July 25: Ham & Coleslaw; Sous Vide Bone-in Heritage Pork Chop with Apple, Smoked Cheddar and Pickled Onion Salad

Lunch

We’ve discovered that Deli Ham and Mr Fish and Chip’s Coleslaw is a good combination, so we repeated it today.

  • Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
  • The Coleslaw is $1.12 per serve
  • Black Forest Ham is $3.29 per pack, or 55c per serve
  • Add 40c for Garlic Spread.

An excellent sandwich for $2.81 per serve.

Dinner

Tonight was a celebration of the culmination of a two year project, and we got to celebrate with Heritage Bone-in Pork Chop with a Smoked Cheddar and Pickled Onion Salad. Special celebrations get to open one of our very limited supply of Australian Sparkling Red Wine. There doesn’t seem to be any American made Sparkling Reds.

  • The Heritage Pork Chops were about $9.70 per 10oz serve
  • The mixed greens are 35c per serve
  • The Apple was $87 or 44c per serve
  • We used about 1/3 of the $5.75 Smoked Cheddar, or 96c per serve
  • Add 30c for Pickled Onion
  • Add 1oc for Seeded Mustard.

The Heritage Pork Chop is one of our favorite meats that come from our Keller Crafted meat box. Sous vide followed by a short, hard sear creates the absolute perfect protein at the heart of an excellent meal, worthy of a celebration, for $11.85, sparkling red not included.

Jul 24: Fish & Chips; Avocado, Mango, Shrimp Salad

Lunch

Since Mr Fish and Chips is right near a regular shopping destination, it was the source of lunch today. We get a single serve of Fish and Chips and share, along with extra Coleslaw.

All up we spent $14.47, but $3.00 of that is for Coleslaw we used in a different meal. Mr Fish and Chips (Simi Valley) is excellent value as our meal was $5.73 per serve.

Dinner

Continuing our Fishy Friday we had sous vidé Argentinean Shrimp, which we chopped and added to cubed Avocado and Mango to make an excellent salad.

  • 1 lb of shrimp is $10.99,  or $2.75 per serve.
  • A Mango was 45c or 23c per serve
  • An Avocado was 49c and we had one each
  • Add 20c for dressing ingredients.

Thanks to some excellent pricing at Aldi on Avocado and Mango, this was an excellent meal for only $3.67 per serve.

Jul 23: Shin Bowl; Rib Eye with Roast Garlic Mushrooms and Caramelized Onion

Lunch

A slightly cooler day had us turning to a Shin Noodle Bowl. A pack of four was $3.69 or 93c per serve, which proved to be quite generous and a satisfying – if spicy hot – meal. We do, however, only use one of the two flavor pouches.

Dinner

Since tonight is our traditional Steak night we seared a Dry Aged Rib Eye and served with Roast Garlic Mushrooms, and Caramelized Onion.

  • The Rib Eye from our Keller Crafted meat box is around $8.41 per serve
  • Sliced Crimini Mushrooms were $2.49 or $1.20 per serve
  • Add 40c for Butter
  • Caramelized Onion add 20c per serve
  • Add 35c for Parsley and seasoning.

An excellent meal for $10.56 per serve.

Jul 22: Brioche Bagel with Tomato & Smokey Cheddar; Rissoles with Cherry Tomatoes, Pickled Beets and Caramelized Onion Cheddar

Lunch

Today’s lunch featured a Brioche Bagel with Tomato & Cheddar.

  • The Brioche Bagels are $2.89 for five and we shared one, or 58c per serve
  • Smokey Cheddar was $2.69 for 10 slices, or 54c for two slices
  • Five Kumato were $3.49 and we used one each, or 70c per serve
  • Add 40c for Garlic Spread.

The Bagel was quite tasty for $2.22 per serve.

Dinner

A nice evening made grilling outside a pleasant option, and a griddle in the grill is definitely the best way to do them. Served with a simple “Australian Inspired” salad.

  • Dry aged 85/15 ground beef $8.57 or $2.86 per serve
  • 8 oz Panko breadcrumbs are $2.99 and we used half, or 50c per serve
  • A Pastured Egg is 51c or 17c per serve
  • The onion is 4c per serve
  • Spinach was $1.49 or 38c per serve
  • The cherry tomatoes were $2.99 and we used half or 75c per serve
  • Pickled beets in vinaigrette are $1.69, of which we used about ⅓ or 28c per serve
  • We used about ⅓ of the $5.75 Caramelized Onion Cheddar, or 96c per serve
  • Add 10c for Carolina BBQ sauce.

As always a very enjoyable meal for $6.04 per serve.

Jul 21: Supermarket Sushi; Beer Bratwurst with Spinach, Tomato and Caramelized Onion Cheddar

Lunch

A trip to Whole Foods bought back Albacore Sashimi & Avocado, Cucumber Rolls for $10.74 per serve.

Dinner

The Foodies were celebrating the completion of another app, and celebrated, as is our tradition at the end of any major project, with a bottle of Brut Rose Champagne (yes, actually Champagne). We swapped our Beer Bratwurst to tonight for a better food pairing.

  • Beer Bratwurst were $4.49 or $2.25 per serve
  • Spinach was $1.49 or 38c per serve
  • The cherry tomatoes were $2.99 and we used half or 75c per serve
  • Pickled beets in vinaigrette are $1.69, of which we used about ⅓ or 28c per serve
  • We used about ⅓ of the $5.75 Caramelized Onion Cheddar, or 96c per serve
  • Add 30c for Dressing ingredients.

