Dirt Cheap Meals From My Childhood That We Made When There Wasn’t Anything To Eat

#brokebudget #poormanscooking #frugalliving #budgetfriendlyfood #deliciousfood #cheapmeals #inflation #familymeals #budget #dirtcheap

[@UncleSanDiego]

Poor? I didn’t know we were poor until I grew up. It’s was a normal way of life for us!

[@lisanolan2382]

you didnt know some people had powered milk

[@oldmcdanelsfarm592]

Absolutely!

[@leighanneboles6609]

Yup

[@jackieblue787]

Dessert would be a slice of white bread, buttered with sugar sprinkled on top.

[@charlottekearn5185]

Omgosh, I ate that all the time when I was a kid, I loved it "now 70". My mom didn't buy mayonnaise, it was miracle whip only. I used to eat miracle whip sandwiches on wonder bread 🍞😋

[@NHarts3]

My mums childhood dessert was cheap biscuits soaked in milk until they go soggy with sugar sprinkled over. Not the american style biscuits. The british style biscuits. My mum grew up dirt poor. By the time I was born we were a little better off. Still poor but not as bad as my mum and dads childhood. By the time I was a teenager my parents had worked us out of that. Now living with no debt and a comfortable roof over my head as an adult. Always thankful my parents raised us with little money but lots of love and gratitude. To this day we never waste food. Not me or any of my siblings.

[@NellSchuetz-od1pq]

@@jackieblue787 Don't forget the Cinnamon!

[@EgoBrain1]

@@charlottekearn5185 My family only did Miracle Whip, too. My Mom tried to buy mayo and that salad dressing stuff 🤢 but we wouldn't eat it. It would sit there. Lol Now, I'm 39 and I eat them both. Depends what I'm making on which I'll use.

[@charlottekearn5185]

@@EgoBrain1 same here, I use both

[@renastone1270]

This all reminded me of when I was little and didn't realize we were poor. I was friends with this girl who always just brought a banana and a bologna sandwich with mustard every day for lunch. My mother made homemade tortillas most days so that's what I'd bring lunch in. It might have peanut butter, a hot dog, Spam, etc. I was so sad because all my friend had to eat was bologna and white bread. I also felt sorry for her mom because when we'd hang out with her in the kitchen on the weekends we'd watch her make the week's menu. She had all that work and cooking to do all because she didn't know how to make tortillas, I thought. So I asked my mom if she'd pack me an extra tortilla for my "poor" friend. As I got a little older, I found out they were NOT poor, her parents were professors at the local university. She just LIKED bologna and mustard sandwiches.

[@tracyaf6084]

In fairness, anyone without tortillas in their life is poor indeed 😂 I’ve never met someone who doesn’t like them ❤

[@susanjoseph236]

What a good heart you had/have .God bless you

[@tanyamckinnon5376]

That's what is so wonderful about being young. You have no idea how hard things are. Its just " normal "

[@aliyamoon80]

When my son was in elementary school, one of his friends got free lunches. That little boy LOVED egg salad, but the school never served it. When I sent egg salad in my son's lunch, his friend would beg to switch lunches. My son wasn't a fan of the school lunches, so he asked me to send egg salad and crackers for his friend. I did that for the 6 years that they went to school together. His family was evicted from their house when he was in high school. Before they moved, he told my son that he never forgot how kind I was for making extra egg salad for him. When my son told me that, I cried. Who knew that something that simple would be so meaningful for a kid?

[@amsodoneworkingnow1978]

Don't know if I like them or not as I've never tried them in my life😁

[@Saltydawg-ip2tb]

Growing up in my family we very rarely used hotdog 🌭 buns it was almost always a slice of bread 🍞 folded in half

[@brutallyhonest3194]

Same!

[@patwilder1340]

My friend said they called those “foldie overs”!

[@ChristinemAlred-mn5if]

Us too.😊

[@mousemeat1352]

And it was good, I was in heaven if I got the heels, love em still and I am 74, your poor persons meals bring back warm memories. I was 18 yrs old before we ever had loaf bread inthe house, we made our own a week at a time for our family of 6. Still occasionally make it to this day. ❤

[@vickypeterson7688]

to be honest most times I perfer bread instead of buns

[@jeanniecatton9168]

A soup recipe from a friend's grandmother in Lebanon: Cook lentils in water (or broth if you have it), about halfway through add pasta elbows and olive oil, garlic (if you have it), some salt. Simmer until everything is cooked, turn off heat and add lemon juice to taste. The pasta elbows make this soup thick. It is delicious and filling. Of course, you can spice it up, and add onion, carrots, etc. But that is the basic recipe.

[@suzybearheart530]

That sounds yummy!

[@ashleydixon4613]

I’m seriously going to try this, I’ve already got everything here, including onion, carrot, and most of a container of chicken stock that I need to use since I just opened it.

