Jul 5: Avocado & Smoked Trout; Savory Oatmeal with Fried Egg(s)

Lunch

We shared an Avocado and a can of Smoked Trout 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
  • Garlic Spread adds 50c per serve.

As always, a good sandwich for $3.25 per serve.

Dinner

We had planned a Pork Stir-fry for tonight, but the day got away and there was no time to marinate. Instead we shared the remaining serve of Savory Oatmeal and topped with one, or two, Fried Eggs.

  • We shared a $2.48 serve of Savory Oatmeal, or $1.24 per serve
  • Pastured Eggs are 43c each on special, or an average of 65c per serve.

For a quick stand-in meal this was pretty good for $1.89 per serve.

Jul 4: Ham & Sauerkraut, Egg Salad & Sprouts; Hot & Sour Beef Salad

Lunch

Today we shared an Egg Salad & Sprouts sandwich, and a Ham & Sauerkraut Sandwich.

  • Aldi 12 Grain Bread is 44c per serve
  • The Artisanal Kraut is $3.29 per packet and we used about ⅛, or 21c per serve
  • Black Forest Ham is $3.29 per pack, or 35c per serve
  • Egg Salad is $3.69 and we use about ¼ for each sandwich, or 46c per serve
  • Sprouts add 30c per serve
  • Garlic Spread adds 40c per serve.

Not a bad lunch for $2.16 per serve.

Dinner

For dinner tonight we returned to the Hot and Sour Beef Salad. We pan seared the Top Sirloin, then sliced it and dumped tin the Marinade and served on a bed of Greens, Bell Pepper and Mint.

  • The top sirloin from the Keller Crafted delivery was $12.36 or $6.18 per serve
  • The Salad Greens mix was $1.99 but we shared half, or 50c per serve
  • Limes were 49c for two but we shared one, or 13c per serve
  • Mint was from our garden
  • The baby Bell Peppers are 16c each or 32c per serve
  • Instead of a Chili we used some Sambal Ulec, which adds 20c per serve.

We really enjoyed this salad. The slight heat in the dressing lifted both steak and salad to another level. An excellent meal for $7.23 per serve.

Jul 3: Ham & Coleslaw; Sous Vide Argentine Shrimp on Japanese Fried Rice

Lunch

We finished yesterday’s Coleslaw with Ham on a sandwich.

  • Aldi 12 Grain Bread is 44c 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.

A very enjoyable sandwich for $2.51 per serve.

Dinner

A simple meal of sous vide Argentinean Shrimp on top of Japanese Style Fried Rice.

  • Japanese Style Fried rice comes from Trader Joe’s and is $3.29 or $1.65 per very generous serve
  • 1 lb of shrimp is $10.99 and we used half,  or $2.75 per serve.

Simple, tasty and filling for $4.40 per serve.

Jul 2: Fish & Chips; Heritage Pork Chop with Apple Cheddar Salad

Lunch

Since we had such a good experience with Mr Fish & Chips in Simi Valley, we combined a shopping trip with a smaller serve! The estimate and delivery time were spot on, so we had the freshest possible start for the trip home. Thanks to vented containers (and extra crispy fries) the meal was uncompromised.

We purchased some extra Coleslaw and had about half for lunch.

  • One serve of Fish & Chips was $4.50 each
  • A pint of Coleslaw is $4.50 and we used half, or $1.13 each.

Still a generous serve when shared, this is a good and inexpensive take out for $5.63 per serve.

Dinner

Tonight’s “Thursday Night Steak Night” is a Bone-in Pork Loin Chop, that we sous vidé to a perfect medium rare, then seared for a little color and crust.

We served with an Apple Cheddar Salad on a bed of greens.

  • The Pork Chops were about $9.70 per 10oz serve
  • The mixed greens are 35c per serve
  • The Apple was $1.38 or 35c per serve
  • We used about 1/6 of the $5.75 Caramelized Onion Cheddar, or 48c per serve
  • Add 30c for seasoning.

As always (now) the Pork Loin Chop was perfect! The salad made a good balance and an excellent meal for $11.18 per serve.

Jul 1: Gyro; Mushroom Savory Oatmeal with Bacon

Lunch

A shopping trip had us near our favorite Gyro outlet New York Chicken and Gyro where we picked our Gyros for $8.17 per serve with tax and tip.

Dinner

Today’s Meatless Monday is Savory Oatmeal with mushrooms and bok choy. We got three serves from this recipe.

  • Mushrooms were $3.99 or $1.33 per serve
  • The steel cut oats are $3.49 for 24oz, and we used 8oz or 28c per serve
  • Bacon was $4.99 and we used four of 10 slices, or 67c per serve
  • Add 20c for oatmeal seasonings.

While not the prettiest of plates, the Savory Oatmeal was flavorsome and filling, for $2.48 per serve.

June 2020 Summary and Observations

During June we continue in isolation due to the epidemic, so there was no eating out for the third month running. Since there doesn’t appear to be any eating out in our future, I’m dropping it from the summary.

We have narrowed our range of take-out meals to those that travel well enough to not be compromised. We added Mr Fish and Chips in Simi Valley because we can merge it with an Aldi trip. In vented containers the Fish and Chips weren’t significantly compromised.

The averages for this month:

  • Lunch prepared at home $2.74 ($2.44 in April)
  • Lunch eaten or purchased outside the home: $10.66 ($9.87)
  • Dinner eaten at home: $5.83 ($5.14).

