Aug 24: Smoked Pork Belly on French Lentil Salad

Lunch

Lunch today was a repeat of the excellent Speck and Arugula in a Ciabatta sandwich.

  • The Speck was $3.99, or $2.00 per serve
  • The Ciabatta is 58c per serve
  • Arugula adds 40c per serve
  • The Duke’s Mayonnaise adds 25c per serve.

An excellent sandwich, which is getting better as we fine tune the timing, for $3.23 per serve.

Dinner

Smoking the sous vide Pork Belly (from Trader Joes) was successful last time, so we did it again with thinner slices – more smokable surface – and served on a French Lentil Salad.

  • The Pork Belly is $6.49 or $3.25 per serve
  • The Steamed Lentils were $3.29, and we used ¼, or 42c per serve.
  • Add 20c for Carrot
  • Add 55c for remaining ingredients.

The smoke on the Pork was excellent and served atop a very tasty salad, it was a great meal for $4.42 per serve.

Aug 23: Beef Rissoles with Australian Salad

Lunch

An Egg Salad Sandwich with Lettuce made a simple lunch.

  • Two Eggs are $1.00 per serve
  • The Dave’s Killer Bread is 78c per serve
  • Mayonnaise adds 20c per serve
  • Lettuce adds 30c per serve.

A tasty sandwich for $2.28 per serve.

Dinner

Foodie Greg decided it was time for Beef Rissoles and the weather co-operated as we grill those outside. We will get three serves.

  • Ground beef was on special for $3.98 or $1.33 per serve
  • 8 oz Panko breadcrumbs are $2.99 and we used half, or 50c per serve
  • A Pastured Egg is 50c or 17c per serve
  • The onion is 8c per serve
  • Pickled beets in vinaigrette are $1.69, of which we used about ⅓ or 28c per serve
  • We used about ½ of the $3.95 Sharp Cheddar, or 66c per serve
  • Cherry Kumatoe were $3.99 and we used about half, or $1.00 per serve
  • Add 40c for Carolina BBQ Sauce.

Tasty as always for $4.46 per serve.

Aug 22: Pan Seared Scallops with Caponata

Lunch

Lunch was our simple meal of Buttered Shin Ramen with Coleslaw Mix for $1.67 per serve.

Dinner

We had a different meal planned, but when Foodie Greg found large Sea Scallops at Whole Foods on special, the plan was updated to serving the Seared Sea Scallops with Caponata, a recipe Foodie Greg has been wanting to try for a while.

Even halving the recipe will give us at least four serves of Caponata. We skipped the Cane Sugar and Basil from our version of the recipe.

  • The Sea Scallops were on special for $8.94, or $4.48 per serve
  • The Eggplant was $2.42, or 61c per serve
  • We used Shallot instead of Red Onion for 10c per serve
  • Add 20c for Celery
  • Add 30c for a very generous serve of Capers
  • The tetra-pack Pomi Tomatoes are $4.39, but we only used half the pack in this recipe, or 55c per serve
  • Add 15c for the minor ingredients.

The Caponata was very tasty, as were the Sea Scallops, contributing to a very tasty meal for $6.19 per serve.

Aug 21: Stuffed Shells with Marinara Sauce

Lunch

Since we had Smoked Salmon it was obvious we should have a Smoked Salmon Bagel for lunch.

  • The Brioche Bagel is 58c
  • The Smoked Salmon pieces were $1.38 per serve
  • Add 45c for Cream Cheese
  • Add 40c for Shallot & Capers.

Always a great sandwich for $2.81 per serve.

Dinner

A simple meal of frozen Stuffed Shells with a prepared Marinara Sauce.

  • The Shells were $3.49 and we only prepared half, or 88c per serve
  • The Marinara Sauce is $1.79 and we used half, or 45c per serve
  • Add 20c for freshly Grated Parmigiano Reggiano.

The Shells were quite good and made the meal only $1.53 per serve.

Aug 20: Spanish Mussels with Chorizo and Tomato-Wine Sauce and Garlic Toast

Lunch

For lunch we shared a Pastrami Reuben with Coleslaw and Steak Fries from The Country Deli for $26.45 or $8.23 per serve with tax and tip.

Dinner

It was time for Spanish Mussels with Chorizo and Tomato-Wine Sauce and 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 38c per serve
  • The Garlic Spread adds 40c per serve.

