Red French Onion Soup

So French onion soup is another one of those dishes that can be very expensive but doesn't have to be.  It is always an elegant meal, and only moderately time consuming.  Whether you are pairing it with a grand main course, or it is the main course, just remember to have a little fun with it too!

Ingredients:

1 red onion

1 white onion

1 can beef consume

1/4lb soft white cheese (mozzarella will work fine)

6 slices white bread (preferably a french loaf)

seasoning (see directions)

Serves: 2 for dinner

Time: 1 hour

Directions:

1) Start with a little olive oil or butter in your pan, to help the sliced onions brown.  This always take more time than you think-- And being French Onion soup, is really important. Feel free to season as you like as well.  Black pepper and a little salt are always good places to start! Garlic and a splash of wine are classics too.

2) While you are turning the onions over until they are soft and well seasoned you can prepare the bread and cheese.  The cheese needs to be in large slices, as with the bread.  If you have a true French loaf, cut the bread at an angle so make the slices seem larger.  I used Italian sliced bread because it was on sale, but any soft white bread will work well enough.  Just make sure you cut off the crust!

3) Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

4) Add one can of beef consume and 2 cans of water to the cooked onions.  You can also preheat the consume mixture in a sauce pan to safe time.

5) Once everything is hot, included the oven, start to layer the bowls with your soup. First add some of the onions and consume to the bottom of the bowl.  Then add a piece of the bread.  Then cover in cheese slice(s).  repeat until the bowl if full.  About three slices makes for a filling and beautiful dinner!

6) After you have finished layering the soups, place on a baking sheet and then into the oven!  back for 15 to 20 minutes.  Serve hot!

Note: Onions are not traditionally on top of the bread.  I just think it's a pretty finish :)

Cost:

onion                   $0.75

beef consume      $1.20

cheese                 $1.70

bread                   $0.60

butter                   $0.10      

Total                   $4.35

Per serving         $2.17

Comfort Food For the weekdays: Itlain Sausage in Angle Hair Pasta

Pasta is one of those dishes that can be quick and pretty good, or slow and Mama Mia good.   I offer a weeknight compromise: Quick pasta, slow rest-of-the-ingredients, and dinner is served on time!

Ingredients:

1lb Italian sausage
1 red onion
4tbs olive oil
1 jar red sauce
2tbs basil
1tbs oregano
1tsp black pepper
1/2 package angle hair pasta

Serves: 4+

Time: 35min

Directions:

1) Start boiling the water.  You will need about 4 cups.  Feel free to add a little salt and olive oil as well, as discussed in prior posts :)

2)Add the olive oil to the pan and turn onto medium heat.  Give extra time to warm up if using an electric oven.

3) Add all the sausage, pre-chopped or separated in the pan.  I prefer to separate in the pan, personally.  Also add your sliced onions at this time.

4) If you choose to use all the spices listed, add them now, so they have time to soften and mellow.  If you are using less spices than listed above, you may want to add them later on so they will taste more potent. Yes, spices are always optional.  Well... usually.

5) While you are cooking the meat thoroughly, and keeping a close eye on it, add the pasta to the boiling water.

6) Add most of the the jar of red sauce to the pan.*

*The reason for "most of the jar" is you may want to save a little out for making pizza!  Its super easy to do with pasta left overs.  Just save a little of the sliced onion, and a little of the meat too-- all in separate baggies of course.  We will come back to this at a later post ;)

7) Angle hair pasta cooks quickly, making it both elegant and time efficient.  After about 5 to 7 minutes, you should be prepared to drain the pasta and add it directly to the pan of yummy stuff.

8) Mix everything well and serve hot!

Cost:

Italian sausage    $3.56
red onion            $0.50
olive oil              $0.20
red sauce            $2.00
spices                 $0.35
pasta                   $0.50      
Total                  $7.11
Per serving         $1.77

For the work days: A Hearty, Comfort Food, Bake Dish Potato Casserole II

This one is with meat!  As much as I'm all for being vegetarian friendly, (for both environmental and for cost reasons),  my husband and I do love our meat.  That said, its another week day, so something quick and easy is in order :)

Ingredients:
1             bake potato
1 c          broccoli
1/2          bell pepper
1/16 lb.   Monterey Jack Cheese
2             sausages
seasonings to taste
2 tbs       half&half

Time:
15 min to prep
30 min to bake
45 min total*

Serves: 2 people

*What makes this dish quick is you can do all the prep the morning or even the day before and then just cover it and stick it in the fridge.  Pop it in the oven when you walk in the door, and by the time your ready to eat, dinner is "magically" done!

Directions:

1) Skin the potato.  It doesn't have to be perfect.  If you are going to leave some skin on, then you should make sure the potato is scrubbed extra thoroughly before you start.

2) Chop the potato into slim chunks ( and yes I know that's an oxymoron) and place in the bottom of your 8X6 or 8X8 casserole dish.  If you are making this dish for more than 2 people, then you will need to double all ingredients accordingly and increase the dish size.

