It’s so great that you help out your community this way. Not just taking food to someone who needs it, but sharing how to make these meals so people who can’t afford extravagant foods can opt to cook deliciously at home instead of relying on fast foods or cheap store-bought unhealthy frozen foods. Good on you for making a difference! 🥰
My husband told me about the lines in Georgia aswell. They were like and miles long aswell onto the highway... it’s just plain insane. That should never happen. We are such a rich country.
Being physically disabled with severe mobility restrictions and living alone I am one of those people who unfortunately do fall between the cracks... I went months without food or help because I didn't know what was out there. *211* is a resource number for just about anything in your area....food, shelter, information on help for just about anything. I was blessed to have a neighbour happen to check in on me and told me about this number. Someone above was looking out for me. Thank you Christine for all you do , happy New year to you and your family.
I am glad someone was able to help you. I am disabled myself, have been since age 23 and I am 48 now. So it's been 25 years. I am a severe chronic pain patient as well (severe nerve pain). My parents, who are now 74 & 75 are my sole caregivers. One day they will no longer be there, and I will have to rely on resources like this. I am in Belgium, and I think food banks are almost non accessible or you'd have to have basically no income.
Love this videos. When I was pregnant with the twins hubby lost his job and I was a lot on bedrest. We had to go to the Tafel (Table) over here in Germany. This is were we got food assistance. The problem with cheap food is that it's really bad for diabetic hubby, just to many carbs and so the Tafel was amazing I could buy fruit and veg like mad because most people did not want it because they did not cook. So I got for a few Euros all the fruit and veg and salads we could eat. One time I got 20kg ( around 44lbs) of fresh tomates for 4 Euro. I cooked enough sauce for the year.
Do not scoff at the cheese slice! lol My grandmother, who lived through the depression, would boil up some elbow macaroni, drain them and mix it in a baking dish with a can or two of stewed tomatoes. She would top the entire dish with American cheese slices and bake until it was warmed through and the cheese was melty. Every so often I get a craving and have to make it.
My great grandmother use to make macaroni and tomatoes. I loved it. Every so often I will make it but its NEVER as good as hers. She would also make cheese toast in a toaster oven. Just a slice of white bread with a slice of American cheese on top and let it golden and bubbly. 🤤 so good.
That sounds good. I would love that especially if I could have some of my mom/grandmom's canned tomatoes. Unfortunately, I never learned how to can so I'll have to go with store bought and "doctor it up".
I do wish you would put something like "Meals from a Food Pantry Box" in your title to make these videos easier to find again later. I have shared your original one in YT comments several times and on my blog. All your Budget Dinners videos are great, but these address a very specific situation and sometimes you want to let people know what sort of things are available and how to use them. I think the chicken parm idea was the best. Most people would never think to do something other than chicken sandwiches with all those patties, and they're probably not that great a patty--not compared to chicken sandwiches you get out somewhere. But on pasta and covered in tomato sauce and cheese, I bet they're really good and not distinguishable from what you would get in a generic Italian restaurant.
Remember this idea can be done with any chicken, including nuggets. My kids make chicken parm sandwiches with jar sauce, provolone cheese slices and hamburger buns.
Taco Taters!!! We use the potato as a vessle for everything. It is a great way to clean out the fridge of any bits. Chili tatoes with chili and cheese. Taco Tatos - Taco fixings. Buffalo Tatoes - buffalo chicken, ranch, cheese.
I have been to many of church gatherings/Bible study/youth group etc and done a baked potato bar... the main group hosting makes the baked potatoes (that you can do overnight in a crockpot, or three, by the way) and then people bring the toppings... tacos, beans, broccoli and cheddar cheese soup cream bacon butter... you name it... I've seen it! A place we used to stop at on road trips was a "smoke house" i got the loaded pulled pork potato EVERYTIME! it was so good and like 6.95 and full of pulled pork... probably as much food if not more than his pulled pork sandwich and French fries! And mine had diced red onion melty goey cheddar cheese and sour cream! Dang it...now I want one!!! Lol
Do you think people would be interested in a Canadian version of this? I'm noticing there is not many Canadian youtubers that do extreme grocery budgeting?
I love your concept where you help people in difficult situations to be inspired in how to cook low budget delicious and nourishing food. I live in Denmark and we have very few people in need of food assistance because of our welfare system but as a social worker I know how important it is for the family wellbeing to be able to eat good and healthy food together. If you have a link for us abroad that want to donate to some food bank it would be nice to be able to help. Chicken pot pie is a hit in our house, sometimes I use hash browns as toppings but I like the biscuits idea thought they would have to be homemade because in our country instant food is not readily available 🙈! I like you channel because you’re humble and make it ok to reach out for help❤️.
We keep cooked taco meat in the freezer to quickly toss on top of rice with a bunch of veg, sour cream, salsa, whatever, and make burrito bowls! You can crunch up some nachos for on top too.
I volunteer at our local food bank, including home deliveries during stay-at-home, and have always been impressed by the amount of fresh fruit and veggies we are able to provide here in California. Thanks for delivering a box, thanks for getting the word out. No one should go hungry when there is so much available.
That was so nice of you to pick up the box of food for that lady. If everyone could do something nice like that, this world would be a better place. Also loved the videos! Thank you ❤️❤️
I really, really appreciate your continuing conversation around food pantries and accepting help if you need it, and doing videos specifically regarding what you actually get in a pantry, because it's often so random lol. Growing up, a large portion of my meals came from groceries received from food banks/pantries. You said something once in another video about going even if you think other people need it more, because the food is there for you too (paraphrasing, sorry), and that felt like you were speaking to me directly lol. Anyway! Thank you for all the frugal meals you do and especially this one ♥ I hope you and your family are having a happy new year! On a lighter note: "It doesn't look it on camera but this pan is really big" me: I mean I think it looks pretty big "This is 14 inches" me: O_O
I go to a food pantry once a month now, and they give us a ton of food. So much food that I have to give some of it to my mom because it would have gone bad before I could use it all. I need to remember these videos next time I have to go to the food pantry. The food is always so random. It's hard to figure out what goes together sometimes. I'm not embarrassed anymore about having to go to the food pantry. I'd rather do that than to let my family go hungry. Anyway, lots of awesome ideas, and I'll be taking notes when I have more time to sit and think. 🙈 Much love from my family to yours. ❤
Just a thought but if you have some perishable "randomness" happening, you might try freezing some of the items if you have room in your freezer. Then within the next week or two you may find something that will go with that random item. Bell peppers and onions freeze really well, Just slice them up, put on a cookie sheet on parchment or waxed paper until the strips are frozen, then put the frozen strips into gallon zip top bags. Repeat until everything is done. You can do the same with lots of fruits, particularly peaches, mangos, nectarines, and plums.
