Archive for the ‘5 Ingredients or Less’ Category
Company Potatoes
August 31, 2017 Lee
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Company Potatoes

Sounds really good, and comes from a highly respected Chef. I am looking forward to preparing these. The recipe stated here makes a lot, so you may want to scale this back to test it out. I will use regular potatoes from Tesco to prepare this, no Yukon potatoes here.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/2 kilos potatoes, washed well, no need to peel
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt, plus more for seasoning to taste
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3/4 cup butter, melted, this is 3/4 standard block
  • 1 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped

Instructions
 

  • Cut potatoes into 1 inch pieces, add to a large pot and cover with warm water to cover by an inch. Sprinkle in the salt, add the bay leaf, and bring to a boil. Cook partially covered for 15 minutes or until tender and easily stabbed with a fork.
  • When potatoes are tender, drain and place in a large heat proof mixing bowl, then drizzle on the butter and toss to coat. Season with salt to taste then add the parsley and toss to mix together.
  • Just prior to serving, toss again to mix in the butter at the bottom of the bowl. Serve hot.

Notes

Low cost.
This recipe for Company Potatoes is from Natasha's Kitchen.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,SIDES
Armadillo Eggs
August 28, 2017 Lee
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Armadillo Eggs

Sounds good! I am going to give the smoker version a miss and just state this as a BBQ grill recipe. Oddly enough there is a tool to core Jalapeno peppers, I will take a miss on that as well, a thin sharp knife works wonders. On my to cook list. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 12 jalapeno peppers
  • 250 grams Cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 1/4 kilos bulk pork sausage, OR make from a shortcut

Instructions
 

  • Cut the top off each jalapeno pepper and using a thin knife or vegetable peeler, remove the seeds and membrane from the inside of each pepper.
  • Mix together the Cream cheese and Cheddar and stuff the mixture into each pepper.
  • Form 12 patties with the bulk sausage about 3-4 inches in diameter. Roll a pepper in each patty and cover the pepper completely. making each ball, egg shaped.
  • Place on the BBQ grill on indirect heat, turning occasionally until the outside is roasted and cheese starts to ooze from the sausage.
  • Serve with Ranch or Bleu Cheese dipping sauce.

Notes

Figure about 120 Baht for pork to make the sausage yourself, it is very easy. Figure 120 Baht for the Cream cheese, and 170 Baht for Cheddar cheese. For 6 servings, this is about $2.00 per serving. Not a cheap meal but sounds good from visiting friends and family.
Shortcut: Pork Sausage.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* High Cost $1.51+ per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,GRILLED / BBQ / SMOKER
Pan Fried Enoki Mushrooms & Bacon
August 27, 2017 Lee
1 Comment

Pan Fried Enoki Mushrooms & Bacon

Enoki mushrooms are long and slender with very small caps, in the US these would be known as Golden mushrooms. Enoki goes well in soups also as they maintain their crispiness well. This is a make as much as you want recipe.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Appetizer, Side
Cuisine Asian
Servings 0

Ingredients
  

  • 1 package Enoki mushrooms
  • 1 package bacon
  • olive oil, as needed

Instructions
 

  • Trim off the root end of the mushroom bundle(s) and quickly rinse them.
  • Divide the mushrooms into smaller bundles.
  • Cut the bacon slices in half. Wrap half a slice of bacon around the middle of a mushroom bundle and secure with a toothpick.
  • When you have all the bundles of mushrooms you want, heat a non stick pan to medium heat with a splash of olive oil, then as the bacon cooks you will have enough oil in the pan.
  • Add the mushroom bundles to the pan, turning as needed to cook the bacon through.
  • When the bacon is cooked, they are ready to serve and enjoy as a side dish or appetizer. I had some leftover bacon so I just cooked that as well.

Notes

Low cost.
From a family member.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,: THAI,MUSHROOMS,PORK,SIDES
Easy Mexicali Pork Chops
August 26, 2017 Lee
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Easy Mexicali Pork Chops

Stephen Connell, United States.
These sounds very good and a really simple rub that can be from a packet or homemade. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Tex-Mex
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 boneless pork chops, ¾ inch thick, or just cut from a loin
  • 1 packet taco seasoning mix, Shortcut
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • salsa, Shortcut

Instructions
 

  • Rub pork chops on both sides with the taco seasoning mix. Heat a non stick skillet over medium high heat. Brush skillet with the oil. When the pan is hot, add pork chops and cook for about 7-8 minutes, turning once, until internal temperature is 71° C / 160° F, followed by a 3 minute rest time.
  • Top with salsa if desired and sides of your choice, or thinly slice and serve in flour tortillas with tomato, lettuce, and salsa.

Notes

Pork loin will cost about 125 Baht/kilo. I don't think for 4 thick slices would be a kilo, but just using that number, for 4 servings this is about 92 cents per serving. I have only seen pork chops in specialty chops and they are pricey. Going with just a loin that you cut yourself, money saver.
Shortcuts: Taco Seasoning Mix, Salsa.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,TEX-MEX, sort of
One Pot Smoked Sausage Dinner
July 20, 2017 Lee
1 Comment

One Pot Smoked Sausage Dinner

Sounds like a great meal, in Thailand, Makro has some excellent smoked sausage at times. All slow cookers are different so the first time you make this, you may need to adjust the liquid needed. On my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams smoked sausage, cut into 2-3 inch pieces
  • 6-8 medium potatoes, washed only
  • 2 heads small cabbage, quartered
  • 2-3 large carrots, cut in half, 2-3 inch pieces
  • 1 1/2 cups beef stock, fresh or from powder

Instructions
 

  • Oil or butter your slow cooker crock. Wash and prep the veggies as indicated.
  • Place in the slow cooker, first potatoes, then carrots, then cabbage, then sausage. Pour in the stock. Cover and cook on High setting for 4-7 hours.
  • When the potatoes and carrots are fork tender, the meal is ready.

