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Seafood Stew (Slow Cooker)
May 24, 2016 Lee
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Seafood Stew (Slow Cooker)

Adapted from an internet recipe.
Good potential here, on my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 10 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams white fish fillets, cut into 1 inch pieces, (1 lb)
  • 300 grams shrimp, uncooked, peeled, deveined, and tails removed, (10 oz)
  • 1-2 packages oyster meat, drained, these are at Tesco, small containers
  • 2 cups onion, chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, use import, finely chopped.
  • 2 cans whole peeled tomatoes, diced, I use Brook's brand, 565 gram cans
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2½ teaspoons lemon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon sugar, or honey
  • ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients except for fish, shrimp, and oysters in slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 hours, then add in fish, shrimp, and oysters and cover with lid. Cook for an additional 30-45 minutes or until fish is flaky. Serve.

Notes

Pangasius would cost about 60 Baht/500 grams, shrimp would cost about 80 Baht, oyster meat is 42 Baht per container. Cost per serving for 8 servings cost is 82 cents per serving. Great value for a great dish.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,FISH - ALL,Fish - Slow Cooker,Fish - White Fish,Seafood - Slow Cooker,Soups, Stews, Chili - Slow Cooker
Seasoned Citrus Fillets I (Slow Cooker)
May 24, 2016 Lee
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Seasoned Citrus Fillets I (Slow Cooker)

Adapted from an internet recipe.
This sounds easy and is very versatile with the fish fillets used. Basically white fish, such as Pangasius, Barramundi, or even Tilapia. You will need fillets, boneless and skinless, so with Barramundi or Tilapia you will need to fillet those.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 4 white fish fillets
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 2 oranges, sliced
  • salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • First, make your garlic butter, melt the butter in a small sauce pan, add garlic and simmer for about 5 minutes. Set aside.
  • Lay out a large piece of aluminum foil, season the fish with salt and pepper on both sides and place in the middle of the foil side by side. Drizzle the garlic butter over the fish, spread the orange slices on top of the fish. Fold up the foil to seal it and place this in your slow cooker. Cover and cook on High setting for 2 hours. Use a large spatula or two to get the foil pack out. Serve on a bed of rice with a tomato salad on the side.

Notes

Four Tilapia would be about 60 Baht, this dish is well under $1 per serving, even with the sides.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,FISH - ALL,Fish - Slow Cooker,Fish - White Fish
Baked Fish with Shrimp I
May 24, 2016 Lee
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Baked Fish with Shrimp I

Fish fillets baked with shrimp in a simple white sauce and topped with Parmesan cheese, sounds tasty! On my to cook list. This can be any white fish, my choice would be Pangasius or Barramundi first because they are readily available, but also consider Cod if you can find it, or even Red Snapper.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 5 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kilo white fish fillets, boneless and skinless, Pangasius would be good
  • 500 grams fresh shrimp, peeled, deveined, tail removed, lightly boiled
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • paprika, to taste
  • parsley, fresh or dried
  • salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 190 C.
  • In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium low heat. Whisk in flour and salt to make a paste. Gradually whisk in milk. Stirring constantly, cook until sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  • Select a large baking dish or pan to hold all the fillets in a single layer, lightly grease with butter.
  • Season fillets with salt, pepper, and paprika to your liking and arrange in the baking dish. Cover fish with cooked shrimp, pour sauce over shrimp, sprinkle with paprika then cover with the cheese, sprinkle with parsley if desired.
  • Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until fish flakes easily. Remove from oven and let rest 5-10 minutes, serve. A nice tomato salad and boiled potatoes with butter would be excellent side dishes.

Notes

Pangasius will cost 120 Baht/kilo. Shrimp will run about 100 Baht/500 grams from a grocery store, for those along the coast, you can normally buy local ocean cast net caught shrimp for a bit less. Everything else is minimal. For 5 servings, this comes out to about $1.30 per serving, for 6 servings, this is about $1.08 per serving. Excellent value for a nutritional meal.
For variants, added cooked crab meat or imitation crab that is cubed, cooked oyster meat, lemon slices, and other seasonings of your choice.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,FISH - ALL,Fish - White Fish,SEAFOOD - ALL,Seafood - Shrimp/Prawn
Fisherman’s Quick Fish
May 23, 2016 Lee
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Fisherman's Quick Fish

Easy sounding recipe, minimal ingredients as well. On my list to prepare.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 Pangasius fillets
  • 1 cup Italian dressing
  • 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup Ritz crackers, crushed, use Magic brand, cost less, tastes same

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 230 degrees C. Grease the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish with olive oil.
  • In a medium bowl, marinate the fish fillets in the salad dressing for a few minutes.
  • Toss the shredded cheese and crushed crackers together. Place the marinated fish fillets in the baking dish and top with the cheese/cracker mixture. Discard the leftover marinade.
  • Bake uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes or until the fish can be flaked with a fork. Serve with rice or buttered egg noodles.

