Author: Philip

Lunch

We chose a simple lunch of Shin Ramen with Coleslaw Mix for $1.63 per serve.

Dinner

Since we still had a generous amount of Cuban Roast Pork, what better than a Cubano Sandwich? Realizing we had no Swiss Cheese, we substituted Camembert instead, which worked way better than expected.

• A full serve of the Pork is $4.22, but the Cubano uses a half serve, or $2.11
• Ham is 92c per serve
• The Camembert adds 87c per serve
• Sandwich Pickles are $4.29 for the jar, but we used less than 10%, or 21c per serve
• The Brioche Bagel is 58c per serve
• Plantain Chips were $1.70 and we used half, or 43c per serve.

The Cubano is a very tasty and classic sandwich for $5.12 per serve. The Camembert added a extra little ‘funk’ that we thought enhanced the experience.

Lunch

Lunch time had us at Home Depot, which is very close to New York Chicken and Gyro, so we had a Lamb Gyro each for $8.17 with tax and tip.

Dinner

Tonight was a new recipe for us: Hayashi Rice, which is a Japanized version of a Beef Stew.

• The unspecified Stew Beef from Aldi was $8.04 or $1.34 per serve
• Baby Bella Mushrooms were $1.49 or 25c per serve
• Crimini Mushrooms were $2.69 for the pack, but we only used half, or 23c per serve
• Onions and Garlic add 10c per serve
• Beef Stock adds 25c per serve
• Red Wine adds 17c per serve
• Add 40c for other ingredients
• Add 34c for Brown Rice.

The Hayashi Beef developed a very deep and rich flavor beyond what was expected. A little goes a long way! A surprisingly good dish for $2.82 per serve.

Lunch

For lunch we finished the Coquilles Saint Jaques for $2.70 per serve.

Dinner

It was time for a welcome return to Cuban-Style Roast Pork with Mojo Sauce, served with Cuban Style Black Beans and Jerk Plantain Chips.

• The Pork Butt was around $12.21 after all discounts, or $3.05 per serve
• Limes were 56c or 14c per serve
• Grapefruit was $1.39 or 35c per serve
• Navel Oranges were $1.19 or 30c per serve
• Cuban Black Beans were $2.99 or $1.50 per serve
• Plantain Chips were $1.70 and we used half, or 43c per serve.

The Pork undergoes an amazing transformation from the very tough Pork Butt to a tender roast beef, largely thanks to the 12+ hour citrus marinade. The citrusy Mojo Sauce is a perfect balance with the Pork, and the Beans an Plantain Chips are complementary sides. A pretty good meal for $5.77 per serve.

Lunch

After reheating a Ciabatta Roll and two of the remaining Lamb Rissoles, we added Tabouli and our Lemon Yoghurt Dressing for a very tasty sandwich.

• The Lamb Rissoles are $1.94 for a full serve or 97c per serve
• The Ciabatta Roll is 58c per serve
• Tabouli is $2.99 and we shared half, or 75c per serve
• Preserved Lemon, Yoghurt Dressing adds 26c per serve.

The Lemon Yoghurt Dressing was a perfect counterfoil to both the Lamb and the Tabouli and made a very enjoyable lunch for $2.56 per serve.

Dinner

Although we’ve already had a ‘Fishy Friday’ meal this week in the Smoked Trout “Cobb” Salad, we revisited the ocean for Coquilles Saint Jacques.

• Mushrooms were $1.49, or 75c per serve
• Bay Scallops were $5.99 per pound, or $3.00 per serve
• Butter adds 35c per serve
• Clam Juice is $3.39 and we used about half, or 85c per serve
• Half and Half is $3.99 and we used ⅛ or 25c per serve
• Add 40c for other ingredients.

Both Foodies found this full of flavor and very tasty, but neither finished, so we’ll get a lunch out of it. Dividing into two serves (with the extras free) comes to $5.40 per serve, or as four serves $2.70 per serve.

Lunch

Since we had Coleslaw from Mr Fish and Chips we made it into a sandwich with toasted Bread and Ham. This time we added some Dijon Mustard, which elevated the sandwich.

• Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• The Breakfast Ham is $2.99 for six, or 50c per serve
• Coleslaw adds $1.25 per serve
• Dijon Mustard adds 40c per serve.

A pretty decent sandwich for $2.89. Toasting the Bread (from frozen) adds texture to the sandwich, while the Mustard added a missing ‘third note’ to the sandwich.

Dinner

It has been a long time since our last New York Strip Steak, so tonight we served with Béarnaise Sauce, Tabouli and (oven baked) Steak Fries.

• Two NY Strip Steaks were $15.18 and we shared one, or $3.80 per serve
• Tabouli is $2.99 and we shared half, or 75c per serve
• The Steak Fries were $1.49 and we shared half, or 38c per serve
• The Béarnaise sauce was $3.29 and we used about ⅓, or 55c per serve.

