Thank You SO much for these videos! Not only are they budget friendly, but they are meals that kids and teens ( AND PICKY HUSBANDS) will actually eat! Nothing fancy and extravagant, just REAL meals that a busy mom can throw together. Thank you for that!!!
Yes! I've commented this before. My favorite thing about Mindy's videos is how great the recipes are. Not a bunch of weird stuff that kids and families don't really eat.
I struggle so much with making meals because of my picky husband and little girls. My teen son will east anything I make as long as it's not oatmeal. ( I get away with muffins and cookies thought with oats)
For potato soup, I usually use instant mash for a thickener if it's thinner than I want. More potato flavor & I almost always have instant mash on hand 👌
I remember seeing "Clue" at the local theater when I was a small child. Every theater showed only one ending, so a (potentially) different ending depending on the theater. I didn't get to see all three endings until I watched it on DVD many years later. It is also one of my favorite movies. So campy and cute!
This format is so cool! I’ve never seen anyone actually do variations like this. Some people mention them verbally, but I love the visual of all the ingredients and having them swapped. Awesome! My movie is for sure 1) My Big Fat Greek Wedding OR 2) Devil Wear’s Prada!😂
Watched a video where the person bought flour/yeast to make bread because the loafs of bread were 1.37. (She made 13 loafs at home cost of 40 cents each.) while she was in the store I was telling my hubby” why does she go to the discount rack, they alway have cheap reduced price loafs” …. AND YOU DID JUST THAT. Lol
Loving these videos--great ideas! We fed a family of 13 for years (now down to 8, but most are working and going different directions at mealtimes). Most of our "go-to" dinners were between 10-15 dollars for everyone. And about once a week leftovers would become a soup or casserole that could never be replicated! My deal with the kids was if we had soup or leftovers, I would make dessert. This was also a way to get more nutrition into them--whole wheat cookies, pudding (using up a bunch if milk that was about to expire because for some reason they weren't eating cold cereal that week), or pumpkin, apple, or banana cake (use mashed or pureed fruit in place of oil and water when you are making a cake mix.)
Brittany, I have an amazing editor who does the heavy lifting. I send her the clips and my “vision” and she works her magic. I’m so glad because it gives me more time to plan and film videos now. :)
We've been making the green bean, potato, and sausage crockpot meal for years as a budget friendly idea. My kids affectionately refer to it as "slop". LOL!
Just so y’all know… plain oatmeal with your favorite jelly or jam or fruit preserves or whatever is FANTASTIC!!! A little butter makes it creamy too!!!😊
I grew up with sausage, green beans, and potatoes. I used to buy a bag of red potatoes but it was too much. Now I buy the little container you find in the produce section. It comes with a seasoning packet! If you don’t slice the sausage, it’s basically a dump and go recipe.
My dad used to make a very similar dish to your dinner: fry the sausage slices in a pan with a high rim, pour the beans on top, season with salt, pepper and dried savory, cover everything with thinly sliced potatoes (also seasoned). Sprinkle a good amount of pepper and savory on top, cover with a lid and let it simmer for about 40-50 minutes. It is one of my favorite childhood dishes.
I loved your Clue movie idea for your alternate recipes ! So cute ! And yes I love that movie too !!!! Your food always looks so good - good home cooking that is easy and so comforting !!! thank you Mindy for all your fabulous recipes !
Kindred spirits - I’m a retired high school art teacher - loved teenagers - also owned 3 restaurants. I was a baker more than a cook. Love all your videos even though there are now only 2 of us. My daughter-in-law is from Romania and you would love to watch her cook, never by a recipe but always making the presentation beautiful. I digress, love to see what you are buying to save $ these days. I’m a big fan.
Absolutely LOVED how you worked this video. Clue 🕵️ one of my all time FAVORITE movies! Between this and Ferris Bueller’s Day off, Troop Beverly Hills, I truly could go on! They way you showed different options, still kind of staying within price point, was awesome. I also, can’t tell you how much I enjoy when you say “ I added fresh garlic and some onion, If you don’t have that, don’t worry, this can still work use what you have etc” Another fabulous video Mindy! 🥰
A) I love Clue. It started my love for Tim Curry. B) I LOVE this style of video and the way you thought through simple swaps for different options. If it wasn't a totally hard video to make, I'd love to see more like it!
