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Bangers & Mash Rolls
January 13, 2016 Lee
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Bangers & Mash Rolls

I do love a good plate of Bangers & Mash with a side peas and a bowl of onion gravy. Here is a twist on the common sausage roll to include mash as well. Bangers being thick pork sausages and mash being mashed potatoes. This is a must do for me, and I will take photos as well.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 2 people

Ingredients
  

  • 4 thick pork sausages, aka Bangers
  • 1 package puff pastry
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • mashed potatoes, cold, can even be leftovers

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 190 C. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
  • Brown the Sausages on all sides in a large skillet - until mostly cooked through. Set aside to cool slightly.
  • Unroll a sheet of puff pastry and cut into 4 pieces. Spread mash down the center of each pastry, top with cooked sausage and add additional mash to the top and sides. Roll up each sheet - pinch together to seal and trim off any excess. Place on the baking sheet - seam side down - and brush each roll with beaten egg.
  • Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes - until the pastry is golden and crispy on all sides and the meat has cooked through. Serve with a side of Onion Gravy as a dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Notes

Thick pork sausages, Bangers, run about 200-250 Baht for 10 sausages in Makro. 4 sausages (figured at 250 Baht) would be about 100 Baht, for 2 servings this is about $1.50 per person, more than reasonable.
Variants to this would be to add shredded Cheddar cheese to the top before rolling.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,LEFTOVERS,Pork - Sausage
Chicken Cacciatore Slow Cooker Style
January 12, 2016 Lee
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Chicken Cacciatore Slow Cooker Style

Use your favorite brand of pasta sauce, make from tomato paste, use or tinned chopped tomatoes. Add chicken, green peppers, onion, garlic and mushrooms and you're done (at least for 7-9 hours). The slow cooker does the rest. Serve with roast potatoes, mash, rice, or pasta. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 6 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
  • 1 can tomato sauce, OR make from a shortcut on this site
  • 2 green bell peppers, diced
  • 250 grams fresh musrooms, sliced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in the slow cooker. Cover, and cook on Low for 7 to 9 hours. Check at 7 hours for tenderness. How easy is that?
  • Serve with roast potatoes, mash, rice, or pasta.

Notes

A kilo of Chicken Breast is about 88 Baht, 6 breasts would run about 120 to 140 Baht, for 140 Baht, for 6 servings, that is about 70 cents per meal.
Shortcut: Tomato Sauce.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Chicken - Slow Cooker
Stuffed Pizza Crust
January 12, 2016 Lee
1 Comment

Stuffed Pizza Crust

Lee
This is really good, this can be made with cheese or sausage (I chose sausage this time). This recipe is my modified thin crust pizza dough recipe and my sauce recipe as well. I had to modify the recipe since you need a bit larger crust rolled out to start the process. My report in the comments section.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 2 12 inch pizzas

Equipment

  • Pizza Pans (two 12 inch)
  • Oven

Ingredients
  

Pizza Dough

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • ¾ teaspoon instant yeast
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1â…› cup water
  • 1½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, optional, or herbs of your choice
  • 1 package Mozzarella Cheese sticks, About 6 to 10 sticks, or cooked sausage links
  • melted butter

