Category: Daily recipe

May 9: Pork Roll; Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Lunch

At lunch the Foodies were apart with their respective families.  Foodie Philip was treated to a “Pork Roll” from a local Vietnamese bakery. It turns out this was an Australianization of a Bahn Mi!

With ham and roast pork instead of the bbq Pork we’re used to, but most of the other ingredients, including the patë, were the same, perhaps a little less chili. Overall it was a good sandwich, but closer to a ham salad Roll.

Our parents paid for our respective meals.

Dinner

Foodie Greg’s mother had given us some lemons so we made Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup.

  • The half roasted chicken was $7.50 or $1.88 per serve
  • The pasta was $1.75 or 44c per serve
  • Carrot was 40c or 10c per serve
  • The stock was $3.00, or 75c per serve
  • Add 15c for onion, celery and seasonings.

While it turned more to a risotto texture, it was very tasty for Au$3.32 (US$2.42) per serve.

May 8: Chicken Schnitzel Caesar Wrap; Chicken Breast with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes

Lunch

Another lakeside lunch and today the Foodies sampled the very trendy chicken schnitzel wrap. Of many variations offered we chose the Caesar salad version.

The serving size is huge with two 6 oz (at least) schnitzels, a generous serve of bacon and salad, with a quite decent Caesar dressing.

Niether of the Foodies could finish the $12.00 (US$9.00) serve.

Dinner

By dinner the Foodies had traveled to Sydney to have dinner with some very dear and long term friends, who were kind enough to cook for us.

We enjoyed Jamie Oliver’s Poached Chicken Breast with Asparagus and  Jerry Tomatoes, served with lemon garlic kale and both sweet and regular baked pot oats slices.

A tasty and enjoyable meal with good company.

May 7: Doner Kebab; Curried Cauliflower Soup

Lunch

At lunch time the Foodies where down near Lake Macquarie (NSW Australia) and collected a rather generously proportioned Doner Kebab. Also known as Yeros this local shop makes a rathe good version for (Au) $8,50 (US$6.12) per serve.

Dinner

At the evening meal the Foodies were treated to Curried  Cauliflower Soup made by Foodie Philip’s mother.

May 3: Smoked Trout, Labné & Garlic Dip; Southwest Beans and Sausage with Rice

Lunch

For variety in our toasted sandwiches, today we combined the Trader Joe’s smoked trout with Labné and Garlic spread on alternate sides.

  • The smoked trout is $3.49 per can and we shared one, or $1.75 per serve
  • Two slices of bread are 32c per serve
  • Add 35c for labné and garlic spread/dip.

Lunch today was surprisingly good for $2.42 per serve.

Dinner

Feeding a large table tonight we decided on Southwest Beans and Sausage with brown rice.

  • The Chicken Andouille Sausage is the most expensive component at $7.98 for two packs or $1.14 per serve
  • Bell pepper: $1.13 or 16c per serve
  • Onion: 10c per serve
  • Fire roasted diced tomato (canned): $1.69 a can or 48c per serve
  • The pinto beans are 99c a can or 28c a serve
  • For the herbs, 15c a serve
  • And the rice: 33c a serve

Dinner tonight cost $2.64 a serve. It’s a very tasty, warming stew with a little heat from the andouille.

May 2: Pseudo Rueben, Smoked Turkey Breast with tomato & Swiss; Turmeric-Coconut with Pork

Lunch

Today we had mixed sandwiches because we are using up what we have ahead of a trip to Australia. Today we had another of the pseudo Rueben sandwiches, and one with smoked turkey breast, Swiss cheese and semi-dried tomatoes. Both were pretty good.

  • Two slices of bread are 32c per serve
  • Add 17c for Wildbrine Madras Curry and Cauliflower Sauerkraut salad
  • The corned beef was $6.92 for 17 oz,  and we used about 2oz a serve, or 41c per serve
  • Swiss slices are 12 for $3.99 or 17c per serve
  • The turkey breast is $5.99 for 8 oz and we shared 2 oz or 75c per serve
  • Tomatoes were $2.79 before dehydrating, or 35c per serve
  • Add 30c for mayo and cocktail sauce.

Today’s sandwiches were both good for $2.47 per serve.

Dinner

Tonight’s dinner made three very generous serves of the Turmeric Coconut Curry with Pork. We substituted bok choy for the cabbage because we have it (and it tastes better).

  • The pork came from our Prather Ranch meat delivery – 1 lb of ground pork cost $8.31 or $$2.77 per serve
  • Add 45c for onion, ginger and turmeric’
  • Coconut milk was $1.89 or 63c per serve
  • Bok Choy was $1.29 and we used half, or 22c per serve
  • Almond flakes were $2.49 but we used only 1/5 or 17c per serve
  • Brown rice is 33c per serve.

Dinner tonight could have had a little more heat but the coconut flavor was good. The bok choy provided a nice textural alternative to the pork and rice. A decent meal for $4.57 per serve.

May 1: Meat Pies; Ginger Miso Broth with Chicken Wontons

Lunch

Sudden cool weather led us to Trader Joe’s meat pies. Foodie Philip had a Steak and Stout pie, while Foodie Greg had the Chicken Balti! They hit the spot in the cold for $3.25 per serve.

Dinner

As well as being tasty, tonight’s meal had to pair with sparkling white wine (a.k.a. champagne) because we were celebrating the release of a new app in our day job. We decided on Ginger Miso Broth and Vegetable Gyoza, but in typical Trader Joe’s fashion the Gyoza are not available, so we chose a Chicken and Cilantro Wonton instead.