I love the Clue style alternate endings! Such a fun and inspiring way to share this info! That's one of my favorite movies of all time. Another one I could watch again and again is The Princess Bride.
Clue is literally a family favorite movie through my childhood and my family. Love that this went with the different endings just like the movie. Glad no one stabbed the cook ;) Our family loves potatoes and eats them multiple times a week. We are down to the last 7 in the house and it is a worry!! Super funny way to do the video and great recipes as always.
I just love your videos Mindy! Giving us different ideas on how to swap out ingredients is so helpful. Especially because a few of those dishes use just basic items that we may already have on hand. Thank you so much!
Thanks! I have an amazing editor who also finds humor in places I didn’t even intend it. :) I noticed the way she included that in the edit for a laugh.
Mondays are good when Mindy has a video 🤣. I love the swap outs! I just tried coming up with a $15 meal plan for my local frugal group- these are fantastic ideas- I can not wait to share the video. I check our Walmart discount bread rack- I am always impressed that you have such cheaper prices on their discount breads, I end up scouring the other grocery stores for the discount breads instead. Thanks again for posting these recipes- they are always so supportive, creative and inspirational 😊. You and Frugal Fit Mom and Mandy in the Making are by far my favorite budget and cooking videos. You all put so much work into them and they are so helpful!
I actually went grocery shopping at Walmart for literally the first time in years and was really pleased with what I got for the price. I usually always shopped at HEB but generally they tend to be a bit more pricey especially if they aren’t having good sales. I’m definitely going to be utilizing Walmart a little more when I’m shopping. Thanks for the great video. 😊
A quick meal that my picky eater LOVES is those knorr chicken and broccoli pasta sides with andouille sausage. I get 2 of the knorr packets, quarter up 1/2 of a link of the sausage ( I can save the other half for another meal) and cook. Serve with green beans and voila!
I cook sausage, potatoes and green beans in chicken broth using my Instant Pot quite often. Only thick oatmeal is acceptable in our household, I buy bags of extra thick oatmeal because it has wonderful texture and is a real treat served with a pat of salted butter, a splash of cream and a drizzle of maple syrup.
One of my favorite go-to dinners that can be as budget-friendly as you need it to be is a baked potato bar. We can do really simple, with just a little butter, cheese, and ranch-infused sour cream and serve with some fresh veggies on the side--or I'll bring out different ingredients to change it up, like fried ham or bacon, steamed broccoli, chili--I've even used leftover taco meat. It's also a great way to clean out leftovers (like the taco meat) and to let everyone kind of do whatever they like best on their potato. It's super nice because you can cook those potatoes in an Instant Pot.
I’ve been making the sausage dinner at least once a week for like a month now! How funny is that!?! I do it a tad different though. After I cook up the sausage and tomatoes in a skillet I make a rue with a little butter and flour in the middle of the pan, and then add my stock with some parm cheese and let the stock cook down until I have a creamy/cheesy kind of sauce. So good!
Love this! I've followed your budget meals one week and it was a winner! Found great simple recipes! I use them often! Please keep this going it is brilliant! Ok my movies are 1) Jaws I've seen this hundreds of times at this point! 2) Romancing the Stone!
I love your budget meal ideas! It’s so good to know that there are still options on a tight budget. I’m doing an extreme grocery budget challenge for my family to help save some money and it’s definitely been challenging, but I know it’ll be worth it!
Having baby #2 in November. I usually just get a meal subscription box like Hello Fresh and EveryPlate. That’s never been an issue for my husband, daughter and I. But now with having to pay for daycare for two kids, I feel like I need more budget friendly cooking habits. This is my first video of yours and I’m loving you already.
For thickening my potato soup I use a handful or 2 of instant potato flakes. Plain, sour cream, 3 or 4 cheese, butter........ so many options to change the flavor of your soup.
Thanks for the inspiration. I made cinnamon rolls without the dairy, a super tart Granny Smith apple, small amount of brown sugar, some vanilla extract, and a couple of leftover oatmeal raisin cookies.
Such great ideas and love all the different examples you gave with easy, every day ingredients. Love the Clue reference!!! Still my fav board game to play!
