*Afterthoughts & Addenda* *Apple Pips/Cyanide* - it's true that apple pips contain amygdalin, which can release cyanide in your digestive system, however, nobody is going to die from eating five apple pips. It is estimated that you would have to eat them at least in the hundreds before it presented a serious risk. *Unprocessed?* - please see below...
I don't understand how you say the cheese slices are unprocessed but a slab of cheese is processed. Surely ALL cheese is processed? The same with the bacon, if bacon is processed, then all meat is processed. I am not criticising you, I just don't understand your reasoning.
@alee_enn No. The cheese slices in this video are just slices mechanically cut from a block of real, actual 100% cheese. This is different from 'processed cheese' - which is manufactured *from* cheese, blended with other ingredients to make a cheese product, which is no longer actual cheese. Cheesemaking is a process, but cheese is not 'processed cheese'. If anything, cheese is processed milk. Bacon is cured pork. Curing is a process where other ingredients are added that significantly alter the nature of the product. Bacon is a _pork product._ Cutting up the chicken is a 'process' too, but it's still just chicken. That is the nature of the distinction I made in this video.
correct, apple seeds do contain amygdalin and it takes roughly 2 cups of split seeds to do major harm however they can have other non harmful effects on your body in smaller amounts. Note they can not release any amygdalin if the seeds are whole. Note two @alee_enn may be from America where most if not all cheese slices are highly processed to make them last longer. Here where I am only a small amount of cheese is processed to that amount.
I used to think that you had to follow a precise recipe to cook something delicious, and now i know thanks to this series, the only thing you need is creativity and being open to new tastes
@@capitalb5889 Yeah I understand why he doesn't want to come off like he is preaching at less well of people, but some of these ideas are also just genuinely good if I do want to cut my grocery budget down a bit
22:48 The last time I tried to do any actual baking I got some melted jam on my arm and I can confirm "fruity napalm" is the most apt description. Absolutely horrible experience
Even though you present this as a challange, "buy the cheap-ish things and see what you can make of them" is actually the most relatable thing to our normal day-to-day lives. Which makes this the most practical of these kind of videos. I'm sure we'd all appreciate you repeating this format from time to time, just because of how practical it is, and how useful these tips would be to a lot of us.
I'm glad you like it. I feel like this development of the 'challenge' format is more useful for me too. The budgetary limit was just played out, I think - there are only so many things you can do with an onion and a can of beans and no fat. This version still creates an impetus to experiment, but without making those experiments a guaranteed failure!
@@134StormShadow cranberry goes very well with ham and cheese. I'm lactose intolerant and I have to resort to having vegan cheese (bleh) The stuff can't be even classed as cheese. It doesn't even melt in a toastie. I have to add cranberry to give extra heat to make it melt
Said it before but these cooking/limited budget type videos are my comfort go-to video when I’m feeling a bit shit. Hope you never stop making them Mr. Shrimp
I started to watch this channel for the scam baits videos but these videos are my favorites, not only they're fun to watch but the ingeuinty behind every meal you do is actually really helpful
Something about watching Shrimp go straight for the middle slices of bread from the loaf at 12:00 felt quite validating. Glad to see I'm not the only one who does this
I love this channel, it’s a recent discovery thanks to the algorithm. Have you ever done a food video challenge similar to this one but with the twist of a non mainstream supermarket, maybe Polish or Asian? I think that could make for a range of interesting food challenges!
I watch these mostly for the UK food prices. It's shockingly expensive here in the USA in comparison, even in the relatively affordable area I live in. Loved the more relaxed and realistic feel of this one!
I sometimes fall into the trap of watching a grocery haul thinking it'll also involve recipes ideas and cooking and am shocked to see how much more expensive it is for you! I guess everywhere is suffering at the moment. I just wish we could do extreme couponing in the U.K. 🤔
These challenges are, I think, excellent for people who want to learn to cook, or cook without recipes. You take your knowledge of what goes together well and try out new things. I always thought the mark of an excellent home cook was just this. And doing things on the cheap is obviously great for anyone. You can end up with great homemade meals that cannot be matched in flavor and quality in many restaurants. Thanks as always, Mike. Your videos are always a great start to my weekends.
I used to have a rule that I would never take a recipe book into the kitchen*, but instead, try to understand why the recipe works, then implement that idea - it made me a lot more willing to just try stuff and substitute ingredients; sometimes it was a disaster - sometimes it still is, but it brings about a different way of looking at ingredients. *Cakes were an exception because you just have to get the numbers right
I agree, this has helped me in my cooking. My dad was a fantastic cook and could seemingly make something tasty out of nothing, I never really paid attention of how he was able to do this. I think these challenge vids have helped me with that skill my dad had, I'm finding that when I haven't had a chance to shop, I am now more able to look to and see what I have left and have been able to rustle-up some meals.
I just noticed today how lovely your sound quality is! The fact that it’s crisp but unobtrusive is lovely. As someone who spent 20 years involved in independent filmmaking, I’m really impressed by your work in general. Thank you for the many hours of information and laughter - and the addition of ‘oneion’ to my supermarket vocabulary..
Shrimp singlehandedly curing my eating disorder by saying "I only want something light" and proceeding to make thick soup, and toast and cheese. love you Mike.
My previous fave moment was the genius of choosing tartar sauce for the potato salad. This time it was double facing toast in a wide slot toaster when you couldn’t get the setting you wanted. I actually stopped the vid and closed my eyes to relish the moment 😂 Adding “a person carrot” to my lexicon, thank you.
Maybe do a challenge just buying heavily discounted items. I've noticed in some past videos that supermarkets in the UK do bigger discounts on end of sale date items so big it makes the US look stingy.
Most American supermarkets suck now. They are intensely wasteful to protect a reputation of quality. I just switched to shopping at places like Aldi and non-chain produce places.
Honestly the creativity in these videos has actually given me a lot of ideas for eating on the cheap. The thing I've noticed, in trying to do these myself to an extent out of wishing to challenge my own creativity, is it can be wildly difficult to eat moderately healthy here in the US while attempting it. I've still learned a ton though. Thanks for doing these videos! Also, if you ever want to have that extra flavor from fruit in a stock, it helps to add it after the cooking is done, or in the last 5-10 minutes, so that the delicate flavors don't get entirely cooked out! Lemon is my favorite to use for chicken stock, it adds a beautiful brightness to it.
