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With the economy being what it is, it might seem like a contradiction to party this holiday season after what has been a very tough year financially for many people. That being said, celebrating the season with a gathering of friends and family does not have to be a lavish occasion of extravagance for it to feel special. A little creativity and some party tricks of the trade can go a long way to creating a fabulous fête that wows your guests on a dime.
Edible Centerpieces
Flowers are lovely and beautiful arrangements can certainly be had on the cheap, by why not make your centerpiece do double duty this year by making it part of the food spread? When talking about edible centerpieces I am not recommending those arrangements of cut fruit made to look like flowers. I’m talking about creating your own work of culinary art.
Homemade breadsticks can make a stunning presentation when bunched together standing straight up in a vase or tall glass. The dough can be made in minutes in a food processor, the rolled out and cut for a tasty homemade snack in minutes. The twists in the breadstick theme are as varied as the seasonings in your cupboard. Give the breadsticks some visual pizzazz and tasty twists with turmeric and curry powder, black pepper and parmesan cheese, or chopped chives brightly colored zing. Beyond breadsticks, bowls of green apples, lemons, or pomegranate can all be visually attractive and used for more cooking endeavors down the road. Or try filling clear glass vases with holiday candy for a look that is as fun to look at as it is to eat.
Go Big, Save Big
Costco, everyone’s favorite box store for super-sized cereal and toilet paper, can also be a party planner’s best friend when trying to feed a crowd. Rather than trying to please everyone with a hundred choices, focus on one main dish and make a lot of it. When buying protein in large quantities, nothing beats a bulk store for bringing the price down.
For a recent party where I was expecting over 30 guests, two eight pound pork loins set me back about $30. I stuffed the pork loin with the vegetable (sautéed kale and roasted red pepper) and served it with a quick blender pureed Romesco sauce. Other large roasts like turkey or even a whole salmon fillet can be had in bulk for a steal. Roast the veggies at the same time as the fish or meat and you have a one plate wonder that will please as well as feed a crowd without straining the wallet.
Focused Cocktails
A full bar is nice when you have a full wallet, but putting together drink options during leaner times requires a little more focus. If Two Buck Chuck is all you can afford for wine, try mixing up a little Sangria and no one will know the difference.
Cheap red wine, bourbon or rum, sugar, and a splash of orange juice are the perfect marinade for cut apples, oranges slices, plums, and grapes. If you can afford a few more options, try basic beer and wine offerings and a signature mixed drink or cocktail. Punch up hot cider with rum and season it with cinnamon sticks and clove-studded orange. A pitcher of Cosmos is already a festive red color and guests can refill themselves without the host having to work the cocktail shaker all night. Add whole cranberries to the mixture of orange vodka, triple sec, and cranberry juice to give the pitcher some visual appeal and provide orange peel twists for garnish.
Just because the holiday budget might be tight this year does not mean celebrating has to be completely sidelined. Swap out the caviar and Cristal for simpler options like edible decorations, bigger, family style meals, and signature cocktails and not only will you streamline the party prep, but you’ll save money at the same time. Simpler creative party ideas let you enjoy the party so the day-after hangover hits your head and not your wallet.
©2026 CDKitchen, Inc. No reproduction or distribution of any portion of this article is allowed without express permission from CDKitchen, Inc.
To share this article with others, you may link to this page:
https://www.cdkitchen.com/cooking-experts/amy-powell/989-party-planning/
Party Perfect Without Breaking the Bank
With the economy being what it is, it might seem like a contradiction to party this holiday season after what has been a very tough year financially for many people. That being said, celebrating the season with a gathering of friends and family does not have to be a lavish occasion of extravagance for it to feel special. A little creativity and some party tricks of the trade can go a long way to creating a fabulous fête that wows your guests on a dime.
