A restaurant about 2 miles from my house in North Mississippi is offering a $150.00 per couple Valentine "Deal". Not going to happen. I freaked and decided I would go with your video ideas. My husband has been diagnosed with cancer and I wanted to have a great date with him. NOT at $150. He prefers to stay home anyway. We will be having shrimp and salmon. I will be decorating with odds and ends from around the house to offer a more Date Night look. I cannot believe how much I have learned from your videos. Thank you!
Sorry to hear about your husband. My husband passed 5 months ago and some of our best Valentine dinners together were made at home. He was more of an introvert and wanted to stay home most of the time anyway. Not only that, but he wanted our children present as well. He said we were a family and we should celebrate together. Enjoy your special meal together!
I make them with Bisquick and Old Bay, and definately do garlic butter on the top once they come out. So yummy. I might use way more butter butter on top than the recipe calls for ;-)
Whenever I make the garlic shells, I add garlic powder while I'm cooking, and sprinkle in a generous amount of parmesan after plating. Adds tons of flavor!
To get a steak that thin closer to med rare, pop it in the freezer for 15 min, blot dry the outside, then fry in a hot pan. The colder inside gives the outside a chance to crust before it't overcooked.
Honestly, you are one of the most creative food creators on the tube. It is very impressive how you are able to come up with and execute these meals. Thank you for providing good content.
Coming back by to say thanks for the inspiration. As soon as I heard your Surf & Turf concept, i realized I had most of the ingredients already and it would save me hunting down another beef tenderloin. As senior citizens, we split a baked potato, split a beef tenderloin, used up some popcorn shrimp. I splurged on the Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix. Dessert is a riff on tiramisu using ingredients we had on hand. Great Valentine's Day dinner!
Thank you so much! We were not going to be able to go to dinner for Valentine's Day because it was not in the budget. I can definitely afford $20. I am going to surprise my husband now. Wow, just Wow!
Look at you, infusing the milk! I find that, the more i cook, the more I just naturally adapt smart techniques I've seen on tv etc. Masterful, literally!
I love that you share how we can have a delicious dinner on a budget and for someone who says it doesn’t taste like Red Lobster most of the time they can afford going out to that kind of dinner. It is about having decent and tasty meal that’s a bit of splurge but doesn’t break the bank and is still good tasting & quality. Thank you for working so hard to continue to bring us great meals at great prices and while you only allow salt pepper and oil many of us have items of spices or condiments already which allows to add even more!
Well done! We've been cooking Valentines Day dinner at home for years. It's cheaper but it's also less stress and more comfortable. We've usually done surf and turf too but this year we are going to make pizzas in our new pizza oven. ❤
if you have a spring form pan you could bake your cookie and thaw the icecream til very soft and add it on top of the cookie while it's still in the pan and freeze to make a icecream cookie 'cake'
To cook a 1/2 to 1 inch steak edibly rare to medium rare, heat lard or coconut oil in a skillet to high heat. Sear about 30 seconds to one minute on each side to get a good crust. Remove immediately and top with butter.
I love this video. I know you usually never make a recipe video where you assume anyone has anything but salt and oil in the pantry but have you ever made a video about cheap pantry staples from dollar stores one could build up?
Frugal Fit Mom has a couple videos about building a pantry with DT items, but I'd love to see Rebecca's take on it. And yes, I've seen flour and sugar, along with nearly every pantry basic, at DT.
@recoveringsoul755 Around the holidays, I have seen lots of baking staples i.e. sugar, baking soda, baking powder, brown sugar etc. One of the best baking finds I found at DT is a cinnamon sugar blend in the spices section. I have also found shredded coconut, chocolate chips, condensed milk and evaporated milk. Last fall I stocked up on canned pumpkin from DT for my pumpkin desserts.
This is such a great premise. I wanted to make an (affordable) valentine's meal for my small family of 3, and this is an option for sure! Thanks for sharing!
Red lobster is insanely pricey when you find out that 90% of what they serve is premade and in plastic..they just cut the bag open and heat unless it’s a market seafood catch or a steak. This looked infinitely better and so much cheaper.Salmon is an absolute fave around my house and we eat it once a week.But our dollar trees don’t carry food which is a shame !
Way back it might’ve been 2007 it was Christmas time and our traditional family meal was filet mignon. Times were tough and I didn’t think I could have afforded this. I was reading the local newspaper and saw that dollar tree had filet mignon for a dollar. I got up early and went to dollar tree and they had it! It was delicious and my family enjoyed it so much they kept asking me where I got it. I didn’t tell until 2 years later when at a random dinner I said dollar tree. They all looked at me and said what? I finally told them that Christmas I had gotten filet mignon at dollar tree. I don’t think anyone finished their dinner that night because we were all laughing so hard.