This is such a wonderful idea of giving back to your community first by delivering that box of groceries to someone needing assistance but then sharing ideas of how to actually use the box of food to feed a family. Serious kudos.
This is why I always suggest getting the box prior to your grocery shopping. Many will only go get boxes after the shopping is done and the food shopping dollars are gone, even though they know the box will be needed. It's okay and encouraged to get the box first so you can shop smarter with the money you have.
For a more savory way to eat cottage cheese, try it with sliced tomatoes on top with lots of black pepper....it's really good!! Also love it with peaches and pineapple
The chicken and biscuits were a staple in my house growing up. Totally my comfort/nostalgia meal. We would use it to clean up all of the opened bags of frozen veggies lurking in the bottom of the freezer. Prevented wasting food and made it different every time we made it!
I am go glad you did this video. I broke my back it did heal right leaving me with major spasms on the left side of my spine. Disability doesn't leave you with much money and then 2020 hit. The first few months of 2020 my car need some work I don't have the funds so I've become a shut-in right before Corona. On top of being disabled. You picking up the box of food for another person is the most nicest thing anybody could do for another person, I am so glad I found your Channel.
That is an awesome box. We gave out boxes at our church that was given through our school system from mid-July to November . We have not been able to get the boxes since right before Thanksgiving (the time we needed them most, in my opinion). But once, we had a few boxes left over and I took them and gave out all but one. I made recipes from the box ingredients (because the box was the same each week with a few SLIGHT variations). I printed them out and started giving out the recipes with the boxes. AND! I gave the dishes I made from the box ingredients to some elderly people in my neighborhood. Ours usually had sliced cheese (about 16 slices), 12 boiled eggs, 5 lbs potatoes, 5 lbs apples, 3 lbs. onions, 2 tomatoes, 2 cucumbers or zucchini, 16 oz. bag of baby carrots, 16 oz, cottage cheese, 16 oz. sour cream, 16 oz. plain or vanilla yogurt, 3 lbs grilled chicken or shredded chicken (pre-cooked), 1 gallon milk. We are currently trying to find a new source as to where to get new boxes as that program ran out. We are in Carrollton, Georgia, west of Atlanta. Some of my recipes included potato salad (using the plain yogurt too), baked potatoes, hashbrowns with cheese, fried potatoes, chicken fajitas, chicken casserole, chicken pot pie, egg salad, baked apples, apple cobbler, etc. Some recipes had some extra ingredients that they would need to have but it was easier for them to afford basics when some food was provided. If I knew that a family needed help with those basic items I would get those items donated or I would buy them myself. I drive a school bus and I know which of my kids families are struggling (and all I have to do is ask other drivers about their kids families if I didn't have enough to give out all our boxes. I really wish I could find some where to get boxes... Pray I find that outlet...
I went through a month when my oldest son was 2 where I had no car and lived in the middle of nowhere in the winter in NH. I had food stamps at the time and I knew where the food pantry was but I had no way to get anywhere. I didn’t even have a cell phone. That’s something people don’t think about as well. Sometimes people can’t get to the food. I literally ate nothing many days so there would be enough food for my son. Sometimes he had buttered noodles as a meal because our options were limited. Food deserts are a big problem when it comes to people being hungry.
Wow you are such an incredible and strong mom! I hope you are doing better ❤️❤️❤️ I have a 2 year old son and I cannot imagine how hard that must have been for you.
I eat a toasted bagel with a bit of margarine and a slice of american cheese on each half EVERY SINGLE MORNING! I love it, I've been eating that for years ❤
One idea to make english muffin pizza. One of my all time favorite meal/snack as a kid. You have the taco meat, heat it through, add to the top of split muffins and add a slice of cheese. You would have taco pizza minis. Now I am hungry!!!! lol
We did the cheese on bagels too. Add a tablespoon of spaghetti sauce and it’s a pizza bagel. If you have pepperoni you can get fancy and cover the hole with a slice of pepperoni.
I did this a lot for my kids when they were growing up. They also had many meals of just spaghetti and sauce... fortunately they love spaghetti and sauce.
American cheese on white bread was something my best friend and I used to “cook” after school all thru jr high...love it! Bread and cheese, what’s not to like?!
Thank you for all the yummy ideas. We have been a family that needed some of these boxes this past year. There has been some items that were very difficult for me to figure out how to stretch out to feed the whole family. Your videos have helped me to be creative with what we have. Thank you
I have been doing that for years! One of my favorite meals. If I don’t have stuffing I mix up some bisquick mix, and some extra spices and spoon it on top. I even sometimes use canned chicken and gravy with different veggies. Works great. Fast and tasty.
We do bagels with cheese in the toaster oven. Can even do it in the air fryer or oven. It’s so good toasted. Sometimes I get fancy and put the everything bagel seasoning on top of the cheese.
Hi Christine. I'm fairly new to your channel but I watch you every day ever since I found it. I'm so impressed by you for many reasons. You are so positive and energetic and intelligent. You are a great mom and your husband is awesome too. I love that your children don't watch a lot of TV or play video games and are not on social media. You are raising good and productive people. I'm so impressed by your Mickelson Trail family bike ride. Your house is beautiful. You are beautiful too. I think you are just overall amazing! I love seeing your brother and your mom and other extended family. I do worry that there is too much information and maybe it's not safe. But thank you for your amazing and uplifting videos. I live alone and I'm not going out because of Covid and you are great company. I'm also watching your husband's channel and just subscribed today to your brother's channel.
