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Mac & Cheese, Slow Cooker Style II
August 3, 2016 Lee
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Mac & Cheese, Slow Cooker Style II

Adapted from an internet recipe.
Another version of slow cooker mac & cheese, sounds good.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 5 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 2 eggs
  • 1½ cups milk
  • 1½ cups evaporated milk
  • 250 grams dry elbow macaroni, (8 oz)
  • 4 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • In your slow cooker, and the eggs and beat lightly, then add the milks, salt and pepper and mix well, stir in the macaroni, then stir in 3 cups of cheese. Stir to combine.
  • Sprinkle the last 1 cup of cheese on the top, cover and cook without stirring for 5-6 hours on Low setting. Serve.

Notes

Most expensive part is the cheese, 4 cups of cheese would be about 1½ blocks, of 250 grams each. 180 Baht/250 grams, this comes out to about $1.32 per serving for 6 servings, overall, not a bad value for the meal.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,Pasta - Mac & Cheese - Slow Cooker
German-Style Fried Potatoes
August 3, 2016 Lee
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German-Style Fried Potatoes

Adapted from an internet recipe.
I cannot vouch for these being German style, sounds like fried potatoes with bacon, but it does sound good, and I do like the part of boiling the potatoes first. On my to cook list. This would be a good side with grilled brats, chicken, or about any dish.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 1 day
Total Time 1 day
Course Side
Cuisine German
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 750 grams small potatoes, skin on, boiled, then place in the fridge overnight, (1½ lb)
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 4 slices bacon, cut into cubes
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2-3 tablespoons butter
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Slice the cold potatoes into thin ⅛ inch thick slices, then set aside.
  • Add about 1 tablespoon of the oil to a large frying pan and heat gently. Fry the onions until soft then add the bacon pieces. Continue frying till the bacon and onions are lightly browned then remove from the pan with a slotted spoon. Set aside.
  • Add the remaining oil and butter to the pan and fry the potato slices over a low/medium heat, turning them occasionally. Allow them to brown lightly on one side before turning, repeating the process till most of the potatoes are golden brown.
  • Once the potatoes are almost done, return the onion and bacon mix to the pan, season with salt and plenty of black pepper, then continue frying over a medium heat till everything is nicely browned. Serve as a side dish.
: GERMAN,SIDES
Basic Goulash
August 2, 2016 Lee
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Basic Goulash

Simple and easy meal, I like this, on my to cook list. 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 American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 250 grams dry elbow macaroni, (I would go with 500 grams, but that is just me)
  • 750 grams ground beef, OR minced pork, OR ground chicken
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 cans whole peeled tomatoes, chopped plus juice, see Step 1
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup, OR use Chili and Garlic Sauce, OR make from a shortcut
  • tomato juice, as needed
  • salt, pepper, chili powder, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Instead of using canned tomatoes, certainly use fresh plum tomatoes, about 8 of them, chop, but you will need to add tomato juice.
  • Cook the macaroni to package directions, just before it is done.
  • Meanwhile, cook the onion and ground meat in a pot until done, drain the fat and return to the pot. Add seasoning to your taste, the tomatoes, and the ketchup, mix then add the macaroni. Simmer for about 10-20 minutes until heated through. Add tomato juice as needed. Serve with a salad and you have a meal.

Notes

Ground beef would cost about 150-200 Baht/750 grams, pork would be about 90 Baht, chicken even less. Going on 200 Baht for beef, the cost per serving, for 6 servings is 98 cents per serving, less for minced pork or ground chicken.
Shortcut: Ketchup.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BEEF
Paprika Chicken Thighs with Spinach and Pasta
July 31, 2016 Lee
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Paprika Chicken Thighs with Spinach and Pasta

Sounds good! On my to cook list. For the pasta, think wide fettuccine.
Print Recipe
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 250 grams wide Fettucinne pasta
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon paprika, OR smoked paprika if you have that
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcherstershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon tobasco sauce
  • 8 chicken thighs, buy quarters, use the thighs, let the other half use the legs
  • olive oil
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 clove garlic, smashed and minced
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 2-3 cups spinach, fresh or frozen (thawed)
  • 1/4 cup fresh herbs, like dill or parsley

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the noodles and cook until tender.
  • While the pasta is cooking, place the tomato paste in a small bowl and stir in 1/4 cup of the boiling pasta water. Stir in the paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco sauce.
  • Preheat a large non stick skillet over medium heat. Drizzle the chicken thighs with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Add to the skillet, you will need to do batches. Cook until browned on the bottom, about 5-7 minutes (cover with a lid). Flip and baste liberally with the paprika paste. Brown the other side, about 5-7 minutes longer (cover with a lid), then flip again and brush with more of the paprika paste (cover with a lid). Make sure the chicken is cooked through, cut one open to check.
  • In another large non stick skillet, add about 1 tablespoon olive oil and the butter to melt over medium heat. Add the garlic and shallot and cook for 3 minutes. Add the spinach to wilt (or heat through the thawed spinach). Drain the egg noodles and add to the spinach along with the herbs, if using. Divide among 4 plates and serve with 2 chicken thighs each.

