Archive for the ‘* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving’ Category
Chili Cheese Chicken
April 22, 2016 Lee
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Chili Cheese Chicken

This sounds really good, and would be easy to make in a slow cooker as well with slight modifications. On my must cook list to try.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh cilantro, chopped
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons onion, finely chopped
  • 1 medium tomato, diced
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, cut into strips
  • 100-200 grams Cheddar cheese, cut into slices, use real cheese, 1/2 block to a full block

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl, mix the olive oil and all spices and cilantro until well mixed, season with salt and pepper to taste. This is your marinade.
  • On a chopping block, stab the chicken breasts with a fork in several places on each side, then arrange in shallow pan and pour the marinade over the top of the chicken and turn each piece of chicken several times to fully coat the chicken. Let stand for 15 minutes to an hour in the refrigerator.
  • Preheat your oven to 200 C. Arrange chicken breasts in a Pyrex baking dish, top with the onion and bell pepper.
  • Bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove from the oven and top with the cheese slices and bake another 3 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
  • Remove from the oven and put on plates, drizzle some pan juices over the top of each piece. This would be very nice served on a bed of egg noodles, or with a scoop of pinto beans on the side.

Notes

Chicken breasts run about 80 Baht/kilo for boneless and skinless. The cheese will run about 180 Baht/200 grams. Going with 4 breasts to a kilo (although unlikely) and assuming you use an entire block of cheese, the cost would be about $1.90 per serving. Going with 60 Baht for the chicken and half a block of cheese (more reasonable), the cost would be $1.10 per serving.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,CHICKEN & TURKEY
Squid & Shrimp Stuffed Squid
April 20, 2016 Lee
6 Comments

Squid & Shrimp Stuffed Squid

Adapted from an internet recipe.
Yep, everyone calls squid "calamari" however I call it squid. This recipe is easy, and well worth it. I made this on 10 May 2016, and this is really good! Recipe updated and my comments are listed below. This is now added to the go to recipes. Lot of options here! Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Baking Pan

Ingredients
  

  • 6 squid, about 7-8 inches long is perfect, if you use smaller squid, you need more
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 10-15 raw medium shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails removed
  • 2 plum tomatoes, finely diced
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • ¼ teaspoon fresh ginger, grated or finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped, OR use Thai celery
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups tomato sauce, Shortcut
  • hot cooked pasta, of your choice
  • Parmesan cheese, couple of teaspoons to sprinkle onthe top, optional

Instructions
 

  • Clean your squid, I will write a 101 topic on this if you are not sure. Remove the skin, pull out the clear bone, and turn inside out to thoroughly clean the inside, then turn right side out, place the squid on a plate and put in the fridge. Cut the tentacles off in front of the beak, discard the head. Photo shows the squid cleaned, I used 4 squid.
  • Heat your oven to 190° C (375° F), get out a 8x11 or 9x13 baking dish depending on number of squid you are using.
  • Dice the the tentacles and the shrimp (remember to remove the tails), place this in the bowl with the diced tomatoes, zest, ginger, parsley, and pepper. Mix well.
  • Heat the olive oil in a medium pan over medium heat, add the onions and salt and cook until the onions turn translucent, about 1 to 2 minutes, do not brown them, add the garlic and continue to cook for another minute. Remove from heat and put this into a medium mixing bowl and set aside to cool.
  • Once the onions and garlic are cool, add to the squid, shrimp mixture and mix well. Photo shows the stuffing mixed.
  • Using either a long ice tea spoon or a bag with a corner cut off, fill each squid with the mixture, do not over stuff them.
  • Place each filled squid in the baking dish.
  • Once all are filled, cover with tomato sauce of your choice (can be home made sauce or canned spaghetti sauce). Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Photo shows foil removed after baking.
  • Serve over pasta of your choice.

Notes

I bought 6 squid (about 7-8 inches long) for 60 Baht. A can of tomato sauce will be about 55 Baht, a can of paste will cost 17 Baht and you can make the sauce. Everything else is minimal.
Using the cost for squid and canned sauce, the cost for 3 servings is $1.12 per meal. If using home made sauce, the cost for 3 servings is 75 cents per meal. Add a side dish and a salad, you can stretch this to 6 servings, which reduces the cost even more.
Now for the shrimp, do yourself a favor, buy a kilo for use in another recipe, take out 10-15 shrimp for this, cost is minimal, freeze the rest for another dish, problem solved.
Variants: For fillings, ground pork or pork sausage (home made will reduce cost), or ground chicken or chicken sausage (home made will reduce cost), chopped fresh fish, etc.
Shortcut: Tomato Sauce.
Updated on 10 May 2016.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,SEAFOOD - ALL,Seafood - Shrimp/Prawn,Seafood - Squid
Slow-Cooker Chicken Tetrazzini
April 19, 2016 Lee
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Slow-Cooker Chicken Tetrazzini