The Beer Bratwurst continue to be good, and the salad was an appropriate accompaniment for $4.92 per serve.

Jul 20: Ham, Sauerkraut & Swiss, Egg Salad & Sprouts; Long Cooked Broccoli with Scrambled Eggs

Lunch

We shared a Ham, Sauerkraut & Swiss sandwich, and an Egg Salad & Sprouts on the other.

  • Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
  • Swiss adds 34c per serve
  • Black Forest Ham is $3.29 per pack, or 55c per serve
  • The Artisanal Kraut is $3.29 per packet and we used about ⅛, or 21c per serve
  • Egg Salad is $3.69 and we use about ¼ for each sandwich, or 46c per serve
  • Sprouts add 30c per serve
  • Add 40c for Garlic Spread.

Decent sandwiches for $3.00 per serve.

Dinner

We haven’t had Long Cooked Broccoli before, and then only as a side. This was our first attempt at a main meal, following a suggestion to pair it with Scrambled Eggs.

  • The Organic Broccoli was $2.79 or $1.40 per serve
  • Shallots and Garlic add 25c per serve
  • The Valbreso Feta was $10.99 but we used 1/6 each or $1.83 per serve
  • Pastured eggs are 51c each, or $1.02 per serve.

The Long Cooked Broccoli was, as always, extremely tasty with a deep flavor that paired well with the Feta. The Scrambled Eggs were light and very good, but did not belong on this dish! The dish was disjointed for $4.50 per serve.

Jul 19: Heuvos Rancheros; Black Beans and Dirty Rice with Caramelized Ginger Pork

Lunch

We picked up Heuvos Rancheros from our La Fiesta for $10.09 per serve, with tax and tip.

Dinner

As we still had two serves of the Caramelized Ginger Pork from last week, so we cooked up some Dirty Rice, added Black Beans, and stored in the Ginger Pork.

  • The Caramelized Ginger Pork was $2.09 per serve
  • The Dirty Rice was $1.89 or 90c per serve
  • Black Beans add 49c per serve
  • Add 10c for Spring Onion.

While it’s not that pretty, it was tasty for $3.58 per serve.

Jul 18: Avocado, Smoked Trout & Sprouts; Giant Scallops with Esquites

Lunch

We shared an Avocado, a can of Smoked Trout and some Alfalfa sprouts, on two identical sandwiches.

  • Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
  • We shared a $3.49 can of Smoked Trout, or $1.75 per serve
  • The Avocado was 51c or 26c per serve
  • Add 30c for Alfalfa Sprouts
  • Garlic Spread adds 50c per serve.

The key to this sandwich is the Garlic Spread and Sprouts, otherwise it would be a little boring, for $3.55 per serve.

Dinner

Since we gave the Aldi Giant Seas Scallops the big ‘thumbs up’ they’re a regular part of our menu rotation. Tonight paired with Esquites, the salad version of Eloté.

  • The frozen “dry packed” Scallops were $9.69, and we served three people tonight, or $3.23 per serve
  • The fire roasted corn is $2.49 per pound or, or 37c per serve
  • Add 40c for Cotija
  • Add 2oc for Spring Onion.

Perfectly cooked Scallops, with the Esquites being a perfect complement. A great dish to entertain with, for $4.20 per serve.

Jul 17: Brioche Bagel with Kumato & Swiss; Seared Ahi Tuna with Udon Noodle Salad

Lunch

For something different we toasted a Brioche Bagel and topped with Kumato & melted Swiss.

  • The Brioche Bagels are $2.89 for five and we shared one, or 58c per serve
  • Swiss Cheese is 34c per serve
  • Five Kumato were $3.49 and we used two, or 70c per serve
  • Add 40c for Garlic Spread.

Tasty and a nice change from Sandwiches for $2.02 per serve.

Dinner

For this week’s Fishy Friday we seared some Ahi Tuna (again from Aldi) and served it atop an Udon, Cabbage and Carrot Salad.

  • 12 oz Tuna was $5.19, or $2.60 per serve
  • The Udon Noodles were from Aldi, and cost $1.69 or 85c per serve
  • The Nappa Cabbage was $3.57, but we used about ⅛ or 22c per serve
  • Add 20c for Carrot
  • Add 30c for other ingredients.

The Tuna was, once again, excellent contributing to a very good meal for $4.17 per serve.

Jul 16: Roast Turkey Breast, Sauerkraut & Swiss; Sous Vide and Seared Duck Breast with Garlic Bok Choy and Yakisoba Noodles

Lunch

We toasted a Brioche Bagel and topped it with Roast Turkey Breast, Sauerkraut and melted Swiss Cheese.

  • Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
  • Swiss adds 34c per serve
  • We used two slices of Roast Turkey Breast on each Bagel, or 33c per serve
  • The Artisanal Kraut is $3.29 per packet and we used about ⅛, or 21c per serve
  • Five Kumato were $3.49 and we had one each, or 70c per serve
  • Add 40c for Garlic Spread.

We definitely did not need to melt the Swiss, but otherwise a decent sandwich for $2.72 per serve.

Dinner

Once again we sous vidé the Duck Breast to a perfect medium rare, then seared the skin in a very hot pan that was then used to wilt the Garlic Bok Choy. We served with Yakisoba Noodles.

  • The Duck was $17.32 or $8.66 per serve
  • The noodles are $3.19 for the pack, or $1.60 per serve
  • The Bok Choy was 89c or 45c per serve.

A nearly perfect plate of food for $10.71 per serve.