*REALISTIC* BUDGET Dinner Plan in 2024!

[@belindacrump8567]

I would love to see a “modest” budget for an entire week to feed a family breakfast, lunch and dinner :) Thanks for sharing another great video

[@SeeMindyMom]

Noted! :)

[@dharma6481]

I think I prefer these everyday meal ideas (less extreme budget) It seems more sustainable long term (for me at least)

[@lyndsaymoehrman]

I agree

[@paulacostello6912]

i find both types interesting. my favourite videos, though, are the pantry cleanout/wait to go to the grocery store ones

[@BettyHorn]

You just gave me an idea. I am currently incapacitated, so hubby needs to fix dinner. I have chicken and onions carrots and potatoes and noodles and gravy mix. I can have him throw what he wants in the crockpot and dinner will be ready in about four hours! Nothing wrong with mix and match!

[@margaretpoore184]

It’s called “woody” chicken! It happens sometimes with chicken breasts when the birds are raised on industrial farms.

[@Lp2074]

Quick tip on the chicken….I do not dip in flour. Only use egg and breadcrumbs. Also before putting them in the oven you should spray the baking dish with olive oil and also spray the top of the chicken too. Half way through cooking flip them only one time. They will come out golden brown and crisp. So good. I also cook at 400.

[@NicoleCoaker-mm5lq]

I am a nurse and just came off the night shift. Making the beef stew recipe to cook in the crockpot as I sleep

[@kristinstauffer]

If you stir the melted butter, brown sugar, and pudding together and then pour that over the frozen rolls it will be super gooey and you won’t need icing. I’ve been making it for years and people are always requesting it.

[@jenniferhawley1591]

Monkey bread with Rhodes rolls is our family Christmas morning tradition.

[@zuzanna4380]

I have to say 3$ per portion sounds like nothing but when you add up the number of portions and multiply by days, it gives you a lot of options. 5$ even more so, it sounds quite generous and you've cooked up some amazing tasty meals, great video!

[@meganmkinney]

Love the idea of seasoning the green beans in the bag!

[@valeriehutzell1166]

Does anyone else have a notebook that you write recipes down from a couple of KZbin channels with the initials of the channel so you know where they came from? Lol. You didn’t do anything wrong with chicken. I have the same results with Walmart chicken. I only buy there when necessary. I prefer meat from another grocery store in my town.

[@allicatmcd]

I prefer to only buy meat from stores with a butcher on site. The meat may not be any fresher, but it does taste different!

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

I don't have a notebook, I have a folder on my computer labeled "Recipes." I can screenshot or 'print to pdf' on most recipes. If I have to 'write it down' it goes onto a word document and gets added to the folder like all the rest.

[@jennifereyler6182]

Jiffy mix.... That's cornbread love in a box from us in Michigan!

[@whitneysummers1094]

When I bread chicken to put in the oven, I always put it on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet so it will be crispier and I spray cooking spray on top to brown the breading a bit.

[@kyoung2918]

Idk if you've ever tried it but instead of using salt and water to brine your chicken breasts, try using pickle juice. Right this moment I have chicken breasts in the fridge brining in pickle and jalapeno juices. It's going to be delish!

[@tamaraliscia3408]

You can also use olive juice.

[@SarahProbst-o4h]

I make carbonara in almost the same way except I use some of the pasta water to temper the egg and cheese mixture before I stir it in.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Yes, I have done that too. I Should have done that this time!

[@catherinefrasier4051]

Hey Mindy.About your baked chicken - my experience has been the quality of the chicken was the issue. I know a lot of people wont agree with me but that's what I've experienced.This is a great video, as always! Thanks for all you do!!!

[@SeeMindyMom]

I think that might have been it. I've always had pretty good luck there, but maybe I just got a bad package or something.

[@dashiarahmaan8478]

Yes the chicken at Walmart is not that great. I don’t purchase raw meat of any kind from there.

[@dianeshover1465]

I’ve had the exact same experience- noticed it for quite some time now🤨

[@wiggydebates3944]

I had to switch off of the Walmart family pack chicken. It's often odd tasting. I agree with you--that's probably what it was.

[@catherinefrasier4051]

I'm so glad to know it wasn't just me!@@wiggydebates3944

[@donnamedley4712]

My mom always set the pan or bowl on a heat pad set on low, to let the dough proof. Works really great!

[@EmilyMims-ui9zw]

What a great idea

[@SeeMindyMom]

That is genius!

[@joannasanchez5516]

Texture of your chicken...I have about 3 times now had the same experience. The chicken was from my local Neighborhood Walmart. I now refuse to get chicken from there. It makes me well ill to think something seriously is wrong with the way they are processing it, shipping, or storing. I'm so glad you mentioned this because now I know I'm not the only one experiencing this phenomenon.