[@littleloulou1]

We were friends with a Lebanese Princess that went to college and dormed close to our house. She made something similar, and it was absolutely delicious. She had nails so long that she could not even function but excelled in cooking. I remember sitting at her coffee table and just focused on the food. Basmati rice was so good with crisp potatoes mixed in.

[@lindachurchwell6586]

Lentils are great for protein , yes I've actually done this same thing or even added a can of stewed tomatoes , so yummy 😋

[@alexrossi4464]

Lentils are so good, the pasta would make it even.more hearty! And carrots, 🥕 are cheap! Good, cheap, and healthy! Especially, with this inflation!

[@gabby8568]

Anyone else ever eat mayo sandwhiches when you didn't have anything else? I used to eat them after school when we had nothing else. Sometimes I would get lucky and have lettuce too!

[@missingutah]

Mom's family would have mustard sandwiches... But somehow they'd still have something for the tramps that came along in the Great Depression... Was a little railroad town back then. She'd have a little table out back and would be kind enough to have a little cloth and a napkin. They were people too... Usually away from family. No need to make them feel unwelcome or undignified.

[@caroljackson7988]

I did loved them some times I would eat with crackers

[@dorothyflorence6839]

Yaaaassss! Tomatoes if we had them

[@tracyherwig4733]

Tomato sandwiches, mayo sandwiches, banana sandwiches, pineapple sandwiches….when it was really bad we had “jam sandwiches”-take two pieces of bread and JAM ‘em together.

[@gregzeigler3850]

Yeah, I did. I'd also eat cool whip right out of the fridge, as a kid.

[@lindawhiddon4041]

Mama called them potato pancakes. She said that she started feeding them to me when I was a year old. I'll be 67 in November. I still make them once in a while!

[@NellSchuetz-od1pq]

Happy Birthday to ya, fellow Scorpio!! Blaze On!!!!!

[@cecilthrift2747]

We make ketchup sandwiches. I will never forget Mama opened the last can of food then said Lord it's up to you. She never told a soul. We went to church and came home to three bags of groceries sitting just inside of what was a locked door. Daddy died when we were young, she raised by herself. Poor but happy.

[@kellyclark7517]

GOD IS GOOD!

[@katie7748]

​@@kellyclark7517 All the time!!

[@donnawheeler6283]

Keep those 'Meals When You're Broke' recipes coming. Not only are they affordable, but they're also quick and easy!

[@TanyaRose-b7y]

Random buns are often garlic bread in our house to help fill out a meal! Spread with Margarine and garlic salt for the most basic version

[@Emily-Whitfield]

Same here! Leftover hamburger and hot dog buns made the best garlic bread 😋😋😋😋

[@holyexperience1976]

Growing up, my mother used sandwich bread, butter up and garlic salt it up! It was yummy! I don't think I made garlic bread like that in over a decade. If I were to do that now, I would use powder instead.

[@luckylady7542]

I love hot dog and hamburger bun garlic toast.

[@Susan-bj1bx]

I do that with English muffins. So good under the broiler.

[@juliecarson7364]

​@@Emily-Whitfield or croutons

[@sheliaburks2027]

We didn't grow up quite this poor, but I remember seeing food get lower and lower until my mom got her food stamps at the first of the month. She tried to make things nice for us. We would want to order pizza, but since she could not afford it, she would make dough and let us pick out our own little ingredients from leftovers and make pizza. I was a teenager before I had white meat chicken.

[@NellSchuetz-od1pq]

Bless her heart, she sounds like a fantastic Mama ❤️🍊🌹💗💗💐💜!!!!!

[@tamaramckelvey6804]

Yes... white meat chicken was something super special in our house. When we able to get the bucket of chicken from kfc I'd offer to take on extra chores that week to get the one white piece in the bucket. I never really liked chicken on the bone

[@loulalucille8946]

The best part about this video is how you listed all the things you could substitute for other things. You really made this budget-friendly by giving us ideas to use what we already had in our house. Sending you love from St Louis!

[@mimig8662]

Anybody else grow up with Chef Boyardee pizza ? That was our Dominos in the early 70's.

[@lisanolan2382]

Spagettios all the time

[@janetamerasinghe7824]

I got the Chef B'd Ravioli. It was ok when we were starving. Wouldn't choose it as a meal though.

[@dillarddillard-p4e]

Yes, thought it was so good back then and proud of making it myself when i was a kid

[@michellewillmington5379]

It was Juno's and Red Baron pizza for us! Also learned to do a lot of things with a box of mac & cheese!

[@FlyingSquell]

The sausage one was the best! They quit making it a long time ago. I never could the crust right (been cooking for myself since age 7), so it didn’t look pretty but it was so good.

[@christystewart4257]

Brooke, never apologize for being goofy. It’s part of what makes you so charming, and it adds so much to your videos. I love watching you and your family interact! Also, you are an amazing cook! Everything I’ve tried of yours, turned out bomb! You rock lady! And, I love how real and down to earth you are, it makes you comforting to watch! I hope that made sense, lol. God bless beautiful you and your beautiful family!

