Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian Season 6 Episode 4 Big Buffalo, Ten Bills
- January 29, 2012
- 21 min
In the fourth episode of season 6 of Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian, titled Big Buffalo, Ten Bills, Melissa takes on the challenge of creating budget-friendly buffalo-inspired dishes for under $10. She starts off by showing viewers how to make a quick and easy buffalo chicken dip that's perfect for parties or game days. Using canned chicken, hot sauce, cream cheese, and a few other simple ingredients, Melissa shows that you don't have to spend a lot of money to make a delicious dip that's sure to please a crowd.
Next, Melissa tackles the main course with a budget-friendly buffalo chicken mac and cheese. She starts by poaching chicken breasts in chicken broth, which she then shreds and mixes with a homemade buffalo sauce. She also shows viewers how to make a creamy cheese sauce using a roux, milk, and shredded cheddar cheese. After cooking and draining elbow macaroni, Melissa combines the cheese sauce and buffalo chicken mixture, then tops it with breadcrumbs and more shredded cheese. This hearty and flavorful dish is sure to satisfy even the biggest appetite, all for under $10.
For a lighter dish, Melissa makes buffalo chicken lettuce wraps. She starts by sautéing ground chicken with onions, garlic, and celery, then seasoning it with buffalo sauce and serving it over crisp lettuce leaves. She also adds sliced carrots and celery for some crunch, as well as a dollop of ranch dressing to balance out the spicy buffalo flavor.
Finally, for a sweet treat, Melissa shows viewers how to make buffalo wing popcorn. She starts with air-popped popcorn (which is healthier and more budget-friendly than microwave popcorn), then drizzles it with a mixture of melted butter, hot sauce, and honey. She also adds a sprinkle of blue cheese crumbles to give it that classic buffalo wing flavor. This snack is perfect for movie nights or snacking on during halftime breaks.
Throughout the episode, Melissa emphasizes the importance of using ingredients that are already in your pantry or fridge, as well as shopping for sales and using coupons to save money on groceries. She also encourages viewers to buy in bulk and cook in batches, as this can help save both time and money in the long run.
Overall, Big Buffalo, Ten Bills is a great episode for anyone looking for budget-friendly buffalo-inspired recipes that are easy to make and delicious to eat. Melissa's tips and tricks are helpful for anyone looking to save money on groceries while still enjoying flavorful and satisfying meals at home.