Alot of times I throw in some brown lentils that I have cooked and frozen, and add them into ground beef recipes. It adds some bulk and nutrition as well. My family usually doesnt notice.
I was making a casserole one night using one of two recipes that were on the back of a stuffing box. I was in a hurry as always and got about half the ingredients mixed together and had to leave the kitchen for some reason when I got back I finished mixing it together put it in the oven the realized I started with on recipe and finished with the other. I turned out fantastic! The sauce was sour cream, cream of chicken soup and cream cheese, (so good) drained veggies, green beans, corn, and steamed carrots topped with stuffing. I mixed the stuffing but then put it straight on top without cooking first. Sometimes not paying attention works out! 😊
I live near Toronto Ontario🇨🇦 and our prices are higher than in the States. We are buying more and more of what is on sale like ground beef (packages in 1 lbs bags and freeze) butter (again freeze) cheese (freeze in the block and then grate when needed). We buy chicken thighs and breasts, frozen veggies. When I make a casserole I make 2, one for dinner and freeze one. Thank you for your videos! I love your videos! I also appreciate you making suggestions for alternatives. I look forward to seeing you and the boys
I enjoy your budget friendly meals a lot. Those of us who only have a certain amount to spend for food each month need ideas like this so we can have more of a variety instead of eating the same thing all the time. Thank you so very much! All these meals look delish!
When using lentils as a substitute or to stretch your ground beef, season it the same as the recipe calls for when cooking the lentils, it's a game changer ♡
Pls make more Casserole Videos. There are some awesome Casserole recipes with potatoes outthere. I bet you, your family and your followers will LOVE them
I daughter still works remotely and LOVES her adjustable standing desk. We made Poppy Seed Chicken Noodle casserole last night. It's all gone. lol. I love the convenience of one dish or one pot meals. You have put a lot of work into this video.
Yes, you can find the meat masher at Dollar Tree! I also got wooden spoons and a juicer thingy I make the frozen burritos with the red enchilada sauce, and last, you may find some pasta in the Hispanic section of the grocery store for way less and it is just as good. I live in Texas, so it may be a regional item.
I li e on Texas as well and the Mexican noodles are not just regional, I'm from up north many years ago and they had them there then. Thank you Maria for sharing I have seen some of these but I also have different versions and some of these as well.
I ALWAYS use less meat than what a recipe calls for and it’s never missed. 👍🏻👍🏻 I buy the 3 pound packages of ground turkey and divide it into 4 sections and freeze it. So it’s 3/4 of a pound in each and I use that for recipes. I also use half a pound of chicken breasts instead of a pound and I’ll bulk up the pasta or rice or potatoes in the recipe. 😍🥰
I think a little less butter in the mashed potatoes in the first one (Sheppard's Pie) would be a little healthier, cost less, and wouldn't be missed. Maybe a little more than half a stick of butter instead of a whole one. I do that sort of thing a lot, less meat, less butter, milk instead of cream....it helps. I also add more rice or macaroni or potatoes to things that are very saucy normally, this gets more servings out of the dish, there are times when we may want something to be more soupy/saucy so then I don't do that of course but most of the time I do and that stretches things and saves money.
Love that you include a wide variety of flavors since not everyone is fan of Mexican or Italian, etc. I’ve found the larger bags of real bacon bits at Big Lots and they are a great to keep on hand for all sorts of things.
I continue at almost 66 to work as a nurse, at age 48 I thought I would have to leave my profession due to severe chronic back pain, after seeing several chiropractor’s I found an amazing one after a few months of treatment I continue to be 100% pain free ( yes I still lift patients daily) often going year’s between the need for further treatment,perhaps one could help you too.
I Love a good casserole. I've made chili cheese hot dog Tater tot casserole. Stuffed pepper casserole. I make Lazy lasagna that I saw Kimmy from She's in her apron, make years ago.