3) Add the half&half and turn over the potato pieces to make sure they are all covered.  This is particularly important if you are preparing the dish in advance, as it keeps the potato from browning.  Even if you are preparing this dish in advance, this will make the potato not stick to the bottom of the dish and you still want to add the half&half.  The higher fat content of half&half will make it taste richer, but feel free to substitute.

4) Pre heat the oven to 350. Or do this step at the otherwise appropriate time :)

5) Layer desired veggies and meat.  In this case I fire roasted the bell pepper (and then scrubbed the burned skin off) to give the dish a sweeter taste.  As you've probably noticed, I am a big fan of broccoli.  The sausage does not need to be precooked, and actually works better if you don't!

6) Slice and layer the cheese on the top of the casserole.  Feel free to add seasons of choice.  I chose: Fresh rosemary, dried thyme, black pepper, and a dash of garlic powder.

7) Cover and place in the oven.  Cook for 30 minutes.  Serve hot!

Cost:

bake potato                   $0.50

broccoli                        $0.25

bell pepper                   $0.50

Monterey Jack Cheese $0.80

sausages                       $0.75

half&half                      $0.20

Total                             $3.00
Per person                    $1.50

Marsala Chicken

This is one of those (many) Italian dishes that is so much better to make yourself.  And more affordable too!

Ingredients:
1c         white mushrooms, washed and sliced
1c         Marsala wine
4           chicken breasts, or equivalent tenders in weight
1 tsp     oregano
1tbs      basil
1/2 tsp  salt
4 tbs     olive oil
7oz       pasta
1/4c      all purpose flour

Time: 
10 min prep
20 min cooking
30 min total

Serves: 4 people +

There is a lot of flexibility in this dish. Any pasta works-- So just pick your favorite!  I chose "star" pasta for this dish because it's an easy way to give the dish a "thick, hardy taste," which my husband prefers.  Were I making this for just me, I would use whole wheat spiral pasta, as that is my personal favorite. Along those lines, feel free to add more or less seasonings depending on taste. Pepper is very commonly in this dish.  Most of all-- Have fun!!

Direction:

1) Wash and slice the mushrooms-- Never trust that they are "pre-washed" unless you like the idea of literally eating shit.

2) Start the water boiling for the pasta.

3) In a high lipped plate, mix together the flower, salt, oregano, and basil.

4) Coat the thawed chicken in the flour mixture.

5) Place the chicken into a large skillet with the hot olive oil. (Aka, the stove is already on.)

5) Brown the chicken on both sides. This will take a few minutes for each side.

6) Add the mushrooms and cover the skillet.  This will help the mushrooms 'sweat.' This is only to get them started, so don't exceed 5 minutes.

7) Add the pasta to the now boiling water.

8) Add the sherry and cover again. This time cover for 10 minutes.  Interrupt the 10 minutes to turn the chicken over.

9) Uncover the chicken for the final few minutes to thicken the sauce. Add a sprinkling of flour if necessary.

10) Drain the pasta and mix in well with the Chicken Marsala.  Serve warm!

Cost:
white mushrooms     $1.50
Marsala wine            $2.00
chicken                     $2.00
oregano                    $0.10
basil                         $0.35
salt                            $0.02
olive oil                    $0.50
flour                          $0.20
pasta                         $0.25
Total                         $6.92
Per person                $1.73

Date Night in Style

Actual Date Night Tips

So obvious/typical tips for dining Date Night on the cheap:
1) Weeknight Specials
2) Happy Hour
3) Don't get a beverage
4) Definitely don't get an alcoholic beverage

These tips are great-- but take some of the fun out of Date Night... And are not always practical--Especially if you work late, have a weekday job and/or want to toast with something other than water.

Alternative solution: Sharing is caring!  Free appetizer coupons are pretty wildly available with purchase of an entree.  So purchase AN entree.  As pictured above, after we shared a lovely plate of deep friend calamari (on the house) we shared the sizzling plate of seafood fajitas.  And it was amazing! I struggled with the crab legs which only made it more Date-y as my partner in crime had to help me.  It tasted amazing, looked amazing, and was a conversation piece in itself.  As we did go there for happy hour, the house wine was $4, and completed the event!  Between the awesome food and touch of wine, everyone left feeling like a King and Queen.

Costco Cooking: The Sour Cream

Buying in bulk saves you money... But only if it doesn't spoil before you eat it...

So how to keep life interested, and buy at discount while only feeding two people at a time?  Point and case, the sour cream container from Costco is THREE pounds.  Additionally, keeping life interesting means not having tacos every night.  As we are currently in the Olympics--I thought a sampling of cuisine was in order. And once the container is open, the clock is ticking, so:

1) White Beef Stroganoff  (Russian)

2) Fajitas!  (Mexican-ish... apparently it's more Tex-Mex)

3) Pumpkin Bolani (Afghan)

Image complements of Google

4) Panini with dipping sauce (Italian, mostly)

5) Red Beef Stroganoff!

...And with that, the THREE pounds of sour cream were actually gone... Incase you prefer a different variety of cultures, below are the remainder of the list as was planned:

6) Meatballs in Sour Cream Sauce (Swedish)

7) Corn Chowder (US, and because I love corn chowder)

Got guests? Got budget? $2.00 per person for dinner

So the only thing I seem to have less of than money is time.
The challenge:  Cook dinner for four people,  for three days, under $25 TOTAL, and in less than 2 hours TOTAL. Oh, and the food has to be pretty.