Mindy - I love choose your own adventure and wrote my own version as a child :). This was one of your most fun and informative videos yet. I love the HF smoked sausage for 2.98 w/onions, pineapple and brown sugar, green peppers over rice.
You are not alone on the crock pot collection! At last count I have 11! My kids think I'm crazy! Love your videos as they always give me inspiration for new things to feed my family!
Long-time Mindy watcher, first time commenter! I always look forward to your new videos and especially have started re-watching old favorites and excitedly waiting for new ones because I'm planning a buy-nothing challenge next month with my spouse. I tried your potato and sausage soup tonight for dinner and it was a unanimous winner!!! Thank you so much for all you do. You are a genius!
I always recommend your channel when I see others on other channels comment on having no clue what to make, budget friendly, easy, crockpot, etc type meals.
I am meal prepping this week with some of your meals. I've never done anything like thjs but you make me feel like I can and i desperately need to. With full-time work, kids appts, my own, and every other thing....there's no time! I'm going to give it a go this weekend and see how it goes!!!! Pray for me 😂
I also love the movie Clue! I love that you applied the alternate food choices just like the alternate endings. Lol! The meals all look and sound delicious. I've made your sausage & green bean recipe before and it was a hit and so simple to make. Thanks for another great video Mindy!
Big Business with Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin. I absolutely love this movie! I’ve probably seen it 200 hundred times!
Thank You SO much for these videos! Not only are they budget friendly, but they are meals that kids and teens ( AND PICKY HUSBANDS) will actually eat! Nothing fancy and extravagant, just REAL meals that a busy mom can throw together. Thank you for that!!!
Thank you, I really appreciate that. “Realistic” is one of my channel goals when I’m planning content. :)
Yes! I've commented this before. My favorite thing about Mindy's videos is how great the recipes are. Not a bunch of weird stuff that kids and families don't really eat.
I struggle so much with making meals because of my picky husband and little girls. My teen son will east anything I make as long as it's not oatmeal. ( I get away with muffins and cookies thought with oats)
Movie for me: Ever After: A Cinderella Story, with Drew Barrymore 💜
Yessss!!!!
For potato soup, I usually use instant mash for a thickener if it's thinner than I want. More potato flavor & I almost always have instant mash on hand 👌
Me too!!
The Clue tie in with the theme/editing is so fun
Thanks!
I really love the 'alternate' recipes and Clue theme in this video, its super fun and creative!
Thank you!
I remember seeing "Clue" at the local theater when I was a small child. Every theater showed only one ending, so a (potentially) different ending depending on the theater. I didn't get to see all three endings until I watched it on DVD many years later. It is also one of my favorite movies. So campy and cute!
This format is so cool! I’ve never seen anyone actually do variations like this. Some people mention them verbally, but I love the visual of all the ingredients and having them swapped.
Awesome!
My movie is for sure 1) My Big Fat Greek Wedding OR 2) Devil Wear’s Prada!😂
Thanks, Alexis! I also like both of those movies!
Watched a video where the person bought flour/yeast to make bread because the loafs of bread were 1.37. (She made 13 loafs at home cost of 40 cents each.) while she was in the store I was telling my hubby” why does she go to the discount rack, they alway have cheap reduced price loafs” …. AND YOU DID JUST THAT. Lol
Loving these videos--great ideas!
We fed a family of 13 for years (now down to 8, but most are working and going different directions at mealtimes).
Most of our "go-to" dinners were between 10-15 dollars for everyone. And about once a week leftovers would become a soup or casserole that could never be replicated!
My deal with the kids was if we had soup or leftovers, I would make dessert. This was also a way to get more nutrition into them--whole wheat cookies, pudding (using up a bunch if milk that was about to expire because for some reason they weren't eating cold cereal that week), or pumpkin, apple, or banana cake (use mashed or pureed fruit in place of oil and water when you are making a cake mix.)
I love this choose your own adventure gimmick of this episode. Your editing is getting really good!
Brittany, I have an amazing editor who does the heavy lifting. I send her the clips and my “vision” and she works her magic. I’m so glad because it gives me more time to plan and film videos now. :)
@@SeeMindyMom I love that you gave her credit!
It's sooooooo helpful to see these types of options. I struggle every week with meal planning in a budget friendly way
Glad I can help, Abigail!
