There was once a time when I was a struggling single mom working 60 hours a week and I could only afford $25 meals after having unexpected emergencies come up during the holidays (car problems, past due bills, etc.). I often made meals in a similar way from the same stores, and I think that’s why I watch these videos now and find comfort. I remember that it can still be done and that I can make a nutritious and filling meal for myself and my kids even though I felt like a “failure” at the time. I look back on those moments and feel proud, and I hope that these videos can help someone else who may be in that same situation and that they don’t feel shame, but pride and happiness.
YOU did a great job doing what you had to do to make sure yourself and your kids were fed. With my job i tell people about this channel and frugalsouthernmomma
In a pinch, you can grease that cake pan with the wrapper from the margarine. You can also make the cake with one 12-oz. can of white soda, such as Sprite or an off-brand version of Sprite. I’ve done this when I’m short of or completely out of eggs. Thanks for your video!
I really appreciate how you explain your thinking and decision making here. It makes it really adaptable for people who maybe have a slightly bigger or smaller budget or somewhat different choices at their local stores. I also like that you make the dishes look and feel special and festive in ways that don’t cost extra, like with the pretty patterns in the pineapple or the way you chose to arrange the ham. It’s good to remember that those details and that little bit of holiday spirit are available to us even when we have to make some sacrifices.
Thank you so much! My favorite part about the cake was that it looked intentional, not like the cherries were too expensive but like it was meant to be made without them. I’m glad those little details show through ❤️
Thank you for videos!!! Im currently going Thur a hard time and don't have much to spend on groceries so I end either not eating bc I ain't creative and I feel all I can eat is a cup of noodles. But you always make food that looks delish and your very understandable . I will be sharing your videos and may God bless you for doing content that is real respectable. 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻@@DollarTreeDinners
FOR EASIER DISH CLEAN UP: fill the whatever with hot water RIGHT after you're done using it. You can walk away and wash it later, but just fill it with water. It works on even burned food. It saves you all the scrubbing and and loads of time.
I do this, too, but for particularly crusty or burned-on food, I toss a used dryer sheet into the pan or baking dish for a little soak. Then use it to swish it around and wipe the crud off. It works like a charm, plus it's a way to repurpose used dryer sheets!
@jodybogdanovich4333 I didn't know that trick! I barely cook cuz I work 6 days a week 8 to 12 hour days so I'm never actually home, but when I am I do enjoy a hot meal :}
Thank you for making these videos. Your recipes have helped my family so much recently. We went from having three incomes down to two, and now temporarily we are down to one. Thank you for helping people like me that wouldn't know how to do this otherwise.
@@werpires Thank you. As long as we have a roof over our heads and food on the table, I will consider it a good holiday. Happy Holidays to you and your family as well.
I've been watching your video for awhile and I love how you make a whole meal for the holidays for people who don't have a lot of money thanks for all your help hope you and your family have a great holiday
Trick I just learned with boxed potatoes, after you add your hot liquid let them sit for 45 or so minutes. Will give the dried potatoes a chance to rehydrate and be better texture.
Thank you for this tip! I was thinking of trying just that myself. I tried to look it up online and couldn't find any ideas on how to correct the potatoes being hard when they were done. You're a lifesaver!
Hi! It is so refreshing to watch these kind of videos instead of the huge grocery haul videos youtube is full off and most people can't afford these days. There something very clean and clear with managing with less and it makes you feel accomplished in good way. :)
I don’t know if you will ever see this, but I just wanted you to know that what you are doing is so meaningful and helpful to those of us who are struggling financially. You show that there is dignity and no embarrassment in shopping at these stores that a lot of other people look down on. The love you put into your recipes shows and I appreciate every single video that you come out with! Thank you again for being such a beautiful human being!
I am a single middle aged woman on a budget, I am going to remember to do some food shopping at DG!! Saturday's $25 with a $5.00 off coupon is a great incentive!
@@darrengordon-hill shut the hell up. You deserve nothing more than nursing home food with that attitude. People are doing what they can with the little money they have. IF YOU want LUXURY meals then YOU PAY FOR IT, babes. 😘😘😘
French style green beans are the way to go for green bean casserole, it has a better texture instead of the straight cut. To anyone reading the comments, if you can add a cup of grated cheddar cheese to the green beans, do it! Tastes much better that way! Also, no need for cream of mushroom specifically. ANY "cream of" will work (I've tried all the main ones and it tastes good no matter what).
My mom, she's almost 91, told me the original green bean casserole recipe used cream of celery soup. I'm not sure if that's true about it being in the original version but I tried it and it was yummy too. I might make use the recipe with the cream of celery soup again, add a bit of soy sauce, onion powder or dried onions in the green bean mixture and use chow mein noodles for the crunchy topping. Give the casserole an Asian twist, maybe have that as a side for orange chicken. Yum!
Agreed ~ my favorite is cream of celery for G.B. casserole. I also like to mix in some of the fried onions into the casserole. I put the top layer on for the last 5 mins, or so. Sometimes, I've even mixed in seasoned ground beef (cooked), to make it more of a "meal".
