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. I save the carcass & make a large pot of chicken soup for the next dinner party.
Carcasses of rotisserie chickens are pretty well spent as they are generally overcooked. You are better off to start with raw parts - backs and necks that are generally very cheap at the market.
My friends are really low key so when I have them over I generally make pizza w/ a side salad, spicy Cajun chicken w/ pasta, or we do a taco night (tacos, chips, rice, salad). In the summers I'll often make BBQ chicken (on the grill) w/ coleslaw or hamburgers ( also on the grill) & homemade seasoned fries. For desert I usually make a chocolate cake or buy a cheesecake. My friends usually help out by bringing drinks (nonalcoholic- none of us drink).
dang, I'm hungry now. I should know better than to come on the Food & Drink forum my mouth starts to water every time lol.
Potluck style dinner parties are great if one wants to entertain but doesn't want to spend too much money.
We'd ask everyone to bring one thing - either a meat or a vegetable, whatever they like. We'd have a big cauldron of broth simmering over the fire, and as each guest arrived, we'd add whatever they brought. As the result simmered, we'd add seasonings according to what seemed to fit the ingredients. And we'd all sup the result together, with good crusty bread.
Haven't ever actually managed to pull that off, at least partially because we don't know enough adventuresome foodies who live close enough to invite. But it's still something we dream about.
I was asked to Cater a Baby Shower yesterday for 10. I made Chicken Penne Alfredo & Pasta Fagoli. Both 1/2 trays cost me a total of $10.00 to make inc. the trays. Time involved with prepping etc. 1 hr., Total cooking time 1 hr.
We are having company for dinner next Fri., the request--stuffed peppers. Another dinner costing less then $5.00 for 4. Meat & rice stuffed peppers, simmered slowly in crock pot, mashed potatoes, salad & bread.
It really doesn't cost a lot to have company over for dinner. It is all about the prep. and presentation. I love to think our friends come here to enjoy our company, but I know they come for the food.
Our Sam's Club has a fully cooked Rot. Chicken 4 lbs., less than $5.00, homemade pot. salad, & green salad & your good to go. I save the carcass & make a large pot of chicken soup for the next dinner party.
$5 pp or total? Green peppers are .99 each where I am. You grown your own maybe or buy in bulk?
I love the idea of Tortilla soup! You should give it a whirl and submit the recipe to the community. It sounds like it would be especially good for a Cinco de Mayo party!
cr1039, I am sorry I just saw your post today. The peppers I buy in bulk at sam's Club where they averaged .50 a piece. I do grow my own also. 1 lb of fresh ground round is .99 lb. at my Fresh Market. Because I do catering and have a tax ID #, I get yesterday's Ground Round or Ground Sirloin for .99 a lb.
I do all of my cooking from scratch & except for Holidays, I still average $100 a week, which includes 2 of us, paper products, friends over once a week or bringing food to Dr's etc. I make a list, stick to it, never go shopping hungry and buy quality ingredients. I usually know what we will be having a week out. If you have any other ques. that I can answer for you just dm me.
Location: where the moss is taking over the villages
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Quote:
Originally Posted by schweet
I'm just starting to have guests over for dinner parties and things like that, but it can be so expensive!
In this article (http://www.scottcommonsense.com/DollarsAndSense/Articles/EntertainingwithouttheExpense.aspx?articleID=60&ca tID=5 - broken link) in the scott common sense community, they bring up some starter ideas on how to cook interesting food for guests, so I was wondering if we could start a thread for good, inexpensive dishes for entertaining.
Here's mine:
Pigs in a blanket
Homemade Hawaiian pizza
Strawberry shortcake for dessert
What's yours?
tacos/burritos. spaghetti with salad & bread. homemade soup with cheese on it & bread.
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my mouth starts to water every time lol.
