Budget Ways to Make a Thanksgiving Celebration
Thanksgiving dinner is one of the culinary joys of the year. It is also one that is quite inexpensive. Starting weeks before thanksgiving the traditional turkey goes on sale in the local supermarkets. Depending on what area of the country you live in, the prices can run as low as 49 cents a pound. This is a frozen turkey and a store brand but for 99 cents a pound you can have a Butterball. That is between $10 and $20 for a 20 pound bird. You can feed a large family on a 20 pound turkey.
With a budget of $50 a person you could choose to have your turkey dinner served to you in a restaurant. The average price is about $30 for an all you can eat feast with lower prices for children. The reality is that cooking a Thanksgiving feast at home can be done for about $100 inclusive of all the vegetables and desserts and even a bottle of wine or two.
If you have a budget that allows for more than just a standard Thanksgiving turkey you can opt to add some other less traditional cuts of meat. A prime rib is easy to cook if you have a rotisserie or it can be cooked in a standard oven. This allows the beef lovers to have their favorite meat in addition to the turkey or even in place of.
Buying your desserts from a gourmet shop or bakery will allow you to have more time to do some other things to prepare for your guests. Talk to friends who may have used a local shop so that you can be sure that these desserts are something your family will enjoy. A beautiful fruit tart or pumpkin cheese cake in addition to your standard pies will bring your celebration up to another level.
For under $50 a person you can choose to begin your meal with some over the top appetizers. You can plan for a seafood buffet and include shrimp cocktail, crab cakes and mini lobster rolls. You don’t want this to be too big because it could spoil the appetite of anyone who over indulged. Offer a wheel of brie cheese and some white wine or other cheese that the family enjoys, you can even add pate or caviar.
Spending less than $50 a person is very easy on Thanksgiving and whether you choose to go traditional, opt for a restaurant or adding some extravagant foods it really isn’t about the money it is about spending time together with family and friends and giving thanks for all the good things in your life.