We've been making the green bean, potato, and sausage crockpot meal for years as a budget friendly idea. My kids affectionately refer to it as "slop". LOL!
😂
My fav movie is practical magic.......never gets old..love the green house attached to the kitchen
Just so y’all know… plain oatmeal with your favorite jelly or jam or fruit preserves or whatever is FANTASTIC!!! A little butter makes it creamy too!!!😊
I grew up with sausage, green beans, and potatoes. I used to buy a bag of red potatoes but it was too much. Now I buy the little container you find in the produce section. It comes with a seasoning packet! If you don’t slice the sausage, it’s basically a dump and go recipe.
Quick tip. For potato soup, skip the slurry and smash some of the potatoes. It will release starches and thicken the soup.
Thanks for the tip!
My dad used to make a very similar dish to your dinner: fry the sausage slices in a pan with a high rim, pour the beans on top, season with salt, pepper and dried savory, cover everything with thinly sliced potatoes (also seasoned). Sprinkle a good amount of pepper and savory on top, cover with a lid and let it simmer for about 40-50 minutes. It is one of my favorite childhood dishes.
I loved your Clue movie idea for your alternate recipes ! So cute ! And yes I love that movie too !!!! Your food always looks so good - good home cooking that is easy and so comforting !!! thank you Mindy for all your fabulous recipes !
Kindred spirits - I’m a retired high school art teacher - loved teenagers - also owned 3 restaurants. I was a baker more than a cook. Love all your videos even though there are now only 2 of us. My daughter-in-law is from Romania and you would love to watch her cook, never by a recipe but always making the presentation beautiful. I digress, love to see what you are buying to save $ these days. I’m a big fan.
Absolutely LOVED how you worked this video. Clue 🕵️ one of my all time FAVORITE movies! Between this and Ferris Bueller’s Day off, Troop Beverly Hills, I truly could go on! They way you showed different options, still kind of staying within price point, was awesome. I also, can’t tell you how much I enjoy when you say “ I added fresh garlic and some onion, If you don’t have that, don’t worry, this can still work use what you have etc”
Another fabulous video Mindy! 🥰
I'm literally loving this video, just because you mentioned one of the best movies of all time...CLUE!!!
My sons are both autistic. They love that Clue. They have the whole thing memorized & do the lines of the characters randomly. Its great!
2:26 girlllllll I can watch Mrs Doubtfire every day and never tire of it. That’s my movie!
Haha! We just watched with the kids for the first time a few months ago.
green beans and sausage is a go-to for holiday time. feeds a lot of people and easy to pack for "go" plates. memorial day coming up!
I never get tired of the movie return to me.
A) I love Clue. It started my love for Tim Curry. B) I LOVE this style of video and the way you thought through simple swaps for different options. If it wasn't a totally hard video to make, I'd love to see more like it!
I love the Clue style alternate endings! Such a fun and inspiring way to share this info! That's one of my favorite movies of all time. Another one I could watch again and again is The Princess Bride.
ME TOO! It’s probably a toss up which one I watched more as a kid. :)
I love “Clue” too! I know it word-for-word. The movie I can watch over and over…. TREMORS. 😂
The princess bride is my “I can watch it over and over.
Clue is literally a family favorite movie through my childhood and my family. Love that this went with the different endings just like the movie. Glad no one stabbed the cook ;) Our family loves potatoes and eats them multiple times a week. We are down to the last 7 in the house and it is a worry!! Super funny way to do the video and great recipes as always.
I love the choose your own adventure theme, Mindy! Well done 👏
One of my favorite meals my grandmom made was potatoes, green beans and bacon in a big pot. I still love it and make it sometimes. So flavorful!
I just love your videos Mindy! Giving us different ideas on how to swap out ingredients is so helpful. Especially because a few of those dishes use just basic items that we may already have on hand. Thank you so much!
Clue is absolutely one of the best movies ever! And I love your alternate endings here!!
Clue is the funniest movie ever made with an absolutely brilliant cast. Loved your Clue-theme in the video. Very fun!
This video is so clever and creative! My favorite part is when you hit the potato to stop it from rolling. 🤣
Great Job! 👍
Thanks! I have an amazing editor who also finds humor in places I didn’t even intend it. :) I noticed the way she included that in the edit for a laugh.