[@SauerPatchGardening]

If you save your bacon grease you could use that in those tater cakes and for frying. Sour cream is good too especially when you get to the smidge at the bottom of the container if you have it. Those are definitely anything goes..imo. love them!

[@wendyindovina5782]

Applesauce too!!

[@nannon3424]

I wonder how many of us she's really helped manage during hard times or just simply learn how to shop? Thank you for making so many of us feel not ashamed of how we get our amazing meals, teaching us how to grow as cooks and reminding us to be kind :)

[@maryannanderson2213]

My husband and I were married in 1978 and he had one son who was still a minor for whom we paid child support of $400 a month. Just to give you a bit of perspective in 1978, $400 was equal to almost $2,000 today. ($1,923.61 to be precise.) We were barely scraping by from one payday to the next. I remember one time when it was the day before payday and both my husband and I were broke and all that was in the house to eat was one can of green beans. I heated up those beans and put some A1 sauce on them to try to make our taste buds think we were having steaks and that is what we had that night for dinner. I am happy to say that this was not a common occurrence, but I will never forget that one terrible time. I guess maybe this is why I enjoy watching your videos about how to feed a family with not much money. And BTW, many of those meals look so good that they are something I would love to have even if I had a LOT of money, so thank you very much.

[@michellepeiffer5563]

My granddaughter loves to eat green beans with steak sauce.. funny you mentioned doing the same..

[@hannakinn]

​@@michellepeiffer5563I love cold canned green beans with ranch dressing. So yummy.

[@merediths9667]

I love canned green beans with ketchup. 😋

[@DebbieandEddieBFF]

❤

[@rebekahhansen1112]

I like it with Italian dressing and maybe can of red beans, garbanzo beans making it 3 bean salad .😊

[@realong2506]

My daddy used to make potato pancakes out of leftover mashed potato's. He grew up during the depression on a farm so nothing ever went to wastes in our house.

[@lajuanademoulin9398]

Hi Brooke, I’ve been watching you for about a year now and you and Dusty and the boys just make me smile when I watch your videos. And a lot of your recipes and ideas are just fantastic. I’ve gotten my 82 year-old mother watching you also, anyway I just wanted to tell you how I enjoy your family and your ideas and I’ve recently started watching your husband‘s prepping videos and I love those too. And I nearly forgot I love your blessing box videos keep it up this world needs more families like yours.

[@DebbieandEddieBFF]

❤

[@SouthernFrugalMomma]

Thank you so much!!! ❤❤❤

[@mindfulgratitude3041]

​@SouthernFrugalMomma Brooke...what's Dustys channel called and where do we find out about making blessing boxes...? ❤❤❤❤

[@lisadorward2255]

I never thought we grew up poor. We did it everyday

[@jtharp9265]

Thank you , My grandmother who raised me with my veitnam veteran father in Alabama always made homemade tator pancakes but with potatoes from our garden , My potatoes here in Texas arent ready to harvest and I refuse to pay $6.99 for 5 pounds . But I have instant potatoes-i got for $1.00 Great recipe ,thank you . My mamaw served with homemade apple sauce or homemade sourcream . Thank you for an easier way . God bless you Mrs josette Montgomery County ,Texas 🙏 ♥️

[@sandraking9650]

Ummm

[@rebeccahahn6172]

Hi Mrs. Josette. Do you remember how your mamaw made the sour cream?

[@k.m.8299]

Hello. I live in Montgomery County Tx also. Walmart on hwy 2978 has a 5lb bag russet potatoes for $3.14. 🙂

[@paulachapin7081]

Thank you so much for showing things we can make when there’s no money!!!!!

[@jeanlujan6129]

Congratulations on your 85,000 subscribers I bet you never thought that was gonna happen in a short period of time that it has I love watching your show you keep doing what you’re doing you and your husband and the boys

[@truthseeker243]

These people make me smile with no effort and feel their warmth. Good people refresh society. Very timely!

[@SouthernFrugalMomma]

Thank you! I am stunned every time I see it lol

[@JudyWood-l1h]

That looks absolutely delicious. That's not poor food. That looks like it's food fit for God

[@SouthernFrugalMomma]

That’s what I always said growing up! Sometimes the simple things like this are the best!

[@robincasey798]

We were so poor, my Dad would work all day for enough money to buy one little bag of instant mash potato, 8 oz can of tomato sauce to make tomato soup for my Mom that was in a car accident, a carton of milk for the baby. Dad and us 5 kids would eat the mash potato and go in the back yard and pick wild poke salad greens. that's what we had everyday for months. When my Mom was able to travel we went from Missouri to Oklahoma ran out of money lived at the lake and people caught fish and gave to us so we could eat. I was allergic to seafood, so I couldn't eat. Until my grandmother in California could send us some money.Than one time we had no money at all, our landlord let us move into the house with no money and we ate turnips from the landlords fields every day morning, noon and night and nothing else. Cooked those turnips every way you could, baked, boiled and fried and nothing else for months, until my Dad got a job to pay the rent, utilities turned on and finely after a couple of months to be able to buy food.