Maria, I love the variety of your recipes! Not all ingredients work for me so variety means I always find something in your videos that I can take away. Chicken with rice works for me! I often make gluten free, lactose free pasta bake. That’s a winner, too. The others look delish but food allergies mean I would have to adjust.💖
Great ideas Maria! 🤩 I’ve substituted ketchup for tomato paste before and it’s worked great! I hardly ever have a can of tomato paste on hand and I can’t stand just using 1 or 2 tablespoons & that’s it out of a can. (And I think I’m too lazy to freeze the remainder.) 😆
What an economical way to use those frozen burritos. I had some sitting in my freezer for a quick lunch, but turning it into a speedy dinner option for wonderful.
Maria you have such great recipe ideas-- i want to watch all your videos on how to exchange meat for beans as i don't want to mix milk with meat when I cook--- thank you for all your recipes!
I love your videos and your recipes! I’ve written down a lot of recipes and have a separate cookbook titled “Maria’s recipes” lol they’re so simple and easy and my family loves them
Lots of inspiration here. I make a different cabbage roll casserole recipe but what a great idea to use a package of shredded coleslaw mix! Loved the recipe with the ravioli. Also, since i'm not a big ground beef fan, i loved your switch-up on the Tater Tot casserole.
Here's some things I learned from a different food youtuber, don't throw away your potato skins, you can make chips out of them You would need to rinse em out like 3 or 4 times if you ever get a whole chicken save the corpse, you can make chicken broth out of it Hope this helps in whatever way possible
In the most technical sense, Shepards pie means it’s made with lamb, Cottage pie is made with beef, (maybe other meats in Cottage pie that is unclear to me)in the US we use the terms interchangeably, in the UK where they eat much more lamb than the US, it’s an important distinction
Hi Maria, GREAT VID! So full of DEEE-LICIOUS and EASY recipes. And, I really DIG casseroles especially. I can honestly say, I will be trying them ALL!! My 3 faves are the Baked Chicken & Rice, Cabbage Roll & Sheppard's Pie. So I will start in that order. As always, I'm so INSPIRED!! Thank you so much for sharing these FAB meal ideas with us. Arlene
This was fun! Definitely going to try the chicken bacon ranch one! (As a side note...watch a video of how gordon ramsey cuts green peppers...life changing!)
I find that when I try to substitute meat with lentils- it does not work unless you are only substituting it for half or less of the meat. When you mix it with ground beef it works surprisingly well.
Another stretcher for ground beef is oatmeal. Not 50% but maybe 10-15%. Drain ground beef but leave some of the juices and add some oats and continue cooking. The oatmeal in the end has a texture like ground beef and soaks up the juices. I would say mushrooms are a ground beef textured stretcher but here, mushrooms cost as much per pound as ground beef. 🤷♀️
First video of yours that I'm watching, and I love the recipes. However, I am wondering where in the world you live that you are getting some of these cheap prices on some of the items. Nevertheless, they are still cheaper nutritious recipes. I'm glad I watched.
Maria you have such great recipe ideas-- i want to watch all your videos on how to exchange meat for beans as i don't want to mix milk with meat when I cook--- thank you for all your recipes!
Maria you have such great recipe ideas-- i want to watch all your videos on how to exchange meat for beans as i don't want to mix milk with meat when I cook--- thank you for all your recipes!
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Awe! What an adorable guest speaker 🥰
Alot of times I throw in some brown lentils that I have cooked and frozen, and add them into ground beef recipes. It adds some bulk and nutrition as well. My family usually doesnt notice.
I was making a casserole one night using one of two recipes that were on the back of a stuffing box. I was in a hurry as always and got about half the ingredients mixed together and had to leave the kitchen for some reason when I got back I finished mixing it together put it in the oven the realized I started with on recipe and finished with the other. I turned out fantastic! The sauce was sour cream, cream of chicken soup and cream cheese, (so good) drained veggies, green beans, corn, and steamed carrots topped with stuffing. I mixed the stuffing but then put it straight on top without cooking first. Sometimes not paying attention works out! 😊
Oh that’s too funny! Glad it still worked out!
