Archive for the ‘* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving’ Category
Hawaiian Calzones
June 18, 2017 Lee
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Hawaiian Calzones

Sounds delicious! Several shortcuts to use as well to tailor this and make it your own recipe. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams pizza dough, OR make from a shortcut
  • 8 slices ham
  • 4 slices Swiss cheese, cut in half
  • 8 slices fresh pineapple, about 2x4 inches each
  • 8 tablespoons Cottage cheese, OR make from a shortcut
  • 4 tablespoons spring onions, chopped, green and white parts
  • black sesame seeds
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • tomato sauce, for serving, OR make from a shortcut

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 200 C.
  • Cut the pizza dough into 8 pieces on a floured surface.
  • Roll out or use your hands, one piece of dough until flat and somewhat round in shape, does not have to be perfect.
  • Layer ham, Swiss cheese, pineapple, 1 tablespoon cottage cheese, and 1/2 tablespoon spring onion.
  • Fold one side of dough up and over ingredients, and seal calzone by crimping the edges together. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat for the remaining calzones.
  • Mix together the egg and water to make egg wash, brush each calzone with the egg wash and sprinkle with black sesame seeds.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with tomato sauce for dipping.

Notes

Low cost but I will update when I make these.
Shortcuts: Pizza Dough, Tomato Sauce, Cottage Cheese.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,APPETIZERS / SNACKS
Meatball Parmesan Calzones
June 18, 2017 Lee
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Meatball Parmesan Calzones

Sounds delicious! Several shortcuts to use as well to tailor this and make it your own recipe. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams pizza dough, OR make from a shortcut
  • 8 tablespoons tomato sauce, OR make from a shortcut
  • 16 party size meatballs, OR make from a shortcut
  • 4 slices Mozzarella Cheese, cut in half
  • 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
  • fresh basil, as needed
  • black pepper, to taste
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon water

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 200 C.
  • Cut the pizza dough into 8 pieces on a floured surface.
  • Roll out or use your hands, one piece of dough until flat and somewhat round in shape, does not have to be perfect.
  • Spread 1 tablespoon of tomato sauce on the flattened dough. Wrap up two meatballs in a slice of Mozzarella and place them in the center of the dough. Sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese and some fresh basil.
  • Fold one side of dough up and over ingredients, and seal calzone by crimping the edges together. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat for the remaining calzones.
  • Mix together the egg and water to make egg wash, brush each calzone with the egg wash and sprinkle with black pepper to your liking.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve.

Notes

Low cost but I will update when I make these.
Shortcuts: Pizza Dough, Tomato Sauce, Party Meatballs.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,MEATBALLS
Party Size Italian Meatballs
June 18, 2017 Lee
1 Comment

 

Party Size Italian Meatballs

Sounds good! This recipe makes lot of meatballs. This is a make ahead recipe that you can freeze to keep on hand, just thaw, add to a slow cooker with pasta sauce (or sauce of choice) and heat up. You can make the party size as appetizers or larger ones for dinners. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 30 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs

  • 2 1/2 kilos ground beef, not lean
  • 2 cups bread crumbs, OR make from a shortcut
  • 4 eggs
  • handful fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/4 cup tomato sauce, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, OR make from a shortcut
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

To Serve

  • tomato sauce, OR make from a shortcut

Instructions
 

  • I grind meat I purchase so I know the fat content and freshness of the meat. For this recipe I cut it nearly in half for a first test and used pork shoulder which is the perfect amount of fat.
  • In a very large bowl, mix all Meatball ingredients together by hand but don't over work it.
  • Form into ping pong size balls with your hands as evenly and smooth as possible, for dinner meatballs shape into larger ones. I made dinner size meatballs, this is 12 from just half the meat mixture. Place meatballs on rack of broiler pan or wire rack, evenly apart but not touching.
  • You may have as many as 60-70 party size meatballs if just making those.
  • Preheat your oven to 180 C (350 F).
  • Bake for about 25 minutes or until well browned and fully cooked for the party size meatballs, large dinner size meatballs may take 30 minutes or more.
  • If freezing, allow meatballs to cool to room temp, bag in single layers then freeze.

For Serving as Appetizers

  • Place the meatballs, just cooked, thawed if frozen, amount is up to you, in your slow cooker, top that with the amount of pasta sauce to cover them and mixed in, and heat on Low setting until good and hot. Serve.

For Serving Dinner Meatballs

  • Use as needed for Spaghetti & Meatball type dishes. If using frozen, just thaw out first then use as needed.