Wow Rebecca, you never cease to amazing me! You are so thoughtful and creative and really just SMART in these recipes you come up with for us. I'm no stranger to the kitchen, but I certainly need help here and there and that's where you come in for me. Thank you for the tip on the scallop potato mix and the boiled eggs and for always giving me a new way to look at, prepare and use food/ingredients that I would otherwise never think to do. I'm so glad I found your channel :)
Thank you so much! That was the goal to not only show the meal but the thought process behind every purchase to show how I make decisions when making budget meal plans
@@DollarTreeDinners I will have to agree. Some of the content creators need to do this more. The thought process is helpful when trying to make the best choice possible. *I'm reading this back. Not sure my point came across but I'll hope it did! 👍
I haven't made pineapple upside down cake since Year 7 Home Science and I didn't get a pass because it didn't rise properly. I am now going to overcome my nemesis and try your recipe it looks so good😊
This video, and the others you made for Thanksgiving, are also GREAT for those of us who are cooking for ourselves, or who can't be with family, and still want to make a great spread without breaking the bank! Where my parents live, the ONLY store that's not a 30-40min drive is a DG. Even if someone doesn't need to budget, knowing how to take advantage of options readily available is amazing. Thank you for making these videos!
I appreciate you being open about you only preferring vanilla. Growing up, it was always a struggle to explain how I was a basic vanilla girlie and preferred vanilla ice cream, cakes, frosting, etc. ❤
My taste totally changed, I prefer vanilla now, used to be chocolate as a kid. I have a dairy goat herd now and it's refreshing to make frozen vanilla custard on demand😋
My eldest son is a vanilla lover also. As a child he loved to go to Baskin Robbins when we were on vacation and look at each flavor before choosing his single scoop of vanilla in a bowl!
Ever since I had Covid 3 years ago, I went from being a chocoholic to preferring more vanilla and fruitier deserts. I've always added vanilla to cake mix and brownie batter, and double the amount called for in cookies.
This is truly my favorite channel on UA-cam because not only do you teach recipes and cooking methods, but you always put so much thought into everything you do. I appreciate all the work you do to help all of us viewers- I’ve learned so much from you!
I've been putting Funyuns on my green bean casserole for years now. My mom made it that way for me for my birthday one year when I was pregnant with my oldest son and my dinner guests loved it and we've been making it that way ever since
You are a fantastic teacher! I love the way you take the time to really explain things, and how you save money by using the same ingredients across multiple dishes. You are one of the best You Tube cooking channels IMHO. You are incredibly resourceful. And, I like the pineapple upside down cake the way you did it better! And I know, that I will occasionally comment about how you can add this, or the original recipe has this. That is in no way a criticism of you, ever. It's my waying of saying that if you or someone else has it in the pantry, and they want to add it, it's really good. You are doing a major service here. I would never criticize you. I certainly couldn't do what you do.
I think the pineapple upside down cake turned out amazing! I like that it looked intentional, not like cherries weren’t in the budget but that it was meant to be without cherries
You are such an angel in the time of need with prices so high here!! You show us that it can be done without losing out on a tasty holiday meal. God Bless you and Happy Holidays.
My mom always added plenty of butter to canned carrots and sugar. To get the children to eat them. She said a little sugar never hurts and the kids eat their veggies. Also to her Hamburg soup, when I made it myself the first time it just didn't taste right. Mom said add a little sugar...made it taste just like mom's. Cuts the acid in tomatoes for a smoother sweeter taste. I learned the boiled eggs thing by accident. In a hurry I started them in hot tap water😉.
I live in SW Virginia where I don't find too many Dollar Trees with freezers well stocked but, I love shopping there anyway. You've shown me how to utilize Dollar General and Dollar Tree for savings and recipes. I've been trying to catch up on all of your videos-LOVE LOVE LOVE them all! This dinner was so well-planned and looks utterly delicious! Thank you for ALL your ideas, recipes, and for all of your hard work planning, preparing, and presenting them for your audience.
this is honestly great, people dont realize how many people are struggling,(specially during the holidays) but still want to provide a meal for their kids/family
I did most of this! I bought actual ham steak and used two boxes of potatoes instead of the mac and cheese. The cake got an A+ from everyone! The eggs were yummy and easy peel works too! My potatoes got a little Velveeta added and some shredded sharp cheddar on the top which I had, so they were really tasty! I also substituted frozen fordhook lima beans for the green beans. Carrots turned out great! And I used frozen Cheddar Bay biscuits that I already had. Because I already had some items, this stayed very close to the budget and best of all, really tasted good! Thanks for the helpful videos!
My dollar tree and dollar general sometimes has cream cheese. I have mixed a small amount in the mashed potatoes put them in a pan and baked until the top is browned. It’s great
Wonderful video as always, love your stuff! I’m going to add some time stamps for people wanting to see certain parts. 0:0 intro and grocery prices 7:23 Pineapple Upside-down Cake 13:05 and 24:53 Deviled Eggs 15:41 Scalloped Potatoes 19:20 Green Bean Casserole 20:36 Ham glaze 21:51 Ham 23:48 Mac and cheese 29:59 Dinner rolls 30:48 Carrots 32:29 Final presentation
It looks great! Good job! Add sweet pickle juice if you have it to the deviled egg mixture. It will change your life. We sprinkle paprika on top. ( i know you were on a budget here) But, most people have paprika and sweet pickles.
You can make potato soup with those potatoes…. Just do it like the box says w/o baking it then add chicken or vegetable stock broth until you get it as soupy as you like… then add you add ins bacon, green onions, cheese, sour cream.
I’m very blessed this year to not needing a holiday dinner from dollar tree or dollar general holiday meal, but that being said I love your ideas and how inventive you are!! 8:37
I love this woman. Besides that obviously beautiful looks and voice, she has really helped me in this difficult times that I had lost 80% of my income.