I live near Toronto Ontario🇨🇦 and our prices are higher than in the States. We are buying more and more of what is on sale like ground beef (packages in 1 lbs bags and freeze) butter (again freeze) cheese (freeze in the block and then grate when needed). We buy chicken thighs and breasts, frozen veggies. When I make a casserole I make 2, one for dinner and freeze one. Thank you for your videos! I love your videos! I also appreciate you making suggestions for alternatives. I look forward to seeing you and the boys
That stuffed cabbage casserole has my name on it! I really love your money saving tips! Thank you so much, Maria!
I love how inclusive you are, with ideas if you don’t have something use something else, etc!
Thank you Linda! Recipes can be expensive! Why pay more? Use what you have right?
Wow that's Awesome Maria and Dan and Tommy and Julian and Ben Love 💘 ❤ 💕 ♥ 💗 💙
I want to try the frozen burritos (the last casserole). Looks so easy and cheap and I know my family will like them.
I bought Knorr tomato bullion. It's shelf stable.
I enjoy your budget friendly meals a lot. Those of us who only have a certain amount to spend for food each month need ideas like this so we can have more of a variety instead of eating the same thing all the time. Thank you so very much! All these meals look delish!
When using lentils as a substitute or to stretch your ground beef, season it the same as the recipe calls for when cooking the lentils, it's a game changer ♡
Pls make more Casserole Videos. There are some awesome Casserole recipes with potatoes outthere. I bet you, your family and your followers will LOVE them
Julian is a big helper. I did spot Benny on the floor by you being busy. Spotted Tommy
I daughter still works remotely and LOVES her adjustable standing desk. We made Poppy Seed Chicken Noodle casserole last night. It's all gone. lol. I love the convenience of one dish or one pot meals. You have put a lot of work into this video.
Yes, you can find the meat masher at Dollar Tree! I also got wooden spoons and a juicer thingy
I make the frozen burritos with the red enchilada sauce, and last, you may find some pasta in the Hispanic section of the grocery store for way less and it is just as good. I live in Texas, so it may be a regional item.
I li e on Texas as well and the Mexican noodles are not just regional, I'm from up north many years ago and they had them there then. Thank you Maria for sharing I have seen some of these but I also have different versions and some of these as well.
And for my shepherd's pie, I use corn! Thanks, Maria!
You got that right sister!!!! Casserole and comfort!!
Got me craving that salsa verdé!
These all look yummy! I really want to try the cabbage casserole. Thanks!
Love you and ur videos. I definitely want to try cabbage roll casserole for my family !
I ALWAYS use less meat than what a recipe calls for and it’s never missed. 👍🏻👍🏻 I buy the 3 pound packages of ground turkey and divide it into 4 sections and freeze it. So it’s 3/4 of a pound in each and I use that for recipes. I also use half a pound of chicken breasts instead of a pound and I’ll bulk up the pasta or rice or potatoes in the recipe. 😍🥰
I do this too! Such a great way to stretch meat and not bust the budget
I think a little less butter in the mashed potatoes in the first one (Sheppard's Pie) would be a little healthier, cost less, and wouldn't be missed. Maybe a little more than half a stick of butter instead of a whole one. I do that sort of thing a lot, less meat, less butter, milk instead of cream....it helps. I also add more rice or macaroni or potatoes to things that are very saucy normally, this gets more servings out of the dish, there are times when we may want something to be more soupy/saucy so then I don't do that of course but most of the time I do and that stretches things and saves money.
Love that you include a wide variety of flavors since not everyone is fan of Mexican or Italian, etc.
I’ve found the larger bags of real bacon bits at Big Lots and they are a great to keep on hand for all sorts of things.
I love your style, Maria: Bing, Bang, Boom!
I will definitely try the chicken thighs and rice casserole; seems very economical. 👍🏼
yay! thank you, and enjoy!
I know previously you did a family favorites meal list, it would be wonderful to see an updated one to see what things have changed.
