DOLLAR STORE DELIGHTS

[Sameer]

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This is what you create when you go to Dollar Tree and go crazy and buy 15 cans of Apricots, 10 cans of chunk pineapple and 8 pound cakes?...This is Glazed Cooked Apricots with Butter and Cardamom Spice over Dollar Tree Pound Cake....Apricots are a savory fruit so you need the spice...  ALSO...Pineapple upside-down pound cake with Butter Caramel Sauce.

Caramel Sauce
2 tablespoons Butter
3 tablespoons Brown Sugar 

Glazed Apricots
Cook Apricots in 2 tablespoons Butter, when done...sprinkle 3 tablespoons of white Sugar and let sugar melt and add ground Cardamom.

Everything but the Butter from Dollar Tree!

I HAVE DESSERT FOR WEEKS...

 

[B and C]

Darn it.  You went and made me hungry.  Looks and sounds GREAT!

Brian

 

[Queen]

That's some serious camp cookin' right there, looks delicious.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Hey Sameer...as usual, you've done well with dollar store goodies.
Did you warm those in your oven?

 

[rvpopeye]

Sameer
Better watch out , you might get volunteered as dessert maker at any gathering you show up at ..............

 

[highdesertranger]

I like simple and tasty. highdesertranger

 

[SoulRaven]

The dollar stores are among my favorite shopping places!

Looks delicious! I read what some people eat on here, and it looks more like torture to me, but I think our taste buds are similar.

Part of living in a van and doing much of my own cooking is about enjoying the best possible menu for me.

 

[Sameer]

Jay...The oven is in the dumpster...it was a LEMON!  Hahahaha!

Dollar Stores make me a creative cook.  They have wonderful variety.  Dollar Tree especially has great Mexican Products.   I eat for taste and love delicious desserts.   I grew up on desert made from fruit. 
Desserts don't have to be nutritious...they just have to taste good!


DOES ANYONE ELSE SHOP THE DOLLAR STORES?  PLEASE POST YOUR CREATIONS! 

I love to take ideas and adapt them to my taste buds!!!!

HERE IS ANOTHER CREATION
pico de gallo and goat cheese....not from dollar store...!

LUNCH-Pinto beans-Green Salsa made with Jalapeno and Serrano and Habanero chilies, Onion, Tomatoes, Green Coriander Leaf (Cilantro), Garlic, Lime juice-Goat Cheese and Tortillas....YUM YUM! !

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[compassrose]

Please be aware that some of those $1 items may be found at Wal-Mart or your local grocery store for a few pennies less. Often the same brand. The VO5 shampoo I used to use was $1 at DollarTree and $0.98 next door at Wal-Mart. Ditto the Hunts pasta sauces. And the Bi-Lo store often had the same $0.98 sauce on sale for $0.75 (it's been a while, okay). Spices seem to be consistently the best buy. I noticed the local DollarTree has condensed "cream of" soups cheaper than the local Wal-Mart. I don't buy these since I no longer keep a slow cooker (pressure cooker only). I tend to make the dry "cream of anything" soup mix to keep on hand.

For ideas:

https://www.pinterest.com/amberfury108/dollar-tree-recipes/ (In case you aren't familiar with pinterest, you click on the image that you are interested in. When it opens, you click on the [visit site] to get to the actual webpage).

http://community.stretcher.com/forums/t/13074.aspx

http://www.gourmetmealsforless.com/

and of course http://www.budget101.com/content.php

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ has recipes that you may be interested in.


Recipes that used Canned Foods (not home canned but the canned good you buy in the store) for more recipes do a 'net search for "canned food recipes":

http://cansgetyoucooking.com/recipes/

http://www.mealtime.org/consumers/recipes.aspx also The Top 5 Canned Foods To Keep On Hand may interest you.

http://www.allyou.com/food/family-meals/canned-foods

Do a search for the canned food recipes as there are so many pages dedicated to canned food. There's even a Facebook page. If you need to watch your salt intake, I suggest that you pair up unsalted canned veggies with the saltier stuff (like the canned cream of soups) to keep the salt intake down.

 

[Sameer]

You are right about the cost...but for a few cents more I find a huge variety of products. Walmart tends to only keep the 'big sellers' on their shelves, that is my experience.
Fruit in cans like Apricots and Purple plums are very expensive in the regular stores. Also the snacks and candies. I get good prices on Mexican products and Tortillas. As far as canned goods, in general I am looking for Fruit and little else.
The site you gave has some good ideas...! I don't eat canned meat of any kind. I only eat a certain quality meat found in major city's. SOOOOOO.....I have to be very creative with getting the proper amount of protein. I have found that Dairy and Beans works very well. I cannot get away from my love of delicious desserts.

"Do you know the difference between...Desert and Dessert?...'two scoops' Hahahahaha!

 

[Queen]

That's good to know about Dollar Tree, we eat loads of Mexican food so we'll make sure we stop there on our travels.

 

[WriterMs]

I have found Dollar Tree stores in some small towns where there is no big box store. (I only shop Walmart if I've Wallydocked overnight while traveling to get to a boondocking location. If I've parked free then I sort of feel I "owe" it to them to shop there. But I hate the way Walmart runs their business, so otherwise I avoid them. Have you ever noticed how Target store clerks actually smile and offer to help you? LOL Just my personal preference, so now I've vented.

So not only have I found Dollar Tree stores to be the best "cheap" place in many towns, but I also like that you can usually get in and out quickly. A few things I buy (but rarely created real recipes from):

-- individual cups of applesauce and other fruits
-- seasonings
-- their very small jars of things like jelly and mayo (since I don't eat them often it keeps from wasting so much)
-- the little 3-in-a-box cups of Jif peanut butter (it really is not the best peanut butter in taste nor nutrition but the little servings are just right for a sandwich or snack without digging in a larger jar and getting messy)
-- snack bags of pita chips (have only found those in stores in the West but yummy)
-- 6-in-a-box individual bags of peanuts (controls portions)
-- water flavorings (especially when they have Snapple brand peach tea)
-- the squared gallons of drinking water if I need a new one or don't find a local refill place
-- packs of snack size candy bars

Not food but handy:
-- anti-bacterial wipes
-- baby wipes (70 in a refill pack... best price EVER)

 

[akrvbob]

The small grocery stores in Quartzsite, AZ are very expensive so the two dollar stores (Dollar General and Family Dollar) are super busy! Everyone goes there first hoping to find what they need.

Since the 2008 recession, dollar stores have grown faster than any other segment of the market based on sales increase and number of stores. They were the big winners of the recession because they went into all the small towns and they are all many people can afford--even now!
Bob

 

[Sabatical]

In Quartzsite we found the Roadrunner had a great produce selection. Even though it was a bit pricier than we are used to we try to include fresh produce in our daily diet.

 

[Sameer]

I shop Walmart for staples and produce.
Dollar Stores for Inspiration.
And the 'real' Grocery Stores for Cheese.
In my Circuit/Corridor that I live in Yearly (Sort of Yuma, AZ to Durango, CO and back) They have some very good Dollar Stores and Walmart s.
I would like food ideas for delicious meals and desserts that other people are creating.
Writer Ms, I too buy water from Dollar Tree, but mostly Spring Water from Wally. I like a consistency in the taste and quality of the water I drink...It is only me and my dog, Mr. Pico so it a luxury I can afford.

They say...Some people eat to live....I live to eat......! I love delicious meals and desserts!