Need Ideas! - Murrieta,CA

Are you in the L.A. area? There is a pizza place called Big Mamas that makes gigantic pizzas. Kind of fun and very reasonably priced!

Another idea is to do like a Pot Luck dinner, and have everyone bring their favorite dish.
Good Luck
S. in Vegas

Spaghetti feeds a lot of people CHEAP! Also, you can do different kinds of sauces: cheese, meat, marinara, etc.

Have you thought about a Mexican Fiesta?

Beans are supper cheap, make a large pot. Taco meat is not too expensive, if you have a whole lot of other things to serve. You can serve with both flour and corn tortillas. You can use half turkey too, makes it less fatty and can be even cheaper! Use any recepe for tacos that you like!

I have a great recipe for chilli relleno caserole, which is also cheap, and serves a bunch! 12 eggs-beaten, 2 cups yellow cheese, one can evaporated milk (can use no fat) 2 small cans chopped green chillis, salt, peper to taste. Combine in a greesed casserole dish, bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Serves A lot of people for not too much, you could make two!

Make a big dish of spanish rice! Brown two to three cups of rice in a little oil, add chopped onions, chilli powder to taste, crushed garlic to taste, and a can of chopped tomatoes, then add in double the rice measurments in chicken broth, and peas, carrots, corn- as much as you like! Cover, bring to a boil, cover, turn down to low, cook for 20 minutes. Lots of food, cheap!

Beans are a breeze, sort dry pinto beans and take out the rocks and bad ones, rinse. Use 3 cups or so, soak in water over night. Rinse again. Put in the crock pot, just covered with water, add garlic, salt, and a tablespoon of bacon drippings, cook all day!

Serve the beans with both flour tortillas and flat corn tortillas for tostados! Serve the beans and tacos like a "bar" with grated cheese, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatos and salsa.

Make a cheese dip and a guacamole, a few bags of tortilla chips, and your guests will think you slaved all day and it will be a hit!

We have done this several times. Not a lot of money.

M.

I think taco bar is always cheap and easy.

We just had a going away party for my hubby (he is going to Iraq) We were expecting around 30 people so i asked him what kinda food he wanted for his party. He said Chinese food and pizza. I know that is such a weird combo but that was what he wanted and everyone LOVED it! I mean really it was great cause you get so much food with you get a couple orders of sweet & sour chicken with rice. And then we got some pizza's. We also just had a big green salad, some cookies and a cake. Everyone loved being able to choose between the two and actually most people took a little of both :) Again I know it was weird but next time we do a big party I'm getting Chines again :)

I think Murrieta is fairly close to Temecula? Vince's Spaghetti has catering sized portions at such a reasonalble price (Spaghetti, salad and garlic bread included). I have used another location of theirs for PTA school functions and it worked out well. Have fun!

Depending on the hour you will have your party, will depend on the food. I love the taco guy - my contact is in LA, though, but its all the same concept and people love it AND its easy. They bring the meat, tortillas, cilantro, lemon onions and salsa. My guy didn't bring the rice/beans but that is really cheap to make (and buy).
Other affordable things I've done - we have a Mexican restaurant that has 3 foot burritios for $30.00 (check your local restaurants). I've also bought the basic finger sandwiches from the grocery store. Also, I love buying nacho cheese from Costco and just sticking it a crock pot with nacho chips beside it - always a hit and can be nibbled at all day. LIttle sausage links (or meatballs) in a crock pot (people love it). a cheese platter and fruit platter always helps fill people up. I always make my own bc the premade ones are too expensive. All the bes and HAVE FUN.

Kraft and Betty Crocker both have free websites that have great recipes. Maybe have some of the friends bring a dish (when we do parties the host family provides drinks and the cake- everyone brings something) so we have a lot of things to nibble on.

Also I love my crock pot for parties! I can throw something in and let it cook and not worry about it. Most crock pot recipes take minutes to prepare.

I LOVE doing "theme nights".
Mexican - make tacos, pico do gallo, nachos, margaritas. Everything is inexpensive and easy.
Italian ` have different kids of sauces and different kinds of pastas and breads.
Pot Luck - why not ask everyone to bring their favorite dish?

B.
M.O.M.

Home made mac & cheese is always a big hit (and cheap, too!)

Buy as much elbow macaroni as you want to serve.
You will need butter, milk, flour, and grated SHARP cheddar cheese for the sauce.

While cooking the macaroni :
* In a large skillet/pan, melt butter & add flour a little at a time...cook on medium heat for 2 minutes
* Then add just a titch of milk (you have to eyeball it) & wisk lightly for no lumps (think, consitency of buttermilk)
* Then, when you you've bubbled that concoction for a few minutes, remove pan from stove burner & stir in grated cheddar cheese little by little, using a "figure 8" stir motion, until cheese is melted. (THICK buttermilk consistency)

Put macaroni in several baking dishes & pour cheese sauce over the top (make it as soupy - or not - as you want)
Bake in 350 degree oven for about 30 mins.

I know this recipe isn't really "specific", but heck , it's noodles & cheese, ya know? It will turn out FINE :-)

By the way, for a little added crispy-ness, stick it under the broiler for 1-2 minutes .

GOOD LUCK, MAMA! And happy birthday to your man :-)

Costco is a savior! For pizza or for you to put together food. For my husband's 30th, I bought artichoke hearts and meatballs there and put them on skewers; chips and dip, mini tacos. Then I bought a bunch of fruit and put together fruit bowls - which people loved because they got tired of the heavy food.