I really like this twist on the classic format of the challenge. It still has the spirit of being frugal while allowing for more creativity, in addition to being a bit more realistic. Just because something is the cheapest option available, the price per weight can still make something else the better choice.
"I'd have thought it was easier to think about who you truly love" this is good advice. i thought about it for a long time, but I figured out who I truly love using this technique. coincidentally, this person and i are already married
My grandmother's used to something similar to the tart but would roll the bread flat, a couple of pieces of fruit seal shut with a fork and fry in a little bit of butter. Great afternoon or after school treat.
True. A big bag of carrots and potatoes always go into my cart, when shopping for groceries. Can't go wrong with that, as far as value for money is concerned.
Every meal so far looked very tasty and appealing. It's rare for a video of this length to hold my attention these days, but yours nearly always do. No flimflam, no unnecessary waffle no gawd awful music and straight to the point in a very pleasant, gentle and interesting way. Thanks.
I love the soundtrack with the calm shopping in these videos. Might just be my area but here in the US (southern Indiana) all the nearby stores either look like they’ve been abandoned since a zombie apocalypse or like a group of gremlins just threw a holiday party in there.
I always find it so interesting seeing the differences between the U.S and the U.K. I suppose they're not too dissimilar but I am so jealous of the extreme couponing! I wish we did that here 🤔
Just got home from work, and the thought struck me that "bargain" hunting at the grocery is something like the modern, urban version of "Hunter/Gatherer" behavior. It feels awesome to save a bunch of money and make something tasty, much like traditional methods roaming the wilderness. You don't always find what you hoped for, but when you can create something filling from what you DO find, you feel like a proper provider.
I think a "Day in the Life" viedo of a typical day in your life would be great. What you usually cook, without worrying about a budget challenge, what you and the wife and the doggo get up to etc. Maybe there is a reason why you haven't done this yet, but just from watching the budget challenges and some of your foraging stuff, I think it would be a hit! Great video as always and keep up the great work.
Love it. It's how I tend to shop as a single person with a not too terribly small budget, but no desire to waste a lot of money on basic groceries. I almost never go in with a shopping list. I just see what's good value - maybe in season, maybe reduced and then improvise with that. Although I can't honestly claim, that my meals are as inventive as yours! This was a fun one and gave me some ideas 👍🏻
An idea for a challenge is to have a random number generator from 0-250 (representing pennies) and run the generator for an item of each type (the same food groups you did for this video) and go to the shops and buy the item you can find that comes as close to the price, represented by the random number, as possible.
I’m genuinely curious. Do you think everyone cooks like this or are you aware that most of the things you come up with, seemingly on a whim, most of us “normal” people wouldn’t think of in a million years? Your creativity is outstanding. I look forward to the weekend largely for your videos.
I honestly don't know - it's not easy to know how other people typically cook (even when you get invited around, you're probably not seeing normal cooking); this sort of approach of 'use what you have; make what you can' is how my mum cooks. I think that's where I got it.
One of my favourite and most inspiring features of these 'limited budget/ingrediants' challenges is how creative and inventive Shrimp is with his meals and also how literally nothing goes to waste. Even elements that would usually just end up in the bin or washed away are used for something. Makes you realise how much we waste in everyday cooking without thinking about it. Shrimp should do a video about how and what you can do with leftovers, peelings and 'waste ingrediants' Timely in this era of cost of living crisis and social consciousness of environmental / sustainability. All the same, great videos Shrimp, keep up the great work 👍🏻
Something to try/demonstrate is growing the rootball of a celery. Cut the stalks off the base slightly higher than normal snap off, leave about as much on as you'd tail. I leave the very immature center buds on as well but unnecessary. Put in a tray of water for in sun light for a week. I used kitchen windowsill, you could use greenhouse. Than replant after some roots have grown. It recovers very quickly, and I found remarkable.
From the US, I remember as a child sitting around a campfire with a pie maker. The cooking item was hinged with a round metal container. On each side of the container you buttered, put a slice of bread on each side of the container with the ingredients in the center. The main ingredient in the center was usually jelly, we were kids. You then cooked the pie over the fire. It would be similar to your bread apple cheese tart.
I've found some amazing "reduced" items that have resulted in outstanding meals at the store. I work as a baker nowadays after 10 years as a fishmonger, and combining my knowledge of both and a keen eye for discounts has resulted in some mouthwatering dinners just by taking a moment and looking for bargains. Shallots in particular have changed my entire cooking regimen, I used to go for red onions but shallots chop so beautifully, and add such an amazing flavor that I've switched almost entirely to using them. Pork belly has become a new favorite, cheap, simple to prepare, and it can be added to rice/noodles/veg to make a myriad of dishes from around the world. Pork loin roasts are another one that I can get 2-3 meals from and only involve my Ninja Foodi and 45 minutes on the pressure cooker setting. Here in the USA if you pay attention you can pick up bison steaks at reduced prices and they make amazing meals at sometimes half the price. Another great video Mike, thank you and keep em coming!
You should try growing shallots. French ones are planted out like I plant garlic and split into many shallots the next year I've grown the bigger shallots called chicken leg shallots but they need to be started by seed every year. They are much bigger. But both store for long times in my cool pantry. You're so right about the flavor. They are yummy.
@@buffys3477 Having your own personal herb garden is amazing, add in some potatoes/tomatoes/peas and shallots any maybe carrots and you've got the makings for great veggie stock or the ingredients for stew/soup, just add protein.
Do try oxtail, not just for stock but as a stove top braised meat, had it yesterday prepared after a Korean recipe and it was amazing succulent meat that was pretty cheap and incredibly flavourful. One of the best dishes I’ve ever made!
@@tiff2106 oh I love oxtail. Another thing that has become amazingly expensive round here. For a while it was very hard to find. Now butchers have it fairly often but have figured out they can charge silly money for it.
Just to re-iterate what many have said. I love your cooking/limited budget challenges, but this is the best if not one of the best. It was the perfect level of restrictive to make it fascinating but relatable and educational.
My mother uses slices of stale bread instead of pastry for little tarts and quiches she cooks in her air fryer. It's a surprisingly good substitute and you don't have to worry about it being undercooked which can be an issue with the bottom of raw pastry in an air fryer as it cooks so fast.
