.

[mhsjax]

Is rib roast the *only* acceptable meat to serve at a family gathering? Not in our part of the country.

I have been cooking for 40 years and never have any complaints about the meals I serve. I am also a *from scratch* person and can whip up some mighty tasty appealing dishes. There is always plenty to eat , and lots left over, so am not skimpy on what I serve. And, yes, it can very well be done on $50 or less. We do it all the time, with friends too, not just with family gatherings. Impressive?? Not to me, it's the norm - I had a very good teacher - my mom was an excellent cook.

As for grocery shopping, I'm probably in the minority, because I really enjoy it - have always done the gro. shopping myself as I've been a *stay at home* mom.

It is by no means the only acceptable meat to serve at a family gathering. But I can tell you that my mom grew up on a farm during the depression, she knew how to manage money and watched every penny. she made everything from scratch. I helped her, there is no way she could ever feed our family and guests for $50.00. Maybe it is where you live, but it isn't the norm.

Not only that, my mom ran the kitchen including the budget for her church, she could handle the money, she had to account for it and justify it. Glad you are able to, but you are lucky and not everyone can do it, sometimes it just isn't possible, I don't care how well you can cook, and that really has nothing to do with it.

 

[Srbright]

For those who can serve 12 people, spend $50 and have leftovers, what are you serving?

What cuts and weight is the meat? Is it 73% ground beef or 93% lean ground CAB? Does everybody have to drink water or store brand soda? Do others bring along stuff to add to the meal?

I am trying to figure out what you serve for $4/person.

Ditto. I would like to know as well.

12 person meal:

Chicken: $3.29/lb - 5 lbs needed. $16.45 (no tax on food in my city)
BBQ sauce: $2
Potatoes: 5 lb bag, $2.63
Butter: 1 stick at $3.78 for 4, $0.95
Green beans: $1.49 lb, need 2 lbs, $2.89
Pre cooked rolls, $2/each, need 2: $4.00
Dessert: 2 pies at $5 (more here actually but using the OPs "$5 or I walk away"): $10
Chips $2.00 store brand x 3: $6
Dip $3.00 x $2: $6
Cheese & Crackers :$3.00 for a block of cheese & $2.00 for a box of crackers: $5
Soda: 4 2 liters at $1 each, store brand, $4.

I'm already at $60 and that counts making everything from scratch except the rolls and counting on having all of the spices and milk etc for mashing the potatoes and with only serving chicken, one vegetable and mashed or baked potatoes.

If they were just coming strictly for dinner and dessert I could cut it down to $44 but without any snacks.

Stacy

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I will occasionally go to the grocery store with the baby during the day while hubby is working and the other kids are in school. But occasionally I will bring hubby along with me---he is a good cart pusher. =D

 

[ilovemk76]

I had dessert for our Christmas dinner again this year. There were 16 people at the dinner and I spend at least $30 just on dessert.

 

[mhsjax]

I had dessert for our Christmas dinner again this year. There were 16 people at the dinner and I spend at least $30 just on dessert.

tell me about it, Do you all realize how much pecans are? OMG.

 

[2girls4me]

My dh does the food shopping. And he uses, wait for it....coupons!

What is so hard to understand about grocery shopping? Men are not stupid. Women are not either.

This whole thread is just ridiculous to me.

 

[Jedana]

Because of this thread, I sent my husband to the store today to pick up some tortillas for dinner. He came home with a package of raspberries, a package of blackberries, a huge bag of grapes ... and the tortillas.

Maggie

I sent DH for French bread. He got the bread, a tube of mini M&Ms for DS, and two bags of popcorn--one peanut butter chocolate and one cinnamon sugar. Both of which I can make at home in less than 4 minutes, if he asks.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Seriously? I guess stuff where you live is waaaaaaay more expensive than here. I could have bought an entire weeks worth of groceries for $50 w/o using coupons including several cuts of meat. My budget for the next 2 weeks of food is $120. He spent over half of that on "party supplies" (minus the detergent and cat food). BTW, I didn't "send him out", he offered to go so he could get out of cleaning the house for HIS family that is coming to visit. I guess we are eating ramen noodles and PB until I get paid again. Hope his family enjoys the party.

