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Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie
April 30, 2016 Lee
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Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie

Yep, this is a comfort food from years and years ago. This is a easy dish to prepare with everyday ingredients. Lots of possibilities. On my to cook list! Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams ground beef, OR minced pork, OR ground chicken
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup Bisquick Mix, OR make from a shortcut on this site
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 200 C. Lightly grease a glass pie pan with butter.
  • In a skillet, cook the ground beef and onion until beef is browned, season with salt and pepper while cooking. Drain the spread into the pie pan. Cover the beef with the cheese.
  • In a bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients with a fork or whisk, pour this into the pie pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until a butter knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve.

Notes

Ground beef will run about 80 Baht for 500 grams. Ground pork will run about 70 Baht for 500 Grams. Cheese will run about 150 Baht. For 230 Baht, this comes out to about $1.70 per person for 4 servings, or $1.15 per person for 6 servings. Overall, not a bad cost. Serve this with a potato or macaroni salad, and you have a great meal.
Variants. Replace the Cheddar cheese with Swiss, then top the cheese with sliced mushrooms. Top each slice with a slice of tomato and pickle.
Shortcut: Bisquick Mix.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,CASSEROLES
Baked Melt in Your Mouth Chicken Breasts
April 30, 2016 Lee
1 Comment

Baked Melt in Your Mouth Chicken Breasts

This is easy and delicious! Would work well for thighs, which I think would be tastier. Just five ingredients and while it is baking, you can make your side dish.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 3 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3-4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, or large thighs
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup mayo
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 190 C (375 F). Place chicken in a 7x11 baking dish.
  • Mix the rest of the ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Spread mixture over the chicken.
  • Bake for 45 minutes. I did remove one and cut it half to check doneness, perfect at 45 minutes.
  • Serve with a side of your choice.

Notes

Minimal costs, well under $1 per person per meal.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,CHICKEN & TURKEY
Twice Cooked Potatoes with Wasabi
April 30, 2016 Lee
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Twice Cooked Potatoes with Wasabi

This sounds really good, unless you can find Russet potatoes, just go with regular large potatoes. I will try this for when I grill steaks again.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 Russet potatoes, OR just go with regular potatoes
  • vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded, OR just go with Cheddar
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Wasabi paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Get your grill going and coals arranged for direct and indirect heat, medium temp is fine.
  • Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and coat each half with vegetable oil and place on the grill when it is ready over the coals. Keep the cover on as much as possible, and cook for 30-40 minutes, turning the potatoes 3-4 times, when a fork inserted easily goes in and out, they are done. If the potatoes are getting too dark, move away from the coals. When done, remove from the grill and let cool.
  • Using a spoon, scrape out the potato but leave about 1/4 of an inch on the skin, make a potato boat. Set the skins aside. Add the scraped out potato to a large bowl, mash the potatoes and add the sour cream and mix in well with a spoon, then stir in half of the cheese and the rest of the ingredients. Taste and season with more Wasabi, salt, and pepper as needed.
  • Spoon the potato mix back into the skins and sprinkle the remaining cheese on the top of each potato. Grill the stuffed potatoes over indirect heat until the cheese is melted and the potatoes are heated through, about 10-15 minutes, serve.

Notes

Provided courtesy of good friend, Garland Davis, US Navy Cook (Ret).
United States.
SIDES
Not So Tex-Mex Slow Cooker Chicken
April 28, 2016 Lee
3 Comments

Not So Tex-Mex Slow Cooker Chicken

When I first found this recipe, it sounded really nice, but the ingredients, wow, but I am going to leave the ingredients the same as listed and I will have to make this to check this out. Now the recipe called for 10 chicken thighs, I am going to scale that back a bit as our thighs are a bit larger than the US. This is a must try. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 5 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 5-6 chicken thighs, skinless, bone in, fat trimmed off
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced into strips
  • 1 green bell pepper, sliced into strips
  • 4 plum tomatoes, diced
  • 1-2 packages fresh mushrooms, sliced, Straw, Shitakii, and King Oyster would be great options
  • 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 1 can tomato sauce, OR make this from a shortcut on this site
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 6 green olives with pimento, BET YOU DID NOT SEE THAT COMING! Super Collosal in size
  • 1 tablespoon olive juice, OR THAT!
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, for topping

Instructions
 

  • Except for the chicken or fresh cilantro, put everything into your slow cooker and mix well.
  • Once mixed, add the chicken thighs and push them into the mix to cover.
  • Cover the pot and cook on Low setting for 6 hours or High setting for 4 hours. Serve with a bit of fresh chopped cilantro on top.