[@annafantasia]

It's the way the chicken is raised; it's not harmful but it is sad. It's called "woody" chicken

[@lauriea.8718]

I also find the large packs of chicken from Walmart can come out kind of tough. Using them in the crockpot for shredded chicken recipe is just fine and sometimes when I’ve marinated them……like all day, they come out more tender when baked. It’s definitely the quality of the meat.

[@nancykaufman1645]

I Forgot to mention I ordered my son and son in law each a set of the RADA knives, they were wonderfully packaged, and they absolutely LOVED them!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Oh I’m so glad they liked them! We love ours, they get used almost every day! :) I bought some for family, too.

[@pamf8228]

I have to try that crack chicken soup recipe. I always add shredded julienne carrots to my homemade chicken noodle soup, so that's a no brainer for me.

[@stez8135]

Great video as always! Regarding the chicken, you may have gotten a 'woody' chicken breast, it's an abnormal muscle condition that can effect the texture. It's no fun when it happens!

[@dwhite-mg8xl5ht9t]

I loved this video! Great recipes and I enjoyed visiting with you! Hello from eastern NC!

[@kevinanddeb8829]

I never liked cornbread but my neighbor suggested using one box of the jiffy cornbread mix and one jiffy yellow cake mix box. Stir in the ingredients listed on the boxes and bake. My family loves it.

[@karleemarlow]

Nothing gets me more excited on a Friday morning ( Australia here ❤) than seeing you, Mindy have a new uploaded video 😅...

[@SeeMindyMom]

Ah, thank you! Glad I can deliver!

[@mistyvalentin2595]

Could you do a 7 day meal plan? I’d like to see what you come up with instead of 5. Thanks Mindy!

[@22lilacsky]

Mindy , girlfriend you are awesome and I have watched your channel grow from 10 thousand viewers up to now, I think we should do something special for ya when you hit 200k subs!

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Oh the memories this video brought back! Not the same dishes, but you reminded me that for a quick dinner my mother used to cook spaghetti in packaged chicken noodle soup! So delicious! And my sister used to cook ox tail in red wine! Neither very expensive in those days! Thank you for the video and the trip down memory lane!

[@SeeMindyMom]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@kikkirow]

Love your videos. You remind me of my mom . You are amazing. I wish I had more of this stuff when growing up instead of frozen foods.

[@anniegober3264]

Have you seen the coconut cream desert made with the Rhodes rolls? Fantastic. It’s called Pani Popo. ❤very economical, simple and delicious

[@ranakacir3893]

MIndy, I made the Carb tonight. I was a little worried about the egg cooiking, but it turned out delicious. I threw in some peas for our veg. This is going to be a great meal to add to my menu. Thank you!!

[@onlybev1]

I love Jiffy. Sometimes I even add another tsp of sugar. Am I terrible? I think not. I have not mentioned before but I love, love your hair. Bev from Broken Arrow

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you! And I see lots of recipes that add sugar to cornbread mix. You’re not alone.

[@samanthastillman7045]

I had to stop this video 5 times to add things to my list that I saw while you were shopping! Haha!

[@BnRichardson]

Couldn't help but notice your Pyrex dish. I just found two just like yours at Goodwill and they were brand new. Yeah!!! Love watching you your great!!!

[@katastrophe-25]

Hey Mindy! Love your videos - I used to run a fried chicken restaurant, so I'm hoping I can share my experience and help ya :) Sometimes in cheaper cuts of chicken, they let the chicken's breasts grow larger/older to make the product larger which results in a more sinew-y mouth feel. The result can be this almost chicken steak kind of look and a rubbery texture where the chicken breaks apart in horizontal chunks rather than shreds. To combat this, you can butterfly the breasts with a ragged motion to make them thinner and break up the tissue - you'll also notice the top round part of the breast is worse than the bottom "point" part. Also, you can often tell if the chicken breast is going to be this way or not by pressing your thumb into the underside of the breast lobe - if it gives in and is soft it will be good as a whole breast dish, if it resists and feels hard and kind of slips your thumb, maybe incorporate into a shredded dish instead. I hope that helps!

[@veronicahobbs6049]

I just made a chicken/bacon/ranch soup the other day (with your pantry cooking idea in mind) that was super similar to the recipe you made! I used homemade cream of cheddar cheese soup instead of cream cheese and milk, and rice instead of noodles, but everything else was the same! We also added onion cause I had it on hand. It turned out so good. Your videos inspire me to challenge myself to use up things that we have on hand, and I am so grateful for that!