He offered...YOU let him go. Guess next time you'll tell him no. Or maybe next time you'll figure in "party supplies/food" into your regular shopping budget.

Like others, even buying generic and with coupons and other discount codes, I can rarely get out of a last minute shopping trip (like the one your husband went on for you) for under $50.

 

[kirstenb1]

For those who can serve 12 people, spend $50 and have leftovers, what are you serving?

What cuts and weight is the meat? Is it 73% ground beef or 93% lean ground CAB? Does everybody have to drink water or store brand soda? Do others bring along stuff to add to the meal?

I am trying to figure out what you serve for $4/person.

I can't usually entertain this frugally, but....if you bought a turkey on clearance right after Thanksgiving, and froze it, then bought a 10 lb bag of potatoes, some canned veggies on sale, and added cranberries and rolls, you could do a budget friendly meal. Add in pumpkin pie, make your own iced tea, and some lemonade; I bet you could do that very affordably.

We only entertain large (25 family members) a few times a year, so my budgeting goes out the window, in exchange for a fragment of my sanity!! Still in all seriousness, I bet we could all plan a very budget friendly meal if push came to shove!!

 

[Vickmeys]

My husband does all the grocery shopping, and I am so grateful! I don't care if he doesn't fall within my budget.

 

[*Seanaci*]

I will occasionally go to the grocery store with the baby during the day while hubby is working and the other kids are in school. But occasionally I will bring hubby along with me---he is a good cart pusher. =D

Lol. That's why I used to take my Hubby...good cart pusher.

Now I do nearly 90% of the shopping for our household (inc. Me, Hubby, ds5, my mom and dad) by myself...I can be in and out of the store in less than an hour. I can keep our weekly shopping under 150...some weeks close to 125...but that does not include lunches or breakfast for the working people...as each person prefers something different for breakfast and lunch (I'm a SAHM...every one else works outside the home). Once or twice a month we hit up Costco to stock up in frozen chicken breasts and ground turkey...as well as restock the pantry with non-perishables like canned veggies and spaghetti sauce.

My husband will run to the store for essential forgotten items or in the event of a sporadic get together items we offered to provide. After 7 years together...he knows what to buy brand and what to buy generic. And he knows to ask what quantity of item(s). And I am thankful for that and overlook extras he picks up.

 

[edk35]

Add my husband to the list. He is a horrible shopper. He can't get what's on the list. He always adds in an additional items big time. If the list says 2 cans....he gets 3 or 4. I needed one can of rotel tomatoes once....I got 5. If I ask him to stop on the way home from work for something for a particular recipe....he can't just get that item. Also, if I ever ask him to pick up a prescription at CVS he refuses to use the drive thru..so he goes in....YOU GUESSED IT....more stuff gets added at check out. He went today for me and what would have probably cost 30 ended up costing 75. I don't like taking him with me when I go either...we ALWAYS SPEND MORE. Even just going to a mall/dept. store....impulse buys. HOWEVER......he is doing me a favor usually when I send him...so I can't really complain.

 

[disneyfans95]

Wait, man bashing on the DIS boards??

Yeah, never heard that before..

Please.

 

[North of Mouse]

It is by no means the only acceptable meat to serve at a family gathering. But I can tell you that my mom grew up on a farm during the depression, she knew how to manage money and watched every penny. she made everything from scratch. I helped her, there is no way she could ever feed our family and guests for $50.00. Maybe it is where you live, but it isn't the norm.

Not only that, my mom ran the kitchen including the budget for her church, she could handle the money, she had to account for it and justify it. Glad you are able to, but you are lucky and not everyone can do it, sometimes it just isn't possible, I don't care how well you can cook, and that really has nothing to do with it.