Notes

Figure about 500 Baht/2 1/2 kilos of beef. Source it locally and you may get it for less. Figure about 150 Baht for the Parmesan cheese. For 30 servings of party size, this is about 63 cents per serving. Use pork and cost is much less.
Shortcuts: Bread Crumbs, Tomato Sauce, Italian Seasoning.
Variants: 1. Use pork instead of beef or a combination of the two. 2. Use a 4 cheese blend instead of the Parmesan.
Used in Recipe Listed on this Site:
 
Adapted from an internet recipe.
#1 Go-To Recipes,* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,APPETIZERS / SNACKS,INGREDIENTS,MEATBALLS
Green Eggs & Ham
June 17, 2017 Lee
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Green Eggs & Ham

Just for fun, and to mark the milestone of reaching 1,000 recipes, Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs & Ham. When I reach 2,000 recipes I may make a recipe for One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. It is just Deviled Eggs and ham slices.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 2 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 hard boiled eggs, peeled
  • sliced ham, as needed
  • mayo, as needed
  • green food coloring, as needed

Instructions
 

  • Cut eggs in half lengthwise and scoop out yolk and place the eggs on a plate and the yolks in a bowl, mash yolks with a fork and add a spoon or two of mayo and a squirt of mustard and mix that up, you are looking for a creamy consistency just like deviled eggs. Eggs are in half, yolks removed and mashed, just before the mayo went in.
  • Add green food coloring to the yolk mixture a few drops at a time and mix until the desired color is achieved.
  • Mix a few drops of food coloring into 1/4 cup water in a small bowl. Roll up 1-2 slices and pierce with a toothpick. Dip into the water with food coloring, drain excess, place on plate. Serve.
  • The idea for this was inspired by this children's book.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,APPETIZERS / SNACKS,EGGS - ALL,Eggs - Chicken
Lebanese Beef & Green Beans
June 15, 2017 Lee
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Lebanese Beef & Green Beans

Stephen Connell, United States.
Sounds great, green beans here would be long beans, perfect. Serve over mashed potatoes or rice. Link to the Shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Lebanesee
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 500 grams ground beef, (1 lb)
  • 500 grams fresh long beans, cut into 1 inch pieces, (1 lb)
  • 4 cups pasta sauce, Shortcut
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons red wine
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • mashed potatoes, or rice for serving

Instructions
 

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the butter and the oil. Add the onions and cook slowly until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant. Add the ground beef and crumble as it cooks. Stir in tomato sauce, Worcestershire, red wine, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a low simmer.
  • Cover with lid and simmer for at least 20 minutes or up to an hour. About ten minutes before serving, add the green beans, stir and cover with lid once more. Serve with mashed potatoes or rice. Enjoy.

Notes

Figure about 100 Baht/500 grams of beef. For 6 servings, this is about 50 cents per serving.
Shortcut: Pasta Sauce.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,: LEBANESE,BEEF
Lebanese Chicken with Rice
June 15, 2017 Lee
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Lebanese Chicken with Rice

Stephen Connell, United States.
This is a traditional Lebanese dish and it sounds tasty! On my to cook list.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Lebanese
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 onions, diced
  • 300 grams ground beef, (10 oz)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ cups long grain rice
  • 3 cups stock, beef or chicken, hot, from powder
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, or corriander
  • plain yogurt, for serving
  • cucumber, sliced, for serving

Instructions
 

  • Heat the olive oil over high heat in a pan. add the chicken and cook on both sides until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
  • Add the onion and ground beef to the same hot pan. Cook until the onions and meat is beginning to brown, then add the garlic and cook another minute or two. Then add the cinnamon, allspice, cayenne pepper, and salt, cook two minutes while stirring.
  • Stir in the rice making sure that it is fully covered with the oil and spices, place the chicken in the rice. Add the pine nuts.
  • Pour in the stock or water and cover. Cook on a simmer for about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally and as you do so allow the chicken to break up. You may need to add extra hot water if the rice gets a little dry.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and sprinkle with minced parsley. Serve with yogurt on top and sliced cucumber.

Notes

Four thighs I will estimate about 50 Baht. For the beef, I will estimate about 75 Baht. For 4 servings, this is about 92 cents per serving.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,: LEBANESE,CHICKEN & TURKEY
Chicken Tomato Pasta Bake
June 15, 2017 Lee
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Chicken Tomato Pasta Bake

Sounds good. On my to cook list for sure. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, vut into bite size pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 1 can whole peeled tomatoes, drained, chopped
  • 2 cups pasta sauce, OR make from a shortcut
  • 62 grams Cream cheese, 1/4 of a 250 gram block
  • 250 grams fresh spinach, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups Penne pasta, cooked and drained
  • 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 190 C. Get out a 8 inch or 7x11 baking dish.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and brown on both sides, then remove from the pan. It’s OK if it’s not quite cooked through because it will be baked later. To the same pan, add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, then add the diced tomatoes and spaghetti sauce.
  • Add the cream cheese and stir to melt into the sauce. Add the spinach and stir to coat in the sauce. Add the browned chicken back in then add the pasta. Stir and coat with the sauce.
  • Spoon everything into the baking dish. Top with the mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake for 20 minutes.

