Author Archive
Hot Chocolate Mix
January 2, 2023 Lee
Leave a comment

Hot Chocolate Mix

Adapted from an internet recipe.
My wife asked me for a hot chocolate mix, I came across this one somewhere, and it is on my make and taste list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Course Drink
Servings 16 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups milk powder
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

To make the Mix:

  • Place everything in a large mixing bowl, and whisk to combine fully.
  • Store mixture in a large airtight container and use as needed

To make a Serving:

  • Use ¼ mixture for each 1 cup of hot water, stirring well to full mix. Enjoy.
DRINKS
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Kielbasa
December 17, 2022 Lee
Leave a comment

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Kielbasa

Family Fresh Meals, Corey, United States.
Excellent tasting sauce with the sausage. Be careful not to overcook or you have have some sausage that is a little tough. This can be served as an appetizer or over rice, egg noodles, or potatoes for a main dish.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Course Appetizer, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker (3½+ quart)

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
  • ⅓ cup honey
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 kilo Kielbasa sausage, sliced ½ to ¾ inch slices, (or Polish sausage, or any precooked smoked sausage)

Instructions
 

  • To the slow cooker, add all the ingredients except the Kielbasa. Stir to mix together.
  • Add the sliced Kielbasa or smoked sausage of your choice. Stir into the sauce to coat the sausage slices.
  • Cover and set to Low setting, cooking 4 hours, stirring about every 30-40 minutes.
  • Serve with your choice of sides, and enjoy. We served this with rice and sautéed mushrooms on the side, but so good, no photo.

Notes

Fair cost per serving.
Variant: 1. Use chili sauce in place of ketchup.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,Pork - Sausage,Pork - Slow Cooker
Macaroni Ham Casserole
December 12, 2022 Lee
Leave a comment

Macaroni Ham Casserole

Adapted from an internet recipe.
I made this on 12 Dec 2022 to test out the recipe, and wow, is this good! The Thai family really enjoyed this. Easy to prepare and common ingredients. Tailored to my findings.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Casserole (3 quart)
  • Oven

Ingredients
  

  • 250 grams dry macaroni, (8 oz)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • ½ cup onion, diced
  • ¼ cup red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 cups ham, diced
  • 1 can condensed creamy chicken mushroom soup
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped, or 1 teaspoon dried
  • 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions
 

  • Heat a pot of salted water to a boil, then added the macaroni and cook until just tender.
  • Preheat your oven to 180° C (350° F), grease a 3 quart casserole with butter.
  • Melt the butter in a non stick pan, when hot, add the onion and bell pepper. Sauté until just softened. Add the diced ham and cook until ham is warmed through. I did not have a bell pepper so I just omitted that.
  • When the macaroni is just tender, drain and return to the pot, add the ham mixture, soup, milk, and parsley.
  • Mix together. Pour mixture into the prepared casserole.
  • Bake for 30 minutes.
  • Sprinkle with the Cheddar cheese.
  • Continue to bake until cheese is melted and just starting to brown, about 15 minutes.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Low cost per serving.
Updated on 12 December 2022.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,CASSEROLES,PASTA
Salmon Scalloped Potatoes
November 9, 2022 Lee
Leave a comment

Salmon Scalloped Potatoes

Lee
I like potatoes, cheese, and salmon, so I came up with this from a mix of recipes. I made this on 8 Nov 2022, and it is delicious! The family enjoyed this as a side dish with ham steaks, I enjoyed this as a main dish with a side of mixed veggies - excellent comfort meal.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Equipment

  • Mandoline
  • Baking Pan (9x13 inch)
  • Oven

Ingredients
  

  • 5-6 cups sliced potatoes, thinly sliced, mandoline is perfect for this
  • 4-5 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • ½ cup onion, diced
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 can salmon, drained, flaked, (15 oz / 425 g)
  • 1 can condensed creamy chicken mushroom soup, (10½ oz / 298 g)
  • ½ cup milk
  • salt and pepper, as desired

