactor]

For the italian dressing at kroger, that one can be bought in the buy 5 save $1 each item sales for 1.49 but they're just okay. I have a five star palate spoiled from on set meals so I need the Kraft. At Ralph's the Tuscan Italian is better than the Zesty Italian. Maybe Walmart might have it too because everyone takes all the stock of the Tuscan Italian one. It's thicker and better flavor slightly. Can' explain it but just trust me on that one. The Dollar Tree size is a rip off. You pay 3x for that size vs at Ralph's on a buy 5 sale.

[@momof2momof2]

Great job on this challenge ! Well done ! Thanks for sharing 🥰💐🌞🏜💗✝🇺🇲

[@ArdentMichelle]

welcome! 😁

[@georgiawise8375]

I add lentils to extend my beef patties and meatballs. My son and friends love them.

[@thegigiollieshow8768]

You came up with some very amazing ideas all I have is a Kroger near me and the prices are absolutely ridiculous I think even with coupons it is just crazy the prices and I never have much luck with their produce thank you for sharing great big hugs 🖤

[@ArdentMichelle]

thanks so much 😁 yeah...I think some Kroger's in the midwest are much less expensive than the Ralphs I shopped at.

[@lorita3488]

Here is my favorite from my Mom Clifford's favorite - Mom's L & D Chili Beans From the Kitchen of: Alderson Family Favorite Meals Ingredients: 2 cups Dry Red Spanish Beans, sorted and rinsed 1/4 cup oil 2 chopped onions 1 green bell pepper, chopped, 1 clove garlic, minced 1 lb. ground beef Recipe instructions: Soak 2 cups Red Spanish Beans overnight in water. Parboil until cooked. Fry until brown in 1/4 cup oil, 2 chopped onions, 1 green bell pepper, chopped, 1 clove garlic and 1 lb. ground beef. Add (24 oz.) can 2 1/2 cans of diced tomatoes, 1 Tbsp. L & D Spanish Style Seasoning or chili powder, 1 tsp. salt. Simmer 15 minutes; combine with beans and bake (300 degrees) 40 minutes OR simmer on top of stove.

[@ArdentMichelle]

sounds great 😁

[@ShettikkaWoods-jl8iq]

Awesome 👍🏾 thank you 🤠❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

💜

[@pek5117]

Yay, was hoping it would be a challenge vid

[@ArdentMichelle]

💜

[@diversekakes]

I feel like avocado is a great alternative to cheese. You could use the tortillas to make a taco pizza and then just pipe with a piping bag a swirl of guacamole or some type of nutritional yeast sauce! I always keep nutritional yeast in my pantry for when I run out of cheese. Or even a cashew sauce.

[@ArdentMichelle]

great ideas 👍

[@nanny8675309]

Kroger and Ralphs is also Fry’s in Arizona. I agree they are really pricey unless you just go in for the sales because then they are usually the cheapest. Also, keep an eye out for a discounted produce section(it’s usually a small 3 tier wooden shelf) they take the produce that won’t sell at full price bag it up for $.99 and a lot of times it’s the organic stuff. I believe only two times I got unusable avocados and everything else is fantastic! Also, they do not have that dressing in my area so if you really like it, you might want to go and buy a few bottles. Thanks for another great video!

[@ArdentMichelle]

wow great deals for the produce 👍

[@nancyculp6968]

I know it is hot and a lot of people refuse to eat soup…though eating a cup or bowl of soup causing you to sweat will help your body cool off. You can use red beans for red bean soup, red beans over rice, tostadas( using refried beans), bean burritos by making your own flour tortillas and salsa or pico de gallo. This would have given more variety than just pasta salad and bean patties. By removing the carrot, hamburger buns, pasta and salad dressing probably would have given you enough for: a box of seasoned rice to prepare for the red bean soup with a little of the seasoned rice in it, and then used some of the rice on your plate with some of the beans cooked down even more ( like stew consistency) to put over the rice each time you wanted some. Most red beans are seasoned with some diced onion, garlic, bell pepper and if you have it little celery. You cook your beans where they start to become creamy…for red beans and rice…if you could afford it smoked sausage(cut into slices) or a ham bone from When a ham was cooked and saved, is cooked with them too. For soup you just remove amount you want after very tender and have enough seasoned broth to pour over a little bit of rice. You can serve both dishes with little chopped green onion and parsley over top for garnish to add great flavor! Add some homemade corn bread and you have a very hardy meal. Most people just use plain white rice for these dishes, but if you don’t have seasonings look for it in packaged products if possible. Also if you’re lucky enough to have any beans left over freeze them for when you want to make a Spanish Pizza or to put into your chili( along with the sausage that you cook in them), this all adds layers of texture and flavor. Every Monday in Louisiana is Red Beans and Rice day, because from tradition it being wash day…they needed something easy to cook…plus was frugal and tasty that stretched to fill a lot of tummies.