Notes

Pangasius fillets cost about 120 Baht/kilo, 4 fillets is about 60 Baht. Everything is minimal in cost. I will say 100 Baht for everything, this comes out to about 75 cents per serving, Excellent value.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,FISH - ALL,Fish - White Fish
Hash Brown Potato Pie
May 23, 2016 Lee
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Hash Brown Potato Pie

This sounds like a very easy recipe, and minimal cost as well, one of my must tries!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups potatoes, shredded, see Step 2
  • 5 eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup spring onions, chopped, green and white parts
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
  • 4 slices bacon, diced and cooked

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C. Grease a 9 inch glass pie dish with butter.
  • For your hash browns, wash, peel if you desire, then shred the potatoes. Take the shredded potatoes and rinse them in cold water, and really squeeze them to get the water out, do this 3-4 times until the water is clear, this removes the starch, then your potatoes are ready. You need 3 cups of shredded potatoes.
  • Beat together eggs and milk in a large bowl, stir in potatoes, green onions, salt and pepper, and hot sauce. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese and half of bacon. Pour into the pie dish.
  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until center is set (butter knife inserted in the center comes out clean). Sprinkle remaining bacon and cheese over top of pie, continue baking 3 to 4 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let rest for 5 minutes, serve.

Notes

Most expensive item is the cheese, about 180 Baht for a 200 gram block, this will provide 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese with some cheese left over, just use the whole block. This would cost about 90 cents per serving, excellent value.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,POTATOES
Fisherman’s Pie I
May 22, 2016 Lee
2 Comments

Fisherman's Pie I

This is traditionally made with cod, I have never seen cod available in Thailand, but any white fish works, think Pangasius or Barramundi, boneless skinless fillets. This sounds really tasty and is on my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams Pangasius fillets, boneless and skinless, cut into chunks
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups milk, warmed, more as needed
  • 1 cup white Cheddar cheese, shredded, OR just go with Edam
  • 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded, this is for the topping
  • 280 grams spinach, frozen or fresh, frozen thaw and drain, OR use peas
  • 1/2 cup onion, diced
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 clove garlic, smashed and minced
  • 2 cups mashed potatoes

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 190 C. Arrange fish chunks in a single layer in a large baking dish, set aside.
  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour, and stir until the mixture becomes paste-like and light golden brown, 2 to 5 minutes.
  • Gradually whisk warm milk into the flour mixture and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Whisk until the sauce is thick and smooth, about 5 minutes. Whisk in white Cheddar cheese, then mix onion, spinach, salt, and black pepper into the sauce.
  • Remove saucepan from heat and stir in garlic. If sauce is too thick, stir in more warm milk, 1 tablespoon at a time.
  • Pour sauce over fish in the baking dish.
  • Layer mashed potatoes on top.
  • Bake for 30 minutes, then sprinkle with the yellow Cheddar cheese. Continue baking until fish is easily flaked with a fork, about 15 to 20 minutes more and the cheese should be a nice golden brown. Remove from oven, let rest for 5 minutes, serve with a green salad.

Notes

Pangasius fillets cost about 60 Baht/500 grams. Barramundi (Giant Sea Perch) costs about 75 Baht/500 grams but you have to fillet them yourself. The cheese is about 180 Baht per block of 200 grams, which would provide the 2 cups needed, either 1 cup of white and 1 cup of yellow, or just go with 2 cups of yellow, divided. This meal (based on Pangasius) would cost about $1.20 per serving. Very reasonable.
Variants would add to the cost but would make a delightful meal for visiting friends and family. Variants could be peeled shrimp, scallops, and even shucked oysters (although with the oysters, I would cook them first before adding to the baking dish).
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,FISH - ALL,Fish - White Fish
Baked Ziti Casserole
May 22, 2016 Lee
1 Comment

Baked Ziti Casserole

This sounds really good and is on my to cook list. Do not get tied up in the type of pasta, Penne pasta is tubular with the ends cut at an angle, Ziti pasta is tubular with the ends cut squarely. When I make this, I am using Penne for sure because it is more common than Ziti. There is a chance to use 3 shortcuts in this recipe to reduce the cost considerably. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams Italian sausage, this can be pork or chicken, OR use the shortcut on this site
  • 2 cups Ziti pasta, OR just use Penne, it is the same
  • 1 can tomato soup, 18 oz/510 grams, OR make from a shortcut on this site
  • 1 cup Ricotta cheese, OR make Cottage Cheese from a shortcut on this site
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 egg
  • fresh basil leaves, chopped, for garnish, if desired

