GOURMET MEALS FOR $5 OR UNDER: MEAL 7 OF 25

GARDEN SALAD W/ WILD SOCKEYE 
& A SIDE OF DIRTY RICE 

Total Cost: $4.98/serving

Total Preparation Time: 45 min

By now, the pattern is clear. As soon as meat or fish enters the picture, the cost of the meal skyrockets. How can one hundred grams of pink flesh cause such a disturbance in my perfectly good intentions to demonstrate the affordability of eating well?

Nonetheless, so far I have managed to keep all meals under $5.00 and all but one contained some source of animal protein. Recently, however, I feel motivated to explore more options for vegetarian dishes. Not only will it reduce the cash outflow (at this time, the majority of our meat purchases are organic, which tends to be expensive), but also satisfy my curiosity as to how a reduction in meat consumption will affect my energy level, mood, and overall well-being. I have decided that once our move to the Okanagan is completed and my husband is back at work, I will go vegetarian for two weeks.

But back to tonight's dish... Tonight, I made a garden salad with wild sockeye and a side of sprouted rice and quinoa with sauteed vegetables. First, I placed a cup of rice and quinoa mix into a pot with water and put it on the stove. Packaged by TruRoots and available at COSTCO, it is a perfect combination of organic goodness at a very reasonable price (see photo below). At the same time, I minced and sauteed peppers, white mushrooms, onion, garlic, a carrot and dill. 

MEASURE	WEIGHT (g)	INGREDIENT	COST PER PACKAGE ($)	TOTAL COST ($)	COST PER SERVING ($)
1 cup	159	Rice & quinoa	10.99/4lb	0.96
2	110	Mini peppers	6.48/1.5lb	1.05
N/A	112	White mushrooms	6.57/2.2lb	0.74
½	103	Onion	1.97/3lb	0.15
2	5	Garlic, cloves	2.98/lb	0.03
1	80	Carrot	3.98/5lb	0.14
N/A	10	Dill	1.98/bunch (110g)	0.18
		Salt & spices		0.10
TOTAL				3.35*	1.12

*Makes 3 servings

While the grain mix was being cooked, I preheated the oven to 425°F and put wild sockeye in for exactly 12 minutes. Cook it for much longer- and it will turn into a dry and tasteless mass- although it really depends on the thickness of the fish. Since mine was wild, it did not contain nearly as much fat as farmed salmon so often does; neither was it particularly thick.

In the 12 minutes of baking my fish required, I made a quick garden salad and mixed my now perfectly cooked rice and quinoa with sauteed veggies. All was served on a dinner plate and ready for a mini photo session. I ran out on our deck and knelt, crouched, squatted and crawled around my new dish until a calming feeling of satisfaction compelled me to get back into the house.

By the faint remarks coming out of Marcus' bedroom, I came to learn that he was now fully awake and ready for a few more hours of non-stop activity. And that meant one thing and one thing only: my gourmet dinner was destined to go cold once again- the faith it certainly does not deserve, but so often suffers... It helps to know, however, that I am just like any other mom trying to ensure health for herself and her family- always rushing, slightly obsessed and perpetually tired and in need of that grand vacation away from the mundane hurdles of her daily life.

MEASURE	WEIGHT (g)	INGREDIENT	COST PER PACKAGE ($)	TOTAL COST ($)	COST PER SERVING ($)
N/A	100	Wild sockeye	24.23/kg	2.42
½ cup	15	Kale, chard & spinach mix	2.98/5oz	0.31
½ cup	12	Watercress	1.48/bunch	0.15
½	120	Tomato	1.99/lb	0.27
1	72	Mini cucumber	3.71/2lb	0.30
½ cup	12	Organic arugula	2.48/5oz	0.21
½ cup	7	Italian parsley	0.97/bunch	0.08
½	42	Lemon	3.98/3lb	0.12
TOTAL				3.86	3.86

And the grand total is $4.98 for a good-looking, nutritious and healthful meal!

	TOTAL COST ($)	COST PER SERVING ($)
GRAND TOTAL	7.21	4.98

I neglected to mention that this cooking marathon is intended to stretch out for a minimum of 50 meals. That means, 50 straight days of my life will be dedicated to food and eating well on a budget. Whether that serious of a dedication will attract a single comment from anyone I do not have the privilege of knowing (or anyone I DO know, for that matter) remains to be seen. I only know that I am on the right track...