Dawn power wash and a scrub mommy sponge are a total game changer with burnt on food. I spray the pan down, let it sit for however long. If it is really bad, I put plastic wrap on the pan and let it sit for a few hours. I then take plastic scraper to get up the big stuff. Then I hit it with the scrub mommy and hot water. The pan cleans up beautifully. There are hacks to refill the power wash. The scrub daddy products last a long time..
I get the cheapest dishwasher powdered soap there is - sprinkle some in the bottom of a pan with burnt on or crusty food and fill with BOILING hot water. Let it soak and any kind of crusty mess will come right off. You can also use a dishwasher pod, but you don't need that much soap, so the powder is better to use. People who don't have a dishwasher really appreciate this tip b/c they don't think about getting dishwasher powdered soap for just this purpose. Works a lot better than regular liquid dishwashing liquid or Dawn power wash.
As a child growing up in the 1960's in the UK, we always had evaporated milk in the house, and it was often used instead of cream for our deserts. Cream was used for special occasions, or when we had guests. I have to say that pineapple upside down cake, with or without cherries is taken to a whole new level, served warm with evaporated milk on top, at least in my opinion. I hope you try it if you have not done so before. Much love and respect from the South East of England. x
I grew up with my Grandma doing carrots like this but with cinnamon hearts candy melted in the margarine. She could get penny candy cheaper than sugar, even when I was a kid you could get a huge bag of the cinnamon hearts candy at the dollar store.
My Mamaw used to add the cinnamon hearts to apple slices, sugar, and butter, cooked in a cast iron skillet. She called them “Fried Apples”, with or without the candies. We had Fried Apples with buttered biscuits most every morning! Yummy❣️
26:39 I make my egg salad the same way I make deviled eggs---mash the yolks with seasoning + mayo then instead of filling the egg white I chop it and add it to the yolk mixture! So so good
The cake looks really great with the tiling of the halves. Lots of good ideas - and two veggies with the carrots kind of subbing for candied yams. As always thanks for helping us look at things differently and the tips are always good -- if I'd have known about the au gratin potatoes powder years ago, dinner would have been less stressful with no lumps. lol
I sure hope Dollar Tree is your sponsor and they're paying you because your channel is awesome! Your recipes are so helpful, especially in these times where money is really tight.
I love watching your creativity, I really appreciate that you don't have an annoying musical overlay to your videos. You voice is nice to listen to with no extras ❤️
I will try the hot water method. I am having no luck starting them in cold! LOL! My Mother used to make beautiful stuffed eggs but she is deceased so I cannot ask her how she did it! The cake looked really special! Thank you for the video!
OMG ❤ x 100!! I've been scared to make that cake. HOWEVER, after watching your video, I'm going to go get the ingredients during my lunch time, and I'm making the upside-down cake tonight!!❤❤❤
Once again you knocked it out of the park with this menu!! Great Job! Cooking eggs in the pressure cooker is the BEST way to achieve the easy peel method! it's the only way I do hard boiled eggs now. I know a lot of people are afraid of the pressure cooker, but they really do work great!
A hard boiled egg tip that has always worked wonders for me, add a bit of baking soda to the water and put a pin hole in the very top of the shell before boiling. They peel like a dream every time ❤
Everything looked absolutely delicious! I really love your thought process of maximizing each ingredient you purchased, as well as showing that even the cheapest ingredients can be presented in a way that still feels special and holiday worthy. That cake is a showstopper!! PS if you happen to have a spare soy sauce packet left over from Chinese takeout, that would be the perfect amount for that green bean casserole 😊 Really enjoy what you do!
I love your videos! ❤ I grew up eating deviled eggs made with mustard. When I met my husband, his mother always made them with apple cider vinegar instead. I am telling you, I have never wanted deviled eggs any other way since then. I did not realize what a difference that one ingredient swap could make. They are fantastic!
In my family mom uses a little bit of mustard and some vinegar in her deviled eggs. Mom always adds a tiny bit of sugar too. They have to be topped with Paprika otherwise they're not fancy, lol. I'm thinking of using mashed avocado in place of mayo for Saint Patrick's Day deviled eggs, that could be interesting. I will definately need vinegar in those. I had a friend who's mom used sweet pickle juice in her deviled eggs, they were yummy.
@@hannakinnI only use avocado in my egg salad now. No mayo at all. Couple of spices, spicy mustard, sometimes celery or bacon if I have it. I have never been a fan of mayo except in potato salad with boiled egg anyway.
New subscriber, here!👋😊What a Blessing you are to single moms like my daughter, raising my three granddaughters! We love your channel! Thank you again! 🎄❄️🎄
Pulled of another fantastic meal, you show you can still have a great meal and enjoy it. And celebrate with family and friends. Your thought process takes so much time and effort are so important. Thank you.😀
A feast of a meal for sure 🎄 I love the way you arranged the ham. I think I'll make pineapple upside down cake for our Christmas dinner. Forgot all about it.
I absolutely love your chanel! You are the sweetest and creative young lady! I have been "sick" for nearly 2 months now...not really sick...but the cough and horrible voice wont go away. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Just found your channel and love how your budget food isn't just oatmeal and beans! This holiday meal is amazing. And, if someone was on an even tighter budget, they could just do either potatoes or mac and cheese and/or just one of the veggies and still have a lovely meal!
I always hard boil my eggs in boiling water. I bring my eggs to room temp before putting them in water that is at a rolling boil. They are easy to peel and you control how hard cooked they get. You just take them out of the water sooner if you want a soft boiled egg. I just found your channel and I can't help binging! Soo Many great ideas!
What a beautiful dinner! Thank you for you videos. You help so many people with all you do. (P.S. - Dollar General should be paying you for promoting them nicely!)