This recipe was mainly processed ingredients, here is a rewrite that uses fresh ingredients for the most part. When I make, I will include step by step photos, the main photo is from the internet. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 250 grams Penne pasta
  • 1 cup heavy cream, OR make from a shorcut on this site
  • 500 grams chicken thighs, boneless and skinless, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 500 grams fresh mushrooms, sliced, mixed variety would work well
  • 1 cup 6 cheese Italian cheese blend, shredded, this might be a hard one, a blend of Mozzarella, Provolone, and Parmisan will work
  • salt, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Grease your slow cooker with butter. In a medium bowl, toss together the pasta and cream, set aside.
  • Add to the slow cooker the chicken, onion, Italian seasoning, and a dash of salt if you like. Mix together and pat this down, with some of the chicken going up along the sides.
  • Pour the pasta mixture into the center, keeping the pasta from touching the sides of the cooker.
  • Pile the mushrooms over the pasta, covering all of the pasta. Cover the mushroom with foil but not touching the sides of the cooker.
  • Cover the cooker and cook on Low Setting for 6 hours or High Setting for 3 hours. Turn off heat, stir in cheese, and serve.

Notes

The chicken would run about 63 Baht/kilo, get 1 1/2 kilos and debone and remove skin yourself. The cheese will be pricy if you can find the 6 cheese blend, but if you go with just Mozzarella, Parmesan, and Provolone, about 1/3 cup each, I will say this would cost no more than 150 Baht. This meal would come out to about $1.20 per serving, not bad. I will update pricing once I make this.
Shortcut: Heavy Cream.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,Chicken - Slow Cooker
Amish Breakfast Casserole
April 12, 2016 Lee
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Amish Breakfast Casserole

This sounds really easy and really good, 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 Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams sliced bacon, diced
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 6 eggs, slightly beaten
  • 4 cups hash brown potatoes, OR make from a shortcut listed on this site
  • 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 1/4 cups Swiss cheese, shredded
  • 1 1/2 cups Cottage cheese, OR make this from a shortcut listed on this site

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C. Grease a 13x9 baking dish with butter. If you use the shortcut to make the hash browns, follow the steps right up to before cooking.
  • Heat a pan and fry the bacon until crisp, drain, and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, mix all other ingredients, then add bacon and mix that in as well. Pour into the baking dish and spread out to flatten and evenly distribute the mixture.
  • Bake uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes or until you can insert a knife near the center that comes out clean, remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before cutting. Serve with toast on the side for a great breakfast.

Notes

The bacon will cost about 310 Baht/500 grams. The Cheddar cheese will cost 180 Baht/250 gram block which is good for 2 cups. The Swiss will cost about 90 Baht as you should only have to use 1/2 block of 250 grams. Cottage cheese I cannot price in a store as it is not carried over here where I am at. Just for the bacon and two of the cheeses, this meal, for 12 servings, comes out to about $1.42 per serving.
Shortcuts: Hash Brown Potatoes, Cottage Cheese.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,CASSEROLES
Cheesy Chicken And Broccoli Pasta
March 12, 2016 Lee
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Cheesy Chicken And Broccoli Pasta

Simple and easy dish, inexpensive as well. A must try for me.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
  • 2 cups chicken broth, fresh or from powder
  • 3 cups water
  • 500 grams pasta shells, OR sprial pasta
  • 4 cups fresh broccoli, about 1 or 2 heads of broccoli
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded, this is one block of 250 grams of Cheddar
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil on medium heat in a large pot. Add chicken breasts, season with salt and pepper, and allow the chicken to brown on one side.
  • Flip chicken, then add onions and garlic as the second side browns. Once the chicken has browned on both sides, add chicken broth, water, and pasta to the pot.
  • Stir all ingredients, cover the pot with a lid, and bring to a boil. When it begins to boil, uncover and stir. Bring the heat to low, stir, then cover and let simmer for 20 minutes.
  • After 20 minutes has passed, uncover and add in the broccoli. Stir continually as the broccoli steams until the rest of the liquid evaporates. Add milk and cheddar cheese and stir until the cheese melts and you have a smooth cheese sauce. Add salt and pepper (to taste), cayenne, and nutmeg. Stir once more, then you’re ready to serve.

