FOOD BANK HAUL! Friday's $10 Food Pantry Haul PLUS Our Dinner: Queensland Australia - February 2024

[@clairekuchel-klassen7103]

I'm so glad that the calendar found you. I remember those 30 degree plus days and the Queensland humidity. It's so funny that looking at our winter scenes will bring a little relief. Take care all

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks again Claire! Yes the natural landscapes are lovely to look at, I will enjoy seeing the beautiful pictures on my wall all year. Thanks so much for sending it over my friend 🥰

[@dianefriedrich8722]

Hallo,i'm watching from Germany. Love watching ❤

[@makingendsmeet]

G'day over there Diane! Thanks so much for watching, glad you enjoy the videos. Hope you have a lovely weekend😊💕

[@backtobasics3244]

I am watching from Connecticut USA. I enjoy your food bank hauls. God bless.

[@makingendsmeet]

G'day over there! Thanks so much, glad to hear that you enjoy the videos😊 God bless you too💕

[@wandaspinney6568]

Lots of great items for $10.00 Your curry looks amazing! Thanks for sharing your recipe. 😊

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Wanda. My pleasure😊

[@debracyphert5934]

Dinner looks so good! Have a great weekend.

[@makingendsmeet]

Oh thanks so much Debra😊 It was very tasty! Hope you have a great weekend too💕

[@darleneprice6467]

Hi. I’m from Atlantic Canada . Love your channel

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Darlene! Thanks so much😊💕 Have a great day over there!

[@jeanz3622]

The curry looks delicious❤

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks Jean😊💕 It was very nice.

[@karenchandler8325]

Love your videos❤

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks Karen!🥰

[@marcellareese8853]

Watching from Ohio in the United States.

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Marcella 👋 Hope you're having a nice evening over there😊

[@welbornsh]

Curry looks delicious!

[@makingendsmeet]

It was! Thanks Sharon😊

[@robertadunaway7030]

Nice selection of food this week.

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks Roberta😊 Was a very helpful lot for sure.

[@donnaarmishaw986]

Hi, could you possibly do a meals of the week to show us how you utilise the food you get from the food pantry? Love watching you 💖 xxxx

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Donna😊💕 Thanks for the suggestion. I hope to share more cooking/what we ate type videos in future, stay tuned!

[@crazygrandmaweaz8942]

That's a nice variety this week. I've never had or made curry but it sounds interesting.

[@makingendsmeet]

Yes it was a lovely lot this time, thanks😊

[@janecannon5567]

That lemon chicken and kelloggs cereal looked good. The dish you prepared looks good and probably with stuff from your garden made it better.

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Jane😊 Yes adding some fresh herbs from the garden, at the end of cooking, always makes dishes nice I think too.

[@lisacorley1626]

Another Good haul that lemon chicken looks really nice rice or any of pasta you got that curry looks delicious I like veggie meals a few times a week am watching from Blackpool in the UK have a lovely week to you and your family 🙏💖🙏😊

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Lisa😊 Yes thought the lemon chicken sounded nice. The veggie based meals really do help the budget, not to mention they're delicious too! Have a fantastic week over there💕

[@Susan-l9d]

Thanks for sharing your curry. It looks tasty.

[@makingendsmeet]

You're most welcome. Thanks Susan😊 It turned out better than I thought! That curry paste made it taste really good.

[@gloriaandrejcik9787]

That's a great haul. I love lemon chicken. Delicious looking curry. I'll have to give it a try.

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Gloria😊 It turned out really tasty. Hope you like it!

[@cathecavalle1016]

The curry looks fabulous. So glad that your garden is producing for you. I harvested my first cherry tomatoes recently. It was a micro mini but I enjoyed it😂 The cherry tomato plants have quite a few fruits on them now. The Big Boy slicers are full of blossoms so I am hopeful for lots of good sized tomatoes. We have 4 potato plants. So far the ground squirrels have not discovered them. Have a great week. I hope it cools off a bit for you. Cathe in Yuma

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey over there Cathe😊 Thanks so much, it was very tasty. Oh that's so awesome, congrats on your first tomato! Homegrown tomatoes are the best! Hope you get lots of Big Boy slicers setting fruit too. And here's hoping the squirrels leave your potatoes alone as well. Have a lovely week 💕

[@elizabethmcenearney7860]

Hi again from Virginia. Your curry looks amazing! What a great hamper of food you received, too. I finally got up the nerve to go to the food bank last Saturday and they were closed because of snow❄️. I’ll try again next month.