I really look forward to your videos. You are one smart lady. Thank you so much for sharing all of your wonderful meal ideas with us. 🥰 I used to be depressed having such a tiny food budget, but you have made it fun.
Happy Valentine's Day All, Rebecca you're doing so well I only have two notes. if a steak is a bit tough before you cook it you can "mechanically tenderize" it ... there's a tool with lots of sharp needles that does this job or you could just stab the steak over and over with sharp forks or a knife point. or you could pound it with a meat tenderizer...one of those bulky metal kitchen hammers with textured faces. For Lovey dovey day you could bake the cookie on a flat sheet and form it into a heart. 💖 we make little heart shaped cookies out of several cookie doughs. for Holidays, whenever I make cookies, I save a bit in the freezer so we can have a big variety to celebrate with. Wishing everyone the best Jim Mexico
@@DollarTreeDinners I can't beleive people lose their mind over that. It's just not a big deal. We have meals without veggies sometimes, especially with pasta dishes. We make a lot of one pot type meals over here. I often put veggies in whatever dish I am making, but with certain dishes, I just don't bother.
Wait, Dollar Tree has Steak, Shrimp, and Salmon???!! Whaaaaa... You did great, I would have cooked the steak and salmon a little less, but great tips, thanks!
Rebecca, I love your holiday meal ideas!!!! It was so much fun watching you shop and then cook; you make everything look delicious! Thank you for sharing your recipes!! You're the best!
Ohhh! I’ll keep my eyes open for frozen asparagus at the Dollar Tree near me! It’s my favorite vegetable, and I agree that it seems a little on the fancy side! Fun menu, easily customizable, and a nice treat for any special occasion.
At the Tree, and really any store, I try to get spice mixtures that don’t have salt because we already have salt at home so I feel like we’re getting more of the ingredient we want and need,
@aprilgranger4914 Unbelievably I find the pork 18:08 chops from Aldi to be the best, no kidding! The biggest factor with pork is to not over cook it! I know many people think they'll get sick or whatever so they overcook it to shoe leather, like my mil. Example, boneless PC take 30 mins or less in the oven, my Mil cooks them for 3 hours...🙄
@@aprilgranger4914Pork typically is higher fat, I always soak in buttermilk before patting it dry and seasoning. Take it out at 135 and then let it rest under foil…it’ll keep cooking and still be yummy.
I totally agree that asparagus feels fancy, I made it as one of my sides for Christmas. I love making cheddar biscuits from scratch. And that chocolatey dessert is always going to be a hit. We don't need to go out and gut our wallets for a good dinner, no siree.
I usually go all out, but this year husband gets a taste of making Valentines special on a budget. I'll be nice and send him this to help but otherwise he's on his own. I'll let you know what he does and include pictures. I would b3 happy with yours but would add a Walmart basic salad but it's warming up in Tulsa and I crave fresh veggies in spring. Happy Valentines Day y'all
I love watching your inexpensive meals. My son is a Valentine's Day baby. We used to be able to take him out to restaurants to celebrate. Now I can watch your videos and still have an expensive tasting meal for 4 people. Thank you so much ❤😊
Your just like me... adding spice to butter to add flavor... even Italian dried herbs that swell up with buttery flavor... just the little things... so cool.
That's a great amount of food for $20, and it definitely doesn't look like it came from dollar tree. I'd probably skip the steak and make an appetizer, but I'm not much of a steak eater to begin with. Everything looks great though!
You are the sweetest human on the planet. This is my new favorite content on UA-cam. I find grocery shopping meal planning and budgeting all extremely difficult I kind of just wish you were my sister wife lol.
Bisquick is a general mills product. General mills owned Red Lobster, not sure if they still do. More than likely their CHeddar Bay biscuits are made with a bisquik base.
I can tell you for sure the baking mix you can buy in the store is not the same as what is served in the restaurant I actually looked it up online because I could tell there was a big huge difference! I'm one of those foodie people! If I go to a restaurant and order shrimp and they don't take the poop vein out, I will never go back there and order shrimp ever again.
We don't go out for valentines or mothers day, the crowds are just too much. Your dinners are special without the $$$$$ prices. Thanks for all the thought that you put into these videos.
I appreciate the ideas here. We're seniors and have never really gone out for Valentine's Day. I had penciled in filet and baked potato but I've been hunting for a little more marked-down filet. However I do have popcorn shrimp in the freezer. And all the scratch ingredients for cheddar bay biscuits. My husband suggested tiramisu for dessert, which made me regret not grabbing the ladyfingers from the clearance rack last week. I know he'll be good with anything involving chocolate!
Since you have shrimp, you could make shrimp tacos or a shrimp alfredo. That would be a lovely meal. We don't go out for Valentine's either. I usually get my daughter a small gift, but I don't care at all about it. Neither does my hubbie.
