The cost of cooking for a family reunion can be high. Expenses can quickly escalate from purchasing ingredients to ensuring everyone's favorite dish is on the table.
One effective strategy to control costs is to take the do-it-yourself approach. Instead of buying expensive bottled wine and juice, prepare fruit juice at home using readily available fruits in the fridge. Additionally, making meals with affordable, in-season ingredients proves more cost-effective than ordering food from a restaurant.
To save costs when cooking for a family reunion, choose a main course meal that is inexpensive to prepare. For instance, meatballs are a great meal choice for cooking on a budget. Then, add more weight to each plate by incorporating as many vegetables as possible into the pot so everyone gets well-fed. To stay within budget, consider replacing the conventional Parmesan and pesto for some recipes with dried herbs and cupboard ingredients to enhance the taste.
Another practical way to save money is to choose affordable desserts. As a budget-conscious host, keep desserts simple and inexpensive. Consider serving slices of fresh watermelon or homemade cookies and cakes.
