For everyone out there who loves to entertain, but doesn’t have bottomless pockets – this one is for you! In collaboration with recipe developer, blogger, and Montreal-native Anne Bernard-Gobeil (also known as girlfromthe3rdfloor), we’ve created a meal for 4 that will cost you only $20. What’s more is that it’s finally BBQ season and these recipes can easily be made on the grill! Deliciously economical, the dinner features tasty coriander chicken brochettes with moist cooked-on-the-BBQ Grelot potatoes (also known as baby potatoes) and a fresh tomato, cucumber and Bocconcini salad.

This recipe includes many items that you may already have in your kitchen. Anne factored in her calculations the cost of many of these basic ingredients, such as olive oil, balsamic vinegar, onion, garlic, honey, maple syrup, yogurt, sour cream, etc… But if you have most of these ingredients already at home, you may even spend less!

Whether it’s a meal for family or friends, an easy weeknight dinner or entertaining on the weekend– when money’s on your mind, your taste buds don’t have to suffer! Let Anne, thegirlfromthe3rdfloor, lead the way and show you how to put on a delectable dinner for yourself and three others. Delicious dining can be inexpensive!

Why not serve this low-cost dinner in style? You know our stores are the place to find good prices and Anne set a gorgeous, inviting table using our Ice Aqua Dinnerware Set, Lexie Mirror Flatware, Ivory Nature tablecloth, Faux Wood Tray and Primavera Stemless Glasses.

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Chicken Brochettes

Servings 4 people

Author thegirlfromthe3rdfloor

Ingredients

• - 16 wooden skewers soaked in water
• - 800 g of boneless chicken thigh $10.00, cut into strips
• - ¼ cup olive oil 60¢
• - Juice from 1/2 lemon 25¢, 1 tablespoon set aside for the yogurt sauce
• - 1 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup less than 10¢
• - 1 clove of garlic less than 5¢, minced
• - 2 tablespoons of fresh coriander less than 25¢, minced
• - Salt and pepper

Instructions

• On our Marble Chopping Board, Cut the chicken into strips using the Tory Ceramic Chef Knife and set aside. Mince the garlic and the coriander.
  
• In a large bowl from our set of thinkkitchen Assorted Coloured Bowls, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, garlic, coriander, salt and pepper.
• Add the chicken into the bowl and mix thoroughly until the chicken is completely covered with the marinade.
• Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to let it marinate.
• Thread about 6 strips on to each skewer by folding the strip in half and placing the skewer through both ends of the strip.
• Heat BBQ to medium heat (350°F). Grill for 8 minutes, turning over occasionally with the thinkkitchen Tongs.
• Make sure that the chicken is cooked correctly. You can cut into the chicken making sure it has lost its rubbery consistency and that there is no pink colour remaining, or use our Bios Digital Thermometer to check that the inside is at the appropriate temperature (165°F).
• Serve in our Green thinkkitchen Rectangular Baker.

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Yogurt Sauce

Servings 4 people

Author thegirlfromthe3rdfloor

Ingredients

• - 2/3 cup of plain yogurt around 75¢, sour cream, or a mix of both. Use what you have at home
• - 2 tablespoons of fresh coriander less than 25¢, minced
• - 2 teaspoons of fresh mint less than 10¢, minced
• - 1 teaspoon of honey or maple syrup less than 5¢
• - 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• - Salt and pepper

Instructions

• In a medium bowl from our thinkkitchen Assorted Coloured Bowls, combine all the ingredients. Mix until thoroughly combined and place it in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
  

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Fresh Tomato, Cucumber and Bocconcini Salad

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

• - 2 fresh tomatoes $1.25, cut into cubes
• - ½ an English cucumber 50¢, diced
• - 10 mini Bocconcinis $2.30, drained and cut in halves
• - 2 tablespoons olive oil 30¢
• - 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar less than 10¢
• - Salt and pepper

Instructions

• Cut the tomatoes into cubes and dice the cucumber. Drain the Bocconcini and chop them in half.
• In the Shallow Gerbera Bowl, combine all the ingredients and toss the salad until well mixed.
• Cover and place in the refrigerator until time to serve.

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Grelot Potatoes Cooked in Foil

Servings 4 people

Author thegirlfromthe3rdfloor

Ingredients

• - 1.5 lb of Grelot potatoes $2.99, cut in half
• - 1 onion 20¢, roughly chopped
• - Olive oil
• - Salt and pepper

Instructions

• Preheat the BBQ to a medium heat (350°F).
• Place the halved potatoes and chopped onion on a big sheet of foil. Drizzle on the oil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Fold up the sides of the aluminum foil sheet and crimp the edges to make a tightly sealed packet. Make sure there is some extra space in the aluminum foil package to let air circulate.
• Put the package on the top grill of your BBQ and cook for 25-30 minutes or until tender.
• Note: Heat may vary from one BBQ to another. Periodically check to make sure you are not overcooking your potatoes.

Cost of Meal: About $20.04

Here to help you achieve your everyday entertaining goals,

I consider myself a passionate person. I have a passion for life, for everything it brings and the experiences it provides. I grew up surrounded by people who have a passion for cooking. Inevitably, this has influenced how I decided to live my life. I obtained a technical diploma in dietetics at Cegep de Saint-Hyacinthe. Afterwards, I started working as a technician at the Montreal General Hospital in Food Service Management. I learnt that there is a strong relationship between health and nutrition and enjoyed the chance to apply the knowledge I gained in my education to the real world. Although I loved nutrition, hospital environment was not for me. I decided to make a career change and I worked as a supervisor at Starbucks. I enjoyed being in a leadership position and wanted to study in a field that would help develop my leadership skills. I completed studies in Industrial Relations at Université de Montréal, which opened my eyes to the world of entrepreneurship which I found incredibly interesting and appealing.

My interest in entrepreneurship gave birth to new dreams and ambitions; my blogger identity and brand (thegirlfromthe3rdfloor), my culinary blog, and the goal of one day opening my own café-boutique.  I work hard every day to accomplish my dreams and I am very proud of what I have achieved so far. The path to where you want to be can be challenging but if you listen to your heart, you will achieve your goal.

Follow thegirldfromthe3rdfloor on Facebook, Instagram, and on her blog: www.thegirlfromthe3rdfloor.com