Oh my god bestie!! I cant wait to spill tea! I was a general manager for dollar tree and worked red lobster for five years running the establishment... I got all the dirty details.. which store you want pie? I got you jack.. 🤔🤷🏼♀️🤣🤣🤣🤣👏👏👏👏
You are amazing! You remind me of my grandma and mother. IN A GOOD WAY! I am obsessed with our women cooks from our past and how they stretched a dollar but still had wonderful tasting meals. You give me the courage to try and do the same. Thank u!
You looked so pretty in this video! This looks like such a great meal, I can't wait to try it! Thanks for giving us so many great ideas & cooking tips. You have been such an inspiration!
I use those ribeyes to duplicate the steak sandwiches I got many years ago from a now-defunct local barbecue place (Bill's, for any Richmonders watching who may remember). One minute on a side is quite enough cooking for me due to their thinness. With mayo and chopped onion on a burger bun, it definitely gives me a gustatory trip down memory lane!
an alternative for the surf portion: that knorr alfredo pairs really well with shrimp. (especially after i copied your trick of decreasing the water. thank you for that.)
This is such a fun and creative dupe Red Lobster meal. I love the cheddar bay biscuits but the mix is super expensive so the DT mix you found is a great alternative. I rarely eat red meat but your salmon looked delish. Mmm. Another fun dessert idea for the cookies is to bake large cookies and make ice cream sandwiches. I would be all over that cookie skillet/ "pazookie." Yummmmm.
This was awesome. I found you on TikTok first and I follow you but I definitely love your UA-cam videos. I feel like I’m right there with you shopping and cooking. Thank you for doing this for us.
I do the cheddar bay biscuits, but I doctor them up a bit. After they are almost finished baking (maybe like a few mins until done), I melt butter and mix garlic salt, parm cheese (powder kind), and parsley together and coat the top of the biscuits. Bake another 2-3 mins. So yummy and adds a little extra flavor.
I make the biscuits with club soda, instead of the milk and add in extra cheese of your choice. It makes them very light and airy. While they are baking, I melt butter on the stove and mix in minced garlic fresh or from the jar and Italian seasoning to let your butter infuse with the flavors and the seasonings bloom. When the biscuits come out, baste them with a healthy portion of the butter. They end up being very close to Red Lobster!
I always read on the back of the packs of individually packaged fish to cook it from frozen, but I didn't know why. When I looked it up, I learned that you can get botulism if you thaw the fish out in the packets, but it is fine if you thaw them opened in the fridge. -Kryste
❤To get the true Cheddar Bay Biscuits, you need to use the Bisquicl Buttermilk biscuit mix--Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning-and the Cheddar cheese...PERFECTION
Hello! I really enjoy your videos. It’s clear that you plan and prepare well and put a lot of thought into your content. I appreciate the budget-friendly ideas!
A bunch of chemicals, meat, glue, pesticides, and who knows how the farm raised fish were kept, what their environment looked like, is not a quality meal. It might look like one, but it is filled with a bunch of carcinogens and chemicals!
Nice Video.. Next time put the steak & fish and the veggies, One by one of course, IN THE AIR FRYER!! IT'S MUCH BETTER FORR YOU AND LESS TIME IN THE KITCHEN. AND TAKE THE COOKIES AND SQUARE THE UP 🔪 PLATE 🍽 THEM, THENN ADD THE ICE CREAM ON TOP AND SOME CHOCOLATE OR CARMEL SAUCE DRIZZLED ACROSS. SET A TABLE, AND BOOM 💥 👌 BECAUSE YESSS.. PRESENTATION ISSS THE KEY!! 😉🤗
I made a version of the cheddar bay biscuits and what made them incredible was a dash or two of smoked paprika. Not sure if that’s at dollar tree. I have a ton of it cuz my mom got a big bunch of it at her local pantry so she gave me some and I’ve been experimenting with using it and it really made a difference in the biscuits. Can’t wait to make them again. I also used fresh parsley in them cuz I love parsley. Your biscuits look amazing. I’ve never had their biscuits so have no idea if mine are as good as theirs but I thought mine were hard to beat. Snd I make mine from scratch, self rising flour and buttermilk and butter. Then add garlic and cheddar and the above mentioned seasoning. Did not realize dollar tree has rib eye steak. Have to check that out. Thanks for the inspiration
Shoot Rebecca, a dozen biscuits from Red Lobster is very close in price to what you spent on an entire meal and dessert. You are truly an inspiration to me sharing your videos and recipes. I'm single, live alone and only work part time. No other income coming in so I most certainly appreciate you and your help. Thank you for sharing your recipes, ideas and budget planning.
