Dinner - HIT n RUN TRAY BAKED CHICKEN - 0.63 USD per serving

Dinner

>> HIT N RUN TRAY BAKED CHICKEN <<



Cooking time :         70 - 80 mins 
Cost per serving:      5.00  MOP
                                  0.63  USD 
                                 28.88 PHP

What we need


Fresh or Frozen:

4 Chicken breasts                             =  30.00 Mop

Other ingredients:
(chopped)

Half Yellow Pepper
Half Red Pepper
Tomatoes
Onion
Garlic
scallions/ spring onions
Carrots
French beans
Mushrooms (Shitake)
Pepper
Salt
Paprika
Balsamic vinegar
Olive oil


Total may be about more or less 10.00 Mop

What I did

1. I watched this video.

2. I wanted some vegetables to go with it so I added carrots, french beans and some mushrooms. These veggies are left overs from the other dishes I made and I thought, why not add them here to lessen food waste. It works well anyway. :)

Cut chicken breast

Add in the chopped ingredients

Season and add olive oil

Mix well and pop into the oven

180°C for 1 hr

Done!

The pan I have available is small, but I was able to fit everything in it. One full pan can serve 8 up to 10 people. I was able to make 16 cuts from the 4 chicken breasts and at the end of the day we still have 3 left over chicken cuts. I used 8 serving for the computation.

I served the chicken with the mashed caulitato. ^_^
I was able make the mashed caulitato while this is baking in the oven.
Total serving is under 10.00Mop / 1.25 Usd / 57.00 Php
.

Thank you! :)
:)

ENJOY EATING AND SAVING!!!!!



Disclaimer 
Forex rate based on Google on the day this post was published.
Prices of ingredients are based in Macau. 

Breakfast - Almost Eggs Benedict - 1.10 USD per serving

Breakfast

>> ALMOST EGGS BENEDICT <<

Why almost? hehehe..

Here's the thing, It is a Monday and It is also a public holiday here in Macau. The locals are celebrating Ching Ming Festival and guess what, most of the stores are closed. And the few ones that are open don't have fresh delivery of bread today. So yes.. No English muffin.. :( But this is not the day to just give up!

I really want to try this breakfast dish and I thought this is the only day have to mess about and get it right. So I dropped the English muffin issue and used whatever I have in the fridge (hash brown potato patties) instead.

This is the most challenging dish I have done so far. I used Gordon Ramsay's youtube video and It's like I can hear Gordon yell at me while I was cooking.. "Fix it you, Donkey! or as you say Monkey!!" lol. Funny thought! This is my first time and I must say, I'm quite proud of the result!


Cooking time :         expectation : 10 mins
                                 reality         : 70 mins
                                 
Cost per serving:      8.75 MOP
                                  1.10 USD 
                                 50.50 PHP

What we need

Hollandaise sauce:

Eggs  = 3-4 eggs (depending on the size of the eggs)  = 2.00 Mop each = 6.00 Mop

Fun bit :
I used a total of 8 eggs to make 2 sets of hollandaise sauce because I messed up the first one.. hahaha..

The rest (each):

Hash Brown Potato Patties  = 2.00 Mop
Eggs                                     = 2.00 Mop
Ham                                     = 2.00 Mop

Other ingredients:

Canola Oil
2 oz Butter
Salt
Pepper
3/4 tbsp White wine vinegar
1 tsp Lemon juice

Total may be about more or less 5.00 Mop

What I did

Basically, I just followed the instructions in this video :
Yes this is Gordon Ramsay! hehehe!

1. I used whatever cheap chinese ham we have at home and cut them in half.
2. Heat the pan, pour some oil and cook them. :)

3. Once, done, set aside.
4. For the hash browns - using the same pan, pour some more oil. (It is better to deep fry them but we don't have that luxury.. ^_^
5. Once the oil is hot enough, drench the hash brown patties.
6. When they are golden brown on the other other side, flip them.
7. Once done, remove from oil and set aside.
8. Poach the eggs according to the video. I tried my best on this.. but I think if you are making more than 2 poach eggs, consider doing Jamie Oliver's techniques.