The movie that became an instant favorite that I never get tired of as a preteen was “Holes”. So good!
Mondays are good when Mindy has a video 🤣. I love the swap outs! I just tried coming up with a $15 meal plan for my local frugal group- these are fantastic ideas- I can not wait to share the video. I check our Walmart discount bread rack- I am always impressed that you have such cheaper prices on their discount breads, I end up scouring the other grocery stores for the discount breads instead. Thanks again for posting these recipes- they are always so supportive, creative and inspirational 😊. You and Frugal Fit Mom and Mandy in the Making are by far my favorite budget and cooking videos. You all put so much work into them and they are so helpful!
Thank you so much, Amanda! I appreciate the kind words!
I actually went grocery shopping at Walmart for literally the first time in years and was really pleased with what I got for the price. I usually always shopped at HEB but generally they tend to be a bit more pricey especially if they aren’t having good sales. I’m definitely going to be utilizing Walmart a little more when I’m shopping. Thanks for the great video. 😊
A quick meal that my picky eater LOVES is those knorr chicken and broccoli pasta sides with andouille sausage. I get 2 of the knorr packets, quarter up 1/2 of a link of the sausage ( I can save the other half for another meal) and cook. Serve with green beans and voila!
Forrest Gump is a movie I can watch over and over again. I can also watch it from any point in the movie. It’s just so good!
I cook sausage, potatoes and green beans in chicken broth using my Instant Pot quite often.
Only thick oatmeal is acceptable in our household, I buy bags of extra thick oatmeal because it has wonderful texture and is a real treat served with a pat of salted butter, a splash of cream and a drizzle of maple syrup.
"Moon Struck" I can watch it over and over (and do).
One of my favorite go-to dinners that can be as budget-friendly as you need it to be is a baked potato bar. We can do really simple, with just a little butter, cheese, and ranch-infused sour cream and serve with some fresh veggies on the side--or I'll bring out different ingredients to change it up, like fried ham or bacon, steamed broccoli, chili--I've even used leftover taco meat. It's also a great way to clean out leftovers (like the taco meat) and to let everyone kind of do whatever they like best on their potato. It's super nice because you can cook those potatoes in an Instant Pot.
What a clever video with your alternative endings! You made it more fun to watch.
So glad that came across! I had fun with it.
I’ve been making the sausage dinner at least once a week for like a month now! How funny is that!?! I do it a tad different though. After I cook up the sausage and tomatoes in a skillet I make a rue with a little butter and flour in the middle of the pan, and then add my stock with some parm cheese and let the stock cook down until I have a creamy/cheesy kind of sauce. So good!
Thanks for this very hopeful for someone trying to eat healthy on a tight budget
I really like the style of this one with the different options! It's excellent!
The Blues Brothers and the Harry Potter movies I can watch over and over again
The Goonies is a movie I can watch over and over...
Movie I can watch over and over is the color purple 💜
“Hey you guys!” 😀
‘Goonies’ is the movie I can watch over and over and over and over…. Lol
Love this! I've followed your budget meals one week and it was a winner! Found great simple recipes! I use them often! Please keep this going it is brilliant!
Ok my movies are 1) Jaws I've seen this hundreds of times at this point! 2) Romancing the Stone!
I love your Apple Cinnamon Roll recipe! Definitely want to try that for myself.
I love your budget meal ideas! It’s so good to know that there are still options on a tight budget. I’m doing an extreme grocery budget challenge for my family to help save some money and it’s definitely been challenging, but I know it’ll be worth it!
So worth it!
I LOVE the choose your adventure version of this video!! My favorite of yours so far!!!
Thank you!
Having baby #2 in November. I usually just get a meal subscription box like Hello Fresh and EveryPlate. That’s never been an issue for my husband, daughter and I. But now with having to pay for daycare for two kids, I feel like I need more budget friendly cooking habits. This is my first video of yours and I’m loving you already.
Really enjoyed the twist on the typical budget meal plan (which are always great).
For thickening my potato soup I use a handful or 2 of instant potato flakes. Plain, sour cream, 3 or 4 cheese, butter........ so many options to change the flavor of your soup.
Loved the clue edits for the meal switches!
