Cost Comparison

For the second week of winter break, I decided to conduct a cost comparison. I selected a past recipe for which I felt there could be a drastic reduction in the total cost if the ingredients were purchased from the grocery store. The recipe I chose was the Peanut Butter and Pretzel Ice Cream Cake and I purchased the ingredients from my local Hannaford. With the exception of the ice cream, all ingredients purchased were the same brands and sizes as the ingredients purchased in the markets. The ice cream purchased for the cost comparison was a 1.5 quart of Edy's Slow Churned Vanilla, costing $3.99. Below is the breakdown of costs with the total cost and cost per slice highlighted. You will note an almost three-fold reduction in the costs.

Peanut Butter and Pretzel Ice Cream Cake made with ingredients from the markets

Peanut Butter and Pretzel Ice Cream Cake made with ingredients from the grocery store

Difference in total cost: $14.00

Difference in cost per slice: $1.19

Holiday Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

I may be on winter break but Commodore Cooking is not! Winter break presents me with an opportunity to experiment with my cooking beyond the confines of the markets. I decided to use this first week to cook with something that is not readily available in the markets, meat. I purchased a pork loin and opted for a stuffing containing traditional Christmas ingredients including chestnuts and dried fruit. As many of the ingredients were already on hand in my home, there is not a total cost based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient. I found this recipe to be relatively simple yet quite flavorful. Served with steamed green beans and roasted sweet potatoes, it makes for a filling and festive holiday dinner. Once again, Happy Holidays!

Holiday Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

• 1 boneless center-cut pork loin (2 pounds)
• 1/3 cup chestnuts, cooked and crumbled
• 1/3 cup mixed dried fruit, coarsely chopped
• coarse salt
• 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 tablespoon black peppercorns, cracked
• 1/2 tablespoon whole coriander seeds, cracked
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 generous teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, sliced

Prepare chestnuts by making cross-cut across flat side of the chestnut. Add to pot of boiling water, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Take a few chestnuts at a time, peel off shell and inner skin. Crumble in bowl and set aside. Coarsely chop dried fruit and set aside. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

 

Place pork on a work surface and cut almost in half, keeping knife parallel to work surface, stopping 1 inch short of cutting through; open like a book. Place pork, opened up, across 3 lengths of kitchen twine. 

Sprinkle with chestnuts and dried fruit, leaving a 1-inch border all around; season stuffing with salt. Fold one long side over the other, overlapping slightly to form a cylinder; tie with twine. Rub with oil; sprinkle with cracked pepper and coriander, pressing to adhere. Season with salt.

 

 Place pork in a roasting pan and roast for 35 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in meat registers 145 degrees. Transfer to a cutting board and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Let rest.

Meanwhile, add wine to a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer, stirring constantly, until syrupy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add mustard and broth and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 minutes minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in butter.

Slice pork, and serve with wine sauce.

 
Reviews 
"Very tasty. Like the sauce and the stuffing."

Peppermint Biscotti

This week's recipe is inspired by the Christmas tradition of cookie baking. It is at this time of year that Gingerbread Men, Sugar Cookies, Candy Cane Cookies, and Shortbreads abound. However, given the limited variety of baking supplies available in the markets, creating a Christmas Cookie inspired recipe proved challenging. I decided to utilize a seasonal ingredient, candy canes, that may be purchased in either Varsity Marketplace or Common Grounds. All other ingredients may be purchased at either Varsity Morgan or Varsity Towers. Although the total time to prepare these cookies is rather long, the sweet peppermint flavor packed into each small, crisp cookie is well worth the wait. Enjoy with a cup of steaming hot cocoa for an even better culinary experience. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, these cookies will cost you $5.05 or $0.11 per cookie. This does not include the cost of cooking spray. Happy Holidays!

Peppermint Biscotti
Yield: 48 cookies
Total Cost: $5.05 (does not include the cost of cooking spray)

• cooking spray
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2/3 cup finely crushed peppermint candy canes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 8 candy canes in a placing plastic bag and crush into small pieces. Set aside. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine butter and sugar. Beat until creamy. Add eggs and continue to beat until well combined. Add flour and baking powder and continue to beat until well combined. Stir in crushed candy canes.

On a lightly floured surface with lightly floured hands, divide dough into fourths. Shape each into a 9 x 1 1/2-inch log. Place logs onto cookie sheet and bake for 18 minutes or until tops are cracked and ends are slightly browned.