[@ArdentMichelle]

soups are always an easy low cost meal. 👍

[@rphomemovies]

I agree that the home -cooked beans are far superior to canned. But bizarrely I didnt even know you could eat the broth! Very excited to try it on my next batch. I do love that Greek Seasoning. And love your videos. Your Kroger has an amazing discount section. Mine is very small.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I love that bean broth over some crumbled up corn bread. It's so good. Sometimes I'll add a little salsa to it.

[@margeebechyne8642]

I use the Kroger Zesty Italian when I make Three Bean Salad. That burger looked good, but I think I would have put BBQ sauce on it instead of ketchup, and BBQ sauce IS a pantry staple at my house. LOL I only shop at Ralphs about once a month, when they have a particularly good sale on. I get better prices at Walmart, but the produce at Stater Bros is much better than Walmart. I'm signed up for email sale flyers from Grocery Outlet and go there for sales occasionally, too. Thank you!!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Every time I check the Grocery Outlet ad....it's just a bunch of drinks or processed food and I never find anything there. So many of my viewers do recommend it though. I should check them again!

[@jenniferherrington]

Those Chili Cheese Fritos are my favorite chips! Yum!!!

[@ArdentMichelle]

who knew they would be so good with a pot of beans? 😂

[@masonhamlin3921]

Your music choices are fantastic. As is your food.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks so much 😁

[@lenoraw1098]

You did great for such a tough challenge! From Oklahoma ♥️🇺🇸♥️

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you 😁

[@hello-vs4me]

In pasta salad use carrot 🥕 corn and beans

[@ArdentMichelle]

I did think about adding the corn to the pasta salad 🤔

[@821Farm]

Partial cook the carrots at the last minutes of the pasta

[@ArdentMichelle]

I prefer mine crispy, but I know some people might prefer them cooked!

[@alishaparr577]

Want to revisit that WinCo challenge? I suggest 3 days 9 meals plus a treat or dessert. Allowed pantry items are oil, butter salt pepper and any one open common condiment you already have. Produce section, bulk section, meat section deli and dairy sections allowed and up to one item from the rest of the store. I hope you take up my revised challenge and have some fun. Feel free to do it with the same rules as a 2 day 6 dollar with treat if thats easier for your schedule. 3 days being the whole 10$

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you so much for the support 💜 I appreciate it! This challenge sounds interesting! 🤔 Would love to do this in the fall once it cools down. I'll save this. 😊

[@alishaparr577]

I thought the last challenge I sent you was a bit restrictive this way sounds like more fun but still very much a budget shop. It has been a hot summer.

[@arthrodea]

That salad dressing appears to be Krogers copycat version of the Olive Garden salad dressing, based on the ingredient list. Walmart and Aldi make copycat versions as well, for a cheaper price. You can buy Olive Garden brand dressing in most grocery stores now, but it seems to run around $4 a bottle for the name brand version. I cannot tell a real taste difference between the real version and the copycat versions

[@arthrodea]

Walmart calls theirs “Great Value Restaurant style Italian Dressing.” And Aldi’s version is Tuscan Garden brand Restaurant Style Italian Dressing.”

[@ArdentMichelle]

Maybe that's why I loved it so much 😂 I've made stuff with the Olive Garden dressing on my channel before. So delicious! But I haven't tried the Great Value brand yet.

[@bethbrec]

Dollar Tree also carries a box of 3 individual serving sizes of Olive Garden Italian Dressing. They seem to be very generous servings, too, and the added benefit of not having to refrigerate the unopened serving "pods". Not bad for $1.25 if budget is limited.