As always a very tasty meal for $4.74 per serve.

Aug 19: Smoked Salmon Pizza

Lunch

For lunch we had Veggie Spring Rolls from Aldi for $4.99, or $2.50 per serve. They were a little flavorless.

Dinner

Another month has rolled around and the weather is nice, so it’s time for Smoked Salmon Pizza!

  • 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
  • Moon blushed Cherry Tomatoes add 35c per serve (on side salad)
  • Arugula adds 20c per serve.

This was probably the best the crust has ever been cooked. A great Pizza for $4.90 per serve

Aug 18: Gyro Meat Pita Sandwich

Lunch

Because we were having a sandwich for lunch, we opted for Delice de Bourgogne and Apple on a Crisbread.

  • The Delice de Bourgogne was $5.38 and we shared ½, or $1.35 per serve
  • The Apple adds 35c per serve
  • The Rye Crispbread was $3.29 for a pack of 20, or 33c per serve.

A very tasty meal for $2.03 per serve.

Dinner

We decided on Gyro Meat in a Pita Pocket with Tzatziki in a Pita Pocket from Skewers Halal for $29.07 with tax and tip, or $14.54 per serve.

Aug 17: Warm Shredded Lamb on Hummus with Dolmas and Cherry Tomatoes

Lunch

Lunch was Speck and Arugula on a par-baked Demi-Baguette.

  • The Demi-baguette was $1.29 or 65c per serve
  • The Speck was $3.99, or $2.00 per serve
  • Arugula adds 40c per serve
  • The Duke’s Mayonnaise adds 25c per serve.

The Baguette is the perfect bread around this tasty sandwich, for $3.30 per serve.

Dinner

A welcome return to the Warm Shredded Lamb Salad on Hummus, tonight served with Dolmas and Cherry Tomatoes.

  • The Lamb is $2.65 per serve
  • Dolmas from Whole Foods were $1.13 per serve
  • Add 30c for Cherry Tomatoes
  • Add 46c for Hummus.

The Dolmas worked very well with the Shredded Lamb. A very tasty meal for $4.54 per serve.

Aug 16: Hiyashi Chüka

Lunch

We finished the last of our Bacon Chipotle Turkey Rissoles by – once again – stuffing it in a Ciabatta Roll with Sriracha BBQ Sauce and a slice of Chipotle Cheddar, heated in the Panini Press.

  • The Ciabatta is 58c per serve
  • The Chipotle Cheddar is 36c per serve
  • Sriracha BBQ Sauce adds 20c per serve
  • The Rissole is $1.05 per serve.

A very tasty Panini for $2.19 per serve.

Dinner

Foodie Greg was plating the Hiyashi Chūka (chilled Ramen Salad) with Ham, Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumber and Usuyaki Tomago, when Foodie Philip observed that it looked like a Japanese Cobb Salad.

  • The Ramen is $1.63 per serve
  • The Breakfast Ham is $2.99 for six, or 50c per serve
  • There was an average of 1.5 Eggs per serve, or 75c
  • Baby Corn was $2.29 and we used half, or 58c per serve
  • Cherry Tomatoes add 46c per serve
  • Cucumber adds 30c per serve
  • Add 20c for Pickled Ginger
  • Add 40c for Dressing Ingredients.

A decent meal for $4.82 per serve.

Aug 15: Gado Gado

Lunch

Foodie Greg picked up a Tarte Aux Champignons for $4.79 or $2.40 per serve.

Dinner

Tonight’s Gado Gado (Indonesian salad with peanut sauce) is a recipe we’ve ignored for a while, but a good choice for Meatless Monday.

  • Tempe is $1.99 or $1.00 per serve
  • Blanched Bean Sprouts are 35c per serve
  • A Pastured Egg is 50c per serve
  • Spinach adds 40c per serve
  • Baby Corn was $2.29 and we used half, or 58c per serve
  • The peanut butter was $1.99 and we used about 1/2,  or 50c a serve
  • Add 30c for other Sauce ingredients
  • The Red Curry Paste is $3.38 per can or $1.69 per serve
  • Coconut Milk was $1.89 for the can, and we used ⅓ or 32c per serve.

It’s a decent meal for $4.63, although rather expensive for a vegetarian meal.