Archive for the ‘* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving’ Category
Lumpia aka Spring Rolls
March 25, 2017 Lee
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Lumpia aka Spring Rolls

Many Asian countries have their versions of Lumpia or Spring Rolls, these are great appetizers.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Asian
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams ground pork
  • 1/2 cup onion, minced
  • 1/2 cup carrot, shredded
  • 1/4 cup spring onion, chopped
  • 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 teaspoon soy sauce
  • lumpia or spring roll, wrappers, as needed
  • 3 cups cooking oil

Instructions
 

  • Add together pork, onion, and carrots in a large bowl and mix well. Add green onions, parsley, salt, pepper, egg, and soy sauce and mix.
  • Place 1 1/2 tablespoons of lumpia mixture in the wrapper about two inches from the top of the roll. Fold the top of the roll once to the mixture. Fold in both sides to the center. Continue rolling tightly until you reach the end of the wrapper.
  • Heat the oil in a large pan, cast iron would be perfect, on medium heat. Fry the lumpia, flipping regularly until lumpia is golden brown. Place finished lumpia on paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve hot.

Notes

The ground pork will cost about 60 Baht/500 grams. For 4 servings, this is about 37 cents per serving.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Garland Davis, US Navy Cook (Ret).
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,APPETIZERS / SNACKS
Teriyaki Chicken II
March 25, 2017 Lee
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Teriyaki Chicken II

Sounds good, I will have to try this.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 cup soy sauce, low sodium
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic, smashed and minced
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch, plus 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
  • 2 1/4 cups stir fry veggies, like bell pepper, carrot, broccoli
  • 3 cups cooked rice
  • olive oil spray, as needed

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 180 C. Spray a 9x13 baking pan with olive oil.
  • Combine soy sauce, the 1/2 cup water, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic in a small saucepan and cover. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove lid and cook for one minute once boiling.
  • Meanwhile, stir together the corn starch and 2 tablespoons of water in a separate dish until smooth. Once sauce is boiling, add mixture to the saucepan and stir to combine. Cook until the sauce starts to thicken then remove from heat.
  • Place the chicken breasts in the prepared pan. Pour 1 cup of the sauce over top of chicken. Place chicken in oven and bake 35 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from oven and shred chicken in the dish using two forks.
  • While the chicken is baking, steam or boil the vegetables until just tender and crisp.
  • When the chicken is cooked, and the vegetables and rice to the casserole dish with the chicken. Add most of the remaining sauce, reserving a bit to drizzle over the top when serving. Gently toss everything together in the casserole dish until combined. Return to oven and cook 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before serving. Drizzle each serving with remaining sauce.

Notes

The chicken breasts might cost 50 Baht for 2 breast. For 4 servings, this is about 37 cents per serving.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,CASSEROLES
Amish Church Soup
March 25, 2017 Lee
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Amish Church Soup

This is a one pot dish and only 6 ingredients. The original recipe called for a quart of beef, I take that, thinking of the name Amish, as this is a quart jar of canned beef, which would be good. If you can your own beef, perfect, or do what I will do and just use ground beef.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kilo ground beef, OR 1 quart canned beef
  • 4 potaotes, diced, or more
  • 500 grams dry spaghetti
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot, add the pasta, potatoes, and onion. add water to cover by 2-3 inches and cook until the potatoes are tender. Do not drain.
  • Add the ground beef or canned beef to the pot and cook until the ground beef is cooked through or warmed through if using canned beef. Skim off most of the fat.
  • Serve as is or with sandwiches.

Notes

Figure about 200 Baht/1 kilo of beef. For 6 servings, this is about 98 cents per serving.
If you are cutting back on beef, you can used beef soup base in place of the beef.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,SOUPS, STEWS, CHILI
Bacon Wrapped… BBQ
March 15, 2017 Lee
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Bacon Wrapped... BBQ

Lee
My wife and I have been doing this about once a month. Easy, great when family visits and you need to prepare a lot, and is a great way to get the little ones helping out as well. Thais like a good BBQ, and they love bacon, so what started out with just chicken livers and hearts has turned into a using mushrooms, baby corn, small sausages, shrimp, etc. No number of servings is stated, this is a make as much or as little as you like. The ingredients are suggested items but you can certainly use what you like or have on have on hand.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American, Asian
Servings 0

Equipment

  • Skewers
  • Grill, Charcoal or Gas

Ingredients
  

  • sliced bacon, as needed, smoked would be great

What to Wrap...