Sorry for the double post, but I just want to say I love your channel so much. So many channels say they have a budget and then spend way more than that to get the price per serving down. When you say $25, you mean it. There are so many people out there with an exact amount of barely adequate cash to work with, and your channel is here for us. And I'm not gonna cry. Thank you. 🎉
Great job Rebecca!! Love your videos and appreciate all your thoughts and efforts in making them- especially when u aren’t feeling well. Hope you have a sparkling holiday season!!!
Thank you so much for all of your recipes! My birthday is tomorrow and I am going to make that upside down pineapple cake! I love your enthusiasm even being not 100%
For more years than I'm going to admit (I'm old :) I started eggs in cold water, mixed results. Bc of you, I now use the hot water start, perfect results every time. My mother made pineapple upside-down cake in her cast-iron frying pan and served it on a large round plate. The pineapple slices looked lovely, like Art Deco patterns from the 1930s. This was such a great video. Thank you, Rebecca. I'm struggling financially and physically. I haven't any family. I'm too discouraged to make Christmas for myself this year, and I'm not able to make it for anyone else, but I really enjoyed watching yours. Thank you.
This is almost exactly like the Christmas meal we had when I was a small child in the early 1960s. Brings back wonderful memories. You are such a good cook!😊
Loves these videos! You are so creative and everything looks so delicous. Would love to see you branch out and include cooking videos from convenience stores like Wawa or Circle K to your repertoire.
I ALWAYS add a little sugar to my devilled egg mixture. It seems to bring all the flavor together, and they don't taste bland! I'm 61 years old, and that's the way my mom always did/does it, so it's tradition by now! I agree with you about 18 devilled eggs not being too much! When my 4 kids were young, and we'd go to a family picnic, I would have them put two devilled eggs on their plate, for me to eat, and not look like I was a "pig", which I was!!! When it comes to devilled eggs, I can't get enough!!
Rebecca, you always have such great content videos. Your time, care, and research always comes through in the work you release to your viewers. I look forward to the next one, and also the Wacky Cake you made previously i am going to try this weekend because it looked delicious. Keep up the great work! 👍😋🥰
There was once a time when I was a struggling single mom working 60 hours a week and I could only afford $25 meals after having unexpected emergencies come up during the holidays (car problems, past due bills, etc.). I often made meals in a similar way from the same stores, and I think that’s why I watch these videos now and find comfort. I remember that it can still be done and that I can make a nutritious and filling meal for myself and my kids even though I felt like a “failure” at the time. I look back on those moments and feel proud, and I hope that these videos can help someone else who may be in that same situation and that they don’t feel shame, but pride and happiness.
👍🏻
i so identify with this and went through something similar especially right after my divorce.
I was a single mother with the same food issues. We survived and are still frugal. I know am. I am a senior now on a fixed income.
You are so correct we have all been there and it's wonderful that we learned and worked our way through it all.
YOU did a great job doing what you had to do to make sure yourself and your kids were fed. With my job i tell people about this channel and frugalsouthernmomma
In a pinch, you can grease that cake pan with the wrapper from the margarine. You can also make the cake with one 12-oz. can of white soda, such as Sprite or an off-brand version of Sprite. I’ve done this when I’m short of or completely out of eggs. Thanks for your video!
Great suggestion
Most cake mixes you buy actually have powdered eggs already as long as there's the right amount of liquid the cake will bake up well
Im a single female on disability and i will be using your receipes this holiday season. Looks delish! Cant wait!
Using the Funyuns in place of the fried onions was genius. I don’t think I’d have thought of that. I really enjoy your affordable meals.
Had to do this Thanksgiving of course could have made from scratch but I felt was too much work for so little gain... next best thing funyons
She is so creative but the funyuns has to be the best idea ever!!!
I prefer the funions honestly
Seriously!!!! Soooooo smart and maybe even better
I wouldn’t have thought of it either,
I really appreciate how you explain your thinking and decision making here. It makes it really adaptable for people who maybe have a slightly bigger or smaller budget or somewhat different choices at their local stores. I also like that you make the dishes look and feel special and festive in ways that don’t cost extra, like with the pretty patterns in the pineapple or the way you chose to arrange the ham. It’s good to remember that those details and that little bit of holiday spirit are available to us even when we have to make some sacrifices.
Thank you so much! My favorite part about the cake was that it looked intentional, not like the cherries were too expensive but like it was meant to be made without them. I’m glad those little details show through ❤️
Thank you for videos!!! Im currently going Thur a hard time and don't have much to spend on groceries so I end either not eating bc I ain't creative and I feel all I can eat is a cup of noodles. But you always make food that looks delish and your very understandable . I will be sharing your videos and may God bless you for doing content that is real respectable. 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻@@DollarTreeDinners
@@samuelgracia-ot6gv cook! Eat! You must. You can do it!
FOR EASIER DISH CLEAN UP: fill the whatever with hot water RIGHT after you're done using it. You can walk away and wash it later, but just fill it with water. It works on even burned food. It saves you all the scrubbing and and loads of time.
I do this, too, but for particularly crusty or burned-on food, I toss a used dryer sheet into the pan or baking dish for a little soak. Then use it to swish it around and wipe the crud off. It works like a charm, plus it's a way to repurpose used dryer sheets!
@jodybogdanovich4333 I didn't know that trick! I barely cook cuz I work 6 days a week 8 to 12 hour days so I'm never actually home, but when I am I do enjoy a hot meal :}
@@hospitalcakewalk You are blessed to have a job. That's a lot of hours! "Make hay while you can" 😊
Thank you for making these videos. Your recipes have helped my family so much recently. We went from having three incomes down to two, and now temporarily we are down to one. Thank you for helping people like me that wouldn't know how to do this otherwise.
