This holiday season, you may want more money for gifts. Here are some great meals with recipes so you’re feasting like Old King Cole this season, but not feeling like you’re Scrooge.
Crab
The Dungeness crab season is around October through January. You can get a lot of crab meat for a low price. And you can use it to make fresh crab cakes. The other nice thing is you don’t need a lot of crab meat to make really good crab cakes. They’re the kind of dinner you can serve on a platter and let people eat however many they want. Serve with some crusty French bread and a simple salad. You would want to pair this with an inexpensive Pinot Grigio or a light Chardonnay. And don’t forget some lemon wedges and an easy remoulade sauce made simply with mustard, horseradish, catsup and a few seasonings.
Beef Rib Roast
You can buy a smaller beef rib roast and carve two slices per bone instead of the usual thick one. People are just as happy with a thinner slice, and can always have seconds if they’re not full. Roast some Brussels sprouts with olive oil and then season with some salt. And round it out with some baked potatoes. If you have time, you can make twice baked potatoes. You just bake a potato and finish at a high temperature to get a crispy skin. Slice off the top and scoop out the insides. Then mix it with butter, salt and milk like you’re making mashed potatoes. Put it back into the shells and bake.
If you have time, you can make twice baked potatoes. You just bake a potato and finish at a high temperature to get a crispy skin. Slice off the top and scoop out the insides. Then mix it with butter, salt and milk like you’re making mashed potatoes. Put it back into the shells and bake. This meal goes great with some horseradish mixed with unsweetened whipped cream and a bit of sour cream. And you can pair it with an inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon.
Turkey
Many markets have turkeys for very cheap around Thanksgiving. If you like having another turkey around Christmas or New Years, buy two and keep one in the freezer. Turkeys are still inexpensive around the holidays. Keep your eyes peeled for some good deals. Despite what the ads show us for Thanksgiving, you can put together a lovely turkey dinner with just mashed potatoes and green beans. But don’t forget the gravy. You can also make a turkey dinner with biscuits, beans, and sweet potatoes. The key is to focus on a balanced meal that’s easy for you to prepare so you can enjoy your company. Turkey pairs well with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Being on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t have a feast. You can go online or find circulars to get the best deal on your meal.
The best tip is to eat in season and look for specials at your local market. Their advertising flyers usually come out at the beginning of the week and you can plan your dishes based upon that. You can also look online for coupons and promo codes at places like the Mamma Food Category. Then you can plan your meal based on what’s on sale and where you can save extra money.