  • The Wontons were $2.99 or $1.50 per serve
  • The Ginger Miso Broth is $1.99 or $1.00 per serve.

Despite both of us being “cilantro sensitive” it was in good balance in the wontons and, overall, it was a good, quick meal for $2.50 per serve.

Apr 30: Pseudo Reuben; Bacon and Black Bean Chili

Lunch

The corned beef sandwich from Saturday was good enough to repeat! So we did. The slightly curry flavored Wildbrine pickle works surprisingly well as a sauerkraut substitute.

  • Two slices of bread are 32c per serve
  • Add 33c for Wildbrine Madras Curry and Cauliflower Sauerkraut salad
  • The corned beef was $6.92 for 17 oz,  and we used about 2oz a serve, or 82c per serve
  • Swiss slices are 12 for $3.99 or 17c per serve
  • Add 30c for mayo and cocktail sauce.

A really good toasted sandwich for $1.94 per serve.

Dinner

It’s a day of repeats, as we return to the Bacon and Black Bean Chili for a second serve.

  • The ground beef was $10.07 or $1.68 per serve
  • The beans are $1.00 per can and we used two, or 33c per serve
  • Canned tomatoes were $1.29 or 22c per serve
  • Tomato paste was 79c or 13c per serve
  • Bacon is $6.99 for the pack and we used half, or 39c per serve
  • Add 30c per serve for seasoning
  • Add 20c for a dusting of cotija cheese
  • The avocado was 44c per serve.

We always enjoy this chili and today was no exception. We kept it simple with just the chili, avocado and cotija cheese (and a sprinkling of spring onion) for $3.79 per serve.

Apr 29: Bahn Mi; Bacon and Black Bean Chili

Lunch

Today we had another Bahn Mi as a weekend treat. Or just because we love it! Slightly more expensive at $8.75 per serve with tax.

Dinner

A return to a favorite: Bacon and Black Bean Chili with avocado and a dusting of cotija cheese.

Time for a return to a favorite: Bacon and Black Bean Chili with avocado and Cotija cheese. The recipe makes six serves.

  • The ground beef was $10.07 or $1.68 per serve
  • The beans are $1.00 per can and we used two, or 33c per serve
  • Canned tomatoes were $1.29 or 22c per serve
  • Tomato paste was 79c or 13c per serve
  • Bacon is $6.99 for the pack and we used half, or 39c per serve
  • Add 30c per serve for seasoning
  • Add 20c for a dusting of cotija cheese
  • The avocado was 44c per serve.

We always enjoy this chili and today was no exception. We kept it simple with just the chili, avocado and cotija cheese (and a sprinkling of spring onion) for $3.79 per serve.

 

Apr 28: Pseudo Reuben; Roast Chicken Leg, Kabocha Squash and Sugar Snap Peas

Lunch

While not a true Reuben today’s sandwich is definitely Reuben inspired. Corned beef, Curry and Cauliflower Wildbrine pickles, Swiss and a mix of mayo and shrimp sauce goes close.

  • Two slices of bread are 32c per serve
  • Add 33c for Wildbrine Madras Curry and Cauliflower Sauerkraut salad
  • The corned beef was $6.92 for 17 oz,  and we used about 2oz a serve, or 82c per serve
  • Swiss slices are 12 for $3.99 or 17c per serve
  • Add 30c for mayo and cocktail sauce.

A really good toasted sandwich for $1.94 per serve.

Dinner

Tonight we combined the chicken legs (thigh and drumstick) from our supermarket BBQ chicken, with roast kabocha squash and sugar snap peas for a decent, if unexciting, meal.

  • The chicken is $1.75 per serve
  • The kabocha squash was $1.94 and we used half, or 97c per serve
  • The sugar snap peas were $2.99 and we used half, or 75c per serve
  • Add 40c for the chicken stock gravy.

Dinner tonight was tasty for $3.87 per serve.

Apr 27: Chicken, Avocado, Tomato & Garlic Sandwich; Smothered Pork Chops with Brown Rice

Lunch

With the baguette gone, it was back to toasted sandwiches. Today we used the other chicken breast, an avocado and kumato with the garlic spread and it was really good!

  • The chicken is $6.99 and we shared a breast, or 88c per serve
  • Two slices of bread are 32c per serve
  • Five kumato were $3.49 and we used one, or 35c per serve
  • The garlic spread is $2.99 for the container and we used about 1/10 or 15c per serve
  • The avocado was 44c per serve.

A really tasty sandwich for $2.14 per serve.

Dinner

We’re always looking for new ways to cook the meat we get from (now) Keller Crafted meats and tonight we though our thin cut pork chops would be good smothered with brown rice. The sauce makes four serves, so there was leftover.

  • The pork chops were $10.95 or $5.47 per serve
  • Organic bell pepper was $1.99 or 50c per serve
  • Chicken broth was $4.38 or 55c per serve
  • Add 40c for onion, celery and garlic
  • Heavy cream is $3.29 per pint, but we used only 1/8 or 12c per serve
  • Add 20c for other ingredients.

We felt the sauce was a little lacking in depth, despite the hot sauce, but was tasty enough. We cooked our thin cut pork chops way less than recommended for the thick cut of the recipe, so they were not overcooked. A good meal for $7.24 per serve.