[@ViolaOgrady]

You had quite a childhood.

[@lur9017]

My goodness! I'm glad you made it thru. Happy life!

[@sugarloaf10]

You only ate turnips for months? That is really traumatic

[@atlanticalilly]

That's amazing & awful. Were there no food pantries, churches, or food stamps?

[@helenahayes6150]

Thats an awesome story. How long ago was that?

[@sing2me]

Potato pancakes are so good with onion, onion powder, onion flakes rehydrated or a green onion. Cornmeal mush or polenta is devine in my book. If you don't have time to let it set up in the fridge you can make patties like the potato cakes. My favorite way to have mush is dip a slice in flour on both sides and brown in butter. Smother in more butter and whatever syrup even sugar and water (add a couple drops of flavoring you have, vanilla, almond, orange, lemon, etc.)

[@nancywilliams4216]

Oh Brooke. My momma had that bowl with the flowers when I was little. Seeing you use it made my heart happy.

[@brutallyhonest3194]

This woman is the cutest!!! I sometimes feel bad when I'm broke but need to make a good meal. She NEVER disappoints! She's super relatable and her positive energy is everything!!! Thanks love for your videos!!!

[@SouthernFrugalMomma]

You're the best! Thank you!!

[@angelinewilson5851]

Back in my day we didn't have fancy buns. We always used regular bread for all burgers, hot dogs and such. Shoot the way we had toast back then was mama would butter the bread both sides and toast it in the cast iron skillet. We didn't even have a toaster.

[@MichaelMiller-o3c]

you are talkin about texas toast! also a hamburger on toast is actually called a 'set up' i didnt know that until i found that out at a Friendlys ice cream shop - yep a setup

[@jeannieplunk6945]

Still like them that way

[@jamillaslife3696]

Whose broke? I don’t know! 😂😂 You’re so funny. Poor man meals are the best meals. So fulfilling.

[@andrewcampbell-young8426]

Facts right

[@cosmicshy637]

She's so funny. Love it! 😊😅

[@andrewcampbell-young8426]

@cosmicshy637 she's awesome right

[@patjones5723]

😂😂😂 ❤

[@leewomack3498]

I never have much, so I made a cabbage casserole. Omg it's soooo good! All it takes is cabbage, sliced onions, shredded cheddar cheese (optional), for the top a can of cream of chicken soup, mixed with one cup of mayo and a half stick of melted butter spread evenly. For the topping, one sleeve of Ritz crackers and one stick of melted butter. Bake @350* for 45 min. It's so good I couldn't believe it!! 😋 Yum!

[@susanjoseph236]

Yumm

[@NellSchuetz-od1pq]

I think I'm gonna have to make this!!

[@MargaretKing-w5i]

If we have leftover mash potatoes I just press the mash potatoes into a patty and brown them, no egg no flour just mash potatoes.

[@ozelhassan8576]

I love this lady’s personality it’s awesome.

[@stephaniecook7603]

I never have cheese and make a lot of this stuff without cheese.. you make me feel like I need to start keeping cheese on hand 😆

[@ChristinemAlred-mn5if]

I keep some cheese in the freezer all the time. 😅

[@shirleyhurst2233]

Yes, when cheese is on sale, I buy it and freeze it.

[@melissaowens3434]

You are such a blessing to this world. Thank you for these videos! ❤❤❤ ...and hello from Pennsylvania. 😊

[@SouthernFrugalMomma]

Wow, thank you!!!

[@sallyethridge1393]

My mom used to make these on Friday during Lent. Bun, spread with mayo , top with tuna, heat until bun gets slightly crispy, top with a slice of tomato and cheese. Melt tthe cheese. Delicious

[@janetpinnick4867]

You are so awesome Brooke, can you please make some more meals from your childhood? Thank you so much 😊

[@lindakelly3164]

Brooke, THANK YOU for all the ideas AND SUBSTITUTES!! Who knew!? YOU DID. Putting these ideas in my arsenal. You are the BEST

[@SusanBuckingham-ut2ez]

If I had a hot dog or lunchmeat, I'd cut it small and put that in, or some chives or parsley from my garden, then put some pancake syrup on top! We were poor when I grew up and we always had chicken or hamburg at $ .25 per # and mom would make hamburger gravy and chicken soup. She always added milk/water to our creamed corn to stretch it for 5. The coal train passed behind dad's house and he and the neighbor always went out with an old baby buggy and collected the chunks that fell off to heat their little houses. Dad wore 7 pairs of socks in winter because they didn't have shoes and he had a paper route that went several miles. Grandpa lost his vision but he could find water with a divining rod , then the boys, aged 9-14, drove the old truck to the site and between them, put the well in! And no, we didn't know we were poor, everybody was in the same boat on our side of the river!

