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In-N-Out Animal Style Fries
September 6, 2016 Lee
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In-N-Out Animal Style Fries

Although I am not a fan of fast food places, this is a homemade version of what some would call famous fries from In-N-Out Burgers. Now what the "animal" style is, I don't have a clue. These do sound good however. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kilo potatoes
  • 1 large onion, finely diced
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons mayo
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup, OR make from a shortcut
  • 2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish, OR dice up a dill pickle, can make from a shortcut
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
  • Cheddar cheese, thinly sliced

Instructions
 

  • Slice the potatoes into 1/4 inch fries, if you wish to peel the potatoes, that is up to you. Place the fries in a bowl of cold water.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium high heat until shimmering. Add onion and pinch of salt to skillet. Reduce heat to medium low, and cook, tossing and stirring occasionally until onions are well browned, about 15 minutes. One onions begin to sizzle heavily and appear dry, add 1 tablespoon water to skillet and stir. Continue cooking until water evaporates and onions start sizzling. Repeat process, 3 times total.
  • In a small bowl add the mayo, ketchup, relish, sugar, and vinegar and stir to combine, this is the sauce, set aside.
  • Remove the potatoes from the water and dry on paper towels. Heat oil to 365 degrees. Add potatoes in batches and fry for 3-4 minutes or until the fries start turning a bit whiter, then remove with slotted spoon and do the next batch. Let potatoes cool. Then refry by put frying the potatoes again in the hot oil fry a second time for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • Place fries on a large plate, cover with slices of Cheddar cheese, then the onions (or whats left of them), and the sauce. Serve.

Notes

Minimal costs overall.
Shortcut: Ketchup, Dill Pickles.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Matthew Fox.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,APPETIZERS / SNACKS
Pork Menudo
September 6, 2016 Lee
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Pork Menudo

Gene Bernhardt, United States.
This is a Filipino style stew that is tomato sauce based. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Filipino
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams pork belly, cut into bite size pieces, (1 lb)
  • 250 grams pork liver, (1 lb)
  • 4 hotdogs, regular size, sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into squares
  • 1 large potato, diced
  • 1 large carrot, diced
  • 1 cup peas, cooked
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • ½ head garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 1 cup tomato sauce, Shortcut
  • 3 tablespoons liver paste, optional, I would just go with the liver
  • ½ cup raisins
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Boil the liver for about 5-8 minutes, until cooked through, remove from water and set aside to cool.
  • In a sauce pan cook the garlic and onion, add in the pork and cook for 5 minutes. Add in the soy sauce and tomato sauce, cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add a cup of water and bring to a boil the reduce heat to a simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pork is tender.
  • While this is cooking, chop the liver into bite size pieces.
  • Add in the potatoes and carrots and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Add in liver spread, chopped liver, hotdog slices, sugar, and raisins and continue to cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are cooked and most of the liquid has evaporated. Add in the peas and bell pepper, season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer to heat everything through. Serve with hot rice.

Notes

Pork belly will cost about 65 Baht/500 grams, the liver will cost about 35 Baht/250 grams. For 4 servings, this is about 72 cents per serving. Great price for a hearty stew.
Shortcut: Tomato Sauce.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,: FILIPINO,SOUPS, STEWS, CHILI
Root Beer Chicken Wings
September 5, 2016 Lee
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Root Beer Chicken Wings

This sounds really tasty for an outdoor BBQ with friends and family. On my to cook list. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Wings

  • 50 chicken wings, I have no idea what the weight would be, see Step 1
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • juice from 1 orange
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Sauce

  • 1 cup Root Beer
  • 1 cup ketchup, OR make from a shortcut on this site
  • 3 tablespoons Worcherstershire sauce
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • juice from 1/2 lemon

Instructions
 

  • Prices for whole wings: 91 Baht/kilo, middle sections: 126 Baht/kilo, drumettes: 70 Baht/kilo. Buy the whole wings, you get two pieces for you and a piece for dog food. There is a Tip that describes how to cut the sections apart without using a cleaver so you get no bone chips in the meat.
  • Preheat your grill for a two zone cooking, having hot coals on one side and nothing on the other side.
  • Mix the Wing ingredients and let marinate for 30 minutes.
  • Place the wings on the hot grate directly over hot coals and sear for about 3 minutes per side, then move to indirect and cook for 20 to 25 minutes at a high temp, you are looking for a crispy skin and a golden brown color.
  • In a cast iron skillet placed on the grill over direct heat, mix all of the sauce ingredients together and simmer for 10 minutes, then drop the wings inside the skillet and give a good mix to coat each one with sauce.
  • Sear wings one last time over hot coals to caramelize the sauce, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Serve. Corn on the cob would make this a great meal!

