BUDGET CHALLENGE: 7 DINNERS for less than $14

[@raizab.1837]

Honestly you have taught me how wasteful I am. Not trying to shame myself but there is a less expensive way to still eat well and like your meals. Thanks for the education.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Raiza 😁 I'm constantly reminded of how wasteful I am also- especially when I do these challenges. I'm so glad my videos have been helpful. Thanks so much for letting me know! 🥰

[@WildroseHomemaker]

I never would have thought to put cauliflower with pasta 👌🏻

[@ArdentMichelle]

me neither until I saw it 😂

[@happybudgeter]

I don't know how you do it, but every video is better than your last! Thank you for all the inspiration!

[@ArdentMichelle]

awe..thanks so much 💜 Glad you like this video.

[@charlottekearn5185]

I watched this video on an empty stomach, now I want it all ❤😊

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Charlotte 😁 I'm glad my food looks appetizing to you. 🥰 Thanks for letting me know.

[@mentalutopia]

Roasted cauliflower, onion, and tomatoes mixed with pasta and topped with toasted breadcrumbs is life changing.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I would love that 👍

[@beckyw9000]

Another “10” of a video. That first bean salad (the one with the optional olives) is going on my summer try list. I am assuming it was a cold salad?? Also: when you mentioned your southern grandmother, full stop! We are going to need some of her food wisdom! I hope you one day share what food lessons you got from her. I will share one that I got from my southern grandmother: reusing bread wrappers for baggies, waxed milk cartons for freezer containers, and keeping your twist ties and rubber bands for future use in their own container in the kitchen. (Mine is on my counter). I hope you have a great week!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Becky 😁 awe...thanks so much! 💜 Yes, it was a cold salad. Sorry I didn't mention that. I've talked a few times about what I've learned from my grandma but I've been thinking about making a meal soon with some of the foods she used to make. Love the tips you got from your grandma. Those are awesome 👍

[@allyrooh3628]

I'm not a huge cauliflower fan, but that califredo sure looks the part of an alfredo sauce! Butter beans were a special event when my grandma came to town. It was an all day event. Homemade bread, beans simmering, and a hug from Grandma...there is nothing better to come home from school to!

[@ArdentMichelle]

So true 👍 I miss my little grandma so much.

[@teresacarnes2271]

I love when you tell the history of a food interesting to know thanks for the video

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Teresa 😁 Glad you enjoy the rabbit holes I go down. 😂 I have an insatiable curiosity.

[@patpeters6331]

You're so creative. Thanks for these suggestions. 😋🥰

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Pat 😁 Thank you so much. You're welcome 🥰

[@charlottekearn5185]

She certainly is.....I love her

[@rachelhero3413]

If you get a chance -butter bean hummus is delightful! 2 cups cooked butter beans, 1 clove fresh garlic, a pinch of red pepper flakes or 1/2 a Serrano pepper , juice of a lemon, 1/4 cup good olive oil, 1 tbsp fresh parsley. Whiz it all up until smooth!

[@ArdentMichelle]

That sounds very good 👍 Thanks for sharing this Rachel. I'm saving this for later.

[@kristyreal]

Southerner here...I've never made butter beans without adding bacon grease and a side of fresh sliced tomato and cornbread. Now I feel like the cold salad is a must try for this summer. So many great ideas!

[@ArdentMichelle]

"The fresh sliced tomato and cornbread" -yum. Glad you are going to try this.

[@patpeters6331]

Have you heard about saving the pasta water and saving it in ice cube trays so that you can use it for a variety of other recipes? I thought it was a good idea.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Pat 😁 No I hadn't heard of that. That IS a good idea. 👍

[@marywalker1394]

Absolutely 💯❤️

[@GeckoHiker]

I like to plan a soup for the day after I've cooked pasta. Then I use the pasta water in the soup. It's harder for me to save it as ice cubes. I also use pasta water to add to the pasta sauce. The starch slightly thickens the sauce. It's also good to add into homemade macaroni and cheese sauce as you cook it.

[@bodders4167]

Frozen vegetables are actually fresher than fresh vegetables because they're frozen within an hour of being picked.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Interesting..... I did not know that. 🤔 Thanks for sharing!

[@tmdavidson1478]

And they retain more vitamins

[@pennylynch913]

Yes Amen they are.

[@bodders4167]

@@ArdentMichelle Glad to enlighten you 😊 plus they're usually cheaper too.

