Archive for the ‘* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving’ Category
Are You Kidding Cake
April 14, 2017 Lee
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Are You Kidding Cake

Sounds wonderful and easy. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3 eggs
  • 1 box cake mix, any flavor, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 can pie filling, any flavor

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C, get out a 9x13 baking dish.
  • Mix all three ingredients in a large bowl, mix well, pour into the baking dish and bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Notes

Low cost. Canned pie filling runs from 150 to 165 Baht/can, and for 8 servings minimum, this is just 60 cents per serving.
Some cake and filling combinations:
Pineapple cake mix and blueberry filling.
Chocolate cake mix and cherry filling.
Yellow cake mix and cherry filling.
Yellow cake mix and blueberry filling.
Butter pecan cake mix and apple filling.
Yellow cake mix and apple filling.
Yellow cake mix and blackberry filling.
Strawberry cake mix and blueberry filling.
Shortcut: Yellow Cake Mix.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,DESSERTS
Buttermilk Pie
April 14, 2017 Lee
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Buttermilk Pie

This is a vintage recipe from many years ago and sounds very good as well. Common ingredients. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3 eggs, room temp
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened, this is 1/2 standard block
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 cup buttermilk, OR make from a shortcut
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 pie crust, OR make from a shortcut

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C, line a pie dish with a single pie crust.
  • Beat eggs until foamy. Beat in butter, flour and sugar until fluffy. Add remaining ingredients and mix until smooth.
  • Pour into prepared crust and bake for 45-55 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before cutting. Enjoy.

Notes

Low cost.
Shortcuts: Buttery Pie Crust, Buttermilk.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,DESSERTS
Eduard’s Bean Soup
April 14, 2017 Lee
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Eduard's Bean Soup

This recipe comes from a good friend and is highly recommended. This is a straight forward bean soup and would pair perfectly with a grilled cheese sandwich.
Print Recipe
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups dried beans, Pinto, Navy, Great Northern
  • 2-3 slices bacon, chopped
  • ham, cubed
  • ham hock, smoked if available
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 potatoes, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 6-8 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 1 tablespoons chicken stock powder
  • 10-12 cups water
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • dried thyme, to taste
  • dried sage, to taste
  • garlic powder, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Sort and rinse the beans then soak beans overnight, drain and rinse the beans and add to a large pot.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients except the potatoes and carrot. Bring the pot to a boil then reduce to a low simmer and simmer for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and the ham hock is falling apart. In the last hour, add the potatoes and carrot. Remove the ham hock, chop it up and remove the bone, put the meat back into the pot and stir that in, when the potatoes and carrot is tender, serve. Grilled cheese sandwiches would go great with this soup.

Notes

Low cost.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Eduard Wijers.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,SOUPS, STEWS, CHILI
Kimchi Coleslaw
April 11, 2017 Lee
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Kimchi Coleslaw

This is a twist on coleslaw, no mayo is used in this.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 0

Ingredients
  

  • 600 grams green cabbage, shredded
  • 200 grams leek, shredded
  • 100 grams carrot, shredded
  • 2 tablespoons Korean chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic, grated
  • 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1-2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2-1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions
 

  • Mix the cabbage, leek, and carrot in a large bowl, add the remaining ingredients and mix again.
  • Refrigerate until use, and can be refrigerated for up to a week. Use this as a side or as an ingredient in other recipes.

