Day 2 - $2 a Day

                     

Today, Hannah and I went to the allergist. She endured some pretty good poking and prodding, so we got a shake and a diet coke (i endured watching her being poked and prodded) from McDonalds when we were done. It's a good thing it was a low budget day. Our first treat cheat fit in no problem, but we weren't sure it would. We decided to declare it either way, just to keep ourselves honest.

Hannah had a major hand in every portion of the meal tonight beginning with the plan. She made the bread with only minimal final resting place help from me. She sliced all zucchini and insisted on making the marinara on her own. KC helped her with dredging and I did the frying, but she was master chef. I love that when I tell her, "Make a chiffonade," whether for basil or chard, she knows exactly what to do.

What we've learned so far - 

1. Hannah says, " Pasta is way easier than curry." I ask, "like between the marinara and the masala sauce?" Caleb responds, "The whole shebang." Hannah agrees. 

2. "It is great that we can use so much of our own stuff," Hannah adds. meaning, the most nourishing parts of our meals were from our garden or hen house. This would be really hard to do in the winter unless you had a greenhouse. Also, chickens. 

3. Leftovers are key. Because we didn't divide the cost of yesterday's dinner for multiple meals Several of us ate free lunch figured from curry and rice leftovers. Tomorrow will be the same except with pasta and sauce.

Breakfast - 

Eggs - free from our chickens

2 granola bars $0.40

2 Cups Milk $0.20

1 Cup Choco Milk $0.20

1 Cup Juice $0.20

Breakfast total - $1

Lunch -

Curry Leftovers - free lunch- already accounted for

1 Cup Milk $0.10

1 Cup Juice $0.20

Cup o noodles $0.50

Lunch total - $0.80

Dinner -

Homemade whole wheat bread 

    3 cups flour - $0.30

    1 tbsp yeast $0.05

    Salt and water - free

    Butter $0.25

    Jam from the neighbor, traded for eggs - free!

Sautéed chard 

    Rainbow Chard - free

    4 tbsp Butter - $0.25

Zucchini Parmesan

    Zucchini - free 

    1 cup flour (1/3lb) $0.10

    Parmesan cheese $1

    Egg & Spices - free

    1/2 cup Oil for shallow frying - $0.50

Marinara - 

     1 can tomatoes $1

     1 can tomato paste $0.50

      Herbs from the garden - free

1 lb Pasta - $1

1 cup homemade ranch dressing $0.50

3 cups chocolate milk $0.60

Dinner total - $5.90

Daily meal total - $7.85

McDonalds Cheats on Family Funds - $3.85

Daily total - $11.70

Goal >$14

Totally met!

P.S. After all meals were enjoyed and cleared away, KC chose to treat us all to half-price creme brulés from her work. If we counted it we would be $1.50 over budget. She said we shouldn't have to count it because it was her personal money, not family funds. A gift. Moral ambiguities and true confessions. You judge for yourself how you would handle it. Feel free to share your thoughts.