I had a guest list of 12 counting Paul and myself to feed for Saturday afternoon lunch. Two of the individuals I had never met before. I started feeling cramped in my kitchen cabinets and cold storage and decided to use mostly what I already had on hand to cook for the event. In the end, I only made a trip to the grocery store for bell pepper and bread. I had bought the potatoes a week before and had yet to use them. The green beans were a BOGO at Publix right after we came back from Paris, and I chose to use bread crumbs instead of a loaf of bread in the Rediburger because I had bought bread crumbs a while back, but rarely used them. When something has been around for a month or two and may go bad soon, I don't look at the use of it as a cost to myself, but rather as a way to prevent wasted money from buying something I don't use. Granted, we are creative in the kitchen and do occasionally buy or make items that we regret, but we have also had some great successes in the kitchen and feel we are allowed a goof once in a while.

Saturday Lunch Menu

Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes

• $2.29 5 lbs Potatoes (Aldi)
• $0.21 Head of Garlic (Publix, used for beans, too)
• Free Rosemary (Herb Garden)
• $1.00 Olive Oil (Publix, used for beans, too)

Green Beans

• $1.80 Green Beans (Publix, 2 bags)
• Free Crushed Red Pepper (Gift from Italy)
• $0.19 Balsamic Viniegar (Trader Joe's. The last of it!)

Multigrain Bread

• $1.89 Bread (Publix)
• Free Apricot Preserves (Gift from Uraguay)

Carrot Salad

• Free Carrots (My mom made me take these when she went to see my grandmother because there were so many.)
• $0.20 Parsley (Publix)
• $0.30 Onion (Costco)
• Free Cilantro and Garlic (Garrett left it when he brought ingredients to make guacamole.)

Crackers and Hummus

• Free Hummus (Same story. Dad couldn't eat it all.)
• $0.04 Sweet Paprika (From Budapest)
• $2.00 Multigrain Wheat Thins (Walmart)

Rediburger Loaf

• $3.49 Rediburger (Adventist Nutrition Center)
• $0.07 McKay's (Veggie) Chicken Seasoning (Adventist Nutrition Center)
• $0.40 Onion (Costco)
• $0.22 Bell Pepper (Publix)
• Free Eggs (Same story. Mom left them. Dad doesn't have time to cook them.)
• $0.40 Bread Crumbs (Aldi)

Strawberry Pie

• $7.00 Strawberries (Costco)
• $0.30 Sugar
• $.04 Corn Startch
• $0.50 Oil (Publix)
• $0.80 Flour (Publix)
• $0.10 Chocolate Chips (Costco)

Water with Oranges

• $0.23 (Hollianna Groves)

$23.47 Total

Again, I suppose we spent a lot of money averaging $2.35 a person with some leftovers, and I stare at the list wondering where we could have cut costs. Moreover, it would have cost more to me if I wasn't helping my parents clean out their refrigerator. But I think the price was more than acceptable for a large group, tremendously cheaper than dining out, a help to eat up a lot of carrots before they went bad, and most importantly. . .a new group of friends who really appreciated my efforts, enjoyed the meal, and want to get together again soon. To use the old cliche, that is priceless.