Notes

There is a lot of interpretation with this recipe.
I am going to base this on what I just bought in April 2016, I bought 5 quarters, used 5 legs for one recipe, and have 5 thighs in the freezer for another recipe. Cost was 100 Baht for 2 kilos. To say the thighs are 50 Baht is correct. Everything else is minimal. The cost for 5 servings would be 30 cents per serving.
Now serving, that is wide open. The sauce is screaming for pasta. My report soon on this.
Shortcut: Tomato Sauce.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Chicken - Slow Cooker
Zucchini Parmesan Crisps
April 28, 2016 Lee
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Zucchini Parmesan Crisps

This looks like a really good appetizer or side dish, a must try for me.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Appetizer, Side
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams zucchini or summer squash
  • 1/4 cup Mozzarella Cheese, heaping, shredded
  • 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs, heaping
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 200 C. Line two baking sheets with foil and lightly coat with butter.
  • Slice zucchini or squash into 1/4 inch thick rounds and toss with olive oil to coat.
  • In a large bowl, combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Place rounds in breadcrumb mix, coating both sides of each round, pressing to adhere. The mixture will not completely cover each round, but provides a light coating on each side. Place rounds in a single layer on baking sheets. Sprinkle any remaining breadcrumb mixture over the rounds.
  • Bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown, no need to flip them, they will cook up on the other side as well. Serve.

Notes

Nothing really high cost here, this is well under $1 per serving.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Denise Georgiades.
South Africa.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,APPETIZERS / SNACKS,SIDES
Cream Cheese Ranch Chicken
April 28, 2016 Lee
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Cream Cheese Ranch Chicken

Four ingredients and a slow cooker, this sounds very nice! Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 5 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kilo chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cut into large chunks
  • 500 grams Cream cheese, Caroline brand will save you money, this is 2 blocks of cheese, softened
  • 2 packets dry ranch dressing mix, OR use the shortcut listed on this site
  • 250 grams bacon, chopped

Instructions
 

  • Add the chicken, cream cheese, and dry ranch seasoning in to your slow cooker, mix it a bit, don't worry, the cheese will melt.
  • Cook on Low setting for 6-8 hours or on High setting for 4 hours, until the chicken shreds easily. Shred with 2 forks and mix everything to combine. Turn slow cooker off.
  • Pan fry the bacon until crispy then add to the slow cooker and mix to combine. Serve.

Notes

Chicken breasts cost about 80 Baht/kilo. Cream cheese will cost about 120 Baht. Bacon will run between 100 to 140 Baht. So for 300 Baht, this comes out to about $1.50 per serving for 6. That is a lean estimate, I think you will get a bit more from this.
Serve as sandwiches on a toasted bun, on nachos, use for enchilada or burrito filling, in a bowl of lettuce for a nice salad.
Options, when used on a toasted bun, top with some shredded Cheddar cheese and broil for a few seconds to melt the cheese.
Shortcut: Ranch Dressing.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,Chicken - Slow Cooker
Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole
April 25, 2016 Lee
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Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole

Adapted from an internet recipe.
Sounds really good, I like meat and potatoes, a must try.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 7 hours
Total Time 7 hours 10 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 750 grams ground beef, or minced pork or ground chicken, (1½ lb)
  • 5 medium potatoes, cut into 1½ inch cubes
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
  • 1 can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed, Shortcut
  • 1 can whole tomatoes, diced, undrained
  • ¼ cup water
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • ½ cup Cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions
 

  • Brown the ground beef (or pork, or chicken), drain the fat.
  • Place the potatoes in the bottom of your slow cooker pot along with the onion and garlic, add salt and pepper to your liking, add the ground beef. Top this with a layer of beans, then tomatoes, and add the water.
  • If you cook the beans yourself, use about 1½-2 cups of cooked beans, drained.
  • Cover and cook for 7-8 hours on Low setting. About 15 minutes before the cook time is up, add the cheese to the top, cover and cook until cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. If you like cheese, go with 1 cup of Cheddar but it adds to the cost.

Notes

Ground beef will run about 95 Baht/750 grams, if using minced pork, that will cost be less for pork and chicken. Cheese will run 75 Baht for ½ cup Cheddar. Everything else is minimal. For 4 servings this is about $1.25 per serving, less for 6 servings. Even less with pork or chicken. Over all, not a bad meal.
Shortcuts: Red Kidney Beans (Pressure Cooker), Chili Beans (Slow Cooker).
Variant: 1. Use chili beans in place of the kidney beans for added flavor.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,Casseroles - Slow Cooker
Ground Beef Burrito Casserole
April 25, 2016 Lee
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Ground Beef Burrito Casserole

This sounds really easy, and one should certainly make their own beans as well instead from a can. This can be beef, pork, or chicken. A must try. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams ground beef, OR minced pork, OR ground chicken
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves galic, smashed and minced
  • 1 packet taco season mix, OR make from a shorcut on this site
  • 1 can refried beans, OR make from a shortcut on this site
  • 1 cup Bisquick Mix, OR make from a shortcut on this site
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded

