Archive for the ‘* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving’ Category
Dill Pickle Chicken
July 18, 2017 Lee
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Dill Pickle Chicken

Sounds really good! On my to cook list.
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Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kilo chicken thighs, see Step 1
  • 2 cups pickle juice
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup pickles, sliced, optional
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped, optional

Instructions
 

  • Chicken thighs can be skin on or off, bone in or out.
  • Place the chicken in a shallow dish or container and pour in the pickle juice. If needed, rearrange the chicken so each piece is completely submerged. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 8 hours.
  • Preheat your oven to 220 C. Drain the chicken and pat dry with paper towels, discard the pickle juice. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Place the thighs in a single layer in an 8 or 9 inch square baking dish.
  • Bake until the chick is starting to brown up and juices run clear, about 20-30 minutes. Garnish with sliced pickles and chopped dill if desired.

Notes

The chicken would cost about 73 Baht/kilo. For 4 servings, this is about 54 cents per serving.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,CHICKEN & TURKEY
Endless Summer Salad
July 14, 2017 Lee
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Endless Summer Salad

This is a cucumber and onion based salad in a brine, you can add what ever vegetables you like, it does not have to be just cucumbers and onions. As the vegetables are used, just add more to the brine, this can last several weeks.
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Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 0

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium cucumber
  • 1 small red onion
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar, or rice or apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar, or 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped, or 2 teaspoons dried
  • 1 clove garlic, smashed and minced

Instructions
 

  • Peel and thinly slice the cucumber. Thinly slice the onion and separate the rings. Add these to a bowl that has a lid. Add the garlic.
  • Whisk together the vinegar, water, sugar, and salt until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved, Stir in the dill. Pour the brine over the cucumber and onion.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Enjoy, add more, refrigerate, repeat.
  • Serve as a salad, on hamburgers, sandwiches, etc.

Notes

Low cost.
Variants: Add chopped bell pepper, any color you like. Add celery seed to the brine. Add tomatoes, long beans, carrots, okra, etc.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Sides - Salads
Sardine & Sliced Egg Sandwich
July 11, 2017 Lee
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Sardine & Sliced Egg Sandwich

Adapted from an internet recipe.
Another tasty sardine sandwich recipe. I made these on 11 May 2019, and these are delicious. Links to the Shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Breakfast, Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 2 sandwiches

Equipment

  • Toaster

Ingredients
  

  • 4 slices bread, toasted, wheat would be good
  • mayo, as desired
  • 1 tin sardines in olive oil, (120 g / 4¼ oz, Ayam or any brand), Shortcut
  • 2 hard boiled eggs, sliced, Shortcut
  • lettuce leaves, as needed
  • red onion, thinly sliced, as needed, think mandolin
  • ½ teaspoon lemon juice, or lime juice

Instructions
 

  • Spread some mayo on the toast and add lettuce leaves to two slices of toast.
  • Divide the sardines between the two sandwiches and split them, the tin I used had 5 sardines. The bones are are tender, don't worry about those, it's calcium.
  • Sprinkle some lemon juice on the sardines, top with some onion slices (which I skipped as had no onion) and top that with the egg slices.
  • Top each sandwich with the other slices of toast, cut each sandwich in half. Enjoy.

Notes

Low cost if using homemade sardines. I make sardines using small mackerel which is sold per fish anywhere from 10 to 25 Baht each, so about 29 to 74 cents per sandwich. (I cut each fish into 3 pieces when making sardines.)
If using tinned sardines, figure 1 tin at 59 Baht for 2 sandwiches, this is about 87 cents per sandwich.
Shortcut: Sardines in Olive Oil, Perfect Hard Boiled Chicken Eggs.
Variant: 1. In place of mayo, just drizzle olive oil on each slice of toast.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BURGERS & SANDWICHES,EGGS - ALL,Eggs - Chicken,Fish - Sardines
Sardine & Tomato Sandwich
July 9, 2017 Lee
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Sardine & Tomato Sandwich

Inspired by seeing a photo.
Shout out to my daughter, Samantha, you will like this! Basic sandwich that is healthy and nutritious. Not only did Samantha make this, she sent me some photos, one of which is featured here, outstanding looking sandwich, Samantha, you did well! Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 1 sandwich

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tin sardines in olive oil, drained, (120 g / 4¼ oz), Shortcut
  • tomato, sliced as needed
  • red onion, sliced, seperated into rings, as needed
  • 2 slices sandwich bread, toasted
  • mayo, as needed
  • white pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Toast the bread, spread mayo on one side of each slice. Layer tomato slices on one slice, top with some red onion slice rings.
  • Top with sardines that are split in half lengthwise. Season with some white pepper, top with the other slice of bread.
  • Enjoy. (And that is a cracking great photo as well, thank you Samantha!)