[@NellSchuetz-od1pq]

Wow, Susan, sounds like you have an impressive family!! Blaze On!!!!

[@MustangSally2.0]

From my childhood, butter on saltines and butter on Graham crackers, delish! Chip dip=diced American cheese mixed with sandwich spread, another yum. I can't tell you how many ketchup sandwiches, mayo sandwiches and mustard sandwiches I ate and loved them. Vanilla ice cream, crushed saltines, mix it together, the bomb! That was our ice cream topping. Pork and bean sandwich's on white bread. Our potato pancakes were like a feast to us, made out of leftover mashed potatoes, my mom could make anything taste wonderful.

[@kathyleighton9091]

@_MustangSally....I love butter on saltine crackers. Never tried butter on Graham crackers but I have put frosting on them. Learned that from a friend when I was still in school. I also like the Campbell's Bean w/Bacon soup straight out of the can spread on a slice of warm buttered toast.

[@MustangSally2.0]

@@kathyleighton9091 Butter on graham crackers is the bomb, try it. The plain grahams, not the cinnamon topped ones. Oh I love bean with bacon soup, never tried it on bread/toast but I bet its good.

[@susanpendell4215]

Oooh, baked or pork and beans with baked or mashed potatoes, even maybe pasta, add a little mustard for a spicier taste, and maybe some ketchup.

[@saywhatondat]

Thank you for doing this video, it not only is nostalgic but it also teaches people to be resourceful with what they already have. Endless creativity love it!!

[@MistyBlue-d8s]

*I grew up soooooo poor , we had to cut a picture of cheese out of Reader's Digest put in our mouse traps !*

[@kathykb8123]

Lol!

[@NiechoV]

LOL!

[@shirleyburke1571]

Hi just came across your channel,I'm from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 and I just love how frugal you are,sometimes you just don't know what you can knock up with items which you have in your cupboards ,great channel,new subscriber here.

[@lizmiller2341]

What a good video. No one likes to think about broke hardship times but it happens. These videos are so helpful. Sharing knowledge and encouragement. Keep them coming.

[@readyornot316]

We had potato cakes as a kid too. Another way to make these is in a waffle maker. Crispy and delicious!

[@mariaayon4997]

You’re so right about the random buns lying around, I always seem to run out sandwich bread but there’s always random buns left over 😂😂❤

[@SouthernFrugalMomma]

Yess!!! 😂

[@susanpendell4215]

We didn't have buns laying around, all we had was that nasty white bread, not any whole grain anything. So if we had hot dogs it wasn't on any kind of bread, which I prefer it without bread, same goes for a hamburger, no bun, but if we did, it was that white bread.

[@maryjanespangler7488]

Hello from California! Brooke, I just love your family. And I love your style! You make the best out of everything. You always see the glass half full instead of half empty, always see the good side of everything. I love your recipes, and I love your versatility, you always give us options and other ideas and/or substitutions!

[@maryshimp2664]

Love the way you say do it your way, what you like! So glad I found your channel

[@Thetravelingmoes]

Gosh, broke days, i remember some odd meals, but im living proof that you can make it through lol. Tuna melts for us was can soup cause we couldn't afford mayo, mixed-up with tuna. Loved them. Potato pancakes was with left over potatoes or some instant. We through in egg, water, flour salt pepper, garlic. So great. Thank you Brooke

[@TheWookieesWife]

You popped up in my feed, and figured I’d take a look see. I’m hooked. My momma grew up in Weiner, Arkansas and taught me meals like these!!! Plus, you’re beautiful and so is your family. Please keep filming!

[@eugeneedens4525]

When I was about 12, my mom would leave me home alone while she went to her government required job, she was on General Relief (kinda like welfare, except you were required to work a certain number of hours doing community service type work). If it wasn't working as a cleaner/cook at the county's "old folks home," it was assisting the dog warden by answering phones and cleaning up around the office and cages. Anyway, I would often be left for upwards of 8-9 hours a day, so I had to fend for myself. So, I learned to cook whatever I could find in the house. One of my favorite foods was pizza, what kid doesn't like pizza right? Unfortunately, I couldn't just whip order one without money, and there was no such thing as Internet (to look up recipes) back then, at least not available to me. So, how does one make pizza from basically nothing, easy, it's called Jiffy Mix. 😂🤣 I used to make biscuits and waffles and other stuff from Jiffy Mix, so I just took the biscuit recipe, made it, and spread it out on a pizza pan, covered it with ketchup, pasta sauce, or whatever tomato based sauce like substance I could find, even plain old tomato soup. Cut up some American Cheese, some hot dogs or lunch meat, and tossed it in the oven, and cooked it according to the biscuit recipe instructions. Ironically, it was actually pretty good, the dough was always a little dry, but if it was thin enough it didn't matter, if it was too thick though, it definitely tasted like a biscuit, like a KFC biscuit at that. One day, mom got sent home early and when she walked in the house and found me eating one of my pizzas, she was very surprised and wanted to know where I had gotten it. She was even more surprised when I told her I made it and showed her how. Kids are versatile, we will find a way. 🤷🤣😂

[@NellSchuetz-od1pq]

You betcha baby!!!! Blaze On!!!!!!