Sauce

  • 1 can tomato paste, (170 g / 6 oz can)
  • â…” cup water
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • salt, to taste
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 250° C (480° F).
  • Measure out the flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the salt and dried Italian seasoning/herbs of your choice (if using) and yeast, use your hand or a whisk to combine.
  • Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the water. Use your fingers or a wooden spoon to combine everything together. When it comes together into a cohesive ball, turn it out onto the counter along with any extra flour in the bowl that hasn’t yet gotten worked in.
  • Knead the dough until all the flour is incorporated and the dough is smooth/elastic to the touch, about five minutes. The dough should still feel moist and just slightly tacky. If it’s sticking to your hands and counter top like bubble gum, work in more flour one tablespoon at a time until it’s smooth and silky. Then divide the dough into two parts.
  • Sprinkle some corn meal around on each pan, the place one ball of dough in the center. Use the heels of your hands and working from the middle gently press the dough outward until it’s about ¼ of an inch thick or less, while rotating the pan, keep doing this until the dough is actually overlapped the edge of the pan by 1½ to 2 inches. You can also use a rolling pin for this on a floured surface, then roll up on the pin and lay over the pizza pan.
  • Take the cheese sticks and tear in half lengthwise (If you want a lot of cheese, leave the sticks whole). Take each piece of cheese, or sausage link, and press into the dough at the edge of the pan, and do this all the way around the pan. Take the excess dough and fold over the cheese and using a fork, just lightly crimp down the folded over part to the dough on the bottom of the pan.
  • Spoon ONLY the sauce into the center of each pizza and use the back of a spoon to spread it out to the edges. Brush melted butter over the crust area where the cheese or sausage is. Put into the preheated over for 5 minutes, then rotate it 180 degrees so it is evenly cooked for another 3 minutes. Remove from oven.
  • Now add the toppings of your choice, return to oven for another 3-5 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and crispy. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack, repeat with second pizza. Each pizza should cool for about 5 minutes before serving.
  • Note, if using sausage, pick a thin pork sausage link or thin Italian sausage link, you need to cook these first before placing on the dough. Just pan fry them and drain on a paper towel to remove extra oil.
  • Note, if using bulk Italian sausage, sliced sausage, bacon, prawn, onions, peppers, you need to cook any meat products first, and cook onions and peppers just to soften them, prior to using as a topping.

Notes

The basic pizza is a fair value, the cheese or the sausage will determine that, then when you start adding toppings, then the price goes up, and can go up a lot, but is so good, and is a good treat for Thai relatives and neighbors.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,PIZZA
Eggs in Clouds
January 11, 2016 Lee
1 Comment

Eggs in Clouds

I just seen this posted today and it sounds really good, I will have to give this a try.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 21 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 1 person

Ingredients
  

  • 2 eggs
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 chilled metal bowl

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 230 C. Lightly grease a baking sheet using butter.
  • Crack the eggs into a bowl and separate the yolks from the white (use a empty water bottle for this) and place the yolks in separate small bowls. Pour the whites into the chilled metal bowl and whisk the whites until stiff peaks form. Mix in whatever you want, think chopped cooked bacon, chopped spring onions, shredded cheese, etc.
  • Spoon the whites into even piles on a baking sheet and create a well in the center of each pile with the back of the spoon. Using 2 eggs, make 2 piles, if making 4 eggs, 4 piles. Bake in the oven for 3 minutes.
  • Remove baking sheet, add a yolk into each well, bake another 3 minutes. Serve.

Notes

No need for math here, two eggs and added ingredients of your choice, under $1 per person with a serving of two eggs.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,BREAKFAST (for dinner!),EGGS - ALL,Eggs - Chicken
Eggs in a Basket
January 11, 2016 Lee
2 Comments

Eggs in a Basket

This is certainly nothing new, but this is a creative way to make eggs, and toast, at the same time. I thought this was a notable post just to post something a bit different. A number of years ago, my wife, I, and our daughter were in Pattaya on holiday from Japan (I worked in Japan). One morning when we got up, I asked my daughter if she wanted to go have breakfast with me, she said yes and away we went. We stopped at my favorite place opposite the beach and we were given menus. My daughter was about 6 years old at this point. I ordered my breakfast, and my daughter said she wanted Eggs in a Basket, they of course were not on the menu, the waitress was very nice and helpful and asked if something special was needed, I described Eggs in a Basket and away she went, big smile on my daughter's face. About 10 minutes later, Eggs in a Basket was placed in front of my daughter, she was happy to say the least!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 8 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 1 serving

Ingredients
  

  • 2 slices bread, any kind you want, thick sliced is best
  • 2 eggs
  • butter
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large frying pan to medium low or medium heat. Add a bit of butter.
  • Take the bread and using the open end of a drinking glass, cut a hole in the center of each slice of bread. When the butter is melted and hot, add each slice, and crack an egg into the hole in the bread, place the round bread pieces in the pan as well.
  • When the bottom is golden brown, like a slice of toast, flip and cook for a few more minutes until golden brown as well.
  • Serve with bacon or sausage.