This is so cool and cozy. Kudos to you for creating a special Valentine's Day meal and dessert. This is the kind of stuff I'd appreciate way more. Also nice not to give into the pressures of consumerism.
Thank you Rebecca. I love your dinner ideas and I am going to be looking for the salmon at my Dollar Tree. Your video is the highlight of my day, I look forward to the notification bell every time.v❤
Rebecca, I'm going to make this meal for myself this year. I used to be a vegetarian but because of some health issues I had to go back to eating meat. That is a really awkward transition when for the longest time I had a hard time with it. I'm learning a lot from you about preparation. TYSM! and Happy V-Day friend! 🤍
A restaurant about 2 miles from my house in North Mississippi is offering a $150.00 per couple Valentine "Deal". Not going to happen. I freaked and decided I would go with your video ideas. My husband has been diagnosed with cancer and I wanted to have a great date with him. NOT at $150. He prefers to stay home anyway. We will be having shrimp and salmon. I will be decorating with odds and ends from around the house to offer a more Date Night look. I cannot believe how much I have learned from your videos. Thank you!
I wish you and your husband a lovely Valentines day! I hope he gets better soon. Best wishes to you and your family ❤
Sorry to hear about your husband. My husband passed 5 months ago and some of our best Valentine dinners together were made at home. He was more of an introvert and wanted to stay home most of the time anyway. Not only that, but he wanted our children present as well. He said we were a family and we should celebrate together. Enjoy your special meal together!
@nancy Good plan and best wishes for your husband and his health and your caretaking of him. 💕
Thats sounds WONDERFUL!!!! and alot more enjoyable!!!!💝💘💝💘 Happy Valentines to you both!!!!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🌹🌹🌹
Prayers for your husband and family, during this difficult time.
Dollar Tree should give you your products. You are the best advertising they've got going!!
❤ I agree. She.is great
I waited tables at Red Lobster for a few years, long ago.
Brush the biscuits with butter with the come out of the oven.
I make them with Bisquick and Old Bay, and definately do garlic butter on the top once they come out. So yummy. I might use way more butter butter on top than the recipe calls for ;-)
Do they have a little bit of garlic salt on them too? I always feel like I taste a hint of salt...
@@StormTrackerWVyep. It’s garlic butter that they brush on top
@@Djtanner839 Thanks for the info! I think that pushes them over the edge, something subtle that makes them extra good! 😊
Whenever I make the garlic shells, I add garlic powder while I'm cooking, and sprinkle in a generous amount of parmesan after plating. Adds tons of flavor!
To get a steak that thin closer to med rare, pop it in the freezer for 15 min, blot dry the outside, then fry in a hot pan. The colder inside gives the outside a chance to crust before it't overcooked.
Ooooo haven't heard this! Good to know!
Thanks for this tip! I would also put steak sauce (also at Dollar Tree) on mine and you're right the alfredo noodles would've paired better.
Honestly, you are one of the most creative food creators on the tube. It is very impressive how you are able to come up with and execute these meals. Thank you for providing good content.
Great video! If a person had another $1.25 they could even add a soup as an appetizer.
Yes ! Clam chowder.
This lady is cool AF. Never knew you could cook good meals from DT.
She is, love her ideas❤
“Good” is a matter of perspective
Sure you can
Coming back by to say thanks for the inspiration. As soon as I heard your Surf & Turf concept, i realized I had most of the ingredients already and it would save me hunting down another beef tenderloin. As senior citizens, we split a baked potato, split a beef tenderloin, used up some popcorn shrimp. I splurged on the Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix. Dessert is a riff on tiramisu using ingredients we had on hand. Great Valentine's Day dinner!
I’m so glad it gave you some fun ideas with ingredients you already have! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Thank you so much! We were not going to be able to go to dinner for Valentine's Day because it was not in the budget. I can definitely afford $20. I am going to surprise my husband now. Wow, just Wow!
Glad I could help! and I hope you enjoy!
Can I ask how it turned out and if he was surprised?! I'm super curious lol
@@kittycattkk6722I think you knew the answer to that 😂
Look at you, infusing the milk! I find that, the more i cook, the more I just naturally adapt smart techniques I've seen on tv etc. Masterful, literally!
I love that you share how we can have a delicious dinner on a budget and for someone who says it doesn’t taste like Red Lobster most of the time they can afford going out to that kind of dinner. It is about having decent and tasty meal that’s a bit of splurge but doesn’t break the bank and is still good tasting & quality. Thank you for working so hard to continue to bring us great meals at great prices and while you only allow salt pepper and oil many of us have items of spices or condiments already which allows to add even more!