[@margeebechyne8642]

I love all the creative recipes present, on a budget. I watch some channels and the ingredients are all expensive. But you give me great ideas on how to change up some of my "same ol' same ol' recipes. Thank you, Michelle.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Margee 😁 Glad you are enjoying my content. Thanks for letting me know 🥰

[@pennylynch913]

Yes everyone go frozen veg! How to cook? Put straight into pan heat til water evaporates then add your oil and seasonings/sauces and enjoy. Xo

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks for the tips on cooking the frozen veggies. 😁

[@susans9491]

Hi Michelle, Happy Sunday! These recipes were a lot of fun, and I felt validated in some strange way because I’ve always liked Lima beans, but didn’t think anyone else did! The Aldi pesto is a nice value but I hadn’t thought to combine it with lemon. I haven’t made pasta for a while, so now I really want some sort of penne, but especially want garlic bread and marinara sauce!❤️

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Susan 😁 Happy Sunday! I hope you're having a very restful day! 🌸 Thank you so much for the support of my channel. 💜 I'm grateful! I could just eat the garlic bread with marinara for dinner 😂 I was a little surprised at how much more I like the Great Value tomato sauce than the one I used though. It was way too thick and not quite as acidic as the GV brand. I just love that French bread.

[@DCB938]

Susan… I love Lima beans, but most of my big family don’t. Their loss lol

[@Mrrngglory3043]

Sometimes I blend pesto with an avocado to make a riff on green goddess dressing. (Add a crushed vitamin C tablet to keep the avocado from turning brown. Also do it if you make your own pesto & it will keep the green from turning black)

[@ArdentMichelle]

@@Mrrngglory3043 that's an interesting approach to crush up a vitamin c tablet. I've never heard of that. I feel like I should try this sometime, but I don't have vitamin c tabs, just the gummy multivitamins 😂

[@marywalker1394]

Great idea must try thanks 🙏🏾 ❤

[@shettikkawoods3248]

Blessings 😊awesome 😊

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you 😁

[@Jean_in_Stillness]

You have such a gift for bringing just a few ingredients together and getting a variety of DELICIOUS results! Nicely done, Michelle. I had forgotten how wonderful lemon juice tastes with beans and pasta. And when I have it, I throw fresh parsley in with the lemon. Really enjoy all your videos - thank you 💗

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks Jean 😁 Glad you like this video!

[@Dutch_Gonneke]

Such a wonderful video Michelle! I am sure you are helping many people who are on a super tight budget. I LOVE lima beans. One of the cheap filling meals I made as a student was lima beans/ sliced onion rings/ a can of tuna / olive oil/ lemon juice/ s&p Still not tired of that salad after 30 years! Greetings from Amsterdam🌷🙋‍♀️

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Gonneke 😁 I was just talking to another viewer about that salad with tuna. I love that idea! Sounds like an affordable and nutritious summer salad. Expect to see that on an upcoming video . Thanks for sharing. 👩‍🍳

[@Dutch_Gonneke]

@@ArdentMichelle would love to see you make it! 🌷

[@danasandlin2435]

butter beans and lima beans are definitely NOT the same thing; butter beans are soft and buttery; you are truly an amazing cook...I love watching you try different things in small dishes, so that you get to try it several different ways...dts/usa

[@whilebabyssleeping6244]

A way to add flavor to the toasted bread you had with your pasta would have been to toast the bread in the same pan with the oil that you cooked the tomatoes in. Great video!

[@ArdentMichelle]

oh yes 👍 Great idea! I feel like I should have also poured all the oil over the pasta for the best flavor, but I was trying to moderate 😂

[@maryellen9503]

Love these videos, Michelle. My local "everything is too expensive" store had cauliflower for 12$. Yes. Twelve dollars a head. No one is sure why that is the pricing but we all agree we don't want it.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hello 😁 Wow...$12 for a head of cauliflower is just crazy. Don't know who would part with $12 for cauliflower 😂 I think that frozen package worked just fine.

[@ambreewilliams6585]

I'm always learning something new on your channel! I just harvested some Sun Gold and Sweet 100 tomatoes and basil from my patio garden this weekend. You gave me some cool ideas to try with them! I don't have cauliflower, but I have broccoli florets, so I may sub them instead. I'll figure something out lol... Thanks for all you do! Edited to add: I was watching this video again :) and noticed that if you wanted to extend your caulifredo sauce, you could've added some of the butter beans to the cauliflower mix. I bet that would really give it a buttery taste and texture...

