The semiSerious Foodies

Lunch

For lunch we sliced more of the Italian Bread and toasted it, then topped with Giant Baked Beans and Smoked Cheddar.

• The Italian Bread loaf is $2.19 and we used about ⅓, or 37c per serve
• The Giant Baked Beans are $1.99 or $1.00 per serve
• Smoked Cheddar is 34c per serve.

A tasty lunch for $1.71 per serve.

Dinner

We smoked our Baby Back Ribs in our stove-top smoker, before finishing in the oven. A Three Bean Chili and Coleslaw were pretty traditional sides. We coat the Ribs with Trader Joe’s Coffee and Garlic BBQ Rub.

• The Ribs were $13.27 after all discounts, or $6.64 per serve
• The Three Bean Chili was $1.09 or 55c per serve
• The Coleslaw Mix was $1.99 and we used half, or 50c per serve
• Add 40c for Dressing ingredients.

The Three Bean Chili was disappointing, but the Ribs were tender and tasty with a good smoke flavor. A good meal for $8.09 per serve.

Lunch

For lunch we created a “Ham Reuben” with Ham, Sauerkraut & a ‘Russian Dressing’.

• Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• Swiss slices are 12 for $3.99 or 34c per serve
• Deli Ham is 33c per serve
• The Sauerkraut was 32c per serve
• Add 40c for Dressing ingredients.

Not as good as a real Reuben, but a good lunch sandwich for $2.04 per serve.

Dinner

Tonight’s Seared Scallops were presented on top of a Chorizo and Corn mix.

• The frozen “dry packed” Scallops were $9.69, or $4.85 per serve
• The Chorizo was $6.29 after all discounts, and we used half, or $1.58 per serve
• The Jalapeño 40c or 20c per serve
• The Corn was $1.50 or 75c per serve
• Add 40c for other ingredients.

We grilled the Corn outside until it had just started to color, then cut it off the cob to make the salad. Mixed with the fried Chorizo, the salad was a great compliment to the Seared Scallops. A great meal for $7.78 per serve.

Lunch

For lunch we returned to our simple Ploughman’s Lunch, with Caramelized Onion Cheddar.

• The Rye Crispbread was $3.29 for a pack of 20, or 33c per serve
• The Caramelized Onion Cheddar was $4.67 and we used about half or $1.67 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.

Always an enjoyable lunch for $3.63 per serve.

Dinner

A simple Meatless Monday of folded (scrambled Australian Style) Eggs on Avocado Toast.

• Two Pastured Eggs are 76c per serve
• The Italian Bread was 67c per serve
• An Avocado each adds 49c per serve
• Add 30c for the Chili Crunch.

It’s the Chili Crunch that elevates (and seasons) this dish, which is pretty good for $2.22 per serve.

Lunch

We had planned on a Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, but Skewers was closed, so we opted for Fried Egg Rolls and a shared Bahn Mi from Pho Saigon 1, for $11.32 per serve.

Dinner

A return to Black Pepper Beef with Rib Eye from Amazon Fresh.

• The Rib Eye was $10.99, and we used one, or $5.50 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.

The beef was very tender, although the serve was on the small side. A good meal for $7.16 per serve.

Lunch

We decided to eat in and heating a Panini Roll and the remaining Turkey, Bacon, Chipotle Meatloaf with Smokey Cheddar & Semi-dried Tomatoes

• 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 tasty lunch for $2.65 per serve.

Dinner

A completely new recipe for us –Mussels in Escabeche– that were prepared ahead of time so the Mussels could pickle.

• The pre-cooked Mussels were $2.29 or $1.15 per serve
• White Wine adds 40c per serve
• Add 40c for White Wine Vinegar
• Olive Oil adds 50c per serve
• Add 30c for Garlic and Shallot per serve
• Add 40c for Sherry Vinegar
• Add 50c for seasoning and other ingredients
• The Italian Bread loaf is $2.19 and we used about ⅓, or 37c per serve
• Add 45c for Salad Greens and Balsamic Vinegar.

The Mussels were a flavor bomb! So much so that it became too much for a meal size serve! This would be perfect as a Tapas, but the full meal was very good for $4.47 per serve.

Lunch

For lunch we cooked up some Shin Ramen in the spicy broth, along with some fresh vegetables. We discarded the broth and finished with butter and serving with the reheated Caramelized Pork.

• A pack of four Shin Noodle Bowl was $3.69 or 93c per serve
• Butter adds 40c per serve
• Add 20c for Soy Sauce (although it came from leftover packages)
• Add 45c for Bok Choy & Bell Pepper
• The Caramelized Pork is $1.90 per serve.

A nice change for lunch, & a good meal for $3.88 per serve.

Dinner

Once again it was time for Smoked Salmon Pizza done on the grill, and who are we to buck tradition!

• Sockeye Smoked Salmon pieces were $5.49 or $2.75 per serve
• The Pizza Dough was $1.29, or 65c 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
• Add 30c for Capers and Shallot
• Add 40c for dressed Greens.

Foodie Philip overcooked the dough a little tonight, but otherwise very luxurious meal for $4.96 per serve.

We started the months in Keystone Colorado where we ate all meals in restaurants, with excellent food among it, as is detailed in the daily posts. We had four lunches and four evening meals on the remainder of the trip.

Our evening meals continue to be about 20% down on last year, with a wider variety of protein! 

The averages for this month:

• Lunch prepared at home $2.26 ($2.25 in May)
• Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $12.58 ($10.21)
• Dinner eaten at home: $4.95 ($3.41)
• Dinner prepared in a restaurant $20.15 ($20.42)

The variation is small month to month, although the dinners at home in May were exceptionally low.

Our most expensive meal of the month was the coffee shop at Little America in Salt Lake City where we had a full three course steak dinner for $33.78 per serve.

This month, lunches at home cost 18% of the cost of eating lunches prepared outside the home. Our evening meals prepared in the home are 25% of the cost take-out meals.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $380.40 per person in June. We actually spent $42.98 for lunches at home plus $139.46 for lunches purchased or eaten out:  $185.91 per person in total.

If every evening meal cost us the same as our one this month, it would be $633.02. We actually spent $118.73 for dinners at home and $100.74 for six dinners out, or $219.479 per person in total.

While our meals prepared outside the home is up because of the travel, we still saved over $600 by preparing most of our meals at home.

Lunch

It was time for Fried Scallops from Mr Fish & Chips for $7.27 per serve with tax and tip.

Dinner

When Foodie Greg found some Lamb Loin Chops at Aldi our plans changed for tonight, when we served them with a Feta Pomegranate Salad.

• The Lamb Loin Chops were $9.59, or $4.80 per serve
• Pomegranate Seeds add 85c per serve
• The Feta was $6.49 and we shared ¼, or 81c per serve
• Add 40c for Greens
• Add 20c for Balsamic Vinegar.

The Lamb Loin Chops were full of flavor, and the sharp tartness of the Pomegranate balanced the slight fattiness of the Lamb. A good meal for $7.06 per serve.