The NY Strip was pleasantly tender with the Béarnaise Sauce adding richness the mouth feel of sauce and steak. While oven fries are never going to be as good as fresh, deep-fried, these are a reasonable substitute, while the Tabouli is a good complement. A very enjoyable and varied meal for $5.38 per serve.

Lunch

It had been too long since our last visit to Mr Fish and Chips so we made a special effort to pick up Fried Scallops, Fries and Coleslaw for $7.84 per serve with tax and tip, which is still very good value.

Dinner

One of our favorite salads that are loosely based on a Cobb Salad, is Smoked Trout with Burrata.

• We each had a 3.5oz can of Smoked Trout for $3.49 per serve
• The Burrata was $4.99 or $2.50 per serve
• Pastured Eggs are 38c per serve
• Pea Shoots where $1.99 and we used about ¼ or 25c per serve
• An Avocado was 69c and we shared one, or 35c per serve
• The Grape tomatoes cost $2.49 or 63c per serve
• Add 40c for Olive Oil and Balsamic Glaze.

A nice combination and variety of flavors for $8.00 per serve.

Lunch

We like the (French) Neufchatel Sandwich, with Ham and Snow Pea Shoots, so we purchased some Camembert to repeat the sandwich. As last time we toasted the sandwich then added the Snow Pea Shoots.

• Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• Breakfast Ham is 60c per serve
• The Camembert was $4.04 and we shared about half, or $1.01 per serve
• Snow Pea Shoots add 36c per serve.

The Camembert didn’t have the funky flavor we hoped for, but still made an enjoyable sandwich for $2.71 per serve.

Dinner

A short few days of hot weather opened the opportunity to grill outdoors, so we opted for Lamb Rissoles, based on the Soutzoukakia recipe, grilled them and served with an Aussie inspired salad of Caramelized Onion Cheddar, Beetroot, Butter Lettuce, Cherry Tomatoes and Balsamic Dressing.

We served with a Lemon-Yoghurt Dressing created from the Preserved Lemon.

We get two full serves, and two half serves from this recipe.

• Ground lamb was $3.00 on special or 50c per serve
• An egg is 38c or 9c per serve
• 8 oz Panko breadcrumbs are $2.99 and we used half, or 38c per serve
• Parmesan is $3.99 for 8oz and we shared 2 oz or 33c per serve
• 1/4 cup and a tablespoon of red wine – halved – is 28c per serve
• Parsley was $1.49 for the bunch, but we only used 1/4 or 10c per serve
• Mint came from our garden
• The Butter Lettuce adds 45c per serve
• Cherry Tomatoes add 33c per serve
• Pickled Beets adds 15c per serve
• Yoghurt Dressing adds 26c per serve
• We used about ½ of the $5.75 Caramelized Onion Cheddar, or $1.44 per serve.

The Caramalized Onion Cheddar and Pickled Beetroot are a great combination. The Rissoles had a delightful crust and a soft, almost moussy, interior. The Salty Lemony Yoghurt Dressing provided a perfect complement to the Lamb. A very enjoyable meal for $4.31 per serve.

Once again, the Foodies didn’t venture out this month, other than to a funeral. 

The averages for this month higher for lunches, but even lower for Dinners than they were last month, for no particular reason. We even ate “from out” less than usual.

• Lunch prepared at home $2.43 ($2.23 in Jan 22)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $12.89 ($10.38)
• Dinner eaten at home: $4.27 ($4.78)
• Dinner prepared in a restaurant $16.11 ($15.61)

The variation is usually small month to month.

Our most expensive meal of the month was The Country Deli for $18.86 per serve.

This month, lunches at home cost 23% of the cost of eating lunches prepared outside the home. Our evening meals prepared in the home are 27% of the cost of take-out meals.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $360.92 per person in February. We actually spent $58.28 for lunches at home plus $38.67 for lunches purchased or eaten out:  $96.85 per person in total.

If every evening meal cost us the same as our average this month, it would be $451.08. We actually spent $106.71 for dinners at home and $32.22 for our two dinners from a restaurant, or $138.93 per person in total.

We saved about $575 per person by preparing almost all our meals at home and we have a lot more control over what we eat.

Lunch

We had a Ploughman’s lunch of Branston Pickle, Cheddar, Apple and Pickled Onion.

• The Rye Crispbread was $3.29 for a pack of 20, or 33c per serve
• The Cheddar was $3.49 and we used about 60%, or $1.05 per serve
• Branson Pickle was $13.31 for the jar, and we used about 1/5th, or $1.33 per serve
• Apple adds 20c per serve
• Pickled Onion adds 10c per serve.

A variety of flavors stop it from getting boring, for $3.01 per serve.

Dinner

A simple Meatless Monday meal of Eggs in an Organic Marinara Sauce.

• Two Pastured Eggs are 76c per serve
• The Organic Marinara Sauce was $1.69 or 85c per serve
• Italian Bread adds 28c per serve
• Garlic Spread adds 45c per serve.

A very tasty meal for $2.34 per serve.