Nov 2: Prosciutto, Cream Cheese and Pea Frittata

Lunch

What better than a Bacon and Coleslaw sandwich?

  • The Aldi Sprouted Bread was 46c per serve
  • Uncured Bacon was $5.99 for 10 slices, and we shared four, or $1.20 per serve
  • Add 50c for Coleslaw.

A tasty sandwich for $2.16 per serve.

Dinner

We were testing a new recipe for Prosciutto, Cream Cheese and Pea Frittata.

  • Pastured Eggs add 66c per serve
  • The Prosciutto was $2.65 or $1.33 per serve
  • Neufchâtel adds 50c per serve
  • Add 20c for Seasoning.

This turned out really well. The little pockets of Cream Cheese were delightful, while the Prosciutto seasoned the Eggs perfectly, while adding a lot of flavor. We will repeat for $2.69 per serve.

Nov 1: Italian Eggplant Gnocchi Bake

Lunch

Since we had so much Meatloaf left over, we reheated a half serve each and stuffed it in a hot Panini Roll spread with Marinara Sauce.

  • The Panini Roll is 63c per serve
  • The Meatloaf is $2.53 per full serve, or $1.27 per lunch serve
  • Add 5c for the small amount of Marinara Sauce.

A very tasty lunch for $1.95 per serve.

Dinner

We used half the Italian Eggplant Gnocchi Bake last week, and finished the remaining tonight for $2.18 per serve.

October 2021 Observations and Summary

October was another quiet month that we spent entirely at home. 

Our evening meals continue to be about the same as last year, with a wider variety of protein! 

The averages for this month were up slightly:

  • Lunch prepared at home $2.14 ($2.20 in Sep)
  • Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $10.48 ($8.75)
  • Dinner eaten at home: $5.02($4.71)
  • Dinner prepared in a restaurant $19.93 ($17.74)

The variation is small month to month.

Our most expensive meal of the month was, again, our modified Bento Box with Tataki Tuna for $20.98 per serve.

This month, lunches at home cost 20% of the cost of eating lunches prepared outside the home. Our evening meals prepared in the home are 25% of the cost of take-out meals.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $324.88 per person in September. We actually spent $46.05 for lunches at home plus $39.47 for lunches purchased or eaten out:  $85.52 per person in total. These are a little higher than the averages for recent months.

If every evening meal cost us the same as our one this month, it would be $617.83. We actually spent $111.25 for dinners at home and $39.86 for two dinners out, or $151.11 per person in total, which is a little down.

Without the travel we’re back to our typical meal costs, within normal variation. We saved about $850 per person by preparing almost all our meals at home and we have a lot more control over what we eat.

Oct 31: Red Wine and Mushroom Meatloaf with Baked Sweet Potato

Lunch

We cooked a Specially Selected – Eggplant & Grana Padano Cheese flatbread from Aldi for $4.19, or $2.10 per serve.

Dinner

It was time for the Red Wine and Mushroom Meatloaf we enjoy so much. Tonight we baked a Japanese Sweet Potato and topped with grated Cheddar and Sour Cream with Chives. We expect to get six serves from this Meatloaf.

  • The grass fed Ground Beef was from Aldi for $5.49 per pound, or 92c per serve
  • Baby Bella mushrooms were $1.99 or 34c per serve
  • Onions and garlic add 5c per serve
  • Two medium eggs are 64c or 11c per serve
  • The butter is $3.99 per block, and we used about 3/8 for four serves, or 25c per serve
  • Red wine adds $1.00 or 13c per serve
  • Add 10c for Worcestershire sauce and other spices per serve
  • The Murasaki Sweet Potato was $3.99 for 10, or 40c per serve
  • The Sour Cream was $2.99 and we used a tiny amount, or about 15c per serve
  • Add 25c for Cheddar and Chives.

The Murasaki Sweet Potato is not as sweet as the classic orange Sweet Potato serve in the USA, and it pairs very well with the Sour Cream. A very tasty, and filling, meal for $2.70 per serve.

Oct 30: Warm Shredded Lamb Salad with Lettuce, Semi-dried Tomato and Feta Salad

Lunch

It was way beyond time for Lamb Gyros from New York Chicken and Gyro, for $8.17 with tax and tip.

Dinner

We used another portion of our Shredded Lamb now that we can get Pomegranates again. Tonight served with a simple Lettuce, Semi-dried Tomato and Feta Salad.

