Day 11

BREAKFAST - Over Easy Egg Bowl w/OJ

1/2 Red Onion - $0.06

Grain Blend - $0.20

2 oz Spinach - $0.18

Egg - $0.14

4oz Orange Juice - $0.20

TOTAL: $0.78

LUNCH - Left Over Lavash

Free (See day #9)

TOTAL: $0.00

DINNER - Cheddar & Cauliflower Soup (6 Servings)

Cheddar Base - $1.00

Grain Blend - $0.80

Cauliflower - $0.60

6oz Spinach - $0.38

Bread - $1.50

Butter - $0.18

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Subtotal - $4.46

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TOTAL: $0.75

BREAKFAST - $0.78

LUNCH - $0.00

DINNER - $0.75

Total: $1.53

Day 10

BREAKFAST - On the Go!

Banana - $0.14

Apple - $0.17

String Cheese - $0.18

20 Almonds - $0.20

TOTAL: $0.69

I know we all have days where getting out the door seems more important than breakfast.  Sometimes we think we can just power through it on an empty stomach and be just as productive.

I hate to break it to you, but you can't... I can't, and health experts agree.  Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day!  Was I rushed today? Yes.  Did I have time to make a gourmet meal?  No.  Is there a ton of nutrition in this breakfast grab bag?  Yes.  With a bottle of water, I felt great all the way to lunch and stayed on budget!

LUNCH - Egg Sandwich & Spinach 

2 Eggs - $0.28 (found a better deal on eggs this week!)

English Muffin - $0.17

3oz Spinach - $0.27

Splash Poppy Seed Dressing - $0.05

TOTAL: $0.77

There's an old song called "If you don't know me by now" by Harold Melvin and it's quite applicable to this blog.  If you don't know I like eggs by now, you'll never know I like eggs.  What is it?  If I don't have eggs in the morning, I gotta have 'em at lunch... or even dinner.  As far as I can tell from this challenge, they are the most nutrition packed and protein potent food out there.

DINNER - Acorn Squash, Grain Blend, & Sauteed Spinach

1/2 Acorn Squash - $0.25

1oz Pecans - $0.15

Grain Blend - $0.20

3oz Spinach - $0.27

Butter - $0.03

Brown Sugar - $0.02

TOTAL: $0.92

This is one of the best feel good, warm comfort meals on the planet!  This is the trimmed down version, cause we usually bake a chicken and pour gravy on the grain/rice accompanied by a delicate Pinot Noir or heavy Cab.  Let's all say it together, "Mmmmmm".  This meal is still extremely satisfying sans vino & pollo.  Hometown favorite.  I learned this combo from Patrish (Mom) and have shared it with many.

BREAKFAST $0.69

LUNCH $0.77

DINNER $0.92

Total: $2.38

Day 09

BREAKFAST - Huevos Rancheros

2 Eggs - $0.36

2 Tortillas - $0.12

1/3 Orange - $0.06

Salsa - $0.06

TOTAL: $0.60

T+ (Taco Plus) does this better.  Andrea was out to breakfast with friends and I got a little lazy.  Still pretty good.

LUNCH - Pulled Pork Sandwich & Edamame

Bagel - $0.25

Pulled Pork - $0.61

Edamame - $0.25

TOTAL: - $1.11

The bagel was nice and crunchy, yet still soft on the inside, I toasted it.

DINNER - Lavash with Salt Cream (6 servings)
Bread - $1.99
2Eggs - $0.36
6oz Spinach - $0.38
Cauliflower - $0.60
4oz Heavy Cream - $0.25
Pulled Pork - $0.61 (only used 1 serving)
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Subtotal: $4.19 (6 servings)
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TOTAL: $0.70 (per serving)
Our friend Yeva introduced us to Lavash a few years ago and we love it!  It is a Middle Eastern staple and there are many different kinds of fresh Lavash available at specialty markets around town.
I felt like the Lavash I made needed a little something else, I whipped up cream, but didn't add any sugar.  I know it seems weird, but if you think about it... whipped cream left savory is kind of like very light butter (light when it comes to actual mass... ha ha ha, I don't think it lowers calories).