One underappreciated thing about the "moving goalposts" is that it does actually add another dimension to the challenge in terms of having to think on your feet. Like, by adding foraging, you've switched things up on the fly. So that might require different thinking than if you went shopping initially with foraging in mind
I have a hard time putting into words how much I enjoy this series of yours. I often feel a great deal of anxiety when it comes to purchasing and readying food, though I find your calm and insightful demeanour to inspire me to try new things. Thanks
Im autistic and this is one of the most friendly channels on here.. no ads, amazing format, wonderfull creativity, soft and engsging speaking voice, doggo. I want to donate a coffeee
I just adore these videos because of the tips and ideas you sprinkle through! Chicken skin on cheese toast looks absolutely amazing and I am 100% going to try the cheese pastry thing. A slice of sharp cheddar on a warm slice of apple pie is pretty common around these parts, so I'm interested to try this version!
This is my favourite iteration of your cooking challenges is quite some time! Feeling pretty inspired to take it on myself and see how my local grocery prices (factoring in conversion rates to CAD) hold up to your haul! However, as I keep a vegan diet, I've got some modified rules I'd have to follow: meat and cheese will be replaced with plant-based meat and cheese (these needing to obviously be processed since the unprocessed plant-based foods are just... plants). And for either of these categories, if I find the item to be wholly unsatisfactory for the price (either cheap but incredibly tiny or way too expensive compared to the non-vegan version), I'll allow myself one swap with a tofu product (I can't replace both of the categories with tofu). Thank you for the inspiration and yet another lovely video! Can't wait for part two.
These challenges are always fantastic to watch - I'd love to see an inversion of this; buying only the most expensive of each category. I feel like while the most expensive products would yield better quality, it make actually be harder to make consistent meals from it (that and the cost!) Still, would be super interesting to see! Big love, Shrimp!
Your video's are so relaxing to watch, perfect accompaniment to a Friday dinner after a long week! And I love this format, very useful as someone who lives on a tight budget atm!
i love this series of videos so very much. i fall asleep to them easily because i find them incredibly soothing, and then i just watch them again the next day to catch up on what i missed. thank you so much for this series!
I love these videos! I am always amazed at how much cheaper food is in the UK than it is here in Canada. I decided to compare prices. The closest I could find to the carrots was a 2lb bag - that costs us $2.99 - about 1.76 GBP. A head of celery -$3.49 (2.05 GBP). I could not find a 6 pack of apples. The cheapest I could find were red delicious at 87 cents each - works out at $5.22 for 6 (3.07 GBP). Cheddar slices - I don't know how big the pack you bought was, but the cheapest no-name pack I could find was $4.99 (2.94 GBP). a 5 pack of chicken legs cost $12 (7.06 GBP). White bread - no-name $1.99 (1.17 GBP). The cheapest jam I could find was an own-brand at $4.49 (2.64 GBP). Canned spaghetti - $1.99 (1.17 GBP). So my total for your shopping trip works out at $37.16 - the equivalent of 21.88 GBP that is more than 3 times the cost! This price comparison was done at the Candian Superstore - not quite as cheap as Walmart - I would consider this the equivalent of Tesco - less premium than Sainsbury's... I imagine if I had shopped at somewhere like Safeway (a more premium store, equivalent to Sainsburys) the cost would have been more. I used the current exchange rates to calculate the costs btw.
Great research. I'm really shocked at how expensive stuff is in Canada. I think it's worth keeping in mind that the exchange rate is historically weak at the moment, but even at more historical rates, it would still be much cheaper.
The cooking budget challenge videos are my favorite. Always enjoy watching them. I propose a challenge that incorporates both urban (found free items like packets of ketchup, sugar, etc) and countryside foraging.
enjoy the self imposed rules of not getting the same products usually. it makes these challenges both interesting to watch and simulates diversity in diet that said more iterations of this challenge variant would be more than enjoyable to watch
I really like this series, without a set budget just buying the cheaper items. I do also appreciate your creativity with the things you buy which is honestly the best part of these cheap food challenges you do.
YES! My favourite video series on TH-cam! Mr Shrimp, if you're reading; please make us a special episode/series where you add other arbitrary restrictions e.g. weighs less than 100g, one thing of each colour of the rainbow, most expensive item per country of origin, must get one item beginning with each letter of SHRIMP; get creative! Love your work
As an American, it would be interesting to see if you went to Mark's and Spencer and get the cheap-ish posh food. That would be a fun and entertaining video! Looking at the range of cheap-ish posh food!
This might be my favourite version of the limited ingredients cooking challenges. There's still a ton of creativity and thoughtfulness, but you're eating fairly well balanced meals with a lot of variety.
Your creativity challenges are my favorite format of yours. They’ve encouraged my own creative juices after a long bout of depression and dealing with cPTSD. I love the food ones especially, remind me a bit of the old TV show “Door Knock Dinners” where a host and chef would show up and knock on a random person’s door and attempt to make at least a three-course gourmet meal with whatever they found. I miss your more crafty challenges. Girls weren’t allowed shop where I went to school, so never had the pleasure to learn woodworking, welding, electronics, etc. I’ve been teaching myself though partly inspired by you. I admire all of your many hats, both physical and figurative. Two ideas: 1. Have you ever thought of doing a shop your pantry and deep freeze (I believe you call this a larder?) challenge. Last month, I had a rule that we couldn’t buy most things with just a handful of exceptions like milk, cream, eggs. 2. Instead of limiting yourself to one cheese, maybe make your own if your local stores will sell milk near or just past the best by date at a greatly reduced amount. As long as the milk doesn’t smell like death, you can do many things with it, even if it’s already chunky. It’s just already doing the job of separating the way and curds for you through the lactic acid buildup. You can make yogurt, mozzarella, farmer’s cheese, paneer, cottage cheese, and even cream cheese with old milk again as long as it just smells sour and not like bacteria gone wrong. I love this challenge. It helps me clean out my pantry, fridge, and deep freeze making sure I rarely have food waste. I think I might even start doing this twice a year at least. It helped me offset costs from Christmas.
Watched this at breakfast this morning with my daughter. After it ended she declared "I cook!" then made me a pretend cup of tea and some toast at her play kitchen. It was very cute. Thanks Mr Shrimp!
Those small tart pots and how they molded the bread, made me think, of putting cheese and ham into it and then another bread slice and pressing it down, so that you would get a sort of compressed sandwich, which isn't toasted!