Thank-you for speaking to kindly about assisting people where to call for food. I have had to use the FoodBank in Canada twice when the children were small. The first time I cried, I felt so bad having to make that call. Now, full circle - I volunteer at the City FoodBank.
You absolutely rock, Christine! Ever thought about getting in touch with one of the umbrella food bank organizations to let them know about these vids so that they can promote them? I'm sure a ton of people could use help with ideas.
Thank you. I can't even begin to express my admiration of you, and gratitude for what you do. As someone who once needed help, a handful of years ago, once I got back on my feet, I was on the lookout for people who needed assistance- especially now. 🙏🏻😌 On another note- cottage cheese on a baked potato is delicious!!!!
I love that you help your community get their boxes. I know they appreciate your help. My Mother made that same pot pie only after Christmas with leftover ham, onion, bell pepper, milk, flour, butter and homemade cheese biscuits on top. I add mixed veggies or whatever I need to use up in the filling. It doesn't sound good, but it's delish. Then after ham pie, she cooked the last of the ham in a big pot of beans with cornbread, boiled potatoes (thickened with flour- almost like a soup) and cole slaw. My Father was in a food coma for a week. lol
Great you help out. In Dec we deliver food from our church to those who cant get out too i post in my christmas vlog .. We deliver so much... Good you did video on this ..cause alot ask me what to make ..i put recipe cards in boxes. Which was easy to do..i even grab stuff for my elderly neighbor cause i am already out.. ALWAYS GREAT TO HELP OTHERS.. You are amazing person Christine helping others !!!
I've been having a blast catching up on your videos. Your simple recipes, humour and positive attitude have been a life saver, and for those who don't like microwave bagels, add a slice of cheese to a freshly toasted bagel, and it'll make a melty sandwich delight :) Thank you so much for these videos!
Our local food ministry feeds over 30,000 lbs of food at least twice a week. It is amazing! We've volunteered and I plan to do more now that the holidays are over with. What is great that at the end of the session whatever good is left over you are able to take home, so volunteering for a few hours not only helps your neighbor but you also can provide for your family. I know we are blessed to not be hungry but tight budgets anything helps. Thank you for providing a look at what you can do especially since sometimes the items will not go together at all, lol! :)
I really enjoy your videos. You really motivate me as a deaf single mom of three teenagers and got me slowly....I mean sLoWLy got me to get back to exercising again. Thank you for sharing this. I do have a few ideas or if you could give me some shopping advices if you have time. This may help with food shopping where I live in. Definitely not in the beautiful state of Idaho.
Can’t express how much I love your videos. I am not in need of food but I love the way you teach others about it and their options to get food if they need it. But I do use your food ideas to help be more frugal! Which is a goal of ours this year. With the pandemic we suffered a major cut in money and was unable to save the way we planned.
My husband and I just had our 2nd wedding anniversary and this past year you have helped us both spice up our kitchen and save money to pay off our debt! Thank you! I genuinely enjoy watching your videos SO much!
I love how this seems as though it’s the way people fed their families like 60+ years ago! Bread, cheese, eggs, potatoes, beans. It’s so simple to provide for your family!!
We call that lazy chicken parm! It’s one of our favorites. Cheap, easy and goes a long way. We needed to get a food box from a pantry at one point and I remember standing there looking at the randomness of the box thinking what do I do with all this? It required a lot of creativity meal wise. We made it through and it made us all appreciate what we do have on our table now!
I got several food pantry boxes during the pandemic as they suspended all child support payment enforcement for at least 7 months. 😳 I know, right? I joked that it was like an episode of Chopped where you try to make meals out of weird basket ingredients. I really enjoyed the challenge but am getting my child support again so no need fo the assistance.
They did what??? How is that even legal?? And what broke ass other parent in families is not still paying it anyway despite no enforcement, it's their kid. You just pay. It's that's simple, Like my "dad" paid my mum a whole lousy ten dollars a week when I was a kid, even though the court decreed a hundred, then I got two dollars pocket money on weekends when I visited him. Nice of him to be so generous hey?
@@angelika_munkastrap4634 He only ever paid because it was a condition of his probation. Hes a real gem! We had 5 kids when he split! They are all grown now but he owes 160k.
@@kerrievans8263 wow... I mean, I am married, we have one kid and we had tough times. I cannot even imagine what it is like to be in your shoes. I have to say, you are amazing to be able to navigate that. I wish you and your children all the best, stay stron, stay healthy!
I have to write a paper on an unsolved problem that we face with a solution to fixing it. The idea is to think outside of the systems we currently live in. I have been struggling to come up with something but seeing that long line really made we want to come up with a solution for changing this. Not that a paper will solve the problem. Thank you for sharing this.
@Tina Shoemaker I was thinking the same with the staples box! That was actually the solution I was going to look at. Then the next step is how they get funded/donated to begin with. I am setting up a call with the local food bank to better understand how they get and move food through the county. Thanks for your thoughts.
Many years ago the government used to supply these staples to people in need. It was in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Vegetable oil, peanut butter, American cheese, canned meat like Spam, Flour, dried beans, etc. This was before food stamps and they were called “commodities”. I was a young child but I remember elderly people from church would receive these items.
@@mimijulene6307 yes my father and stepmom used to get this box. This was in the mid-1980s. My absolute favorite was the thick cut American cheese. I hated cold American cheese on sandwiches, and would never eat it.....until I ate the American cheese that came in the box. I would eat a cheese sandwich on white bread, no meat necessary. I was not a fan of white sandwich bread, either, but if that cheese was on it....!
That pot pie looked delish!! That was great to do the recipes mainly with the pantry box items. I know sometimes the offerings seem very random but you've found a great way to incorporate items to make well rounded meals. Thanks for all you do Christine❣
Girlfriend, do not be forgetting the fabulousness that is Taco Rice! On your plate: hot cooked rice, taco meat, refried beans, shredded cheese, then whatever else you'd normally put in your taco shell or burrito. Serve corn chips on the side to scoop up the stragglers. This is the ONLY meal my husband has brought to our marriage that I will eat. It is quick, it is easy, it can clean out your fridge pretty well, and it stretches a little bit of meat into a lot of meals. (It also reheats well, simply add the rabbit food parts after heating.)