Instructions
 

  • For starters, use the shortcuts to make the taco seasoning, beans, and Bisquick, not only will this save you money, you know what is in each one. Beans, cook the day before in a slow cooker per the recipe on this site, you will will like these better.
  • If cooking your beans, use 1 1/2 cups of beans to equal a can of beans.
  • Brown the ground beef (or pork, or chicken) along with onion and garlic, then drain well, mix in taco seasoning to packet instructions, and let simmer.
  • Mix Bisquick, water and refried beans in a small bowl. Place bean mixture into a greased 9×13 pan. Spread meat mixture over the top, then add both cheeses on top. Bake for 30 minutes at 180 C. Serve with a salad and a vegetable, you have a great meal.

Notes

Ground beef will run about 75 Baht/500 grams, if using minced pork, that will cost about 60 Baht/500 grams, chicken even less. Cheese will run 200-300 Baht. Everything else is minimal. For 6 servings this is $1.85 per serving, for 8 servings this is $1.40 per serving. Even less with pork or chicken. Over all, not a bad meal.
Shortcuts: Taco Seasoning, Refried Beans, Bisquick Mix.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,CASSEROLES
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
April 25, 2016 Lee
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Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

This is an easy recipe, brown the meat, and add that and all ingredients to a slow cooker for 4 to 6 hours, done. The time in the slow cooker lets the flavors blend, resulting in a better tasting meal, unlike cooking in a skillet. You can use ground beef, pork, or even chicken. I like Sloppy Joes, this is a must try for me. 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 Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams ground beef, OR minced pork, OR ground chicken
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
  • 3/4 cup tomato ketchup, OR make from a shortcut on this site
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Brown the ground beef (or pork, or chicken) in a pan with a splash of olive oil, along with the onion and garlic, brown it, no need to cook it all the way through. Drain fat and put into the slow cooker pot.
  • Add all other ingredients, mix well and cook on Low setting for 4-6 hours. Serve on toasted buns.

Notes

Ground beef will run about 75 Baht/500 grams, if using minced pork, that will cost about 60 Baht/500 grams, chicken even less. Everything else is minimal. For 4 servings this is 55 cents per serving, even less for 5-6 servings.
Variations, try 1/2 BBQ sauce and 1/2 ketchup. Added diced bell pepper.
Shortcut: Tomato Ketchup.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BURGERS & SANDWICHES
Pan Fried Barramundi Fillets
April 24, 2016 Lee
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Pan Fried Barramundi Fillets

Lee
Only my opinion, but I like pan fried fish the best. This is as basic as it gets with this recipe, just 1 fish, some flour, and a pan with hot oil. This recipe goes from whole fish to fillets, to pan fried, nothing easier. Link to the Shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 2 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 whole Barramundi, you can find these in Tesco called Giant Sea Perch
  • all purpose flour, as needed
  • cooking oil
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • tartar sauce, as needed, for serving, Shortcut

Instructions
 

  • First you need to get a Barramundi, these are commonly sold at Tesco but labeled as Giant Sea Perch or you can buy in most open markets.
  • Next thing you need to do is scale the fish. Grab a large spoon, and best to head outside for this part as it is messy. Using your spoon, start at the tail end work towards the head end, scrape the scales off, only takes a few minutes, scale the whole fish.
  • One your fish is scaled, now you need to fillet it. Using a narrow knife, cut just behind the gill plate then turn the knife 90 degrees so the edge is headed towards the tail, then cut along the back bone to the tail and you have one fillet. Turn the fish over and repeat this. Now you have your two fillets but you have rib bones to remove, you can either scrape them out to leave just a tiny bit of meat or just cut the rib section out, easy! This photo is two fillets ready for cooking.
  • After filleting the fish, rinse it under the tap. Now feel the skin side and remove stray scales that did not come off with the spoon. This is important as biting into scale is a real appetizer killer.
  • Heat the oil of your choice in a large heavy pan, you do not need it smoking, just hot. If your oil is not hot, it goes right into the fish.
  • Place some flour on a plate, a couple of spoonfuls, coat the fillets in the flour. Place each fillet in the oil, season with salt and pepper to your liking. When the fillet starts to get golden brown around the edges (should only take 4-5 minutes) then carefully flip the fillet and cook the other side also until that is golden brown.
  • Remove from the pan and put on a plate, add a side or two of your choosing, and enjoy.

Notes

One Barramundi, in Tesco, costs 102 Baht, this is per fish, not per kilo, two servings is about $1.50 per meal, which is reasonable.
If you can find this fish in an open market, the vendor will be happy to fillet for you for free.
Shortcut: Tartar Sauce.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,FISH - ALL,Fish - Barramundi