It reminded me of our camping "pie" machine lol. You put butter bread and fruit in and clamp it shut and bake in the campfire. They come in round or square shapes. We do pizza fillings or just cheese for grilled cheese too. But my favorite was the apple pie filling. Messy but fun for camping
All of your videos are incredibly thoughtful, interesting, and inspiring of thought. Thank you for continuing to be a beacon of gentle contemplation and reasonableness in a world that often feels too brash and uncaring.
When I get the chance I'm going to make that fake Danish pie. Also, gotta say, from where I'm sitting, the sliced toast with cheese and crispy chicken skin looked almost like pizza.
I adore your videos on these. As a yank across the pond, It's so interesting to compare and contrast so many ordinary things. Not to mention with your soothing style. Always a pure joy to throw on one of your videos and just chill back for a bit. These food challenges are very fun and have also forced me to look more carefully at what I'm buying in not for 'price' but rather am I really getting value for what I'm doing.
*Afterthoughts & Addenda*
*Apple Pips/Cyanide* - it's true that apple pips contain amygdalin, which can release cyanide in your digestive system, however, nobody is going to die from eating five apple pips. It is estimated that you would have to eat them at least in the hundreds before it presented a serious risk.
*Unprocessed?* - please see below...
YOUR next video: all ingredients must from weird things in a can.
I don't understand how you say the cheese slices are unprocessed but a slab of cheese is processed. Surely ALL cheese is processed? The same with the bacon, if bacon is processed, then all meat is processed. I am not criticising you, I just don't understand your reasoning.
@alee_enn No. The cheese slices in this video are just slices mechanically cut from a block of real, actual 100% cheese. This is different from 'processed cheese' - which is manufactured *from* cheese, blended with other ingredients to make a cheese product, which is no longer actual cheese.
Cheesemaking is a process, but cheese is not 'processed cheese'. If anything, cheese is processed milk.
Bacon is cured pork. Curing is a process where other ingredients are added that significantly alter the nature of the product. Bacon is a _pork product._
Cutting up the chicken is a 'process' too, but it's still just chicken.
That is the nature of the distinction I made in this video.
Actually, wait. There's a simpler way to show this:
*Cheese slices* in the video; *Ingredients:* Cheddar Cheese
*Chicken portions;* *Ingredients:* Chicken
*Bacon* (typical); *Ingredients:* Pork (87%), Water, Salt, Antioxidant: Sodium Ascorbate; Preservatives: Sodium Nitrite, Potassium Nitrate.
*Processed Cheese Slices* (typical); *Ingredients:* Cheese (60%) (Cows' Milk) (Contains Acidity Regulator: Lactic Acid), Water, Palm Oil, Milk Proteins (Cows' Milk), Emulsifying Salts (Sodium Polyphosphate, Calcium Phosphate, Trisodium Phosphate), Whey Powder (Cows' Milk), Modified Potato Starch, Dried Skimmed Cows' Milk Powder, Flavouring (Cows' Milk), Colours (Beta-carotene, Paprika Extract).
*Sausages* (not in the video, but mentioned); *Ingredients:* Pork (72%), Water, Fortified Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Dextrose, Salt, Stabilisers: Diphosphates, Disodium Diphosphate; Preservatives: Sodium Metabisulphite (Sulphites), Sulphur Dioxide; Raising Agent: Ammonium Carbonate; Herbs: Parsley, Sage; Yeast Extract, Spices: Black Pepper, White Pepper; Antioxidant: Ascorbic Acid; Spice Extracts: Sage Extract, Nutmeg Extract, Mace Extract, Pimento Extract.
correct, apple seeds do contain amygdalin and it takes roughly 2 cups of split seeds to do major harm however they can have other non harmful effects on your body in smaller amounts. Note they can not release any amygdalin if the seeds are whole. Note two @alee_enn may be from America where most if not all cheese slices are highly processed to make them last longer. Here where I am only a small amount of cheese is processed to that amount.
I simply can't get enough of these types of videos (limited budget whatever).
Same - they are my ultimate comfort video!
I almost want to put off watching it because I want to prolong the anticipation and the enjoyment 🥹
Some YTers have a talent where they can make entertaining videos about paint drying.
Yes! I dread those awful scambaiting ones.
@@philipareedit’s funny because the scam baiting videos are how I got introduced.
I actually think this is the most useful version of this challenge format yet. Thanks again Shrimp!
He always says that they are not meant to be useful but just a fun challenge, but it is helpful to show cooking on a budget.
I agree! The parameters are restrictive enough to foster creativity and yet the slightly more flexible rules allow for a more interesting challenge.
I find them useful. @@capitalb5889
I used to think that you had to follow a precise recipe to cook something delicious, and now i know thanks to this series, the only thing you need is creativity and being open to new tastes
@@capitalb5889 Yeah I understand why he doesn't want to come off like he is preaching at less well of people, but some of these ideas are also just genuinely good if I do want to cut my grocery budget down a bit
22:48 The last time I tried to do any actual baking I got some melted jam on my arm and I can confirm "fruity napalm" is the most apt description. Absolutely horrible experience
One of my worst experiences is simmering homemade applesauce. It splatters because it's thick and is like lava on my arms and hands!
Watch out for home made fudge too. I dropped a drop on my bare foot cuz I was in a hurry lol
I always bust out the splatter screen for that. I have a scar on my arm from that. @@applegal3058
I remember us kids always being kept well away from the stove, when my grandmother and mother made jam. Guess, their caution was justified...
That's what you'll find inside those McDonalds apple pies too.
Even though you present this as a challange, "buy the cheap-ish things and see what you can make of them" is actually the most relatable thing to our normal day-to-day lives. Which makes this the most practical of these kind of videos.
I'm sure we'd all appreciate you repeating this format from time to time, just because of how practical it is, and how useful these tips would be to a lot of us.
I'm glad you like it. I feel like this development of the 'challenge' format is more useful for me too. The budgetary limit was just played out, I think - there are only so many things you can do with an onion and a can of beans and no fat. This version still creates an impetus to experiment, but without making those experiments a guaranteed failure!
The "ill pop some chicken skin onto my cheese on toast" raised an audible gasp in my household. Seriously that's a gamechanger. Bravo Shrimp.
Chicken and Cheese goes together, why not toast it :D
Tenting the bread to stop the toast going soggy is now going to be my new life changing method of toast. Can't believe I never thought of it
We've always done this and thought we'd invented it 😏. Dash it should have copyrighted it, 😂 😂.
