Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
“˜Tis the season for parties, potlucks”¦ and pricey food. If you spend $20 every time you're invited to go somewhere, you might find yourself dreading that “dish to pass” part of holidays. Most of us want to bring something nice to the party, but are tempted to just grab a cheap bag of chips to keep our costs low. We've got some help: For around $5 or less, you can have a dish you'll be proud to share with friends and family.Individual Oreo Cheesecakes ““ Estimated cost: $4.94; serves 20. Using a whole Oreo to make the bottom crust for cheesecake gives a decadent flavor with quick prep. (Note:It's recommended to use cupcake liners to bake these, as they hold together better for serving.) Set an Oreo in the bottom of 20 muffin tin cups. Crush remaining Oreos (approximately 7 cookies) and set aside. Beat together two 8-ounce packages cream cheese, 1/2 cup white sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until well blended. Add 2 eggs, mixing just until incorporated. Divide cheesecake batter evenly over Oreos. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until centers are almost set. Cool; then chill for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. Sprinkle with crushed Oreos before taking it to the party or potluck. (Tip:If you are in a hurry, these can also be chilled in the freezer.)
Savory Cocktail Sausages““Estimated cost: $4.97; serves 14-16. At about $2.29 a pound, cocktail sausages can go a long way. They are delicious, as well as economical. Purchase 2 pounds of sausages, then get them ready on a dime. Simply slice a small onion very thinly, and caramelize the onion with a few pats of butter in a large non-stick skillet. As soon as the onion is browned, remove from the skillet. Put the sausages in the hot skillet to warm through, then add the onion back in. Transfer to a slow cooker to keep warm, or use a carrying case made for transporting hot dishes.
Sweet Grape Salad““Estimated cost: $4.25;serves 10-12. While it's true grapes can be pricey this time of year, they can often still be found for around $1.99 per pound. Wash, and remove from their stems, 1/2 pound of red (seedless) grapes, and 1/2 pound of green (seedless) grapes. Cream together 4 ounces softened cream cheese, 4 ounces sour cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/4 cup white sugar. Gently fold in grapes. Cover and refrigerate. Sprinkle with 1.5 tablespoons each brown sugar and crushed pecans before serving. (Hint:To save money on the pecans, purchase the smaller packages of pecans found in the baking aisle. You only need about $1 worth of pecans.)
Oriental Broccoli Cole Slaw““Estimated cost: $4.73; serves 10-12. If you have a membership, a cost-effective place to get the ready-to-use broccoli cole slaw mix you'll need is Sam's Club. Mix together 3/4 cup canola or vegetable oil, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, and the two seasoning packets from two Ramen noodle packages (either chicken or Oriental flavor). Toss with 24 ounces ready-to-use broccoli cole slaw mix. Add a sprinkle of chopped green onion or chives and 2 crushed packages Ramen noodles. Refrigerate. Just before serving, mix in 1/4 cup each sunflower seeds and slivered almonds.
Chocolate-Dipped Potato Chips ““ Estimated cost: $4.75; serves 12-14. These salty-sweet treats are becoming more popular, but still unique enough to impress. A couple notes: Make them just before you'll need them, as the chips may become soggy if stored too long; and be sure to buy sturdy, ridged potato chips that will stand up to dipping. To make, use a microwave safe bowl, and add one 12 ounce bag of chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk, or white) to 2 tablespoons butter or vegetable shortening. Carefully melt the chocolate, 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between. Take care to not scorch the chocolate. Holding the chip carefully, dip half into the chocolate, scraping off the excess on the edge of the bowl. Set on a cookie sheet, lined with wax paper to cool and set up. If your kitchen is too warm, place the pan of dipped chips in the fridge to firm up. (Tip: If dipping isn't working well, drizzle the chocolate over the chips instead.) Chocolate tastes great drizzled over pretzels, cookies or fruit too!
One last suggestion:If you have more than one party or potluck to attend over the holidays, pick a recipe, and buy the ingredients in large quantities. That way, you'll save even more over buying individually for each gathering,andyou'll already know what you're bringing. No more last minute trips to the store for that dish to pass!
