Zero Spend Grocery Budget || Cooking Dinner From What I Already Have

[@monaminchau4798]

As his first retirement project, my husband created a spreadsheet inventory of every item in our pantry, freezer, and fridge. Numbered every item! Logged each “best before” date, store with the best price for that item, amount of protein per dollar… you get the picture? Every week, I ask him what items should be used up and base my meal planning around those. And this is how a retired scientist and a retired project manager get their kicks 😂😂😂

[@samanthadodd8112]

That is so funny.

[@GrannysGarage333]

This is great!!!

[@teresab3198]

I loved that you lovingly just went along with it.😊

[@ElizabethBattle]

I love it! My husband is a retired scientist, too, and he seems to have a spreadsheet for EVERYTHING. Lol. Not our food, though. Yet. Haha

[@sillylilysallykaye4917]

That is awesome! I need that dedication at my house.

[@SueWells]

Love your channel. You are a blessing to so many people. I believe God has used your growing up years with food insecurity to minister to so many people who can’t spend a lot of money on food. Thank you! Your boys are such respectful young men. That is a tribute to you and Dusty. Keep up the good work. Don’t let anyone discourage you. God is using you!

[@tammyhaase7574]

Leftover meatloaf sandwiches is the reason we make meatloaf.

[@CynthiaRockroth]

It's a great cold breakfast as well. Leftover meatloaf goes in Kish for breakfast if your up to cooking at 5am.

[@ilovemyservicedog8862]

You guys could probably live out of your freezer in your pantry for a month that might be an video to see how long you could actually go if you actually were to use up all your stuff

[@elvataylor9279]

Have 8 peoples to feed because 4 of my grandkids are here, because school is out! 😭 😭 Only have $50.00 to buy groceries for a week. Got rice, beans, frozen. Ground beef and pantry is well stocked.

[@trucksr4gurls]

I am recently widowed (oh how i hate that word) and i have no family living close enough to visit with often. My mom grew up in eastern Tennesee so hearing you talk and watching you cook for your lovely family has been a help. For the first time in my life I'm also learning to cook for one. Every time i make a mistake i hear you say "it's fine!".❤

[@poppyseed389]

@@trucksr4gurls your comment warmed my heart ❤️ wishing you blessings and love

[@paige7151]

@@trucksr4gurls May the Lord bless and keep you during this time, @trucksr4gurls!

[@roses993]

May the Lord heal your heart and bless you ❤😊

[@tracisawyer7681]

Leftover meatloaf sandwiches describe my childhood 😂. I would drive to your house for one of yours . No stalking intended.

[@Kimberley_Black_White_TV]

TIP that my mother-in-law taught me about canned GREEN BEANS: Drain and rinse them to get the "can/metal" taste off of them. Then add your own water, butter, salt and pepper. They taste like fresh! xo

[@goingcagey5991]

My MIL also added a couple strips of bacon to her green beans.

[@Kimberley_Black_White_TV]

@@goingcagey5991 Even better!!

[@BethersO]

This isn’t necessarily related to this video topic BUT your videos are seriously a breath of fresh air. I love seeing a real and “normal to me” family lol. Your freezer and dinners are relatable and I love it! This is how I grew up and this is how I am now. We don’t all live in “perfect” homes and go to whole foods every night to get a fancy dinner or make everything we eat from scratch. There’s nothing wrong with that either BUT this video is so much more relatable. Keep doing you Brooke! We love it. ❤

[@lilbfly02]

Every house needs a Braydon. I love how adorable and supportive he is. Always so encouraging in his tastings. Your family rocks ❤

[@maryorem6481]

A future chef in the making!

[@themadwomanskitchen9732]

Tonight I cooked almost completely from my pantry. I made chilli beans from cooked beans in my freezer and veggies from my fridge. The only thing I had to buy was a can of tomato sauce.

[@KaireLou]

I think you could do a zero spend for a month or more based on your stock! 😮

[@LadyMorganLavon]

I’m the only person in my family who likes Brussel sprouts. I love to make a stir fry with them with bacon, onions and sweet potatoes cubed

[@shawgeasland2096]

That's too funny when you said "I went shopping downstairs.". I tell my husband that about evey 2 weeks or so when I need to fill the kitchen fridge. "Honey, I'm going shopping in the deep freeze. You wanna help me?". He always does, because usually we find some kind of treat we had forgot about. Last week, we found a box of battered shrimps! What a treat!

