The semiSerious Foodies

Lunch

Today we had a simple Ploughman’s lunch.

• The Rye Crispbread was $3.29 for a pack of 20, or 33c per serve
• The Irish Cheddar was $3.49 and we used about 60%, or $1.05 per serve
• Branston Pickle was $13.31 for the jar, and we used about 1/5th, or $1.33 per serve
• Apple adds 20c per serve
• Pickled Onion adds 10c per serve.

A tasty and varied meal for $3.01 per serve.

Dinner

It’s been a while since we grilled Lamb Loin Chops, so tonight was a welcome return, served with a Feta, Olives, Pickled Beets and Spinach Salad.

• The Lamb Loin Chops were $9.59, or $4.80 per serve
• The olives come in a $4.49 jar, and we used half, or $1.25 per serve
• The Feta was $6.49 and we shared ¼, or 81c per serve
• Pickled Beets adds 15c per serve
• Add 40c for Greens
• Add 20c for Balsamic Vinegar.

The Chops were grilled perfectly to make a very flavorsome meal for $7.61 per serve.

Lunch

We split a Brioche Bagel and made an open faced version of the Chorizo, Bell Pepper and Smokey Cheddar toasted sandwich.

• Half a Brioche Bagel is 29c per serve
• Smokey Cheddar is 34c per serve
• The Chorizo was $4.72 and we half, or $1.18 per serve
• Fire Roasted Peppers cost $1.99 and we used half, or 50c per serve.

It was better than the Brioche Bun, but not as good as a toasted version, but still very tasty for $2.31 per serve.

Dinner

We swapped out Thursday night meal to tonight to avoid having the oven on during a very hot day. We smoked the Baby Back Ribs for an hour, then finished in the oven for another hour and a half.

• The Baby Back Ribs were on special at Whole Foods, for a net of $19.12, or $9.56 per serve
• Apple adds 45c per serve
• Coleslaw Mix adds 35c per serve
• Add 40c for Dressing Ingredients.

The Ribs were perfectly moist and fall-off-the-bone tender. A expensive, but very good, meal for $10.75 per serve.

Lunch

We experimented by packing Chorizo, Bell Pepper & Smokey Cheese in a toasted Brioche Bun from Aldi.

• The Brioche Bun is 54c 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.

The Brioche Bun was not a good match for the filling, in neither taste nor texture. It was still tasty but not as good as with the Dave’s Killer Bread, for $2.56 per serve.

Dinner

A return to Black Pepper Beef with Top Sirloin (Rump) Steak from Aldi.

• The Top Sirloin was $11.06, or $5.53 per serve
• Bell Peppers were 48c per serve
• Chipotle powder adds 10c per serve
• Onion and garlic add 25c per serve
• Brown Rice adds 33c per serve
• Add 50c for the other ingredients.

An always tasty meal for $7.19 per serve.

Lunch

Once again we cooked up Shin Noodles with their flavor pouch, but discarded the overly spicy liquid and finished with a little Butter. Still spicy but a little less so.

• A pack of four Shin Noodle Bowl was $3.69 or 93c per serve
• Coleslaw mix adds 30c
• Add 20c per serve for butter.

A pretty tasty meal for $1.53 per serve.

Dinner

A simple Meatless Monday of frozen Japanese Fried Rice and one, or two, fried Eggs.

• Japanese Style Fried rice comes from Trader Joe’s and is $3.29 or $1.65 per very generous serve
• Pastured Eggs average 50c per serve.

A simple Meatless Monday meal for $2.15 per serve.

Lunch

After picking up a grocery order, we drove directly to New York Chicken and Gyro, stock pick up a Lamb Gyros for $8.17 with tax and tip.

Dinner

A simple meal of Knackwurst with Apple Sauerkraut Salad.

• The Knackwurst was $2.89 or $1.45 per serve
• The Apple was 79c or 20c per serve
• TheBubbies Kraut was on special for $5.66 net, and we used about ⅓ or 94c per serve
• Add 30c for Dressing ingredients.

A decent meal for $2.89 per serve.

Lunch

Giant Baked Beans on Italian Bread topped with Smokey Cheddar made a great lunch.

• Italian Bread is 22c per serve
• The Giant Baked Beans are $1.99 or $1.00 per serve
• Slice Smokey Cheddar is 34c per slice or 68c per serve.

A pretty tasty lunch for $1.90 per serve

Dinner

Tonight’s dinner was a return to the Soutzoukakia with Australian Lamb, served with a Feta, Olive and Endive Salad. We get three full serves from the Soutzoukakia recipe.

• Australian Ground lamb was $5.99 at Aldi or $2.00 per serve
• An egg is 32c or 11c per serve
• 8 oz Panko breadcrumbs are $2.99 and we used half, or 25c per serve
• Parmesan is $3.99 for 8oz and we shared 2 oz or 50c per serve
• 1/4 cup and a tablespoon of red wine – halved – is 34c per serve
• Parsley was $1.49 for the bunch, but we only used 1/4 or 13c per serve
• Fresh mint came from our garden
• Belgian Endive was $2.99 or $1.50 per serve.
• The French (Valbreso) Feta was $10.99 but we used 1/6 or 92c per serve
• The olives come in a $4.49 jar, and we used 1/3, or 75c per serve.

A very tasty meal for $6.40 per serve.

Lunch

For lunch we heated a frozen Greek Spanakoptia from Trader Joe’s for $2.00 per serve.

Dinner

Tonight was a return to the Turkey, Bacon, Chipotle Meatloaf, tonight with Coleslaw and Cuban Beans. The Meatloaf makes four full serves.

• Ground turkey cost $6.39 or $1.60 per serve
• Bacon was $5.99 and we used ⅓, or 50c per serve
• A can of chipotle is $1.50 and we used half, or 38c per serve
• Add 65c for onion, breadcrumbs and seasonings
• The Cuban Black Beans are 40c per serve
• The Coleslaw Mix was $1.99 and we used half, or 50c per serve
• We made our own Dressing from Mayonnaise, Chipotle and Apple Cider Vinegar for 40c per serve.

A tasty meal for $4.43 per serve.

Lunch

For lunch we had the last of the frozen Chipotle Bacon Meatloaf and reheated it with the Panini Rolls and finished with a little Chipotle Aioli and Coleslaw mix.

• The Panini Roll is 63c
• The Meatloaf is $2.53 per full serve, or $1.27 per lunch serve
• The Coleslaw adds 45c per serve
• The Chipotle Aioli adds 30c per serve.

A pretty good lunch for $2.65 per serve.

Dinner

It is time to repeat the Seared Scallops with Pea Puree., while playing a little with the recipe. We dropped the Half n Half and used some liquid from the Preserved Lemons to boost the ‘lemoness’ of the Puree.

• The frozen “dry packed” Scallops were $9.69, or $4.85 per serve
• Frozen peas are $1.29 per pack, or 65c per serve
• Add 30c for the liquid and Lemon from the Preserved Lemon
• Stock adds 50c per serve
• Other ingredients add 40c per serve.

The acid from the liquid appears to have turned the Peas a little gray, but otherwise very tasty, although we will likely revert to the Half n Half next time. Still, a very tasty meal for $6.70 per serve.