Day 7: $7.73

photo credit Teuscher Chocolates

Pomegranate Greek Yogurt (0.44)
Avocado and Capers on Whole Wheat Crostini (0.90)
Haagen-Dazs Passion Fruit Ice Cream (1.20)
Maple Rice Ice Cream (0.64)
Cranberry Juice (0.25)
Orange Slices (0.25)
Whole Grain Rice Cakes (0.20)
Morningstar Chik'n Strips in Caper Sauce over Broccoli (1.40)
Teuscher Champagne Truffle (1.65)
Spinach Blue Cheese Bisque (0.80)

I made rice ice cream this morning with the leftover rice I had with Organic Grade B Maple Syrup and nutmeg. (I just made rice pudding then added extra cream, pureed the mixture and froze it. It tastes surprisingly good but has a strange texture a bit like granita that took some getting to used to).

I didn't have time to cook dinner so I ate half an orange and some whole grain rice cakes before rushing out to meet Jon and Zeke to play pool (which was not actually pool, I was told, but "American billiards"). Zeke wanted to take me out for my birthday but I said I couldn't accept any food so instead he bought me the chocolates I wanted! As soon as I got them, I started calculating in my head how much money I had left over to see if I could have one tonight. I figured I had roughly $4-$5 left so when I got home, I wasn't hungry but I thought I should eat so I made a half-portion of veggie chicken and broccoli. (It was 11:30 and at my age, I shouldn't be eating anything at that hour but I got a lecture from Jon today about eating too little and exercising too much). And it's true that I don't eat enough protein - that's why I only eat Greek yogurt but they both told me, "That's not a meal". "But I eat it with fruit". "That's still not a meal".

After my very healthy dinner, I had a champagne truffle for dessert. Actually, it was one of the really small truffles they don't sell individually so the price I assigned is an estimate based on the marked weight on the package (10 grams each) and Teuscher's current price ($75 per pound).

Before going to bed, I made a spinach bisque with half of the bag of fresh spinach that was left that had started to wilt and go bad and the the milk and cream that would expire before I return from California. I tried a bowl and froze the rest. It was probably the best thing I made all week even though I used regular blue cheese from Trader Joe's and not Roquefort or Gorgonzola. I also cut up my fresh pineapple so I could freeze it until I got back and the way to do it without wasting a lot of fruit (because of the eye spots) is to cut diagonal grooves, which took a long time for someone who has never done it before. So, I didn't really adjust my eating habits all that much but I did spend a lot of time cooking and preparing food. I'll post my final thoughts on this experience tomorrow.