Jul 25: Smoked Pork Belly “Cobb” Salad

Lunch

A simple Ham and Coleslaw sandwich was lunch today.

  • Dave’s Killer Rye Bread is 76c per serve
  • The Breakfast Ham is $2.99 for six, or 50c per serve
  • Coleslaw adds $1.25 per serve.

Not too shabby for $2.51 per serve.

Dinner

In an ever evolving series of variations on a Cobb Salad, we focused this one on Smoked Pork Belly. The cooked Pork Belly comes from Trader Joe’s. We sliced and smoked it on the stove-top smoker before serving on top of the other salad items.

  • The Pork Belly is $6.49 or $3.25 per serve
  • A Pastured Egg is 50c per serve
  • An Avocado is $1.29 and we shared one, or 65c per serve
  • The Grape tomatoes cost $2.99 and we used about half, or 75c per serve
  • Lettuce leaves adds 45c per serve
  • Add 30c for Balsamic Glaze.

Cutting the Pork before smoking exposed more surface to the smoke, and we picked up good smoke flavor. I very good variation on a Cobb Salad for $6.90 per serve.

Jul 24: Warm Shredded Lamb on Hummus with Pita and a Lettuce, Cucumber, Pistachio and Preserved Lemon Salad

Lunch

Our lunch was a Panini version of the Chirzo, Bell Pepper and Cheese sandwich.

  • The Ciabatta Roll is 58c per serve
  • The Chipotle Cheddar is 36c per serve
  • The Chorizo was $4.72 and we used half, or $1.18 per serve
  • Fire Roasted Peppers cost $1.99 and we used half, or 50c per serve.

We preferred the Panini version of what is a very good sandwich for $2.62 per serve.

Dinner

It was time to prepare Shredded Lamb in bulk for tonight and three additional meals. Tonight’s was served on Hummus with a Lettuce, Cucumber, Pistachio and Preserved Lemon Salad. Our Mint was in no condition to be picked thanks to the ongoing heat.

  • The Lamb was $21.01 or $2.10 per serve
  • Add 25c per serve for red wine
  • Add 30c for Onion and seasoning
  • The Lettuce was $1.49 and we used half, or 38c each
  • Cucumber was $2.69 and we used half, or 68c per serve
  • Add 15c for Dressing ingredients
  • Add 20c for Preserved Lemon
  • Add 46c for Hummus.

Always a very tasty meal for $4.52 per serve.

Jul 23: Thai Green Curry

Lunch

Foodie Greg was unwell so Foodie Philip had a Ham, Chipotle Cheddar and Semi-dried Tomato toasted sandwich.

  • Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
  • The Chipotle Cheddar adds 72c per serve
  • Breakfast Ham is 59c per serve
  • Add 30c for Cherry Tomatoes
  • Add 45c for Garlic Spread.

A decent toasted sandwich for $2.80.

Dinner

A last minute change in plans had us swapping Meatless Monday to tonight and having a frozen Thai Green Curry from Trader Joe’s for $4.49 per serve.

Jul 22: Sous Vidé Duck Breast with Garlic Bok Choy and Black Rice

Lunch

Because we were in Simi Valley for a fourth Covid vaccine booster, we bough our “Taste of Tassie,” a.k.a. Fried Scallops with Fries and Coleslaw from Mr Fish and Chips for $7.84 per serve with tax and tip, which is still very good value.

Dinner

For tonight’s sous vidé and seared Duck Breast we kept everything pretty straight because we were trying a Sparkling Shiraz as a food pairing.

  • The Duck Breasts were $12.06 or $6.03 per serve
  • Black Rice adds 34c per serve
  • Bok Choy adds another 48c per serve.

The Duck was excellent, as usual, for $6.88 per serve and the wine is definitely worth repeating.

Jul 21: Bento Box with Ahi Tuna Tataki

Lunch

A return to our toasted Chorizo, Bell Pepper and Chipotle Cheddar.

  • The Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
  • The Chipotle Cheddar is 36c per serve
  • The Chorizo was $4.72 and we used half, or $1.18 per serve
  • Fire Roasted Peppers cost $1.99 and we used half, or 50c per serve.

