Saturday, October 26, 2013

GOURMET MEALS FOR $5 OR UNDER: MEAL 14 OF 25

ROASTED CHICKEN 
W/ STEAMED VEGETABLES

Total Cost: $3.88/serving
Total Preparation Time:  1 hr

Just a touch obsessive-compulsive, I tend to be very deliberate about arranging and photographing food only to spend hours editing images until they reach a desired look. But they all lacked one thing: a copyright label. Therefore, for a solid hour before writing out a single word, I methodically augmented some of the recent photos with straight, wavy and arched tags. Having completed that task, I felt perfectly justified to move on to tonight's dish.

So far, life in the Okanagan pampered me with breath-taking views and fresh food. Leaping from farm stand to farm stand, speaking with the very people who had grown the fruit and vegetables now in my possession, I feel alive and motivated to savour each bite. Shopping at the local Market Place IGA, I could not pass up a fresh whole chicken grown and packed locally on the same day. Placing it gently in the cart, just far enough from Marcus' curious eye, I pictured a well browned, flavourful and succulent bird, flying out of a scorching oven and smoothly landing on my dinner plate. I had to have it!

Motivated by the vivid imagery earlier in the day, I got to business. First, I prepared the stuffing by chopping onions, carrots, Cremini mushrooms and dried dates, then mixing it with a little bit of extra-virgin olive oil. Once stuffed, rubbed with olive oil and sprinkled with tarragon, saffron and black pepper, the chicken went into a pre-heated oven to cook at 450° F for 15 minutes or until it slightly browns. I then reduced the heat to 375° F and let it bake for 35 more minutes.








MEASURE
WEIGHT (g)
INGREDIENT
COST PER PACKAGE ($)
TOTAL COST ($)
COST PER SERVING ($)
¼
39
Onion, large
2.18/kg
0.09

1
98
Carrot
3.98/5lb
0.17

N/A
48
Cremini mshrms
3.48/lb
0.37

4
79
Dried dates
12.90/2lb
1.12

2
30
Organic olive oil
9.49/500ml
0.57

1
Unspecified
Whole chicken
8.34/chicken
8.34

TOTAL
10.66*
2.67
*Makes 4 servings

While the chicken was cooking, I boiled a few mini potatoes and separately, steamed broccoli, Brussel sprouts and cauliflower. 

MEASURE
WEIGHT (g)
INGREDIENT
COST PER PACKAGE ($)
TOTAL COST ($)
COST PER SERVING ($)
5
180
Mini potatoes
4.99/5lb
0.40

N/A
46
Broccoli
4.14/kg
0.19

N/A
52
cauliflower
3.26/kg
0.17

N/A
64
Brussel sprouts
5.47/kg
0.35



Salt & spices

0.10

TOTAL
1.21
1.21

Although this meal is far from original, it nonetheless was appetizing and filling. But what made it even more attractive was its cost of $3.88/serving. Enjoy!


TOTAL COST ($)
COST PER SERVING ($)
GRAND TOTAL
11.87
3.88

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