Notes

No math needed here, under $1 per meal of two eggs, even with bacon or sausage. A simple breakfast does not have to be hard.
Variant: 1. Use an egg and milk mix like making French Toast, cut the circles out first, use the egg wash, and put into the pan then add the egg in the center, egg wash the circle and cook that as well.
Recipe I learned from my Mom and that I have been making for 25+ years.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,BREAKFAST (for dinner!),EGGS - ALL,Eggs - Chicken,Eggs - Duck
Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce and Cucumber-Jalapeño Salad
January 11, 2016 Lee
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Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce and Cucumber-Jalapeño Salad

Chicken Satay is a natural here in Thailand, nearly every Thai can make this, so here is your chance.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 8 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Thai
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kilo chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cut lengthwise in 1/2 inch strips
  • 500 mililiter coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons red or green Thai curry paste, red is hotter
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter, chunky

Salad

  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher sa
  • 1 cucumber, large, cut into half moons, about 500 grams or so
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
  • vegetable oil, OR olive oil
  • 1/2 cup lightly salted peanuts, light chopped
  • 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl whisk the coconut milk, fish sauce, brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon curry paste until thoroughly mixed. If you would like more heat and flavor, add additional curry paste. Place the chicken strips in a medium bowl and cover with half of the coconut milk mixture (about 1 cup). Toss to coat, and then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Marinate, refrigerated, for 1 hour to overnight.
  • Soak the bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.
  • Place the remaining coconut milk mixture in a small saucepan with the peanut butter and whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and then reduce the heat to low and gently simmer for 3 minutes, whisking often. Cool, and then pour into a serving bowl.
  • In a medium bowl whisk the vinegar, sugar, and salt until the sugar dissolves. Add the cucumber, shallot, and jalapeño and toss well to coat. Let the salad sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before serving.
  • Pat the excess marinade off the chicken strips with a paper towel. Brush the chicken strips on both sides with oil, and then skewer the strips lengthwise, threading in and out on the skewers.
  • Prepare your grill for direct cooking over medium heat (350° to 450°F).
  • Grill the chicken over direct medium heat, with the lid closed, until fully cooked in the center, 8 to 12 minutes, turning once. Remove from the grill, top the salad with the peanuts and cilantro, and serve immediately with the peanut sauce.

Notes

One kilo of chicken breasts will run about 85 Baht, for 6 servings, this meal is well under $1 per person.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Garland Davis, US Navy Cook (Ret).
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,: THAI,CHICKEN & TURKEY,GRILLED / BBQ / SMOKER
Breakfast Sausage
January 10, 2016 Lee
5 Comments

Breakfast Sausage

Adapted from an internet recipe.
Easy to make, and very good, I have made this on several occasions, I need to make this more often. Keep in mind, the longer you refrigerate this, up to 24 hours before cooking, the flavors will blend together better. Sage is the key ingredient in breakfast sausage.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kilo minced pork, OR you can use chicken, (2 lbs)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground sage
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • pinch ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 teaspoon parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions
 

  • Add the pork and all the other ingredients to a mixing bowl.
  • Mix everything together, use your hands and mix well. Refrigerate for 6 to 24 hours to allow the spices to blend well. The 24 hours is highly recommended.
  • I was going to stuff sheep casings to make links but could not find my small funnel, so I went with patties instead, and are equally as good. I made 8 patties, layered with parchment paper and froze this batch, simply take out the patties you wish to use the day before and thaw in the fridge overnight. (For patties I use a ½ cup measuring cup to measure and press in a 4¼ inch, 11 cm, patty press.)
  • Fry in a skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes per side or until juices run clear.
  • And in link form using cellulose casings. These casings will be removed after poaching.