Well done! We've been cooking Valentines Day dinner at home for years. It's cheaper but it's also less stress and more comfortable. We've usually done surf and turf too but this year we are going to make pizzas in our new pizza oven. ❤
Awww! You could even make them in the shape of a heart
Yum. I would love a pizza oven. Love how crispy the dough gets mmm.
if you have a spring form pan you could bake your cookie and thaw the icecream til very soft and add it on top of the cookie while it's still in the pan and freeze to make a icecream cookie 'cake'
I love that! I want to try that
That is great idea. My husband would love it. Also encourage. My 27 year son and my granddaughter. To stop by and visit.
To cook a 1/2 to 1 inch steak edibly rare to medium rare, heat lard or coconut oil in a skillet to high heat. Sear about 30 seconds to one minute on each side to get a good crust. Remove immediately and top with butter.
I love this video. I know you usually never make a recipe video where you assume anyone has anything but salt and oil in the pantry but have you ever made a video about cheap pantry staples from dollar stores one could build up?
Yes just spices and staples like that would be welcome. Do they sell flour? Sugar?
Frugal Fit Mom has a couple videos about building a pantry with DT items, but I'd love to see Rebecca's take on it. And yes, I've seen flour and sugar, along with nearly every pantry basic, at DT.
@@rivahcat8247 thank you
@recoveringsoul755 Around the holidays, I have seen lots of baking staples i.e. sugar, baking soda, baking powder, brown sugar etc. One of the best baking finds I found at DT is a cinnamon sugar blend in the spices section. I have also found shredded coconut, chocolate chips, condensed milk and evaporated milk. Last fall I stocked up on canned pumpkin from DT for my pumpkin desserts.
Yesss they have good spices and dry herbs, baking powder, cocoa powder, brown sugar, flour, cake mixes and frostings seriously they have it all
This is such a great premise. I wanted to make an (affordable) valentine's meal for my small family of 3, and this is an option for sure! Thanks for sharing!
Love the 'take us along for the shopping' idea. Even if it didn't go perfectly I appreciate showing us the buying process. Amazing videos thank you 💯
Red lobster is insanely pricey when you find out that 90% of what they serve is premade and in plastic..they just cut the bag open and heat unless it’s a market seafood catch or a steak. This looked infinitely better and so much cheaper.Salmon is an absolute fave around my house and we eat it once a week.But our dollar trees don’t carry food which is a shame !
That’s not true about Red Lobster. Aside from a few frozen things that get deep fried, nothing is heat and serve.
I get a bag of salmon at the grocery store and it’s about 20 bucks to keep on hand
Red Lobster is not quality. It looks and tastes not great. Spent 100.00 on lunch for 2. ..it was not impressive.
@@1981lackadaisy My nephew works there…and I once was the recipient of a corner of a blue plastic bag in my alfredo. Much is heat and serve…
Every chain restaurant is heat and serve
It just has to be you and the one you love. And your pride in wanting to please is worth so much more than any restaurant. ❤
Way back it might’ve been 2007 it was Christmas time and our traditional family meal was filet mignon. Times were tough and I didn’t think I could have afforded this. I was reading the local newspaper and saw that dollar tree had filet mignon for a dollar. I got up early and went to dollar tree and they had it!
It was delicious and my family enjoyed it so much they kept asking me where I got it. I didn’t tell until 2 years later when at a random dinner I said dollar tree. They all looked at me and said what? I finally told them that Christmas I had gotten filet mignon at dollar tree. I don’t think anyone finished their dinner that night because we were all laughing so hard.
I cook those biscuits in the waffle maker. They are so good and my kids love to snack on them.
Thanx for the tip, biscuit waffles for me
I use the jiffy cornbread adding a couple teaspoons of honey to the batter. We like the edges crunchy. Break waffle into quarters.
@@susieramick7202 I bet those are good!
Trying this TONIGHT!!!! 😂
I really look forward to your videos. You are one smart lady. Thank you so much for sharing all of your wonderful meal ideas with us. 🥰 I used to be depressed having such a tiny food budget, but you have made it fun.
Its better than going out. Because you made it with love. And you dont have the staff trying to hurry you out to seat the next couple.
And you don't have to tip.
@@evalynnchristiansen9430well at least you know that you have to tip.
Happy Valentine's Day All, Rebecca you're doing so well I only have two notes. if a steak is a bit tough before you cook it you can "mechanically tenderize" it ... there's a tool with lots of sharp needles that does this job or you could just stab the steak over and over with sharp forks or a knife point. or you could pound it with a meat tenderizer...one of those bulky metal kitchen hammers with textured faces.
For Lovey dovey day you could bake the cookie on a flat sheet and form it into a heart. 💖 we make little heart shaped cookies out of several cookie doughs. for Holidays, whenever I make cookies, I save a bit in the freezer so we can have a big variety to celebrate with.