You are such a hard working and caring person. I'm 23 and I watch every upload ive learned alot. Thanks for helping people in so many ways and being your amazing self!
I love cottage cheese with chopped white onion, cucumber, tomato mixed into cottage cheese and some pepper. Saltine crackers with butter on top on the side…..it is delicious!!
My mom used to make tomato cheese toasts for snack. You pop some cheese on whatever bread you have in the house, throw it under the broiler until it’s melted and toasty to you preferences, then top it with sliced tomato, salt and pepper. I still have that as a late night snack at times.
Biscuits are also really easy to make and less temperamental than pie crust! Crumble up cold butter or shortening into flour/salt/baking powder until it's a sandy texture and add water until it's a dough. Then drop lumps on top of your pie. It takes probably 10 minutes to do! There are even recipes that use oil instead of butter if that's all you've got
My kids eat cheese on a bagel or English muffin ALL THE TIME!!! FYI, you can just pop that baby in the toaster put the cheese on top as soon as it comes out of the toaster. And it melts the same , it’s delicious
We do a baked potato potluck once a year with my family. I make a ton of baked potatoes and my folks and brother and sister bring different toppings. It's actually pretty fun, plus affordable and easy. There are so many topping options, bacon bits, green onions, broccoli, cheese, canned chili, French fried onions, sour cream, queso!
I watched this video with my 10 year old(she’s a big fan btw). Tacos just happened to be on the lunch menu today. She folded hers up and said, “Look! I learned this from Christine!” We’ve always done the one end tuck, apparently tucking both ends is fancy.
We truly don’t know how blessed we are. Every child that’s old enough to understand should have to pick and make meals for the week on a very limited budget. And all left over ate instead of threw out
Wow you’re local food pantry gives an awesome box. Lots of variety and possibilities. I’m glad you showed how easy pot pie can be, good dish to load with veggies
It’s nice to see that even though your family can’t help at the food kitchens you’re still giving back to the community by picking up food boxes for others. Great meal ides. The only thing I would change would be putting the bagels in the toaster and then topping with that delicious American cheese as I hate doughy bagels. 🥰🥰
We have several FB groups that have incredible community support that works magic when anyone asks for help! Aside from food banks, our people help eachother ♡ No judgement ever!!
Thanks for the meals. You could also mix up some Bisquick for the topping on the chicken pot pie instead of store bought biscuits. Just a tiny bit more work, but I don't like store bought biscuits. I will try these meals out. Thanks again. Glad you're helping others too!!!
Check out local little library wooden houses for food too. A few of ours have turned into food pantries and we grocery shop for it weekly as the food turn over rate is so high in it. I also organized the little library at the local elementary school and put in new and gently used books for all ages around Christmas so people could give them as gifts if they didn't have any.
Cottage cheese is super good on baked potatoes if you add chives and bacon super yummy, my oldest who is 17 prefers cottage cheese over sour cream on her baked potatoes and has for the past few years. Cottage cheese that already has chives mixed in is the best, we also use that in our lasagna along with ricotta cheese.
We have a door to door food drive on the first week-end of December. We just put the non perishable food items we want to give on the front porch in the morning and they come and pick it up during the day. Most of the grocery stores have a donation box. Our school also have a food drive and the class that gives the most have a pizza lunch.
It’s so great that you help out your community this way. Not just taking food to someone who needs it, but sharing how to make these meals so people who can’t afford extravagant foods can opt to cook deliciously at home instead of relying on fast foods or cheap store-bought unhealthy frozen foods. Good on you for making a difference! 🥰
It is sad to see such a long line of cars waiting for food. Thank you for helping the community.
It really was. I’m glad though they were able to get some help.
My husband told me about the lines in Georgia aswell. They were like and miles long aswell onto the highway... it’s just plain insane. That should never happen. We are such a rich country.
We have people line up 4 hours ahead of time to get theirs
This just hurt my heart.
Being physically disabled with severe mobility restrictions and living alone I am one of those people who unfortunately do fall between the cracks... I went months without food or help because I didn't know what was out there. *211* is a resource number for just about anything in your area....food, shelter, information on help for just about anything. I was blessed to have a neighbour happen to check in on me and told me about this number. Someone above was looking out for me. Thank you Christine for all you do , happy New year to you and your family.
I am glad someone was able to help you. I am disabled myself, have been since age 23 and I am 48 now. So it's been 25 years. I am a severe chronic pain patient as well (severe nerve pain). My parents, who are now 74 & 75 are my sole caregivers. One day they will no longer be there, and I will have to rely on resources like this. I am in Belgium, and I think food banks are almost non accessible or you'd have to have basically no income.
@@AvaFrancesca I totally understand what it's like. Stay safe as well! It's a crazy time!
Just astonishing how many people there are needing this help. Thank goodness these resources are available.
We can all help in some way. If we are lucky we will never need a food box. Bless you for reminding us all to be kind
Love this videos. When I was pregnant with the twins hubby lost his job and I was a lot on bedrest. We had to go to the Tafel (Table) over here in Germany. This is were we got food assistance. The problem with cheap food is that it's really bad for diabetic hubby, just to many carbs and so the Tafel was amazing I could buy fruit and veg like mad because most people did not want it because they did not cook. So I got for a few Euros all the fruit and veg and salads we could eat. One time I got 20kg ( around 44lbs) of fresh tomates for 4 Euro. I cooked enough sauce for the year.
Do not scoff at the cheese slice! lol My grandmother, who lived through the depression, would boil up some elbow macaroni, drain them and mix it in a baking dish with a can or two of stewed tomatoes. She would top the entire dish with American cheese slices and bake until it was warmed through and the cheese was melty. Every so often I get a craving and have to make it.
My great grandmother use to make macaroni and tomatoes. I loved it. Every so often I will make it but its NEVER as good as hers. She would also make cheese toast in a toaster oven. Just a slice of white bread with a slice of American cheese on top and let it golden and bubbly. 🤤 so good.