I continue at almost 66 to work as a nurse, at age 48 I thought I would have to leave my profession due to severe chronic back pain, after seeing several chiropractor’s I found an amazing one after a few months of treatment I continue to be 100% pain free ( yes I still lift patients daily) often going year’s between the need for further treatment,perhaps one could help you too.
I love you incorporate your kids❤
Ohhh nice video! I am soooo making the cabbage casserole! Found you from Mandy in the Making :)
I Love a good casserole. I've made chili cheese hot dog Tater tot casserole. Stuffed pepper casserole.
I make Lazy lasagna that I saw Kimmy from She's in her apron, make years ago.
That all looks yummy 😋 and I think I want to try them all thank you for sharing and I think it was so sweet that your kid helped you
Fantastic ideas! Thank you Maria! We know you're busy 💖
Loving this video so far!! Great casserole ideas!! Thank you!
Loved it all but the chicken Verdi with rice looked especially good!
Maria, I love the variety of your recipes! Not all ingredients work for me so variety means I always find something in your videos that I can take away.
Chicken with rice works for me! I often make gluten free, lactose free pasta bake. That’s a winner, too. The others look delish but food allergies mean I would have to adjust.💖
I too love extra sauce on my pasta. They look great!
😀😀
Great ideas Maria! 🤩 I’ve substituted ketchup for tomato paste before and it’s worked great! I hardly ever have a can of tomato paste on hand and I can’t stand just using 1 or 2 tablespoons & that’s it out of a can. (And I think I’m too lazy to freeze the remainder.) 😆
So many of these I want to try! Thank you!
I have done the burritos with red sauce and cheese. We call them smothered burritos. So good.
a wonderful group of cheap and easy meals looks yummie , thanx for sharing
What an economical way to use those frozen burritos. I had some sitting in my freezer for a quick lunch, but turning it into a speedy dinner option for wonderful.
I love the way you did the chicken park! Looks so good and fast and easy! All the meals look awesome!
I thought of that exact idea for the burritos since 2009 , and I've been doing it ever since.
I will definitely be making the chicken bacon ranch dish tomorrow! Great video!
I made Lazy Man Burrito and it was delicious. I let the frozen burritos thaw out and it still took 40 minutes. Will make this again!
Yay!!
Maria you have such great recipe ideas-- i want to watch all your videos on how to exchange meat for beans as i don't want to mix milk with meat when I cook--- thank you for all your recipes!
Thank you so much for tgese recipies. Several I can make with thungs in my oantry/food storage. This video is a keeper!
Great job. Thank you for the variety of meals.
Thank you Maria !!! 😊😘😍
Great ideas! Thanks!
Thank you for these recipes I must try them look all delicious
What great idea for casserole s ty for sharing don't know which to try. First ty for sharing God Bless you and yours
It all looks great Maria thank you so much for your industriousness!
You always have the best recipes!
Thanks for your meals I'm ready to try a few, you are good.
I love your videos and your recipes! I’ve written down a lot of recipes and have a separate cookbook titled “Maria’s recipes” lol they’re so simple and easy and my family loves them
Evaporated milk makes a really creamy mashed potato on a budget...shelf stable... and just salt well and you really don't even need the butter!
I need to do more with evaporated milk!
That’s a great idea.
@@MealsWithMariaplease do! I’ve got several cans to use up!
Lots of inspiration here. I make a different cabbage roll casserole recipe but what a great idea to use a package of shredded coleslaw mix! Loved the recipe with the ravioli. Also, since i'm not a big ground beef fan, i loved your switch-up on the Tater Tot casserole.
Here's some things I learned from a different food youtuber, don't throw away your potato skins, you can make chips out of them
You would need to rinse em out like 3 or 4 times
if you ever get a whole chicken save the corpse, you can make chicken broth out of it
Hope this helps in whatever way possible
I freeze tomato paste in ice cubes trays and it is a tbsp basically right from the freezer
Excellent video, thanks for sharing 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
Great video I’ve made the ravioli casserole my family loved it, I didn’t even use any meat I did ricotta and other cheeses 😊
Yay!