Our lunches at home average in a fairly narrow band and this month’s average is almost slightly up, but within normal variation.

We ate four lunches, of 64 meals in the month, that were prepared outside the home. 

Our most expensive meal of the month was the Pork Sirloin Filets in Marinara Sauce. Definitely our most expensive at $12.47, but not the best meal of the month. Our evening meal average cost is right in the middle of the expected range.

This month, lunches at home cost 27% of the cost of eating lunches prepared outside the home.

Had we purchased every lunch and prepared none it would have cost us $319.80 per person in January. We actually spent $71.23 for lunches at home plus $42.64 for lunches purchased or eaten out:  $120.15 in total.

Had we purchased every evening meal out and prepared none at home, it would have cost us $300 per person. We actually spent $159.28 for dinners at home and $0 for dinners out, or $113.87 in total.

This month’s savings from preparing most of our food at home is now hard to calculate, but we definitely save by cooking for ourselves, and we had a lot more control over what we eat.

Over the month we prepared 23 different recipes for evening meals. 

Jun 30: Ham, Cheddar, Kumato & Egg Salad Sandwiches; Udon Peanut Butter Noodles with Massaman Beef

Lunch

For lunch we shared two sandwiches: Egg Salad and Sprouts on one; Ham, Smokey Cheddar and Kumato on the other.

  • Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
  • Egg Salad is $3.69 and we use about ¼ for each sandwich, or 46c per serve
  • Sprouts add 30c per serve
  • The Smokey Cheddar is 38c per serve
  • Five Kumato were $3.49 and we used two, or 70c per serve
  • Black Forest Ham is $3.29 per pack, or 55c per serve
  • Add 40c for Garlic Spread.

A nice lunch for $3.53 per serve.

Dinner

After wracking our brains on how to use the remaining Beef from the Massaman, finally deciding on using it in Udon Peanut Butter Noodles.

  • The Beef is $2.21 per serve
  • The Udon Noodles were $3.89 but we used 1/2 or 98c per serve
  • The peanut butter was $1.99 and we used about 1/2,  or 50c a serve
  • Bell Pepper adds 16c per serve
  • Peanuts were $2.99 but we only used 1/4, or 38c per serve
  • Add 30c for Spring Onion and Seasoning.

The Beef flavor profile worked well with the Peanut Sauce. We could have probably added a little more Fish Sauce, but otherwise a good meal for $4.53 per serve.

Jun 29: Shin Bowl; Eggs in Purgatory

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

For today’s Meatless Monday we did a simple Eggs in Purgatory.

  • The Rao’s Marinara Sauce was on special for $5.99 or $3.00 per serve
  • Pastured Eggs are 51c or $1.02 per serve
  • The Panini Roll is 63c.

A simple, but good meal for $4.65 per serve. When we first had the Marinara Sauce, it blew our socks off with flavor. After an apparent reworking of the recipe, it was good, but no longer outstanding.

Jun 28: Bacon, Eggs & Jumbo Beans on Toast; Beef Massaman

Lunch

Since it was Sunday and very cloudy and overcast, we decided on Bacon, Eggs & Jumbo Beans on Toast.

  • The Dave’s Killer Bread is 37c per serve
  • Eggs are 51c each or an average of 77c per serve
  • Trader Joes Giant Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce cost $1.99 or $1.00 per serve.

A good meal for $2.14 per serve.

Dinner

Tonight we chopped up a Chuck Roast into chunks and cooked as a Beef Massaman Curry. We served with Brown Rice.

We will have meat left over.

  • The beef was $8.84, or $2.21 per serve
  • The curry is $3.38 per can or $1.69 per serve
  • Coconut milk is $1.69 per can or 85c per serve
  • Peanuts were $2.99 but we only used half, or 75c per serve
  • Carrots add 37c per serve
  • Peal onion adds 20c per serve
  • Brown Rice adds 34c per serve.

We should have added the Peanuts, Carrots and Pearl Onions later in the cook, so the retained more structure, but it was a great curry for $8.62 per serve.

Jun 27: Smoked Salmon Bagel; Lamb Loin Chops with Feta, Mint and Raspberry Salad

Lunch

Since we had some Smoked Salmon left over from last night, we did a Brioche Bagel and served with Shallot, Neufchatel, Capers and some Spinach for crunch.

  • The Brioche Bagels are $2.89 for five, or 58c per serve
  • Smoked Salmon is $1.03 per serve
  • One ounce of Neufchatel went on each bagel, or 13c per serve
  • Add 15c for Shallot and Capers.

A pretty good sandwich for $1.89 per serve. Who cares if the Smoked Salmon inside the Bagel is pieces!

Dinner

Once again we had grilled Lamb Loin Chops with Feta, Mint and Raspberry, because it tastes so good.

  • The Lamb Loin Chops were $7.86, or $3.93 per serve
  • Raspberries were $2.70 and we used ½ of the punnet, or 67c per serve
  • The Mixed Greens were $1.49 and we used half, or 38c each
  • Mint was from our garden
  • The French (Valbreso) Feta was $10.99 but we used 1/6 or 92c per serve
  • Add 30c for Mixed Greens
  • Add 15c for Dressing ingredients.

Constant experimentation has lead to the best combination of time and temperature for perfect Lamb Loin Chops. The Raspberry Feta Salad rounded out the meal for $6.35 per serve.