I've always done this
@@Pooky-Cat I lean both slices against each other like two playing cards. Pretty sure I invented it - been doing it for over 30 years :)
@@rogink 30 years pah! That's recent.... 😂 😂 😉
Of course the gold standard is a toast rack...
14:05 "I dont expect any surprises here... although ofcourse that is the nature of surprises" 😄 funny
"Why?" - "Because it'll annoy someone 😉" - You're quite the rebel, aren't you 🤣
Came here to say that, it was great.
Absolute mad lad.
I paused video to put that exact comment on.. I really laughed at that 😂😂😂
lol, I'm unsubscribing because of that 😀
It worked! I had a momentary shudder.
When you picked up the bag of carrots, I whispered to myself "girthy carrot...". So powerful is your influence, Mr Shrimp.
And a 'carrot person' in the same bag 😅
I was so glad to see the girthy carrots return.
A good carrot is a girthy carrot.
Girthy Carrot merch is needed! Especially a nice canvas bag for veg shopping
Your apple ,cheese ,bread, jelly, tart blew my mind. ....I just realized what it is I love about your videos....It's the constant experimentation.
Adds cheese slices to shopping list☝️ should be interesting with the cranberry jelly that's been lurking in the fridge since xmas 😊
I have some mango chutney and some plum and ginger chutney that have now been rescued from the back of the cupboard.
@@134StormShadow cranberry goes very well with ham and cheese. I'm lactose intolerant and I have to resort to having vegan cheese (bleh) The stuff can't be even classed as cheese. It doesn't even melt in a toastie. I have to add cranberry to give extra heat to make it melt
Said it before but these cooking/limited budget type videos are my comfort go-to video when I’m feeling a bit shit. Hope you never stop making them Mr. Shrimp
Right there with you on this one 🤗.
I started to watch this channel for the scam baits videos but these videos are my favorites, not only they're fun to watch but the ingeuinty behind every meal you do is actually really helpful
Scam baiting tomorrow BTW
Me too. I love this channel, the hikes, foraging, scam baiting all of it. Great job
Came for the scams, stayed for the cans.
Same. Budget challenges are my favourite- especially with a bit of foraging thrown in!
You should do one where you HAVE to go to Aldi and get all of the super 6 then make meals with them as the main ingredient
Something about watching Shrimp go straight for the middle slices of bread from the loaf at 12:00 felt quite validating. Glad to see I'm not the only one who does this
Sometimes just have to "take the hit" and allow the fluffiest bread to the other half! Sometimes NOT!
@@stonecodfish2365 Same! I thought it was just me :-D
Doesn't everyone?
Same lol
Exactly the end pieces are just hard and bad
I love this channel, it’s a recent discovery thanks to the algorithm. Have you ever done a food video challenge similar to this one but with the twist of a non mainstream supermarket, maybe Polish or Asian? I think that could make for a range of interesting food challenges!
I watch these mostly for the UK food prices. It's shockingly expensive here in the USA in comparison, even in the relatively affordable area I live in. Loved the more relaxed and realistic feel of this one!
I sometimes fall into the trap of watching a grocery haul thinking it'll also involve recipes ideas and cooking and am shocked to see how much more expensive it is for you! I guess everywhere is suffering at the moment. I just wish we could do extreme couponing in the U.K. 🤔
But we pay for it with other things. Fuel prices are not much fun for example.
Looking at it from Sweden. They have higher wages, lower taxes and half the cost of food. So sad :(
I made this same comment. I live in Mid Michigan. Prices are not high here by US standards but I’m amazed at the prices I’m seeing there.
I'm from the Netherlands and the prices here seem higher then UK.
These challenges are, I think, excellent for people who want to learn to cook, or cook without recipes. You take your knowledge of what goes together well and try out new things. I always thought the mark of an excellent home cook was just this. And doing things on the cheap is obviously great for anyone. You can end up with great homemade meals that cannot be matched in flavor and quality in many restaurants. Thanks as always, Mike. Your videos are always a great start to my weekends.
I used to have a rule that I would never take a recipe book into the kitchen*, but instead, try to understand why the recipe works, then implement that idea - it made me a lot more willing to just try stuff and substitute ingredients; sometimes it was a disaster - sometimes it still is, but it brings about a different way of looking at ingredients.
*Cakes were an exception because you just have to get the numbers right
I agree, this has helped me in my cooking. My dad was a fantastic cook and could seemingly make something tasty out of nothing, I never really paid attention of how he was able to do this. I think these challenge vids have helped me with that skill my dad had, I'm finding that when I haven't had a chance to shop, I am now more able to look to and see what I have left and have been able to rustle-up some meals.
"Cheapest unprocessed cheese"
My mind: "MILK!!!"
Best kind of correct!
I just noticed today how lovely your sound quality is! The fact that it’s crisp but unobtrusive is lovely. As someone who spent 20 years involved in independent filmmaking, I’m really impressed by your work in general.
Thank you for the many hours of information and laughter - and the addition of ‘oneion’ to my supermarket vocabulary..
I love how Eva gently takes the toast from you lol. Good girl!
Never bite the hand that feeds you!
Shes such a good girl ❤
"Why? Because it will annoy someone."
Brilliant.
Shrimp singlehandedly curing my eating disorder by saying "I only want something light" and proceeding to make thick soup, and toast and cheese. love you Mike.
My previous fave moment was the genius of choosing tartar sauce for the potato salad.
This time it was double facing toast in a wide slot toaster when you couldn’t get the setting you wanted. I actually stopped the vid and closed my eyes to relish the moment 😂
Adding “a person carrot” to my lexicon, thank you.
Maybe do a challenge just buying heavily discounted items. I've noticed in some past videos that supermarkets in the UK do bigger discounts on end of sale date items so big it makes the US look stingy.
Most American supermarkets suck now. They are intensely wasteful to protect a reputation of quality. I just switched to shopping at places like Aldi and non-chain produce places.
Sainsbury’s and Tescos do with their value cards
Plus, this offers an interesting challenge with all the weird and interesting items you find in the clearance rack! I always check there
I wish supermarkets would do that in Denmark.
On the other hand US supermarkets use a lot of discount coupons. That’s only an occasional thing here in the UK
Honestly the creativity in these videos has actually given me a lot of ideas for eating on the cheap. The thing I've noticed, in trying to do these myself to an extent out of wishing to challenge my own creativity, is it can be wildly difficult to eat moderately healthy here in the US while attempting it. I've still learned a ton though. Thanks for doing these videos!