[@rickharks4515]

l have a spare room that is my pantry, kids moved out and shelfs and stand up freezer went in,

[@KrystyneY]

I used to shop for my parents. Which included frozen items. My mom would say bring us back a treat. I was never a ure what that was, but there were some unknowns in their freezer

[@tanyamckinnon5376]

Meatloaf sandwiches are so good. I had meatloaf fot dinner last week and meatloaf sandwiches the next day.

[@dodofrogsoaps]

When my kids were young, and we were broke, I made fish tacos using fish sticks. I also made "fish sauce" which is a mixture of mayo and sour cream with onion and garlic powder mixed in (don't knock it), added lettuce and cheese on top, my kids loved it! Homemade refried beans on the side. So good!

[@sarahconnor64]

Yes! Fish stick tacos are so good!

[@heathertackett7956]

Fish tacos! With coleslaw!

[@Helen1132-pz8dv]

Sounds great to me 😋

[@nancyanne1402]

Baked tuna and slaw tacos. Tuna steaks marinated with garlic/ginger teriyaki marinade then baked on a rack on a cookie sheet, kind of like air fried in a regular oven. Reheated fish is obnoxious. Chop up leftover tuna, make tuna salad sandwiches with a cup of slaw in the side.

[@stevenselig3713]

Could have just made tartar sauce mayo and relish its nice if you got lemon or lime too and a small amount of horseradish but mayo and relish haven't bought tattar sauce in 20 years

[@MELISSA-zj8rb]

have you ever cleaned out your pantry and freezer until every thing was pretty much gone and started collecting food again? i try this a few times a year so nothing gets wasted . it gets kinda hard to make a meal when doing that but it really makes you think about what if i couldnt go to the store what could i eat. i have to be very creative lol

[@cathyb3790]

Great idea,,, yes this can make us more creative with our food.

[@antoinetteqvistorff2270]

I love it that we get to see how your brain works when having to feed a family. The daily stress of cooking for people who think dinner just happens.

[@ohiofarmgirl3384]

I see a freezer organization video in your near future😂.

[@thelemicgal]

You also can use oatmeal in place of bread crumbs.

[@Thatsaritachick]

You are well stocked! You could do this for a month 😊

[@lesleystandish3922]

I'm glad my freezer isnt the only one that looks like that 😮...i try to organize now and again! Love your videos...great ideas...on a mission to minimize spending

[@GenLazer06]

I have to say something. You make your meals with love.. like for real... there is a HUGE DIFFERENCE if you make it with hate..

[@Sweetrottenapple]

Wow girl you have a groceries store at home! It could last for a...well I don't even know how long..? You are very resourceful for sure 😄

[@sheliaanderson1890]

I got bags of shredded Sargentos cheese for $1.58 per bag in Saturday 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@angelarothbauer8096]

Stuffing mix in meatloaf is fantastic

[@michellekranovich8325]

Now days we pay more for groceries and we get so much less! 😢😢

[@nancycarney]

Grill a slice of leftover meatloaf and top with cheese and put on toast. SO VERY GOOD! I love skipping a week at the grocery store.

[@cindyupton7357]

Just a thing I do. I don’t eat red meat. But family does. So I make a load of meatballs and put them in the freezer. Then I make my pasta bakes and/or lasagna without meat and the meat eaters can add meatballs!!!

[@lpschick7237]

Ryder totally has a Flock of Seagulls vibe going with the hair. I’m so jealous of that head of hair. Definitely have to check a few of these out. ❤.

[@tracisawyer7681]

I agree. Amazing head of hair on that boy.

[@Prancer0210]

Agree; he has great hair!

[@tinalarison3358]

So true

[@theresaaltongregg4569]

Looks delicious 😋. You make me want lasagna 😅.

[@pamelawhite2794]

fish sticks are good in tortillas with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes

[@Haven892]

My mom always adds salsa to her meatloaf 😍 so if you don’t have onion or green pepper, salsa works amazing!!

[@sarahconnor64]

I love your zero spend videos!!!! I've been trying to work through my freezer and pantry, too. Your videos are inspiring!

[@valerie718]

You lift me up when I’m feeling down. Thank you for making these videos.