Notes

If using tinned sardines in olive oil, figure about 59 Baht/tin/2 sandwiches. This would cost about 87 Baht per sandwich, reasonable and healthy.
Variants: As with any sandwich, use your imagination. Open faced or closed, substitute olive oil for mayo, substitute mustard for mayo, and spicy mustard even better! Add veggies you like, sprinkle with lemon juice.
Shortcut: Sardines in Olive Oil (Slow Cooker).
The photo was provided by my daughter, Samantha Thayer, United States - Thailand.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BURGERS & SANDWICHES,FISH - ALL,Fish - Sardines
Beef & Noodles III
July 9, 2017 Lee
1 Comment

Beef & Noodles III

I am so looking forward to making this, this is true comfort food right here. Several shortcuts to make as well for additional savings. Links to the shortcuts are 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 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kilo beef, cut into bite size pieces
  • 2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 packet au jus gravy mix, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 packet dry onion soup mix, OR make from a shortcut
  • 350-500 grams frozen egg noodles, see Step 5
  • 1 large can mushrooms, sliced
  • 4 cups water

Instructions
 

  • Oil or butter your slow cooker insert. From the author of this recipe: "Trust me, don't skip this step...you'll hate yourself later if you don't." I think this step is quite important.
  • Add the beef to the slow cooker. In a large bowl, mix together the canned soup, gravy mix, and soup mix with 4 cups of water, pour soup mixture over the beef.
  • Cover and cook for 6-8 hours, looking for very tender beef.
  • About 30 to 90 minutes before serving, turn the slow cooker to High setting, add the mushrooms and egg noodles.
  • For the egg noodles, if you have frozen egg noodles, add them as is, frozen, with the mushrooms. If you only have dried egg noodles, cook those in a pot of boiling water until just before tender, drain, and add those.
  • Stir and squish down the noodles so they are covered with the liquid. Cover and continue to cook on High setting for 30-90 minutes to either cook the frozen noodles or heat through the cooked noodles.
  • Serve.

Notes

The beef will cost about 200 Baht, if you can source this locally in a village market, you may get it cheaper. For 8 servings, this is about 74 cents per serving.
Shortcuts: Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup, Au Jus Mix, Onion Soup Mix.
Provided by Slow Cooker Kitchen and the link to this recipe is here.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Beef - Slow Cooker
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
Baked Ham & Cheese
July 8, 2017 Lee
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Baked Ham & Cheese

If you need to make a lot of Grilled Ham & Cheese sandwiches for a crowd, this sounds like it would be the perfect way. Ingredients are listed for 1 sandwich, increase the amounts appropriately for additional sandwiches.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 1 sandwich

Ingredients
  

  • 2 slices sandwich bread
  • 1 slice Cheddar cheese
  • 1 slice ham
  • butter, as needed

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 230 C, line a baking sheet with foil.
  • Butter each side of both slices of bread, top one slice with cheese and ham, top with the other slice of bread. Repeat this for all remaining sandwiches.
  • Bake for 6 to 8 minutes until golden brown, flip the sandwiches and bake for an additional 6 to 8 minutes or until golden brown. Serve.

Notes

Low cost.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BURGERS & SANDWICHES
Grilled Ham & Egg Sandwich
July 8, 2017 Lee
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Grilled Ham & Egg Sandwich

Sounds like a great breakfast, lunch, or even a dinner sandwich. On my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Breakfast, Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 1 sandwich

Ingredients
  

  • 2 slices sandwich bread
  • 4 slices ham, thinly sliced
  • 1 slice Swiss cheese
  • 1 slice Cheddar cheese
  • 1 egg, scramble or fried hard
  • butter, or mayo, as needed

Instructions
 

  • Heat a non stick skillet to medium low.
  • Spread one side only of each slice of bread with either mayo or butter. Place one slice in skillet spread side down. Layer Swiss cheese, ham, scrambled egg and American cheese, in order, on plain side of bread in skillet. Top with other slice, spread side up.
  • Cook until crispy and brown. Turn and cook until brown and cheese is melted. Serve.

Notes

Low cost.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BURGERS & SANDWICHES
Diner Grilled Ham & Cheese
July 8, 2017 Lee
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Diner Grilled Ham & Cheese

Another diner style sandwich which uses spicy mustard. On my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 1 sandwich

Ingredients
  

  • 2 slices sandwich bread
  • 2 slices ham
  • 2 slices Swiss cheese
  • spicy mustard, as needed
  • butter, as needed, or mayo

Instructions
 

  • Spread mustard on each slice of bread. layer the ham and cheese on one slice on top of the mustard, top with the other slice, mustard side down. Spread butter or mayo on the top slice.
  • Heat a non stick skillet over medium low heat, add the sandwich butter or mayo side down, spread the top with butter or mayo. Cook until the bottom is golden brown, flip and cook the other side.
  • Cut in half and serve with additional mustard for dipping.

Notes

Low cost.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BURGERS & SANDWICHES
Grilled Ham & Cheese with Pineapple
July 8, 2017 Lee
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Grilled Ham & Cheese with Pineapple

Sounds good, on my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 1 sandwich

Ingredients
  

  • 2 slices sandwich bread
  • 2 slices Swiss cheese
  • 2 slices ham
  • 2 slices pineapple, thinly sliced
  • 3 fresh basil leaves
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Instructions
 

  • Layer 1 slice sandwich bread with 1 slice Swiss cheese, ham, pineapple, fresh basil, and another slice of cheese; top with bread.
  • In a skillet over medium low heat, melt butter. Add sandwich. Cover, cook until golden brown on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook the other side. Serve.

Notes

Low cost.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BURGERS & SANDWICHES