Also, if you ever want to have that extra flavor from fruit in a stock, it helps to add it after the cooking is done, or in the last 5-10 minutes, so that the delicate flavors don't get entirely cooked out! Lemon is my favorite to use for chicken stock, it adds a beautiful brightness to it.
Good tip! Thanks.
I really like this twist on the classic format of the challenge. It still has the spirit of being frugal while allowing for more creativity, in addition to being a bit more realistic. Just because something is the cheapest option available, the price per weight can still make something else the better choice.
I think it represents the type of choices that someone on a genuinely limited budget might make.
@capitalb5889 I would agree, even if I'm on a budget I still hate beans, thus I might choose something else with similar price
"I'd have thought it was easier to think about who you truly love" this is good advice. i thought about it for a long time, but I figured out who I truly love using this technique. coincidentally, this person and i are already married
My grandmother's used to something similar to the tart but would roll the bread flat, a couple of pieces of fruit seal shut with a fork and fry in a little bit of butter. Great afternoon or after school treat.
Shrimp - going through all of the vegetables thoroughly to find the best option
Me, who has seen all of these videos - it's going to be carrots
That means next time, it can't be carrots though
@@AtomicShrimpvery true
I don’t understand why you don’t buy frozen veg it’s so much cheaper for what you get and last a lot longer
Stamford street mixed veg 99p kg
True. A big bag of carrots and potatoes always go into my cart, when shopping for groceries. Can't go wrong with that, as far as value for money is concerned.
Your “waffling” as you say, is probably my most favourite part Mr Shrimp! ✌️please don’t ever change sir
I love buying chicken legs. The meat to value ratio is immense!
Thanks for these budget challenges, they’re so watchable.
I never thought about it until this video 🤔
If there's a TH-cam channel that deserves at least 1 million subscribers it's this one. Hopefully this is the year that you reach that milestone
"I don't expect any surprises here.... of course, that is the nature of surprises" 🤣
Every meal so far looked very tasty and appealing. It's rare for a video of this length to hold my attention these days, but yours nearly always do. No flimflam, no unnecessary waffle no gawd awful music and straight to the point in a very pleasant, gentle and interesting way. Thanks.
I love the soundtrack with the calm shopping in these videos. Might just be my area but here in the US (southern Indiana) all the nearby stores either look like they’ve been abandoned since a zombie apocalypse or like a group of gremlins just threw a holiday party in there.
I always find it so interesting seeing the differences between the U.S and the U.K. I suppose they're not too dissimilar but I am so jealous of the extreme couponing! I wish we did that here 🤔
Ahhh...Gremlins 😅
Loved that movie. Especially the scene, with all the Gremlins ransacking the kitchen. Peak 80s humor!
Dont shop in the ghetto XD
Northern Indiana here and I agree
The US has been very slow recovering from the pandemic. In my part of Ohio the stores are always under stocked, a mess, and folks still panic buying.
Just got home from work, and the thought struck me that "bargain" hunting at the grocery is something like the modern, urban version of "Hunter/Gatherer" behavior. It feels awesome to save a bunch of money and make something tasty, much like traditional methods roaming the wilderness. You don't always find what you hoped for, but when you can create something filling from what you DO find, you feel like a proper provider.
..we would all have been killed for our meat by hunter gatherers.
I think a "Day in the Life" viedo of a typical day in your life would be great. What you usually cook, without worrying about a budget challenge, what you and the wife and the doggo get up to etc.
Maybe there is a reason why you haven't done this yet, but just from watching the budget challenges and some of your foraging stuff, I think it would be a hit!
Great video as always and keep up the great work.
Love it. It's how I tend to shop as a single person with a not too terribly small budget, but no desire to waste a lot of money on basic groceries. I almost never go in with a shopping list. I just see what's good value - maybe in season, maybe reduced and then improvise with that. Although I can't honestly claim, that my meals are as inventive as yours!
This was a fun one and gave me some ideas 👍🏻
I don't know why, all these videos are some of my favorites. I love watching how creative you get with your dishes.
An idea for a challenge is to have a random number generator from 0-250 (representing pennies) and run the generator for an item of each type (the same food groups you did for this video) and go to the shops and buy the item you can find that comes as close to the price, represented by the random number, as possible.
Ah man! Gotta wait a week! I was enjoying this way too much :)
25:12 "Eva, you can't have this" Eva: "owwww"
She's such a little character! 😍
"It's 1973. It's lunchtime. I'm 'avin 'oops." - DCI Gene Hunt, in 'Life On Mars'.
I said this quietly to myself as soon as he said "spaghetti rings" - glad to see I'm not the only one : )
I’m genuinely curious. Do you think everyone cooks like this or are you aware that most of the things you come up with, seemingly on a whim, most of us “normal” people wouldn’t think of in a million years? Your creativity is outstanding. I look forward to the weekend largely for your videos.
I honestly don't know - it's not easy to know how other people typically cook (even when you get invited around, you're probably not seeing normal cooking); this sort of approach of 'use what you have; make what you can' is how my mum cooks. I think that's where I got it.
@@AtomicShrimp Influence of war-time rationing? My dad cooked in the same way.
Oh! This is my favorite video in the cooking challenge videos yet! And that danish pastry looks like an amazing idea to try out for me.
Wait, have you seen the one where he uses bombaymix to make a peanut milk? I loved it!
i always love watching you shop, shrimp. it feels cozy for some reason lol.
One of my favourite and most inspiring features of these 'limited budget/ingrediants' challenges is how creative and inventive Shrimp is with his meals and also how literally nothing goes to waste. Even elements that would usually just end up in the bin or washed away are used for something. Makes you realise how much we waste in everyday cooking without thinking about it. Shrimp should do a video about how and what you can do with leftovers, peelings and 'waste ingrediants' Timely in this era of cost of living crisis and social consciousness of environmental / sustainability. All the same, great videos Shrimp, keep up the great work 👍🏻
Something to try/demonstrate is growing the rootball of a celery.
Cut the stalks off the base slightly higher than normal snap off, leave about as much on as you'd tail. I leave the very immature center buds on as well but unnecessary.
Put in a tray of water for in sun light for a week. I used kitchen windowsill, you could use greenhouse. Than replant after some roots have grown.
It recovers very quickly, and I found remarkable.
