Cooking For A Crowd – Low-Cost Christmas Dinner

Italian Holiday Meal Ideas For Under $2 A Person

Nov 9, 2009 Amy Wingfield

Christmas is a great time to host group gatherings. Feeding everyone can be expensive. Make delicious meals for under $2 a person. Enjoy the holidays and the savings.

Cooking for a crowd does not have to be difficult. It doesn't have to be expensive and it doesn't have to take a lot of time. With a little creativity, it's easy to plan an low cost party menu. Cook wonderful meals for less than $2 a person.

Italian Meals

Creating a fun and delicious meal is easy to do Italian style. Spaghetti is very inexpensive. Toss a salad. Add a basket of warm bread and leave room for dessert. Each of these meal options cost around $16 for the main dish, salad and bread. For 32 servings, that's $.50 a person before dessert.

• Italian Style Spaghetti with Turkey Meat Sauce : Brown and drain 2 lbs of Italian seasoned ground turkey. Cook and drain 4 lbs of spaghetti noodles. Combine all with four, 26.5 oz cans of pre-made spaghetti sauce. Heat and serve.
• Tangy Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti : Boil and debone 1 pound of chicken. Use 3 leg quarters is the to keep cost down. In a sauce pan, combine the chicken broth water, one can of cream of mushroom soup, one can of rotel, (drained), and one can of cheddar cheese soup. Add pepper, garlic and onion powder to taste. Cook and drain 4 lbs of spaghetti noodles. Combine all ingredients in a large 6 quart dish. Heat and serve.

Dessert Ideas

It's easy to finish off a fun meal with a themed dessert. Get creative with toppings and options. Arouse the senses with flavoring and spice.

• Dessert Pizza : Ths a popular option for Italian themed meals. The pizza crust can be a traditional pizza crust, a giant cookie or chocolate crust. Topping options are endless. A few of the more popular dessert pizzas include chocolate chip, apple. cherry, and fresh fruit. For something new and exciting, try black forest pizza or brownie banana split pizza. Serve warm and top with ice cream.

Cooking For A Crowd

For some, getting together with friends is the best part of the holidays. Keep the cost down by planning inexpensive meals that include a main dish, bread, salad and a dessert. Consider easy recipes that can be made ahead of time and placed in the freezer until the day of the party. Try to keep the holiday stress and the expenses to a minimum.

More Budget Cooking Ideas :

There are many ways to feed a crowd on a budget. Keep the menu simple and easy to prepare. Choose frugal recipes that can be easily be doubled or tripled. It's easy to be stay on budget and a fabulous party.

HOL101

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Holiday Italian Meals For Less