Yum, it sounds quite nice, my son would love that too
That sounds good. I would love that especially if I could have some of my mom/grandmom's canned tomatoes. Unfortunately, I never learned how to can so I'll have to go with store bought and "doctor it up".
That does sound yummy.
I do wish you would put something like "Meals from a Food Pantry Box" in your title to make these videos easier to find again later. I have shared your original one in YT comments several times and on my blog. All your Budget Dinners videos are great, but these address a very specific situation and sometimes you want to let people know what sort of things are available and how to use them.
I think the chicken parm idea was the best. Most people would never think to do something other than chicken sandwiches with all those patties, and they're probably not that great a patty--not compared to chicken sandwiches you get out somewhere. But on pasta and covered in tomato sauce and cheese, I bet they're really good and not distinguishable from what you would get in a generic Italian restaurant.
Remember this idea can be done with any chicken, including nuggets. My kids make chicken parm sandwiches with jar sauce, provolone cheese slices and hamburger buns.
You can save it to your own collection. I have numerous video's saved
Taco Taters!!! We use the potato as a vessle for everything. It is a great way to clean out the fridge of any bits. Chili tatoes with chili and cheese. Taco Tatos - Taco fixings. Buffalo Tatoes - buffalo chicken, ranch, cheese.
I have been to many of church gatherings/Bible study/youth group etc and done a baked potato bar... the main group hosting makes the baked potatoes (that you can do overnight in a crockpot, or three, by the way) and then people bring the toppings... tacos, beans, broccoli and cheddar cheese soup cream bacon butter... you name it... I've seen it! A place we used to stop at on road trips was a "smoke house" i got the loaded pulled pork potato EVERYTIME! it was so good and like 6.95 and full of pulled pork... probably as much food if not more than his pulled pork sandwich and French fries! And mine had diced red onion melty goey cheddar cheese and sour cream! Dang it...now I want one!!! Lol
Do you think people would be interested in a Canadian version of this? I'm noticing there is not many Canadian youtubers that do extreme grocery budgeting?
I'm doing this - I only started TH-cam 3 days ago but these are in the calendar. I'm from Alberta. Subscribe to stay notified 😉
Definitely interested I follow a channel from Yellow Knife Canada
I love your concept where you help people in difficult situations to be inspired in how to cook low budget delicious and nourishing food. I live in Denmark and we have very few people in need of food assistance because of our welfare system but as a social worker I know how important it is for the family wellbeing to be able to eat good and healthy food together. If you have a link for us abroad that want to donate to some food bank it would be nice to be able to help. Chicken pot pie is a hit in our house, sometimes I use hash browns as toppings but I like the biscuits idea thought they would have to be homemade because in our country instant food is not readily available 🙈! I like you channel because you’re humble and make it ok to reach out for help❤️.
This place is amazing at getting healthy and fresh food to people.
We keep cooked taco meat in the freezer to quickly toss on top of rice with a bunch of veg, sour cream, salsa, whatever, and make burrito bowls! You can crunch up some nachos for on top too.
I volunteer at our local food bank, including home deliveries during stay-at-home, and have always been impressed by the amount of fresh fruit and veggies we are able to provide here in California. Thanks for delivering a box, thanks for getting the word out. No one should go hungry when there is so much available.
That was so nice of you to pick up the box of food for that lady. If everyone could do something nice like that, this world would be a better place. Also loved the videos! Thank you ❤️❤️
I really, really appreciate your continuing conversation around food pantries and accepting help if you need it, and doing videos specifically regarding what you actually get in a pantry, because it's often so random lol. Growing up, a large portion of my meals came from groceries received from food banks/pantries. You said something once in another video about going even if you think other people need it more, because the food is there for you too (paraphrasing, sorry), and that felt like you were speaking to me directly lol. Anyway! Thank you for all the frugal meals you do and especially this one ♥ I hope you and your family are having a happy new year!
On a lighter note:
"It doesn't look it on camera but this pan is really big"
me: I mean I think it looks pretty big
"This is 14 inches"
me: O_O
Christine- you’re amazing! I’m not in need of a food box- but these videos help me try and be more frugal with my grocery budget- so thank you!
I go to a food pantry once a month now, and they give us a ton of food. So much food that I have to give some of it to my mom because it would have gone bad before I could use it all. I need to remember these videos next time I have to go to the food pantry. The food is always so random. It's hard to figure out what goes together sometimes. I'm not embarrassed anymore about having to go to the food pantry. I'd rather do that than to let my family go hungry. Anyway, lots of awesome ideas, and I'll be taking notes when I have more time to sit and think. 🙈 Much love from my family to yours. ❤
It’s the smart thing to do. You are being smart. I applaud you for that!
Just a thought but if you have some perishable "randomness" happening, you might try freezing some of the items if you have room in your freezer. Then within the next week or two you may find something that will go with that random item. Bell peppers and onions freeze really well, Just slice them up, put on a cookie sheet on parchment or waxed paper until the strips are frozen, then put the frozen strips into gallon zip top bags. Repeat until everything is done. You can do the same with lots of fruits, particularly peaches, mangos, nectarines, and plums.
When stuck for ideas on what to do with ingredients, you can tell Google the ingredients you have for meal ideas.
This is such a wonderful idea of giving back to your community first by delivering that box of groceries to someone needing assistance but then sharing ideas of how to actually use the box of food to feed a family. Serious kudos.
A good thing to note is that if you have limited food dollars, pick up a box and figure out a menu and use your own funds to fill in the needed items
This is why I always suggest getting the box prior to your grocery shopping. Many will only go get boxes after the shopping is done and the food shopping dollars are gone, even though they know the box will be needed. It's okay and encouraged to get the box first so you can shop smarter with the money you have.
For a more savory way to eat cottage cheese, try it with sliced tomatoes on top with lots of black pepper....it's really good!! Also love it with peaches and pineapple
The chicken and biscuits were a staple in my house growing up. Totally my comfort/nostalgia meal. We would use it to clean up all of the opened bags of frozen veggies lurking in the bottom of the freezer. Prevented wasting food and made it different every time we made it!
I am go glad you did this video. I broke my back it did heal right leaving me with major spasms on the left side of my spine. Disability doesn't leave you with much money and then 2020 hit. The first few months of 2020 my car need some work I don't have the funds so I've become a shut-in right before Corona. On top of being disabled.