  • chicken livers
  • chicken hearts
  • Straw mushrooms, whole
  • Shimeji mushrooms, white and brown
  • sausage links
  • baby corn
  • shrimp, peeled, deviened, tail removed
  • Brussels sprouts, whole

Instructions
 

  • First thing is fire up your grill is using charcoal, if using gas, you can turn that on after everything is prepped.
  • Open up the bag of skewers, bacon, and get out the veggies and or chicken livers, hearts, sausages, etc. Chicken livers cut in half, Straw mushrooms leave whole, and for the Shimeji mushrooms you will need to trim off the root ends.
  • On a plate or cutting board, lay down a strip of bacon so one end is facing away from you, place an item on the end closest to you, and simply roll it up in the bacon, run a skewer this. you can place 3-4 items on each skewer. Place the full skewers on a plate. Continue until everything is wrapped. Cover with foil.
  • Place the skewers over hot coals on your grill. The cooking time is basically to crisp up the bacon, even for the chicken livers, when the bacon is crispy, the liver will be done as well.
  • Place cooked skewers on a plate and and watch them disappear while cooking another batch, let people help themselves to the skewers of their choice and serve potato or pasta salad, and corn on the cob on the side.

Notes

Over all this would be low cost and is a great way to feed a crowd. Get the kids involved, show them once and they will remember, try to keep up with them.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Chicken - Giblets,GRILLED / BBQ / SMOKER
Mushroom Soup I
March 14, 2017 Lee
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Mushroom Soup I

This is based on the canned condensed cream of mushroom soup, do yourself a favor and make this from scratch, then follow this recipe. This comes from a good friend. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish, Side
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1 1/4 cups milk
  • 1 cup canned mushrooms, sliced, plus liquid

Instructions
 

  • Put everything in a saucepan and mix, heat, and serve.

Notes

Low cost.
This would pair perfectly with a grilled cheese sandwich to make a light meal.
Shortcut: Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Hans Schmidt.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,5 Ingredients or Less,MUSHROOMS,SOUPS, STEWS, CHILI
Tomato Bacon Grilled Cheese
March 14, 2017 Lee
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Tomato Bacon Grilled Cheese

In the old time diners in the US and some even to this day are known for three main items ordered, breakfasts, burgers, and soup and a sandwich. And that soup would be tomato soup and the sandwich would be a grilled cheese. Not sure how I came across this recipe, maybe doing a search for bacon. This sounds very good and will be made very soon.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Course Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 2 sandwiches

Ingredients
  

  • 4 slices bread
  • 6 slices bacon
  • Cheddar cheese, sliced as needed
  • fresh tomatoes, sliced, as needed
  • butter, as needed

Instructions
 

  • Fry the bacon until crispy, then place on a paper towel to drain. A cast iron pan would be perfect for bacon.
  • While the bacon is frying, slice the tomato(s) as needed, all I get here is plum or Roma tomatoes, so for those I would figure about 3-4 slices for each sandwich. Then thinly slice your cheese, I use Mainland brand and it takes 3 slices to cover the bread, if using the same, you will need 12 slices. Feel free to use processed slices if you wish, then will need 4 slices.
  • When the bacon is cooked and drained and the tomato(s) and cheese sliced, time to assemble.
  • Heat another large pan on medium heat, I always use a non-stick for grilled cheese sandwiches. You want a pan large enough to place 2 slices of bread in the bottom.
  • While the pan is heating, spread butter on one side of all 4 slices of bread, lay them butter side up on the counter near your stove, and position the cheese slices, bacon, and tomato slices near the stove as well.
  • When the pan is hot, lay down 2 slices of bread, butter side down in the pan, top each slice top each with a cheese slice or if using cheese from a block, slices to cover the bread, then add 2-4 tomato slices, then add 3 strips of bacon, another slice of cheese, and finally the bread slice butter side up.
  • When the sandwiches are golden brown on the bottom, carefully flip and cook the other side until golden brown, this takes just a minute or two for each side. Remove from pan, plate and cut in half diagonally, serve.