Notes

Low cost.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Sides - Salads
Chicken Cordon Bleu I
April 11, 2017 Lee
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Chicken Cordon Bleu I

Chicken, ham, cheese, sounds perfect! This rolled up as well, not just stuffed chicken. Pan fried in a white wine and cream sauce.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
  • 4 slices Swiss cheese, or as needed if cut from a block
  • 8 slices ham
  • 2 cups white wine
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 cup all purpose flour, to coat the chicken
  • salt ans pepper, to taste
  • olive oil, as needed
  • 2 teaspoons butter

Instructions
 

  • Butterfly the chicken by slicing evenly down the middle, be sure to properly butterfly and avoid cutting all the way through. Place between two pieces of plastic wrap and lightly pound chicken until it's all even.
  • With chicken laying flat season each piece with salt and pepper. Place 2 pieces of ham and 1 piece of cheese on one side of the chicken, and roll tight.
  • Carefully roll chicken in flour and tap off any excess, set aside.
  • In a large pan, heat a splash of olive oil on medium high heat, when oil is just starting to slightly smoke gently place chicken into the pan and brown on all sides. It is important not to over crowed the pan to ensure a nice golden brown crust.
  • Remove chicken and set aside. Deglaze pan with white wine and allow to reduce on medium high heat by 2/3, then add in cream. Return the chicken back into pan and season with salt to taste. Cover and cook on low for 10-15 minutes until chicken is done.
  • Gently remove chicken from pan. Allow cream to simmer on low heat for 1 minute then add paprika. Turn off heat and mix in butter.
  • Slice the chicken on each plate and pour sauce over the chicken, sprinkle with some fresh chopped parsley.

Notes

Low cost. Minimal ham and cheese used, easily less than $1 per serving.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,CHICKEN & TURKEY
Longanisa I (Filipino Sweet Sausage)
April 11, 2017 Lee
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Longanisa I (Filipino Sweet Sausage)

This is a popular sausage in the Philippines but originates from Spain. Can stuff in hog casings or just make patties. Not sure how many patties this would make, I will edit this after I make this.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Cuisine Filipino
Servings 0

Ingredients
  

  • 600 grams ground pork, (1 1/3 lb)
  • 250 grams ground pork fat, (1/2 lb)
  • 1 head garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • sausage casings, if stuffing

Instructions
 

  • Put all the ingredients in a bowl (except the casings) and mix well until fully combined. Cover bowl with a plastic wrap, let it marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  • If stuffing in a casing, twist the casing about every 2-3 inches and tie off. If making patties, scoop up some meat mixture and roll into a ball and flatten to a circle about 3-4 inches across and just under 1/2 inch thick, place between wax paper or foil sheets. For casings or patties, place in the fridge overnight before freezing to let them dry out a bit.
  • To cook the links, place uncut sausages in a pan, prick each link 1-2 times then add water to the pan about half way up on the sausage and cook on medium heat. Cook until the water is nearly all gone and turn the sausages occasionally. To cook the patties just heat a splash of olive oil in a pan and add the patties, cook one side until golden brown then flip and cook the other side, about 5-7 minutes per side.

Notes

Go with pork should and grind the meat yourself, this would be about 60 Baht/600 grams. The pork fat would cost about 20 Baht/250 grams. Overall this would be low cost.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Pork - Sausage
Amish Cinnamon Bread
April 11, 2017 Lee
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Amish Cinnamon Bread

This is an old Amish quick bread recipe, mix and bake.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 2 loaves

Ingredients
  

For the Batter

  • 1 cup butter, softened, this is 1 block
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 4 cups flour, 512 grams with a scale
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda

For the Cinnamon Sugar Mix

  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C. Grease two bread pans with butter.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the 2/3 cup sugar and the cinnamon, set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the 2 cups of sugar, then mix in the eggs, then mix in the flour and baking soda to make the batter.
  • Pour 1/4 of the batter into each bread pan, leaving half the batter in the large bowl. Now using only 3/4 of the sugar cinnamon mixture, sprinkle this onto the batter in each bread pan, use a butter knife to make some swirls in the batter.
  • Pour the remain batter into each bread pan and sprinkle each pan with the remaining sugar cinnamon mix, and make the swirly thing again with the knife. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. and the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 20-30 minutes before turning out from the pans.