Wishing you and your family the best! Hope your family can still have an enjoyable holiday this year and that soon better times for you will come ❤
@@werpires Thank you. As long as we have a roof over our heads and food on the table, I will consider it a good holiday. Happy Holidays to you and your family as well.
Oh my dear Donna…Very well said and for sure it’s good to learn new things like planning meals like this.
I've been watching your video for awhile and I love how you make a whole meal for the holidays for people who don't have a lot of money thanks for all your help hope you and your family have a great holiday
Hello Iam possum and I hope things get better soon and I wish you all the peace and blessings possum 🙏
I'm not even from the US but so many recipes can still be modified to suit other markets with similar products. Also the vibes are just so good.
This is the kind of content we need in 2023, food is damn expensive.
Same or more so in 2024
That part!
Trick I just learned with boxed potatoes, after you add your hot liquid let them sit for 45 or so minutes. Will give the dried potatoes a chance to rehydrate and be better texture.
Ty
Thanks for sharing! I didn't think the final product looked like mine do.
I accidentally did that for Thanksgiving bc I got distracted and I couldn't figure out why they tasted so much better 😂
Thank you for this tip! I was thinking of trying just that myself. I tried to look it up online and couldn't find any ideas on how to correct the potatoes being hard when they were done. You're a lifesaver!
@@kathycoltri840 And always add extra liquid from what the box recipe actually says.
Dollar tree actually has a good selection of plastic serving trays for looking fancy in a pinch.
ooh thanks for this!
Just picked up some of those today! 😉
Totally agree. Thanks! 😊
Hi! It is so refreshing to watch these kind of videos instead of the huge grocery haul videos youtube is full off and most people can't afford these days. There something very clean and clear with managing with less and it makes you feel accomplished in good way. :)
I don’t know if you will ever see this, but I just wanted you to know that what you are doing is so meaningful and helpful to those of us who are struggling financially. You show that there is dignity and no embarrassment in shopping at these stores that a lot of other people look down on. The love you put into your recipes shows and I appreciate every single video that you come out with! Thank you again for being such a beautiful human being!
I am a single middle aged woman on a budget, I am going to remember to do some food shopping at DG!! Saturday's $25 with a $5.00 off coupon is a great incentive!
And you wonder why you're single...
@@darrengordon-hill shut the hell up. You deserve nothing more than nursing home food with that attitude. People are doing what they can with the little money they have. IF YOU want LUXURY meals then YOU PAY FOR IT, babes. 😘😘😘
Where do you get the coupon?
I didn’t even know they had that until. I watched her channel yesterday.
@@darrengordon-hillwhat a moron comment
French style green beans are the way to go for green bean casserole, it has a better texture instead of the straight cut. To anyone reading the comments, if you can add a cup of grated cheddar cheese to the green beans, do it! Tastes much better that way! Also, no need for cream of mushroom specifically. ANY "cream of" will work (I've tried all the main ones and it tastes good no matter what).
My family always uses cream of celery, and adds pimentos. A jar of pimentos is less than a dollar and they really jazz it up!
My mom, she's almost 91, told me the original green bean casserole recipe used cream of celery soup. I'm not sure if that's true about it being in the original version but I tried it and it was yummy too. I might make use the recipe with the cream of celery soup again, add a bit of soy sauce, onion powder or dried onions in the green bean mixture and use chow mein noodles for the crunchy topping. Give the casserole an Asian twist, maybe have that as a side for orange chicken. Yum!
Agreed ~ my favorite is cream of celery for G.B. casserole. I also like to mix in some of the fried onions into the casserole. I put the top layer on for the last 5 mins, or so. Sometimes, I've even mixed in seasoned ground beef (cooked), to make it more of a "meal".
Wow Rebecca, you never cease to amazing me! You are so thoughtful and creative and really just SMART in these recipes you come up with for us. I'm no stranger to the kitchen, but I certainly need help here and there and that's where you come in for me. Thank you for the tip on the scallop potato mix and the boiled eggs and for always giving me a new way to look at, prepare and use food/ingredients that I would otherwise never think to do. I'm so glad I found your channel :)
Thank you so much! That was the goal to not only show the meal but the thought process behind every purchase to show how I make decisions when making budget meal plans
@@DollarTreeDinners I will have to agree. Some of the content creators need to do this more. The thought process is helpful when trying to make the best choice possible.
*I'm reading this back. Not sure my point came across but I'll hope it did! 👍
I haven't made pineapple upside down cake since Year 7 Home Science and I didn't get a pass because it didn't rise properly. I am now going to overcome my nemesis and try your recipe it looks so good😊
This video, and the others you made for Thanksgiving, are also GREAT for those of us who are cooking for ourselves, or who can't be with family, and still want to make a great spread without breaking the bank! Where my parents live, the ONLY store that's not a 30-40min drive is a DG. Even if someone doesn't need to budget, knowing how to take advantage of options readily available is amazing. Thank you for making these videos!
I appreciate you being open about you only preferring vanilla. Growing up, it was always a struggle to explain how I was a basic vanilla girlie and preferred vanilla ice cream, cakes, frosting, etc. ❤
Me too! Glad we're not alone! 😂
Chocolate lover here, but I enjoy a good white on white cake on occasion 😂
My taste totally changed, I prefer vanilla now, used to be chocolate as a kid. I have a dairy goat herd now and it's refreshing to make frozen vanilla custard on demand😋
My eldest son is a vanilla lover also. As a child he loved to go to Baskin Robbins when we were on vacation and look at each flavor before choosing his single scoop of vanilla in a bowl!