Remove from oven and reduce temperature to 325 degrees. Allow logs to cool for 10 minutes on cookie sheet. Transfer logs to cutting surface and cut into 1/2-inch slices using a serrated knife. Discard ends and arrange remaining pieces on the cookie with the cut-side down. Continue to bake for 12 minutes, turning once, until cookies are lightly browned and crispy on both sides.

Remove from oven, transfer to cooling rack, and allow to cool completely. 

Reviews
"So good!"
"I just don't understand, in a good way."

Hot Cocoa Mug Cake

As we begin finals week, we find ourselves stressed, tired, and with very little time on our hands. But I encourage you to put down the books for a couple minutes, swing by Varsity Morgan or Varsity Towers for ingredients, and enjoy the goodness of hot cocoa mug cake. With a few basic ingredients, a microwave, and 5 minutes of time you can make a warm and yummy dessert that is sure to, at the very least, boost your mood. Better yet, you will only get one mug and one spoon dirty in the process. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, hot cocoa mug cake will cost you $1.31. Good luck on finals!

Hot Cocoa Mug Cake
Yield: 1 mug cake
Total Cost: $1.31

• cooking spray
• 2 packets Swiss Miss milk chocolate hot cocoa mix
• 4 tablespoons flour
• pinch of salt
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon chocolate chips

Spray the inside of your favorite large mug with cooking spray. In the mug, mix together the dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and stir.

Add chocolate chips, making sure to incorporate all ingredients by folding from the bottom up.

Place mug on plate and microwave for 3 1/2 minutes. Cake may rise over the top of the mug but don't be concerned! Remove from microwave. Allow to cool slightly before enjoying straight from mug. You may also release cake from mug onto a plate if you desire and garnish with toppings of your choosing. 

Reviews
"Odd texture. Ok taste."
"Fail."
"It tastes like a brownie sponge."

Biscuits and Vegetarian Sausage Gravy

A week of cold and dreary mornings has led me to believe that winter is well on its way. And on weekend morning in the dead of winter, there is nothing better than a warm breakfast. Without ever leaving the coziness of your dorm, you can prepare a hearty, out of the ordinary combination of homemade biscuits topped with vegetarian sausage gravy. The breakfast patties may be purchased at Varsity Marketplace and all other ingredients may be purchased in either Varsity Morgan or Varsity Towers. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, this hearty, fall dish will cost you $12.22 or $1.22 per serving. This does not include the cost of cooking spray or salt and pepper.

Biscuits and Vegetarian Sausage Gravy

Yield: 10 servings

Total Cost: $12.22 (does not include cost of cooking spray or salt and pepper)

For the biscuits

• 2 cups flour (plus additional for kneading biscuits)
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 tablespoons cold butter, diced
• 1 cup buttermilk substitute (scant 1 cup milk and 1 tablespoon lemon juice)

For the gravy

• cooking spray
• 6 veggie patties
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 4 cups milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare buttermilk substitute by placing lemon juice in a measuring cup and adding milk until liquid reaches the 1 cup measurement. Let stand 5 minutes. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, sift together the dry ingredients for the biscuits.  Add butter and cut into flour mixture using two knives. Add the buttermilk and knead on floured surface just enough to bring the dough together.

Press dough into a 1-inch thick round. Cut out biscuits with a 2-inch cutter and place on cookie sheet so that they just touch. Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Meanwhile, prepare gravy by sauteing breakfast patties in frying pan over medium heat. Use a spatula to crumble the breakfast patties as they cook. Remove crumbled breakfast patties from pan after 5 minutes and set aside. Do not drain grease remaining from the patties. 

Add vegetable oil and heat. Whisk in the flour, salt, and pepper until smooth. Cook and stir over medium heat until browned, about 10 minutes. 

Gradually stir in milk so that no lumps form. Continue cooking and stirring until thickened. Add breakfast patty crumbles and stir to combine. 

Remove biscuits from oven. Slice each biscuit in half and top with gravy. 

Reviews

S'mores Cupcakes

This week's recipe is dedicated to the most amazing group of girls I know, the Vanderbilt University Women's Cross Country team. The season began with a trip to Natchez Trace State Park where running, bonding, canoeing, and s'more-making abounded. Following three months of training, racing, and unprecedented success, the season will officially conclude with our annual team cupcake banquet. This week's recipe draws inspiration from the beginning (s'mores) and the end (cupcakes) of the season and the result is something in the middle, s'mores cupcakes. The ingredients needed for this recipe may be purchased in either Varsity Morgan or Varsity Towers. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, this fun take on the campfire classic will cost you $8.99 or $0.56 per cupcake. This does not include the cost of salt.

