Month: December 2020

Lunch

Now we can cook two full Bagels – four eggs – at once, the Foodies can enjoy their meal together.

• The Brioche Bagels are $2.89 for five and we shared one, or 58c per serve
• Pastured Eggs are 49c each or 98c per serve
• Add 30c for Salsa.

Very tasty for $1.86 per serve.

Dinner

We decided to fry off slices of Meatloaf to reheat in on that same Multipurpose Griddle as for lunch. Tonight we served with a Salad of some especially sweet Celery, Green Olives and Mixed Greens with a sprinkling of Parmesan.

• The Meatloaf is $4.63 per serve
• Mixed Greens are 45c per serve
• The olives come in a $4.49 jar, and we used half, or $1.25 per serve
• A sprinkling of Grated Parmesan adds 30c.

The pan seared Meatloaf is always better! The Salad was a good balance for $6.63 per serve.

Lunch

We each had a full Tuna Melt, which meant we got to select our flavor. Foodie Philip went with Sweet & Spicy, while Foodie Greg chose Smokey.

• Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• Swiss adds 34c per serve
• Tuna adds 99c per serve
• Add 50c for Garlic Spread, Shallot and Capers.

A decent sandwich for $2.57 per serve.

Dinner

Our Meatless Monday dish tonight is Miso Fish Soup with Soba.

• The Flounder was $5.19 and we had about half, or $1.30 per serve
• The Mushrooms were $3.99 or $2.00 per serve
• Edamame was $2.29 and we used half or $1.15 per serve
• Broth was $1.99 or $1.00 per serve
• An egg is 51c per serve
• Soba Noodles are $3.29 and we used about ⅓ or 55c per serve
• Add 30c per serve for other ingredients.

There was a lot more flavor than you’d expect from such a simple preparation, but it turned out to be quite tasty for $6.81 per serve.

Lunch

We reheated the remaining Pork Tenderloin, Mushrooms & Red Wine and stuffed it in a hot Panini Roll.

• The Panini Roll is 63c
• The Pork Stew is $3.80 per original serve, or $1.90 for lunch.

A messy, but very tasty, roll for $2.53 per serve.

Dinner

We returned to a favorite Jambalaya.

• Andouille sausage from Whole Foods is $5.99 or $1.50 per serve
• 10 oz of shrimp is $6.49,  or $1.63 per serve
• Canned fire roasted tomatoes cost $1.69 or 34c per serve
• We substituted a 40c Jallepeno for Bell Pepper, or 10c per serve
• Scallions, onion, garlic  and herbs adds 30c per serve
• Tomato paste adds 12c per serve
• Rice adds 33c per serve.

The secret to tender Shrimp is to let them steam on top of the Jambalaya just before serving. They are soft and tender, which contributes to a pretty decent meal for $3.47 per serve.

Lunch

We decided on a Toasted Sandwich for lunch and settled on one filled with Giant Baked Beans and Swiss Cheese.

• The Aldi Bread is 53c per serve
• The Giant Baked Beans are $1.99 or $1.00 per serve
• Swiss is 34c per serve
• Add 40c for a generous smear of Garlic Spread.

The Garlic Spread gives it a little extra kick to make it a good sandwich for $2.27 per serve.

Dinner

For dinner tonight we smoked some Baby Back Ribs and finished them in the oven, and served over Tex-Mex Pinto Beans. We served with dressed greens.

• The Baby Back Ribs were on special for $8.68 or $4.35 per serve
• The Pinto Beans were $2.25 or $1.13 per serve
• Butter Lettuce is 40c per serve
• Bell Peppers add 32c per serve
• Add 30c for dressing ingredients.

The Baby Back Ribs were exceptionally tender and tasty and make a great meal for $6.50 per serve.

Lunch

Today we had a Harty Pea Soup from Aldi, which was very tasty, for $1.00 per serve.

Dinner

A simple Meatless Monday meal of Scrambled Eggs with Wilted Spinach and Feta heaped on a Brioche Bagel.

• The Brioche Bagel is 58c
• Pastured Eggs are 49c each or 98c per serve
• The French (Valbreso) Feta was $10.99 but we used 1/6 or 92c per serve
• Spinach was $1.28 for the bag or 64c per serve
• Add 30c for Butter on the Bagel
• Add 60c for a small Garden Salad.

A very simple, but tasty meal for $4.02 per serve.

Lunch

We tried an experiment today, toasting a Neufchatel and Smoked Trout – along with Capers and Shallot – Sandwich.

• The Aldi Bread is 53c per serve
• We shared a $3.49 can of Smoked Trout, or $1.75 per serve
• Capers and Shallots add 30c per serve.

This worked extremely well, creating a new flavor profile that we both really enjoyed, for $2.58 per serve.

Dinner

While the Aldi Salmon was disappointing, their irregular Rack of Lamb special is outstanding quality and very reasonably priced. We split the Rack into two meals of two bones each.

We’ve decided that sous vide is the best cooking method to get an even cook at exactly the temperature (doneness) that you want, followed by a quick sear for appearances and to render a little of the fat.

• For $22.13 we got 2.25 lbs of Rack of Lamb that we split into four 9oz (approx) serves for $5.53 per serve
• We shared a 99c Pomegranate for 50c per serve
• We shared a $1.29 Grapefruit for 65c per serve
• Mint came from our garden.

These Australian Rack of Lamb are exceptionally good quality and value. The tartness of the Pomegranate and sourness of the Grapefruit are a perfect balance to the fat on the Lamb. An excellent meal for $6.68 per serve.

Lunch

We shared the remaining Prime Rib- sliced and reheated in Bone Broth to make an Ah Jus – in a hot Panini Roll.

• The Beef was $4.06 per serve
• The Panini Roll is 63c per serve
• The Beef Bone Broth is 99c per serve
• Add 30c for other flavorings.

An excellent roll, for $5.98 per serve.

Dinner

We returned to a favorite: Pork Tenderloin and Mushrooms in Red Wine, also known as Drunken Pork. This made three generous serves.

• The pork was $8.99 or $3.00 per serve
• Red wine adds 50c or 17c per serve
• Canned Tomatoes are 99c, or 33c per serve
• Add 30c for the other ingredients
• Brown rice adds 33c per serve
• Frozen peas are $1.29 per pack and we used half, or 33c per serve.

We both enjoyed this tonight, for $4.46 per serve.

Lunch

A turn for the cool had us turning to a Shin Noodle Bowl. A pack of four was $3.69 or 93c per serve ($1.23 with vegetable), which proved to be quite generous and a satisfying – if spicy hot – meal. We do, however, only use one of the two flavor pouches.

Dinner

We have had some good proteins from Aldi, from their Specially Selected range, so we thought we’d try their wild caught Salmon and serve it with a Piccata Sauce and some steamed Broccolini.

• The Salmon was $11.79 or $5.90 per serve
• The Broccolini was $2.79 and we served about ⅔ or 93c per serve
• Black Rice is 44c per serve.

The Salmon was extremely disappointing, particularly compared with the Ahi Tuna and Giant Scallops as they are excellent, and less expensive than the Salmon. We have decided that only Smoked Salmon will make it to our table in the future. A disappointing meal for $7.27 per serve.