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’Tis the season for blooming flowers, bathing suits and beaches, we know.
But here at Kraft we’re planning ahead for the upcoming holiday season
and need your help. Gather your favorite holiday recipes
(featuring Kraft products , of course!) and upload them to our Recipe Exchange.
Be sure to type "Holidays 2009" in the recipe's "Notes" section.
It's that easy. You and your recipe could be featured on kraftfoods.com and
in other Kraft communications!
PLEASE NOTE: It will take a couple days before you see your recipe go live in the Recipe Exchange.
Moderator_Jane
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1,229
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Re: Easy cheap meal ideas
Posted:
Apr 1, 2009 9:56 AM
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I've always really liked to contribute to potlucks and I think that's true of many people.
This past Christmas we had about 40 people over and tried to avoid all disposable items, even napkins. I purchased some inexpensive holiday fabric and pinked around the edges for napkins and asked two people who lived close to help provide plates and flatware. It worked great and the clean up was not that big of a deal, and everyone really seemed to enjoy it.
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Re: Easy cheap meal ideas
Posted:
Mar 31, 2009 9:22 PM
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Glad everyone will do a 'potluck' -- that makes it much easier and more cost efficient. Just buy a main dish (see what is on sale in the weeks before Easter, others have mentioned watching the price of ham or pork), skip the paper products. Just use what dishes you have in the cabinet, or have someone else that isn't a good cook, or maybe has a new baby or several kids do that part. It won't hurt to run your dishwasher, or put uncle bob up to doing a few dishes. You might also try a soup and sandwich type of thing with whole chickens and chicken salad or turkey sandwiches/turkey salad and soup made from the bones of the turkey. I second using tea, water, lemonade, or coffee. Skip soft drinks, gatorade, etc. Koolaid is VERY inexpensive for the kids, and you can make a huge cooler full (the kind with the spout on it) and sit it on a low counter or table so it can be self serve. Basically the more 'basic' you can make it, the easier (and cheaper) it is. Eggs are also on sale, that's why I suggested the 'salad' sandwiches, or like some suggested do a brunch and serve scrambled eggs. I just got some on sale for $1 a dozen and they will go lower by Easter. Buy things a little each week to 'stock up' -- Scour your cabinets for things you buy and rarely use or need to be used up and search their 'brand' websites for new recipes that don't require a bunch of new ingredients. Top it off with a 'cut up' bunny cake for the kids (dont forget to omit coconut on some of the cake in case some of the kids dont like it) and decorate with just a little bit of candy, and set the rest out in a bowl for 'snackies' when people come in.
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Re: Easy cheap meal ideas
Posted:
Feb 26, 2008 6:12 PM
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If you are on a budget you don't have to have ham. What about chicken and dumplings or last year I made chicken with ham recipe from the Kraft magazine. I was a big hit and I stayed within my budget. Then have all your family bring the rest. It makes everybody feel like it was their special day too. Good luck  cjk
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Re: Easy cheap meal ideas
Posted:
Feb 26, 2008 4:33 PM
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Honey, I do this every year, and I can get it done under $50.00! The trick is for you to do the main course meal and get everyone who is coming to bring a dish. Every body is penny pinching these days, and everybody doesn't have money like Martha Stewart! I buy a full size pork loin, right now there are some great sales in pork, buy now and freeze until needed. Then make a huge pot of mashed potatoes, but put a twist on them like add green onions, buttermilk or some kind of cheese. Then roast a mixture of root vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, rutbaga; or make a dish of braised cabbage! Make a dessert of your specialty. Then have the dishes of your guests classified into catagories such as salads, pies, side dish, finger food. If you get at least two dishes per category you are set for the whole day! You are not being cheap doing it this way, you are saving yourself to enjoy your guests and the holiday that we are celebrating! Good Luck!
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850
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Re: Easy cheap meal ideas
Posted:
Feb 25, 2008 8:02 AM
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blessed moomy, do you have any of the recipes that the grandmothers would of fixed that most liked. I'd try making one of those, it will be appreciated and talked about for a long time,  . I would watch for the ham on sale, if I could afford it, if not i'd ask one of my "closer' relatives if they wanted to split the cost of a ham. Yes, I have done that and either my Mother or Sister split the cost with me. Then I'd fix an inexpensive dessert. I also like jello,. Because this goes a long way, it's not to expensive per serving. I shop at a store called "Save A Lot" and I buy one can of every kind of fruit that hey have. I drain the juice and use it to make the jello. I use 2-3 boxes of Cherry or Strawberry jello and make 'fruited Jello', I call it that because it is loaded with fruit. Then I serve cool whip on the side. Lots of luck,.
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Re: Easy cheap meal ideas
Posted:
Feb 24, 2008 9:46 PM
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Do a breakfast buffet. It's cheaper and simplier. There's a ton of make ahead breakfast casseroles, sweet rolls, polish sausage, and other simple and cheap things to do. You only need a small ham if you want to go that route. If you all go to Sunday Easter Mass to a Brunch instead and include hot ham and rolls, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, etc. You won't have to spend alot - especially if every family brings one big dish and a small dish to pass - you'll probably be left with a lot of food at the end. It always works for both sides of my family.
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91
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Re: Easy cheap meal ideas
Posted:
Feb 21, 2008 7:27 PM
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You could do a "buffet". Get a big old ham, roast it, and put it out whole, and carve it as you go, it will stay warm, and it's ham, you can never over-cook it. Put out some potato salad (that someone else made), also, maybe some salad, coleslaw, BEANS, either hot or cold, kielbasa, just cut it up and put it in a pot with some sweet&sour sauce, and heat it up, then just toss it onto your buffet table, it's yummy. Some small rolls,and whatever else anyone brings, or you want to put out. Have someone make some cookis, you're done. It works for me on Xmas eve.
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Re: Easy cheap meal ideas
Posted:
Feb 21, 2008 10:30 AM
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What about scalloped potatoes and ham. Buying potatoes is way cheaper than a bunch of ham and you could stretch that a long way. Or ham sandwiches, figure 6 oz of meat or 1 1/2 sandwiches per person, 5 dozen buns and somebody else could be in charge of bringing the pickles, cheese, spreads and condiments.
Drinks could be iced tea and/or lemonade, very cheap. Florence and Stouffer probably have a good jello salad recipe for you, also cheap and most kids like jello.
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Posts:
439
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Posted:
Feb 21, 2008 9:06 AM
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Over the years, our family's grandmothers have passed away, so it leaves avoid at Easter. I am thinking about offering to host Easter at our home for my husband's family (his parents, aunts,uncles, cousins.....approx 40 kids and adults). Any ideas on what to do about food? Everyone is great about bringing food,so I will not have to do it by myself. Should I do finger foods, a meal with a ham? Money is a little tight right now, so I can't go over board. And usually the hostess provides paper products, ice, most of the drinks, one of the meats, etc
THanks
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