Notes

Two chicken breasts is reasonable price, 1 kilo is 88 Baht, 2 breast is well less than 88 baht, the cheese is the major factor, real cheddar is about 188 baht/kilo, puts this meal to about $1.50 to $1.70 per person for four meals. Reasonable.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Denise Georgiades.
South Africa.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,PASTA
Pirogi Lasagna
March 10, 2016 Lee
2 Comments

Pirogi Lasagna

Looks easy and tasty, on my list of things to make.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 12 lasagna noodles, these are the cook before use type
  • 6 cups mashed potatoes
  • 2 onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded, if you like cheese, you know what to do
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 190 C and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter.
  • Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions, and set aside.
  • In a large skillet add onion, butter, salt, and pepper. Saute on medium heat until soft, about 10 minutes.
  • Place 4 lasagna noodles in an even layer on bottom of baking dish. Layer 1/2 of total mashed potatoes on top of noodles, followed by 1/2 of the sauteed onions, and 1/2 cup of cheese.
  • Repeat with another layer of lasagna noodles, remaining mashed potatoes, sauteed onions and 1/2 cup cheese.
  • Top lasagna with remaining 4 noodles and 1 cup cheese.
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

Cheese is the most costly item here, get 2 blocks of cheddar for 185 Baht/block, this comes out to about $1.35 for 8 servings. Not bad overall.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,PASTA
Slow Cooker Cola Chicken
February 18, 2016 Lee
1 Comment

Slow Cooker Cola Chicken

Not a fan of coke or any soft drinks, but I will have to try this. Very easy recipe and can be adapted in many ways with the meat used. 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 Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 whole chicken
  • 1 lemon, cut into quarters
  • 1 onion, peeled and cut into quarters
  • 1 bottle BBQ sauce, OR make from a shortcut listed on this site
  • 1 can cola

Instructions
 

  • Wash the chicken inside and out, remove giblets if present inside. If the chicken if from a local market, remove the neck and feet, trim excess fat at the gut opening, place chicken in the slow cooker breast side up.
  • Toss in the onion and lemon quarters, pour in the entire bottle of BBQ sauce and the entire can of cola.
  • Cover and cook on Low setting for 6-8 hours or High setting for 3-4 hours.
  • Serve with boiled buttered potatoes and a salad for a meal.

Notes

A whole chicken will cost about 150 to 200 Baht. BBQ sauce if store bought will run about 90 Baht. For 6 people, this is about $1.50 per meal per person, very reasonable. Less for 8 people.
Shortcut: BBQ Sauce.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,Chicken - Slow Cooker
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
February 18, 2016 Lee
3 Comments

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Adapted from an internet recipe.
Simple and easy slow cooker recipe that is delicious! I have made this and it is excellent, and filling! Recipe is slightly revised to reflect my findings. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10 people

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

Cooked all day

  • 3 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
  • 2 cups salsa, Tesco brand works great, two 300 gram jars, Shortcut

Added after 6-8 hours

  • 250 grams Cream cheese, this is a block, softened, (8 oz)
  • 500 grams tortillas, this is one package, corn or flour will work for this, (1 lb)
  • 250 grams Cheddar cheese, this is a block, shredded, (8 oz)
  • ½ can black olives, drained and sliced

Instructions
 

  • Add the chicken to the bottom of your slow cooker. I used 3 good sized chicken breasts.
  • Pour over the salsa. Cover and cook on Low setting for 6 to 7 hours, check at 6 hours and if tender and shreds with a fork at this point, continue with the next step, if not tender, continue to cook and check at 7 hours. I used the Fast and Simple Fresh Salsa II listed on this site, excellent salsa which makes just a tad over 2 cups, use all of it.
  • Plop the cream cheese on top of the chicken. Cover for about 10 minutes to let it get really soft. While the cheese is softening, shred the Cheddar cheese and cut up the tortillas into strips, and slice the olives.
  • With the cream cheese softened, shred the chicken with 2 forks right in the slow cooker and stir together.
  • Add the tortilla strips, 1 cup of Cheddar cheese, and half of the olives and stir this into the chicken mixture. Flatten this down and clean the sides of the pot.
  • Add to the top the remaining cheese then olives. Cover and cook on High setting for another 45 minutes until the casserole is heated through.