Yes, it does matter how well you cook. I have a friend that spends way more on meals than I do because she buys a lot of prepared (or easy to prepare convenience foods) doesn't like to cook, and admits she can't cook.

I love to cook, use lots of fresh herbs, spices, etc. in my dishes and make sure it not only meets the taste test, but also looks appealing. It doesn't really matter to me how much you, or others spend on meals, I am just stating what I do.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

tell me about it, Do you all realize how much pecans are? OMG.

Lets not talk about the price of pecans. Dh didn't close the big bag from Costco so had to buy more for pie and I wasn't thrilled with the replacement cost. And walnuts! Walnuts were more expensive at Costco than the pecans....

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[mhsjax]

Yes, it does matter how well you cook. I have a friend that spends way more on meals than I do because she buys a lot of prepared (or easy to prepare convenience foods) doesn't like to cook, and admits she can't cook.

I love to cook, use lots of fresh herbs, spices, etc. in my dishes and make sure it not only meets the taste test, but also looks appealing. It doesn't really matter to me how much you, or others spend on meals, I am just stating what I do.

What I mean is that if you cook from scratch, it doesn't matter. The cost of food for a bad cook from scratch or a good cook from scratch doesn't change the cost of the food. YOu are the one that keeps saying how good you are.

What others including me are saying, is that in our area it can't be done, and I am a darn good cook, from scratch as was my mother. Happy it can be done where you are, for most of us, it can't. I wish I could, but it won't happen, not with the prices here. And not with 2 teenage boys around eating me out of house and home.

 

[mhsjax]

Lets not talk about the price of pecans. Dh didn't close the big bag from Costco so had to buy more for pie and I wasn't thrilled with the replacement cost. And walnuts! Walnuts were more expensive at Costco than the pecans....

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Oh Lord. Is he still alive. I wanted walnuts, but I just couldn't do it, not with all the other things I bought. Everyone wanted desserts this year, so I baked for several people.

 

[faindrops27]

Is rib roast the *only* acceptable meat to serve at a family gathering? Not in our part of the country.

I have been cooking for 40 years and never have any complaints about the meals I serve. I am also a *from scratch* person and can whip up some mighty tasty appealing dishes. There is always plenty to eat , and lots left over, so am not skimpy on what I serve. And, yes, it can very well be done on $50 or less. We do it all the time, with friends too, not just with family gatherings. Impressive?? Not to me, it's the norm - I had a very good teacher - my mom was an excellent cook.

As for grocery shopping, I'm probably in the minority, because I really enjoy it - have always done the gro. shopping myself as I've been a *stay at home* mom.

Northmouse, you sound defensive for some reason which I am missing. No-one said that rib roast was the only acceptable meat to serve? It is what I simply chose to serve my guests. Which I clearly stated is a variable. So why are you defensive, perturbed? I'm glad you can feed 12 for $50 and yes this is very impressive. I can't here, it's really that simple. Like I said all variables, maybe our ideas of what is acceptable when inviting guests over for a holiday meal is totally different. Bottom line life goes on, there is no reason under the sun for that defensive attitude. Ok good day.

 

[faindrops27]

Costco walnuts are outrageous! I was baking banana sour cream chocolate chip loaves for friends and family. I swear the prices of the walnuts went up right before the holidays. But they are delicious!

 

[marmalade]

Northmouse, you sound defensive for some reason which I am missing. No-one said that rib roast was the only acceptable meat to serve? It is what I simply chose to serve my guests. Which I clearly stated is a variable. So why are you defensive, perturbed? I'm glad you can feed 12 for $50 and yes this is very impressive. I can't here, it's really that simple. Like I said all variables, maybe our ideas of what is acceptable when inviting guests over for a holiday meal is totally different. Bottom line life goes on, there is no reason under the sun for that defensive attitude. Ok good day.

I probably spend $50 if not more on beverages alone when I have a gathering.