The semiSerious Foodies

Lunch

When we open a can of Sardines, we both get a full sandwich with Sardines. Today with Avocado and Garlic Spread.

• The Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• Skinless, boneless sardines in water are $1.99 or $1.00 per serve
• The Avocado was 51c or 26c per serve
• Add 50c for Garlic Spread.

These Sardines were fairly mild and blended well into the sandwich, for $2.50 per serve.

Dinner

The Foodies decided to try cooking a pizza on the grill – a new experience and a bit of an experiment. We were going to put a mix of Cod and Smoked Salmon, but Foodie Greg found a great deal in Smoked Salmon trimmings, that we dropped the Cod.

• The Smoked Salmon was $5.49 for 8oz, and we used six, or $2.06 per serve
• The Pizza Dough was $1.29, or 65c per serve
• Five Kumato were $3.49 and we used one each, or 70c per serve
• About two ounces of Neufchatel went on each Pizza, or 25c per serve
• Add 20c for Capers and Shallot.

These worked particularly well for first try. We slightly underbaked the dough, but not terribly. The flavor profile was excellent and we were both stuffed with an 8″ Pizza each, for $3.86 per serve. We’ll definitely be doing this again.

Lunch

For variety we stacked our Deli Ham, Smokey Cheddar, Kumato & Spinach on an Everything Bagel.

• The Everything Bagels are $1.99 for six, or 33c per serve
• The Smokey Cheddar is 38c per serve
• Spinach adds 30c 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.

The Smokey Cheddar was probably unnecessary, but it was a good sandwich for $2.66 per serve.

Dinner

Tonights Rib Eye was sous vidé in a Chimichurri marinade to exactly the way we like it, and then quickly seared to give it color.

We served with a Cuban Black Bean Salad of Black Beans, Corn and Tomato, with a Chimichurri inspired dressing. The Salad made four serves.

• The Rib Eye from our Keller Crafted meat box is around $8.41 per serve
• The fire roasted Corn is $2.49 per pound but we used half, or 32c per serve
• The Baby Bell Peppers are 16c each, or 16c per serve
• The Cherry Tomatoes were $2.99 and we used half or 38c per serve
• Canned black beans, Cuban style, are 99c or 33c per serve
• Add 40c for Marinade and Dressing ingredients.

The marinade gave the steak a tang from the Chimichurri Marinade during the sous vidé cook. It married well with echos of the same flavor profile in the Cuban Style Black Bean Salad. A pretty good meal for $10.00 per serve.

Lunch

A couple of last minute sandwiches: Egg Salad & Sprouts, on one, and Tuna, Capers & Shallot 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 Tuna was a “Wild Skipjack” pouch from Trader Joes for $1.79 or 90c per serve
• Add 20c for Capers and Shallot
• Garlic Spread adds 50c per serve.

A shared pair of decent sandwiches for $3.10 per serve.

Dinner

We returned to a simple meal: Beer Bratwurst and Apple Endive Salad.

• Beer Bratwurst were $4.49 or $2.25 per serve
• The endive were $1.49 or 75c per serve
• The Apple was 48c or 24c peer serve
• Add 30c for dressing ingredients.

A simple but good meal for $3.54 per serve.

Lunch

For lunch we shared a can of Smoked Trout across two sandwiches, paired with half an Avocado each.

• 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.

We definitely prefer the Smoked Trout to Sardines. A decent sandwich for $3.29 per serve.

Dinner

Udon Soup with Chard and a Poached Egg is a great meal for a Meatless Monday.

• The udon noodles were $3.89 but we used 1/2 or 98c per serve
• Chicken Stock adds $1.00 per serve
• The Chard was included in another meal
• A Pastured Egg is 51c.

An excellent soup for $2.49 per serve.

Lunch

While we didn’t have the homemade Sourdough we enjoyed last time, we decided to make a Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato & Avocado Sandwich.

• Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• Mixed Greens add 30c per serve
• Five Kumato were $3.49 and we used two, or 70c per serve
• Bacon was $4.99 and we used four of 10 slices, or 50c per serve
• Half a 61c Avocado adds 31c per serve
• Add 50c for Garlic Spread.

A very tasty sandwich for $3.05 per serve.

Dinner

Tonight we repeated our Lamb Loin Chop with Feta and Raspberry Salad.