You picking up the box of food for another person is the most nicest thing anybody could do for another person, I am so glad I found your Channel.
That is an awesome box. We gave out boxes at our church that was given through our school system from mid-July to November . We have not been able to get the boxes since right before Thanksgiving (the time we needed them most, in my opinion). But once, we had a few boxes left over and I took them and gave out all but one. I made recipes from the box ingredients (because the box was the same each week with a few SLIGHT variations). I printed them out and started giving out the recipes with the boxes. AND! I gave the dishes I made from the box ingredients to some elderly people in my neighborhood. Ours usually had sliced cheese (about 16 slices), 12 boiled eggs, 5 lbs potatoes, 5 lbs apples, 3 lbs. onions, 2 tomatoes, 2 cucumbers or zucchini, 16 oz. bag of baby carrots, 16 oz, cottage cheese, 16 oz. sour cream, 16 oz. plain or vanilla yogurt, 3 lbs grilled chicken or shredded chicken (pre-cooked), 1 gallon milk. We are currently trying to find a new source as to where to get new boxes as that program ran out. We are in Carrollton, Georgia, west of Atlanta. Some of my recipes included potato salad (using the plain yogurt too), baked potatoes, hashbrowns with cheese, fried potatoes, chicken fajitas, chicken casserole, chicken pot pie, egg salad, baked apples, apple cobbler, etc. Some recipes had some extra ingredients that they would need to have but it was easier for them to afford basics when some food was provided. If I knew that a family needed help with those basic items I would get those items donated or I would buy them myself. I drive a school bus and I know which of my kids families are struggling (and all I have to do is ask other drivers about their kids families if I didn't have enough to give out all our boxes. I really wish I could find some where to get boxes... Pray I find that outlet...
I went through a month when my oldest son was 2 where I had no car and lived in the middle of nowhere in the winter in NH. I had food stamps at the time and I knew where the food pantry was but I had no way to get anywhere. I didn’t even have a cell phone. That’s something people don’t think about as well. Sometimes people can’t get to the food. I literally ate nothing many days so there would be enough food for my son. Sometimes he had buttered noodles as a meal because our options were limited. Food deserts are a big problem when it comes to people being hungry.
Wow you are such an incredible and strong mom! I hope you are doing better ❤️❤️❤️ I have a 2 year old son and I cannot imagine how hard that must have been for you.
I eat a toasted bagel with a bit of margarine and a slice of american cheese on each half EVERY SINGLE MORNING! I love it, I've been eating that for years ❤
One idea to make english muffin pizza. One of my all time favorite meal/snack as a kid. You have the taco meat, heat it through, add to the top of split muffins and add a slice of cheese. You would have taco pizza minis. Now I am hungry!!!! lol
We did the cheese on bagels too. Add a tablespoon of spaghetti sauce and it’s a pizza bagel. If you have pepperoni you can get fancy and cover the hole with a slice of pepperoni.
#teampizzabagels growing up too! Or pizza English muffins ...heck even white bread in the toaster oven was made into a pizza some day
I did this a lot for my kids when they were growing up. They also had many meals of just spaghetti and sauce... fortunately they love spaghetti and sauce.
American cheese on white bread was something my best friend and I used to “cook” after school all thru jr high...love it! Bread and cheese, what’s not to like?!
It truly breaks my heart that so many people are struggling with food insecurities
Christine you’re inspiring!!! You sitting in that line for others shows your heart for people!
The taco meat also goes perfectly with rice! Super quick and easy.
So versatile. Other carbs can include potatoes (baked, tots, fries) and pasta. You can also make soup or chili with it.
Thank you for all the yummy ideas. We have been a family that needed some of these boxes this past year. There has been some items that were very difficult for me to figure out how to stretch out to feed the whole family. Your videos have helped me to be creative with what we have. Thank you
Hope this year is a good one for you and your family :) it’s tough times right now ❤️
Type your ingredients into Google for meal suggestions. Variety is life 🥰
My aunt brought pot pie to thanksgiving! But she topped it with STUFFING😍 just regular old stuffing from the box and it was delish!
I have been doing that for years! One of my favorite meals. If I don’t have stuffing I mix up some bisquick mix, and some extra spices and spoon it on top. I even sometimes use canned chicken and gravy with different veggies. Works great. Fast and tasty.
Outstanding!
We do bagels with cheese in the toaster oven. Can even do it in the air fryer or oven. It’s so good toasted. Sometimes I get fancy and put the everything bagel seasoning on top of the cheese.
Hi Christine. I'm fairly new to your channel but I watch you every day ever since I found it. I'm so impressed by you for many reasons. You are so positive and energetic and intelligent. You are a great mom and your husband is awesome too. I love that your children don't watch a lot of TV or play video games and are not on social media. You are raising good and productive people. I'm so impressed by your Mickelson Trail family bike ride. Your house is beautiful. You are beautiful too. I think you are just overall amazing! I love seeing your brother and your mom and other extended family. I do worry that there is too much information and maybe it's not safe. But thank you for your amazing and uplifting videos. I live alone and I'm not going out because of Covid and you are great company. I'm also watching your husband's channel and just subscribed today to your brother's channel.
I’m so excited that you’re delivering a box!! So many people need someone to volunteer to bring them a box
Thank-you for speaking to kindly about assisting people where to call for food. I have had to use the FoodBank in Canada twice when the children were small. The first time I cried, I felt so bad having to make that call. Now, full circle - I volunteer at the City FoodBank.
You absolutely rock, Christine! Ever thought about getting in touch with one of the umbrella food bank organizations to let them know about these vids so that they can promote them? I'm sure a ton of people could use help with ideas.
Thank you. I can't even begin to express my admiration of you, and gratitude for what you do. As someone who once needed help, a handful of years ago, once I got back on my feet, I was on the lookout for people who needed assistance- especially now. 🙏🏻😌
On another note- cottage cheese on a baked potato is delicious!!!!