  • The butterflied Leg of Lamb from Aldi was $23.28 and we will get eight serves, or $2.91 per serve
  • Mint was free
  • Add 30c for Onion and seasoning
  • We used semi-dried Cherry Tomatoes for 30c per serve
  • The Mixed Greens were $1.49 and we used half, or 38c each
  • The Feta adds 48c per serve
  • Add 15c for Dressing ingredients
  • The Pomegranate was $2.69 and we used half, or 68c per serve.

A very tasty meal for $5.20 per serve.

Oct 29: Smoked Salmon Pizza with Pickled Beets and Lemon

Lunch

It was time to finish the last of our Soutzoukakia, in a hot Panini Roll./

  • The Soutzoukakia is $3.23 per full serve, or 81c per lunch serve
  • The Panini Roll is 63c
  • Add 10c for Lettuce.

A very enjoyable sandwich for $1.54 per serve.

Dinner

A temporary return to warmer weather gave us an opportunity to grill our Smoked Salmon Pizza, and eat outside, however briefly.

  • Sockeye Smoked Salmon pieces were $5.49 or $2.75 per serve
  • The Pizza Dough was $1.49, or 75c per serve
  • We used semi-dried Cherry Tomatoes for 60c per serve
  • About two ounces of Neufchatel went on each Pizza, or 25c per serve
  • Preserved Lemon adds 5c per serve
  • Pickled Beets adds 15c per serve.

As always a very tasty meal for $4.55 per serve.

Oct 28: Bone-in Pork Loin Chop with Waldorf Salad

Lunch

It was time to return to Mr Fish and Chips in Simi Valley as part of a larger errand run, where we picked up our typical Scallops, Coleslaw and Fries (with extra Coleslaw) $7.27 per serve with tax and tip.

Dinner

While it’s a meat-heavy meal, the Bone-in Pork Chop – sous vide and then seared in Butter – is a delicious indulgence. Served with Waldorf Salad.

  • The Lamb Loin Chops were a generous 12oz each, for $8.28, or $4.14 per serve
  • Two sticks of Celery add 10c per serve
  • Apple adds 34c per serve
  • Toasted Slivered Almonds add 28c per serve
  • Add 30c for Dressing ingredients.

The Pork Chop was tasty and tender, with an attractive sear, if a little generous in size for the Foodies. The Salad was a good side making a well balanced meal for $5.15 per serve.

Oct 27: Beer Bratwurst with Apple Endive Salad

Lunch

We augmented our Shin Ramen with a dry Coleslaw Mix, drained and stirred through some butter.

  • A pack of four Shin Noodle Bowl was $3.69 or 93c per serve
  • Coleslaw Mix adds 30c per serve
  • Butter adds 34c per serve.

Tasty and filling for $1.57 per serve.

Dinner

A return to a regular: Beer Bratwurst with Apple Endive Slaw.

  • Beer Bratwurst were $4.49 or $2.25 per serve
  • The Endive were $1.49 or 75c per serve
  • The Apple was 48c or 24c peer serve
  • Add 30c for dressing ingredients.

A simple but good meal for $3.54 per serve.

Oct 26: Spanish Mussels with Chorizo and Tomato-Wine Sauce

Lunch

For lunch we shared a Trader Joe’s Spanakopita for $3.99 or $2.00 per serve.

Dinner

Tonight we made a welcome return to Spanish Mussels with Chorizo and Tomato-Wine Sauce, again without the Heavy Cream. We served with toasted Italian Bread liberally spread with Garlic Spread for an amped up Garlic Toast.

  • The pre-cooked Mussels were $2.29 or $1.15 per serve
  • Sherry adds 58c per serve
  • The Chorizo was $5.11 after all discounts and we used half, or $1.28 per serve
  • Add 85c for other ingredients
  • The Italian Bread is 22c per serve
  • The Garlic Spread adds 60c per serve.

As last time, very tasty for $4.68 per serve. The Garlic Toast was an excellent sop for the flavorsome broth.

Oct 25: Italian Eggplant Gnocchi Bake

Lunch

On a gray day, Adli’s Potato Soup seemed like a great idea for $1.00 a serve was very tasty and filling.

Dinner

For tonight’s Meatless Monday we tried a new recipe: Italian Eggplant Gnocchi Bake. We will get four

  • The Eggplant was $2.13 or 54c per serve
  • The Marinara Pasta Sauce was $1.75 or 44c per serve
  • The Gnocchi was $1.69 or 42c per serve
  • Add 40c other ingredients
  • Add 38c per serve for the Gooda on top of the bake.

A rather good meal for $2.18 per serve. It was tasty, but when served was not very photo-worthy.