Let's make a list..

**Thevail** · 04-22-2009, 12:25 AM

Of great frugal ideas for grown up entertaining!
It's really easy to do frugal-N-fun stuff for a kids party, but entertaining adults isn't quite as easy to do cheaply.

Ritz crackers are great..yep even the off brands (honestly you usually can't even tell) with anything from plain cheese to caviar are quick and always go over well.

My favorite topping is a rich homemade spinach dip with chopped water chestnuts added for crunch..sooo cheap and everyone just loves it. For variety add grated parmesan. Place them on a really big platter covered with a nice cloth napkin (maybe another use for that Thanksgiving monstrosity) It doesn't take much money OR time and they look fabulous.

**LastDragonfly** · 04-22-2009, 12:35 AM

When entertaining sometimes I like to have a "build your own"

sometimes submarine sandwhiches but the "potato bar" is usally the favorite. Potatoes are cheap and so is hotdog chili to put on it.

A Mexican Stack up is also inexpensive.

**phoeny_moonstar** · 04-22-2009, 12:43 AM

Make your own pizzas? I've always loved this idea and a restaurant/grocery store that I used to work for would host these pizza parties for batchelorettes/birthdays etc. Looked quite fun.

**momof2joys** · 04-22-2009, 12:46 AM

We usually have a BYOB at our house, then again we only entertain on special occassions. Super Bowl party we did a BYOB and a BADTS (Bring a dish to share). It works out so well, everyone brings their own beverages and brings a dish to share with everyone, plus those of us with kids also bring juices and sodas too.

Bringing your own dish is fun, new foods to try and a wide variety of items! You can also have a theme if you want (Super Bowl party...theme: bring a football watching food...ie: hotdogs, chips, dips, peanuts, pretzels, etc).

Then just sit outside and chat or find board games or card games to play!!

**2ndGenGranola** · 04-22-2009, 07:32 AM

Around here people will have a bring your own meat to grill and a side to share type party. The host how will provide paper goods and drinks - our friends don't drink so its soda, iced tea, water.

**peanut** · 04-22-2009, 01:10 PM

We used to play card games with friends - Euchre and such. In DH's family the favourite was Pinochle. We've also played board games with people who come as a family to visit.

For food we'd all bring something and just share it around. I am a big fan of veggie sticks and hm curry dip. Also chips. And popcorn...especially if we're watching a movie with someone.

If it's a fancy night...like New Year's...I'll make Welsh cakes and serve them with Brie cheese. I'll also make Swedish Oatcakes (a largish cracker) and serve it with Fontina cheese. And then there's Ritz (or the no-name equivalent) with seafood sauce and cocktail shrimp.

These aren't necessarily cheap, but it's cheaper than going out for New Year's. The cheese is the expensive part. Sometimes we'll have hm chocolate fondue on New Year's too.

I figure my New Year's for 6 adults is around $50. We all bring a bottle of wine and enjoy that. Though recently I'm finding my friends don't drink as much. We've taken to supplying non-alcoholic punch for those who prefer not to drink.

**Kaos Kitty** · 04-22-2009, 02:42 PM

Two inexpensive desserts have worked for me when entertaining.

One is "make your own sundae". You're never too old for this. I put out generic vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce (you can make your own -same with caramel), marshmallows, shredded coconut, pineapple tidbits, whip cream, and whatever other fruit, candy or cookies you want.

The other is chocolate fondue. I always get a Tolberone from the in-laws for Christmas, Valentines, Easter and so on. I melt pieces in the microwave on low (stir every 10 seconds) then add a small container of whipping cream until its the consistency I want and put in my fondue pot (the whipping cream keeps it from sticking). Then I cut up in season fruit (I did strawberries, bananas and vanilla wafer cookies cut into squares). A huge hit for 6 people. Really inexpensive for the fun.

Another idea is a "progression dinner". Get 6-8 friends together, go to one persons house for appetizers and drinks, the next for soup/salad/bread and a third persons house for the main course (something cheap/easy like a crock pot chicken on rice and a vegetable), then go to a 4th persons house for dessert and coffee. A couple people can go in together to make a course. It stretches the evening out and is a lot of fun!

**Judi Dial** · 04-22-2009, 02:50 PM

When we have company, it's usually for a meal. The easiest and cheapest is almost always crepes. You can make the pancakes ahead and stuff them with what have you. If you're having a lot of folks over, then put the filling and such out buffet style: filling, s & p, grated cheese and some kind of veggie and/or salad. I served such a thing to people before we had any furniture: we sat on the floor!

Judi

**joyofsix** · 04-22-2009, 03:12 PM

Relaxed-We build a fire and roast hot dogs, pudgy pies and s'mores like when we were kids. We put on '80's music, have cards for Euchre if talking slows down but it usually doesn't.

Sit-Down-I try for an Italian Restaurant feel. Salad, lasagna and zabaglione& berries in season or lemon ice. Lots of candles, red checked cloth, music in background. If I can get my 15yo to walk around with a towel on his arm and be a waiter it's even better. Also, low light hides my houses imperfections, lol. Again, cards, Apples to Apples, a library movie or even Wii can be fun entertainment if conversation dies.

We had a great Blue Collar Party-we grilled and had bbq, cole slaw, potato salad, red velvet cake and watched The Blue Collar Comedy Tour. It was lots of fun.

**Kazoo** · 04-22-2009, 06:42 PM

Wow, this thread is making me hungry!

One of my favorite finger foods is lightly toasted pita wedges with hummus dip. There are all kinds of variations on both these days (curry, garlic, you name it). And folks with a food processor can make their own hummus for a song.

**peanut** · 04-22-2009, 07:17 PM

You know, when we had families with teens over we found a big pan of lasagna went over well...with Ceasar salad and hm garlic toast. I used to make crock-pot dessert recipes from scratch...no pre-processed ingredients.

**lisaflex** · 04-22-2009, 07:38 PM

not so cheap, but good and goes over sooo well....proscuitto wrapped asparagus. everyone loves it!

roast asparagus w/ OO, pepper, garlic powder. let cool slightly. wrap each spear in proscuitto....waaalaaa....

**Thevail** · 04-23-2009, 01:08 AM

We had a great time last summer doing a "farmer's market" party.

We all went as a group to the local farmer's market and then split up. Each couple had to get ALL the ingredients for their dish (except the spices) from the farmer's market.

Then we went back to my house and seriously messed up the kitchen.

But everyone had a great time, the cost for the entire day's entertainment was just the cost of dinner! Oh, and if you'd like to find organic and healthy alternatives for some of the dishes you regularly make..this is a great way to do it.