[@SeeMindyMom]

That sounds delicious! Great job!

[@dianeshover1465]

The last couple of years I’ve absolutely noticed a difference in the TEXTURE of Walmart branded boneless/skinless chicken breast...not sometimes, ALL the time. I remember reading somewhere that it’s the way the chicken is processed now, including the type of feed the chicken is given ( to help make them as plump as possible before processing) Honestly, I’m not a fan, but many times I have to do whatever I can to stay within budget.

[@wiggydebates3944]

THIS!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Interesting. I’ve purchased it before, to my knowledge this is the first time I’ve had this issue.

[@TheAmyb99]

Hey, Mindy! Love your videos and learning from your experience and real life family recipes! I just loaded my cart with some of your very handy and helpful printables. Thanks for being such a great resource for wholesome real food meals that I can feel good about feeding my family but that aren’t some gargantuan amount of work to make!

[@shelbylynnwilliams8520]

Thank you for shopping at Walmart for this video.

[@1mourningdove54]

It all looked delicious! My daughter makes a similar monkey bread for our annual Christmas brunch-we look forward to it every year.

[@dumbledoresgotstyle]

I like the new way you edited this video. At least it seems new! lol lovely video as always :)

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you! I have a really fantastic and talented editor who helps me with that task now. :) I call her a "magician" because she can really polish it in a way I can't!

[@rosemarydoran9907]

Mindy, I particularly enjoyed this video! Although I always find a recipe or two I want to try in your extreme budget meal plans, I feel like this video was very realistic as to how many families try to cook, barring some financial surprise. The recipes all look delicious and there was a great variety using multiple proteins. Im not sure what happened with your chicken. Although I shop primarily at WalMart, I dont tend to buy much meat there (unless it is a national brand like Johnsonville brats or bacon). I just prefer buying fresh meat at a store with a butcher counter. Maybe part of that package was just not right, like you said. I think you did fantastic planning these meals without the use of loss leaders or clearance items (except that loaf of discounted french bread I spied on the counter). Awesome video! Again, one of my favorites! Idea (if you haven't done this or haven't done one since the big price increases of the past 18 months). How about a meal planning video shopping for either the store sales flyer combined with clearance items from a national chain like Kroger. I shop loss leaders and sales but being disabled I can't get into the store to clearance shop. Just a thought. Thanks again!!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Hi, Rosemary! Did you catch my last video? I shopped the sales at my local chain to make a dinner plan. :) Thanks for the kind words!

[@rosemarydoran9907]

@SeeMindyMom actually I did see that video but I'm gonna blame forgetting it in stroke brain.

[@stephanie4623]

I like the longer videos!! Thank you! 😀

[@joannematzuka1592]

Thanks for another great videos! Got to try that Monkey Bread yum 😋 I have never seen a Beef Stroganoff recipe that doesn't have mushrooms and parsely?

[@megankahts4679]

I need to confess that I almost always just sprinkle the cornstarch on top and don't make a slurry, and it often works out just fine, but I completely agree that the slurry works better if you have the patience and time, which has never been my strong suit.

[@marywatkins6798]

I remember my grandma making the same beef stroganoff, on the stove, when I was a kid, and we ate it over egg noodles. I remember the ketchup as an ingredient, and I think she added more than you. I loved it. It was so good.

[@Savage11-b7e]

You have a beautiful and spacious home.

[@jenniferwilson3436]

I got a great deal on Rhodes Rolls at my local Walmart the other day. They were a $1 a bag! Also the nice things of buying the precut stew meat is you don't pay for fat, that you would wind up cutting off the chuck roast you buy!😊

[@ShelbieLorenz]

Your skin is glowing!! Thank you so much for these recipes!

[@kevin-annerussell863]

I've been trying to find your video (a few years back) of the two ways of baking bread. I loved that video 😊

[@GroceriesTracker]

wow, this is apretty good budgeting plan for 5 people!

[@ZeroWasteFamily]

$3 a plates is a great deal 👏

[@billkelly3679]

I was about to say that your first meal needed more vegetables, but then you added the pears. Good call!

[@BLUECRABNETWORK]

My Dad loved Rhodes Rolls! 😊

[@susanmolnar9606]

Mindy you’ve done it again! You’re a genius and I also use many of those techniques when I slow cook. More to add to my repertoire. ❣️😉

[@kiml1508]

I also find the Wal-Mart chicken to have a weird and off putting texture when I bake it. I stopped buying chicken from Walmart and just stock up when it's on sale at HEB or Costco.

