Simply Frugal Entertainment Ideas?

DeborahDee · #1 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 01:21 AM

Hi to All

What do you have on hand if you have to have a quick inexpensive meal for visitors - you only have a freezer on top of the fridge and don't have a microwave?

I like the idea of a nice Food plate - well presented - to go with a simple soup - dressed up with Home-made croutons and snips of parsley. Any decorating ideas to make it look nice and any other quick ideas - so visitors don't feel you are being put out and you give them attention?

Thanks Girls for all your input and wonderful ideas!!

Shell · #2 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 06:07 AM

Well it would depend on how much notice I was given. If I had a little notice I could take out my frozen homemade chicken wings out of the freezer as a snack. I always have a bottle of wine hidden some where for company. One wonderful little appie I like to keep in my pantry for last minute guests is homemade antipasto. It only takes me a minute to put that in a bowl and put some crackers out.

As for decorating at the last minute, candles are great! Turn down the lights and light some candles. If you have some flowers outside cut them and put them in a vase. Music also sets a nice mood. I like to put on my fav. jazz cd's. Billy Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

One time a bunch of people showed up at my Mom's friends house. It was last minute and around dinner time. She was great! She took out two jars of her homemade spagetti sauce and cooked up some pasta. Presto!!! Dinner for 10 at the last minute. I was very impressed.

kahana · #3 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 07:44 AM

You can make a cute and easy table centerpiece by taking a crystal bowl and filling it with water. Sprinkle in some glitter and add some floating candles.

Another cute idea is to take old/inexpensive wine glasses (either that you have already or find at thrift stores and garage sales) and go around the top edge with white craft glue. Dip the rim onto a plate full of glitter and then let dry completely. Add some water and a floating candle to each glass.

Shell · #4 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 05:18 PM

Hi Kahana,

Were you the lovley lady that used to be on frugal mom's? If so, I used to love to read your posts. I always look forward to all your frugal ideas.

kahana · #5 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 06:33 PM

Yes, that's me.

I participate on a few sites.

Shell · #6 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 06:42 PM

Well, I am glad to see you on here!!! I am not on fm's anymore and was glad to see you on!!

KLF · #7 (**permalink**) 03-14-2002, 09:53 AM

Thanks to all for these wonderful ideas. I am just starting to learn about being frugal. Trying to save up for a house and having three kids will do that.

Irish Angel · #8 (**permalink**) 01-11-2004, 01:25 PM

Thanks for the great ideas. I liked the soup and salad ideas with snips of parsley. I love to have people over, but always feel like I have to go way out to impress. Thanks for helping to re-ground me.

Hugs nad Blessings,
Cathy

Miss Kitty · #9 (**permalink**) 01-11-2004, 02:47 PM

I always have pasta and homemade sauce. I also usually have the Tastefully Simple beer bread mix to bake with an hour's notice. I then cube it and serve it with cheese, olives, spinach and herb pesto, and pickles.
Potato/cheese soup is always a hit, with warm bread and a nice salad.

I usually have candles on hand so I put them in my starter pots (small terra cotta ones) with some sand and dried moss. I have also used my Isabel Bloom angels with a small ivy as a centerpiece.

All our family lives away and will drop in when they come up to the Quad Cities shopping. They seldom let me know until that morning so last minute is something I've gotten pretty good at.

Irish Angel · #10 (**permalink**) 01-13-2004, 07:31 AM

I have this nifty book that has a chapter on hospitality and home. one thing it stressed was to be yourself, and look at our motives. The point of having guests is not to win the cleanest kitchen award but to ENJOY the guests!
We don't have to be "suzyhomemaker" to have guests over. It asks why our grandparents were such good hostesses. Reasons were:
* Probably it had little to do with the meals and EVERYTHING to do with her.
* Simple foods are best
* Perennial "open house" (might be a tad out of style today.....but we can still carry on a love for people)
* The wealthier you are the more elegantly you can entertain, BUT how many of your friends and family prefer caviar to say veggies and dip? Hospitality did NOT sepend on $$$$
*Do we remember more the smell or taste of our grandparents houses? It was the ATMOSPHERE more than likely.
Went on to say that while it is impossible to re-create the "good old days" and we probably wouldn't be happy even if we could, we CAN COMBINE the best of the old with the best of the new.
" We make you simply welcome" Some ideas never go out of style!