Notes

I cannot price this until I buy the 50 wings. I will list this as fair cost for now and will revise when I make this.
Shortcut: Ketchup.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Al Easley.
United States.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,GRILLED / BBQ / SMOKER
Slow Cooker Pepper Steak
September 3, 2016 Lee
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Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

Sounds really good. This would be great on pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or even on a bun with a slice of Swiss cheese. On my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 20 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kilo lean beef, cut into 2 inch strips
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, large, sliced into strips
  • 1 green bell pepper, large, sliced into strips
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1 can whole peeled tomatoes, chopped, plus the juice
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon beef stock powder
  • 1/4 cup hot water
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch, and a bit more as needed at the end
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • olive oil, as needed
  • black pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • In a large non stick pan, heat a splash of olive oil then brown the strips of beef, no need to cook them through, just quickly brown them and then add to the slow cooker. Add the minced garlic to the slow cooker and mix into the beef strips.
  • Mix the stock powder with the hot water, when mixed, add the corn starch and mix. Pour this into the slow cooker along with the black pepper, soy sauce, chopped tomatoes and juice, sugar, and onion. Slice the bell peppers and refrigerate. Set the slow cooker to Low setting for 6-8 hours or High setting for 3-4 hours. For low setting, at the 4 hour mark, add the sliced bell pepper and mix in. For high setting, at the 2 hour mark, add the sliced bell pepper and mix in, continue cooking. This keeps the bell pepper crunchy and not turning to mush.
  • When the beef is tender and cooked through, mix 1 tablespoon of corn starch with just enough water to make a paste, then stir that into the pot and cook for another 10 or 15 minutes, this will thicken the sauce to a gravy like consistency. Serve over rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or in a bun with a slice of Swiss cheese.

Notes

The beef would run about 200 Baht/kilo. For 6 servings, this comes out to about 98 cents per serving. Excellent cost.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Mike Early.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Beef - Slow Cooker
Monte Cristo Sandwiches
September 3, 2016 Lee
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Monte Cristo Sandwiches

A Monte Cristo sandwich is a cross between a grilled cheese sandwich and French toast in my opinion, but they are delicious none the less. For people in larger cities with a deli, you should be able to find sliced cooked turkey or chicken, or just substitute with leftover roasted turkey or chicken that you sliced or shredded.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 8 slices thick cut bread
  • deli ham, thin sliced
  • Swiss cheese, thin sliced
  • deli turkey, thin sliced
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • mayo, optional
  • mustard, optional

Instructions
 

  • In a shallow dish, mix together the eggs and milk. Heat a large non stick pan to medium heat and add the butter and olive oil.
  • Build the sandwiches (optional to spread mayo on one slice of bread and mustard on the other slice, top and bottom), add some ham, cheese, and turkey, amounts are up to you.
  • Now take a sandwich, dip one side in the egg mixture and remove, flip over and dip the other side, place in the hot pan. Cook until gold brown on one side then flip over and brown that side. Patience is needed, don't flip too early. Serve with home made fries for a complete meal.

Notes

I cannot price this as I am not sure of the amounts used, essentially you can make these from leftovers so this is really an economical meal. Be generous on the deli ham and turkey. If you cannot find deli turkey, go with left over turkey or chicken and just shred that.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BURGERS & SANDWICHES,LEFTOVERS
Easy Broccoli Gratin
September 3, 2016 Lee
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Easy Broccoli Gratin

Sounds like a tasty side for any meal. One my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams fresh broccoli, cut into bite size pieces, plus the stems
  • 1/3 cup mayo
  • 2 teaspoons mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 500 grams Swiss cheese, shredded

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.
  • Steam the broccoli for only a few minutes, make sure there's still a little crunch to it. Place in the baking dish.
  • In a separate bowl, mix the mayo and mustard, then add the cheese and mix. spoon this mixture onto the broccoli and make sure it is evenly spread around. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Serve with your favorite main dish.

Notes

The cheese would cost about 180 Baht per 250 gram block, so 2 blocks, this would be about $1.33 per serving for 8 servings but you can probably push this to 10 as it is a side dish. Not a bad cost for a great side for a once in a while meal with friends and family.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
5 Ingredients or Less,SIDES
Breakfast Pie
September 3, 2016 Lee
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Breakfast Pie

Not only the pie, but you will make the pie crust as well. This is a great sounding recipe that could be for a late breakfast or even a dinner. On my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Breakfast, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Crust

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup shortening
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup water

For the Filling

  • 500 grams minced pork, OR ground beef, OR even ground chicken
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup cheese, shredded, your choice
  • 1 cup cheese, shredded, another of your choice

Instructions
 

For the Crust

  • In a large bowl combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add the water and mix until a ball is formed. Divide dough into two, one for the bottom and one for the top of the pie.
  • Press one of the balls of dough into the bottom of a pie dish, rising up the sides slightly OR you can roll out the bottom crust and set into the pie dish. Roll the other ball of dough out flat into a large circle to cover the pie once you put the filling in.

