Over the last several months I have been seeking supermarket scores. These tend to be foods that meet some combination of the following criteria:
- inexpensive (ideally absurdly so)
- can be turned into something interesting with effort
It started on a day I was on my own for dinner. I considered going to Five Guys, or maybe to the butcher to buy a steak. But then I realized that beef is expensive these days and I would be equally content buying a really inexpensive cut of meat so instead so I went to the supermarket to see what was available. My friend D recently mentioned the idea that you shouldn't go to the supermarket knowing what you want. If you go and just buy what is on sale you can get the best of two worlds (great food, cheap price). At the supermarket I found a 3.5-pound package of chicken legs (thighs and drumsticks) for $0.99/lb. Since then I have cooked these packages of chicken several different ways. ChatGPT has been helpful for walking me through how to prepare foods I don't know how to make. See below for various finds!
Chicken Legs - $0.99/lb
Greek-Style Grilled Chicken - Marinated and grilled, and served with pita, lettuce, tomatoes, onions cucumber salad, and tzatziki sauce.
Coq au Vin - Chicken braised in red wine with mushrooms and onions.
Chicken Soup - Classic chicken soup, served with egg noodles.
Chicken Sunday Sauce - Tomato sauce made with chicken meat and served over pasta.
Pork Shoulder - $1.49/lb
Dry Brined and Roasted Pork Shoulder - I cooked it a little less than a traditional pulled pork. Typically to eat it I would hand-separate some of the remaining fat from the meat.
Pork Shoulder Leftovers - What was left was delicious hunks of tasty pork for breakfast pork/egg and cheese sandwiches, tacos, and burritos.
Chicken Livers - $0.99/lb
Chicken Liver Pâté - Delicious on toast or with crackers. It was a race to eat two pounds of it before it got old. Next time I will freeze half for sure.
Leg of Lamb - $5.99/lb
Just before easter I saw leg of lamb for $7.99/lb and balked. Then $6.99 and balked again. When it hit $5.99/lb I finally pulled the trigger.
Seasoned Leg of Lamb roasted over Potatoes, Carrots, and Onions - Served with mint jelly in some cases, and with tzaziki and pita in others. I also brought some camping to reheat over the fire.
Chicken Hearts and Gizzards - $1.99/lb
These came mixed together in one package, but it was important to separate them because as I understand it they require very different cooking methods.
Chicken Hearts - Sliced in half and quick sautéed with onions, these taste a lot like a little bits of a really good steak. They also taste a bit like a really nicely cooked mushroom. Although it's difficult to entirely get past the fact that they are chicken hearts but otherwise are really good in both taste and texture.
Slow Braised Chicken Gizzards - Slow cooked in broth for an hour or two and chopped, they turned into a clam-like meat with a rich and thick gravy/broth. I've been enjoying it on toast. It reminds me of clam chowder.