Wishing everyone the best Jim Mexico
I truly laughed out loud when you said or don't have any vegetables at all I'm not going to judge you! LOL
being completely honest, sometimes I only include a vegetable so people on the internet don't lose their minds
@@DollarTreeDinners I can't beleive people lose their mind over that. It's just not a big deal. We have meals without veggies sometimes, especially with pasta dishes. We make a lot of one pot type meals over here. I often put veggies in whatever dish I am making, but with certain dishes, I just don't bother.
Girl, people are nuts! Just ignore them! You do you! Which is fabulous!!! ❤
@@DollarTreeDinnersI thought you bought asparagus.
@@DollarTreeDinners😂😂😂😂😊
Loved this video. Could you do more dollar tree crockpot recipes? I saw you had one sitting on the counter behind you
omg zach is here
When I used to fix red lobster biscuits I added a tsp of chicken bouillon
I love watching you and getting ideas. You are a beautiful young lady
Thank you so much!
Wait, Dollar Tree has Steak, Shrimp, and Salmon???!! Whaaaaa... You did great, I would have cooked the steak and salmon a little less, but great tips, thanks!
A trick I use for my pots when boiling, I rest a wooden spoon or spatula across the top and it stops it from boiling over.
Another great budget meal. Looks fantastic. I am so glad to have someone like you to demonstrate that less expensive food doesn't have to be boring.
Rebecca, I love your holiday meal ideas!!!! It was so much fun watching you shop and then cook; you make everything look delicious! Thank you for sharing your recipes!! You're the best!
Ohhh! I’ll keep my eyes open for frozen asparagus at the Dollar Tree near me! It’s my favorite vegetable, and I agree that it seems a little on the fancy side! Fun menu, easily customizable, and a nice treat for any special occasion.
I am so amazed and impressed with the recipes you come up with and your content. I'm so glad I subscribed...you're amazing!
Such great ideas! You really knocked it out of the park again. Thanks!
At the Tree, and really any store, I try to get spice mixtures that don’t have salt because we already have salt at home so I feel like we’re getting more of the ingredient we want and need,
If you soak your steak in milk for a few hours you will find it breaks up the Grizzle and tenderizes the meat just enough milk to cover
Does that work on pork chops as well? I just can’t ever get my chops to be tender.
@aprilgranger4914 Unbelievably I find the pork 18:08 chops from Aldi to be the best, no kidding! The biggest factor with pork is to not over cook it! I know many people think they'll get sick or whatever so they overcook it to shoe leather, like my mil. Example, boneless PC take 30 mins or less in the oven, my Mil cooks them for 3 hours...🙄
@@aprilgranger4914Pork typically is higher fat, I always soak in buttermilk before patting it dry and seasoning. Take it out at 135 and then let it rest under foil…it’ll keep cooking and still be yummy.
@@aprilgranger4914 use a slow cooker with beef broth
Bots
I totally agree that asparagus feels fancy, I made it as one of my sides for Christmas. I love making cheddar biscuits from scratch. And that chocolatey dessert is always going to be a hit. We don't need to go out and gut our wallets for a good dinner, no siree.
I usually go all out, but this year husband gets a taste of making Valentines special on a budget. I'll be nice and send him this to help but otherwise he's on his own. I'll let you know what he does and include pictures. I would b3 happy with yours but would add a Walmart basic salad but it's warming up in Tulsa and I crave fresh veggies in spring. Happy Valentines Day y'all
I have actually bought Red Lobster branded mix at Dollar Tree before. They are pretty well the same as they sell at Red Lobster.
Same and I agree
Smart! Always good to assemble a quality meal using clever sources. A $20 surf ‘n’ turf dinner is a perfect challenge!
What a great meal idea! Your plating really adds a touch of elegance. Great job. Thank you for sharing.
I love watching your inexpensive meals. My son is a Valentine's Day baby. We used to be able to take him out to restaurants to celebrate. Now I can watch your videos and still have an expensive tasting meal for 4 people. Thank you so much ❤😊
Your just like me... adding spice to butter to add flavor... even Italian dried herbs that swell up with buttery flavor... just the little things... so cool.
Looks scrumptious! I love your channel! You are so real, honest and personable. Look forward to each episode! All the best!
That's a great amount of food for $20, and it definitely doesn't look like it came from dollar tree. I'd probably skip the steak and make an appetizer, but I'm not much of a steak eater to begin with. Everything looks great though!
You are the BEST to listen to. So calm, so simple.❤
You are the sweetest human on the planet. This is my new favorite content on UA-cam. I find grocery shopping meal planning and budgeting all extremely difficult I kind of just wish you were my sister wife lol.
Another possible side would be a mashed potato. If you are able to bake it to add a browning and crispness on the top.
Ooo. You could even do a loaded baked potato mashed potato and brown it a bit under the broiler.
