A rainy day foil meal!

What's better on a cool and rainy day in August than a nice cooked foil meal done out on the grill? I came up with the meal deal on the spur of the moment when I was going through my fridge and noticed I had a few carrots, onions and red potatoes that had been harvested from my garden earlier in the week. I also had a hamburger patty and so decided a simple foil meal would just fit the bill for an hearty afternoon repast.

Ingredients:

Ground beef formed into a medium patty (130 grams)
1 wedge of green cabbage (99 grams)

2 carrots, peeled and rough cut (27 grams)

1 onion, quartered (70 grams)

1 red potato, quartered (87 grams)

salt and pepper to taste

1 tbsp water

1 pat real butter

Aluminum foil

Prepared all the ingredients and center in a large piece of foil. Carefully wrap the foil around the meal making sure to seal the edges for a steam-tight fit. Place in the center of a charcoal grill where the coals have been pushed to the side for indirect heat. Cook for about an hour and fifteen minutes. Optionally, you can also use an oven set to 305 degrees for about the same amount of time. After the meal is done, carefully remove and open, making sure the steam doesn't burn your fingers. Enjoy!

Click on to enlarge

Nutritional information: 

The total volume of food for this meal was 413 grams. Note: with the addition of a pat of unsalted butter, the overall calories came in at ~565. I also made a video on this type of meal a few years back for anyone who might be interested.

Making do with less!

Let’s face it, food prices at most grocery stores are on the rise and they don’t look to be improving anytime soon. So, it’s not surprising when a person like me is on the lookout for any foods that are both nutritious and cost effective.

While I was recently shopping at a local grocery store, I spied a 10 pound bag of potatoes that was on sale for only $2.99! I thought that was a pretty good deal and purchased a bag to take home. It’s note worthy that I skipped the produce isle (lettuce at $2 a head – no way) and I didn’t even bother looking at any real meat items, substituting instead, a package of Oscar Meyer Cotto Salami for just $1.50 for one pound! The calories in the salami totaled about 1,120 while the bag of potatoes offered up approximately 3,400! Between those two, along with a half gallon of 2% milk ($2.29) and a loaf of cheap bread ($1), I figured I could get creative and came up with a couple of interesting meal ideas that wouldn't break my budget. (Note: I scrounged around in the fridge for my condiments and butter  while the lettuce came out of a small cold frame situated in front of my home). Here are a few of those meals:

A salami sandwich with a baked potato and milk!

Simple yet filling!

Cost: $0.56      Calories: 488

(Itemized cost: bread @ .10 + salami @ .09 +

russet potato @ .13 + 2% milk @ .29 = .56)

(Not included in the calculations were the pat of butter or the mayo)

A toasted salami & cheese sandwich with fried potatoes!

Cost: $0.71      Calories: 546

(Itemized cost: bread @ .10 + salami @ .09 + Cheese slice @ .10

russet potato @ .13 + 2% milk @ .29 = .56 cents)

(Not included in the calculations was the A1 sauce)

A simple salad with strips of salami and milk!

Tasty and nutritious!

 Cost: $0.43      Calories: 166

(Itemized cost: salami @ .09 +

onion @ .05 + 2% milk @ .29 = .xx cents)

(Not included in the calculations was the vinegar and oil or the A1 sauce, also the milk was not pictured)