The semiSerious Foodies

Lunch

Foodie Greg picked up another Charcuterie so we used the Chorizo in a toasted sandwich with Fire Roasted Peppers & Smokey Cheddar.

• Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• Smokey Cheddar is 68c per serve
• The charcuterie was $$4.49 after all discounts and we used the Chorizo – about ⅓, or 75c per serve
• Add 50c for Garlic Spread
• Fire Roasted Peppers cost $1.99 and we used half, or 50c per serve.

An excellent sandwich for $3.17 per serve.

Dinner

We chose a “grazing” meal of The Delice de Bourgogne, Duck Mousse Pate, , Olives, Cashews, Black Grapes, Raspberries, Bell Peppers and Hummus, served on hot Baguette. This meal cost about $8.00 per serve.

Lunch

We still had some Salami left in our Charcuterie so we combined it with Neufchatel and Sun-dried Tomatoes to make an excellent sandwich.

• Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• The Salami was 85c per serve
• Neufchatel adds 20c per serve
• The sun dried tomatoes were $5.99 and we shared about 1/6 or 25c per serve.

A very tasty sandwich for $2.04 per serve.

Dinner

We decided to try a new recipe for Scallops: Seared Scallops with Pea Puree! Foodie Philip was initially very skeptical about this recipe, but it turned out to be an excellent alternative to something Corn-based to go with Search Scallops.

• The frozen “dry packed” Scallops were $9.69, or $4.85 per serve
• Frozen peas are $1.29 per pack, or 65c per serve
• A pint of half & half is $1.49 and half is used in the puree, or 38c per serve
• Stock adds 50c per serve
• Other ingredients add 40c per serve.

The Pea Puree was very tasty and a perfect offset to the Scallops, being a little sweet like Corn. A very good meal for $6.78 per serve.

Lunch

Who could complain about a Smoked Salmon Bagel? Today’s variation had Onion Sprouts instead of Shallot.

• The Brioche Bagel is 58c
• The Smoked Salmon was $1.38 per serve
• Add 20c for Neufchatel
• Add 40c for Sprouts and Capers
• Add 30c for Tomatoes.

A very enjoyable sandwich for $2.86 per serve.

Dinner

A welcome return to our Red Wine and Mushroom Meatloaf, tonight served with Cauliflower Gnocchi in a Garlic Alfredo Sauce.

• The grass fed Ground Beef was from Aldi for $5.49 per pound, or $2.75 per serve
• Baby Bella mushrooms were $2.02 or 51c per serve
• Onions and garlic add 20c per serve
• Two large eggs are 96c or 24c per serve
• The butter is $3.99 per block, and we used about 3/8 for four serves, or 38c per serve
• Red wine adds $1.00 or 25c per serve
• Add 20c for Worcestershire sauce and other spices per serve
• The Gnocchi was $1.79 or 90c per serve
• Alfredo Sauce was $1.69 or 43c per serve.

The Alfredo sauce was one of the few disappointing “Specially Selected” Aldi products. We f0und it lacking in flavor and overly salted.

On the positive side, this is the first time we’ve used Aldi Grass Fed Ground Beef, and the texture of the meatloaf was the best ever. A lot less dense than when we made it from Keller Crafted Dry Aged Ground Beef, and about half price!

A great Meatloaf, with an okay side, for $6.06 per serve.

Lunch

For Lunch we reheated some of the remaining Popeye’s Fried Chicken and served with the remaining Coleslaw from Mr Fish & Chips.

• The chicken 1s $4.13 per serve
• The Coleslaw is $1.12 per serve.

A very good repeat for $5.13 per serve.

Dinner

It’s been a long time since we last had Hot Smoked Cod Kedgeree, so it was time to repeat it tonight.

• The cod fillets were six for $12.99 or $1.63 per serve
• Eggs are 48c per serve
• Brown rice adds 34c per serve
• Limes were 40c or 20c per serve
• Tomatoes add 85c per serve
• Add 55c per serve for onion, curry powder, ghee and seasoning.

As always both tasty and filling for $4.05 per serve.

Lunch

We’ve avoided Popeyes for the last year as there are no nearby drive through outlets, and going into a store is unnecessary exposure in the days of Covid19, but today we were in Moorepark on our way back so we picked up Popeyes from the drive through outlet there.

The total of $21.43 with tax, included 12 pieces and a Large Red Beans and rice.

• We split the $4.89 of the Red Beans and Rice at this meal for $2.45 per serve
• We will get four serves from the chicken at $4.13 per serve.

Tasty take-out and welcome return for $6.58 per serve.

Dinner

While we usually cook Mussels in a Coconut Curry Sauce, it’s way more traditional to prepare them in a White Wine Sauce. Since that was the base flavor of the packed Mussels we amped up the flavor in the sauce.

• Mussels are $2.29 for the pack, or $1.15 per serve
• We used 80c worth of ingredients in the Sauce, or 40c per serve
• The remaining Baguette was 40c per serve.

A classic is usually a classic for a reason, and Mussels in White Wine is a delight. We found the Mussels had more broken shells and other degradation than the slightly smaller “natural” Mussels. Still a great meal for $1.95 per serve.

Lunch

We had a Baguette from Trader Joes, that we packed with the reheated remains Soutzoukakia serve.

• The Baguette was $1.99 and we used 60% for lunch, or 60c per serve
• A serve of the Soutzoukakia was $3.39 or $1.70 each today.

The Baguette could have done with 5 minutes in the oven, despite not being par-baked, but otherwise it tasted great, for $2.30 per serve.

Dinner

We took the remaining Caramelized Onion, added Red Wine and Stock and some seasoning to make a great French Onion Soup. We toasted two slices of bread, and spread one of them generously with the Delice de Bourgogne, topped with the other slice and cut in half as a ‘toastie.’

The Delice de Bourgogne is too soft to stand toasting in a classic toastie style.

• The Delice de Bourgogne was $5.38 and we shared ⅓ , or 45 per serve
• A slice of Dave’s Killer Bread is 37c
• Caramelized Onion adds 90c per serve
• Add 30c for other seasoning.

The soup turned out to have great depth of flavor for $2.02 per serve.

Lunch

We sliced and toasted some of the remaining Sourdough, before topping with Giant Baked Beans & a Fried Eggs.

• The Giant Baked Beans are $1.99 or $1.00 per serve
• Eggs are 84c per serve
• The Sourdough was free.

A tasty meal for $1.84 per serve.

Dinner

Our final meat from Keller Crafted is thin cut Pork Chops. Once again we did Saltimbocca and served with a Garlic Roasted Alfredo

• At 1.1 lb it was a very generous serve of pork cutlets costing $13.99 or $7.00 per serve
• The Prosciutto was $4.99 and we used about 70% or $1.75 per serve
• Alfredo Sauce was $1.69 or 43c per serve
• The Broccoli was $2.65 or $1.32c per serve
• Add 30c for Butter.

The thin cut Pork Chops have been a challenge to prepare until we found Saltimbocca, which is the perfect was to serve. Tonight’s meal was very good for $11.32 per serve.