Cheddar mashed potatoes are so easy & inexpensive too
I know it's awkward to film in public but I love to see your thought process and planning. I love your videos and ideas all around!
I’m scared of the meat at dollar tree
Dont be it's good
Its better than thr open meat delis with flies all over the place😂
Bisquick is a general mills product. General mills owned Red Lobster, not sure if they still do. More than likely their CHeddar Bay biscuits are made with a bisquik base.
I can tell you for sure the baking mix you can buy in the store is not the same as what is served in the restaurant I actually looked it up online because I could tell there was a big huge difference! I'm one of those foodie people! If I go to a restaurant and order shrimp and they don't take the poop vein out, I will never go back there and order shrimp ever again.
We don't go out for valentines or mothers day, the crowds are just too much. Your dinners are special without the $$$$$ prices. Thanks for all the thought that you put into these videos.
I appreciate the ideas here. We're seniors and have never really gone out for Valentine's Day. I had penciled in filet and baked potato but I've been hunting for a little more marked-down filet. However I do have popcorn shrimp in the freezer. And all the scratch ingredients for cheddar bay biscuits. My husband suggested tiramisu for dessert, which made me regret not grabbing the ladyfingers from the clearance rack last week. I know he'll be good with anything involving chocolate!
Since you have shrimp, you could make shrimp tacos or a shrimp alfredo. That would be a lovely meal. We don't go out for Valentine's either. I usually get my daughter a small gift, but I don't care at all about it. Neither does my hubbie.
Maybe Ole bay seasoning, like what they use in crab cakes? Possibly some grated parmesian cheese and a touch of parsley seasoning.
Oh my god bestie!! I cant wait to spill tea! I was a general manager for dollar tree and worked red lobster for five years running the establishment... I got all the dirty details.. which store you want pie? I got you jack.. 🤔🤷🏼♀️🤣🤣🤣🤣👏👏👏👏
You are amazing! You remind me of my grandma and mother. IN A GOOD WAY! I am obsessed with our women cooks from our past and how they stretched a dollar but still had wonderful tasting meals. You give me the courage to try and do the same. Thank u!
She's not the hero we deserved but the hero we needed.
I'm loving all of the recent uploads! I'm so excited when I see a new video from you. Keep up the good work. 😊
Yay! Thank you! I’m trying to be on a Tuesday/Friday upload schedule but we will see because I am terrible at staying on track haha
You looked so pretty in this video! This looks like such a great meal, I can't wait to try it! Thanks for giving us so many great ideas & cooking tips. You have been such an inspiration!
I use those ribeyes to duplicate the steak sandwiches I got many years ago from a now-defunct local barbecue place (Bill's, for any Richmonders watching who may remember). One minute on a side is quite enough cooking for me due to their thinness. With mayo and chopped onion on a burger bun, it definitely gives me a gustatory trip down memory lane!
Thanks for the ideas! Loved all of it but esp the cookie skillet!
If only my local DollarTrees had the stock yours does. Really nice looking meal.
Excellent video. You demonstrate a delicious meal that is economical.
Great job! I use the garlic herb seasoning on just about anything I cook! It is the best👍🏻
Thanks for sharing!
an alternative for the surf portion: that knorr alfredo pairs really well with shrimp.
(especially after i copied your trick of decreasing the water. thank you for that.)
You did a fantastic job with this special dinner.
Those cheese biscuits are the best. I add1/8 tsp of cayenne
Thank you so much!!! I love my dollar tree. Shopping there is like a fun holiday. I never know what I'll find🎉😊
This is such a fun and creative dupe Red Lobster meal. I love the cheddar bay biscuits but the mix is super expensive so the DT mix you found is a great alternative. I rarely eat red meat but your salmon looked delish. Mmm. Another fun dessert idea for the cookies is to bake large cookies and make ice cream sandwiches. I would be all over that cookie skillet/ "pazookie." Yummmmm.
You did awesome Rebecca 👌 I can't wait to try this dinner. You've really given budget dinner a new look.
A new Dollar Tree opening in my area. Glad to see it here.
This was awesome. I found you on TikTok first and I follow you but I definitely love your UA-cam videos. I feel like I’m right there with you shopping and cooking. Thank you for doing this for us.
I do the cheddar bay biscuits, but I doctor them up a bit. After they are almost finished baking (maybe like a few mins until done), I melt butter and mix garlic salt, parm cheese (powder kind), and parsley together and coat the top of the biscuits. Bake another 2-3 mins. So yummy and adds a little extra flavor.
I make the biscuits with club soda, instead of the milk and add in extra cheese of your choice. It makes them very light and airy. While they are baking, I melt butter on the stove and mix in minced garlic fresh or from the jar and Italian seasoning to let your butter infuse with the flavors and the seasonings bloom. When the biscuits come out, baste them with a healthy portion of the butter. They end up being very close to Red Lobster!