Instructions
 

  • Use a mandoline to get perfectly thin and even slices. This was from 4 potatoes.
  • Prep the onion and shred the cheese. Set aside ½ to 1 cup of cheese for the final step in baking. It was a big onion so I diced the whole thing and will store in the fridge for use in another recipe in a few days.
  • Preheat your oven to 180° C (350° F), grease a 9x13 baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
  • Whisk together the soup and milk in mixing bowl and set aside.
  • Layer the bottom of the baking dish with half of the potatoes.
  • Sprinkle with 1½ tablespoons flour and add salt and black pepper as desired.
  • Sprinkle on half the onion, half the salmon, and half the cheese.
  • Add the remaining potatoes in a layer. Then the remaining flour, salt and pepper, then the remaining onion, salmon, and ending with cheese.
  • Pour the soup mixture over the top
  • Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes or until potatoes are tender, this may take longer than 45 minutes depending on the thickness of the potato slices. Remove foil.
  • Sprinkle with the reserved cheese.
  • Bake uncovered now for another 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and starting to brown.
  • Serve as a side or a main dish, and enjoy .

Notes

Fair cost per serving as a main dish.
Variants: 1. This would be equally as delicious using ham in place of the salmon.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,CASSEROLES,Fish - Salmon,POTATOES,Sides - Casseroles
Kielbasa & Potato Casserole (Slow Cooker)
November 8, 2022 Lee
Leave a comment

Kielbasa & Potato Casserole (Slow Cooker)

The Lazy Slow Cooker, Susan, United States.
This recipe is from a social media friend who specializes in slow cooker dishes. I made this on 24 Nov 2022 and I will say, this is an easy, and exceptionally good casserole! Highly recommended.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker (3½+ quart)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kilo potatoes, diced into about ½ inch cubes, (2 lb)
  • 500 grams kielbasa, or any smoked sausage, sliced ½ - ¾ inch rounds, (1 lb)
  • 3 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
  • 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup onion, diced
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ cup sour cream

Instructions
 

  • For the potatoes, if using frozen, thaw first. If using fresh, peel, then dice to about ½ inch cubes. Add potatoes to the slow cooker. In Thailand, Makro has frozen cubed potatoes 15x15mm. I dice fresh by cutting first with a French fry cutter then use a knife to cut the cubes.
  • Add sausage, onion, garlic powder, and 2 cups of the cheese to your slow cooker. In Thailand I use what is called Sausage Scraps from Makro, excellent sausage, 4 types in one package, one type is very much like kielbasa.
  • Mix together.
  • Add the soup to the slow cooker and mix into the potato mixture.
  • Cover and set to Low and cook for 3 to 4 hours. Check at 3 hours for fork tender potatoes. If not tender, check again at 3½ hours to 4 hours.
  • When potatoes are tender, add the sour cream and stir in.
  • Top with the remaining 1 cup of cheese, cover and continue cooking. If you like cheese, feel free to add more on the top.
  • When the cheese is melted, the casserole is ready.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Low cost per serving.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,CASSEROLES,Casseroles - Slow Cooker,Pork - Sausage
Lazy Sunday Chicken Casserole
October 28, 2022 Lee
Leave a comment

Lazy Sunday Chicken Casserole

Just a Pinch Recipe Club, Chef Andy Anderson, United States.
This recipe comes from a good friend, and Chef. I made this on 26 Oct 2022, and it is absolutely delicious! Easy to put together. Link to the Shortcut is listed in the Notes section.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Baking Pan (7x11 inch)
  • Oven

Ingredients
  

  • 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cooked, shredded, (650 g / 1½ lb), Shortcut
  • 1½ cups cooked white rice
  • 5 slices bacon, diced
  • ½ medium onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups chicken broth, Shortcut
  • 1 can artichoke hearts, I use Fiamma brand, imported from Italy, (14 oz / 400 g)
  • ½ cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • salt and black pepper, as desired, to taste