Here is Jamie and his poached eggs! :)

9. I did the hollandaise sauce last because I know that this is going to be a bit more challenging than the poached eggs. And I followed Gordon's video the best I could.

Here is the reality! I miserably failed on the first try. :)

I overcooked it at some point. I forgot to season it.
Put too much white wine vinegar and too much lemon!
It didn't taste horrible but I was just a bit too acidic for our taste.
Total casualty : 4 eggs and 2 oz of butter :(

Fortunately, my husband had my back and told me to try again.  Good Guy Hubby to the rescue!

We took turns in whisking and pouring the butter.. aaaaaaaawww so sweet..

We fixed the acidity issue and seasoned it well.

We realized how difficult it is to work with limited tools and resource.

We only have 1 pan, 1 pot and 1 glass bowl and none of those different kinds of ladles (I used a big spoon to take out the poached eggs from the water by the way..) 

But if there is a will, there is a way, right? Glad to make all these work! yeah!

Yup, this is how we made it. 

First Attempt that failed miserably! :) 

The better hollandaise sauce! :)

10. Do the thing! Base first which are the hash brown, then the ham, then the poached egg, and then the hollandaise sauce...

Done!

Thanks to my lovely hubby for supporting me and helping me. In the end, it was a team effort and we pulled it off!  How can't I love this guy!!! <3 <3 <3

Disclaimer 
Forex rate based on Google on the day this post was published.
All prices are based here in Macau, it may be lower or higher depending on the location.

Thank you! :)
:)

ENJOY EATING AND SAVING!!!!!

Breakfast - "Sa Pula, Sa Puti" Bacon Fried Rice - 0.99 USD per serving

Breakfast

>> "SA PULA, SA PUTI" BACON FRIED RICE <<

RED OR WHITE" BACON FRIED RICE - the history of "sa pula, sa puti" is used by people during cock fights on where they want to bet their money on; on the red rooster or the white rooster. Since today is Sunday and this is the legal day in our town to held cock fights. Why not incorporate it to our simple breakfast. I miss home. :)


Cooking time :         20 mins
Cost per serving:      7.88 MOP
                                  0.99 USD 
                                 45.50 PHP

What we need

Left overs:

Cooked crumbled rice        =  2 servings  =   2.50 Mop

A typical Filipino home always have cold cooked rice (leftover) but if you don't have this, you can cook rice early on or the night before. We usually use the cold rice for fried rice or porridge for breakfast.

Frozen goodies:

Bacon                     = 8 Strips = 24.00 Mop
Mixed Vegetables

Other ingredients:

Minced garlic
Minced onion
Chopped Spring onion
Minced chili pepper (optional)
A handful or 2 of mixed vegetable
1 knob of butter


Olive oil
Fish sauce
Seasoning
Tomato /spaghetti sweet style sauce
Eggs


Total may be about more or less 5.00 Mop

What I did

1. Heat the pan, add a bit of olive oil... just a bit!

2. Cook the bacon, it will start to sweat all that excess fat.. yeaaaaaaah!!!!
3. We have 8 strips of bacon so I just did 4 strips first and set it aside to cool.
4. Cook the other 4 strips to the crisp you like.
5. Chop the first 4 strips of  bacon.
6. Once the other 4 strips are cooked, remove them from the pan and set them aside.
7. Oh yeah, all those gorgeous oil in the pan, we are going to use it..add a knob of butter.
8. Be careful not to burn the butter, lift the pan from heat if needed.
9. Once the butter is melted, toast the garlic.
10. If you are happy with how beautify brown the chopped garlic are, add the onion, chili pepper and spring onion.
11. Mix them a bit, and then add the mixed vegetables.

12. Season them well but not too salty because the bacon is a bit salty already.
13. Add in the chopped cooked bacon.

14. And in the rice.
15. Get some fish sauce in there... about 1-2 tbsp, season well.
16. Mix them all and be merry!!!! (if only i have a wok, it will be a lot easier.. hehehe)

The "White" fried rice is done! Just take out some of the fried rice and set them aside.
Leave some for the "Red" fried rice. If you are too lazy to do the red, you don't have to do this... ^_^

17. You can use tomato paste + ketchup to make the red rice but I have a sweet style spaghetti sauce lying around from the Philippines, so I used it instead.
18. Just mix that in with the rice.
 19. Season again as you wish. I added paprika because the sauce is sweet and a bit acidic so, I kicked it a bit with spice.
20. Mix well and that's it!