I always read on the back of the packs of individually packaged fish to cook it from frozen, but I didn't know why. When I looked it up, I learned that you can get botulism if you thaw the fish out in the packets, but it is fine if you thaw them opened in the fridge. -Kryste
Thank you for all rhe tips. Going tomorrow or when this wind quiets down.
Here in Central Illinois we have had strong winds fog and ice at various times lately.
The meal looks delicious. I guess Dracula won't be coming to this dinner. 🤣
❤To get the true Cheddar Bay Biscuits, you need to use the Bisquicl Buttermilk biscuit mix--Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning-and the Cheddar cheese...PERFECTION
this couldn't have come out at a better time. thanks for all the work you do. i really appreciate it
Hello!
I really enjoy your videos. It’s clear that you plan and prepare well and put a lot of thought into your content. I appreciate the budget-friendly ideas!
What an awesome Idea. A quality meal is definitely possible of a cheap budget. Thank you for making this video!!!!
A bunch of chemicals, meat, glue, pesticides, and who knows how the farm raised fish were kept, what their environment looked like, is not a quality meal. It might look like one, but it is filled with a bunch of carcinogens and chemicals!
Nice Video.. Next time put the steak & fish and the veggies, One by one of course, IN THE AIR FRYER!! IT'S MUCH BETTER FORR YOU AND LESS TIME IN THE KITCHEN. AND TAKE THE COOKIES AND SQUARE THE UP 🔪 PLATE 🍽 THEM, THENN ADD THE ICE CREAM ON TOP AND SOME CHOCOLATE OR CARMEL SAUCE DRIZZLED ACROSS. SET A TABLE, AND BOOM 💥 👌 BECAUSE YESSS.. PRESENTATION ISSS THE KEY!! 😉🤗
Beautiful job! It looks yummy!❤
A bit of a steak tip. The steak that small can be cooked 1 min per side to get medium rare if the pan is hot enough.❤
I made a version of the cheddar bay biscuits and what made them incredible was a dash or two of smoked paprika. Not sure if that’s at dollar tree. I have a ton of it cuz my mom got a big bunch of it at her local pantry so she gave me some and I’ve been experimenting with using it and it really made a difference in the biscuits. Can’t wait to make them again. I also used fresh parsley in them cuz I love parsley. Your biscuits look amazing. I’ve never had their biscuits so have no idea if mine are as good as theirs but I thought mine were hard to beat. Snd I make mine from scratch, self rising flour and buttermilk and butter. Then add garlic and cheddar and the above mentioned seasoning. Did not realize dollar tree has rib eye steak. Have to check that out. Thanks for the inspiration
I just recently found your channel and I love it!! Thank you for all the awesome Dollar Tree (and other store) meal ideas!! 🫶🏻
Shoot Rebecca, a dozen biscuits from Red Lobster is very close in price to what you spent on an entire meal and dessert. You are truly an inspiration to me sharing your videos and recipes. I'm single, live alone and only work part time. No other income coming in so I most certainly appreciate you and your help. Thank you for sharing your recipes, ideas and budget planning.
This is so cool and cozy. Kudos to you for creating a special Valentine's Day meal and dessert. This is the kind of stuff I'd appreciate way more. Also nice not to give into the pressures of consumerism.
This is wonderful 🎉
I love to 'dress up' dishes when I am preparing them 😃
It's fun and you get a great meal in the end!
Thank you Rebecca. I love your dinner ideas and I am going to be looking for the salmon at my Dollar Tree. Your video is the highlight of my day, I look forward to the notification bell every time.v❤
You are so welcome! and that makes me so happy, thank you Patricia!
Its more about who you are having dinner with that how much you spend .The effort counts.Great video as always .Happy Valentines Day
Rebecca, I'm going to make this meal for myself this year. I used to be a vegetarian but because of some health issues I had to go back to eating meat. That is a really awkward transition when for the longest time I had a hard time with it. I'm learning a lot from you about preparation. TYSM! and Happy V-Day friend! 🤍
Fantastic. Very impressed.. Thanks for sharing
I love this dinner you made, none of the Dollar tree stores around me have the refrigerator section. Only dry goods.
Rebecca, if you find the Susquehanna Valley pasta sauces at your Dollar Tree you HAVE to try them. All three varieties are excellent. I was floored.
I find your voice and your videos SOO relaxing. (And of course, helpful!).
Thank you. ❤
Great tip on rehydrating the garlic seasoning with the milk. Thanks for all the helpful videos.
Enjoying life with what you have so wonderful! Creative and yummy!
Great job!!!! Thank you Rebecca for sharing your budget friendly ideas!!! I’m definitely going to recreate this meal!!!