[@melissaflores5466]

Hi Mindy these are great ideas thank you! For the last chicken bacon soup, do you think I can substitute for potatoes? If so would you put them in earlier? Thanks

[@DavidBrooks-mq6js]

(Posting as Joyce) Love this video. Practical ideas for meals!! I am excited to still hear the exciting news!! I didn't miss it, did I?? Always look forward to watching. Have a blessed day and week! Thank you for all that you do!!

[@JeanieBooher]

Mindy, I agree that ‘quality’ is most likely the issue with your chicken. My husband and I have noticed over the last 2 years that we have gotten chicken that had texture variances. We’ve seen it in both fresh, frozen, and processed styles, and it’s come from various stores as well. I can’t speak for its cause, but most certainly it was nothing you did or didn’t do.

[@BengeFamily98]

Could I use the instant butterscotch pudding mix in place of the cook and serve for the money bread?

[@melindaliszkai837]

Mindy, it is better to deep fry the chicken in oil, it will be crispy and delicious. This is how we do it in Hungary. 😊

[@DragonQueenx1]

Hello Melinda, how are things in Hungary? I hope thinga are good for you and your family. Feel free to share a recipe of yours on the channel it would be very humbling and exciting to have a special recipe to try- share what it means. This channel is a good one.

[@lziniti]

Your baked chicken brought me back to childhood! Breaded chicken was a staple!

[@elementarystemwithms.crosm5345]

Great video! I'm trying the monkey bread, beef stroganoff, and beef stew this week because we're having a sale on pot roast at my local grocery store and I can cut that up to make the stew beef.

[@janicemunro2458]

put the chicken in buttermilk for a few hours before you cover in bread crumbs then bake as usual.

[@Savage11-b7e]

Morning, I want to know where's the cans of cream soups, I just haven't seen them in about 3 years shopping, does Giant carry them?

[@lziniti]

I had another thought… you might not have recipes that you share, but I know I’d enjoy watching what you do to doctor up your sides. Thanks!

[@Thebyrnecoop]

Your Walmart looks amazing. My Walmart terrifies me 😭

[@madamkiwi1094]

Would love to do a price comparison with nz prices, our eggs are over $10 a dozen and butter is $5 for 500 grams

[@robinswan5831]

Everything looks so yummy~ Is there a recipe for the last chicken recipe? Checked the blog and didn't find one! TY!

[@brendabrooks9699]

i didn’t catch the temp for oven for monkey bread? Everything looks so great i’ll be trying everything. Also didn’t catch how much bacon for the spaghetti carbonara

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

I actually saw your clip on the tv show last week on youtube. You were great!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you!

[@briannehill7583]

Im so envious of the prices in Oklahoma lol. The chuck roast i picked up yesterday was 20$, the store brand butter was 4$ . There are things I eont even buy anymore because the price gouging is just too ridiculous. But that being said i am also so grateful that what we need has been provided for us.

[@phronsiekeys]

this may not be different for you, but they do tax food in Oklahoma. I was shocked when I saw how cheap their food is, but then I figured out that it evens out a bit if you live in a state that doesn't tax food.

[@robinswan5831]

Butter here in new england is also over $4! MAAM, so much!

[@briannehill7583]

@@phronsiekeys No youre totally correct. I am a native of California. Years ago we moved to Texas for about 6 months. While there I also noticed that while certain things like housing cost less, wages were also lower,food was about the same ( at least where we were) and utilities were much higher. So it really wasn't cheaper. You're just allocating your money different. Now we are in Washington State. I think the high costs are genuinely having an impact on people everywhere. The grass isn't always greener....but the groceries are likely high lol

[@christylee6790]

Also, the price of butter she showed was for 2 sticks not four. I'm in NC and it's around $4.50/lb (4 sticks) of the store brand.

[@phronsiekeys]

@@christylee6790 Yeah that's about where we are in Boston where I live--some sales get it down. No tax on food here

[@sarahdano55]

always great to see your video. Could you do one with veggie options ?

[@catiecoleman6494]

How can I find pancake mix biscuits thank you

[@aprilinalabama9074]

Your hair is pretty ❤

[@Committedcarnivore]

I have the same issue with chicken-some of it is tender & some of it is so tough!

[@Countrylife83]

Can you leave a link for your slow cooker I can't find a slow cooker with a saute function

[@victoriaLL345]

Always enjoy these.

[@carolynflathers3159]

I no longer buy chicken breast from the grocery store after getting too many tough/chewy meats. There is definitely something off about the chicken these days. I only get chicken breast from our local farm store or meat market when I need the good quality meats. I still buy most other meats, ground beef/turkey, sausages, pork & beef but no more chicken breast.