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Elizabeth😊 Thanks so much, it turned out very tasty. Yes it was a lovely lot of food this time. Oh that's too bad, here's hoping next month they're open again. Hope they load you up with some great stuff next time you go💕

[@teresaryan4956]

The curry look so good. Nice selection of food again this week. Hope you all had a good weekend x

[@makingendsmeet]

Oh thanks Teresa😊It turned out really nice with that curry paste. Yes, was a very helpful box this week. We did, but it's never long enough, goes by too quick! Hope you have a good week💕

[@muttersmenu2422]

Breakfast cereals have become very expensive and oats or store much brand are better value. Very nice selection of groceries and fresh produce 😊 The curry looked very tasty - enjoy with the family 👍

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much. Yes the breakfast cereal prices have gone crazy! Always a great help to get what we do. Have a good week over there my friend😊

[@debbiehernandez260]

I find here in America store brands can save you money.God bless.

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Debbie😊 Yes store brands can be just as good as big name brands, just without the price tag! Hope you have a wonderful week over there my friend. God bless you too💕

[@evelynmcdonald9981]

Great haul and your food 🍱 looks delicious 😋!!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Evelyn🥰 It was very tasty!

[@gwencorkum]

It is always nice to find 1 of your videos . Greetings from Nova Scotia , Canada .

[@makingendsmeet]

Hello over there Gwen😊 Thank you my friend💕

[@pensivepensioner1244]

I've never tried massaman curry paste but your curry looks amazing so I'll see if I can find some in the supermarket . The kelloggs cereal, is new to me too. My hubby likes their crunchy nut cornflakes , perhaps your box is similar to those. Enjoy your bounty my friend and have a fabulous week 😊 ❤x

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Angie😊 Yes that Massaman curry paste was very nice, more fragrant than spicy, really made all the difference I think... and I only used a couple tablespoons, so have heaps more in the jar for more curries yet! The cereal is a bit similar to the Crunchy Nut one, just not so sweet I'd say and oat clusters instead of the nuts. Hope you have a lovely week too💕

[@judytubbs826]

Nice variety. Good deal on food. Stay cool and many blessings to you and yours. 😊😊😊❤

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Judy. Same to you my friend. Have a good week🥰

[@margaretbagur3553]

Your meal looks delicious and filling!

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Margaret😊 It was!

[@bookreader7108]

I've never had curry. It looked very good! I like chick peas but I've not had them in a long time. So happy for all the items you received. I know you will make many a great meal out if them. Ooh I love apricots. Hope you have a great week. Its Sunday evening here in Tennessee. Take care! ❤

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks my friend. It turned out better than I thought, was very tasty! Everything was definitely a great help to get. Yes love apricots, especially dried apricots... but not too many haha! Have a nice night over there😊💕

[@cathydecarles7084]

It looks so Delicious looking Sweet Friend I am so glad for you all God bless you all Cathy🙏🏻✝️☮️🥰🥰🌺💝💙❤️💐💗💜🌹🍀I live Philadelphia Pennsylvania It wonderful here in America 🇺🇸 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@makingendsmeet]

@cathydecarles7084 Thanks so much Cathy😊 Hope you're having a good night over there💕

[@CAJST-dh3oo]

Hi! This was a very nice food pantry haul. I always enjoy watching it. When you make the lemon chicken let us all know how it was. Enjoy your week! 😊

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Saby😊 Thanks so much. Will do! Have a great week too💕

[@kathleentanner343]

😊 Chilly Bin for us Kiwis and believe me it has been raining while I am in NZ 😅 what a lovely looking curry MEM ! I will send you some rain 😂

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Kathie😊💕 Oh glad I got that right, thought I'd heard it called that somewhere lol! Thanks so much. Yes that Massaman Curry Paste is delicious and not too spicy hot, it turned out really nice in the end. Sounds like it has been pouring over there... we're still humid here. Yes please send us some rain to cool things down!

