ABOUT

About Us

Bentley to Bangladesh.

Hi! I'm Rinalda, and this is my daughter, Victoria. "Bentley to Bangladesh" was a common phrase in our home, as Larry and I strived to raise our daughters to be content and thrive whether they were driving a Bentley, or living and serving in Bangladesh. I personally think we’ve succeeded in that goal!

For both of us, a goal every month is to keep our meal budget on the low end. Each month may contain unexpected bills and surprises, and I love that by planning ahead I can control our meal budget and slip a little extra money into savings for dreams! At Budget Meal Banquet, we’re both excited to share everything from college student budget meals to family dinner recipes and our favorite date night picks.

Together, we’re a mama-daughter duo with a passion for Jesus, cooking, and making others feel at home. We’re excited to share with you how we strive to make each meal special and fun in our home. So friend, come and have a seat at the Budget Meal Banquet!

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Meet Rinalda

Hi…I’m Rinalda. Here you will find recipes and money-saving ideas on how to turn a simple meal into a banquet.

I am southern born and southern raised! I come from a long line of excellent cooks, really chefs! My mother and grandmother were known for their delicious recipes and incredible hospitality. People loved to sit at their tables and enjoy a home-cooked meal. I can remember as a child people stopping by on Sunday afternoons to visit and they were always invited to stay for a meal. My grandmother taught me the art of being able to prepare a meal with the supplies you had on hand. Maybe that's why my daughters say I can make a meal out of thin air.

My Roots

My mother was an excellent cook, seamstress, floral designer, craft expert, gardener, teacher, and much more. My niece called her "Pinterest before there was a Pinterest". She was always excited to try something new, especially in the kitchen. I never knew where our travels may take us to secure an ingredient needed for a new recipe. I loved our long conversations about recipes, table designs, and hospitality. As she grew older, she did not mind giving you a lesson on table etiquette in front of everyone, it was quite embarrassing at times! Especially at my table with my adult friends!

I was born in Alabama but moved to Louisiana to teach at a university. My degree was in Home Economics with a Master’s degree in Human Development and Family Life. I came to the great state of Louisiana with all my Alabama recipes and training, I soon learned to love the southern Louisiana cuisine and I developed my line of recipes from family and friends. My husband, Larry, taught me to cook red beans and rice, and gumbo. I did not grow up eating red beans but soon loved to enjoy this typical Monday meal. Together, we pastor Grace Church of Paulina.

Life Abroad

We were missionaries in Russia for eight years, during the 1990s when food was often scarce and very few products from the west were available, but things had changed before we headed home in 2000 with many products available. But I remember looking at recipes from my River Roads cookbook and only having one or two of the ingredients available and figuring out how to substitute everything else. One day I rejoiced when I found a recipe for homemade egg rolls including the recipes for the dough. We ate egg rolls for several weeks since we had cabbage, carrots, onions, soy sauce, and spicy Russian mustard. Our American team enjoyed every bite!

I’m excited to share my budget meals with you all, as well as my hospitality skills. I think every dinner is special. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or your family, it’s important to make meals memorable. You’ll find accessible, simple, and affordable meals here that will delight your taste buds and your family and friends.

Join me, as we explore together what it means to have a Budget Meal Banquet.

Moving Forward

Meet Victoria Rocquin Henry

I was five years old the first time I launched a “business venture.” I remember distinctly my Dad driving me down to the local beauty salon, and letting me ask the salon owner (a family friend) if I could sell my handmade Christmas ornaments to her customers, $.50 for a tree and $1 for an angel. It probably helped that I was cute and little, with a strong lisp and stronger attitude, but I made 40 dollars. My parents helped me to calculate my cost of investment for that magnet-making kit, and I used that money to buy Christmas presents for my whole family. I was proud down to the tips of my toes, having bought gifts with my OWN money. That’s probably around the time my love for budgeting started. No, seriously. I had to budget for each present so I could make my $40 enough to buy all the gifts I had in mind. My parents also set me up with Dave Ramsey budgeting envelopes - one for saving, one for spending, and one for giving.

A Heritage of Budgeting

While my magnet making was a one-Christmas venture, I began to pursue other things I loved - like cooking. My mom was a champ, letting little hands “help” her constantly. I’m sure meal prep took significantly longer with me and my sister's assistance, but she fostered in me a deep-rooted love for cooking and making meals. Our kitchen was the lifeblood of our home. There was usually flour spilled on the floor and an endless supply of sprinkles tracked through the house, and the kitchen is where many of my fondest memories were made. If we weren't helping with dinner, it was our job to set the table. She always kept a stash of placemats and napkins, and I had fun making color schemes and picking flowers from the yard to make our meals special.

From Siberia to College

Before starting college, I spent a semester in Siberia. To date, it was the best adventure and biggest blessing in my life, aside from Christ. In Russia, I picked up more recipes and shared my recipes from home, making traditional LA dishes for Bible Studies and parties alike.

When I got home from Russia, I went straight to University. It was about a week after landing back in the US! I paid my way through on scholarships and part-time jobs, so when I got my apartment, budget meals were the only meals I cooked. My tiny college kitchen could only fit one person comfortably at a time, but it was overflowing with Thai dishes, Louisiana cuisine, depression-era meals from my grandmother, family recipes, and lots of laughter. I also found that my weekly menu was a great way for me to stretch my budget. I didn’t have room in my budget to eat in the cafe or Union every day, but I found I could feed all my friends with a budget meal recipe from home!

I even found myself budget-shopping for dishes! I once found a set of fine china for $20 while visiting friends in Minnesota. I lugged all 40lbs of the 12 piece place setting through 3 airports in a thrift store duffle bag! I was sore for three days, but I still use that place setting and love it dearly.

Life today

I recently married the love of my life, Blake, and we have a little schnauzer named Stella. As a newlywed, I’ve found that those same recipes from my family, that I brought across the world to Russia, back to Louisiana for college, and now finally to my own home, are the staple items of my kitchen. There’s nothing quite like a home-cooked meal to make a house feel like, well, a home. I’ll freely admit, we’re both happy campers when there is a hot meal on the table!

I’m thrilled beyond measure to continue exploring cooking alongside my Mama Bear and share those recipes with you, our friends. So consider this your hearty welcome to the Budget Meal Banquet, and your welcome to our family.