Month: January 2022

Lunch

We returned to one of our favorites: Chorizo, Bell Pepper and Gouda, toasted.

• The Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• Gouda is 34c per serve
• The Chorizo was $4.72 and we used half, or $1.18 per serve
• Fire Roasted Peppers cost $1.99 and we used half, or 50c per serve.

As always, a very tasty sandwich for $2.76 per serve.

Dinner

Tonight was the night of ever changing dinner plans! Our original plan was Sausage Rolls and salad, now postponed until tomorrow. We decided to swap in our planned meal for tomorrow – Marinated Skirt Steak – but discovered the restaurant was taking a short break! We quickly defrosted a NY Strip Steak, heated the frozen Double Stuffed Potato and served with some Green Peas sautéed in the fat from the Steak.

• The NY Strip Steak was $14.79 for two and we shared one, or $3.70 per serve
• The Double Stuffed Potatoes were $2.99 or $1.50 per serve
• Add 45c for frozen Green Peas.

A most enjoyable meal for $5.65 per serve.

Lunch

While we both had Tuna Melts, Foodie Greg’s was Smokey Tuna, while Foodie Philip favored Sweet & Spicy Tuna.

• Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• The Tuna Sachet is 99c per serve
• Gouda slices are 34c per serve.

An enjoyable sandwich, made even better by being able to eat outdoors, for $2.07 per serve.

Dinner

We returned to our Quick Moussaka. We will get four serves.

• Ground lamb was $5.99 or $1.50 per serve
• The Eggplant was $1.39 or 35c per serve
• The Tomatoes were $1.99 or 50c per serve
• The Ricotta was $4.99 or $1.25 per serve
• The French (Valbreso) Feta was $10.99 but we used 1/6 or 69c per serve
• A Pastured Egg adds 9c per serve
• Add 50c for the remaining ingredients
• Add 30c for Greens
• Add 20c for half an Avocado.

The downside of this very tasty meal, is that is does not serve up neatly on the first pass! Still, very tasty for $5.38 per serve.

Lunch

For lunch we had a simple toasted Sandwich of Ham, Cream Cheese and Sun-dried Tomatoes.

• Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• Whipped Cream Cheese adds 50c per serve
• Sun-dried Tomatoes add 60c per serve.

This turned out to be a very good sandwich for $1.84 per serve.

Dinner

For this week’s Meatless Monday we topped toasted Italian Bread and served it with the remaining Soy Chorizo based 13 Bean Chili and topped with one or two Fried Eggs.

• The 13 Bean Chili adds $1.81 per serve
• Italian Bread adds 32c per serve
• Pastured Eggs averaged 57c per serve.

A decent meal for $2.70 per serve.

Lunch

We went experimental by scrambling Cherry Tomatoes, Ham and Eggs and serving on a Paratha.

• Ham adds 22c per serve
• The Paratha was $1.99 for five, or 40c per serve.
• Eggs add 76c per serve
• Cherry Tomatoes add 35c per serve.

The Tomatoes made the Scrambled Eggs a little more liquid than we prefer. Despite the Paratha not being a great choice, it was still a very tasty meal for $1.73 per serve.

Dinner

With Choucroute still to use, we popped some Beer Bratwurst on top while it was reheating, along with some Potatoes.

• The Choucroute is $1.13 per serve
• Beer Bratwurst were $4.49 or $2.25 per serve
• Potatoes add 40c per serve.

A decent meal for $3.78 per serve.

Lunch

We enlarged the holes on a pair of Bagels to accommodate an Egg in each side.

• The Brioche Bagel is 58c per serve
• Pastured Eggs are 38c or 76c per serve.
• Add 30c for Salsa.

A simple, but very tasty meal for $1.64 per serve.

Dinner

It was time for Duck and we decided to go with a French twist and do it Duck á l’orange style.

• The Duck Breasts were $8.99 or $4.50 per serve
• Wild Rice Mix is 64c per serve
• Green Lentils add 45c per serve
• Endive adds 62c per serve
• Preserved Lemon adds 20c per serve
• Pecans add 48c per serve
• The Salad Mix adds 45c per serve
• The Navel Orange was $1.49 or 75c per serve
• Add 35c for other ingredients.

The Orange Sauce – served separately – was full of Orange flavor, but without the cloying sweetness that is typical of Orange Sauces. An excellent meal for $8.44 per serve.

While most of the month was spent at home, the Foodies did venture out to two dinner parties with small groups of vaccinated friends. 

The averages for this month were right n the middle of our averages.

• Lunch prepared at home $2.39 ($2.09 in Nov)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $9.76 ($9.64)
• Dinner eaten at home: $5.09 ($4.52)
• Dinner prepared in a restaurant $15.60 ($18.66)

The variation is small month to month.

Our most expensive meal of the month was The Country Deli as we missed our modified Bento Box with Tataki Tuna. The Deli was for $18.86 per serve.

This month, lunches at home cost 24% of the cost of eating lunches prepared outside the home. Our evening meals prepared in the home are 33% of the cost of take-out meals.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $302.56 per person in December. We actually spent $62.11 for lunches at home plus $39.04 for lunches purchased or eaten out:  $101.15 per person in total. These are a little lower than the averages for recent months.

If every evening meal cost us the same as our average this month, it would be $483.60. We actually spent $137.44 for dinners at home and $31.20 for our two dinner from a restaurant, or $168.64 per person in total, which is typical.

We saved about $500 per person by preparing almost all our meals at home and we have a lot more control over what we eat.

Lunch

Today we riffed on a Tuna Melt with Smoked Trout instead.

• Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• We shared a $3.49 can of Smoked Trout, or $1.75 per serve
• Add 40c for Garlic Spread
• Add 30c for Capers and other ingredients.

The Smoked Trout has more flavor than typical canned Tuna, so it makes for a more tasty sandwich for $3.19 per serve.

Dinner

We sous vide a Ham from Aldi and served with a classic side: Choucroute.

• The Ham was $13.98, but there was a discount of $7.51 for a net of $6.47 and we used about 1/10, or 32c per serve
• Sauerkraut was $1.29 for four serves, or 33c per serve
• Add 50c per serve for Carrot
• Add 30c per serve for other ingredients.

The Ham was very moist, having lost no moisture during cooking. The Choucroute was a great side, and adding a little bacon not only improved the flavor, but was a little more authentic. A good meal for $1.45 per serve.