Notes

The chicken will cost about 40 Baht/500 grams. The Mozzarella will cost about 60 Baht. For 4 servings, this is about 75 cents per serving.
Shortcut: Pasta Sauce.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,CASSEROLES
Lebanese Garlic Chicken (Farrouj Meshwi)
June 15, 2017 Lee
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Lebanese Garlic Chicken (Farrouj Meshwi)

Stephen Connell, United States.
If you like garlic then you will probably love this chicken! You can use any pieces of chicken for this recipe in place of the whole cutup chicken. Farrouj means male chicken in Arabic, said to be tastier than hens, but you can certainly use any type of chicken you wish. I will probably use four quarters, separated.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Passive Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 50 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Lebanese
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Grill, Charcoal or Gas

Ingredients
  

  • 1 whole chicken, cut up or any 6-8 pieces you like
  • 6-8 cloves garlic, peeled
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • juice from 1 lemon, or 3 tablespoons
  • ½ teaspoon sumac

Instructions
 

  • Grind garlic & salt to a paste in mortar or small food processor. Work in the olive oil, sumac & lemon juice to create a creamy consistency similar to mayo.
  • Cut chicken into 6 to 8 pieces or use any 6 to 8 pieces of chicken to your liking. Make plenty of deep cuts in the pieces, right down to the bone.
  • Place the chicken pieces & garlic sauce in a large ziploc bag. Close the bag and massage the chicken for a few minutes before placing in the fridge for at least 3 hours or up to 6 hours, to marinate.
  • Grill the chicken pieces over a medium heat until the juices run totally clear, 12 to 15 minutes per side. You can also use a griddle or grill pan then transfer to the oven on 200° C (400° F) for 15 minutes. Serve.

Notes

Chicken quarters cost around 70 Baht/kilo, 4 quarters should be right about 1 kilo. Separate the legs from the thighs and you have 8 tasty pieces to use. For 4 servings, this is about 52 cents per serving.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,: LEBANESE,CHICKEN & TURKEY,GRILLED / BBQ / SMOKER
Chicken Noodle Casserole I
June 15, 2017 Lee
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Chicken Noodle Casserole I

Sounds delicious. Easy ingredients, on my to cook list. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups egg noodles, cooked and drained
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken, cooked and chopped
  • 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
  • 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1/4 cup sour cream, OR make from a shortcut
  • 3/4 cup milk

For the Crunchy Topping, optional

  • 1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted
  • slat and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 200 C. Grease an 8 inch or 7x11 baking dish with butter.
  • To the casserole dish, add the egg noodles, chicken, peas and carrots, soup, sour cream, and milk. Mix together.
  • If you like your casserole with a crunchy topping, mix together the breadcrumbs, melted butter, pepper, and salt in a medium bowl. Sprinkle the top of the casserole with the breadcrumb mixture.
  • Bake the casserole for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the top is bubbling and the breadcrumbs (if using) are toasted. Serve.

Notes

For the chicken, use any parts you like, bake or boiled is fine. If you boil, reserve the broth for use in another recipe. Maybe 40 to 50 Baht worth of chicken in this recipe. For 4 servings, this is about 37 cents per serving.
Variant: Double the recipe and use a 9x13 baking dish.
Shortcuts: Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup, Sour Cream, Italian Bread Crumbs.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,CASSEROLES
Tuna & Pasta Skillet
June 14, 2017 Lee
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Tuna & Pasta Skillet

Adapted from an internet recipe.
This to me sounds really good. This is a skillet dinner that you can put together in about 30 minutes. On my to cook list. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2½ cups chicken broth, fresh or from powder
  • 3 cups corkscrew pasta
  • 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, (10½ oz / 298 g), Shortcut
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 cans tuna, drained, or 1 cup cooked fresh tuna, (185 g / 7 oz), Shortcut
  • 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2 tablespoons Italian bread crumbs, Shortcut
  • 2 teaspoons butter

Instructions
 

  • Heat the chicken broth in a large skillet over medium high heat to a boil. Stir in the pasta. Reduce the heat to medium. Cook until the pasta is just tender, stirring often. Do not drain.
  • Stir the soup, milk, and tuna in the skillet. Top with the cheese. Stir the bread crumbs and butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the tuna mixture. Cook until the cheese is melted.
  • Serve.

Notes

Low cost per serving.
Shortcuts: Breadcrumbs, Tuna.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,FISH - ALL,Fish - Tuna