Author: Philip

Lunch

Trying our a Sourdough Bread from Aldi, we made some Tuna Melts.

• The Sourdough was $2.85 or 19c per slice
• The Tuna Pouch is 99c per serve
• Swiss is 41c per serve
• Add 45c for Garlic Spread and Capers.

The texture of the Bread was disappointing with none of the “chew” that defines a Sourdough, but the flavor was okay, and contributed to a decent open sandwich for $2.04 per serve.

Dinner

Our favorite Beef Salad is definitely the Cambodian Hot and Sour Beef Salad, although we don’t make it all that hot, but we do like our sour!

• The NY Strip was $15.88 for two steaks, or $3.97 per serve
• Limes were 49c for two but we shared one, or 13c per serve
• Mint was from our garden
• Lettuce adds 40c per serve
• Spring Onions we grow
• The Bell Pepper was 64c or 32c per serve
• Instead of a Chili we used some Sweet Chili Sauce, which adds 20c per serve
• Add 30c for Fish Sauce and other ingredients.

A very tasty meal for $5.64 per serve.

Lunch

We returned to a favorite: Delice de Boougogne on toasted Italian Bread with crisp, fresh Apple.

• The Delice de Bourgogne was $5.38 and we shared ½, or $1.35 per serve
• The Italian Bread was 32c per serve
• Apple adds 20c per serve.

A very tasty lunch for $1.87 per serve.

Dinner

Tonight’s dinner was a return to the Soutzoukakia with Australian Lamb, served with Dolmas, Caramelized Onion Hummus and Butter Fried Mushrooms. We get three full serves from the Soutzoukakia recipe.

• Australian Ground lamb was $5.99 at Aldi or $2.00 per serve
• An egg is 32c or 11c per serve
• 8 oz Panko breadcrumbs are $2.99 and we used half, or 25c per serve
• Parmesan is $3.99 for 8oz and we shared 2 oz or 50c per serve
• 1/4 cup and a tablespoon of red wine – halved – is 34c per serve
• Parsley was $1.49 for the bunch, but we only used 1/4 or 13c per serve
• Fresh mint came from our garden
• The Mushrooms were $2.49 for a pack and we shared the last ⅓, or 42c per serve
• Dolmas from Whole Foods were $3.41 (on special) or $1.13 per serve
• Add 46c for Hummus.

Always a tasty meal for $5.34 per serve.

Lunch

Taking advantage of a shopping trip to Trader Joe’s Foodie Greg picked up a $3.99 Greek Spanakopita, which we shared for $2.00 per serve.

Dinner

A return to Black Pepper Beef with Top Sirloin (Rump) Steak from Amazon Fresh.

• The Top Sirloin was $7.99, for a six ounce steak or $4.00 per serve
• Bell Peppers were 48c per serve
• Chipotle powder adds 10c per serve
• Onion and garlic add 25c per serve
• Brown Rice adds 34c per serve
• Add 50c for the other ingredients.

As always, pretty tasty for $5.67 per serve.

Lunch

For lunch we finished the Smoked Trout Chowder for $5.06 per serve.

Dinner

For tonight’s Eggs in Purgatory we had an Organic Mushroom Pasta Sauce and Pastured Eggs, both from Aldi.

• The Organic Mushroom Pasta Sauce was $1.85 or 93c per serve
• Pastured Eggs are 33c or 66c per serve
• Italian Bread adds 33c per serve.

The Pasta Sauce was better than expected for the price. Although not particularly heavy with the Mushrooms, the overall flavor was of a long simmered Tomato Sauce. A very satisfactory meal for $1.93 per serve.

Lunch

For lunch we picked up Enchiladas from Viva La Fiesta. Foodie Greg had the Chicken while Foodie Philip had the Green Pork Enchilada. They were both excellent again for $15.28 each with tax and tip.

Dinner

With the weather closing in, it felt like our last opportunity to grill Lamb Loin Chops while it was still warm. We served with a Ruby Grapefruit, Feta and Mint Salad, which provides a nice contrast to the Lamb

• Lamb Loin Chops were $9,49, or $4.75 per serve
• The Grapefruit was $1.83, or 92c per serve
• The Feta adds 48c per serve
• The Mint came from our garden
• Add 40c for Olive Oil and other ingredients.

A very satisfying meal for $6.55 per serve.

Lunch

As we had everything we needed, we made Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato Sandwiches.

• Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• Uncured Bacon was $5.99 for 10 slices, and we shared three, or 75c per serve
• Butter Lettuce adds 25c per serve
• Tomato adds 40c per serve.

A pretty good sandwich for $2.14 per serve.

Dinner

Growing up in Australia our curries were very mild, so Curried Scallops was very common. Foodie Philip had a Curried Scallop Pie in Tasmania on the last trip, so we decided to try a Curried Scallops with Spinach recipe.

• Jumbo Scallops are now $13.99 or $7.00 per serve
• Chicken Bone Broth adds 50c per serve
• Add 35c for Butter
• Add 10c for Onion
• Grass fed Half & Half is $3.79 per pint and we used ¼, or 48c per serve
• Add 30c for other ingredients.

The curry was definitely subtle, but matched the subtle Scallop flavor well. A tasty, but expensive, meal at $8.79 per serve.

Lunch

On a cool, gray day we cooked two Whole Food’s Chicken Pot Pies for $2.79 per serve (after all discounts).

Dinner

Fishy Friday is a return to Smoked Trout Chowder, which makes four serves.

• The Smoked Trout was $13.99, or $3.50 per serve
• Potatoes add 34c per serve
• Garlic and Scallions add 15c per serve
• Chicken Bone Broth adds 50c per serve
• Wine adds 13c per serve
• Grass fed Half & Half is $3.79 per pint and we used ¼, or 24c per serve
• Add 20c for other soup ingredients
• Italian Bread adds 22c per serve
• Butter adds 35c per serve.

The Whole Foods Smoked Trout was nearly double the price of that from Trader Joe’s, but it was noticeably more moist and had more flavor. We broke with the recipe and added the Trout early in the cooking so the flavor permeated the soup. A very good meal with some toasted and buttered Italian Bread, for $5.63 per serve.

Lunch

Since we had some Smoked Salmon left, what better than to make a Smoked Salmon Bagel.

• The Brioche Bagel is 58c
• The Smoked Salmon pieces were $1.38 per serve
• Add 20c for Neufchatel
• Add 50c for Tomato, Onion Sprouts & Capers.

As always a very luxurious and tasty sandwich for $2.39 per serve.

Dinner

We decided to ‘do over’ our Turkey, Bacon, Chipotle Meatloaf, but with the less-sweet Japanese baked Sweet Potato instead of Cuban Beans.

• Ground turkey cost $6.39 or $1.60 per serve
• Bacon was $5.99 and we used ⅓, or 50c per serve
• A can of chipotle is $1.50 and we used half, or 38c per serve
• Add 65c for onion, breadcrumbs and seasonings
• The Sweet Potato adds 50c per serve
• The Coleslaw Mix was $1.99 and we used half, or 50c per serve
• We made our own Dressing from Mayonnaise, Chipotle and Apple Cider Vinegar for 40c per serve.

The less-sweet ‘Sweet’ Potato was more to our taste. Overall, a nice redo for $4.53 per serve.