With only two more weeks to go before Thanksgiving, some of you may already be shopping & getting things organized for the upcoming holidays. Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving, Christmas, some other celebration or all of the above, there are always ways to save & save BIG! I, personally, do not procrastinate! I try to get all of my holiday shopping needs out of the way well in advance. When I shop for Christmas, I want to be finished before December 1 even hits. It's easier for me to brainstorm, find the deals that I want, get the funds together and pick things up sporatically than do it all in one fell swoop! However, if you are like my husband, you wait until the eve before the event to shop and get everything completed. But, if you are more like me and want the bargains and to leave the procrastinating to others, here are some great finds for hosting during this time of year.
My husband and I will not be hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas this year but we are throwing a "holiday fete" for our friends. We want to do it right and make it classy but we also don't want to break the bank. Here are a couple recipes I found that use some of the same ingredients so that you are buying more of one thing and using it in a couple different ways. My mom makes this AMAZING beef & cheese dip (her secret recipe) that everyone loves. The ingredients for that are very similar to those in this Mini Meatloaves Recipe that is absolutely awesome! This is a great idea for a party because they are muffin sized individual servings and give everyone a hearty base. So, while buying the ingredients for one you can buy for both & save time & money....which is great. There is also this really great Beef Quesadilla recipe that includes some of these ingredients too so you can have multiple options for guests that aren't huge portions but heartier, which is always good when alcohol is involved. And make sure to not forget about any vegetarian friends that may be at the party! There are a couple great appetizers I love to serve for those who are not meat eaters. Delish.com has a great article that includes 15 great recipes for side dishes and appetizers for the veggie lover which can definitely help you at least get some ideas for what to serve to them as well.
I love food and know you do too.....so enjoy these delicious finds!!