Fab Food 4 Forty $: Lessons from Week 1

Week 1...
If this were Donald Trump's show "The Apprentice", I would have been told "YOU'RE FIRED!" before the end of the show.

There were successes, epic failures, surprise moments, and the realization that I still have a lot to learn.  This week wasn't easy.  Of the $40, I have $7.50 left over, which is awesome.  However, this week also included prom supervision (dinner provided), school bbq (lunch provided), and YG BBQ (dinner potlock).


This coming week, I'm completely on my own and that includes 2 meals out:  lunch with my best friend, who thankfully isn't looking to eat at a swanky gourmet restaurant, and a dinner date.  As the dinner date is a first date, it'll be interesting to see who pays.  I'm all up for going dutch, but sometimes the guy has other ideas.  Saying that, I'll be planning in the cost of dinner (approx. 1/2 my budget!).  In a sense, this week will be more like meals for $20 given my outings.

Thank you to all of you who sent me ideas & recipes.  Greatly appreciated!!!  I've got my Flipp app updated for the week and will be heading out later to brave the stores.  I'm looking forward to trying some of your ideas.


Stand-Out Moments:

Photo credit: craftyturtle 1 on flickr

• When you get distracted and forget a grocery bag with mushrooms, sweet potatoes, peaches, and zucchini and it takes you 2 days to notice, you find out what foods survive...and which ones ruin the bag.  The peaches weren't peach anymore.  I think they were trying to imitate the zucchini as they were green when I found them.  The win goes to the zucchini, which was the only survivor.  Honorable mention goes to me for pure stupidity.  Sigh....the value of food means that much more when you only have $40 to get through the week.
• Receiving a bag of dried chickpeas from my friend/colleague.  Best part is, she included instructions!  Thanks, Rachel, it's really appreciated!
• Spicy Black Bean Dip recipe found on The Lemon Bowl site.  My YG kids devoured it and I had all the ingredients at home (freebie!). 

Going through my cupboard, I was able to save on a few costs.  So, if you're interested, here's what $40 (or $32.50) bought this week:

•  2 bags of chocolate chips (baking cookies for my students)
•  3 packages of rice crackers (check out your Food Basics international aisle for cheap ones!)
•  Cremini mushrooms (died in the tragic shopping bag incident)
•  Baby Romaine lettuce
•  Avocado (2)
•  Zucchini (will be cooked today with Craig Silva's recipe suggestion)
•  Peaches (2)...RIP
•  Cucumber
•  Hot House Tomatoes (2)...I always look for Canadian produce, if not Ontario when I can.
•  Sweet Potato (2)...gone, but not forgotten
•  Tortillas
•  Tortilla chips for the BBQ party
•  Baba Ghanoush for the BBQ party.  Interesting side note, the 2nd ingredient was mayo!  I am hunting recipes for a homemade version.  Anyone have one?