[@Gardeningchristine]

The onions carrots and green beans would go great with the chicken and the honey soy sauce, served over rice or noodles. Or baked potatoes with the chicken on top.

[@makingendsmeet]

Oh great ideas, thanks Christine!

[@Gardeningchristine]

I like to make either butter noodles or garlic butter noodles with the spaghetti noodles if I’ve gotten tired of tomato sauce.

[@makingendsmeet]

Sounds delicious! Love garlic in dishes like that, yum😋

[@silverygit]

Oh miam that chickpea curry sounds perfect!

[@makingendsmeet]

Thank you! That Massaman Curry paste made all the difference I think, the spices in it are really lovely. Was very tasty😋

[@kathleenchambers6485]

Looks delicious, great use of your food pantry items.

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Kathleen😊

[@jeannedenault9352]

The curry looks so good 😋 Thanks for sharing the recipe.

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Jeanne. My pleasure😊

[@robynclarke5274]

I find the morale baked beans to be the nicest than the main brands. Frozen poppers make a nice ice block. You could add chick peas to the chicken curry to bulk it up.

[@makingendsmeet]

That's some good ideas with the chick peas and juice poppers, thanks Robyn😊 Yes baked beans don't have to be big brand name ones to be good. I find the ones we received in this haul to be very nice too!

[@pattimorgan9795]

Very nice haul again❣️ have an absolutely wonderful week❣️😊

[@makingendsmeet]

Thank you Patti, same to you!🥰

[@michelemurphy7342]

I am in Alaska and it is 11 degrees and we have 8 feet of now, lol

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Michele! Quite the contrast to here lol! Hope you're keeping warm over there😊

[@donnacameron4515]

It is nice to get a little surprise of a different type of cereal. Love the calender of my home county. Is there a picture of the province I live in, Manitoba?

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Donna😊This food pantry is very thoughtful like that, always great to have a bit of a variety in the cereal and change things up. Thanks, yes there's a gorgeous picture of some beautiful mauve flowers at Hubbart Point for April's page next month!

[@ThelmaCampbell-o9o]

Those corn flakes look delicious!

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks Thelma. They were very nice, the entire box disappeared on the weekend!!

[@rosemariemichel7050]

The stir fry mix, pine apple,carrots etc over rice or the noodles. Add me at if available.😊

[@makingendsmeet]

Great idea! Thanks Rosemarie😊

[@TexasTweed]

What a delicious looking meal . That’s a wonderful dish for Lent . 😢 no chocolate hot cross buns today . I told my Mother about the toilet paper Company name . lol she loved it and told it to her sister , who had a big giggle too . I would be interested in what you put with the frozen chicken meal . Have a great Monday morning and week . 🤠

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Felicia. Yes it would be great for Lent. I might be lucky to get some hot cross buns again next week, if I go on Tuesday😊 Oh lol, that's what you call great word of mouth advertising! It is a clever name isn't it?!! Most likely I will just serve the Lemon Garlic Chicken with some plain rice I'm thinking. Have a great week too!💕

[@dianeblanchette4891]

Thanks for sharing !

[@makingendsmeet]

You're welcome Diane. Have a good week😊

[@ellalella1]

You got some very nice stuff! Where I live it is very snowy and cold still and will be for another two months or so. 36 degrees is very hot indeed but with all the cold it sounds rather nice. Even though winter will continue for a long time here I do see signs of the whole thing moving towards warmer days now. Days are longer, we have some very sunny winter days and we have had some periods of warmer weather which is good but when it goes back to cold, the snow that melted and turned into water freezes to ice and things get slippery. I crashed quite spectacularly with my bike due to that this Saturday. I should not have been biking with all the ice but my husband got migraines and needed medicine and I had to get to the closest farmacy and that would take an hour walking so I took a shot at riding my bike. Well, mostly successful but for that fall and the bit where I just didn't dare to ride the bike and had to walk. It still cut a lot of time from walking but I am not doing that again.