[@cathyb3790]

I know this would be a Hugh under taking but a inventory list attached to your freezers would be such a big help for you,,I have done it and it has saved me so much time and money ,,,maybe that could be a video idea ,,love your videos you are so funny ,kind and Genuine,,,😊❤

[@martynscott7006]

Chef Brooke, with the correct coat, hat and gloves, I could live in that freezer. What a fun assortment! Your energy and laugh comes through the screen. Fun video of "what to make when there is nothing to eat".

[@karladoesstuff]

I'm doing that too this week. I thawed out the extra ham I picked up just before Christmas for 97¢/lb to help.

[@juliehill8292]

I love these type of videos! It makes my day to see how your family loves the meals you prepare for them. The way you all love and support one another is the way families should be. It gives me all the good vibes and I appreciate it. Love your recipe for that sausage dip too ,I will have to try that one soon. God bless you all and please keep making this kind of video. I would like to see you do a video where you went as long as you could without spending say over 25 dollars a week. I bet you could easily make it a month. Just a suggestion.

[@danasandlin2435]

like your new plate bowls--cute...dts/usa

[@stephaniemassengill3310]

Came across your channel lately and realized your from the Same part of Tennessee I’m from! Love your positivity and you have a adorable family!

[@KimberlyBaker-v3w]

It's been great seeing you more often 😊❤️

[@faithfletcher8740]

I use the fish sticks to make fish tacos! We put a sweet slaw on top with some tarter sauce.

[@MarieLalonde-xz8mb]

Bacon and brussel sprouts genuis!!!

[@tonistrickland4983]

Brooke, would love to see you do a "freezer" organization video...I saw Becky at Acre Homestead do this & it was good to watch how she grouped items. She had canvas bags she used in her chest freezer that helped her to see things better & nothing fell to bottom "never never land"...she used her upright freezer for freezer meals, veggies, fruits, etc & chest for proteins...love your videos!

[@athia37]

Becky at acre homestead has thousands of dollars at her disposal so alot of her grand projects are not reachable for poor people such as myself and my spouse.She lives in Oregon in a house worth over 3/4 million dollars,and I couldn't pay the taxes on something like that,or afford a freeze drier machine or all the freezers she owns...The totes she uses aren't cheap either...just saying..

[@tonistrickland4983]

@@athia37 WOW! I only used her as an example & a suggestion, I don't see how rearranging your freezer or pantry would have any economic bearing.....such a shame that you have so much bitterness!

[@ericaharris6897]

I love Becky! I have never gotten from her that she has thousands at her disposal.

[@AngelaCraig-hi7mv]

I love Becky. She never claimed to be frugal but shows you how to go things if you don't have the tools she's using g. I've learned a ton from her!!

[@nylenyap3933]

The good news is we can watch Brooke and Becky…both are amazing strong women who feed their families with love. Cooking with what you have available to you, no matter what your budget.

[@sherryarmstrong4683]

I sometimes make a meatloaf just for sandwiches! Darn tasty!

[@artofbrowneyedgirl]

I have to be gluten free and Jovial is my favorite and only pasta I use. It holds so much better than other gf noodles, just have to make sure you stick to the time on the box.

[@leslielousma7913]

Our basement is finished with a small storage area for the HVAC and pumps. We have two small chest freezers in the garage. I rarely go downstairs since hubby made it his man cave and I took over one of the bedrooms on the main floor. He refers to it as my library/craft room. The other bedroom is the guest room.

[@MarieLalonde-xz8mb]

Ketchup brown sugar aoplecider vinegar and sometimes mustard Makes a good meatloaf suace . My kis love it.

[@SuzieQTrainwreck]

I love shopping in my fridge, freezer, and pantries so that I don't have to go shopping so much. I've been doing that since around the first of December and am still going strong. I do have to get out and get milk and dairy stuff, but not much else unless it's dog food, trash bags, or some other non edible item.

[@NayNayL0820]

I don't have kids to cook for, but I do have a picky husband! He loves meatloaf, so I saute my veggies before adding it to the meatloaf so he doesn'tcomplain about the texture of the veggies. Greenbeans are a bit bland in my opinion so I add a tsp of chicken bullion to the water in addition to the butter and normal seasonings. I highly recommend this if you want to kick up the flavor a notch.

[@sharonbigham6545]

My mom added onion soup mix.

[@heathertackett7956]

I dice onion and a few baby bella mushrooms and saute in a touch of butter. Then I add a little bit of roasted garlic better than bullion and the drained beans right into the frying pan under hot. Delicious..and my family now refuses beans plain from the can lol

[@kricketcooper5024]

I add beef bullion and some dried onions to my canned green beans.