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Ambree 😁 Thank you so much for the donation to help support my channel. It is much appreciated 🥰 I'm so glad you found this video helpful. Yes, I agree that adding the pureed white beans to that sauce would have been good. If I were you, I would either sun dry or oven roast some of those tomatoes and can. That would be so delicious! There are so many recipes you can make with the roasted tomatoes.

[@ericachitwood9303]

Such great ideas. Id never have thought of any of those dishes but they all look and sound delish

[@ArdentMichelle]

Glad you like this video 😁

[@nanny8675309]

Another great video! I’ve never had a Butterbean but now I want to and I feel you have pushed avocado toast to the wind with butter beans and pesto. I was also thinking that Poormans Parmesan could be made sweet with coconut oil, vanilla and cinnamon maybe ginger etc. to be placed on top of yogurt or a smoothie bowl😋

[@ArdentMichelle]

Oh yes! I LOVE that idea! 👍 Totally going to use this. Great twist on the recipe. 👩‍🍳

[@stacel1972]

Poor man’s Parmesan! Brilliant🤩🎉 I am mostly plant based and don’t keep dairy at home. I feel like you just changed my life. I always thought I didn’t like the big Lima beans but I might revisit it. Have you tried Mayocoba beans ( called canary as well) they are smaller but creamy and a bit buttery. I love them. Cauliflower is a miracle veg. So many uses and I buy mostly the frozen from Walmart. Thank you for yet another fantastic video!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Stace 😁Yes, I love mayocoba beans 😋

[@ArdentMichelle]

You're welcome. Glad you like this video!

[@cheriellis9215]

I’ve used a similar cauliflower white sauce to make a sausage gravy for my gf/df sister along with grain free biscuits when the whole family got together for breakfast. She loved it!

[@ArdentMichelle]

I bet that worked well, considering it would just take on the flavor of the sausage. Great idea 👍

[@canine6023]

I just subscribed. Been watching a while . You are very talented. I thankyou so much.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Yay! 🥳 🎉 Welcome to my channel and thanks so much for the complement and for subscribing. 🥰 Please make sure the notifications tab is turned on so you're notified when I release a new video. 🥳 Happy Day!

[@Back-handedLuck-ul7ms]

I have roasted frozen broccoli before with success. I rinse off any ice crystals, then blot excess water. Then I roast 3-5 minutes in the oven to further dry them before coating them in the oil and spices. Haven't tried with cauliflower but I think it would work. Love your recipes.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Glad you have been enjoying my content. 😁I don't think I've tried roasting broccoli yet. Thanks for sharing the info.

[@colettemcwilliams1325]

Another great video! I love all the pasta ideas and the beans on bread. I am going to give them a try. Thank you fir the work that you put into your videos and sharing your wonderful,cost effective meals.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Colette 😁 You're welcome. I'm glad you like my recipes this week. Thanks for letting me know .

[@CathieG]

Yummy! 🤩😍 The pesto pasta looks so good! 🥰💕

[@ArdentMichelle]

Glad you like it 😁

[@thirstymercfan]

Great ideas here. I like to make my penne pasta with pesto and some frozen corn. I boil the corn and then add that to the pasta and pesto, a little cheese on top and it’s delish. I make extra so I can have it for lunch the next day ❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hello 😁 Glad you like this video! I think I would love the corn with the pesto. That sounds very good! Thanks for sharing your dish! 👩‍🍳

[@barbaramorris1677]

You make everything look so easy to make and so delicious to eat❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Barbara 😁 Glad you think so 🥰

[@varsharao86]

Hello michelle i love how aware and concerned you are of other people. For example you mentioned that parmesan cheese was not really needed in the pasta dish and that it would taste equally good even without it. Goes to show how sweet you are ❤ i love watching all your videos 😍. And also a fun fact- the butter beans thats also called double beans in india had an awesome purple design on the beans. Ofcourse we had the plain white variety as well so i'd always be excited when my mom would peel the shell and it would be the designed pattern beans 🥰. It was a sweet memory of mine. ❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

I love hearing stories like this....and thank you so much for the complement! 💜 I do have an affection for my viewers so I'm glad it shines through. 😁 By eating whole foods I'm hoping that more people can eat well. I'm already starting to look forward to Fall food when the weather cools. I'm imagining a big pot of those butter beans. Thanks for sharing about the double beans. I haven't seen them with the purple on them...They sound beautiful!