Notes

I cannot price this until I make it, I need to go up to Makro for sausage and I can get accurate pricing information then. I will say Fair value for right now and will update this.
Provided by Slow Cooker Kitchen and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,Pork - Slow Cooker
Pork with Red Chili Paste
July 19, 2017 Lee
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Pork with Red Chili Paste

This is a simple Thai dish with 5 ingredients, this shows just how easy and simple a basic Thai dish can be.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Thai
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1-2 teaspoons red chili paste, or to taste
  • 1-2 teaspoons shrimp paste, or to taste
  • 500 grams pork, sliced into thin pieces
  • handful kaffir lime leaves, chopped, young leaves best
  • splash cooking oil

Instructions
 

  • Heat a splash of cooking oil in a large non stick pan, add the chili paste and shrimp paste and cook until that bubbly and fragrant.
  • Add the pork and mix into the sauce, stirring occasionally. until the pork is cooked through, about 15 minutes or so. Sprinkle in some lime leaves, young leaves being better and mix in.
  • Ready to serve with rice on the side.

Notes

Figure about 60 Baht for the pork, for 4 servings, this is about 44 cents per serving.
Watched my wife, Rrayada Thayer make this.
Thailand.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,: THAI,PORK
Sweet Eggs (Kai Wan – ไข่หวาน)
July 18, 2017 Lee
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Sweet Eggs (Kai Wan - ไข่หวาน)

This is a Thai dessert, eggs cooked in water with brown cane sugar and a touch of ginger. Sweetness depends on how much sugar you use. I seen my step daughter cooking these on 18 July 2017 and got a few photos as well.
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Course Dessert
Cuisine Thai
Servings 0

Ingredients
  

  • brown cane sugar, 1/4 to 1 cup
  • water, as needed
  • eggs, as needed
  • 1/2 inch ginger, optional

Instructions
 

  • Add the sugar and the piece of ginger to a medium sized pot of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, start cracking in eggs. I think the step daughter used 10 eggs in this.
  • Reduce heat and simmer the eggs until the yolk is cooked through, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve with some of the liquid from the pot. This served 6 people as a dessert at a lunchtime meal.

Notes

Low cost.
Watched my Step Daughter make this.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,: THAI,DESSERTS,EGGS - ALL,Eggs - Chicken
Italian Marinated Pork Chops
July 18, 2017 Lee
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Italian Marinated Pork Chops

Sounds good, and only two ingredients!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 12 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 pork chops, boneless, about 1 1/2 inches thick
  • 1 bottle Italian dressing

Instructions
 

  • Marinate the pork chops with the Italian dressing, cover and place in the fridge for 2-4 hours.
  • Prepare your grill for medium hot coals. Remove the chops from the dressing and discard the dressing. Grill for 12-16 minutes, turning once, about 6-8 minutes per side, remove the chops from the grill and let them rest for 3 minutes, serve.
  • You can also broil the chops for 12-16 minutes, turning once half way through, if you have no access to a grill.

Notes

I cannot price this yet. I will use a large pork loin and slice chops from that. For now I will estimate this is fair value.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,GRILLED / BBQ / SMOKER
Grilled Cheese Croutons
July 8, 2017 Lee
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Grilled Cheese Croutons

These sound easy and perfect for a nice bowl of tomato soup or tossed in a salad. On my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 60 croutons, about

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, OR dried basil
  • 6 slices sandwich bread, wheat bread is also a good choice
  • 3 slices Cheddar cheese

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large non stick skillet over medium low heat.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the butter and thyme, spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. Place the slices in the hot skillet buttered side down. Top each slice with cheese, top with remaining slices buttered side up.
  • Cook until toasted on the bottom, flip and cook the other side until toasted.
  • Remove sandwiches from the skillet and let cool slightly then cut them into 1 inch squares. Use in soups, top of salads, etc.

Notes

Low cost.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,SIDES
Blue Rice (Rice Cooker)
July 4, 2017 Lee
15 Comments

Blue Rice (Rice Cooker)

Adapted from an internet recipe.
This is a unique dish and is Malaysian in origin. The blue is from very specific flowers, the Butterfly-pea flower. This flower grows on a vine in Thailand, and is common throughout Thailand, Asia and even in Australia, a very edible flower that is made into tea and even deep fried. The seasoning for the rice comes from lemongrass, just a subtle taste but is perfect. Normally a dish made during festive periods or celebrations. The basic Cook and Warm rice cooker is ideal for this. I made this on 13 Sep 2017 and was a hit with the Thai family, recipe adjusted to 6 flowers instead of the previously stated 3-4. for a better blue version. Outstanding.
5 from 4 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine Malaysian
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Rice Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup dry Jasmine rice, rinsed
  • 1½ cups water, 1 or 2 tablespoons less would be ok as well
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 6 Butterfly-pea flowers
  • ½ stalk lemongrass, beaten, knotted, or ½ teaspoon of lemongrass powder

Instructions
 

  • Put rinsed rice in your rice cooker along with the lemongrass and flowers.
  • Add the water, press cook on the rice cooker and let it cook until it switches to Warm. For this trial I used powdered lemongrass, that was spot on.
  • Once the rice cooker switches to Warm, just let it sit for about 10-20 minutes covered on the Warm setting. Mix with a spoon, you can just mix the flowers in, or you can remove them. We left the flowers in.
  • Spoon some rice into a small bowl, place a plate on the top and tip the plate and bowl over, perfect serving portion. I served this with fish.
#1 Go-To Recipes,5 Ingredients or Less,Seasoned Rice - Rice Cooker,Sides - Rice Cooker