S'mores Cupcakes
Yield: 18 cupcakes
Total Cost: $8.99 (does not include cost of salt)

• cooking spray (optional)
• 13 1/2 graham cracker sheets (one sleeve, crushed, plus additional 4 1/2 sheets for garnish)
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 18  HERSHEY'S KISSES Milk Chocolates
• 18 Jet-Puffed marshmallows
• 1 1/2 HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate Bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and and spray muffin pan with cooking spray or line with baking cups. Crush a sleeve of graham crackers, either in the packaging or using a food processor, and set aside. 

In a large bowl, beat the butter for about 30 seconds or until well creamed. Add the sugar and continue to beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating about 30 seconds for each egg.

Sift together the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add about 1/4 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, then add some of the milk. Repeat, alternating additions of dry and wet ingredients to the butter mixture, ending with the dry. Continue to mix until just combined. 

 

Fill prepared muffin cups two-thirds full. Unwrap chocolate pieces and press into the center of each cupcake until batter completely covers candy. Bake for 13 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the oven but leave the oven on.

Balance a marshmallow on top of each cupcake and carefully slide back into oven. Bake an additional 2-5 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the marshmallows are soft. Remove from oven. Flatten marshmallows by pressing down with the back of a clean spoon. Allow to cool completely.

Garnish by inserting a small square of HERSHEY'S bar and a small square of graham cracker at an angle into the top of the cupcake.



Reviews
"I am so satisfied right now."
"The best s'more I've ever had."
"Oh my God. Can I have s'more?"

Vandy Green Bean Casserole

Thanksgiving is arguably the holiday with the most traditional food: turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, yams, bread rolls, and pies abound. My goal for this week's recipe was to make one of these dishes with ingredients from Vanderbilt University Markets. However, many of the ingredients necessary for such dishes are not available in the markets and thus I had to settle for a recipe using green beans. Without fail, every Thanksgiving dinner that I have been to has included a green bean casserole of sorts but I have never found myself to be particularly fond of this dish. Nevertheless, it simply wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it and I decided to give it one more try with this recipe. Vandy green bean casserole is slightly different than most green bean casseroles, with homemade white sauce replacing cream of mushroom soup and Wheat Thins crackers replacing the fried onion topping. It also includes bacon which may be purchased in either Varsity Morgan or Varsity towers, along with all other ingredients. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, my version of green bean casserole will cost you $10.07 or $1.12 per serving. Happy Thanksgiving!

Vandy Green Bean Casserole
Yield: 9 servings
Total Cost: $10.07 (does not include the cost of salt and pepper)

• 3 slices bacon (crisply cooked, crumbled)
• 1 tablespoon bacon grease
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• pepper, to taste
• 1 1/3 cups milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons parmesan cheese
• 3 (14.5 oz) cans Del Monte Fresh Cut green beans
• 48 Wheat Thins Original crackers (crushed) 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Fry bacon until crisp. Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon grease. Drain bacon slices on a paper towel and allow to cool. Cut into small pieces once cool.

Meanwhile, prepare white sauce by melting 1 tablespoon butter in saucepan over low heat. Blend in flour, salt, pepper and bacon grease. Add milk and bacon grease in and stir constantly. Increase heat to medium and cook until sauce begins to thicken and bubble. When the sauce bubbles, remove it from the heat and stir in the parmesan cheese until smooth. 

Drain green beans and place in 9 x 9 glass baking dish. Pour sauce over beans. Add bacon and stir until well combined.

Crush crackers into small pieces. Melt 1/2 tablespoon of butter and combine with crushed crackers. Spread mixture evenly over the top of the beans. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.

Reviews

"If I was stuck here over Thanksgiving it would probably suffice."

"Tastes like bacon."

Instant Oatmeal Packet Cookies

There is nothing better than signing in to Gmail and being greeted by an email with the subject line, "Package Arrival Notification". Yes, they haven't forgotten about me! Getting a package is great, especially when it comes complete with some sort of homemade, delectable baked good. Parents take note, including a homemade baked good, especially cookies, is sure to turn a "good" package into an "awesome" one. Packages are sometimes far and few between though and this recipe is inspired with this in mind. Next time you find yourself craving some homemade treats, don't call up Mom and put yourself through the torture of a 3-day waiting period. Instead, visit either Varsity Morgan or Varsity Towers where all of the ingredients required can be found. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, these cookies will cost you $6.16 or $0.41 per cookie. This does not include the cost of cooking spray or salt.