Thanks for the inspiration. I made cinnamon rolls without the dairy, a super tart Granny Smith apple, small amount of brown sugar, some vanilla extract, and a couple of leftover oatmeal raisin cookies.
I would add celery to the potato soup..but i love the ways to make it creamy in the crockpot
i loved the 'clue' alternate ending in this video 😆 big fan of that movie, too 😉
practical magic...with Sandra Bullock..love the attached greenhouse for the herbs...would absolutely love to have that
Clue! Yes! One of my favorite movies ever!
National Treasure and or Shawshank of course!
Such great ideas and love all the different examples you gave with easy, every day ingredients. Love the Clue reference!!! Still my fav board game to play!
This “choose you own” is so creative! 🎉
This video shows you can make delicious meals on a budget. Everything looks and sounds so delicious. 😋🤤
It’s still possible!
Mindy - I love choose your own adventure and wrote my own version as a child :). This was one of your most fun and informative videos yet. I love the HF smoked sausage for 2.98 w/onions, pineapple and brown sugar, green peppers over rice.
Love the movie Clue! One that we watch over and over is The Shawshank Redemption!
I LOVE Clue! "The flames, on the side of my face!"
I love your personality! You seem like such a sweet human!❤
Thanks for sharing all of these!!
Your appreciated!
Love your videos and love that you're always wearing Kendra Scott earrings!!!!
Cindy, you make throwing a meal together look so easy! And yummy 😋 Keep those easy budget-friendly meal recipes coming👍😁❤️
You are not alone on the crock pot collection! At last count I have 11! My kids think I'm crazy! Love your videos as they always give me inspiration for new things to feed my family!
Long-time Mindy watcher, first time commenter! I always look forward to your new videos and especially have started re-watching old favorites and excitedly waiting for new ones because I'm planning a buy-nothing challenge next month with my spouse. I tried your potato and sausage soup tonight for dinner and it was a unanimous winner!!! Thank you so much for all you do. You are a genius!
So glad I found you now I'm binge watching love your channel
I always recommend your channel when I see others on other channels comment on having no clue what to make, budget friendly, easy, crockpot, etc type meals.
Thanks so much, Sarah!
I am meal prepping this week with some of your meals. I've never done anything like thjs but you make me feel like I can and i desperately need to. With full-time work, kids appts, my own, and every other thing....there's no time!
I'm going to give it a go this weekend and see how it goes!!!! Pray for me 😂
Clue is one of my favorite movies, too. Thanks for the "alternate endings" 🙂
This was so fun with the alternate endings 😂 thanks for all your hard work in making these videos for us!
I highly enjoyed this video! I absolutely LOVE the movie Clue, so your switcheroo montage in essence of the movie was great, loved it so much!
I love the choose your adventure options! Clever!
This style of video was so fun! Great ideas, too!
Hi Mindy, great videos. We can watch My Fair Lady over and over again. The whole family loves it and have since our 30+ year old children were little.
I LOVE CLUE!! It is my favorite movie! Can re-watch over and over. Love Tim Curry! Glad to find a fellow Clue lover.
I love the alternative options!! Choose your own adventures were my favorites as a kid!! It’s extra neat that it also helps extend this meal plan!!
Chevy chase Christmas Vacation is a favorite. I liked these meals and can't wait to try out.
I loved this style of video with you giving us alternated and swapping them out on camera.
Thanks so much!
I also love the movie Clue! I love that you applied the alternate food choices just like the alternate endings. Lol!
The meals all look and sound delicious. I've made your sausage & green bean recipe before and it was a hit and so simple to make.
Thanks for another great video Mindy!
Thanks, Angel!
Oh my gosh I love the alternate ending format 😂 it’s so fun and great ideas
All the Bourne movies. I've watched them dozens of times.
I would love a postpartum meal plan - just things for a small family to make and freeze.
Oh my gosh, I love Clue! This was a great video, I will definitely try some of these. Thanks for posting!!
I also love clue!! Loved the theme!
13. Going on 30 with Jennifer Garner, I absolutely love that I’m a new subscriber and I’m really loving your channel.
Jaws! My husband is so tired of me always watching it! I’ll never get sick of it 😂
Planes,Trains, & automobiles .. Clueless .. pretty in pink , the wedding singer , Shawshank Rédemption... my list goes on.
I like all those, too!