Category: Uncategorized

Dec 31: Sous Vide Ham with Choucroute

Lunch

Today we riffed on a Tuna Melt with Smoked Trout instead.

  • Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
  • We shared a $3.49 can of Smoked Trout, or $1.75 per serve
  • Add 40c for Garlic Spread
  • Add 30c for Capers and other ingredients.

The Smoked Trout has more flavor than typical canned Tuna, so it makes for a more tasty sandwich for $3.19 per serve.

Dinner

We sous vide a Ham from Aldi and served with a classic side: Choucroute.

  • The Ham was $13.98, but there was a discount of $7.51 for a net of $6.47 and we used about 1/10, or 32c per serve
  • Sauerkraut was $1.29 for four serves, or 33c per serve
  • Add 50c per serve for Carrot
  • Add 30c per serve for other ingredients.

The Ham was very moist, having lost no moisture during cooking. The Choucroute was a great side, and adding a little bacon not only improved the flavor, but was a little more authentic. A good meal for $1.45 per serve.

Dec 30: 13 Bean Chili

Lunch

Shin Ramen with Coleslaw Mix makes a warming meal on a very chill day for $1.63 per serve.

Dinner

A warming Chili makes a great meal on a cold, rainy night. Tonight we experimented with a 13 Bean Chili using Soy Chorizo instead of Beef. We will get at least four serves from this recipe.

  • The 13 Bean Mix was $5.49 and we used half, or 69c per serve
  • Soy Chorizo is $2.29 or 58c per serve
  • Two cans of Tomato Sauce (Pissata) were 27c each, 14c per serve
  • Add 40c for Onion, Garlic and other ingredients
  • Sour cream adds 30c per serve
  • An Avocado is 39c or 20c per serve.

A tasty Chili, although a little Bean heavy for Foodie Philip, for $2.31 per serve.

Dec 29: Prime Rib, Mashed Potatoes and an Artichoke Spinach Casserole

Lunch

For lunch we toasted a Chorizo, Smoked Bell Pepper and Gouda sandwich.

  • The Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
  • Smokey Cheddar is 34c 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.

As always, a very tasty sandwich for $2.76 per serve.

Dinner

Tonight the Foodies enjoyed an excellent Prime Rib with Mashed Potatoes and an Artichoke Spinach Casserole at the home of friends to celebrate the holidays.

Dec 26: Sous Vide Pork Chop with Waldorf Salad

Lunch

Because it was both a Sunday and the day after Christmas, we put a little more effort into an “English” style breakfast for brunch.

  • Italian Bread adds 32c per serve
  • The Giant Baked Beans are $1.99 or $1.00 per serve
  • Pastured Eggs are 38c each, or 76c per serve
  • Bacon was $4.99 and we used five of 10 slices, or $1.25 per serve
  • The Cherry Tomatoes add 36c per serve.

The charred Cherry Tomatoes added a nice pop of freshness to the meal. Most enjoyable for $3.69 per serve.

Dinner

Tonight’s thick cut Pork Chops came from Whole Foods and we sous vide them to a perfect medium rare, then seared in brown Butter to give some color, and served with a Waldorf Salad.

  • The very generous serve of Pork Chops was $7.06 after all discounts, or $3.53 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.

We really like cooking Pork sous vide because we can dial in the perfect “cook” temperature for medium rare. Of course sous vide does no browning, so a quick sear in Brown Butter gives it a golden gleam. Served with a Waldorf Salad it was a great meal for $4.56 per serve.

Dec 25: ‘Traditional’ Japanese Kurisumasu

Lunch

As the main celebratory meal for the day, we went Japanese with a ‘traditional’ Fried Chicken lunch. In Japan it would be KFC, but we like Popeye’s better. /

  • The Chicken is $5.24 per serve
  • Brown Rice adds 24c per serve
  • Coleslaw Mix adds 35c per serve
  • A Ponzu and Sesame Oil Dressing for the Coleslaw adds 60c per serve.

Our poor planning thwarted our attempt to turn Japanese for Christmas 2020, but we succeeded in 2021 for $6.43 per serve.

Dinner

It’s almost traditional to have a “grazing” meal for Christmas evening, and tonight’s included Delice de Bourgogne, Caramelized Onion Dip, Raspberries, Prosciutto, Cheddar and more, for about $12.00 per serve.

Dec 24: Lentil And Rice Bowls With Grated Cauliflower, Spinach And Yogurt

Lunch

For lunch we had a simple Ham and Coleslaw sandwich.

  • Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
  • Black Forest Ham is $3.29 per pack, or 66c per serve
  • The Mr Fish and Chips Coleslaw adds 70c per serve.

For variety we toasted the bread before making the sandwich, which gave it texture. Not bad for $2.04 per serve.

Dinner

For Dinner the Foodies celebrated Christmas Eve with a friend who cooked Lentil And Rice Bowls With Grated Cauliflower, Spinach And Yogurt, which we both enjoyed.

Dec 23: Smoked Trout Chowder

Lunch

Our lunch was the remaining Red Wine and Mushroom Meatloaf, heated and stuffed into a hot Panini Roll with Gouda, Lettuce and Beetroot Slices.

  • The Panini Roll is 63c per serve
  • Gouda adds 34c per serve
  • Lettuce adds 20c per serve
  • The Meatloaf is $1.92 per serve
  • The can of Beetroot was $1.20 and we used about ⅓ , or 20c per serve.

We both got hints of Australian-style Hamburgers that always come with sliced Beetroot (usually pickled), and a lot of flavor for $3.29 per serve.

Dinner

This week’s Fishy Friday is a return to Smoked Trout Chowder, which makes four serves.

  • The Smoked Trout was $8.72 after all discounts, or $2.18 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
  • Add 29c for half a Brioche Bagel.

An excellent, warming soup for $4.03 per serve.

Dec 22: Chapli/Chicken Kebab

Lunch

As we were in Simi Valley we picked up Scallops, Coleslaw and Fries from Mr Fish and Chips for $7.27 per serve with tax and tip.

Dinner

Weather foiled our attempt to pick up Kebabs from Skewers last week, and would have again tomorrow night, so we moved the schedule and picked up Chapli Kebabs for Foodie Philip and Chicken Kebabs for Foodie Greg. Both were excellent for $12.54 each.