Notes

For the chicken, you can use chicken thighs bought like that but the cost is 74 Baht/kilo and the thighs are small, or buy quarters at 68 Baht/kilo (larger thighs!) and separate the thighs and use those, give the legs to your family to make a meal or freeze and use for a later dish or a BBQ! I will estimate 90 Baht for the chicken, for 4 servings this is about 67 cents per serving. Over all, very good.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,PASTA
Crock Pot Rotisserie Chicken
July 31, 2016 Lee
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Crock Pot Rotisserie Chicken

Sounds good, this chicken can be used in a umber of recipes as well.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 1 chicken

Ingredients
  

  • 1 whole chicken, remove the head and feet and remove the giblets
  • olive oil
  • seasoning salt, combination of salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder
  • paprika
  • 1 onion, cut in quarters

Instructions
 

  • Make 4 or 5 loose balls of aluminum foil and place in the slow cooker.
  • Clean the chicken inside and out, spray with olive oil, sprinkle on seasoning salt and paprika, place the onion quarters inside the cavity, place chicken in the slow cooker back side down. Cook on High setting for 4 to 6 hours, Feel free to use a meat thermometer, you are looking for a temp of min 82 C / 180 F when checked at the thigh without touching the bone.
  • Serve as is with a side of corn on the cob and mashed potatoes, use the liquid in the pot to make a gravy from. Or use in other recipes calling for cooked chicken.

Notes

A whole chicken will cost between 200 and 250 Baht. For 6 servings, this would be about $1.22 per serving, but more than likely you can easily make 2 other dishes from this chicken.
Variants: 1. Stuffing the cavity with carrot, celery, and onion. 2. Using seasonings of your choice. 3. Cooking with the skin removed.
Used in Recipes Listed on this Site:
 
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,Chicken - Slow Cooker
Baked Chicken Nuggets
July 31, 2016 Lee
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Baked Chicken Nuggets

These are homemade nuggets not the nuggets from stores or fast food places. These are really good, I made these on 22 May 2017.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Dish, Side
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams chicken tenders/fillets, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • 1/2 cup milk

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 200 C (390 F). Get out a baking sheet with a rack.
  • In a medium bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, cheese, and seasonings. Place milk in a separate bowl. I took this photo well after I was dipping and coating the chicken.
  • Dip the chicken pieces in the milk, then in the breadcrumbs to coat, place well coated pieces on the rack and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. I used a foil lined baking sheet, and a foil covered rack. These are ready for the oven now.
  • Serve as an appetizer with a dipping sauce of choice, as a side, or as a main dish.

Notes

The chicken will cost about 40 Baht/500 grams. Easily under $1 per serving.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,APPETIZERS / SNACKS,Chicken - Nuggets
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
July 31, 2016 Lee
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Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Sounds really good, and only 3 ingredients. Also the use of an oven is needed to brown up the cheese. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 2 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 6 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
  • 2 cups salsa, OR make from a shortcut listed on this site
  • 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions
 

  • Place chicken breasts in your slow cooker, pour salsa over the top, cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours on High setting. If you over cook it the chicken will fall apart.
  • When the chicken is almost done, preheat your oven to 220 C. Using a 9x9 or 9x13 baking dish, carefully place the chicken in the dish, spoon some of the salsa from the pot over the top of the chicken and sprinkle with the cheese. If you like cheese, use 1 1/2 or 2 cups. Bake for 15 minutes or until it is golden brown and bubbly. Serve with with a salad and a vegetable side of your choice.