Ever since I had Covid 3 years ago, I went from being a chocoholic to preferring more vanilla and fruitier deserts. I've always added vanilla to cake mix and brownie batter, and double the amount called for in cookies.
This is truly my favorite channel on UA-cam because not only do you teach recipes and cooking methods, but you always put so much thought into everything you do. I appreciate all the work you do to help all of us viewers- I’ve learned so much from you!
I've been putting Funyuns on my green bean casserole for years now. My mom made it that way for me for my birthday one year when I was pregnant with my oldest son and my dinner guests loved it and we've been making it that way ever since
What a feast !! So well thought out and accessible to so many ! You're a gem. :)
You are a fantastic teacher! I love the way you take the time to really explain things, and how you save money by using the same ingredients across multiple dishes. You are one of the best You Tube cooking channels IMHO. You are incredibly resourceful. And, I like the pineapple upside down cake the way you did it better!
And I know, that I will occasionally comment about how you can add this, or the original recipe has this. That is in no way a criticism of you, ever. It's my waying of saying that if you or someone else has it in the pantry, and they want to add it, it's really good. You are doing a major service here. I would never criticize you. I certainly couldn't do what you do.
I think the pineapple upside down cake turned out amazing! I like that it looked intentional, not like cherries weren’t in the budget but that it was meant to be without cherries
Thank you for this no way is it critical of any one that tackles the problems of our world. God bless
I never took Home Ec in high school. You would be great at it! So smart about how to use the ingredients across the whole meal!
You are such an angel in the time of need with prices so high here!! You show us that it can be done without losing out on a tasty holiday meal. God Bless you and Happy Holidays.
My mom always added plenty of butter to canned carrots and sugar. To get the children to eat them. She said a little sugar never hurts and the kids eat their veggies. Also to her Hamburg soup, when I made it myself the first time it just didn't taste right. Mom said add a little sugar...made it taste just like mom's. Cuts the acid in tomatoes for a smoother sweeter taste. I learned the boiled eggs thing by accident. In a hurry I started them in hot tap water😉.
Thanks!
Having an appetizer & dessert & an entire meal for under $25 is amazing!
I live in SW Virginia where I don't find too many Dollar Trees with freezers well stocked but, I love shopping there anyway. You've shown me how to utilize Dollar General and Dollar Tree for savings and recipes. I've been trying to catch up on all of your videos-LOVE LOVE LOVE them all! This dinner was so well-planned and looks utterly delicious! Thank you for ALL your ideas, recipes, and for all of your hard work planning, preparing, and presenting them for your audience.
this is honestly great, people dont realize how many people are struggling,(specially during the holidays) but still want to provide a meal for their kids/family
I did most of this! I bought actual ham steak and used two boxes of potatoes instead of the mac and cheese. The cake got an A+ from everyone! The eggs were yummy and easy peel works too! My potatoes got a little Velveeta added and some shredded sharp cheddar on the top which I had, so they were really tasty! I also substituted frozen fordhook lima beans for the green beans. Carrots turned out great! And I used frozen Cheddar Bay biscuits that I already had. Because I already had some items, this stayed very close to the budget and best of all, really tasted good! Thanks for the helpful videos!
My dollar tree and dollar general sometimes has cream cheese. I have mixed a small amount in the mashed potatoes put them in a pan and baked until the top is browned. It’s great
Funyuns are a great idea for the green bean casserole.
I always add chopped dill pickles to my deviled eggs. Delish!
For those who don't like the pickles you can add a couple of spoonfuls of the pickle juice to get a similar flavor.
@@ad6417 my family swears by a spoonful of pickle juice in deviled eggs 😂
I love how you keep evolving and perfecting your editing/video style. You're gonna be at 100k+ subs before you know it!
Wonderful video as always, love your stuff! I’m going to add some time stamps for people wanting to see certain parts.
0:0 intro and grocery prices
7:23 Pineapple Upside-down Cake
13:05 and 24:53 Deviled Eggs
15:41 Scalloped Potatoes
19:20 Green Bean Casserole
20:36 Ham glaze
21:51 Ham
23:48 Mac and cheese
29:59 Dinner rolls
30:48 Carrots
32:29 Final presentation
Thanks for that!
It looks great! Good job!
Add sweet pickle juice if you have it to the deviled egg mixture. It will change your life.
We sprinkle paprika on top.
( i know you were on a budget here)
But, most people have paprika and sweet pickles.
You can make potato soup with those potatoes…. Just do it like the box says w/o baking it then add chicken or vegetable stock broth until you get it as soupy as you like… then add you add ins bacon, green onions, cheese, sour cream.
I’m very blessed this year to not needing a holiday dinner from dollar tree or dollar general holiday meal, but that being said I love your ideas and how inventive you are!! 8:37
I put my yolks in a zip lock bag and squish them by hand. Add mayo and seasonings then cut corner and squeeze filling into egg whites
One less bowl to clean! Win!
Great idea!
Great idea!
Dude this is such a good idea!
Me too!
these make me so happy. they remind me of childhood. :} I was a dollar store kid and proud of it!!!!
I just use a foil lined pan for my cakes. Great video as always. You really look at everything from all angles. Very thoughtful.
I love this woman. Besides that obviously beautiful looks and voice, she has really helped me in this difficult times that I had lost 80% of my income.