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Elin😊 Thanks so much. Oh no! I hope that you're okay. That sounds scary when it goes all icy and slippery. I could see how things could get very dangerous quickly. You're a good wife to venture out in those conditions! I hope you (and your husband too) are feeling better. Hope you're able to still use your bike and it wasn't badly damaged either... though I can understand why you might be put off from riding for awhile! Glad to hear that you're getting some sunny winter days and some slightly warmer weather too. Take care over there my friend. Hope your week improves💕

[@ellalella1]

@@makingendsmeet thankfully I and the bike held up. A bruised knee for me and a slightly crooked splash guard guard for the bike that I fixed myself. Husband got much better with the medicine.

[@makingendsmeet]

I'm glad to hear that🤗😘

[@donnadelong2781]

I have no imagination when it would come to using chick peas, I have seen them on a salad bar, so I guess some people add them to a salad, and I know some use them to make humus, however yours looks wonderful.

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks Donna, it turned out better than I planned!

[@mymemories237]

Our local food bank is $40 to $100 for the packs of food.

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Deb😊 What sort of things do you get in the $100 packs? Is it a large quantity of items that would last you more than a week? I know of places in SE Qld that offer different packs, but most aren't more than $50 where I am.

[@kathleenlangstaff5039]

Are you kidding!?! What state are you in? What could they possibly put in foodbank box that would be worth $100 to someone needing food assistance?

[@mymemories237]

@@makingendsmeet the seniors box is $40 and it goes up to a family hamper for $100 it's pretty big the $100 one has 2 milks, 4 breads 5 dinners, cereal, fruit and veg and snack items. Would be worth $200 in the shops.

[@corinnespencer6100]

Which pantry do you get the $10 box please? I have tried googling to no avail.. thanks!

[@makingendsmeet]

Hi Corinne, We live rurally almost an hour out from Brisbane in Queensland. This food pantry I go to on Friday's is run by the Uniting Church in my area. If you're looking for a low cost (some may be entirely free also) food parcel nearby to you please try this link: www.foodbank.org.au Try clicking the "Find Food" button where you can put in your postcode to hopefully find a food bank nearest to you. These websites might also help: secondbite.org/food-finder/ and www.ozharvest.org/food/receive-food-individuals/ (Sometimes though not all church food pantries are listed I've noticed, so contacting local churches in your area directly or looking up their details online may be useful too. Some only advertise on Facebook). If you live in the Brisbane area I have heard of Kings Church on the southside of Brisbane (Logan Village, Reedy Creek, Pimpama) that offer entirely free hampers usually once a month too... not sure if they're close by to you, but here's their details: www.kingscommunity.care/?v=6cc98ba2045f Also Lighthouse Care in Brisbane have $25 discount trolleys and low price groceries in their stores too: lighthousecare.org.au/ A4 Community Care has $40 food parcels: www.a4food.org/ and Loaves and Fishes have $50 food parcels too: loavesandfishes.org.au/ Hope that helps. Take care and thanks so much for watching😊

[@marymcdonald6284]

Sometimes I get chickpeas but don't know how to use them.

[@makingendsmeet]

Hi Mary😊 The chickpea curry was very tasty if you like that sort of thing... or you could always make a hummus dip/spread with chickpeas if you get some. You can even roast them in the oven or air-fryer with a little olive oil and sea salt for a tasty snack!

[@cathydecarles7084]

No I have Covid Fever Thank prayers for me🙏🏻✝️☮️🌺💜💗🥰🥰💐❤️🍀🌹💙

[@makingendsmeet]

I'm sorry to hear that. That's not good Cathy, take care my friend. Hope you're feeling better soon. Sending my love and prayers❤️🙏

[@lysenabertoli2249]

Is this a supplement to what you buy? It doesn’t look like enough for a family of 4 for 7 meals x3😮

[@makingendsmeet]

Hi Lysena😊 Yes, this forms a large part of our food for the week. I do also go to a second food bank in our area most weeks on Tuesdays too, where I get free bread and baked items and sometimes on Thursdays discounted low cost fruit and veggies and 'cold bags' of frozen items. I do still have to buy different things to fill in the gaps from the supermarket when I can afford to as well. As a keen gardener I like to try to grow some of our own veggies, herbs and even some fruit too.