[@ElizabethBattle]

Chicken bouillion powder is magic.

[@Linda-p9z]

I put onion pork sausage and real butter in sauce pan and cook then take can green beans Put in the pan with chicken bouillon take it to a boil on hight lower the heat drown to a soft boil for 1 -2 hours add salt and pepper like homemade you can add new potato

[@mommab7936]

I’m so glad I clicked on one of your videos! You and your family are like a breath of fresh air! I’ve been binge watching videos all day when my daughter is in school and at night before bed! I’d like to know how truly stressful is it being a home schooling momma! I’m looking at all my options and am afraid to make the leap!

[@patriciastrickland9540]

Last time we stopped at Long John's Silvers, coming back home from Ethridge TN, (16ish years ago), we All got sick from it. That ended up being a very long drive home.

[@thixotropic447]

You've been telling this story for 16 years? Why?

[@patriciastrickland9540]

@@thixotropic447 I've mentioned OUR experience twice in that timeframe. Why, you ask? Because I felt it was pertinent and simply because I chose to. Mind blowing, isn't it..

[@angelpurcell3156]

I need to do this to from today til mid March forgot abt a bill and I refuse to leave it hang over my head lol Salad mix never last long in our home lol

[@karengretzler8754]

Lordy I looove fish sticks! 😋

[@rosemaryreed1226]

You should make a t shirt or hat that says "It's okay". That would be cool

[@diorocksmetalon5993]

Or "that's fine!"

[@jerrystrong4494]

Brooke add bacon grease to your green beans and a spoon full of of brown sugar.

[@cathyb3790]

I have not tried ,,but adding broth to the beans while heating them up is suppose to be good too 😁

[@lynnhager7763]

I add bacon grease and onion soup mix

[@justcallmesuzzie]

OMG girl, you crack me up! I do pantry challenge every year in the months of January and February. It is good to go through all your pantry, refrigerator, and freezers to see what has made it's way to the bottom and back of it all. I spent a week doing that in January and put dates on everything with a huge sharpie so I could see. I pulled everything that needed to get used up and put it in my face so I would use it. I am down to one case of can goods and all the items in the freezers are used up. I also gave a bunch away that I could not eat after being diagnosed with high blood sugar. It is something I am going to be doing from now on.

[@Caitlin1928]

Your first pasta cottage cheese meal is what we do for Baked Spaghetti. Normally though, we do put on meat sauce.

[@shelbylynnwilliams8520]

Great video! In my opinion this video is ranked up there as one of your best videos. So proud of you! You served a variety of meals & even appetizers for Superbowl.

[@ZenobiaDecrespin]

Happy Monday yall

[@angiedeans6410]

Mum years ago when we was kids she use to bake old bread in the oven until it was dried out, then us kids use to grid it up in a old meat grinder that sat on the outdoor shelf near the backdoor to make bread crumbs. One of my favourite meals as kids was oxtail stew or homemade chicken soup with vegetables and barley cooked in the pressure cooker, my Mum was a great cooked for cheap meals and cakes, biscuits and pies on a tight budget. As dad was a bad alcoholic.

[@karendixon7123]

Our Long John Silvers closed. It was good! When we have fish sticks, I like Mac and cheese and stewed tomatoes…. Thanks for the great ideas!!

[@tonyabrown7426]

Word of the day... is "ROGUE"!! Love the video! Have a blessed week!

[@janabuchheit3389]

I enjoy watching you, Brooke. You are always so bubbly and bring so much fun and joy to preparing food for your family. I, too, was a stay at home mom and wife. I took my job seriously. It became a game, and I got the kids involved involved with in meal planning.I took them to the store and taught them how to shop.Every moment is a teaching / learning opportunity.

[@kathleenmayhorne3183]

In aussie we call them fish fingers. Have you ever put them on toast, with someting a bit stronger than mayo? We use tartare sauce and two pieces of oast. For a toasted sanger, i use tomato flavoured baked beans with garlic or asparagus with fish paste.

[@wendoxia]

That’s an incredible amount of food that you have stored… food doesn’t keep in the freezer forever, so I think you could do like a Month long challenge

[@savannamacdonald8749]

@@wendoxia food keeps indefinitely if frozen at the proper temperature. While the texture and taste may change, it doesn't change the safety of the food.