[@jenniferherrington]

I have been making pasta with pesto and chicken for a week! I am addicted! That is what I am also having for dinner tonight!! Stouffer's sells this in the frozen dinner section at some local grocery stores.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Jennifer 😁 Pesto is good 😋 Thanks for sharing this!

[@noahvale2627]

Well I'M still eating the Mexican spoonbread that i made 4 days ago. Yummy and is keeping well. Thanks for that gluten free recipe.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Noah 😁 Glad you like the Mexican spoon bread. I love eating that for leftovers. Heats up in the microwave so well. Thanks for letting me know you tried it. 🥰

[@evelynhamdon3648]

I love the way you cook!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Evelyn 😁 Thank you so much 😁 I'm glad you enjoyed this video!

[@emily--m]

AWESOME.....love, love, love butter beans. Will be trying these recipes 🤗

[@ArdentMichelle]

Glad you like this one

[@pennylynch913]

Pasta and pesto is divine! Hi again darling ❤️

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hello there 😁

[@VictoriaFerland-gu7rb]

Thank you. I liked the idea of so many things. One thing I need to try is lemon pasta. I make a pasta dish with seasoned bread crumbs and butter when there’s not much left in the cupboard

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Victoria 😁 Yes, you should try a version of lemon pasta! It's so good. 😋 and tastes fresh for summer 🍋

[@danasandlin2435]

I love to top salads with a side of butter beans...dts/usa

[@MrsKrikit]

I would love to see the cauliflower pasta from this one as an individual recipe on the new channel!

[@ArdentMichelle]

got it 👍 I've just added this to my list of recipes to add. 😁

[@kippytx]

Really wonderful recipes

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Lucinda 😁 Glad you like this video. Thanks for letting me know

[@amyc2349]

Love these recipes pesto pasta looks good and easy to make.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Amy 😁 The pesto pasta really is easy to make and a quick meal. Glad you like this video. Thanks for letting me know. 🥰

[@Ericaaaaaaaaaa]

It's great to see lima beans getting some love!! My husband's favorite meal is "bodega beans," and we always make it with lima beans. The recipe is from a Buzzfeed article called "Bodega beans are the best thing to eat when you're broke." They're not wrong! The recipe calls for canned beans, but it's even cheaper with dried beans. Yum. 🫘

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Erica 😁 Thanks for sharing this!

[@JosephSchmidtfan]

You’ve given us some delicious meal ideas here. Citrus zest is such a great flavour enhancer. I buy limes and lemons in bulk in season and store the juice as ice cubes and the zest frozen in zip lock bags. Cauliflower can also be cooked with a curry power and coconut milk for a delicious spiced soup. Any cooked white beans make a great inexpensive base for a homemade dip. I add jalapeño peppers, or lemon and garlic, or crushed olives, or anchovies and capers.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Glad you like this. 😁 These are more great ideas for future videos. I'm saving these. Thanks for sharing! 👩‍🍳

[@ginas.6656]

I love and watch all your videos!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Gina 😁 Thank you so much for being a regular viewer!

[@evelynhamdon3648]

I can’t wait to try all of these!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Glad you like my recipes in this video. 😁 Thanks for letting me know!

[@shirleyclarke4867]

Michelle, if youve never used the sun dried tomato pesto try it!!!!! I love it, so, much more than the green and I LOVE the green, however, i hardly use it anymore after finding the joy of the red!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Shirley 😁 Thanks for the heads up. I actually picked up that red pesto also. It's sitting on my desk waiting to be used in another video. I LOVE sun dried tomato, so I'm sure I will love it too.

[@pek5117]

Woo! I was about to watch a cooking vid while I make my noodles. I'm glad you found cheap pesto, I was surprised when you said it was expensive there. Looking forward to what you make.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hello Pek 😁 You definitely helped to inspire this video. 👩‍🍳

[@pek5117]

Everything looked great. I knew you were going to put some of the pesto on the bread, it's good. I roast frozen veggies all the time, works well. I love just plain pasta with bit of butter and cheese so adding cauliflower would be great. Might try that this week. Thanks for the video Michelle.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Roasted cauliflower is delicious! Thank you for the video!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Daniel 😁 You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed this one.

[@forgivenandredeemed9460]

You never disappoint! Thank you for another great video!