Dawn power wash and a scrub mommy sponge are a total game changer with burnt on food. I spray the pan down, let it sit for however long. If it is really bad, I put plastic wrap on the pan and let it sit for a few hours. I then take plastic scraper to get up the big stuff. Then I hit it with the scrub mommy and hot water. The pan cleans up beautifully. There are hacks to refill the power wash. The scrub daddy products last a long time..
I get the cheapest dishwasher powdered soap there is - sprinkle some in the bottom of a pan with burnt on or crusty food and fill with BOILING hot water. Let it soak and any kind of crusty mess will come right off. You can also use a dishwasher pod, but you don't need that much soap, so the powder is better to use. People who don't have a dishwasher really appreciate this tip b/c they don't think about getting dishwasher powdered soap for just this purpose. Works a lot better than regular liquid dishwashing liquid or Dawn power wash.
You could have made Brown Sugar butter! Love how you tried to use it in different ways. Everything looked so good, and a lovely holiday meal!
As a child growing up in the 1960's in the UK, we always had evaporated milk in the house, and it was often used instead of cream for our deserts. Cream was used for special occasions, or when we had guests. I have to say that pineapple upside down cake, with or without cherries is taken to a whole new level, served warm with evaporated milk on top, at least in my opinion. I hope you try it if you have not done so before.
Much love and respect from the South East of England. x
I grew up with my Grandma doing carrots like this but with cinnamon hearts candy melted in the margarine. She could get penny candy cheaper than sugar, even when I was a kid you could get a huge bag of the cinnamon hearts candy at the dollar store.
Dollar tree has them or something like them.
My Mamaw used to add the cinnamon hearts to apple slices, sugar, and butter, cooked in a cast iron skillet. She called them “Fried Apples”, with or without the candies. We had Fried Apples with buttered biscuits most every morning! Yummy❣️
My grandparents used to make spiced apple rings with those candies. They were fantastic.
26:39 I make my egg salad the same way I make deviled eggs---mash the yolks with seasoning + mayo then instead of filling the egg white I chop it and add it to the yolk mixture! So so good
Great recipes and idea (as usual). I'm loving the art deco design with the pineapples.
You are McGyver in the kitchen Rebecca!
Ooooooh your explanation about the potatoes just unlocked a new understanding in my cooking life, THANK YOU oh my gosh
I'm impressed you found rolls (or any bread) and ham, our Dollar Generals stays wiped out. 😂
Oh no! I’ve definitely seen mine wiped out before too
Dollar Tree in Fla has deliveries of name brand bread several days a week
Wish MS had reasonable bread
A real bread loaf here is $5-6
You are so creative! Funyuns on top of green bean casserole would never have occurred to me.
Huge meal, looks delicious and definitely not like a $25 budget meal!
The way you explained some of your purchases reminded me of the "if you give a mouse a cookie" book lol
The cake looks really great with the tiling of the halves. Lots of good ideas - and two veggies with the carrots kind of subbing for candied yams. As always thanks for helping us look at things differently and the tips are always good -- if I'd have known about the au gratin potatoes powder years ago, dinner would have been less stressful with no lumps. lol
I sure hope Dollar Tree is your sponsor and they're paying you because your channel is awesome! Your recipes are so helpful, especially in these times where money is really tight.
I love watching your creativity, I really appreciate that you don't have an annoying musical overlay to your videos. You voice is nice to listen to with no extras ❤️
I loved your ham roses at Thanksgiving--and I think that the fryed ham slices are brilliant...way to go...dts/usa
canned veggies are good--they are tasty...the funyons are a brilliant hack...dts/usa
I will try the hot water method. I am having no luck starting them in cold! LOL! My Mother used to make beautiful stuffed eggs but she is deceased so I cannot ask her how she did it! The cake looked really special! Thank you for the video!
Batter girl here!! Beautiful presentation with the ham. Thank you for sharing your skills with us.
As always, an excellent job! It’s amazing how excited people get when there are deviled eggs on the table and easy for us to make them to please. 💕
OMG ❤ x 100!! I've been scared to make that cake. HOWEVER, after watching your video, I'm going to go get the ingredients during my lunch time, and I'm making the upside-down cake tonight!!❤❤❤
You can do it! I know you’ll love it!
I am going to try making it too.
Once again you knocked it out of the park with this menu!! Great Job! Cooking eggs in the pressure cooker is the BEST way to achieve the easy peel method! it's the only way I do hard boiled eggs now. I know a lot of people are afraid of the pressure cooker, but they really do work great!
A hard boiled egg tip that has always worked wonders for me, add a bit of baking soda to the water and put a pin hole in the very top of the shell before boiling. They peel like a dream every time ❤
Everything looked absolutely delicious! I really love your thought process of maximizing each ingredient you purchased, as well as showing that even the cheapest ingredients can be presented in a way that still feels special and holiday worthy. That cake is a showstopper!! PS if you happen to have a spare soy sauce packet left over from Chinese takeout, that would be the perfect amount for that green bean casserole 😊 Really enjoy what you do!
If you like pepper, black pepper, add some into your green bean casserole it’s so good
I love your videos! ❤ I grew up eating deviled eggs made with mustard. When I met my husband, his mother always made them with apple cider vinegar instead. I am telling you, I have never wanted deviled eggs any other way since then. I did not realize what a difference that one ingredient swap could make. They are fantastic!