[@arthrodea]

@@bethbrec Thats great to know! Esp if you need to take dressing with a lunch. Walmart's price is not bad though - $1.97 for a 16 oz bottle! (Hopefully I dont come back to this comment in a year and inflation has like doubled the price! LOL)

[@lauriesheppard3394]

Great ideas!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you! 😊

[@danasandlin2435]

You are a magician: we do not have Krogers in South Carolina and I have lived in CA and Ralphs is Soooooo expensive--I could only afford tuna salad there...pinto beans make a great broth--one of the best...I think that you did very well with adding color to the pasta salad...if you have enough, you could add a green pepper as well...I might have shaved the carrot and put carrot curls on top of the bean pattie burgers (inside the buns)...I think the bean patties might have more flavor if they are pan fried in oil...good challenge...dts/usa

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Thank you for the video!

[@ArdentMichelle]

welcome 😁

[@Linda-ol2xz]

Kroger (Fred Meyer where I live) beats out Walmart and Winco by far with the weekly coupon deals they have. They are my favorite place to shop! They can be more expensive on produce if not on sale though.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I've shopped at a Fred Meyer, although not in my area.

[@gailgulliver8970]

Thank you Michelle that was great ..love from U.k. xxxx

[@ArdentMichelle]

welcome 😁

[@barbarabruce7648]

Michelle, so many ways to sub cheese on a pizza. Boil a potato and carrot, add a little nutritional yeast and onion/ garlic powders and salt. Blend and pour. If you dont have nutritional yeast it will still work. I also would just crumble tofu, hard or silken and throw seasonings on top. Then there are nuts or seeds you can soak and blend with seasonings. Soooo easy and cheap cheap cheap. Walnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds work well on there own. You dont need much. Tomato, cucumber and onion is my favourite salad. Its greek salad without the feta. I add a splash of vinegar, lemon, and olive oil. I add avocado and olives if I have them. Red onions are best. Not so strong on flavour. How did I not know about bean broth being tasty? I barely use salt so it isnt nice to me. I will experiment. Bean liquid is a good burger binder though. Those meals looked great. So much for six bux! I hope poor people see this. You could have fed all that to a family for dinner and it was balanced and tastey. Bravo.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I haven't tried the potato carrot with nutritional yeast yet, but it's been on my bucket list for a cheese sauce. I've never heard of someone trying that on a pizza though 🤔 Since I can't eat cheese much anymore, I'm definitely up to trying it though.

[@teresitap5778]

Amazing! Ralphs is my least favorite so great job.❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you so much. 😁

[@dianethoroughman9541]

Thank you for sharing. There is a slfairly small IGA grocery store near me. Like about three miles. Walmart is about twenty-five minutes from me. The Canned Grocery Outlet is thirty minutes from me. Winco, and some Kroger stores are about thirty-five minutes from me. And Fred Meyer and Costco are forty minutes from me. I live in a small town. The IGA store is not cheap, but it is convenient and they usually have some good sales. Oh, and Dollar Tree is about thirty-five minutes from me too. I have gotten some really good deals at Dollar Tree regarding groceries. Not a lot, but it happens. So, i am a disabled person. I am supposed to be on oxygen 24/7. When i have a caregiver and we go shopping i am. However, i don't always have a caregiver and messing with oxygen tanks while shopping is too difficult for me. When it is just me i choose convenience as that is easier. Fortunately, a lot of the employees recognize me, and they are kind. As for the other stores, i only go if i have a caregiver with me. I am on a limited budget and i am a picky eater. So that makes it challenging. Not impossible, just challenging. Thank you for your ideas. I am not a big meat eater. The only meat i eat is ground beef. I mostly get it when my ex-husband treats my adult son and myself to lunch after church on Sundays. So meals that have a complete protein without meat works really well for me. No meat also includes no poultry and no seafood nor fish.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Gosh.... thank YOU for sharing your story with us. 💜 It must be hard to be so far away from the major stores. Especially since you're disabled. If you were closer to the stores, maybe you could get delivery like some of my other disabled viewers. I meant to comment about how I'm sure some Kroger's have better deals than others. I was wondering if IGA is a Kroger brand....but I just looked it up and it says IGA's are independent. I feel like a lot of people are like you and have to shop at Dollar Tree's. I find some good deals there now and then. Maybe I should do a Dollar Tree budget challenge soon? I hope you try the bean patties. It takes some trial and error to make them perfectly, but they really are so good. I could have also made kidney bean sloppy joes with these ingredients. Stay cool my friend and thanks so much for your generous support of my channel! 🥰

[@dianethoroughman9541]