If you have bagels I love to toast one and put a fried egg on top. It's so filling, and eggs are pretty cheap
I love the idea of showing meals made from food pantry boxes!!! Thank you for showing how meals can actually be made with all the items!
That meat is really good in a homemade chili. Just some beans and diced tomatoes and it works well.
Speaking of potatoes as a meal. I like to do "baked" microwave potatoes with butter, plain yogurt and steamed broccoli.
My topping is cottage cheese and diced tomatoes.
Baked beans and grated cheese
I never thought to make pot pies with canned biscuits! Looked so easy and delish! Thanks Christine!
I love that you help your community get their boxes. I know they appreciate your help. My Mother made that same pot pie only after Christmas with leftover ham, onion, bell pepper, milk, flour, butter and homemade cheese biscuits on top. I add mixed veggies or whatever I need to use up in the filling. It doesn't sound good, but it's delish. Then after ham pie, she cooked the last of the ham in a big pot of beans with cornbread, boiled potatoes (thickened with flour- almost like a soup) and cole slaw. My Father was in a food coma for a week. lol
Bless her for going out of her way to help ☺️
Yes! Christine cottage cheese with grapes and banana slices. Awesome! Sometimes put some honey or agave nectar too
Great you help out. In Dec we deliver food from our church to those who cant get out too i post in my christmas vlog .. We deliver so much... Good you did video on this ..cause alot ask me what to make ..i put recipe cards in boxes. Which was easy to do..i even grab stuff for my elderly neighbor cause i am already out.. ALWAYS GREAT TO HELP OTHERS.. You are amazing person Christine helping others !!!
I've been having a blast catching up on your videos. Your simple recipes, humour and positive attitude have been a life saver, and for those who don't like microwave bagels, add a slice of cheese to a freshly toasted bagel, and it'll make a melty sandwich delight :) Thank you so much for these videos!
THANK YOU for helping, both by picking up food and by sharing how people can find resources if they need help. I loved seeing what you made!
Our local food ministry feeds over 30,000 lbs of food at least twice a week. It is amazing! We've volunteered and I plan to do more now that the holidays are over with. What is great that at the end of the session whatever good is left over you are able to take home, so volunteering for a few hours not only helps your neighbor but you also can provide for your family. I know we are blessed to not be hungry but tight budgets anything helps. Thank you for providing a look at what you can do especially since sometimes the items will not go together at all, lol! :)
I really enjoy your videos. You really motivate me as a deaf single mom of three teenagers and got me slowly....I mean sLoWLy got me to get back to exercising again. Thank you for sharing this. I do have a few ideas or if you could give me some shopping advices if you have time. This may help with food shopping where I live in. Definitely not in the beautiful state of Idaho.
Can’t express how much I love your videos. I am not in need of food but I love the way you teach others about it and their options to get food if they need it. But I do use your food ideas to help be more frugal! Which is a goal of ours this year. With the pandemic we suffered a major cut in money and was unable to save the way we planned.
My husband and I just had our 2nd wedding anniversary and this past year you have helped us both spice up our kitchen and save money to pay off our debt! Thank you! I genuinely enjoy watching your videos SO much!
That is awesome!
I love how this seems as though it’s the way people fed their families like 60+ years ago! Bread, cheese, eggs, potatoes, beans. It’s so simple to provide for your family!!
Yessss, there was one I wanted to go to, on saturdays there about 10-15 schools here in Las Vegas give out groceries... no questions asked
We call that lazy chicken parm! It’s one of our favorites. Cheap, easy and goes a long way. We needed to get a food box from a pantry at one point and I remember standing there looking at the randomness of the box thinking what do I do with all this? It required a lot of creativity meal wise. We made it through and it made us all appreciate what we do have on our table now!
I got several food pantry boxes during the pandemic as they suspended all child support payment enforcement for at least 7 months. 😳 I know, right? I joked that it was like an episode of Chopped where you try to make meals out of weird basket ingredients. I really enjoyed the challenge but am getting my child support again so no need fo the assistance.
They did what??? How is that even legal??
And what broke ass other parent in families is not still paying it anyway despite no enforcement, it's their kid. You just pay. It's that's simple,
Like my "dad" paid my mum a whole lousy ten dollars a week when I was a kid, even though the court decreed a hundred, then I got two dollars pocket money on weekends when I visited him.
Nice of him to be so generous hey?
Oh god, so families who already are conting on that help, comes the pandemic and on top of that, no child support? That is horrible. I am so sorry.
@@angelika_munkastrap4634 He only ever paid because it was a condition of his probation. Hes a real gem! We had 5 kids when he split! They are all grown now but he owes 160k.
@@DaferrFN Thanks. We made it!
@@kerrievans8263 wow... I mean, I am married, we have one kid and we had tough times. I cannot even imagine what it is like to be in your shoes.
I have to say, you are amazing to be able to navigate that. I wish you and your children all the best, stay stron, stay healthy!
Great video. I agree with others, this is informative, showing people how to cook and eat on a budget.
I have to write a paper on an unsolved problem that we face with a solution to fixing it. The idea is to think outside of the systems we currently live in. I have been struggling to come up with something but seeing that long line really made we want to come up with a solution for changing this. Not that a paper will solve the problem. Thank you for sharing this.
@Tina Shoemaker I was thinking the same with the staples box! That was actually the solution I was going to look at. Then the next step is how they get funded/donated to begin with. I am setting up a call with the local food bank to better understand how they get and move food through the county. Thanks for your thoughts.
Many years ago the government used to supply these staples to people in need. It was in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Vegetable oil, peanut butter, American cheese, canned meat like Spam, Flour, dried beans, etc. This was before food stamps and they were called “commodities”. I was a young child but I remember elderly people from church would receive these items.
@@mimijulene6307 yes my father and stepmom used to get this box. This was in the mid-1980s. My absolute favorite was the thick cut American cheese. I hated cold American cheese on sandwiches, and would never eat it.....until I ate the American cheese that came in the box. I would eat a cheese sandwich on white bread, no meat necessary. I was not a fan of white sandwich bread, either, but if that cheese was on it....!
I LOVE me some cottage cheese with a beef steak tomato and garlic salt. 😋
Great ideas! God bless you for going to pick up food for someone who couldn't. I am sure your kindness was appreciated!
