Guest post by Edward Stern
The holidays are a joyous time of year, a gathering of warmth and family amidst the coldest days of winter. The holiday feast is the centerpiece of it all, the big gathering to celebrate the season. However, it is easy to break the bank with a holiday feast, especially when cooking for a large crowd. With a little careful planning, though, holiday feasts can be done on a budget, and can last for more than one meal.
As with any kind of shopping, plan ahead. Make a list and figure out exactly what you need to buy; unorganized shopping leads to unnecessary purchases, so don’t wing it. Know what you have already in the pantry, and work from that.
Many families like to splurge on duck or pheasant for holiday feasts, but these pricey birds are not the best way to stretch a budget, especially because they’ll be gone after the main event. Instead, get a turkey or ham that will make for delicious leftovers for meals to come. Shop around, and if you see a bird on sale, purchase it immediately. These meats can always be frozen and thawed out before the big dinner.
Don’t bother splurging on fancy center pieces. While they look nice, they’re horribly overpriced. Make your own with just a candle or two, a platter, some nuts and berries, and maybe some ivy or a couple snips of an evergreen branch if handy. It’ll look great, and cost next to nothing.
Instead of rolls, make muffins for a side dish. You’ll be able to make more of them for the same price, if not less. Muffins are very easy to make, and can turn into creative treats. For the holidays, try making pumpkin or cranberry muffins. They’ll be much more cost-effective than they appear to your guests, and everyone at the table will be amazed at your ingenuity.
Stuffing is very cheap and easy to make, and an all-around favorite. Make more than you need and save it for later meals — with stuffing, there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing.
Many families love pumpkin pie for dessert, but it’s not most budget-friendly option. Bake a cake instead — the ingredients are cheap, and it’ll hold well for a sweet treat in the days to come. For a spin on an old classic, pumpkin cakes will more than satisfy. Trust me, no one will miss the pies!
Some of my favorite holiday meals have not been the feasts themselves, but the leftovers the day after. For an awesome post-turkey day meal, make open-faced turkey sandwiches. Start with two pieces of bread, pile on any leftover turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, smother it all in gravy, and reheat. It’s almost better the second time around.
Remember, the holidays are about family. If you don’t break the bank on fancy foods, no one will notice. In all likelihood, your dinner on a dime will be amazing for everybody. Don’t go over-budget, be creative with cooking, and organize your leftovers to create memorable holiday feasts without spending a pretty penny.
Edward Stern is a blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and a writer on Online Degree for Guide to Online Schools. He currently resides in Seattle, WA.