Notes

Chicken will run 63 Baht/kilo, for 6 breasts I will estimate 90 Baht. For the cheese, if using just 1 cup of shredded, figure 90 Baht, if 2 cups, figure 180 Baht (180 is the cost of a block). Make the salsa yourself for savings as well. For the chicken and 1 cup of cheese, this is about 90 cents per serving for 6 servings.
Shortcut: Salsa.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Chicken - Slow Cooker
Irish Bacon, Sausage, Onion & Potato Dish
July 31, 2016 Lee
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Irish Bacon, Sausage, Onion & Potato Dish

Not sure if this is Irish but it sounds good and hearty. For this you will need a large oven proof pot with a lid or foil to cover. To make this in a slow cooker, cut the ingredients in half and cook on High setting for 4 hours.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine European
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 kilo potatoes, washed and cut into large pieces
  • 2 onions, peeled and thickly sliced
  • 500 grams sausage, spicy smoked sausage, bangers, or brats would work
  • 500 grams bacon
  • 2 1/8 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon beef stock powder
  • 3-4 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Use hot water from your hot water pot and dissolve the beef powder in a sauce pan.
  • Grill or broil the sausage and bacon to color them, do not over cook or dry them out, drain on paper towels. When drained, cut the bacon into 1 inch pieces, cut the sausage into large pieces.
  • Preheat your oven to 150 C. Using large oven proof pot, layer the ingredients in this order: onion, bacon, sausage, potatoes. Season each layer with pepper and parsley. Repeat until all the ingredients are used.
  • Heat the water with beef stock in it to boil, then pour this into the large pot and cover with a lid or foil. Place the pot in the oven and cook for at least 3 hours (4 to 5 hours does not hurt either). At the 2 hour point, check the liquid level in the point, you want about an inch of liquid in the bottom of the pot at all times. Serve, liquid at the bottom is your gravy.

Notes

The sausage, spicy smoked sausage runs about 125 Baht/500 grams, English Bangers, pork or beef will run about 100 Baht/500 grams. Brats will run about 180 Baht/500 grams. Bacon will cost about 200 to 280 Baht/500 grams. Using Bangers, this comes out to about $1.88 per serving for 6 servings. Over all, not a bad cost for a hearty meal.
To cook this in a slow cooker, cut the ingredients in half and cook on High setting for 4 hours.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* High Cost $1.51+ per Serving,Beef - Slow Cooker,Pork - Slow Cooker
Chili Mac and Cheese Bake
July 31, 2016 Lee
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Chili Mac and Cheese Bake

Sounds really good!
Print Recipe
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups dry elbow macaroni
  • 1 cup flour
  • 3/4 cup corn meal
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2 1/2 - 3 cups leftover Chili, slightly warmed

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 220 C. Lightly grease a 9x9 baking dish with butter.
  • Cook the pasta but reduce the time by 1 to 2 minutes, drain and set aside.
  • When the pasta is cooking, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, corn meal, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add the egg, melted butter, and milk, mix until just incorporated, it will be lumpy, that is ok.
  • Spread the pasta evenly on the bottom of the baking dish then top with the cheese, then top that with the warmed chili (warming it makes it easy to spread). Now spread the corn bread batter evenly over the top.
  • Bake for 25-35 minutes or until corn bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve.

Notes

The chili is already paid for, your major cost here would be the cheese, figure that at about 180 Baht/block to make 2 cups of shredded. So for 4 servings, this is about $1.33 per serving, or about 90 cents per serving for 6 servings if stretching this meal out with a green salad on the side. Overall, a good use for leftover Chili.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,LEFTOVERS,Pasta - Mac & Cheese
Slow Cooker Ravioli Casserole
July 31, 2016 Lee
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Slow Cooker Ravioli Casserole

Adapted from an internet recipe.
This can be made from ground beef, pork, or chicken. Sounds good, but being a cheese dish, this is not a cheap meal but does sound very good indeed. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours 30 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 750 grams ground beef, or minced pork ground chicken, (1½ lb)
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, smashed and minced
  • 1¾ cups tomato sauce, Shortcut
  • 1 can whole peeled tomatoes, slightly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, Shortcut
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 300 grams spinach, frozen, thawed and drained, or fresh (10 oz)
  • 500 grams bowtie pasta, or any bitesize pasta, (8 oz)
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1½ cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded

Instructions
 

  • Brown ground meat in a non stick pan along with the onion and garlic, when browned (not needed to be cooked through) pour into your slow cooker, and add tomato sauce, chopped tomatoes with juice, and seasonings. Cover and cook on Low setting for 5 hours.
  • Add the pasta, spinach, and cheeses and mix well, top with an additional ½ cup of Mozzarella to melt onto the top, cover cook on High setting for another 30 minutes, serve.

Notes

750 grams of beef would be about 125 to 150 Baht, pork would be about 80 Baht, chicken would be less. Cheese, however, is the major cost. Figure about 140 Baht for Parmesan, and about 180 Baht for the Mozzarella. This comes out to about (using beef), for 6 servings, to about $2.45 per serving, pork would be about $1.97 per serving. Chicken would be less. Over all, not bad, chicken would be a good choice when friends or family visits.
Shortcut: Tomato Sauce.
* High Cost $1.51+ per Serving,Casseroles - Slow Cooker