Easy Frugal Family Dinners
Happy Holidays With Food
Think about exactly what to serve well in advance. If there’s a special dish that guests always love such as cousin Frank’s sweet potato casserole, make sure to have all ingredients on hand before you start shopping. Check the pantry. Perform a careful survey of all available items that are on hand such as spices and other staples.
A good menu will have a wide selection of dishes. Avoid duplicating courses and items. Stuffed squash should not follow a pumpkin soup. Each dish should also have visual interest. Well-dressed items allow diners to have a sense of anticipation that can make meals happier.
Copy Professional Chefs
Take a tip from professional chefs and add finishing touches to the meal. Chop up herbs to scatter into soup. Add a tomato rosette to the baked chicken. Pipe icing stripes on the chocolate cake. Put a twist of lemon in iced tea for a nice homey accent.
Once a menu has been mapped out then think about where to shop for necessary items. Buying in bulk can allow for frugal shopping and still have enough to serve the entire extended family. Look carefully through Sunday circulars for on sale bargains. Consider a warehouse shop such as Costco. The minor costs of a membership fee can easily be offset by major savings on staple items. Another store to consider for good deals on food items is Aldi’s. This German retailer recently expanded into Florida. They offer shoppers fewer choices and brands but at lower cost.
Do the Prep Work At Home
Another good way to reduce costs is prepare an item at home rather than buying it in processed form. Pre-shredded cheese costs more than shredding it in a kitchen. Pre-mixed salads are more expensive than creating one in a kitchen. If short for time, ask family members to help you. A child can cut up cheese as a topping for cauliflower. A spouse can shred lettuce for salads. Home made items also allow you know exactly what goes into the finished product. A homemade piecrust can be tailored to a family’s exact tastes.
Buy Food in Season
Buying seasonally is another great way to save money. Out of season strawberries are a special treat. In season produce is often not only cheaper but often tastes better as well. Retailers also often reduce the price of an item to entice buyers during the appropriate time. For example, turkey and cranberry sauce are often much cheaper during Thanksgiving. Some stores will even give away a turkey if you purchase a certain dollar number of items.
Try No Name Brands
To save additional costs, consider purchasing no name brands. Many famous labels will sell surplus items to more traditionally cheaper brands. The quality is often just as good. This principle can also be applied to items that will serve as ingredients. A slightly bruised plum can be made into preserves. An apple with a minor blemish can go into apple pie.
Meals at home are not difficult to create and need not cost too much money. Use tricks that professionals use, do much the prep work in house rather than purchasing ready-made items and avoid name brands. With proper preparation you can make any family meal inexpensive and delicious.
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