You Can Prepare Incredibly Impressive Party Food Without Spending a Fortune
I would blow up Jeopardy . I am a ball and chain in the little things. My brain does not remember facts or names that are not associated with Wham songs. I cry when I get into sports in Trivial Pursuit. I watch The Wheel of Fortune , unable to complete a sentence without only having a Q. But I always thought I could do well at The Price Is Right . How much is this car worth? Okay, fuck if I know. But ask me about groceries and we’re golden.
I read the recipes and immediately translate them into dollar signs. I’m not cheap, although I would be proud of it. I’ve always prided myself on being able to deliver food to my friends that looked and felt expensive, even though I knew it wasn’t. Of course, “expensive” is a relative term, and my privilege allows me to be generous, so instead, let’s just say these tricks can help you serve food that is above its price point while keeping your snacks at A +.
Chicken legs
Potatoes are a wonderful food troll. It’s kind of like fries, potato chips, and scalloped potatoes, but still a vegetable? You can embellish one to make it look like it came from a Gourmet magazine, but it’s still just a 30-cent tuber root.
I deeply believe that party-goers should be given base carbs for drinking. I also believe that only one hand is needed for a holiday meal. Potatoes do well in both arenas.
First, take a tiny potato. I like to grab the mixed bags of fry that most stores offer, but young red potatoes, young yukons, etc. will do. The bag usually costs three or four dollars.
Cut them in half lengthwise. Place the halves on a baking sheet, season with salt and pepper and bake at 375 ℉ until golden brown and easily pierced with a knife. If you think you need olive oil in this situation, stop and remember that these are hand-made snacks, so we will not use oil to avoid greasy fingertips.
You now have two options. If the legs are really tasty, I prefer to leave them as they are, as they will be fluffy on the inside. If they are a little wider, you can scoop out the insides without touching the rind, knead the insides with cream and butter, and then refill the rind.
In any case, the main thing here is the fillings. Think of it like caviar pancake. But caviar is too expensive, right? Not necessary. Remember, you are using very little and you can buy an ounce of trout or salmon caviar for $ 10. The rest of the additives – chopped hard-boiled egg, garlic, sour cream and shallots – are all fairly inexpensive, but they make a very colorful and easy-to-use mouthpiece.
If you want to spice it up, you can always treat them like baked potato skins and season them with sour cream, cheese, tomatoes, etc. But I implore you – in the name of women with plentiful chests all over the place – do it. Don’t add chili, salsa, or anything else that might drip from your snacks.
Shots (soup agreement)
Bowls of soup are far from ideal for a cocktail event, but that’s why soup shots are so popular. Fill glasses or Asian soup spoons just enough to take a sip. (Consider a creamy cauliflower soup or individual tortellini in a flavorful and rich broth.) Soup cries are simple and inexpensive, but hearty and a great way to try the vegetable option. Plus, imagine a tray of perfectly filled shot glasses, garnished with a little herbal garnish. Oh god damn la.
Cauliflower cream soup is a cloud-like dream and takes 20 minutes to cook. Coarsely chop the cauliflower, then simmer with enough stock. I mix garlic and vegetables better than broth with a little white wine to make a decent broth, all to the taste. Simmer until the cauliflower is soft, then beat until very smooth. Add cream to taste (usually half as much cream as broth) and beat again. Serve with garlic on top.
For tortellini, buy a pack of chilled fresh tortellini for five bucks at the grocery store. Mushroom filling is perfect here. Then prepare a broth with a lot of flavor and even a little spice. Again, the garlic and vegetable broth combined with a little chili oil and a little rice wine vinegar makes for a beautiful and vibrant combination. The tortellini will float for added effect.
Sliders
Spending $ 10 on a small piece of beef is a huge benefit. The greatest food trick – and the only excuse you need to buy a sous vide vending machine – is to take unhealthy cuts of meat, like fried chicken, and turn them into a perfectly pink, tender roast beef. The cost is significantly lower than purchasing a gourmet roast beef, and you can easily cook it to the desired degree of doneness. Claire Bottom has a great recipe for making it here .
Then you will make a platform for roast beef, such as latkes, potato pancakes, or even store-bought pancakes. Top it with thinly sliced roast beef, pickled onions and a drop of horseradish sauce. If you’re too tired to do latkes in 2021, grab a loaf of dark rye bread or pumpernickel, cut it into 2-by-2-inch unroasted squares and use them instead.
Some additional ideas
I know Hollywood sold us the idea that a shrimp cocktail station would be a luxury, but it’s also insanely expensive. We can satisfy our inner Eleanor by serving one shrimp on top of a cucumber topped with the same horseradish sauce. A pound of medium shrimp could be on the counter for about eight dollars, but don’t be afraid to get caught in the frozen section – frozen stuff is almost always the freshest.
Plus, tuna tartare on potato chips is an exciting idea because many seafood stalls these days sell great tuna tartare, and you don’t need a lot. Take half a pound of very red tuna without any pedigree. At home, cut it into small cubes and then mix with sesame oil, soy sauce and some sriracha to taste. Spoon a full teaspoon over the hefty potato chips and serve on a serving tray.
Buttered radish and fleur de sel is another simple and beautiful option. Cut the radish in half, use a knife to skillfully pour good butter over it, then sprinkle with dill and a pinch of coarse salt. Perfection.
Baked brie is great, but messy and tricky to use. Consider a brie bite. Buy $ 5 frozen puff pastry and $ 10 brie wheel. Cut the circle into slices, wrap in puff pastry and bake. You can also get a little fancy by making tiny nasty pizza slices. Use gruyere instead of brie, as well as prosciutto and dried tomatoes. To further cut costs, you can buy cherry tomatoes, cut them in half, and oven-dry them on a low heat. Instead of buying expensive pre-cut prosciutto ham, go to the deli and ask for a pound, as thinly sliced as possible. On the counter, it’s less expensive ounce per ounce, and since it’s cut into tissue paper, a small amount makes a big difference.
Remember: no one comes to your home to judge how much you spent on food. We’re all freaking out as hell these days to have a reason to celebrate, to worry about such an absurdity. When in doubt, serve food that makes you happy and save a few dollars if you can.