Notes

Three chicken breasts cost me about 80 Baht, this would be less if you use thighs or quarters. Cream cheese will run about 120 Baht for a block. Cheddar cheese will run about 185 Baht per block of 250 grams, you only need one, shred the whole block. This can easily make 10 servings at a cost of about $1.15 per serving, overall, very good price.
Shortcut: Salsa.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,Casseroles - Slow Cooker
Homemade Manicotti Shells
February 5, 2016 Lee
1 Comment

Homemade Manicotti Shells

This is a basic recipe and you are free to fill with what ever filling you desire; cheese, cheese and spinach, beef and cheese, chicken and cheese, etc). This is an expensive dish based on the cheese used, but there is a shortcut to use as well. I will be trying this! This would be a great as a once in a while dish when friends or family is visiting. I am going to go with 6 manicotti for this recipe based on photos, after I make this I will revise the recipe. The sauce part is based on several recipes. The photos for making the shells is credited in at the end. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

Shells

  • 4 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Filling

  • 3 eggs
  • 3 cups Cottage cheese, OR make from a shortcut
  • 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 2-3 cups tomato pasta sauce, OR make from a shortcut

Instructions
 

Filling

  • Mix the eggs, cottage cheese, half the Mozzarella cheese, all the Parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, and parsley, refrigerate while you make the shells.

Shells

  • Mix ingredients until blended, it will be watery looking, no problem!
  • Lightly oil a frying pan and then heat the pan for about a minute over medium high heat. Spoon in the batter or use a dry measuring cup to pour the batter into the middle of the pan.
  • Quickly and carefully tilt the pan in a circular motion until the batter forms a round, thin layer in the pan, about 6-8 inches across. (Similar to a crepe). Cook about 1 to 2 minutes until the shell surface appears dry. Carefully turn the manicotti shell over using a spatula and cook for an additional 20-30 seconds. Stack cooked shells on a plate between waxed paper for later use.

Assembly

  • Now it's time to assembly the Manicotti. Preheat your oven to 180 C. Take one of your shells and add a bit of Mozzarella cheese in the center.
  • Spoon a generous helping of the ricotta cheese onto the shell.
  • Now fold like a burrito and place in baking pan, seam side down. Repeat steps until your baking dish is full of manicotti shells filled with cheese mix.
  • Pour pasta sauce over the top and sprinkle the remaining Mozzarella cheese over the top. Bake for 35 minutes.

Notes

Pricing when I make this. For now I will say this will come out to a fair price.
Shortcuts: Cottage Cheese, Pasta Sauce.
A big thank you goes out to Jamie & Jen Dish for their recipe for the shell recipe and photos.
* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,PASTA
3-Ingredient Chicken Cacciatore
January 24, 2016 Lee
4 Comments

3-Ingredient Chicken Cacciatore

Simple and tasty sounding recipe. I made this yesterday and it is very good and simple, read my comment below. Photos are mine from preparation to plating. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 6-8 chicken thighs
  • 1 large jar spaghetti/tomato sauce, OR make yourself from tomato paste and herbs, OR 2 cans of sauce
  • 500 grams spiral pasta, OR any pasta of your choosing

Instructions
 

  • Add chicken to the slow cooker pot, pour sauce over chicken, stir to coat all the chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on Low for 4-5 hours until chicken is cooked through. Do not open the lid until 4 hours have passed, then check chicken. I added a diced green bell pepper as well.
  • About 30 minutes before the chicken is done, cook your pasta, drain, place back in the pot you cooked them in and drizzle with some olive oil to prevent sticking. Photo shows cooked after 4 1/2 hours.
  • To serve, plate up pasta, add a chicken thigh, and spoon some sauce over the chicken and pasta, feel free to sprinkle grated Parmesan on the top, I know I will. Serve with a vegetable for a complete meal.

Notes

For chicken, use thighs bone in and with skin (this adds flavor) or you can use boneless and skinless, totally up to you. You can also use a combination of legs and thighs cut from quarters (most cost effective way, do yourself a favor, buy quarters, use the thighs, save the legs for another recipe like a BBQ or for other family members). For 8 quarters, you may spend about 150 Baht, sauce in a can is about 40 Baht, but if you use paste and make yourself, considerably lower cost. About 230 Baht or about $1.30 per person if serving 6, or  90 cents per serving is serving 8. Make the sauce yourself and you can reduce the cost of the sauce by well over half.
Variants: Add any or all of chopped mushrooms, chopped onions, chopped bell peppers, herbs when you add the sauce to the slow cooker.
Shortcut: Tomato Sauce.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Fair Value $1.01 to $1.50 per Serving,Chicken - Slow Cooker