Challenge accepted!

Saturday:
Turkey stuffed bell peppers with a side of roasted asparagus

Serves: Easily 4 people. 

Prep time: 
20 min to pan fry all 'inner' ingredients
40 min to bake                                       
1hr TOTAL

Shopping list:
1 package ground turkey
1 package mushrooms, whatever one's are you favorite/on sale
1 1/2 cup frozen broccoli
1 cup frozen corn
3-4 bell peppers, pick your favorite colors
1 small bundle asparagus
Monterey cheese, or a somewhat hard white cheese of your choice
1 egg
1 slice of toast

In case you can't tell, I believe in opportunistic cooking!

Things I'm assuming you have on hand:
olive oil
pepper
basil, oregano, or really whatever you like here
red pepper
salt, always to taste
a bottle of chilled white wine, always to taste

Instructions:
1) Open the bottle of wine and pour a glass
2) Pan fry the ground turkey, pulling apart in to mouth-size-bits. in other words, you want a chunk on the end of the fork.  Butter would also work here, but I tend to use olive oil, (or bacon grease).
3) Season to taste, preferably heavy on the pepper, and just a dash of red pepper for kick!
4) Add the slivered mushroom and 1/4 cup of white wine if desired. Allow to steam for 5 minutes with the lid on.
5) Then add the broccoli and corn and cook another 5 minutes to evaporate some of the liquid off.
6) Meanwhile, prepare the washed bell peppers.  I put them long ways so to be able to uses both halves without having to include the steam of the bell pepper--although this does make them more difficult to stuff.
**) Put half of the pan ingredients into a left-over container-- It's for Monday night!
7) Turn off the the stove and let sit (3 min) so as not to cook the egg.
8) Add one egg and one slice of toast, chopped up, directly to the pan.  No extra dishes!
9) Stir everything together.  You now have you 'inner' ingredients.
10) Stuff the bell peppers.  The mushrooms may not be cooked all the way-- that's fine.
11) Top with cheese and place on a baking sheet.
12) Lay the washed and snapped asparagus on the other half of the same baking sheet and drizzle olive oil and salt/pepper to taste.  It's okay for everything to get cozy.
13) Bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 325. Serve hot.
14) Get back to that wine-- It's a Saturday night!

Cost:

$2.50          ground turkey

$2.00          mushrooms

$0.75          broccoli 

$0.75          corn

$3.00          bell peppers

$1.50          asparagus 

$0.75          cheese

$0.20          egg

$0.60          slice of toast

$12.05

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday:

Lemon-Mustard Steel Head

Serves: Easily 4 people. 

Prep time: 

7 min to prep

20 min to bake                                       

27 min TOTAL

Shopping list:

1 package of steel head fish (or salmon but steel head is cheaper.)

white rice

1/2 package of peas

1 lemon

Things I'm assuming you have on hand:

butter

pepper

basil, oregano, or really whatever you like here

red pepper

salt, always to taste

mustard

Instructions:

1) Start the rice. As you will only be using half of it tonight, I'm recommending three cups or rice with double that in water. 

2) On a sheet of aluminum foil, lay out slices of lemon.

3) Lay the fish on top of the lemon and season to taste.  Rosemary is amazing on this one!

4) Drible mustard on top of the fish and baste the fish with a back of the spoon.  A sweet mustard works best, such as apple honey mustard or champagne mustard.

5) Fold foil over the fish and roll to seal. Bake for 20 minutes at 350.

6) Meanwhile, melt 1/8 cup of butter in sauce pan.

7) Add peas and seasonings to taste.  Cook until just warm, with constant stirring.  You want the peas to maintain their firmness to counter the softer textures of the rest of the dish.

8) When the rice is done, you are done-- Serve hot!

Cost:

$8.00          fish

$1.00          rice

$0.50          lemon

$1.00          peas            

$10.50        TOTAL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday:

Turkey Stir-Fry!

Serves: 4 people.  (Adjust rice proportion if necessary.)

Prep time: 

20 min stir fry time

20 min TOTAL

Shopping list:

NOTHING-- It's a Monday, who want's to go to the store ;P

Things I'm assuming you have on hand:

oil

pepper

soy sauce

sesame seed oil (optional but amazing!)

red pepper

Sriracha or other hot sauce 

salt, always to taste

Instructions:

1) Add yesterday's rice to a hot pan with about 1/4 cup of oil in it.  Canola oil is recommend.

2) Go heavy handed on the seasons, but light on the soy sauce-- it's salt heavy.  

3) Drizzle the sesame seed oil on top of the rice and turn over the rice continuously.

4) Add in the 'inner' ingredients of turkey and continue to season to taste.

5) Serve up and dash of Sriracha on top, to complete the look.  Serve with chop sticks.

Cost:

At this point you have spent a couple dollars in seasonings and oil over three days.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Total time: 1 hour and 47min

Total cost: $22.55, plus seasonings