BREAKFAST - $0.60

LUNCH - $1.11

DINNER - $0.70

Total: $2.41

Day 08

BREAKFAST - Rice Bowl with an egg over easy & Sauce a l'Andrea
Brown Rice - $0.09
Egg - $0.18
Sauce - Free (figured into the meal cost last night)
TOTAL: $0.27
Yes, this is the same brown rice from the night we made Dijon Chicken.  Thankfully, it is the last of it.
After a quick saute, an egg, and some of the amazing sauce left over from last night... an amazing breakfast was had.  Mmmmmm.

LUNCH - The "BIG" Salad, but no chicken this time.

Lettuce - $0.17
Grape Tomatoes - $0.25
Cucumber - $0.13
1/2 Carrot - $0.05
Flax seeds - $0.01

TOTAL: $0.61

Another salad on the go.

DINNER - Chicken Noodle Soup w/Whole Wheat Bread & Butter

Bread - $0.25

Butter - $0.03

Soup - $0.60

TOTAL: $0.88

Andrea made three different soups that taste AMAZING!  She froze two servings per Ziploc.  The perfect homemade convenience food!

BREAKFAST - $0.27

LUNCH - $0.61

DINNER - $0.88

Total: $1.76

Day 07

BREAKFAST - Cereal and left over Frittata
Cereal - $0.29 (2 servings)
Milk - $0.27
1/2 Slice Frittata - $0.22 (see day 5)
TOTAL: $0.78
It happened!  A lonesome bowl of cereal was going to be my breakfast.  This week has been busy and this weekend has been crazier, I didn't feel like getting creative so out came the bowl and spoon.  Then Andrea reminded me that there was one slice of Frittata left!  Woo Hoo!  We split the Italian ovum delight and put it on a pretty plate with my cereal and took this photo.






LUNCH - Carnitas Tacos
Pork - $0.61
1/2 Avocado - $0.25
Cheese - $0.06
Salsa - $0.06
Orange Slices - $0.06
2 Tortillas - $0.12
TOTAL: $1.16


We love tacos!  Los Angeles is amazing when it comes to Latin Cuisine... it's everywhere!  Our favorite establishment to indulge in the South of the Border grub is Taco Plus, or what our neighbors so affectionately call it.. T+.
Carnitas is very similar to pulled pork, but there is no BBQ sauce.  The natural salty flavor of the meat is sooo nice in a warm tortilla with avocado and salsa. Yes, this is the pork shoulder still lingering from last night.  We only added the BBQ sauce to the small amount we used for the sandwiches in order to keep the pork in it's natural flavor state.




DINNER - Lovely Pasta a l'Andrea
Pasta - $0.12
Tomato and Spinach Sauce - $0.37
Broccoli - $0.13
TOTAL: $0.62

Andrea is the best at coming up with amazing tomato based sauces.  This meal was no exception!  The meal is quite straight forward with linguine and broccoli, but that sauce!

BREAKFAST - $0.78

LUNCH - $1.16

DINNER - $0.62

Total: $2.56

Day 06

BREAKFAST - Crispy Oatmeal Cakes with Eggs & Spinach
Left over Oatmeal - $0.15
2 Eggs - $0.36
3oz Spinach - $0.27
TOTAL: $0.78

Andrea and I rarely throw away food, If there are left overs in the fridge... they gotta be eaten.  One way to keep it interesting is to try and come up with a new way to eat what you find.  That's how I found myself eating crispy oatmeal this morning.
When I was digging in the fridge, left over steal cut oats were crying out to me.  I could have sworn I heard "savory pancake" emanate from their container, or maybe I was still thinking of those potato cakes we made earlier in the week.  Whatever the case, eggs over easy, sauteed spinach, & crispy oatmeal hit the spot!




LUNCH - PB&J the next Day
Whole Grain Bread - $0.32
2 TBS Organic PB - $0.32
Jelly - $0.10
Banana - $0.14
Corn Chips - $.10
Water from home - FREE
TOTAL: $0.98

When you're on the go, gourmet salads are awesome!  On the go with a kid, a PB&J is the "GOLD" standard even two days in a row.
Hudson and I needed a little one on one time.  Our favorite place to be "men" is fishing on Lake Balboa in an inflatable kayak.  I know it's funny to rock the inflatable, but it feels like a floating lazy boy recliner.
Lake Balboa is L.A.'s secret get away.  80 acres of smooth glassy water inhabited by a myriad of exotic water fowl I can't identify... and it was 80F+...not a cloud in the sky.