That pot pie looked delish!! That was great to do the recipes mainly with the pantry box items. I know sometimes the offerings seem very random but you've found a great way to incorporate items to make well rounded meals. Thanks for all you do Christine❣
Girlfriend, do not be forgetting the fabulousness that is Taco Rice! On your plate: hot cooked rice, taco meat, refried beans, shredded cheese, then whatever else you'd normally put in your taco shell or burrito. Serve corn chips on the side to scoop up the stragglers. This is the ONLY meal my husband has brought to our marriage that I will eat. It is quick, it is easy, it can clean out your fridge pretty well, and it stretches a little bit of meat into a lot of meals. (It also reheats well, simply add the rabbit food parts after heating.)
You are such a hard working and caring person. I'm 23 and I watch every upload ive learned alot. Thanks for helping people in so many ways and being your amazing self!
I love cottage cheese with chopped white onion, cucumber, tomato mixed into cottage cheese and some pepper. Saltine crackers with butter on top on the side…..it is delicious!!
I like to eat peaches, like the canned or jarred peaches, with cottage cheese.
I loved the bagels with melted cheese as a meal growing up also! Best cheap and quick meal/snack ever!!🥯🧀😋
Bagels and cheese. Apples and peanutbutter are great snacks or easy meals for kids.
My mom used to make tomato cheese toasts for snack. You pop some cheese on whatever bread you have in the house, throw it under the broiler until it’s melted and toasty to you preferences, then top it with sliced tomato, salt and pepper. I still have that as a late night snack at times.
I love your videos! Not only do I get dinner inspirations but, it’s almost therapeutic to watch. 🥰💗 blessings to you and your family! ✨
I live for Cristine saying "micro'u'avé" - so funny.
I like it too
This is such a great video idea!!! It's sad to see so many people in need but bless your heart for helping 💕
I would toast the bagel before the cheese and microwave.step. Game changing!
Thanks for helping your community and for making this video!
Biscuits are also really easy to make and less temperamental than pie crust! Crumble up cold butter or shortening into flour/salt/baking powder until it's a sandy texture and add water until it's a dough. Then drop lumps on top of your pie. It takes probably 10 minutes to do! There are even recipes that use oil instead of butter if that's all you've got
I would do those cheeses on English muffins all the time 😊
This is so helpful! We have 5 kids living at home & need frugal meal ideas. Thank you!
My kids eat cheese on a bagel or English muffin ALL THE TIME!!! FYI, you can just pop that baby in the toaster put the cheese on top as soon as it comes out of the toaster. And it melts the same , it’s delicious
We do a baked potato potluck once a year with my family. I make a ton of baked potatoes and my folks and brother and sister bring different toppings. It's actually pretty fun, plus affordable and easy. There are so many topping options, bacon bits, green onions, broccoli, cheese, canned chili, French fried onions, sour cream, queso!
I watched this video with my 10 year old(she’s a big fan btw). Tacos just happened to be on the lunch menu today. She folded hers up and said, “Look! I learned this from Christine!” We’ve always done the one end tuck, apparently tucking both ends is fancy.
Swiss cheese on a onion bagel, in the oven is delish.
I do Swiss on an everything bagel 👍
This is actually my preferred order. Onion bagel with swiss and tomato. Yum.
I love bagels with cheese. Toast and butter the bagel, put the cheese on and sprinkle with onion salt, and broil to melt the cheese. Mmm.
American cheese on bagels is LIFE. Both my husband and I grew up on it. Now my son eats it. It's a guilty pleasure. Lol. So glad you do this series!!
We truly don’t know how blessed we are. Every child that’s old enough to understand should have to pick and make meals for the week on a very limited budget. And all left over ate instead of threw out
Wow you’re local food pantry gives an awesome box. Lots of variety and possibilities. I’m glad you showed how easy pot pie can be, good dish to load with veggies
Yes, we did the melted sliced cheese on bagels all the time! Mostly after school that or cereal.
It’s nice to see that even though your family can’t help at the food kitchens you’re still giving back to the community by picking up food boxes for others. Great meal ides. The only thing I would change would be putting the bagels in the toaster and then topping with that delicious American cheese as I hate doughy bagels. 🥰🥰
We have several FB groups that have incredible community support that works magic when anyone asks for help! Aside from food banks, our people help eachother ♡ No judgement ever!!
Thanks for the meals. You could also mix up some Bisquick for the topping on the chicken pot pie instead of store bought biscuits. Just a tiny bit more work, but I don't like store bought biscuits. I will try these meals out. Thanks again. Glad you're helping others too!!!
Great video. Sad to think this country has such a problem with hungry people. Your ideas are such a blessing to many people.
The chicken pot pie with the biscuits looked yummy! Thanks for being the hands/feet/wheels for someone(s) who couldn’t get the food they needed. 😎
Check out local little library wooden houses for food too. A few of ours have turned into food pantries and we grocery shop for it weekly as the food turn over rate is so high in it. I also organized the little library at the local elementary school and put in new and gently used books for all ages around Christmas so people could give them as gifts if they didn't have any.
Your such a great big hearted lady and I love your videos.
I love these ideas. You rock, Christine! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Loved cream cheese on toast or bagel with slice of cheese for breakfast, lunch , dinner or snack as a kid. Still eat it today at 55. 😘
Cottage cheese is super good on baked potatoes if you add chives and bacon super yummy, my oldest who is 17 prefers cottage cheese over sour cream on her baked potatoes and has for the past few years. Cottage cheese that already has chives mixed in is the best, we also use that in our lasagna along with ricotta cheese.
Inspired me to check on what options may be available for a relative whose undergoing a difficult time right now. Thank you.
As a kid I would put cheese on bread under the broiler till it browned. Yum.
We mix cottage cheese with peaches...but any fruit. It is a staple at our house for snacks, or quick breakfast.
We have a door to door food drive on the first week-end of December. We just put the non perishable food items we want to give on the front porch in the morning and they come and pick it up during the day. Most of the grocery stores have a donation box. Our school also have a food drive and the class that gives the most have a pizza lunch.
❤️