I returned that maple syrup, and it was as easy as expected. In fact, the woman was surprised I was returning it unopened. I think she figured she had a return based on me not liking it.

Grocery stores are surprisingly good at taking returns.

My recipe is based on the Barefoot Contessa recipe, with a few simple changes. I like it with a little spiciness. Reduce the Tabasco to 8 dashes if you like it with less spice. I often wait to add the salt, as the amount needed really depends on the saltiness of the chickpeas.

Feel free to use the recipe as a starting point. Sometimes I add chipotle peppers, roasted peppers, more lemon, etc., etc. I hope you enjoy it!

This recipe makes quite a lot… about 3 cups, I think. It lasts for quite a while.

Okay, here it is:
2-15 oz cans chickpeas, drained, liquid reserved
1 tsp kosher salt or more to taste
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 c tahini (sesame paste)
6 T lemon juice (juice from 2 lemons)
6 T reserved liquid from chickpeas (or water)
10 dashes Tabasco
Freshly ground pepper, to taste.

Put all ingredients in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until coarsely puréed. Adjust salt, Tabasco and/or lemon juice to taste.

All – At least most hubby’s are like mine! I’m not alone.

Cynthia – I know. She totally called it. That’s what mom’s do.

Sandy – Don’t you love shopping trips like that?

T – Our money situation isn’t dire. We could afford to pull the cash from savings but I’d rather stick to my guns and struggle through the next three weeks. I’d hate to get into the habit of pulling out money ‘just this once’.

By the way, my best advice for working women is to share cooking duties even if you enjoy it more, because cooking is not just one simple chore. It also involves planning meals, packing lunches for everyone (sometimes) and grocery shopping. Unlike other chores, it has to be done daily so you’re really getting the short end of the stick if you work.

My boyfriend often doesn’t know something is bad for him (and is surprised when I explain); the rest of the time, he figures the fact that he is an attorney who works 80 hours/week, doesn’t exercise, and has a family history of heart disease will never catch up with him even if he makes poor food choices.

Heck, I’m going to return some maple syrup later today. Our money situation isn’t dire at all, but that’s ~$15 that we didn’t need to spend (there was a debate about whether we owned it already or not). I’ve never had a problem getting something returned that was unopened, or that had gone bad.

I also can’t lump all men into the same boat, especially since I (the female half of the couple) am far more the “impulse buyer” in our household. He and I both do so, but I’m worse at it.

Anyway, maybe a list would help. Or, more likely, reminding yourself how much in fat & money those mini-eggs cost and going shopping with your husband. I find that when I go shopping with my guy, he and I prop each other up in making good choices. Plus, it’s a lot more fun that way!

Interestingly enough, she liked it when I did the shopping because 1) she HATES grocery shopping and 2) the groceries costs less when I shopped because I bought only what was on the list. If she went, she’d see other items she’d forgotten we needed, or she’d see some new product she wanted to try. That’s what I do now when I shop for myself.

Fortunately for me my husband is an excellent frugal grocery shopper and his bill is usually lower than mine when he does the shopping. He’s pretty frugal anyway…it’s me who puts us in danger of over-running the budget each month! I’m getting better though.

We do the groceries together every Saturday and he’s used to me micro managing everything that goes in the cart. Maybe I caused this by being too frugal? I can just picture him running through the store “unsupervised” grabbing things that would never get in the cart if I was there.

Wheat bread and carrots sounds dismal. Though you could make some hummos if you have a food processor. It’s really cheap if you make it at home (I’d be happy to pass on the recipe). Or make some soup and bring it in a thermos! You must have some kind of ingredients left in the back of your pantry or wilting in your veggie drawer.

I have to tell you: Every time I pass a display of Cadbury Mini-Eggs, I smile. They’re $2.99 here on the East coast this week, too. I think I may just make it through the season without succumbing thanks to you and your tale of karma! I loved it.

What is weird is this is the man who packs his lunch, never buys coffee out, and rarely will hit a drive-thru. Weird.

I was going to Albertsons, which is the farthest grocery store from us. (About 5 miles instead of 1.5 for the other two.) It’s not REALLY far but I still consider it out of the way.

So when my husband wanted to go instead, I wrote down the explanations as best I could and handed him the coupons. I had 15 “75 cents off 2″ coupons for the TP on sale. Since a four-pack was priced at $1 that week, that meant $1.25 for two.

He came home with 18 packs and a rain check for the rest. Except that the store had posted a note saying the price had been a misprint. The actual price was $1.69 (30 cents off). But he didn’t have his cell phone so he bought them anyway.

Which means, instead of $1.25 for two 4-packs, we paid $1.31 for ONE.

Incidentally, I recommend lots of rice and beans dishes. It’s about all you can really do if you have to stick that closely to a budget.