[@80skindagal]

Brooke the song you was singing while you was making your baked pasta has been stuck in my head for the past 2 days lol 🤣

[@pennylee9115]

I think you could probably do a couple more weeks if you wanted to and no one complained. Your meatloaf is a lot like mine only I sauté the peppers and onions before adding to ground meat and I add a little dry mustard to the ketchup and brown sugar. I bet your next day sandwiches yummy!

[@hbkgirl1982]

I would love to see more videos like this!

[@marilynziesmer287]

You made a great week of meals. It pays to have a stocked pantry. ❤❤❤❤

[@sharonhall2277]

I grew up on frozen brussel sprouts didn't care much for them but of course we had to eat whatever was put on the table. In my older years I have found the fresh ones taste a heck of a lot better.

[@kathleenjorgensen8350]

Love meatloaf.cold sandwich next day,even cold,mayo, ketchup and pickles.yum.When I had a big freezer I would go through and use up the older stuff,and put the other food on bottom Amazing what you forget what you have.Freezer burn happens,tried my Best.I mark things with dates,even cans, keep me organized 😊💙

[@rickharks4515]

Hi Brooke this is Sue, love how your so real, especially with the freezers, that is one reason l went to a stand up one, so you can find things easier, love them.

[@shirleystrong2122]

Chef Brooke, you make everything fun! Great ideas! ❤❤❤❤.

[@GwenDeeful]

Love your pantry meals. It gives me ideas. Thanks

[@maryfreese280]

I love meatloaf sandwiches 😂😊

[@drawfire2]

Brooke, I grate the onion and pepper on the smallest side of box grater for my meatloaf. Gives the same flavor n kids didn't see peices of veggies. 😊 Love from Jefferson City

[@bthomas50]

Girl, you rock the throw together dinners.

[@KathyWaldner]

I love crock pot liners! Saves you from having to scrub out the crock pot.

[@jodidonaldson2923]

I LOVE cp liners! I get upset when I need 1 and I'm out. 😅. Currently orange chicken in cp now! 😋

[@gabriellemedeiros3161]

Brayden is your biggest fan !

[@sarahadkisson1653]

I love making tacos with fish sticks! A nice slaw on top!

[@LoveourLord24]

I love Long John Silvers!! Love the video

[@sallyapplegate4591]

You have an awesome pantry, freezer and deep freezer!!!! Good job on the dinners!!! 😊

[@Prancer0210]

I love your videos and you are so creative at cooking! You can put things together that nobody would think of; and it turns out amazing. God bless you and your family ❤

[@patbethea111]

Good ideas 👍

[@TheMtggrl]

And before you serve those brussels sprouts, drizzle a bit of pure maple syrup over them, absolutely steps the game up and they are delicious.

[@JeanBeech-gc4iw]

With my Brussels sprouts I boil them till really soft, drain well, then mash them up with butter. Beautiful.

[@lazarusgirl1]

Love meatloaf sandwiches.

[@patricecockrell4249]

You should try adding mustard to your meat loaf sauce

[@tncutt7369]

I love crockpot liners. Love these types of videos.

[@Zyxwvutsrq]

More of these pantry/freezer videos please!!!

[@tabethaw5144]

Day 5 was such a treat ❤️❤️

[@ednamyers5760]

LOL.. your so much fun... love your channel and the fantastic eats... thanks for sharing

[@Bellalovestoca-ug5yt]

Another great video. Just love your content. I love how fugal you are. I love how you show how picky younger son is in that not all kids like vegetables and how you can sneak veggies and sometimes 😊

[@shellyturner2766]

Good work, and thanks for reminding me I thawed out some little Smokies to use up for snacks!

[@adventurebythemile]

When I do Brussels sprouts I put them in a bowl add olive oil, garlic powder , onion, salt pepper, and honey. Then I can stomach them. I’m added bacon next time

[@holditch1]

A couple spoons of dijon mustard in place of the honey is really good, too.

[@coolbeans-plantbased707]

Also good with balsamic vinegar and bacon!

[@sunshinegriffin1129]

I'm so glad i found your channel. I'm making this with leftover taco meat. Im not wasting any food around here.

[@CherylBailey-o1q]

My late husband loved his potatoes like you fixed these. His family called them Soupy Potatoes oh my goodness they are delicious ❤