In my family mom uses a little bit of mustard and some vinegar in her deviled eggs. Mom always adds a tiny bit of sugar too. They have to be topped with Paprika otherwise they're not fancy, lol. I'm thinking of using mashed avocado in place of mayo for Saint Patrick's Day deviled eggs, that could be interesting. I will definately need vinegar in those. I had a friend who's mom used sweet pickle juice in her deviled eggs, they were yummy.
@@hannakinn sounds yummy!
@@hannakinnI only use avocado in my egg salad now. No mayo at all. Couple of spices, spicy mustard, sometimes celery or bacon if I have it. I have never been a fan of mayo except in potato salad with boiled egg anyway.
Try a little sweet pickle juice (Vlasic) with the mustard mayo combo...delish!!!
My granny’s recipe uses just apple cider vinegar and mayo, with a sprinkling of paprika, and they are hugely popular.
New subscriber, here!👋😊What a Blessing you are to single moms like my daughter, raising my three granddaughters! We love your channel! Thank you again! 🎄❄️🎄
Pulled of another fantastic meal, you show you can still have a great meal and enjoy it. And celebrate with family and friends. Your thought process takes so much time and effort are so important. Thank you.😀
A feast of a meal for sure 🎄 I love the way you arranged the ham. I think I'll make pineapple upside down cake for our Christmas dinner. Forgot all about it.
I love your videos! Your Pineapple Upside Down Cake is beautiful!
What amazes me also is how perfect your porportions, measurements, styling, price. It’s like God has his hand in it lol love it
This is one of the best looking budget holiday meals I have ever seen. I might have to try some of this for my own Christmas dinner.
I really appreciate you taking the time to make these videos. Merry Christmas to you all ❤️
Same to you! Merry Christmas!
I absolutely love your chanel! You are the sweetest and creative young lady!
I have been "sick" for nearly 2 months now...not really sick...but the cough and horrible voice wont go away. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Just found your channel and love how your budget food isn't just oatmeal and beans! This holiday meal is amazing. And, if someone was on an even tighter budget, they could just do either potatoes or mac and cheese and/or just one of the veggies and still have a lovely meal!
You are amazing. I love these holiday meals.
I always hard boil my eggs in boiling water. I bring my eggs to room temp before putting them in water that is at a rolling boil. They are easy to peel and you control how hard cooked they get. You just take them out of the water sooner if you want a soft boiled egg.
I just found your channel and I can't help binging! Soo Many great ideas!
I agree never too many deviled eggs!!❤
Love your videos keep it up it's good to see people that actually cook food seems like a dying art alone good food on a budget
I will actually make this. Needed a low budget meal. Thank you! Have a very Merry Christmas!🥰🍷🎄❄☃
What a beautiful dinner! Thank you for you videos. You help so many people with all you do. (P.S. - Dollar General should be paying you for promoting them nicely!)
Your budget meals are a blessing to many people.
Sorry for the double post, but I just want to say I love your channel so much. So many channels say they have a budget and then spend way more than that to get the price per serving down. When you say $25, you mean it. There are so many people out there with an exact amount of barely adequate cash to work with, and your channel is here for us. And I'm not gonna cry. Thank you. 🎉
This is perfect because Christmas gifts are expensive enough 😂
Save that money you saved for summer time fun!
Great job Rebecca!! Love your videos and appreciate all your thoughts and efforts in making them- especially when u aren’t feeling well. Hope you have a sparkling holiday season!!!
Can't wait to try baking that pineapple upside down cake! Might just do it this weekend for a family gathering :) Thank you!!
Thank you so much for all of your recipes! My birthday is tomorrow and I am going to make that upside down pineapple cake! I love your enthusiasm even being not 100%
Sister Schubert rolls are the best!!!!! Every time i demoed those in a store i sold them completely out!!!!!
Everything looks delicious. The cakes looks amazing. Your videos are so helpful.
Fantastic job you should be proud. I love pineapple upside down cake
For more years than I'm going to admit (I'm old :) I started eggs in cold water, mixed results. Bc of you, I now use the hot water start, perfect results every time.
My mother made pineapple upside-down cake in her cast-iron frying pan and served it on a large round plate.
The pineapple slices looked lovely, like Art Deco patterns from the 1930s.
This was such a great video. Thank you, Rebecca. I'm struggling financially and physically. I haven't any family. I'm too discouraged to make Christmas for myself this year, and I'm not able to make it for anyone else, but I really enjoyed watching yours. Thank you.
This is AMAZING! You did an awesome job with this.
This is almost exactly like the Christmas meal we had when I was a small child in the early 1960s. Brings back wonderful memories. You are such a good cook!😊
I love this channel. Such a great idea for Christmas!
Love your show. I went and bought all the ingredients for Christmas dinner. Even the PA upside down cake.
Loves these videos! You are so creative and everything looks so delicous. Would love to see you branch out and include cooking videos from convenience stores like Wawa or Circle K to your repertoire.
Bravo! It looked fabulous. $25 can fit the tightest budget. 😊
I ALWAYS add a little sugar to my devilled egg mixture. It seems to bring all the flavor together, and they don't taste bland! I'm 61 years old, and that's the way my mom always did/does it, so it's tradition by now!
I agree with you about 18 devilled eggs not being too much! When my 4 kids were young, and we'd go to a family picnic, I would have them put two devilled eggs on their plate, for me to eat, and not look like I was a "pig", which I was!!! When it comes to devilled eggs, I can't get enough!!
Rebecca, you always have such great content videos. Your time, care, and research always comes through in the work you release to your viewers. I look forward to the next one, and also the Wacky Cake you made previously i am going to try this weekend because it looked delicious. Keep up the great work! 👍😋🥰