@ArdentMichelle I like all your challenges. It would be interesting to see what you could manage with a Dollar Tree challenge. Dollar Tree Dinners often does challenges at Dollar Tree. Lately, she has expanded to other stores for some of her challenges. Her latest is a 100 dollar budget for one month at any store. I feel like you would knock it out of the park, but I would love to see you do that challenge. I think you would give a Dollar Tree challenge a different perspective from other content creators, so I would love to see what you came up with. Some creators limit how many Dollar Trees they can go to because not every one have multiple Dollar Trees in their area. I think I would like to try your bean burger recipe. Your bean sloppy joe burgers sound like something I would love to watch and try. Thank you for your kind comments.

[@ArdentMichelle]

@@dianethoroughman9541 Adding this challenge to my list 😁

[@user-po3lj2ug4w]

That was fantastic, I have gone to LA mart and bought all I need for the month lots of penne rigate .79 each and 5 lb Jasmine rice for $4.59 and nice cuts of meat anyway 36 items for $78.14

[@ArdentMichelle]

great deals 👍

[@glorytogodhomestead3495]

Michelle, have you ever used molasses in cooking your beans? Yummy! Love the music!

[@ArdentMichelle]

I haven't and I've actually been wanting to buy some molasses. I think I'll probably need to make some baked beans this winter. Oddly enough, I've never done that.

[@shaunaleessnackidies]

Clearance at my Kroger in Arkansas isn’t ever a good deal. The digital coupons are though.

[@hello-vs4me]

If you make bean meatloaf and use hamburger 🍔 buns for meatloaf sandwiches

[@ArdentMichelle]

great idea! 👍

[@jonicabeird4657]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@vinnydabarber]

That is an extreme budget but as always you pulled it of brilliantly Michelle! Those bean patties look delicious! YUM! 🤗❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

It felt especially EXTREME at KROGERS 😂

[@vinnydabarber]

@@ArdentMichelle your Krogers are a LOT nicer than ours in Michigan.

[@TheGramaLady]

You made me want to go out and buy a bag of kidney beans. 😅 If you haven’t seen Cooking Haru on KZbin you should check them out. I think you’d find them interesting… and amusing. The recent cabbage & eggs video is quite good. Thanks for all your thoughtful work.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I just looked at Cooking Haru. You're right...I love them already. Thanks for the tip. 😁

[@MissysMealMayhem]

Carrot fries are delicious

[@ArdentMichelle]

great idea👍

[@user-rm7mr9rg1y]

I'm Mexican, not Mexican American. Flautas are made with corn tortillas.

[@ArdentMichelle]

thanks for clarifying.

[@nancyculp6968]

If corn was a good price why not make some corn chowder and serve some coleslaw along side of it, or make cream of carrot Soup as your main dish then use hot dog buns to make seasoned bread sticks and croutons out of them. A fresh corn salad with one or two roma tomatoes and little onion with a homemade vinaigrette would be nice too. One sweet potato could have yielded a nice amount of fries and a dipping sauce made out of pancake syrup or just drizzled over them to counter the flavor of the bean patties. If you get the Trapeys brand of black eyed peas( seasoned), all you have to do is mash them up and add in a little flour to hold them together. This makes a tastier patty than the red beans. Plus, makes up around six patties. You can get a sweet potato for 89 cents and a russet potato for 74 cents each. Corn now is five ears for $2.00 or 40 cents an ear. Also, might could have swung making eggplant Parmesan. If made flour tortillas or caught them (or corn ones on sale), had fresh corn and black bean salsa..one can of drained black beans, fresh corn cut off the cob, fresh tomato and fresh onion with a little garlic salt or powder…wonderful with crispy chips. Let’s face it, during this day and time we all will have to cook whether it is extremely hot or cold to make our money stretch to feed ourselves and our families. If you have children hungry and not at working age…those children need and deserve to be fed no matter how hard it is to drag ourselves into a hot kitchen. Plus, flour products: biscuits, bread, pizza dough, buns, cinnamon rolls, etc all help fill tummies especially for us on a tight budget. A can of chicken can be turned into a pot pie with a homemade crust, a 17 cent carrot, a $1.00 bags of frozen green peas( with a lot left over for other dishes), and a 74 cent potato that can feed a family of four. Then uses a can of tuna and bag of egg noodles along with some of those leftover peas to make a tuna casserole or make tuna melts out of the hamburger buns, along with the black eyed pea patties buying two of the 99 cent hamburger buns. I have Krogers app and only buy sale items if they are not cheaper at another supermarket. When hot dogs go on sale for 99 cents get four packs if you can along with the 99 cent buns. When our electricity went out after an ice storm one year, we roasted hot dogs in our fireplace! It entertained the kids and fed us with a hot meal. Just some things to consider and think about.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hello 😁 I don't have kids that I have to feed. 😂 Mine are grown and feed themselves. I occasionally will make them something but it's more an act of love than one of duty. 😂 The menu choices I make as a creator might be different than the choices that some of my viewers would make. For example, because I work full time, I have to cook all the meals in one day. So if I do 9 meals for a challenge, they must all be filmed in one day, which I find especially challenging in the heat because with the filming it makes for a VERY long day. From the feedback I'm getting from most of my viewers, they are wanting cooler summer foods and some have even been requesting more convenience foods. I had to stay in the $6 budget so coleslaw and some of the other items you mentioned would not have been an option and I just wasn't in the mood for soup in this heat. I would have LOVED to make eggplant parmesan but it DEFINITELY would not have worked with this budget. I understand that people with air conditioning might be fine with soup. Although...many of my viewers can't even afford to run their air conditioners!! Some of the meals you mentioned are ones that I've made during my winter extreme budget challenges and I think they are great budget meals. I agree that cooking is the easiest way to save money on food. 😁

