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