• The Lamb Loin Chops were $7.91 or $3.96 per serve
• Raspberries were $2.70 and we used ½ of the punnet, or 67c per serve
• The Radicchio was $3.49 and we used half, or 87c 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.

While it seemed like the Salad was “a lot” every ingredient contributed to the flavor. It paired very well with the Lamb Loin chops for $6.87 per serve.

Lunch

We keep trying to find a Sardine the Foodie Greg likes. Today was not the day.

• The Avocado was 51c or 26c per serve
• Dave’s Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• The Sardines were $2.47 or $1.24 per serve
• Garlic Spread adds 50c per serve.

Avocado and Sardines may be a decent sandwich, and credited by Alton Brown for his earlier weight loss, but they are not a favorite of Foodie Greg. A decent sandwich for $2.74 per serve.

Dinner

A new recipe for us – Chorizo and Giant Bean Cassoulet – has a lot of steps to prepare, but it does have good flavor. We will get at least four serves.

• We substituted Smoked Bratwurst for the Chorizo for $5.99, or $1.50 per serve
• Giant Beans were $14.85 for one pound, and we used half, or $1.85 per serve
• Canned Tomatoes were 49c or 12c per serve
• Anchovies are $1.59 and three went in, or 13c per serve
• Add 30c per serve for other ingredients.

This was more flavorsome than expected, and quite a good meal for $3.90 per serve.

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

We had picked up some Giant Scallops from Aldi and were keen to find out how good they were, considering the low price. We’ve had mixed experience with Scallops: from Whole Foods they were good, but pricy (unless they are on special and you get a Prime discount). From Ralphs (Kroger) they were packed full of water and not at all pleasant.

We served on top of some Buttered Soycotash.

• The frozen “dry packed” Scallops were $9.69, or $4.85 per serve
• The Soyccotash was $2.29 and we used half, or 58c per serve
• Add 50c for Butter.

The Scallops seared nicely as they did not spit out water. In fact, these were as good as the Whole Foods and only slightly more than the Whole Foods price after the special and Prime discounts. The Soyccotash is kind of boring, but overall it was a good meal for $5.43 per serve.

Lunch

Today started gloomy so we toasted up a Ham, Kumato & Swiss & Sweet & Spicy Tuna, Capers and Swiss.

• Daves’ Killer Bread is 74c per serve
• The Tuna is 99c or 50c per serve
• Swiss adds 34c per serve
• Five Kumato were $3.49 and we shared one, or 35c per serve
• Black Forest Ham is $3.29 per pack, or 35c per serve
• Add 55c for Garlic Spread and Capers.

A pair of decent sandwiches for $2.83 per serve.

Dinner

Although traditionally our “Steak Night,” Thursday nights have evolved to be our protein heavy night. Tonight we sous vidé the Duck before searing the skin to crispen, and served with Garlic Chard stir-fried in Duck Fat and Yakisoba Noodles.

• The Duck was $16.75 or $8.37 per serve
• The noodles are $3.19 for the pack, or $1.60 per serve
• The Chard was $1.73 or 87c per serve.

An excellent meal for $10.84 per serve.

Lunch

We reheated the third serve of Drunken Pork Stew and packed it into a hot Panini Roll.

• The Panini Roll is 63c
• The Pork Stew is $3.90, or $1.95 per serve.

A very tasty roll for $2.58 per serve.

Dinner

It was time to revisit Soutzoukakia.  Once again we used one can of fire roasted crushed tomato, and a can of Trader Joe’s Grecian Style Eggplant,Tomato and Onion. This is an excellent addition and it really elevated this dish. We cannot recommend it highly enough.

• Ground lamb was $9.99 or $4.50 per serve
• An egg is 24c or 12c per serve
• 8 oz Panko breadcrumbs are $2.99 and we used half, or 75c per serveParmesan 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
• Canned crushed tomatoes were 49c for the can, or 25c per serve
• The eggplant, tomato and onion is $2.49 or $1.25 per serve
• Onions, shallot and garlic adds 25c per serve
• Parsley was 33c or 16c per serve
• Fresh mint came from our garden
• Tomato paste comes in a 90c can, but we used 1/8 or 5c per serve
• The farrow was $1.79 for the pack, but we shared ⅓ or 10c per serve
• The cherry tomatoes were $2.99 and we used half or 75c per serve
• Add 30c for seasoning.

An extremely tasty meal for $9.32 per serve.