For the Filling

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C.
  • In a large skillet, saute onions and mushrooms until onions start to become a little translucent. Add the meat and cook thoroughly. Drain the drippings and stir in garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  • In a separate bowl, beat eggs, milk, and mayo together. Combine with the meat mixture. Fold in cheeses and pour mixture into the prepared pie dish.
  • Cover pie with second portion of pie crust and seal off around the edges. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 150 C and bake for 20-30 minutes more, or until an inserted knife comes out clean. Let stand about ten minutes before cutting. Serve. Toast or fresh hash browns would be great side dishes here.

Notes

The only thing expensive in this dish is the cheeses. Use 1/3 to 1/2 of a 250 gram block of each of your cheeses of choosing, the cost would be about 180 Baht if using half a block each. This is about $1.35 per serving for 4 servings, and about 90 cents per serving for 6 servings. Over all, not a bad cost for this meal.
For the cheese, think Edam & Mozzarella, or Cheddar & Swiss. Up to you.
Variants. If using minced pork, consider adding spices to make that breakfast sausage and use that.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,PORK
Drop Biscuits and Gravy
September 2, 2016 Lee
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Drop Biscuits and Gravy

This is a great meal for breakfast or dinner, filling and hearty. The biscuits are drop biscuits, even better! On my to cook list. A couple of fried eggs on the side, you have a meal. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Breakfast, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Biscuits

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons butter, melted

For the Gravy

  • 500 grams breakfast sausage, OR make from a shortcut
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 6 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 3 1/2 cups milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Combine milk and butter and incorporate into dry ingredients just until blended. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • Meanwhile, brown the sausage in a medium saucepan over medium heat, until cooked through. Add the butter and stir until melted. Sprinkle the flour over the sausage mixture and mix, then gradually add the milk, salt, and pepper. Stir over medium heat until it thickens to desired consistency. Serve over warm biscuits. Serve as is, with a side of fried or scrambled eggs, hash browns, and or toast.

Notes

Make the sausage yourself from minced pork will cost about 50 Baht/500 grams. For 4 servings, this is about 37 cents per serving.
Shortcut: Breakfast Sausage.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Pork - Sausage
Easy Egg Casserole
September 2, 2016 Lee
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Easy Egg Casserole

Easy, eggs, cheese, and chilies, sounds great! On my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Breakfast, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 15 eggs
  • 500 grams Cheddar cheese, shredded, this is 2 250 gram blocks
  • 4-6 big green chilies, diced

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish with butter.
  • In a large bowl, add the eggs and lightly beat them, then add the cheese and chilies and stir that in. Pour into the baking dish.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes, IMPORTANT! DO NOT OVER BAKE! When the middle of the dish is set, checked by inserting a knife and it coming out clean, remove from the oven. The eggs will cook for a few more minutes when it is removed.
  • Cut into squares and serve with hash browns and sausage on the side. Nothing easier.

Notes

Most expensive items is the cheese. This will cost about 180 Baht per 250 grams, so 360 for the 500 grams needed. This comes out to about $1. 32 per serving for 8 servings. Overall not a bad cost as what this can be served with very low cost, possibly even stretching it to 10 or 12 servings.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,CASSEROLES
Mashed Potato Pancakes
September 2, 2016 Lee
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Mashed Potato Pancakes

Sounds great! Use this as a side to chicken or pork, or as a main for breakfast topped with a couple of eggs and some sausage on the side. This makes a lot as written, so cut this recipe in half or when making the first time. On my to cook list for sure. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Dish, Side
Cuisine American
Servings 15 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/2 kilos potatoes, washed and cut into large pieces, peel if you desire
  • 1 large onion
  • 3 eggs, slightly beaten
  • 2 1/2 cups Bisquick Mix, OR make from a shortcut
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • olive oil, for frying

Instructions
 

  • Boil the potatoes in a large pot until soft, about 15-20 minutes. Drain and put back in the pot. With a cheese grater, grate in the onion into the pot. Add the beaten eggs, Bisquick, salt and pepper. Mix and mash thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated and you have a batter the same consistency as mashed potatoes.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Form pancakes from the potato dough, about the size of your palm. Cook in the oiled skillet, about 3-4 minutes each side. Serve topped with sour cream as a side dish with chicken or pork, or as a main with a couple of eggs, and bacon or sausage on the side.

Notes

Low cost dish. Make the Bisquick yourself for greater savings.
Shortcut: Bisquick Mix.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,SIDES