[@vonneblazier814]

What is your son's channel called?

[@ArdentMichelle]

He doesn't post anymore.

[@Mamaisawake]

Why no flour in summer?

[@ArdentMichelle]

I don't have central air in my house so I don't like spending a lot of time cooking when I'm hot 😂

[@lorita3488]

I think spaghetti is always a great meal, since I have a stocked spice and herb cupboard,. This week I was able to get 1 lb 93% ground beef from Safeway Friday sale today for $5.00 but I do love to make garlic bread with French bread, I also love to melt cheese on the bread. homemade spaghetti sauce is easy to make using a few staple ingredients you may already have on hand! Perfectly thick and packed with flavor, you'll be ditching that store bought pasta sauce! INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (I used Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil) 2 medium yellow onion, grated 6 garlic cloves, finely minced 4 carrots, finely grated (use a food processor or a grater) 56 oz canned crushed tomatoes 1 cup water (pasta cooking water, preferred) Kosher salt and black pepper 2 tbsp dried oregano 2 tsp sweet Spanish paprika Pinch red pepper flakes, optional Handful fresh basil, about ½ cup packed, torn Handful fresh parsley, about ½ cup packed, chopped To Serve: 1 1/2 lb to 1 lb of cooked pasta of your choice Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark INSTRUCTIONS In a large pan heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until just shimmering. Add the onions, garlic, and finely grated carrots. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring regularly until softened. Add the crushed tomatoes and about 1/2 cup water. Add a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Stir in oregano, paprika, crushed pepper flakes, if using. Finally, stir in the fresh basil and parsley. Bring the sauce to a boil, then turn heat to low. Cover and let simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes. Check partway through, and if you feel the sauce is too thick, you can add a bit more water (preferably some of your pasta cooking water). When sauce is ready, throw in more fresh basil, if you like. If serving for dinner, add cooked pasta of your choice to the sauce. Mix to combine and let the pasta cook in the sauce over low heat for about 5 minutes. NOTES Cook's Tip to Serve: Letting the pasta and the sauce cook together for a few minutes before serving allows the past to absorb some of the sauce. It's like the pasta is sauced from the inside out. Delicious! Meat Option: If you want to add meat, start with 1 lb of ground beef, ground turkey, or ground sausage (your choice of ground meat). Heat a little bit of extra virgin olive oil. Add in your ground meat and cook over medium heat, tossing regularly, until fully browned. Drain the meat and transfer to a plate for now. In the same braiser or pot, saute the onions, garlic and carrots for 5 minutes in a little bit of extra virgin olive oil. Add the cooked ground meat back to the pot, and toss to combine. Follow the recipe instructions above from step #2 on. Storage: This vegetarian pasta sauce will keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Before you store it, make sure the sauce is completely cooled, then transfer to a tight-lid glass container or jar and refrigerate. Freezer Instructions: If you want to make batches of this sauce to use at a much later time, it will freeze well. Again, let the sauce cool completely. Transfer to freezer-safe containers, allowing some room for the sauce to expand as it freezes. Cover tightly and add the date. Freeze for about 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Visit our Online Shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including olive oils and some of the spices used in this recipe..