Notes

Low cost.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BREAD & PASTRY
Oklahoma Fried Onion Burgers
April 9, 2017 Lee
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Oklahoma Fried Onion Burgers

These sound mouth watering to say the least, pair these with some sourdough buns, that would be a perfect match! On my to cook list. And these were in fact created in Oklahoma, well done Oklahoma!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large onion, peeled, halved and thinly sliced
  • 500 grams ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • Cheddar cheese, sliced, as needed
  • mayo, mustard, pickles, for serving
  • 4 sandwich rolls, sourdough would be perfect!
  • salt and pepper, as needed

Instructions
 

  • Combine the onion slices and 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl and toss to combine. Transfer the onions to a colander and let sit for 30 minutes, tossing occasionally. Transfer the onions to a clean dish towel, gather the edges together and squeeze out as much liquid as you can from the onions. Do this over the sink or a large bowl since the onions will have quite a bit of liquid in them.
  • Divide the onions into 4 separate mounds on a rimmed baking sheet. Form the beef into 4 lightly packed balls. Place the beef balls on top of the onion mounds and flatten the beef firmly (use your palm) so the onion adheres to the beef. The patties should measure 4 inches in diameter. Season the beef generously with salt and pepper.
  • Melt the butter with the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat, cast iron would be perfect. Using a large spatula, transfer 2 patties to the skillet, onion side down. Cook for 6-8 minutes, until the onions turn a deep golden brown and begin to crisp around the edges. Flip the burgers, then increase the heat to high and cook until well browned on the second side, about 2 minutes. Repeat for the remaining burgers.
  • Add 1 or 2 slices of cheese to each burger and allow to melt. Dress the burgers with what you like, such as mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickles, lettuce, etc. Serve.

Notes

Figure about 100 Baht/500 grams ground beef. For 4 servings, this is about 75 cents per serving, pretty good considering it is a beef hamburger. What you add, particularly cheese, will of course increase the cost per serving, but it is well worth it.
Shortcut: Sourdough Rolls.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BURGERS & SANDWICHES
Cabbage Sausage Skillet
April 9, 2017 Lee
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Cabbage Sausage Skillet

Another reason I need to get a larger freezer, to buy more smoked sausage. Sausage and cabbage, two favorites of mine, this sounds like a great dish!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams smoked sausage, sliced
  • 1 head cabbage, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 can whole peeled tomatoes, drained, chopped
  • 1/2 cup butter, this is 1/2 of a regular block
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Melt butter in large skillet. Add cabbage, onion, and cook on medium high for about 5 minutes, stirring to keep from sticking to pan. Add remaining ingredients, reduce heat to low, season with salt and pepper to taste, cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Notes

The smoked sausage is about 100 Baht/500 grams. For 6 servings this is about 20 cents per serving. When I go to Makro again I will get more accurate up to date pricing as well.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Pork - Sausage
Pineapple Sunshine Cake
April 9, 2017 Lee
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Pineapple Sunshine Cake

This sounds really good, and in keeping with the theme of making things from scratch, lots of shortcuts listed as well. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Cake

  • 1 box yellow cake mix, OR make from a shortcut
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 can crushed pineapple, 8 oz or 226 grams

For the Frosting

  • 1 container whipped topping, 8 oz, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 box instant vanilla pudding, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 can crushed pineapple, 8 oz or 226 grams

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with butter.
  • In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, oil, and 1 can of crushed pineapple with the juice. Mix well. Pour into prepared baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Allow baking dish to cool completely on a wire rack.
  • In a medium sized bowl, fold together whipped topping, box of vanilla pudding, and 1 can crushed pineapple with the juice. Spread over the top of cooled cake. Enjoy!

Notes

Low cost really. I cannot price this until I see what a can of crushed pineapple costs. It is not advisable to use fresh pineapple since it will have a reaction with the flour and eggs.
Shortcuts: Yellow Cake Mix, Cool Whip Whipped Topping, Vanilla Pudding Mix.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,DESSERTS