For the Topping

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs

Instructions
 

  • Cook the chicken your preferred way, boil, bake, or use leftover chicken if you have a lot. I prefer to use my pressure cooker and I can make broth at the same time. My preferred way to shred chick is to cut into large cubes the use my hands to pull the cubes apart, result is shredded chicken without the long pieces of chicken. Set the chicken aside.
  • Heat a large pan on medium to medium low heat, add the diced bacon and cook until crispy, stirring often. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towels. My preferred pan is wok pan.
  • Drain from the pan all but 3 tablespoons of bacon fat, then add the onion. Sauté until softened and just starting to brown. Then add the garlic and sauté until frgrant.
  • Add the flour and stir for 2 minutes.
  • Add the broth and stir in. Now preheat your oven to 190° C (375° F) and get out a 7x11 inch backing dish.
  • Simmer for 6-8 minutes until mixture thickens and bubbles. Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired.
  • Now add the shredded chicken, drained bacon, artichokes, and rice.
  • Mix together and let simmer for a few minutes.
  • Pour mixture into the baking dish and spread out evenly.
  • Top with the Cheddar cheese.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the Topping ingredients, sprinkle on the top.
  • Bake for 35 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly.
  • Serve with your sides of choice, enjoy.

Notes

Fair cost per serving as the artichoke is imported.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,CASSEROLES,CHICKEN & TURKEY
Hot Dog Noodle Casserole
October 24, 2022 Lee
Leave a comment

Hot Dog Noodle Casserole

Just a Pinch Recipe Club, Barbara Lentz, United States.
This is an easy, and quite delicious casserole! Lots of ways to change this up so please read the Variants in the Notes section.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

  • Baking Pan (9x13 inch)
  • Oven

Ingredients
  

  • 250 grams dry egg noodles, (8 oz)
  • 500 grams hot dogs, sliced, (1 lb)
  • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, (10½ oz / 298 g)
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 500 grams Cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions
 

  • Heat a pot of salted water to boiled, then add the noodles. Cook until almost tender. Drain.
  • Just before the noodles are done, preheat your oven to 180° C (350° F) and lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
  • While the noodle are cooking, in a large mixing bowl, add the soup, sour cream, and milk, whisk together. (I used creamy chicken mushroom soup, which is an excellent choice.)
  • Stir in the hot dog slices and peas. (I used mixed vegetables.)
  • Add the drained noodles to the soup mixture and stir to mix together.
  • Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread out evenly.
  • Top with cheese.
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese starting to brown. (I baked for 40 minutes, but start checking the cheese browning at 30 minutes.)
  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Low cost per serving.
Variants: 1. Use condensed creamy chicken mushroom soup in place of the cream of mushroom. 2. Use mixed peas and carrots, or even mixed veggies in place of peas. 3. In Thailand use little cocktail sausages (highly recommended and is what I used when I made this). 4. For those in the states, Little Smokies would be perfect in this!
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Chicken - Sausage,Pork - Sausage
Spam Pie
October 12, 2022 Lee
Leave a comment

Spam Pie

Lee
This is a twist on a good friend's recipe. This is my creation that uses homemade Spam. You can certainly use canned Spam or even ham. Links to the Shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Breakfast, Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

  • Pie Dish (9 inch)
  • Oven

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams Spam, cubed, (1 lb if homemade or two 198 g/ 7 oz cans if using store bought), Shortcut
  • 1 bell pepper, your choice of color, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3-4 spring onions, sliced, white and green parts
  • 10 eggs
  • ½ cup sour cream, Shortcut
  • pasta sauce, as desired, Shortcut
  • Mozzarella Cheese, shredded, as desired
  • Italian seasoning, as desired, Shortcut

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180° C (350° F). Lightly grease a 9 inch pie dish with butter.
  • Cube the Spam. I am using homemade Spam.
  • Prep the onion, bell pepper, and spring onions. I was out of spring onion so just skipped that.
  • In a mixing bowl add the eggs and whisk to mix. Stir in the Spam and veggies.
  • Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
  • Spoon the sour cream on top, and use butter knife or chopsticks to swirl the sour cream through the egg mixture.
  • Bake for 20-30 minutes or until the center is set (when a toothpick comes out clean), remove from the oven.
  • Spread the top with pasta sauce as desired, top that with Mozzarella cheese as desired, and sprinkle on some Italian seasoning.
  • Place back in the oven until the cheese is melted. Remove from oven and let this rest for about 5 minutes.
  • Slice, plate, add another light sprinkling of Italian seasoning as desired. Serve with your choice of toast, biscuits, crescent rolls, or rice. Enjoy.