A pretty good sandwich for $2.78 per serve.

Dinner

It was time for our Bento Box and Ahi Tuna Tataki (Seared).

  • The Bento Box was $21.00 per serve with tax and tip.
  • The Tuna came from Amazon where 12oz is $10.29, and we shared one steak or $2.58 per serve.

The Tuna from Amazon comes packaged as two six ounce serves, which reduces the amount per serve to a more reasonable 3 oz per serve. We thought it was a higher grade Tuna than we had been getting. Always a great meal for $23.58.

Jul 20: Smoked Salmon, Pea and Cream Cheese Frittata

Lunch

For lunch we had Shin Ramen with Cabbage for $1.67 per serve.

Dinner

We still had a little Smoked Salmon, so to better flavor the Frittata Foodie Greg sautéed it in Butter before adding the Peas and Eggs.

  • The little bit of Smoked Salmon has already been included
  • Pastured Eggs add 96c per serve
  • Green Peas add 45c per serve
  • Add 60c for Capers, Arugula and Butter.

A pretty decent Frittata for $2.01 per serve.

Jul 19: Chicken Leg with Cucumber Strawberry Salad

Lunch

We had Speck And Argula on a Ciabatta Baguette smeared with a little Mayo.

  • The Ciabatta is 58c 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.

A very tasty sandwich for $3.18 per serve. The smear of Mayo on the top of the Baguette worked better than the Delice de Bourgogne we tried last time.

Dinner

A simple meal utilizing the Chicken Legs from last week’s Rotisserie purchase, served with a long time favorite: Cucumber and Strawberry Salad.

  • The Chicken was $4.97, or $1.25 per serve
  • The Cucumber was $1.37 and we used half or the original, or 35c per serve
  • The Strawberries were $1.29 and we used ¾ or 49c per serve
  • Add 60c per serve for Balsamic Vinegar.

It had been too long since we last had the Cucumber Strawberry Salad, and that’s a pity as it’s great and contributed the most flavor to this $2.69 meal.

Jul 18: Eloté

Lunch

Since we had Smoked Salmon in the fridge, we decided to go with tradition and put it on a Bagel.

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

As always a great sandwich for $2.81 per serve.

Dinner

When good looking fresh Corn appears, it’s time to change plans and cook Eloté.

  • Corn was $2.07 or an average of $1.04 per serve
  • The Cotija was $3.59 on special and we used about ⅓, or 60c per serve
  • Add 80c per serve for Mayo, Yoghurt and Chipotle sprinkle.

A very enjoyable meal for $2.44 per serve.

Jul 17: Lettuce Wraps with Caramelized Ginger Pork, Bean Sprouts and Mint

Lunch

We returned to the Rotisserie Chicken, Heirloom Tomato and Baguette.

  • The Chicken was $4.97 and we shared a Breast, or 63c per serve
  • The Aldi ‘Bake at Home’ Baguette was $1.89, but we shared half, or 48c per serve
  • We shared half a Heirloom Tomato for 58c per serve
  • The Garlic Spread adds 60c per serve.

A very tasty sandwich for $2.29 per serve.

Dinner

We finished the Caramelized Ginger Pork in Lettuce Wraps with blanched Bean Sprouts and Mint.

  • The Caramelized Pork is $2.25 per serve
  • Add 25c per serve for Artisanal Lettuce
  • Add 40c for Bean Sprouts
  • Add 40c for the Nam Pla Sauce.

As always, a tasty meal for $3.30 per serve.

Jul 16: Smoked Salmon Pizza with Pickle Salad

Lunch

It was time for a Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich from Skewers, so we indulged in our favorite sandwich for $11.85 per serve with a shared Fries.

Dinner

Because we had forgotten to make the Moon Blushed Cherry Tomatoes, we had to delay our “fishy Friday” until today when it was time for our favorite 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
  • Preserved Lemon adds 5c per serve
  • Pickled Beets adds 25c per serve
  • Arugula adds 10c per serve.

A super tasty Pizza for $4.75 per serve.