Holiday Entertaining on a Budget
"Less is more" can be an excellent mantra for your celebrations: Spend less, waste less and stress less, but have more holiday fun with and friends and family.
Small Bites, Big Impact
The Whole Deal value guide is in its third year of bringing together some great "small bite" recipes that check out at less than 50 cents per piece. Make them the basis for a cocktail party or holiday gathering and you can host the whole gang without compromising your fiscal integrity. Here's the year's newest crop, plus last year's favorites:
- Bacon Bread
- Bacon Jalapeño Stuffed Mushrooms
- Brie and Sour Cherry Toast Bites
- Butternut and While Chocolate Blondies
- Chickpea Deviled Eggs
- Cranberry-Orange Braised Beef on Ciabatta
- Curried Crab on Crackers
- Festive Garland Bars
- Mushroom, Radish and Hearts of Palm Skewers
- Spicy Chocolate-Dipped Pineapple with Sea Salt
2010 Favorites
- Black-Eyed Pea Pâté with Pickled Onions on Flatbread Crackers
- Celery Bites with Roasted Red Pepper Cream
- Creamy Cucumber Chive Cups
- Date and Olive Oil Wine Crackers
- Five-Spice Cranberry Glazed Chicken Wings
- Ham and Pineapple Pops
- Mini Brie and Arugula Sandwiches with Apple Mustard
- Mini Shrimp Pancakes with Tangerine Relish
- Mushroom, Spinach, and Swiss Crustless Quiche Squares
- Pimentón Roasted Chickpeas
- Pineapple White Chocolate Chunk Macaroons
2009 Favorites
- Blue Cheese and Pecan Stuffed Dates
- Brie with Cardamom-Scented Clementine Chutney
- Chocolate-Covered Matzo Bark
- Cranberry Cheddar Sausage Bites
- Ham and Roasted Pear Crostini
- Mini Potato-Carrot Pancakes with Festive Sour Cream
- Pita Chips with Sweet Potato Mash and Smoked Almonds
- Seafood Cucumber Stacks with Lemon Cream and Chives
- Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms
Plan Well, Shop Wisely
Create a Menu. In addition to our excellent small bites, browse hundreds of budget-friendly recipes. Choose your dishes, then use our handy shopping lists feature to create a complete checklist in mere moments.
Buy Only What You Need. Use our Servings Calculator to help determine how much you need per person. Also do a thorough inventory of what you already have on your shelves so you don't make unnecessary purchases.
Go for 365 Everyday Value®. Our excellent house brand helps you save on entertaining basics and pantry staples. From crackers and mixers to nuts and napkins, it's the best and broadest selection of natural and organic products at the best possible prices.
Shop the Sales. More than 1000 items are on sale in our store right now. Look for the sale signs and save! Also, sign up for our Whole Foods Market News e-newsletter for notification of the best specials.
Take Advantage of Our Good Nature. Our Team Members are there for you, and they know the answers to more questions than you might think! Let them help you make holiday shopping easy and affordable.
Have "What Can I Bring?" Suggestions Ready. Guests almost always ask what they can bring, and usually enjoy contributing. Make a short list of items or dishes that would be helpful to have supplied so that you can offer your generous, talented guests a suggestion.
More Great Ways to Party for Less
Beat the Bar Tab. Instead of offering a full bar, choose a cocktail (or invent your own) and make it your seasonal signature. Offer that, plus beer and a few non-alcoholic drinks like seltzer, sparkling cider and natural sodas.
Make Décor do Double Duty. Decorate your table with winter squash, fresh herbs, citrus, apples, pears, pomegranates and nuts, then use them in recipes later. Here are even more décor ideas for sprucing up the holidays.
You Don't Need Fancy Serving Dishes. Small wall mirrors (cleaned, of course!) make elegant platters for hors d'oeuvres and crudités. Wooden cutting boards are practical for serving everything from meats and cheeses to cookies and pies. Line mixing bowls with lettuce or radicchio leaves and mound vegetable side dishes and salads into them. Clean ceramic planters or window boxes filled with ice are excellent for chilling beverages.
Don't Forget the Music! Nothing sets the mood like a great play list, and it's basically free when you use your own music collection.