From the US, I remember as a child sitting around a campfire with a pie maker. The cooking item was hinged with a round metal container. On each side of the container you buttered, put a slice of bread on each side of the container with the ingredients in the center. The main ingredient in the center was usually jelly, we were kids. You then cooked the pie over the fire. It would be similar to your bread apple cheese tart.
I've found some amazing "reduced" items that have resulted in outstanding meals at the store. I work as a baker nowadays after 10 years as a fishmonger, and combining my knowledge of both and a keen eye for discounts has resulted in some mouthwatering dinners just by taking a moment and looking for bargains. Shallots in particular have changed my entire cooking regimen, I used to go for red onions but shallots chop so beautifully, and add such an amazing flavor that I've switched almost entirely to using them. Pork belly has become a new favorite, cheap, simple to prepare, and it can be added to rice/noodles/veg to make a myriad of dishes from around the world. Pork loin roasts are another one that I can get 2-3 meals from and only involve my Ninja Foodi and 45 minutes on the pressure cooker setting. Here in the USA if you pay attention you can pick up bison steaks at reduced prices and they make amazing meals at sometimes half the price. Another great video Mike, thank you and keep em coming!
You should try growing shallots. French ones are planted out like I plant garlic and split into many shallots the next year
I've grown the bigger shallots called chicken leg shallots but they need to be started by seed every year. They are much bigger.
But both store for long times in my cool pantry. You're so right about the flavor. They are yummy.
I wish pork belly was still cheap in the U.K. I adore it but the price is much higher than it used to be.
@@buffys3477 Having your own personal herb garden is amazing, add in some potatoes/tomatoes/peas and shallots any maybe carrots and you've got the makings for great veggie stock or the ingredients for stew/soup, just add protein.
Do try oxtail, not just for stock but as a stove top braised meat, had it yesterday prepared after a Korean recipe and it was amazing succulent meat that was pretty cheap and incredibly flavourful. One of the best dishes I’ve ever made!
@@tiff2106 oh I love oxtail. Another thing that has become amazingly expensive round here. For a while it was very hard to find. Now butchers have it fairly often but have figured out they can charge silly money for it.
I always use apples when I make stock. It adds a little bit of sweetness and tartness. I'll use that as a base for ramen, stews, etc.
Apples are surprisingly(?) versatile. You can use them with pork, cheeses, game, chicken, coleslaw, potato salad and of course, pastries and jams.
How have I never thought to do the "toast tent" thing before?! I'm definitely stealing that!
Warm the plate and you'll get no condensation, the toast will still remain relatively hot or warm throughout too. Cold toast is a pet hate of mine.
Yes! What a great idea!
Just to re-iterate what many have said. I love your cooking/limited budget challenges, but this is the best if not one of the best. It was the perfect level of restrictive to make it fascinating but relatable and educational.
I always love these videos, but you haven't done one of these multi-days with Foraging in a while and I'm SO happy to see it returned!
My mother uses slices of stale bread instead of pastry for little tarts and quiches she cooks in her air fryer. It's a surprisingly good substitute and you don't have to worry about it being undercooked which can be an issue with the bottom of raw pastry in an air fryer as it cooks so fast.
You’re definitely not alone I love cooked celery, especially braised celery!! Plus your lunch looked superb!
One underappreciated thing about the "moving goalposts" is that it does actually add another dimension to the challenge in terms of having to think on your feet. Like, by adding foraging, you've switched things up on the fly. So that might require different thinking than if you went shopping initially with foraging in mind
I have a hard time putting into words how much I enjoy this series of yours. I often feel a great deal of anxiety when it comes to purchasing and readying food, though I find your calm and insightful demeanour to inspire me to try new things. Thanks
I really like these long-form videos. I don't think I will ever get tired of watching you improvise meals.
New cooking challenge video by Mr Shrimp - my heart simply leapt with joy at the equal combination of information and entertainment 😀
Im autistic and this is one of the most friendly channels on here.. no ads, amazing format, wonderfull creativity, soft and engsging speaking voice, doggo. I want to donate a coffeee
@@TruPunx89 absolutely agree!
I just adore these videos because of the tips and ideas you sprinkle through! Chicken skin on cheese toast looks absolutely amazing and I am 100% going to try the cheese pastry thing. A slice of sharp cheddar on a warm slice of apple pie is pretty common around these parts, so I'm interested to try this version!
This is my favourite iteration of your cooking challenges is quite some time! Feeling pretty inspired to take it on myself and see how my local grocery prices (factoring in conversion rates to CAD) hold up to your haul! However, as I keep a vegan diet, I've got some modified rules I'd have to follow:
meat and cheese will be replaced with plant-based meat and cheese (these needing to obviously be processed since the unprocessed plant-based foods are just... plants). And for either of these categories, if I find the item to be wholly unsatisfactory for the price (either cheap but incredibly tiny or way too expensive compared to the non-vegan version), I'll allow myself one swap with a tofu product (I can't replace both of the categories with tofu).
Thank you for the inspiration and yet another lovely video! Can't wait for part two.
25:09 sounded like Eva said "oh"
Very sweet.
These challenges are always fantastic to watch - I'd love to see an inversion of this; buying only the most expensive of each category. I feel like while the most expensive products would yield better quality, it make actually be harder to make consistent meals from it (that and the cost!) Still, would be super interesting to see! Big love, Shrimp!
the way you repurpose common ingredients is incredibly valuable inspiration, them strawberry tarts were genius
Your video's are so relaxing to watch, perfect accompaniment to a Friday dinner after a long week! And I love this format, very useful as someone who lives on a tight budget atm!
i love this series of videos so very much. i fall asleep to them easily because i find them incredibly soothing, and then i just watch them again the next day to catch up on what i missed. thank you so much for this series!
I love these videos!
I am always amazed at how much cheaper food is in the UK than it is here in Canada.
I decided to compare prices. The closest I could find to the carrots was a 2lb bag - that costs us $2.99 - about 1.76 GBP. A head of celery -$3.49 (2.05 GBP). I could not find a 6 pack of apples. The cheapest I could find were red delicious at 87 cents each - works out at $5.22 for 6 (3.07 GBP). Cheddar slices - I don't know how big the pack you bought was, but the cheapest no-name pack I could find was $4.99 (2.94 GBP). a 5 pack of chicken legs cost $12 (7.06 GBP). White bread - no-name $1.99 (1.17 GBP). The cheapest jam I could find was an own-brand at $4.49 (2.64 GBP). Canned spaghetti - $1.99 (1.17 GBP).