What about doing a Mexican Themed meal. You can make big pans of enchiladas ahead of time and then reheat the day of the party. You can get a whole chicken often for less than $5 and cook it in the crock pot all day a few days before the party. Then you can break apart all the meat that just falls off the bone and use that for the enchiladas. Ground beef and tortillas are cheap. You could set up a taco/burrito bar and put out salsa, cheese, sour cream, lettuce etc... You could make up a big batch of rice a few days before the party too. Just use a box of instant white rice (cheap) and then add salsa, cumin, maybe a can or 2 of green chili's and some taco seasoning. Another easy prep ahead and cheap dish is Tortilla soup and will feed a crowd.

Have fun!

a subway platter or 6' long sandwich is the way to go make some wings and some 7 layer dip with some scoop chips and call it a day :) good luck!

Tacos - Chop and separate your cheese, onions, lettuce, olives, etc. in a different container and let people make their own tacos, whether using hard shells or soft tortillas. Side dish could be chips & salsa and/or guacamole.

OR

Pasta, pasta, pasta. Cook different pastas and have different pots of sauce (marinara, alfredo, pesto, etc.) so people can scoop whatever pasta they would like with their sauce. Side dish could be a salad with bread sticks.

I would try to do a theme my husband would like ot things you're good at cooking. You have to have a couple of his favorite things since it is his birthday. How about chicken wings or potstickers, depending on your theme. Chicken egg rolls or jalapeno Popper's or mozzarella sticks from Smart and Final or Costco can be cheap. Make pasta, pasta salad or Chinese chicken salad. Good luck!

Southeren Unfried (or fried if you like but baked will be easier) chicken. You can buy bulk drumsticks at places like Smart N' Final. Use Hidden Valley Ranch dry dressing in a packet along with flour and seasonings, place in casserole dish and bake in oven.

Also, think casserole type dishes just like you do when trying to come up with inexpensive meals for your family for the week. You could do a big tray of lasagna or chicken enchiladas or mexican lasagna (layer tortillas, beans, meat, cheese, salsa, etc. in casserole dish) along with easy and various salads such as pasta salad, potato salad, green leaf salad, fruit salad, etc.

When thinking of the food, think of it like you were the caterer. Perhaps come up with a 'theme' - Italian, Mexican, Greek, Southern, etc. and plan your menu accordingly with a protein, perhaps a casserole or two or three and a couple of salads. Could you ask everyone to bring a dish to match the theme? Perhaps you do the main entrees and ask everyone to bring their favorite salad that fits with the style of food. The theme of the food could even be something more 'out of the box' like a chili cook-off theme (check out the blog Chicaandjo.com I believe for a good tutorial and printables for a chili cook-off), or couple the theme of the food with one of your husband's interests - Football? How about a tailgate theme with street tacos, chips, guacamole. Street tacos would allow you to just make the fillings and everyone puts their own tacos together. Then, just add in an extra casserole to round out the meal - chicken enchiladas for example. My blog: http://www.yourlifevents.com has a good chicken enchilada recipe in the Feast/recipes section.

Good luck, and you'll do great and it will be a lot of fun I'm sure!
S.

I think try your local Sam's club which will have all types of bulk finger foods that are just delectable and this will include choices for desert items that are bite size then fill in with pizza cut into bite size pieces and salad, etc. This game plan of a buffet can give your guests all types of choices and give an atmosphere that you might enjoy of mingling and visiting. :) That is the most affordable and less work suggestion I have. All you will need to do is create a buffet setting and break out your pretty dishes and serving ware.

I like to make veggie trays with the hidden valley ranch dip mix. We also like to do little sandwich rolls.

get a taco man

check out craig's list. they bring EVERYTHING! and clean up. 300 bux-1sh

I love to do a baked potato bar. Potatoes are cheap and easy, and you just set out the cheese, chili (crockpot), broccoli, bacon, sour cream, salsa, etc. Everyone can make their own as healthy, vegetarian, spicy or cheesy as they like!

We do pizza a lot for cheap casual parties. You can make a cheap & easy pasta salad with just rainbow rotini pasta some diced tomatoes, sliced olives & celery and a bottle or two of your favorite italian dressing. Then add a fruit and/or veggie tray, chips & dip and your done. For dessert a sheet cake from Costco or Sams Club or your local grocery store.

I've been to parties where they hire an authentic taco guy with carts to come to the house. My parents have hired him and the food is fresh and really good. Taco Rizo ###-###-#### or ###-###-####. Really good food and even people who don't think it will be that good are shocked.

Pizza ends up costing us a fortune and then all of the other things we put out as sides/appetizers.

Good luck. It should be fun.

Hi Robyn,

Funny thing.. I am in the exact same boat. I am throwing my husband a surprise 30th in October and am on a strict budget. I was going to use a local "taco guy" do you have that service where you live? He will bring enough food for 50 people (it's really good too) and set up and clean up. He brings tacos, rice and beans. Here, it's $300 and that includes the tip. I don't know if this helps, but good luck!
S.

Hi Robyn,

If you want something inexpensive and classy looking, try making your own lavosh rolls. Lavosh is Armenia flat bread. It comes in huge sheets. You can make at least a 10 - 12 1.5" - 2" rolls from a single sheet, and it's easy (and lower in carbs than french bread or sourdough). Just spread with a tangy dressing and cold cuts, cheeses, or whatever, add some fresh or pickled veggies of your choice, roll up tight, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until you need them. Slice with a sharp knife about an hour before the party, platter and serve. You can add sides of picnic type salads (bean, potato, cole slaw), pickles, olives, and other crudite with dip. Some of our favorite combinations are turkey w/light mayo, avocado, lettuce and tomato; and a variety of cheese with the same filling. If you want to go real fancy, try Brie or Camembert with chopped apples and water cress, or Italian deli meats with pepperacini, sliced olives, shredded onions and lettuce with a raspberry vinagrette dressing a splash of balsamic vinegar.

Thanks for posting your question -- it's a reminder that I need to start planning my DH's 50th for December!