Notes

Low cost per serving if using homemade Spam, Fair to High cost per serving if using canned Spam.
Shortcuts: Spam, Spam, Spam, Sour Cream, Pizza Sauce, Italian Seasoning.
Variants: 1. Replace the marinara sauce with salsa and replace the Mozzarella cheese with Cheddar cheese and sprinkle with oregano or even taco seasoning - there, you have a Mexican variant, like a Breakfast Burrito without the tortilla. 2. Use plain tomato sauce, oregano, and Cheddar cheese. 3. Use cubed ham in place of Spam.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,EGGS - ALL,Eggs - Chicken,Pork - Canned
Dad’s Hamburger Gravy
October 8, 2022 Lee
Leave a comment

Dad's Hamburger Gravy

Just a Pinch Recipe Club, Amy Herald, United States.
This is a friend's Dad's recipe for Hamburger Gravy, and it is excellent! I made this on 7 Oct 2022 and the family absolutely loved this dish. Feel free to serve this over mashed potatoes, toast, or biscuits.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 750 grams ground beef, (1½ lb)
  • 1-2 tablespoons cooking oil, your choice
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups milk
  • salt and cracked black pepper, as desired

Instructions
 

  • Heat the cooking oil in a large pan, when hot, add the onion and sauté to just get the onion starting to soften. I am using a marble wok pan, which is a flat bottomed wok, it is deep, and very non stick. I am going to serve the gravy over mashed potatoes so the potatoes are starting to boil on the right.
  • When the onion is starting to soften, add the ground beef, season generously with cracked black pepper. Cook, breaking up the beef with a spatula until cooked through. Drain the fat into a measuring cup, reserving ½ cup, discard the rest. Place cooked beef on a plate and set aside.
  • Return the reserved fat and the butter to the same pan, place on medium high heat. When hot, sprinkle in the flour and whisk in until starting to just brown.
  • Whisk in the milk and season generously with cracked black pepper. Taste and season with salt as desired. Continue whisking until gravy is bubbly and thickened.
  • Return the cooked beef to the pan and stir in, reduce heat to medium and cook to heat the beef through.
  • Serve over mashed potatoes, toast, or biscuits with a side of your choice, enjoy.

Notes

Low cost per serving.
Updated on 7 October 2022.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BEEF
Tofu & Beef Meatball Soup
October 7, 2022 Lee
Leave a comment

Tofu & Beef Meatball Soup

China Sichuan Food, Elaine, China. (For her original recipe.)
This recipe was inspired from a friend in Sichuan, China and this version uses store bought beef meatballs. These are not meatballs you can buy in Walmart or Kroger, you need to get these from an Asian market, different consistency.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 quarts water, (8 cups)
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • 2 spring onions, white parts sliced, green parts cut ½ inch long
  • 500 grams beef meatballs, In Thailand I use MR Meatballs brand, frozen - thawed, from Makro, these are not pre-cooked,, (1 lb)
  • 1 slice fresh ginger
  • 800 grams firm tofu, cut into cubes, (28 oz)
  • 20 grams nori seaweed, or less as desired, (¾ oz)
  • ½ tablespoon sesame oil
  • salt, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Add the the water, light soy sauce, and spring onion to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil then turn down to a simmer.
  • Add the meatballs and ginger. Simmer for about 8-10 minutes to cook the meatballs through.
  • Add the tofu and nori, simmer for another 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the sesame oil, taste and season with salt and or additional sesame oil as desired.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Low cost per serving.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,: CHINESE,BEEF,SOUPS, STEWS, CHILI