[@ArdentMichelle]

You're welcome 😁

[@hayleymccall904]

Hey Michelle! Your pesto pasta looked amazing! Another budget friendly pasta dish I make is caco e pepe! Legit means cheese and pepper pasta! You cook your pasta to perfect, in a sauce pan roast your ground peppercorns (or you can use regular ground pepper) add a few ladles or pasta water and add grated pecorino ramano cheese and stir till it becomes creamy and thick! Plate it and add a little more shredded cheese and pepper on top! Legit such a perfect dish! You could add some veggies or even sun dried tomatoes but to keep it simple and cheapest just the pepper and cheese does wonders! ❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Hayley 😁 I love cacio e pepe. I haven't been buying expensive cheeses lately - It might be fun to do a weekly budget that includes the cheese though and then feature it throughout the weeknight dishes. I need to see if Trader Joes has an inexpensive Pecorino Romano. 🤔 They might.

[@robinswan5831]

Everything looks wonderful Michelle!~

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you so much 🥰

[@lavernejohnson2888]

I love your videos. They are so inspiring. Just one comment about the parmesan cheese. Aldi's has a 5oz tub for only 1.99 compared to the Walmart one you mentioned that was more.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Laverne 😁 Glad you are enjoying my content. Thanks for sharing this info. That's good to know.

[@caterwauller]

Have you ever made or used salt-preserved lemons with your pasta? I usually put a big jar of lemons up each year, and use them throughout. They’re great sliced thin and roasted with veggies, used with pasta or whatever.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hello 😁No, but I have been considering different ways of using lemons lately. Thanks for sharing this.

[@Laguns-ij4hn]

May have to try the penne pasta with the roasted cauli. Trying to get my teens to eat more veggies.

[@ArdentMichelle]

You may have to be sneaky 😂

[@erinnola-raised6543]

I was honestly astounded when You mentioned ‘shelf stable heavy cream’. Oh my gosh, where has this been in my life??? Went quick to order some ;)

[@ArdentMichelle]

yeah that's what I thought when I first discovered it 😁

[@janicecrosby6649]

So delicious and creative of you, Michelle! You definitely inspire me in my cooking. Bravo.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Janice 😁 Yay! I'm so glad you find inspiration in my videos. Thanks for letting me know 🥰

[@shettikkawoods3248]

I ❤ butterbeans❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

yeah...so good 😋

[@lindawilson290]

Oh my goodness, AM, I didn't know you were writing a cookbook! When do you hope it will be published? I can't wait!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Linda 😁 I'm not planning on writing a cookbook anytime soon. In the video, I said the recipe was going in my recipe book, just meaning as a recipe that I want to keep. Glad to know you will be excited when that time comes though 🥰

[@lindawilson290]

@@ArdentMichelle Thanks for the clarification, AM. I still believe that MANY of your subbies would eagerly sign up to purchase any cookbook which you wrote!

[@ArdentMichelle]

@@lindawilson290 Thank you so much 🥰 I've already started saving the recipes that I've rated a "10" in an electronic file.

[@lindawilson290]

@@ArdentMichelle 🙂

[@jschuesler1977]

Just made the caulifredo! With heavy whipping cream and grated Parmesan. I think it’s delicious but will it go over with the family??? We shall see. I used grilled chicken instead of pasta and what a rich delicious flavor. A little grainy in texture and did have cauliflower flavor…I mean it’s 90% cauliflower 😅 but so so good.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi J 😁 Ok that sounds divine with the whipping cream. I love how you modified it with the chicken - and it's now low carb. I think you and I have the same response to the flavor of the dish. Let me know what the family thought.

[@theresaduffy8222]

I’m now allergic to tomatoes and searching for low calorie sauces. The califredo would probably be great with cottage cheese too. Thanks!

[@ArdentMichelle]

great idea 👍

[@kathyclarke6327]

Cauliflower turn out great🥰

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Kathy 😁 Yeah, I was surprised it worked so well to roast frozen cauliflower.

[@danasandlin2435]

cauliflower alfredo sauce--brilliant...dts/usa

[@shannonpeck5954]

Love this video! Now I have to try lima beans.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Shannon 😁 The green ones taste different from the white ones. I love them both, but the white ones work better in a cold salad.

[@danasandlin2435]

your butter bean toast has the colors of Italy: red, white and green (ha!)...I think that you can also make the butter beans as a nice soup base (put in blender)...dts/usa

[@ArdentMichelle]

that would be a great way to use them. 😁

[@Sonja...]

