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A holiday of overindulgence doesn't have to mean emptying your wallet. This year why not plan ahead and come up with a simple holiday meal that comes out to under $100. Here are my tips for making a feast to please, and still having money leftover.
- Utilize the farmers' market and keep recipes simple.
Come up with simplistic dishes and skip the complicated recipes that come with tons of costly ingredients. The fewer ingredients that you have to buy the cheaper your meal will be and the fresher your ingredients the less likely you are to have to include tons of additives. Check out my guide to simplistic, seasonal Thanksgiving eats that work just as well for Christmas.
- Skip all the appetizers.
Chips, cheese, crackers, and dips can get really expensive so save up for the meal and skip the starters. If you really want to make a starter, try an antipasti platter. Substitute whatever you have on hand. This way you don't have to go out and buy tons of specific ingredients. Try Michael Chiarello's Old World Antipasti.
- Ask a guest to bring dessert.
This way you don't have to worry about it. If not, why not use up some of the ten tons of baked goods that you got as gifts from friends and family.
- Go veg.
Whatever your holiday tradition, meat can be expensive. According to an article in the Fresno Bee, Heritage turkeys sell for about $5 a pound compared to an organic broad breasted White turkey at about $3.50 a pound. If the average person eats about 3 oz of turkey, for six people that's $90 for the Heritage bird and $63 for the organic turkey. Reason enough to quit the meat. Skipping the meat can be a truly green way of life. According to a 2005 University of Chicago study, going vegetarian has the same effect on carbon dioxide emissions as switching from a Chevrolet Suburban to a Toyota Camry. So giving up meat could be worth it for the planet. Instead try Emeril's Tofu with Mushroom Ragu.
Salivating over sustainable eats? Learn how to make your own with help from Emeril Lagasse in Planet Green TV's organic cooking show, Emeril Green.