[@dianeshover1465]

Same here Caroline🙄

[@aprilinalabama9074]

That's my daughter favorite dessert ❤

[@alexdeaton5107]

So happy to see this video tonight! It's always my favorite when I get to see what you're whipping up, Mindy! ❤

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you! I hope you enjoyed it!

[@vickiebelk635]

All of the recipes sound yummy!!

[@JamieSmith-jo5dy]

Hi Mindy! Do you mind sharing probably again sorry if you have mentioned this but what model Cuisinart w/ the sauté option do you have? I need this and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Thanks in advance! ❤️ I have made so many recipes you create. 5⭐️

[@nullasalus3]

Great collection of recipes! My wife's mom always made monkey bread around Christmas time, and she was definitely Team Rhodes rolls! She preferred to use the sweet roll dough, though that's sometimes hard to find.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Is that the same as cinnamon rolls or is it another thing? I have seen rolls, cinnamon rolls, and also loaves from Rhodes

[@nullasalus3]

⁠@@SeeMindyMomIt's different from the cinnamon rolls, though I have wondered how a monkey bread made with cinnamon rolls might turn out. Could be a bust with all the layers, but I might try it one day! The Rhodes sweet dough has a pink label, and it's sold in three loaves. I could find it sometimes in the Dallas market, but in Iowa, it's everywhere in the local grocery stores! They carry so many Rhodes products here.

[@ktrayan1]

Mindy that pasta looks sooooo good.

[@simplyfromscratchrecipes]

As for your chicken, it is likely the chicken itself and not anything you did. I have found over the years that chicken quality is not as good as it use to be. I found that when trimming chicken it would have this weird feel to it, like it had layers and rough. Sounds weird I know, but I am not sure how to describe it, but when I first discovered it, I just cooked the chicken like normal and it had a weird taste and texture to it that I swore I would never do that again, but then found more and more chicken had the same texture. I finally bit the bullet and started getting our chicken only from Butcher Box and it has never been an issue since. I think chicken now is so pumped full of stuff, even when the bird is alive that it has altered the meat.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Several others are chiming in here to mention the “woody chicken” phenomenon, and I had never heard of that or experienced it! I have never had a problem with purchasing chicken breast from Walmart, but I might avoid it now. I never have a problem with what comes from Good Chop. 🤷‍♀️

[@simplyfromscratchrecipes]

@@SeeMindyMom woody chicken is a good way to describe it and I am glad I am not the only one that has experienced it. I have noticed that it happens often on store brand chicken. Good to know about Good Chop!

[@EmilyGOODEN0UGH]

My guess on the issue with the chicken is that you didn't mix the brine or shuffle the chicken around in it.

[@aprilinalabama9074]

Yummy 😋❤

[@hberrysc3517]

Yum

[@aileenbarrientos7146]

How do you make your chicken broth? I’ve seen different recipes 😅

[@carmenguerrero8679]

Help on therapist was excellent..

[@SeeMindyMom]

I'm so glad!

[@zalaria]

I made your moms stroganoff, was fantastic will make this again !

[@ElenaPNW]

Excited to try these Mindy! ❤️ Can we get a recipe for chicken bone broth 🙏

[@alexisd8190]

Love this vid yet again! I’ve always wondered what the orange part of the label means next to the yellow price, is it the amount of tax that will be added?

[@nicole8511]

Most likely it is the price per ounce for the specific product. It helps you do comparisson shopping and pick the one that has the lowest cost per ounce I have just started looking at those more ✨️

[@cherinewman1521]

Thanks for sharing do you have a link to recipes

[@lynnettet428]

Love watching your videos! I make the same baked chicken quite often. I just learned a new way to bake it….on a cooling rack with a cookie sheet or metal pan under it. That way the bottom gets crispy as well. Never thought of doing it this way all these years but man now that I tried it I’m never going back to the old way 😅 Thanks for the brining tip! Going to try that next time.

[@janetmoore1124]

I use my broiler pan which allows for air flow and it drains fat from the meat. I do spray it with cooking spray to make clean up easier.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Great tip!

[@ireneroy8820]

Good video! I buy chuck roast for $3.49- $3.99 LB on sale and make my own stew meat/ soup meat

[@breesaves]

I have also used mayo in the cornbread and it was yummy. Just an fyi if you have more mayo than sour cream one day. How about this OK weather, Mindy?! Glad we are getting a warm up these last few days.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Me, too! I was ready to get out for a nice walk for sure!

[@laloralewis3726]

Hi Mindy Great video thanks so much for sharing all the delicious budget meals my family and I will surely enjoy 😊❤️👍

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks for watching!

[@KindaNewHere]

First! (I have never done this before). Thank you for all the ideas for my family.