Amazing

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you 😁

[@RachRolls]

OK, I'm not even through the first recipe but OMG you aren't supposed to cook pesto? Welp, that is news to me! 😂 I made a big jar of arugula pesto last weekend and I've been looking for something to use it on (besides mixing it with yogurt for a nontraditional taco condiment). This might be my first traditional pesto dish to try it on- but I won't cook it first!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Rachel 😁 I know that basil changes flavor when it's cooked and also turns a darker color, so it will taste fresher if you don't cook it. I feel like I could have had more fun playing with that pesto. So many great applications for it. 👩‍🍳

[@shettikkawoods3248]

Yummy 😋

[@ArdentMichelle]

Glad you like my video 😁

[@Dee-ps3um]

I'm going to try the pasta and pesto🙂

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Dee 😁 Hope you like it as much as me.

[@Dee-ps3um]

@@ArdentMichelle I'll let you know!

[@debbies.3109]

🌾🌼 Hi, Michelle. :) The roasted bread crumbs sound delicious and I’ll be making them, too. Could you post your recipe for Lemon Spaghetti? I love lemon and I’d like to try that. Thanks for this video. 7 meals for $14.00 truly helps with the prices today. 🌼🌾

[@ArdentMichelle]

I started making lemon spaghetti by making this Giada de Laurentiis recipe www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/lemon-spaghetti-recipe-1915566 I don't add basil because I never have it, and I cut down the oil amount and also add garlic. It's super easy, just make sure you set aside pasta water when cooking the spaghetti to mix in with the lemon juice, oil, and garlic. Hope this helps 😁

[@debbies.3109]

@@ArdentMichelle Thank you!

[@MrsKrikit]

Do you think if I pan roasted Panko breadcrumbs instead of chopping up the French bread that would work well for the cauliflower pasta?

[@ArdentMichelle]

Yes 👍

[@kathyclarke6327]

I love butter beans, but Lima beans is one of maybe (?) 5 of foods I don’t like. I eat damn near everything.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Understood. 👍 Many sites online are saying that the lima bean is the immature version, and butter beans are what they refer to when the limas are mature but I'm not positive that is accurate, therefore I didn't mention it. They definitely have different texture, but I like both.

[@jessguzman7676]

There is a French chef I follow and he said to use the tool the other way around. Try switch it up the other way

[@ArdentMichelle]

which tool?

[@connieblack5276]

Just tried to buy yesterday the Trader Joe's cream and it's 😢 seasonal.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Well that's a bummer 😞 I didn't know that was a seasonal item. I know that a few times when I asked for it they were sold out. Guess this will be an item to stock up on. I like having these on hand for recipes.

[@sharonsomers4949]

I didn’t realize butter beans are a form of Lima beans. Like butter beans but dislike limas

[@ArdentMichelle]

I didn't know that either. I actually like both but some people don't like the texture of the green baby limas.

[@kalenamoon6]

Hi Michelle, I really enjoy your channel and love all the recipies you make. I send an email to you called Tucson tomato bread soup. Hope you got it. 😊

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Marlene 😁 I just responded to you. I love pappa al pomodoro. 😋 I featured it on my channel in this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5LYYoOBmduBe7s Thanks for thinking of me 🥰, and please do keep sending me recipes that you think would work on this channel.

[@susanjane4784]

I respectfully disagree about lima/butter/etc beans. Roses are a category that differs by variety, color, size, etc. My sister is a bean hater but she enjoys lime/butter beans because they do have a different texture and flavor than something like pinto or black beans. My all-time favorite are Jackson Butter Beans or runner beans which I can no longer find -- they are mottled dark red and taste out of this world. My second favorite is a type grown in Greece usually called Gigantes or Giant which in the slow cooker comes out literally 2" in size and soft as room temperature butter without falling apart. The American version of large and giant is nothing close. The usual grocery store lima beans are bland, but still very edible and a good source of nutrients. Finding the darker varieties is better but always more expensive. In my opinion, the small limas and green limas are just icky because they taste unripe. From looking at pictures, butter beans cooked in the South are not the same variety as the generic grocery store version, but I am obviously under-informed. There is a lot of hate about lima beans but I believe that's because there is a marked difference between variety... just like roses are all different.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi SusanJane 😁 What do you disagree with? My statement that butter beans and lima beans are the same kind of bean? Apparently 2 gene pools exist and there are currently at least 5 bush varieties, and 6 pole varieties. I myself love both the baby green limas and the butter beans. The more you read about the history of lima beans, the more interesting it gets 🤔 perhaps I've missed my calling as a food historian 😂

[@susanjane4784]

@@ArdentMichelle I'm sorry. That's me hearing that lima beans are all the same bean. But I do think that the American grocery stores sell one bean for economic reasons and we assume that's all there is. I do not have access to ethnic grocery stores and I would be interested in what they carry.