Edible Centerpieces
Flowers are lovely and beautiful arrangements can certainly be had on the cheap, by why not make your centerpiece do double duty this year by making it part of the food spread? When talking about edible centerpieces I am not recommending those arrangements of cut fruit made to look like flowers. I’m talking about creating your own work of culinary art.
Homemade breadsticks can make a stunning presentation when bunched together standing straight up in a vase or tall glass. The dough can be made in minutes in a food processor, the rolled out and cut for a tasty homemade snack in minutes. The twists in the breadstick theme are as varied as the seasonings in your cupboard. Give the breadsticks some visual pizzazz and tasty twists with turmeric and curry powder, black pepper and parmesan cheese, or chopped chives brightly colored zing. Beyond breadsticks, bowls of green apples, lemons, or pomegranate can all be visually attractive and used for more cooking endeavors down the road. Or try filling clear glass vases with holiday candy for a look that is as fun to look at as it is to eat.
Go Big, Save Big
Costco, everyone’s favorite box store for super-sized cereal and toilet paper, can also be a party planner’s best friend when trying to feed a crowd. Rather than trying to please everyone with a hundred choices, focus on one main dish and make a lot of it. When buying protein in large quantities, nothing beats a bulk store for bringing the price down.
For a recent party where I was expecting over 30 guests, two eight pound pork loins set me back about $30. I stuffed the pork loin with the vegetable (sautéed kale and roasted red pepper) and served it with a quick blender pureed Romesco sauce. Other large roasts like turkey or even a whole salmon fillet can be had in bulk for a steal. Roast the veggies at the same time as the fish or meat and you have a one plate wonder that will please as well as feed a crowd without straining the wallet.
Focused Cocktails
A full bar is nice when you have a full wallet, but putting together drink options during leaner times requires a little more focus. If Two Buck Chuck is all you can afford for wine, try mixing up a little Sangria and no one will know the difference.
Cheap red wine, bourbon or rum, sugar, and a splash of orange juice are the perfect marinade for cut apples, oranges slices, plums, and grapes. If you can afford a few more options, try basic beer and wine offerings and a signature mixed drink or cocktail. Punch up hot cider with rum and season it with cinnamon sticks and clove-studded orange. A pitcher of Cosmos is already a festive red color and guests can refill themselves without the host having to work the cocktail shaker all night. Add whole cranberries to the mixture of orange vodka, triple sec, and cranberry juice to give the pitcher some visual appeal and provide orange peel twists for garnish.
Just because the holiday budget might be tight this year does not mean celebrating has to be completely sidelined. Swap out the caviar and Cristal for simpler options like edible decorations, bigger, family style meals, and signature cocktails and not only will you streamline the party prep, but you’ll save money at the same time. Simpler creative party ideas let you enjoy the party so the day-after hangover hits your head and not your wallet.
Black Pepper and Parmesan Breadsticks
Made with Parmesan cheese, olive oil, butter, black pepper, salt, baking powder, flour
Made with Parmesan cheese, olive oil, butter, black pepper, salt, baking powder, flour
Serves/Makes: 8
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- olive oil
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. Using fingers or a pastry cutter, cut cold butter into the flour mixture. Using a fork, or in the bowl of a standing mixer using the paddle attachment, mix the flour with a steady stream of ice water, up to a half a cup, just until dough comes together.
Working on a floured cutting board, work dough until smooth. Roll dough out to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut long strips of dough 1/4-inch wide. Twist each strand of dough to form a twisted breadstick and place on a baking sheet. Repeat with all the dough strips. Brush strips with olive oil. Place in oven for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned and sticks are crispy.
Bunch breadsticks together side by side. Sprinkle with cheese while still warm so the cheese melts onto the breadsticks. Let cool and serve.
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©2026 CDKitchen, Inc. No reproduction or distribution of any portion of this article is allowed without express permission from CDKitchen, Inc.
To share this article with others, you may link to this page:
https://www.cdkitchen.com/cooking-experts/amy-powell/989-party-planning/