Do your eggs in another pan, sunny, scrambled, whichever you like..
In our case, we don't like to season sunny eggs because we like to incorporate the eggs with the fried rice. If the fried rice is seasoned well, the unseasoned egg should be a compliment. :)

Done!

The fried rice can serve up to 8.
1 plate can serve up to 4 depending on the appetite.. hehehe :) . If you have a big family, just add more bacon and eggs :)


Disclaimer 
Forex rate based on Google on the day this post was published.



Thank you! :)
:)

ENJOY EATING AND SAVING!!!!!

Dinner - Pan Grilled Fish Fillet with Sweet Potatoes - 1.90 USD per serving

Dinner

>> PAN GRILLED FISH FILLET WITH SWEET POTATOES <<

Hubby caught the flu, tired, hungry and he needs to take medication as soon as possible so I need to serve our dinner as fast as I can...


Cooking time :         15-20 mins 
Cost per serving:      15.15 MOP
                                   1.90 USD 
                                 87.44 PHP

What we need


Store bought:

(2 servings)

Fish Fillet                            = 18.00 Mop
Japanese Sweet Potatoes    =   6.80 Mop
Rice                                    =   2.50 Mop

                  
Other ingredients:

Chopped tomatoes        
1 knob of butter (optional)
Olive oil
Seasoning

Total may be about more or less 3.00 Mop

What I did

1. Cook the rice like Filipinos normally do and just leave it for 15-20 mins until cooked.
2. Cook the potato for about 8 mins in a pan with water.

3. Use a fork to poke the potato, if it gets through smoothly, then it is cooked.
4. Remove from the pot and let it cool.
5. Heat the grilling pan
6. Add a bit of olive oil if you like but this is optional, just make sure that the fish fillet is moist, adding olive oil on the fish can do the trick.
7. Make sure the fillet is seasoned according to your taste. My hubby does not like too seasoned fish fillet since he likes dipping it in his special sauce. So I just seasoned our fish fillet with a bit of salt, pepper, a dash of paprika and rosemary.
8. Put the fish in the pan on its seasoned side.
9. Season the other side if you prefer.
10. Wait for it to cook and don't touch the fish or it'll start breaking apart.
11. Once halfway cooked, turn it to the other side.
12. By this time, you can add the chopped tomatoes on the side so they can be cooked with the fish. But I cooked mine with the sweet potatoes because I want butter on them. :)

13. While waiting for the fish to cook, do whatever you want with the potatoes, they can be peeled, sliced lengthwise or whichever or just eaten as it is..
14. Remove fish from the pan and the tomatoes and set aside, it will continue to cook even if it is removed from the pan though..
15. Add a knob of butter into the grill pan (optional).
16. Add in the sweet potatoes. The sweet potatoes are already cooked and we are just doing this to give it more personality. Besides, I like those lines on them.. And I am craving for butter. Pregnancy stuff... but there is no need to do this really.. :)


Done!

The rice is just an option really, this can be served without rice because we already have potatoes but since we are Filipinos and our meal is incomplete without the rice.. well.. yeah... carbs on top of carbs it is! :)

No leftovers tonight! Yehey!

Thank you! :)
:)

ENJOY EATING AND SAVING!!!!!



Disclaimer 
Forex rate based on Google on the day this post was published.

Lunch - Salmon and Broccoli Fusilli - 0.96 USD per serving

Lunch

>> SALMON AND BROCCOLI FUSILLI <<

Yes! It is the same salmon and broccoli from dinner last night. Let's find ways to minimize food waste and bring new life to our leftovers.