Notes

Low cost overall, but I will verify this when I make these.
An ideal soup to serve with this would be tomato or mushroom soup for a light dinner.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,BURGERS & SANDWICHES
Grilled Cabbage
March 9, 2017 Lee
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Grilled Cabbage

Sounds like a great side for when I fire up my grill for chicken.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 head cabbage
  • 4 slices bacon
  • butter, as needed
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions
 

  • Cut cabbage into four wedges. Place each wedge on a piece of doubled heavy duty foil. Spread butter on the cut sides of each wedge.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the salt, garlic powder, pepper, and cheese. Sprinkle all of this evenly over the wedges. Wrap a slice of bacon around each wedge.
  • Fold the foil around each wedge, sealing tightly. Grill over medium heat for 40 minutes, covered or until the cabbage is tender, turning twice, serve. Or you can bake this in a 180 C for 30 minutes.

Notes

Low cost.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,GRILLED / BBQ / SMOKER
Easy Peasy Crock Pot Chicken & Noodles
March 8, 2017 Lee
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Easy Peasy Crock Pot Chicken & Noodles

This sounds absolutely wonderful! Use the shortcut for the soup and you will have real condensed soup and not oil and water flavored chicken soup. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 7 hours
Total Time 7 hours 5 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4-5 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
  • 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup, OR make from a shortcut
  • 3 1/2 cups chicken broth, fresh or from powder
  • 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 standard block of butter
  • 500 grams dry egg noodles, I will use Fettuccine
  • salt and pepper

Instructions
 

  • Place everything except the noodles in a slow cooker, cook on Low setting for 5-6 hours.
  • Remove chicken, it may fall apart, shred with forks and return to the slow cooker. Add the egg noodles and mix in, cook for 2 more hours. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

Notes

The chicken breasts would be 80-100 Baht for 4-5. Going with 100, and 4 servings, this is about 74 cents per serving.
Shortcut: Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,Chicken - Slow Cooker
Mashed Potato Pie
March 8, 2017 Lee
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Mashed Potato Pie

This sounds really tasty as a side dish with meatloaf or a roast chicken or turkey. This is what I call a Leftover dish, using left over mashed potatoes, even the cottage cheese can be from a previous meal. On my to cook list. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups mashed potatoes, leftovers are perfect, room temp
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup Cottage cheese, OR make from a shortcut
  • 1/4 cup sour cream, OR make from a shortcut
  • 2 spring onions, chopped, white and green
  • 2 slices bacon, chopped, fried crisp
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 190 C. Lightly butter a baking dish.
  • In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs and add in the cottage cheese and sour cream. Stir to combine and add the potatoes and remaining ingredients. Mix together well and pour into the baking dish.
  • Bake for 20 minutes on the center rack, then move the dish to the upper rack and cook for another 6-7 minutes or until it begins to get golden brown. Let sit for a couple minutes before slicing, serve as a side.

Notes

Low cost.
Shortcuts: Cottage Cheese, Sour Cream.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Stephen Connell.
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,LEFTOVERS,POTATOES,SIDES
French Toast Bread Pudding
March 8, 2017 Lee
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French Toast Bread Pudding

Sounds really good, on my to cook list. If you are not near a bakery to get challah, make from scratch in your bread machine. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 loaf challah, OR make from a shortcut
  • 8 eggs
  • 5 cups half and half, or milk
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch ground cinnamon
  • pinch ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • confectioners sugar, for serving
  • maple syrup, for serving

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180 C. You will need a 9x13 baking dish, and a larger roasting pan that the baking dish will fit inside.
  • Slice your bread to 3/4 inch thick slices. Arrange the bread in two layers in a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking dish, cutting the bread to fit the dish. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, honey, orange zest, vanilla, and salt. Pour the mixture over the bread and press the bread down. Allow to soak for 10 minutes.
  • Place the baking dish in a larger roasting pan and add enough hot water to the roasting pan to come an inch up the side of the baking dish. Cover the roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil, tenting it so the foil doesn't touch the pudding. Make two slashes in the foil to allow steam to escape. Bake for 45 minutes, remove the foil, and bake for another 40 to 45 minutes, until the pudding puffs up and the custard is set. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.
  • Cut into squares and lightly dust the tops with confectioners sugar, serve with maple syrup on the side.

Notes

Low cost.
Shortcut: Challah or Egg Bread (Bread Machine).
Provided courtesy of good friend, Garland Davis, US Navy Cook (Ret).
United States.
* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving,DESSERTS,EGGS - ALL,Eggs - Chicken