Notes

Minced pork will run about 100 Baht/kilo, making this about 50 cents per person for 6 people, add some fresh homemade hash browns and a couple of eggs, you have a nice breakfast for under $1 per person.
Used in Recipes Listed on this Site:
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BREAKFAST (for dinner!),Pork - Sausage
Cheddar Sausage Bake
January 10, 2016 Lee
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Cheddar Sausage Bake

Cheese and sausage, this is a must try for me! Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8 people

Ingredients
  

  • 2-3 large potatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
  • 500 grams pork sausage, bulk suasage, OR make from a shortcut on this site
  • 400 grams fresh broccoli, cut into florets, including the stem
  • 1 can condensed Cheddar cheese soup, OR make from a shortcut listed on this site
  • 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • In skillet, brown sausage and drain on paper towels, if necessary. Chicken sausage would be ideal as well.
  • In a greased 9 x 13 baking dish, slightly overlap potato slices along the bottom. Top with the cooked sausage, then broccoli. Pour the condensed soup mixture all over casserole. Top with additional shredded cheese.
  • Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender. Let sit for 5 minutes to cool and then enjoy!

Notes

500 grams of sausage, if one cannot find bulk, link sausage would work great, just fry until done, slice into discs, or use the Italian sausage recipe on this site to make Pork, Italian, or Chicken sausage. Cost for sausage should be no more than 150 Baht, making this a meal that is easily under $1 per person for 8 people. Make the condensed soup yourself for even more savings.
Shortcuts: Sausage, Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup.
Recipe adapted from Real Fit Real Food Mom. Author, LeAnn.
United States
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,CASSEROLES
Slow Cooker Sausage & Veggies with Peppers
January 10, 2016 Lee
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Slow Cooker Sausage & Veggies with Peppers

Lot of possibilities here with this one, I am looking forward to making this one! Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams smoked sausage, cut into pieces
  • 6 potatoes, washed and cut in half
  • 1 onion, large, sliced or chopped
  • 1 carrot, large, cut into pieces
  • 1 green bell pepper, cut into pieces
  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into pieces
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 1 packet onion soup powder mix, OR make from a shortcut
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Worcherstershire sauce

Instructions
 

  • Place sausage and vegetables in slow cooker.
  • Mix together the broth, onion soup, spices, and Worcestershire sauce and pour into the slow cooker.
  • Cook on Low setting for 5 or 6 hours or High setting for 3 to 4 hours until the potatoes and carrots are done. Makes 6 to 8 servings. Enjoy!

Notes

Smoked sausage that I have found and used from Makro, is very nice, much like Kielbasa, and right near this product is what is called Sausage scraps these are thick smoked sausage pieces that are left over from from cutting up and packaging the long sausages, these are also a variety pack, spicy smoked, some is garlic sausage, some is chili sausage. The sausage scraps would be ideal for this recipe. This fresh, packaged sausage, that is made in Thailand.
Sausage would be the most expensive part of this recipe, at about 250 Baht/kilo, you would need 500 grams for this recipe, 125 Baht, is about 65 cents per meal per person for 6 people, even less if serving 8 people.
Shortcut: Onion Soup Mix.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Pork - Sausage
Fast and Simple Fresh Salsa I
January 10, 2016 Lee
1 Comment

Fast and Simple Fresh Salsa I

Adapted from an internet recipe.
I have not made this yet but seems quite easy. Not exactly sure how much this makes, I will say 4 cups for now.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Condiment
Cuisine Tex-Mex
Servings 4 cups, approximate

Ingredients
  

  • 6 tomatoes, large, chopped, maybe use 10 plum tomatoes
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3-4 spring onions, chopped, whites and greens
  • ¾ cup fresh green chili peppers, chopped
  • handful fresh cilantro, chopped
  • juice from one lime
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vinegar

Instructions
 

  • Combine everything in a bowl except the vinegar and salt, drain briefly in a colander. Return the mixture to the bowl and stir in the vinegar and salt into the tomato mixture. Done, see, that was easy.

Notes

I have never seen "large" tomatoes in Thailand, so maybe use 10 or so plum tomatoes. I will have to experiment with this recipe.
: MEXICAN,CONDIMENTS,Ingredients - Sauces