I really need to do so many of those but the frozen burritos one is speaking to me.. been craving Mexican for a while now! Lol
LOVED ❤THIS VIDEO!
In the most technical sense, Shepards pie means it’s made with lamb, Cottage pie is made with beef, (maybe other meats in Cottage pie that is unclear to me)in the US we use the terms interchangeably, in the UK where they eat much more lamb than the US, it’s an important distinction
I got 6 words for you yummmo thank you for this video 👍👍👍👍👍👍🌻
Hi Maria, GREAT VID! So full of DEEE-LICIOUS and EASY recipes. And, I really DIG casseroles especially. I can honestly say, I will be trying them ALL!! My 3 faves are the Baked Chicken & Rice, Cabbage Roll & Sheppard's Pie. So I will start in that order. As always, I'm so INSPIRED!! Thank you so much for sharing these FAB meal ideas with us. Arlene
This was fun! Definitely going to try the chicken bacon ranch one! (As a side note...watch a video of how gordon ramsey cuts green peppers...life changing!)
Loved them all 😊❤️
I find that when I try to substitute meat with lentils- it does not work unless you are only substituting it for half or less of the meat. When you mix it with ground beef it works surprisingly well.
Another stretcher for ground beef is oatmeal. Not 50% but maybe 10-15%. Drain ground beef but leave some of the juices and add some oats and continue cooking. The oatmeal in the end has a texture like ground beef and soaks up the juices.
I would say mushrooms are a ground beef textured stretcher but here, mushrooms cost as much per pound as ground beef. 🤷♀️
All these ideas look amazing!! How do I share a cheap and easy recipe with you that's a favorite for my family to see if you will try it 🤔
My family likes all of them you cook alot like my family cooks
Enjoy your PODCAST 🤩🐑
I love your videos and always think your voice is familiar. When you lower your voice at the end of a sentence I hear Linus from Charlie Brown!
Love
Maybe do lentils for half of meat mixture.
Oh, those little Ben toes!
cool
I remember when my kids were that age.....Like 35 years ago and I would cook :) :) But UA-cam wasn't around back then 😞
Very very nbeautiful
First video of yours that I'm watching, and I love the recipes. However, I am wondering where in the world you live that you are getting some of these cheap prices on some of the items. Nevertheless, they are still cheaper nutritious recipes. I'm glad I watched.
sheppards pie is with sheep. if you use beef its cottage pie. not sure with turkey what its called . 😉
👍😋
🥰😍🤩🤗
The days of pasta on sale for 33 cents a box are long gone my dear!
that's probably true! I'm still hoping!
@@MealsWithMaria I did get some the other day at Kroger on sale for $0.59 a pack.
Hi Maria 👋
👍😊❣️
I remember the days of cooking with one hand with a baby on my hip like you are doing..long ago
Lasagna or chicken Parm!
Cottage pie= beef ☑
Shepherd pie= lamb
Chicken Parm
Cottage Pie is made with beef. Sheppard's Pie is made with Lamb.
It is NOT a Sheppard's Pie without Lamb.
You copy everything Brooke does
Haha I don’t know who Brooke is. Great minds must think alike?
@@MealsWithMaria Southern Frugal Mama that’s who Brooke is
Holy butter lol
I like the chicken and rice I have got to try it.🎉👍🎉💯🎉🎈🎉🥰🎉👏🎉🧀🍖🥗🍝🧅🍚🧄🫑🍗🍅🥓🍛🥔🎉😋🎉☘️🎉☃️🎉
Maria you have such great recipe ideas-- i want to watch all your videos on how to exchange meat for beans as i don't want to mix milk with meat when I cook--- thank you for all your recipes!
Maria you have such great recipe ideas-- i want to watch all your videos on how to exchange meat for beans as i don't want to mix milk with meat when I cook--- thank you for all your recipes!