 

Instant Oatmeal Packet Cookies

Yield: 15 cookies

Total Cost: $6.16 (does not include cost of cooking spray or salt)

• cooking spray
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 packets Quaker Instant Oatmeal - Maple & Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and oatmeal. In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Add egg and maple syrup and mix thoroughly.

Beat in flour mixture until well blended. Fold in raisins and chocolate chips.

Roll dough into 15 balls, flattening each slightly before placing on cookie sheet. 

Bake for 12 minutes or until cookies are golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes.

Reviews
"It's like, if the movie "The Incredibles" were cookies."
"I don't even know what to say. They are just so good."

Mini Apple Chai Short Stacks

One of my favorite things about fall is that there is definitely not a shortage of pumpkin spice flavored things. Pumpkin coffee? Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks have it covered, hot or iced. Pumpkin frozen yogurt, why not? Not much of a frozen yogurt fan? Perhaps pumpkin cheesecake ice cream from Ben and Jerry's is more your taste. As much as I love all of these things, I do feel that there is another great fall flavor that is often overlooked in the midst of the pumpkin spice craze. The spices used in chai make it similar in taste to pumpkin and in my opinion, equally as yummy. The inspiration for this recipe is derived from chai tea latte concentrate, purchased in Nectar. With the exception of eggs, all other ingredients may be purchased at either Varsity Marketplace, Varsity Morgan, or Varsity Towers. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, this alternative-to-pumpkin breakfast appetizer will cost you $4.09 or per $0.41 serving. This does not include the cost of cooking spray or salt.

Mini Apple Chai Short Stacks
Yield: 10 short stacks of 3 mini pancakes, apple wedge, and 2 tablespoons apple chai syrup
Total Cost: $4.09 (does not include the cost of cooking spray or salt)
For the pancakes:

• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup Oregon Chai chai tea latte concentrate
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 apple

For the syrup:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• 1/4 cup chai

Prepare the syrup by combining the sugar, apple juice, and chai in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. When the syrup begins to boil, reduce the heat, cover, and allow to simmer for 10 minutes without stirring. Meanwhile, cut apple in half. Dice one half into small pieces and set aside. Cut other half into wedges. Cut wedges in half and set aside for topping. Remove syrup from the heat and allow to cool for 15 minutes.

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.In a separate bowl, mix together the chai, milk, vegetable oil, and egg.

Add the wet mixture to the flour mixture and stir until mixed. Fold in the apples.

Pour batter by the tablespoonful onto a frying pan that has been heated over medium heat and sprayed with cooking spray. Cook for 1 minute on each side or until golden brown.

Stack together 3 pancakes and secure with a toothpick. Top each short stack with an apple wedge and garnish with apple chai syrup. 

Reviews
 "So appley."

Autumn Delight Popcorn Balls

Halloween means pumpkin carving, costumes, trick-or-treating, and of course, candy. While popcorn balls are not exactly your traditional Snickers or M &M's, they are a yummy Halloween treat. These popcorn balls incorporate "Autumn Delight" which is a combination of peanuts, Reese's Pieces candy, candy corn, and raisins. Autumn Mix is currently offered in the bulk bins at the majority of the markets. With the exception of marshmallows, which may be purchased only in Varsity Marketplace, Varsity Morgan, or Varsity Towers, ingredients may be purchased at any of the markets. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, this tasty yet simple alternative will cost you $9.92 or $0.33 per popcorn ball. This does not include the cost of cooking spray or salt. Happy Halloween!

Autumn Delight Popcorn Balls
Yield: 30 popcorn balls
Total Cost: $9.92 (does not include cost of cooking spray or salt)

• 8 cups popped Act II Light Butter microwave popcorn (2 2.75-ounce bags)
• 1 1/2 cups "Autumn Delight"
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 bag Jet-Puffed marshmallows (10-ounce bag)
• cooking spray

In a large bowl, combine popcorn and "Autumn Delight".

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in salt and marshmallows. Reduce heat to low and continue to cook for 7 minutes or until the marshmallows melt and the mixture is smooth. Stir frequently.

Pour marshmallow mixture over the popcorn mixture. Stir with rubber spatula, making sure that the popcorn is coated well.

Spray hands with cooking spray. When popcorn mixture is cool enough to handle, shape the mixture into 2-inch balls. Cool completely on waxed paper. 

Reviews