[@amym1106]

OMG I love this woman! You’re awesome, Lady!

[@dmmrad54]

My mother saved all heels of bread in the freezer. She would make a bread pudding that was fabulous. A couple of people offered money to my mom to make her bread pudding. Also, she made potato cakes with leftover mashed potatoes for breakfast. Yum !!

[@mistydickey2188]

I loved this video so much that I subscribed before it was done! This reminded me so much of my childhood in the Deep South. Mama kept Daddy and all five of us kids fed this way. Thank you so much for sharing and I can’t wait to see more!!!!❤

[@deeferry6520]

In Scotland we used leftover mashed potatoes, flour and salt and make potato scones (similar to what you've just made but a little thinner and cut into a round, then quarters. To make these you don't need oil, just a dry pan. When they're cool, we fry them as part of a full Scottish Breakfast with sausage, bacon egg etc. You can also use any leftover potatoes, roasties, potato flakes etc as you've done and add any leftover veg to it, preferrably greens like cabbage or brussel sprouts, We call that bubble and squeak. You can throw anything in it. Great recipes Brooke xxx

[@rhodawatkins4516]

My Granny used to make similar potato cakes from time to time when I was little, and I loved them, but had no idea how she made them. I mentioned this to my husband and he Googled how to make them and made me a batch! I think Granny put a little sage in hers, though, but probably whatever seasoning you like would give them a little something special. Gonna have to share this with my daughter. She's good at cooking on a budget. Thanks for reminding me of this delicious taste of my childhood. And yes, food should be a human right, as should healthcare and shelter.

[@cindaschuster6725]

My mom used to make these tater cakes from leftover mashed potatoes. We called them "latkes." I still make them for my kids, and they love them.

[@hannakinn]

That's the name for the potato cakes Jewish people make. I've gotten them in a Jewish deli many times. My favorites are their brisket or their corned beef latkes, sooo good.

[@jackietunberg5819]

I like her ingenuity it putting food together. I think I will watch this show. It's interesting. She has a lot of good ideas from her growing up and just thinking this up. More powe to her!

[@seaathy1622]

We grew up with meals like this every night was like an episode of chopped. I still make concoctions to this day.

[@sharonzkitchen]

Cheap can of tuna and mix it with a cheap box of mac and cheese. Huge meal for about $1. Add a can of peas to feel fancy. lol

[@lorettawinsor3976]

Hey brook u know u could combine those two recipes together and make ur tuna melt on top of ur poor man’s potato patty. That would b bomb!

[@patriciacunningham5748]

This sure sent my back to moms cooking. Once someone gave us 100 baby chickens.we had no where to keep them, so we put them in a cardboard covered bedroom. When ready they were put in the freezer. We though we were in heaven having chicken to eat. My Mom was amazing at keeping us feed and happy even when we were dirt poor. Mom raised 4 girls by herself.

[@lisaconley2198]

A lot of times the food pantry gives out random items that don't seem to go together.These meals of yours are wonderful shows what ingredients can be put together and turn out delicious!

[@california3186]

Girl! You are taking me down broke child memory lane!! We did the same things!! 😂😂😂

[@KayKayClaudette-mh4wc]

Potato flakes are going on my grocery list now!! Thanks, Brooke!

[@pheenix42]

You just gave this bachelor cook a couple of very good ideas! And since im recovering from heart surgery, these won't aggravate the recovery. Thanks!

[@winros]

My grandmother would make potato pancakes for breakfast... with leftover potatoes using flour, etc...😊

[@JanetteAlfaro-r2m]

In the times we're in, especially for seniors, these recipes are so helpful. Thank you so much! God bless!

[@zoesullivan385]

I remember those days and still make tater cakes. My go to broke meal was what my boys called pizza toast. Slices of bread with ketchup spread evenly and sliced cheese torn up on it. Place in the oven until melted and a little browned. The boys loved it and never knew we were poor.

[@wendyindovina5782]

We used can spaghetti sauce and parm cheese. My kids absolutely loved it!❤

[@tracieh17]

I never knew we were poor. We couldnt afford Albacore tuna, just the regular kind in water, and we used those big loafs of government cheese, but we ate well. Thanks for sharing!

[@sharonboggs7643]

Yes I want to see more recipes like this please and thank you!