Instructions
 

  • Heat your oven to 190 C.
  • Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. In 12-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink; drain. Add soup (if making the soup from the shortcut on the site, use 2 1/3 cups of soup), pepper, and cooked pasta, stir well.
  • In a bowl mix the Ricotta (or Cottage cheese), Parmesan cheese, and egg.
  • Pour the pasta mixture into a 9x13 glass baking dish (or a 7x11 dish if you have that), spoon the cheese mixture over the top, sprinkle the Mozzarella cheese over the top, cover with foil and bake 25-30 minutes, remove foil for the last 10 minutes to brown the cheese. Sprinkle with basil and serve.

Notes

The pork for the sausage would cost about 65 Baht for 500 grams, even less if using chicken. The cheese is minimal as not complete packages are used, for the Ricotta, do your self a favor and make the Cottage cheese yourself as you would save a lot there. For the soup, that would cost minimum 52 Baht if purchased canned, if you make yourself, the cost is 17 Baht.
Going with store bought prices, the cost is about $1 per person for 6 people. If you make the shortcuts, you can get this down to probably 60 cents per person.
Shortcuts: Italian Sausage, Tomato Soup, Cottage Cheese.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,CASSEROLES
Tomato Soup
May 22, 2016 Lee
1 Comment

Tomato Soup

I had to do some research as I have a recipe that states tomato soup, but that is not available where I live, so I found a shortcut. It is healthier than canned tomato soup, but is just as easy as opening a can of soup and heating it up. This is NOT a condensed soup. I made this on 28 Apr 2017, it is good, not fine dining but it is good soup.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 6 minutes
Cuisine American
Servings 2 servings

Ingredients
  

Soup

  • 1 can tomato paste, this would be a 170 gram can, the really small one
  • 4 cans milk, use the tomato paste can
  • pinch salt, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon sugar, OR honey

Optional Additions

  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Parmesan cheese, OR Mozzerella cheese
  • 1 teaspoon bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed

Instructions
 

  • Put tomato paste in saucepan, add milk using empty tomato paste can and rinsing can thoroughly. Add salt and sugar and optional additions if using, whisk and heat this on medium heat and serve as a side dish with a sandwich. I topped my bowl of soup with grated Parmesan cheese.
  • If this is just needed for a recipe, whisk all ingredients together and use as the recipe states, however, you will need to measure the amount needed for the recipe.

Notes

campbells-tomato-soup2A can of tomato paste costs 17 Baht, a can of name brand soup would cost 52 Baht. And just for example, here is what is in Campbell's Tomato Soup.
A Thai brand of tomato paste consists of concentrated tomatoes to make a paste with skin and seeds strained out, and a pinch of salt, a lot healthier than what you see in the ingredients for Campbell's!
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,SIDES,SOUPS, STEWS, CHILI
Homemade Honey-Based Ketchup
May 21, 2016 Lee
3 Comments

Homemade Honey-Based Ketchup

Sounds really good and easy to make.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Cuisine American
Servings 0

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can tomato paste, this would be a 170 gram can, the really small ones
  • 1/4 cup honey, make sure it is natural honey
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions
 

  • Combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat; whisk until smooth. When it comes to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and cover until cool. Chill and store refrigerated in a covered container.

Notes

Adapted from an internet recipe.
CONDIMENTS
Beef & Noodles II
May 21, 2016 Lee
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Beef & Noodles II

I have not tried this but it sounds good and easy for a basic Beef & Noodles dish. Lots of possibilities here to tailor this. The Beef & Noodles I recipe is in the Beef - All Other category. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kilo beef roast, OR any cut of beef
  • 1 packet dry onion soup mix, OR make from a shorcut
  • 250-500 grams egg noodles, OR go with Fettuccine
  • salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Put roast in slow cooker, mix the soup mix in a cup of warm water first then pour on top of roast, then add water to cover roast plus 2 inches. Cook 6 to 7 hours on Low setting or 4 hours on High setting. When roast is cooked, shred it in the slow cooker. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add noodles, stir to combine and make sure all noodles get wet with water, add more warm water if needed. Cover and cook on High setting for 1 more hour. Check and stir occasionally so noodles don't stick. Serve with a side of your choice.

Notes

Beef will run about 150 to 200 Baht/kilo. Going with 200 Baht, this comes to about $1 per serving for 6 servings, for 8 servings, this is about 75 cents per serving. Excellent value.
Variations would be add sliced mushroom during the last 2 hours or so.
Shortcut: Dry Onion Soup Mix.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Beef - Slow Cooker