Arugula with Apples and Prok

Super simple and delicious.

1 1/2 cups arugula
1 Apple, cut into pieces
2~3 oz pork, cooked and chopped
Balsamic vinegar, olive oil
Salt and Pepper

Toss everything together and serve.

(P.s. Chicken or shrimp would work just as well)

Caprese Bruschetta

Ingredients:

• 1 handful of zebra tomatoes, sliced
• Small handful basil, chiffonade
• 1 hoagie role sliced (but an Italian or French bread would be better)
• ¼ cup of mozzarella, shredded
• Drizzle Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper to taste

1) On a baking dish line with slices of bread.

2) Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toast until golden brown.

3) In a bowl toss tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella. Liberally coat with salt, pepper, and olive oil.

4) Serve caprese salad on toast.

Cost breakdown:
Tomatoes: $1.75/2= $0.87
Basil: $1.09/3= $0.36
Mozzarella: $2.47/8= $0.31
Hoagie: $0.45

Total: $0.87+$0.36+$0.31+$0.45=$1.99

Easy. Breezy. Beautiful*. Melon Salad.

*Not to be confused with CoverGirl Cosmetics.

Melon Salad

When I went to the Farmer’s Market there was a cooking demonstration by Bay Area chef Stephanie Rosenbaum. She made this beautiful summer salad and I just had to make it. To see her original recipe go to www.sjrosenbaum.com 

I guess I forgot to take a picture of the ingredients…

Ingredients:

• 2~3 cups Watermelon, cubed
• 2 cups Cantaloupe, cubed
• ¾ cups Radishes, cut in half and sliced
• 3 stalks celery, sliced
• Large handful basil, roughly chopped
• Large handful cilantro, roughly chopped

Dressing:

• A couple tablespoons sugar
• A couple tablespoons fish sauce
• Juice of 1 Lime
• Small nub of ginger grated
• Salt, to taste

1) Toss all the fruits, vegetables, and herbs together.

2) In a separate dish mix the dressing together. Adjust the amount of each ingredient to taste.

3) Toss everything together.

Eat alone or serve alongside a piece of pan seared fish. Or any other appropriate protein.

Cost breakdown:
Watermelon: $1.33/3= $0.44
Cantaloupe: $0.58/2= $0.29
Radishes: $0.49/2= $0.25
Celery: $0.89/10= $0.09
Basil: $1.09/3= $0.36
Cilantro: $1/3= $0.33
Lime: $0.10
Ginger: $0.10
Fish sauce& Sugar: Not that I expect most people to have fish sauce on hand (like sugar), a couple tablespoons out of a big bottle is very hard to calculate so…

Total: $0.44+$0.29+$0.25+$0.09+$0.36+$0.33+$0.10+$0.10=$1.96 for three or so servings

Chicken Salad

A refreshing, sweet salad!

Ingredients:

• 4oz grilled chicken breast
• ½ peach
• A couple stalks of celery
• A couple stalks green onion
• ¼ cup plain yogurt
• ½ tablespoon dried tarragon (fresh if you got it)

1: Chop up all ingredients and combine.

Done!

Cost breakdown:

• Chicken: ¼ lb x $1.19/lb= $0.30
• Peach: $1.15/3= $0.38 
• $0.38/2= $0.19
• Celery: $0.89/8= $0.11
• Green Onion: $0.25/8= $0.03
• Plain Yogurt: $2.99/4= $0.75/cup 
• $0.75/4= $0.19
• Tarragon: Negligible 

Total: $0.30+ $0.19+ $0.11+ $0.03+ $0.19= $0.82

I seriously think I'm Southern.

Pulled Pork Sliders (because if it's tiny it's fancy, right?)

 Ingredients:

For Pulled Pork Sliders:

• 1/3 lb pork shoulder
• 2~4 tablespoons sugar
• 2~4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2~3 ounces tomato sauce
• Chili Flakes (optional)
• 4 Biscuits (from Southern Fried Chicken, not pictured)

For Peach Slaw:

• 1/8 head nappa cabbage
• 1 carrot
• 1/8~1/4 cup milk
• ¼ jalapeno, ribbed and seeded

1) Cut pork into 1 inch cubes.

2) Place in pan and sear off all edges.

3) In a small pot add all remaining ingredients plus about 3 ounces of water. Taste concoction; add more sugar or soy sauce depending on personal preference.

4) Add meat. Simmer for about an hour.

5) Once cooked and tender take two forks and pull meat apart.

Side note I: If you want you can use your hands or just use a knife to chop the meat up.

6) Place an equivalent amount on each biscuit, split in half.

While pork is simmering:

1) Chop nappa cabbage, peach, carrot, and jalapenos.

2) Combine vinegar, sugar, and milk.

3) Combine everything. Let sit until pork finishes cooking.

Cost Breakdown:
Sliders:

• 1/3 lb pork: $3/3= $1 
• Sugar: I’m assuming everyone has on hand…
• Chili flakes: $0.02?
• 1/3 can Tomato Sauce (8oz):  $0.69/3= $0.23
• 4 biscuits: $0.10x4= $0.40 (Check this for full breakdown)

Sliders Total: $1+$0.02+$0.23+$0.40= $1.65 for four

Per Slider: $1.65/4= $0.41

Peach Slaw:

• Nappa Cabbage: $1.27/8= $0.16
• Carrot: $0.07
• Jalapeno: $0.08/4= $0.02
• Peach: $1.15/3= $0.38 
• $0.38/2= $0.19
• Milk: $0.30/3= $0.10
• Vinegar: Uhmm.. The bottle doesn’t have serving sizes but I’m assuming not much.

Slaw Total: $0.16+$0.07+$0.02+$0.19+$0.10= $0.54+Vinegar

Meal Total: $1.65+$0.54= $2.19

Citrus Slaw with Chicken

I wanted something easy and fresh. This is what I came up with.

Ingredients:

• Cooked Chicken (about ½ cup- ¾ cup)
• 1/8 of a head of cabbage
• 1 carrot
• ½ lime
• 1 orange
• 2 block of cilantro
• Salt and Pepper

Side note I: I hate that when I buy a bunch of cilantro I always end up throwing a way a bunch. I saw online that you can take cilantro and freeze it in water so that’s what I did with all of it. It ended up filling two ice trays.

1) Unfreeze cilantro and drain (or use fresh).

2) Shred cabbage and carrot.

3) Toss together cilantro, cabbage, carrot, and chicken together.

4) Add salt and pepper.

5) Squeeze lime juice over mixture.
Side note II: Before you cut your lime, apply pressure and roll over a counter to increase juice. You can also microwave it for about 15 seconds. You can also use a juicer/poke the flesh of the lime to increase juice yield.

6) Segment orange and toss with the rest.

7) Serve.

Cost breakdown:

• Chicken: We’ve been over my chicken meat picked from my broth carcass. I’m not doing that math. Lol.
• Cabbage: $0.78/8= $0.10
• Carrots: $0.59/8= $0.07
• Lime: $0.15/2= $0.08
• Orange: $1.19/5= $0.24
• Cilantro: $0.39/28= $0.015 
• $0.015x2= $0.03

Total: $0.10+$0.07+$0.08+$0.24+$0.03=$0.52