[@JoyFortman]

When we ran out of bread , us kids loved it , my mom would make biscuits! And as a food binder Mayo works ( or as a egg substitute)

[@randallthomas5207]

Lentil soup: 2-cup of lentils, can of stewed tomatoes, the peels from the carrots from lunches, celery trimmings from the lunches. Put it altogether in a slow cooker, add a couple of quarts of water, some bullion and spices. Onion if you have some. Cook for six hours. If you have any bacon around fry the bacon, and crumble it over the soup when you serve it.

[@sohinikar4058]

You are a true momma.... Will make the best food out of random items which everyone will love ❤ My mom did that too... Miss her.

[@PinkTigger33]

Leftover potato cakes were one of my favorites. I was always hoping there would enough mashed potatoes left for them the next day, sometimes there were, sometimes there weren't. We used white sandwich bread for hot dog rolls and burger buns. It doesn't hold up very well, but it worked.

[@leahfitch5764]

I just love you. Your attitude, your humor, just you being you thank you. You are an inspiration. I have learned so much from you. making a meal can be easy and not daunting.

[@susanpendell4215]

When I was very poor, before getting married and was renting a room, it was boxed mac and cheese, canned tuna and canned green beans for dinner. I still love those things.😊

[@mariannecarpenter9790]

This is the first time I saw her. She is fun to watch. I will continue to watch her. ❤ When my husband was in the service in the 70s, base pay wasn't much. We were paid once a month. At the end of the month, we were scraping by. We had noodles and ketchup. My girls are 51 and 48. We have noodles and ketchup still, as we were skint but we had fun. All the 8 grandchildren love noodles and ketchup. We have 15 great grands. Most of them like it. The 6 that don't like it make us laugh and new memories are made.

[@mindfulgratitude3041]

Thankyou Brooke and Family!! Bak in my day...im 61 raised by depression era gma...it was a blue moon if we had to BUY bread. Always made it. Except in fall/ winter...INdiana...she'd buy each child 2 loaves of WONDER bread. We had the best fun comin up with cheap sandwiches or toasties if there was enough government passed out cheese. I loved a dark toast, butter, sliced tomata and pinch of salt for breakfast. My brother would roll our slices of bread out, add a tsp of ketchup or tomata paste smared all over, sprinkle oregano, drained crumbled tun with mayo, salt, cayenne and top with that government commodity cheese...broil on low til cheese melted...mini tuna pizzas were born! Sis rolled the bread and put on a layer of pintos mashed and sprinkle on corn kernals and cheese! Lil sis loved good ol pbj but our jelly we made outta scuppurnong grapes...so desserty and tasty. Oh...why each of us got 2 loaves? Wonder bread bags were pretty in big chunky primary color polka dots. We shimmied the bags over our shoes to act as boots while walking to school. Or, over our socks to slip into our shoes when they were worn or torn out to make them last. Thanks Brooke!!!

[@dracarys-lh6ku]

I hope your channel is making you some money. I love recipes that are "use what's in the fridge" or "use what's in the cabinet." ❤

[@Birma5783]

I have learned that you always have to have a few basic foods in the house to survive in times of need. Flour, eggs, semolina, milk or milk powder, yeast or dry yeast, sugar and/or honey, potatoes, salt, oil, pepper, maybe paprika and dried spices. You can make pasta from flour and/or semolina, eggs and water. Pancakes or milk soup from flour, eggs and milk. Semolina and milk make semolina porridge. Semolina, dried spices and eggs make a soup, perhaps with fresh herbs from nature or vegetables that grow wild or cultivated. Flour, yeast, maybe milk and a little oil make bread. The countless dishes made from potatoes are legendary. Mother Nature also has a lot in store for us. Dandelions, daisies. If necessary, I also recommend growing carrots and cabbage and herbs in flower pots or sacks. They complement each other well. Nuts and fruit are also available wild. Without electricity, you can run a solar oven and cook rice pudding and stew using a padded wooden box or bedding. It obviously depends on your area what you can use to supplement the basic foodstuffs. That's why I've kept the list neutral. Tea and coffee are optional, as is fruit syrup made from collected, naturally non-toxic berries. There is also sugar/honey. I haven't included salt, sugar, etc. separately. It's hard, but it works. By the way, you can make lots of tasty things from leftovers. Old, non-moldy bread can be used to make a soup, either sweet with milk or savory with water and vegetables. Potato pancakes can be made from potatoes, flour, and eggs. There are hardly any limits to your inventiveness. If possible, have a sack of rice with you. You can do a lot with that too. If possible, try to get a piece of land where you can grow things and keep chickens. If possible, near a stream or river that is not contaminated, or you have to drill a well. That way you are independent. Ask old people if they can help you identify plants. There are many plants that you cannot eat, or parts of them that you cannot eat.

[@talulatree5297]

I'm saving books with this info in case internet goes down.

[@Birma5783]

@@talulatree5297 I have 2 books also. Andca lot of other cooking books.