[@ArdentMichelle]

I agree.....I make a LOT of spaghetti on this channel. 😂 and homemade sauce is WAY BETTER than any kind of store bought. Thanks for sharing your tips.

[@lorita3488]

@@ArdentMichelle If it wasn't summer and so hot in Central Calif. I make my favorite: PASTA MAIN DISH BAKED SPAGHETTI Serves: Prep time: Cook time: Ingredients 1 package (16 oz.) SPAGHETTI pasta 2 Tbsp. Brown sugar 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef 1 medium onion, chopped 1/2 cup chopped green pepper 1 can (10 3/4 oz.)condensed Cream of Mushroom soup 1/2 tsp. dried Rosemary, crushed 1 can (10 3/4 oz.)condensed Tomato soup 1 tsp.salt, 1/8 tsp. garlic salt, 1 tsp. dried basil, 1 tsp. oregano, 1/2 tsp. dried Marjoram 1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce to rinse out cans 1 cup water 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Cheddar Cheese 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese divided Directions In large pot of salted boiling water, break spaghetti in half; cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Meanwhile in dutch Oven cook the beef, onions and green pepper over medium heat until meat is NO LONGER PINK. Drain; stir in soups, tomato sauce and water and brown sugar and seasonings and Salt to taste. DRAIN the spaghetti; stir into meat sauce. Add 1/2 of the cheese. Transfer to a greased 13" x 9" x 2" baking dish. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover sprinkle rest of the cheese; bake 10 -15 minutes longer until cheese is melted. F r o m t h e k i t c h e n o f Lorita Sutton

[@lorita3488]

Old Spaghetti factory Browned Butter & Mizithra Cheese Ingredients 16 ounces pasta, 1 cup butter, 1/2 cup mizithra cheese grated, 1/2 cup Romano cheese grated, 1 tablespoon parsley minced, Instructions: Cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Do not rinse. While the pasta is cooking brown the butter by placing into a saucepan over medium heat. As the butter melts, it will begin to foam. Remove the foam with a spoon. Cook the butter until it browns. To prepare the pasta, pour pasta into a bowl. Pour the browned butter over the pasta, and then add the two kinds of cheese. Toss pasta until it is well coated. Serve immediately. This dish does not reheat well. Nutrition Calories: 924kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 54g | Saturated Fat: 33g | Cholesterol: 148mg | Sodium: 712mg | Potassium: 287mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1605IU | Vitamin C: 1.3mg | Calcium: 303mg | Iron: 1.7mg Old Spaghetti Factory Original Clam Sauce Ingredients: 3 ounces butter 2 cloves garlic, chopped fine 1⁄2 onion, chopped fine 3 stalks celery, chopped fine 3 tablespoons flour 2 (8 ounce) cans chopped clams, with juice 1 quart half-and-half 1 teaspoon salt 1⁄4 teaspoon white pepper 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme or 2 teaspoon Fresh chopped Thyme and fresh grated nutmeg on top DIRECTIONS Combine first four ingredients in a saucepan. Saute over medium-low heat until vegetables are tender but not brown. Add flour and mix to make a roux. In another saucepan, combine the juice from the clams, half and half, salt, white pepper, and thyme; heat until just below boiling. Add the half and half mixture and the clam meat to the roux. Stir until the sauce thickens. Serve over your favorite buttered spaghetti noodles with generous portions of Parmesan cheese. or my favorite is to make Browned Butter with Mizithra cheese sauce

[@ArdentMichelle]

I LOVE the spaghetti with mizithra sauce. I've made it a few times. Where did you get these recipes?

[@lorita3488]

@@ArdentMichelle I love the manager special at Old Spaghetti Factory - we first went there when we were on our honeymoon back in 1973 in Portland with my husbands brother & wife and later when we moved back to Calif. when my husband got out of the Air Force; there was a Old Spaghetti Factory in downtown Sacramento (since then we have several come and go in several locations ) but since we live the delta of Calif. it is a drive of over hour drive if not 2 at some time. So I googled for recipes for it. I do that for a lot of recipes or just hunting for recipes for something .