Splurge of the Week: Snappy Salmon Fillets

Everyone deserves to indulge once in a while, so why not treat yourself to a nice meal as well?  Again, we like to keep recipes simple so this is a quick and easy meal.  

Ingredients

Snappy Salmon Fillets

·         ¼  cup Kikkoman soy sauce

·         1 tbsp. packed brown sugar

·         1 teaspoon grated fresh lemon peel

·         1/8  cup lemon juice

·         1 tbsp. minced garlic

·         2 salmon fillets

·         Lemon wedges

      Directions

Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, lemon peel and juice; pour over salmon in large plastic food storage bag. Press air out of bag, close top securely. Turn bag over several times to coat all pieces well. Marinate 30 to 40 minutes turning over once.  Broil salmon 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until fish flakes when tested with fork. Serve with lemon wedges.

*Serves 2

Results

Price

Salmon:            $5.16          Lemon Juice:   $0.97

Soy Sauce:       $0.37          Garlic:              $0.28

Brown Sugar:   $0.03           Rice:                $1.49

Lemon:             $0.30           Peas:               $1.79

                                         Total: $10.39

Lemon Garlic Chicken

Hope everyone is enjoying their last few hours of April fools.  I managed to get fooled by the folks at Google with their Gmail Motion Beta program and Woot's "Bag of Crap" promotion.  What were some pranks you pulled or received?  Hope you enjoy today's recipe, it's one of our favorite recipes.

Ingredients

·          10 oz boneless chicken breasts

·          1 cup Italian bread crumbs

·          1/4 cup parmesan cheese

·          2-3 tbsp garlic powder (depending on how much garlic flavor you want)

·          1 1/2 tbsp butter

·          2 tbsp lemon juice

·          1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

Directions

1) In a medium sized bowl mix in the bread crumbs, 2-3 tablespoons of garlic powder, and the parmesan cheese.  Also preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 

2) Put butter, lemon juice, and a pinch of garlic powder in a cereal sized microwavable bowl.  Then throw the bowl into the microwave (not literally it'll break) for 30-40 seconds or until the butter is melted.

4) Now comes the finger licking good part; breading the chicken.  Soak each chicken breast into the butter mixture then thoroughly bread the chicken.  For extra flavoring, this step can be repeated if desired.

5) Before placing the chicken into a baking pan, coat the pan with cooking spray to prevent the breading from sticking to the pan. 

6) Cook each side for 8-10 minutes or until cooked.  For extra flavor and texture, melt mozzarella cheese onto the chicken for about a minute.

7) Enjoy!

Serves 2

Results

Price

Chicken:                 $4.25                Garlic Powder:   $0.46

Bread Crumbs:       $1.07                Butter:                $0.15

Mozz Cheese:         $0.56                Lemon Juice:      $0.09

Parmesan Cheese: $0.97                 Corn:                   $0.73

                             Total: $8.28

*Price is adjusted for portion used

Egg and Cheese Express

Hey folks,

Although this is a pretty straight forward recipe, you can never beat the classic egg and cheese.  Whether you are rushing to work or class, or just too damn lazy to make that 3 egg gourmet omelet, this recipe is for you.  Not only is it a fast make, it's cheap too!

Ingredients

·         1 whole wheat bun or whatever your little heart desires

·         1 large egg

·         1-2 slices of cheddar cheese

·         Cooking spray

Directions

1) Start by toasting the bun in a toaster.

2) Line a microwave safe cereal sized bowl with cooking spray.

3) Crack egg into bowl and beat until thoroughly mixed.

4) Before cooking the egg throw a slice or two of cheese onto the bun so it melts and fuses with the bread.

5) Put the egg in the microwave for 1:00 minute or until cooked (Put it in for 10-20 more seconds if the center is still liquid).

6) Bada bing bada boom throw the egg onto the bun and there you go!

Results

Price

Egg:      $0.27              

Bun:      $0.50

Cheese: $0.30

                             Total: $1.07

*Price is adjusted for portion used

Chicken Fried Rice

Cooks for 2-3 people

Ingredients

•              4 (2 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast halves
•              1 cup short grain brown or white rice
•              1 1/2 cups mixed veggies
•              2 large eggs
•              2 tablespoons soy sauce
•              2 tablespoons canola oil
•              1 teaspoon oyster sauce
•              1 tablespoon rice cooking wine
•              1 tablespoon Lawry's teriyaki w/ pineapple juice
•              1 tablespoon minced garlic

Directions

1)    Cook rice and store in the fridge overnight or for at least 4-5 hours before cooking.

2)    Cut chicken into 1/4 inch pieces; place in a resealable plastic bag. Add 1 tablespoon of Lawry's Teriyaki with Pineapple Juice. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

3)    In a large skillet or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil with 1 tablespoon of minced garlic until brown; stir-fry chicken until no longer pink, about 3-5 minutes. Add veggies cooking until brown.

4)    While stir-frying the chicken and veggies add 1 tablespoon of canola oil to the rice in a large skillet or wok; shape the rice in the pan into a shape of a donut; crack one egg into the center of the hole and mix; repeat again for the 2nd egg.

5)    Once the eggs are cooked mix the chicken and veggies with the rice; Add of rice cooking wine, oyster sauce, and of soy sauce.  Mix in at medium heat until thoroughly mixed.

6)    Enjoy!

Results

Price

Chicken: $4.00               Canola Oil: $0.03

Veggies: $0.86               Lawry's:     $0.27

Rice:      $0.35               Oyster:      $0.07

Eggs:     $0.27               Soy:          $0.28

Wine:     $0.16

                             Total: $5.29

*Price is adjusted for portion used

Eating on a Budget

This blog was created as a way to showcase the way me and my girlfriend eat on a low budget.  She is an engineering student, and I am a recent graduate working for the National Guard and some crap minimum wage job (I guess the market is bad).  Although we don't make a ton of money, we are able to live happily and most importantly eat well.  Anyways enjoy, and if you have any ideas, feel free to give us suggestions!

We are going to make a chicken stir fry for dinner tonight, more to come.

Mike