It may be halfway through the month, but there's still time to plan a great gathering — one that's easy on you and your wallet. True party-perfect recipes should make a big impact on your guests, not your bank account.Consider hosting a “small bites” soiree or simply get your gathering going with wallet-savvy appetizers.
For the third year in a row, The Whole Deal opens in a new tabvalue guide pulled together "small bite" recipes. These 10 budget-friendly starters ring in at less than 50 cents per piece:
Cranberry-Orange Braised Beef on Ciabatta opens in a new tab
Mushroom, Radish and Hearts of Palm Skewers opens in a new tab
Spicy Chocolate-Dipped Pineapple with Sea Salt opens in a new tab
Don’t forget to raise the bar! Why not cut down on costs further by serving a signature drink in place of an open bar? Thanks to the vibrant flavors of clementines, cranberries and fresh rosemary, you can make a pitcher full of sparkling wine-based cocktails primed for winter celebrations. We call this one Clementine Crush Sparkling Cocktail opens in a new tab, but you can call it a delicious budget-conscious solution. Cheers to savings!Clementine Crush Sparkling Cocktail Ingredients
2 2/3 cups clementine juice, plus 1 TB finely chopped clementine zest, plus 1 clementine for garnish (from 12–14 fruits total)1/4 cup cane sugar1 cup 365 Everyday Value® Organic 100% Cranberry Juice3/4 cups fresh cranberries8 (1-inch) sprigs fresh rosemary1 (750ml) bottle sparkling wine, such as Pascual Toso Sparkling Brut, well chilled1 (12-ounce) can 365 Everyday Value® Tonic Water or Ginger Ale
MethodIn a wide, shallow dish, mix zest and sugar together with your fingers. Wet the rim of 8 cocktail glasses with a wet paper towel, and then dredge in clementine sugar to coat. In a large pitcher, use a wooden spoon to muddle cranberry juice, cranberries and rosemary sprigs thoroughly. Fill pitcher with ice cubes. Top off with clementine juice, wine and tonic water or ginger ale. Stir vigorously; pour into glasses; garnish with clementine twists and serve.
TipsUse a vegetable peeler to remove the clementine zest in large pieces for the chopping and twists. Swap out satsumas for clementines if you prefer.
Serves 8. $2.68 per serving. We do our best to estimate recipe ingredient costs, but market variations do happen. You’ll find more recipes and tips on our holiday pages for entertaining on a budget opens in a new tab from years past too. Plus, turn to The Whole Deal opens in a new tab value guide opens in a new tab, online and in stores, for more even more tips on celebrating with savings.Your turn! Got any great recipes that dazzle with fewer dollars? We’d love to hear them.
