Entertaining During The Holiday

When planning a meal for a crowd for a special event such as New Years, Valentines day or family events it's important to plan smart when thinking of appetizers. Keeping it simple, can be both elegant and save you money, as well. Over this Christmas season,  I served two items that are both inexpensive to put together, save time and can be prepped ahead.
     The first was Prosciutto Crostini, this dish only requires one loaf of french bread cut into thin slices approximately ¼ to ⅓ of an inch wide. Lay flat on a cookie tray.

Four slices of prosciutto which you will roll and slice in thin strips.

A ¼ lb of sliced provolone or mozzarella.  These you will also stack and cut into strips about ½” wide.

You will need a frying pan with 1 stick of butter and ¼ c of olive oil. Add to this 1 Tbs of chopped garlic. Saute the garlic and add either 1 tsp of Italian seasoning or ½ tsp of pesto for Approx 5 mins. Then take the butter and oil mixture and ladle onto each piece of french bread.

Cook in over for about 7 mins, to toast. Remove from oven.

Use either salsa or diced tomato’s and spread a small amount on each toasted piece of french bread. Then add a few pieces of prosciutto and the provolone.

Sprinkle a little Italian seasoning over top and put in the oven at 325 for 7 mins to melt cheese and heat. Take them out and you're ready to serve.

Your pricing on this for a nice size tray which will feed up to 10 to 15 people will only run approximately $7.00 max. I have also made these with just the fresh tomato from our garden and mozzarella with a little fresh basil on top. This brings your price to make down even further an is slightly more healthy. 

   Another option we tried was bacon wrapped dates. 
I cut the pound of bacon in half and pre cooked it, so it was still soft. You're only going to cook it about half way.
 Then took a bag of pitted dates and wrap each with a piece of  bacon. I put them on skewers so I would be able to throw them on the grill for about 5 mins on high. The  needed cook time is pretty fast and you can plate them quickly as well without tying up your oven.
     My guests were pleasantly surprised by how good they tasted. There were none left, and they went very fast. I buy my dates in a large bag, but which cost about $5.00, you will have many left over. The bacon was around $3.00, and this works great for a group of 10 to 15.
     Entertaining can be expensive so cutting your costs where you can and still putting out a nice meal and appetizers can help. There are also many other ideas out there that have been around for a long time. Pigs in a blanket which will run around $6.00 steamed dumplings you can make yourself or buy the frozen are also in that range. Another one of the great options are dips. If you stick to a simple one you can keep your costing around $5.00 total for the dip and the bread or crackers, to go with it.
     People don't always think about  punches or mixed Sangria’s. Its a great way to include wine with your meal without having to buy a lot to keep everyone happy. Fresh iced tea is just pennies per a glass and many people are delighted to get something other than soda.
     With New Years,  just a few days away you can still be smart and not over spend. In these tough economic times,  most of us are watching what we spend and where we choose to spend our hard earned money. Keep it in your pocket where it will do the most for you.

Saving At Christmas A Hard Choice to Follow

     Being so close to Christmas, we all are scrambling to take care of purchasing gifts for family and friends. One area you can save some money is by giving cookies or something else you have made yourself. I will often give teachers or co workers Jelly, bread, applesauce or my husbands special cranberry sauce that we have canned. Most people appreciate it because they don't have the time to do it themselves.
     Many of us really do feel the financial pinch during this time of the year, & that is understandable. We want to give to our kids, & families and let them enjoy Christmas. One thing we have learned is to set a cap when buying for our kids. One it keeps it fair when you have more then one kid and two you don’t go crazy and over spend.
     Another trick is to take a break and  wrap what you have already. Make a list of whom you still need to buy for, so you're not buying multi gifts. Christmas for many has become more about the gifts than the spirit of Christmas, for me that's kind of sad, but I know its pretty normal today. I can remember as a child my aunt would give us each a small box of chocolates. It only had about four chocolate in it, but it was special because it wasn’t something we got year round. I’ve tried to continue the tradition in our family with my own kids and grandkids. The older ones look for it, and the younger ones know they're getting something they don't always get. I know its something little but its a great idea for school gifts that are rather inexpensive yet still a nice way to say thank you.
     No one want to be the scrooge and take the fun out of Christmas, but this year when you're out running around make a plan and try to stick to it. If you see something that isn’t on your list, really think about it before you impulsively buy it. As parents,  we need to set a good example for our kids especially when it comes to spending.

     Far to many of us have at one time or another "and I do include myself in this" gone overboard at Christmas. Your kids ultimately want your time. Sure they want gifts from Santa but remember if you set that bar to high on how much you need to spend your not doing your kids any favors. Most toys, games and items they don't need wind up gathering dust in the closet.
      No,  here’s the hard tip for me to follow, but I am going to give it my best this year. Don't over cook. I know no one want the embarrassment of not having enough food at Christmas when family and friend get together but plan out your menu and stay with it. I will upload some of our favorite recipes for those leftovers that I’ve found.
     I know once the dust has cleared my kids just really want my time, so plan some easy things to do  while your kids are on break.. Go to the library get a couple of movies and have a movie marathon at home. Your kids will love the time you're spending with them, and it will mean more than you think. Make a project out of making cookies and include them. Or play card.
     Oh and one final thought include others. Christmas is about the giving, and inclusion we can extend to others who may be having a hard time this year. You have made someone’s day and remembered the Christmas spirit that is in all of us.