So my total for your shopping trip works out at $37.16 - the equivalent of 21.88 GBP that is more than 3 times the cost!
This price comparison was done at the Candian Superstore - not quite as cheap as Walmart - I would consider this the equivalent of Tesco - less premium than Sainsbury's... I imagine if I had shopped at somewhere like Safeway (a more premium store, equivalent to Sainsburys) the cost would have been more.
I used the current exchange rates to calculate the costs btw.
Great research. I'm really shocked at how expensive stuff is in Canada.
I think it's worth keeping in mind that the exchange rate is historically weak at the moment, but even at more historical rates, it would still be much cheaper.
The cooking budget challenge videos are my favorite. Always enjoy watching them. I propose a challenge that incorporates both urban (found free items like packets of ketchup, sugar, etc) and countryside foraging.
Cutting the sandwich like that just to annoying someone! Lol!
Let’s gooooo. I’m always excited for all the cooking challenges. What a great surprise thank you thank you
I have to say -I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!! You have given me some GREAT ideas. I'm from USA-TN God's Blessing on you and yours!!
Love these budget challenges. Food looked delicious! Can’t wait for part 2.
enjoy the self imposed rules of not getting the same products usually. it makes these challenges both interesting to watch and simulates diversity in diet
that said more iterations of this challenge variant would be more than enjoyable to watch
Tenting the toast is brilliant, I'll have to keep that in mind next time breakfast comes along
These videos are so entertaining on so many levels.
I'm always impressed how creative you are with the ingredients, turning them into actual meals!
I should be asleep but here I am watching you butter toast
Me too
Your cooking challenge videos are always so calming. I usually have them playing in the background while cooking myself.
I’m from Saskatchewan, Canada and we called “pies” made from bread ‘bush pies’ , a delicacy when camping
You are so sweet to your doggie!
I really enjoy your videos - very smart and creative!
This one felt wonderfully luxurious (comparatively speaking), great video!
I really like this series, without a set budget just buying the cheaper items. I do also appreciate your creativity with the things you buy which is honestly the best part of these cheap food challenges you do.
YES! My favourite video series on TH-cam! Mr Shrimp, if you're reading; please make us a special episode/series where you add other arbitrary restrictions e.g. weighs less than 100g, one thing of each colour of the rainbow, most expensive item per country of origin, must get one item beginning with each letter of SHRIMP; get creative! Love your work
That was great! It made me really hungry watching. Looking forward to Day 2!
As an American, it would be interesting to see if you went to Mark's and Spencer and get the cheap-ish posh food. That would be a fun and entertaining video!
Looking at the range of cheap-ish posh food!
This might be my favourite version of the limited ingredients cooking challenges. There's still a ton of creativity and thoughtfulness, but you're eating fairly well balanced meals with a lot of variety.
Your creativity challenges are my favorite format of yours. They’ve encouraged my own creative juices after a long bout of depression and dealing with cPTSD. I love the food ones especially, remind me a bit of the old TV show “Door Knock Dinners” where a host and chef would show up and knock on a random person’s door and attempt to make at least a three-course gourmet meal with whatever they found. I miss your more crafty challenges. Girls weren’t allowed shop where I went to school, so never had the pleasure to learn woodworking, welding, electronics, etc. I’ve been teaching myself though partly inspired by you. I admire all of your many hats, both physical and figurative.
Two ideas:
1. Have you ever thought of doing a shop your pantry and deep freeze (I believe you call this a larder?) challenge. Last month, I had a rule that we couldn’t buy most things with just a handful of exceptions like milk, cream, eggs.
2. Instead of limiting yourself to one cheese, maybe make your own if your local stores will sell milk near or just past the best by date at a greatly reduced amount. As long as the milk doesn’t smell like death, you can do many things with it, even if it’s already chunky. It’s just already doing the job of separating the way and curds for you through the lactic acid buildup. You can make yogurt, mozzarella, farmer’s cheese, paneer, cottage cheese, and even cream cheese with old milk again as long as it just smells sour and not like bacteria gone wrong.
I love this challenge. It helps me clean out my pantry, fridge, and deep freeze making sure I rarely have food waste. I think I might even start doing this twice a year at least. It helped me offset costs from Christmas.
Watched this at breakfast this morning with my daughter. After it ended she declared "I cook!" then made me a pretend cup of tea and some toast at her play kitchen. It was very cute. Thanks Mr Shrimp!
"We'll see if we can make something g.... interesting out of them". That was funny XD
Shrimp, I absolutely love these budget videos - they’re so relaxing and wonderfully creative.
Those small tart pots and how they molded the bread, made me think, of putting cheese and ham into it and then another bread slice and pressing it down, so that you would get a sort of compressed sandwich, which isn't toasted!
It reminded me of our camping "pie" machine lol. You put butter bread and fruit in and clamp it shut and bake in the campfire. They come in round or square shapes.
We do pizza fillings or just cheese for grilled cheese too.
But my favorite was the apple pie filling. Messy but fun for camping
@@Emeraldwitch30in South Africa we call them Jaffle makers :D
I was waiting for him to roll it out like the kids’ recipe for pinwheel sandwiches in a childhood cookbook, but this seemed more efficient.
Love this!!! 😃
Your videos are INSANE! I don't know how you think of all this. It's bloody brilliant! 👏
I love your budget challenges but more importantly i love the channel content you provide. Cheers from North Macedonia!
22:50 "That has, in some sense of the word, worked." should be the motto of this channel.
Tinned rice pudding is a good option, the sainsburys cheap one is only 25p a can! And is real versatile for sweet things
All of your videos are incredibly thoughtful, interesting, and inspiring of thought.
Thank you for continuing to be a beacon of gentle contemplation and reasonableness in a world that often feels too brash and uncaring.
When I get the chance I'm going to make that fake Danish pie. Also, gotta say, from where I'm sitting, the sliced toast with cheese and crispy chicken skin looked almost like pizza.
I adore your videos on these. As a yank across the pond, It's so interesting to compare and contrast so many ordinary things. Not to mention with your soothing style. Always a pure joy to throw on one of your videos and just chill back for a bit. These food challenges are very fun and have also forced me to look more carefully at what I'm buying in not for 'price' but rather am I really getting value for what I'm doing.