DINNER - Pulled Pork Sandwich & a Mango Red Onion Spinach Salad
Bread - $1.47 (for four) - $0.37 each
Pork portion - $0.61
Spinach - $0.10
Mango - $0.05
Corn - $0.05
Spinach - $0.10
TOTAL: $1.28

The local warehouse store was pedaling pork shoulder for a buck twenty-nine a pound, so I snapped one up.  After slow cooking it in a crock pot for eight hours the meat was falling off the bone and dripping with juice.  Andrea added some BBQ sauce, pulled the meat, toasted the bread, and tossed the spinach.  Mmmmm... this meal put the "Southern" in Southern California.

So while we were making tonight's dinner, I kept sayin' to Willie, "I don't know if were gonna make it on this one."  You see, a lot of the weight on the meat we cooked up was the skin, fat and the bones.  However, then I remembered a conversation I had with our friend Aarti (yes, as in the Aarti from Aarti Party on the Food Network ... how was that for a little plug?)  Anyway, she was saying she has some friends that use meat more as a "side" portion then an entree portion.  By doing it this way, we not only get our meat cravings settled, but we save money too.   
With all that said, I am hoping to create about 20 "portions" of meat from the pork shoulder.  That would be $0.61/serving.  So although we went over a little on din din, and 4 cents over for the day, we are still $3.87 under for the week!!  

BREAKFAST $0.78

LUNCH $0.98

DINNER $1.28

6th day total: $3.04

Day 05

BREAKFAST - Frittata (for four)
Eggs - $1.08
Milk - $0.05
Ham - $0.16
1/2 large zuchinni - $0.25
1/4 lb shredded cheese - $0.25
TOTAL: $1.79
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$0.45 per serving

Not long after our daughter Noe was born, a family from Andrea's "Moms Group" delivered a meal.  The wife was from Spain and the Husband from South Africa... long story short, they dropped off a frittata and a bottle of wine.  Even though its and Italian dish, I guess the Spanish have acquired a hankerin' for it too.  It was meant to be dinner when the delicious goodness was bestowed upon us, and don't get me wrong wine and frittata are awesome!  But, Andrea and I are big frittata in the morning kinda people now.  Breakfast is where we tend to dawn a skillet with the Italian ovum delight.  Some people just call it an open faced omelet.




LUNCH - Good Ole Fashioned PB&J with Bananas
Whole Grain Bread - $0.32
2 TBS Organic PB - $0.32
Jelly - $0.10
Banana - $0.14
Corn Chips - $.10
Water from home - FREE
TOTAL: $0.98

Nothin' says hanging with the kids and eating a sandwich, like PB&J.  Gourmet? No.  Dirty Dijon Status?  Not even close.  The perfect sandwich to satisfy you, the kids, and stick to the roof of your mouth?  Bingo (said like cousin Eddy).  Add a banana, a bottle of water, and a tailgate (sort of, cause we have an SUV)... it's almost the meal you were craving.




DINNER - White Bean Soup w/Ham (10 Servings)
White Beans - $1.59
Ham - $1.60
2 Large Carrots - $0.20
2 Celery Ribs - $0.20
1/2 onion - $0.06
TOTAL: $3.25
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Per serving - $0.33
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Organic Spinach salad - $0.18
Whole Grain Rustic Bread - $0.25
Pat of butter - $0.06
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Dinner total:  $0.82

Being from Illinois, I know bone chillin' cold.  At the ripe age of twenty-one I parted ways with old man winter and set my sails for the sunny So. Cal.  With that said, I remember many a night when Patrish (my mom) sent me outside to get a large pot of soup she's been planning for dinner.  On a side note, the reason she kept the soup outside (with a lid of course) was the fact that it was huge and took up too much space in the fridge, plus... outside was colder than the fridge.  Patrish had perfected putting porridge in a pot.  OK, no more Dr. Seuss.  My mom could make a killer soup!
Ladies, ya know how they say you wind up marrying someone like your dad? Well, the same is true for the fellas.  Andrea can stew up a mean soup!  Two for two with the soups!  With her usual kitchen graces, a morsel of bread and spinach salad were her complimentary additions of choice.
Did I mention everything tasted really good?

BREAKFAST: $0.45

LUNCH: $0.98

DINNER: $0.82

5th day total: $2.25