[@ArdentMichelle]

@@susanjane4784 Understood 👍 Yeah I'm kind of interested to see how the international stores label them now too. For me, I just wasn't use to seeing big white beans labeled as lima beans 😂 I mean...in my mind they are supposed to be green. 😂 Have a great rest of your day 😁

[@Mamaisawake]

Publish this recipe book you speak of!

[@ArdentMichelle]

😂 maybe one day. That would be fun. 😁

[@Boone22]

This is very high in carbs. Diabetic would have problems with these meals.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hello 😁 Diabetics should modify recipes to suit them. Unless my video says it's low carb, it won't be.

[@curlyfryzzz1]

Cheap foods like beans, rice (can be brown or white), pasta, and bread tend to be high in carbs. If you’re a diabetic, yeah it sucks, but for everyone else, carbs aren’t the enemy. Especially not the complex carbs found in legumes, brown rice, and whole grain products. People around the world eat white rice and white pasta and don’t suffer from obesity or health issues.

[@Boone22]

@@curlyfryzzz1 JS, many elderly and food benefits are not good for those with chronic conditions.

[@RachRolls]

I was recently (like a month ago) diagnosed with diabetes, which I developed after a 3 month period of very high dose steroids (I'm in chronic respiratory failure). It stinks that it made me diabetic, but I used to do diabetes education when I was a nurse, so I knew a few tricks to modify my meals (and I follow up with blood glucose testing to see what works and what doesn't for me). (Disclaimer- this isn't medical advice, just sharing stuff I learned and how to apply it to my own meals.) For some pasta recipes, veggie spirals or palm pasta will work, though they're obviously more expensive. Riced couliflower can be used sometimes (though I'm not personally a fan). You can also change the ratio of veggies and proteins to pasta- I throw a ton of zucchini, spinach, arugula, yellow squash or whatever I have, plus I keep a bunch of varieties of beans on hand. For summer, another cheap way to bulk up meals is some variety of slaw on the side. My husband got a big bag of traditional coleslaw mix for I think $1.20 at Wegmans; I'm sure it's cheaper at most other stores. Cabbage is very filling and that bag, prepared, will last multiple meals.

[@ArdentMichelle]

@@RachRolls I'm so sorry to hear about your health issues. 😞 Thanks for sharing these ideas Rachel 😁 Learning to sub out for higher carbs is key to learning to live with a health condition. I've been trying to share some of those options as well. For example, low carb pasta, etc. It does cost more though.

[@heyjoe9267]

I’m six foot five, broad shoulders 265 pounds….please tell me how I survive on what you just ate.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi HeyJoe 😁 Why would you think we should eat the same amount? I would think we wouldn't. I'm not sure which meal you are referring to. Some of the meals were plated with smaller portion sizes because I cooked many of the meals in one day and couldn't eat all of it. If you wanted to use this meal plan then you would consider the amount of servings you normally eat. For example, if you know you normally eat 2-3 servings of pasta in one sitting, then there should still be enough pasta for you. Otherwise, you would add one more bag of pasta on for $1.18 to the shopping list.

[@heyjoe9267]

@@ArdentMichelle I love the food you cook but I’d need 4X the amount…lol. I’m sitting by the lake pondering dinner, my thoughts go to meat…lots of meat. Fantastic channel!

[@ArdentMichelle]

@@heyjoe9267 Understood 👍 Glad you are enjoying my channel. Thanks for letting me know! Hope you come up with a great dinner idea! Enjoy your meal 😁

[@sharonsomers4949]

Too many carbs for me. I’m not into much pasta.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Sharon 😁 So you don't like the low carb pasta either? One of my viewers made the caulifredo with chicken instead of the pasta. He said it turns out great.

[@Dannycoloma]

Can I ask why you never show your face in your cooking videos?

[@ArdentMichelle]

I've just always been about the food and less about me.