Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian Season 4 Episode 11 Cost-Cutting Comfort

In season 4 episode 11 of Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian, titled "Cost-Cutting Comfort," Melissa shares budget-friendly recipes that will keep you and your family cozy and satisfied.

The episode kicks off with Melissa sharing her recipe for a hearty and comforting chicken pot pie. She starts by making a homemade pie crust, which she notes is surprisingly easy and inexpensive to make. She then fills the pie with a creamy mixture of chicken, vegetables, and herbs. Melissa emphasizes that using frozen vegetables and rotisserie chicken can help cut down on costs without sacrificing flavor or quality.

Next, Melissa shows viewers how to make a classic spaghetti and meatballs dish that is both delicious and wallet-friendly. She explains how to transform an inexpensive cut of ground beef into flavorful meatballs packed with Italian seasonings and Parmesan cheese. Melissa also shares her trick for making a quick and easy tomato sauce using canned tomatoes, garlic, and onions. She serves the meatballs and sauce with spaghetti and fresh herbs for a comforting meal that won't break the bank.

For a vegetarian option, Melissa then prepares a creamy baked cauliflower mac and cheese. She starts by making a simple roux with butter, flour, and milk, which she notes is a versatile base for many different sauces. She then adds steamed cauliflower and shredded cheese to the mixture, creating a rich and flavorful sauce that perfectly coats the macaroni. Melissa tops the dish with buttery breadcrumbs and bakes it until golden and bubbly.

Finally, Melissa wraps up the episode with a warm and cozy dessert - apple crisp. She shows viewers how to make a simple and delicious apple filling using only apples, sugar, flour, and cinnamon. She then creates a crunchy topping with oats, flour, brown sugar, and butter. Melissa bakes the crisp until it's fragrant and golden, then serves it warm with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Throughout the episode, Melissa emphasizes the importance of being mindful of food waste and using up ingredients that you already have on hand. She also shares tricks for stretching your food budget, like using inexpensive cuts of meat and buying frozen vegetables. By the end of the episode, viewers are left with a collection of comforting and budget-friendly recipes that are sure to become family favorites.