[@blondie7715]

Wow! First time watching and I love you!! I love how you give lots of options (if you don’t have this, use that, if you’ve got this, use it)! Absolutely brilliant! And you’re so relatable & friendly & funny. With prices on groceries being what they are, you give wonderfully practical & easy recipes. And yes, I’m now subscribed. ❤️

[@sueharris6616]

You have a great family. They’re so appreciative

[@nanaurbiznez1725]

I love it! I grew up eating to these contacts and love them even as an adult. I haven’t had them in years now, but they do bring back fond memories

[@DeniseCurry-qm5fc]

Still use hamburger buns when we're out 😂bread it works just fine

[@nyneeveanya8861]

Things we always had in the house, pinto beans, dry or evaporated milk, flour, cornmeal, salt and pepper, cheese( even if it was just farmers cheese) cider vinegar, and honey cause my uncle kept bees and bacon grease. Most times we had green beans and taters as we grew and canned them, and white Karo syrup. Mom always bought cocoa powder in late fall for hot chocolate and fudge.

[@SergePoitras-hj4ip]

Use what you have! Imagine if à garden was involved! Very good advice.

[@phyllislindsey7489]

😮my mother made cornbread with water. There is a lot of things you can cook with water, that people say they have to have milk or not cook. When you need to feed your family, you come up with something, it may not be pretty but it will be filling.

[@hannakinn]

I make my cornbread with the liquid from a can of pinto beans instead of using an egg, works great for me and since I often have cornbread when I have beans it's perfect.

[@TheYellowrose21]

Sounds like grandmas hot water cornbread

[@NellSchuetz-od1pq]

Oh hell yeah! She sounds like a fantastic woman!!!!

[@IamtheLunchlady]

That looks good! We grew up with a single mom, low income. Mom made lentils with pasta often. We just loved it. She also mixed a can of tuna and a hard boiled egg together w mayo for lunch on bread. Breakfast was alot of farina. Also eggs with peppers and potatoes was another favourite for dinner

[@jennifermeuth6116]

We would make tatercakes all the time. Our recipe was just runny enough to spoon it like pancakes (thick batter) and cook in oil. They were sooooo good and filling!! I would also use Mac n cheese, peas and tuna w any left over bit of cheese to make a casserole. It was quick, easy and good.

[@Daughter_of_the_MostHigh]

You are cracking me up 😂 “You can if you wanna”

[@coleenlong8212]

I remember my family visiting my favorite auntie and her four children, the cousins I loved like siblings💕. My parents, my little brother and baby sister would frequently travel the 60 miles to my auntie’s home…(not that far away), to take groceries and paper items to her. My auntie worked heard to support my cousins; it was difficult for her. Anyway, right after we arrived at their home, the cousin who was my age asked me if I wanted a “cracker sandwich”. I had never had a cracker sandwich, and I that I would like one! It was two pieces of bread with saltine crackers between the pieces of bread. It was very tasty to our ten-year-old tastebuds. We each had a glass of water with our sandwich. I am now 82 years old and I shall NEVER forget that cracker sandwich❣️ With loving memories ❣️

[@sandrasmith7091]

I have learned a lot of creative ways to make things when there's not much there. Thanks for sharing, helps with ideas😊

[@saundraweed9738]

Onion and ketchup sandwiches. Yum, yum. Sliced tomatoes and mayonnaise on bread. Peanut butter on toast. Buttered bread dipped in cinnamon sugar.

[@sunnyquinn3888]

If you don't have an egg, do you have a chicken? If so, pick up your chicken and hug her real tight til you squeeze an egg out of her! This is a joke, please don't squeeze your poultry.

[@missingutah]

😅😅😅

[@rasheedlewis1]

It pooped

[@ABCpdc]

😂

[@NellSchuetz-od1pq]

Hahahaha!!!!

[@suesmith5381]

I made these last night and they were awesome! I did use mostly milk and added green onions and some seasonings. I'll keep this in mind to do again. Thanks for sharing it.

[@jabjab6156]

Honey I love your video! You remind me of my Aunt Freda! My Italian Grandma would take a can of peas, drain n heat up in a skillet. Can put in chopped onions. Then pour scrambled eggs over it. They're also good as a sandwich on Italian bread! You can do the same with a can of spinach or kale. Only heat it up in a little oil and saute a garlic clove first!

[@JoeysKat1127]

YOU GOT MY SUBSCRIPTION❣️❣️❣️ I love everything about you ma'am! Thank you for making me smile on a rough Monday morning, your laugh is everything! 🥰❤️😺

[@CarlaHanson68]

I'm so glad I found your channel, you are just a doll! I subbed right away. Thank you for sharing and you have a beautiful, loving family. ❤❤❤

[@olgabejar2999]

I loved your attitude. I grew up poor too. Im smiling at those tuna melts. Yumm. Back in the day I didn't feel poor. Can you do one on Ice cream, popsicles out of kool aid.