Cooking time :         5 - 10 mins 
Cost per serving:      7.56 MOP
                                 0.96 USD 
                                 43.64 PHP

What we need


Left overs:

Shredded Salmon                                 = 1 serving     = 11.25 Mop
Chopped Cheesy Buttered Broccoli     = 2 servings   =  5.00 Mop
Ginger Lemon Sauce                           =  2 servings   =  1.00 Mop














Other ingredients:

1 tsp   Minced garlic
1 tbsp Minced onion
1 tsp   Minced chili pepper (optional)
1 cup Chopped tomatoes
2 knobs of butter
Olive oil
Seasoning
250 grams fusilli / fusilloni pasta

Total may be about more or less 13.00 Mop

What I did

1. Boil water in a pot, put on high heat, add salt and a bit of pepper.
2. Heat a pan and add generous  amount of olive oil.
3. Once water is boiling, add the pasta and stir for a bit just to keep the pasta from sticking to each other.
4. Put 2 knobs of butter into the pan with oil and wait for the butter to melt.
5. Add the garlic, onion, chili pepper and season, let it cook for about 15 seconds.
6. Add the tomatoes, toss and let it cook for about 30 seconds.
7. Add the shredded salmon, season if needed. toss for about 20 seconds.
8. Check the pasta.

9. Add the chopped broccoli. toss for about 20 seconds.
10. Make sure everything is mixed and heated.

11. The pasta should be al dente by now. Remove pasta from the pot and transfer to the pan.
12. Add the left over ginger lemon sauce and mix everything together.
13. Add a knob of butter if needed or drizzle with olive oil
14. Add freshly chopped tomatoes (optional - i just love tomatoes)
15. Sprinkle with dried parsley, chili flakes, pepper or parmesan cheese if you like or drizzle with olive oil or lemon juice. (optional)

Done!

This is is actually good for 4 servings but knowing us, me and  hubby finished it all.. :)

Nothing was wasted! :)

Thank you! :)
:)

ENJOY EATING AND SAVING!!!!!



Disclaimer 
Forex rate based on Google on the day this post was published.

Breakfast - Salmon Fried Rice - 1.17 USD per serving

Breakfast

>> SALMON FRIED RICE <<

We are going to use most of the left overs from the dinner last night to save money and avoid wasting food as much as possible.

Cooking time :         10 mins
Cost per serving:      9.38 MOP
                                 1.17 USD 
                                 54.00 PHP

What we need

Left overs:

Shredded Salmon                = 1 serving     = 11.25 Mop
Crumbled Cooked Rice      = 2 servings   =   2.50 Mop

Other ingredients:

1 tsp   Minced garlic
1 tbsp Minced onion
1 -2    Chopped Spring onion
1 tsp   Minced chili pepper (optional)
1 handful of mixed vegetable
1 knob of butter
2 drops of sesame oil (optional)
Olive oil
Fish sauce
Seasoning
Egg

Total may be about more or less 5.00 Mop

What I did

1. Heat the pan, add ample amount of olive oil
2. Fry the egg (sunny side up or cooked all the way which ever you prefer). Season as you prefer.
3. Once done, take out of the pan and set aside.
4. Using the same pan, add a bit more of olive oil to cook everything (rice and all) maybe about 2-3 tablespoons.
5. Add a knob of butter and melt it together with the oil.
6. Add the garlic, onion, chili pepper and season.
7. Add a few drops of sesame oil which is optional, this is only for that umph asian flavor and smell.
8. Add the mixed vegetable. Stir fry for about a minute.
9. Add the shredded salmon. Stir fry for about a minute. Season if needed.
10. Add the crumbled cooked rice. Mix.
11. Add seasoning and fish sauce to taste.
12. Stir fry for about a minute or 2 until all ingredients are mixed well.
13. Add some chopped spring onions on top and remove from heat or pan.
14. Add the fried eggs on top of the rice.
15. Add tomatoes on the side if you feel like it. I love tomatoes :)

Done!

Disclaimer 
A. I apologize for not being able to take a photo of the dish. ^_^
My husband ate it before I was able to snap a photo. hehehehe..
We have included a photo taken from the internet for your reference though.

B. Forex rate based on Google on the day this post was published.



Thank you! :)
:)

ENJOY EATING AND SAVING!!!!!