True Cost of Supper

Hoisin Chicken Kebobs with Bok Choy and Peppers

I found this amazing recipe here from Food Network.  I found a deal on this magazine and was able to get a year's subscription for only $5!  Score!  There are so many amazing recipes, but they can seem a little intimidating.  We absolutely love to grill and I love it because there is much less clean up in the kitchen.  I'll do ANYTHING to have less mess--well ANYTHING may be a stretch, there's probably a limit somewhere there, but I haven't found it yet!  

Here's how they turned out:

I must say the chicken was wonderful.  It tasted as good as anything you could order at an Asian restaurant and I love knowing exactly what went into our food.  The last year or so I have been really trying to reduce the processed food we eat.  It's a delicate balance between expense and health.  Isn't it so sad that we often have to choose between those two?  Eating healthy is expensive!  Thankfully, we have a garden that is able to help with that cost.

Here's the breakdown of expense for this dish.  You'll see a few processed foods in there, especially the hoisin sauce.  I chose to take the easier way out on this one.  If you have a good, inexpensive hoisin sauce recipe I would love to have it!  We will definitely be making this again!

Hoisin Chicken Kebobs

Chicken Thighs  $4.48

Soy Sauce  $.08 (a staple)

Fresh Ginger  $.24

Asian Seasoning $2.59

Hoisin Sauce $2.39

Sesame Seeds $.50

Green Onion $.59

Kebobs $.99

Total: $11.86

Sides

Rice $3.98

Bok Choy $1.58

Red Pepper $1.50

Total: $7.06

Meal Total: $18.92 or $3.15/person (My family of 4 plus my parents!)

I will happily take this total for feeding all 6 of us.  There weren't any leftovers, but everyone left the table full!

Remember: I don't include the full price of an item if it is a staple for our family.  What is a staple for your family will obviously be different than what is for my family.  If something is not a staple for us and I buy it specifically for one dish, then I will include the full price of that item.

Family Reactions

Daddy: "I wish I could have eaten more, but I wasn't feeling the best." Bubbie: "Really good and the rice was super good." Sissy: "I didn't eat the chicken.  I ate applesauce." (Anyone noticing a pattern here? Thank goodness we're well stocked on applesauce.)

True Cost of Supper

Here to prove that more often than not cooking supper at home is cheaper and better and healthier...

Brown Beans and Cornbread with Tomatoes and Applesauce

Brown Beans:       $2

Fatback:               $.15--Kickin' it old school southern with this one! 

Cornmeal:             $.75

Milk:                     $.33

Flour:                    $.23
Sugar:                   $.29
Baking Powder:    $.08
Butter:                  $.38
Applesauce:         $.50
Tomatoes:            $ FREE from the garden!
Onion:                  $.24

Total: $4.95 or $.83/person for 6 people with leftovers!!

My parents are in town so the per person total is for all 6 of us!  Not bad at all!  If you are from the South then brown beans and cornbread is most likely a nostalgic comfort food for you.  It is a great, cheap meatless alternative.  My hubby is definitely a meat and potatoes, hold the potatoes, kind of man and this is one of his favorite meals.  Top it with freshly chopped onion or a little chow chow and you're good to go!

 Tip: Try replacing one meal a week with beans and you can save a ton of money!

Family Reactions

Daddy: "Top mine with some onion!"  Mommy: "Put them in the crock pot and dinner only takes a couple of minutes!"  Bubbie: "Really, really, really, really good."  Sissy: "I didn't eat brown beans.  I like cornbread."

True Cost of Supper

Here to prove that more often than not cooking supper at home is cheaper and better and healthier...

Ham & Swiss Poppyseed Rolls with Applesauce and Broccoli

Ham & Swiss Rolls
Deli Ham $2.50
Swiss Cheese $2.89
Poppy Seeds: These are expensive, but last forever.  I'm going to estimate about $.50 for this dish.
Mustard: Ballpark estimate of $.25
Worcestershire Sauce: estimate of $.15
Dried minced onions: estimate of $.10
Butter: $.75
Hawaiian Rolls: $3.99

Total: $11.13 or $2.78/person for our family of 4

Sides
Applesauce: $.50
Broccoli: $1.09

Total: $1.59 or $.40/person


Total for Dinner and Dessert: $12.72 or $3.18/person

Well this dinner didn't go exactly as planned.  Bad News: I don't have a picture.  Good News: We got home really late from t-ball and baseball games, BUT because I had menu planned and I knew I had the ingredients on hand for a quick meal, we were able to eat at home and healthier than if we went through a drive through!

So...instead of a picture of food, here's a cute picture of the kiddos from baseball!

Family Reactions

Daddy: "We need these at least once a week!" Mommy: "They were yummy and super quick!"  Bubbie: "I like the ham and cheese, but don't love the topping." Sissy: "I didn't eat it."

Tip: Make sure you maintain a well stocked pantry and buy when ingredients are on sale.  This greatly reduces your dinner costs and ensures that you aren't buying multiple staples in one week, just to make one meal.

True Cost of Supper

Here to prove that eating supper at home rather than going out is cheaper and better and healthier...

Buffalo Shrimp Salad

sorry no picture =( I completely forgot!

Lettuce: $1.79

Celery: $1.69

Croutons: $1.29

Buffalo sauce: $.50 (This is an estimate, we use this stuff like crazy, so I'm only accounting for the portion we used.)

Gouda: $5.49 (A bit of a splurge and I'm including the entire price because even though we will eat what's left, we wouldn't have bought it otherwise.)

Bleu Cheese dressing: $2.00

Shrimp: $6.24 (Buy shrimp that aren't peeled and raw, it doesn't take long to peel them and is a huge $ saver!)

Butter: $.10

Total: $19.10 or $4.78/person DEFINITELY cheaper than eating shrimp at a restaurant!

Recipe

1. Saute shrimp with about 1 Tablespoon of butter.

2. Mix in about 1/2 cup of our favorite buffalo sauce. We love Frank's!

3. Cut up lettuce, Gouda, and celery.  Mix together in a salad bowl.

4. Top with shrimp and some of the sauce still in the pan.

5. Add croutons.

6. Use your favorite salad dressing.  Nothing can beat the taste of buffalo sauce and bleu cheese!

Family Response

Daddy: "Love it!"   Mommy: "So good and easy!"  Bubbie: "Really good!"   Sissy: "I didn't eat it."  =)

True Cost of Supper

Here to prove that more often than not cooking supper at home is cheaper and better and healthier...

Sausage, Peppers, & Onions over Rice

Sausage: $1.69
Peppers: FREE from our garden!
Onion: $.64
Uncle Ben's Long Grain & Wild Rice: ~$3 (purchased previously and I can't find the receipt :(  )
Applesauce: ~$3 for the whole jar, so around $.50 for everyone tonight!
Tomatoes: FREE from our garden!
 
Total: $5.83 or $1.48/person...cheaper than a fast food value menu!  PLUS enough leftovers for lunch, score!

Simple recipe
1. Cut up peppers, onion, sausage.  I like to cut the sausage on the bias (fancy cooking word for diagonal).  I just think it looks pretty.
2. Saute in some olive oil with salt and pepper.
3. Take the easy way out and use microwave rice!
4. Put sausage, peppers, and onion over rice.  Serve with whatever veggies or fruit you might on hand.

Super easy!