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make soup or bean chili for the main course - then add some extras like cheese, minced onions, or sour cream to put on top. Then serve with bread , rolls, crackers, biscuits, chips , etc. easy & you can make it ahead of time and you can hang out with your guests. for hors duerves do a crudite plate ( get veggies that are on sale) , crackers & spread ( make your own with cream cheese, mayo, fresh herbs & canned shrimp or crab), for dessert make ice cream cake - i gallon ice cream, i box of cookies, 1/2 cube or less of butter , maybe some topping . go to allrecipes.com for ideas

Definitely doable, BUT you'll need to put in some time for prep, and it helps if you have a cheap grocery nearby or a farmer's market.

Some hors d'ouvre ideas...

- Wonton wrappers, sprayed with Pam, baked in mini-muffin pan, filled afterward with crab or salmon salad to make tarts (just use canned)

- Small toasts (buy a few baguettes, slice thin and toast em) with dips like red pepper, hummus, guacamole, or olive tapenade, preferably homemade

- Rice paper rolls filled with a simple mango salad; serve with bottled peanut or chili dipping sauce

http://www.canadianliving.com/food/green_mango_sal...

- Little vegetables stuffed with cheese and meat or grains and baked 'til soft - i.e. cherry tomatoes, zucchini rounds, mushroom caps or jalapenos

Tea or coffee, or some sort of punch using soda pop, juice and cheap liquor.

Host it at your home. Make some chicken, or hot dogs, something that will not cost as much and still be a good meal. And have chips, and dip, crackers and cheese, something of the sort that would go on a tray. Oh and have like pop, or beer, or juices, whatevever you prefer.

get some small part franks, wrap them in cresent rolls

have tostado or fritos,scoops with a hint of jalepeno, and cheese dip

cheese and crackers

cut up some veggies and have ranch dip

cut up fruit and yogurt for dip

2-bottles of wine, make coffee, and have tea available, make some iced tea, and i think that will be 50.00

You can easily do that if you make your own food trays. Go to a cheap grocery store (like Aldi) and purchase fresh vegetables for a tray. Purchase some dip, or use Ranch Salad dressing if you have it. Arrange a lovely vegetable tray for $10 or less.

**Use some of these vege's for the salad and chicken salad recipe.

Purchase a chicken on sale or a package of chicken breast (boneless skinless). Cook it up and make some nice chicken salad. Serve it up with some small rolls. Your guests can make up their own tea sized sandwiches or make them up and have them ready to go. You can do this with turkey, ham, cheese from the deli as well. This should cost you no more than $10 (Recipe attached)

A nice salad. (recipe attached)

$5

Fresh fruit tray. Puchase a watermelon and a cantelope from the farmers market or on sale. Cut it up and serve in a clear bowl. $8

**Use whatever is the best value and your favorite.

Brownies $2

Get a couple of packages of cookie mix and make up a couple different types of cookies for the dessert tray. $5

Beverages: Purchase whatever soft drinks you like, make some iced tea, lemonade, coffee. Just keep it under $10

**Slice up one lemon and float some lemon wheels in the tea and lemonade. Add 50 cents.

**Add a box of wine. (Not sure on the price of this)

Your party is served for less than $50. Just do all the work yourself and you can put out a real nice spread with your budget. Just be sure to shop at a discount store (like Aldi) and take advantage of everything that you can buy there.

**To do just hor devours. You can do this, too.

Chips and salsa. $5

Bean dip w/chips $5

fruit tray $8

vegetable tray (as above) $10

Meatballs (make your own) $10

**I think that you can do better (money wise) with the sandwiches and salad option.

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FRUITED CHICKEN SALAD

2 quarts coarsely cut cooked chicken, approximately 4-6 pounds

1 pound fresh seedless green or red grapes

2 cups finely chopped celery

4 green onions, finely chopped, tops included

3 cups toasted slivered almonds, divided

3 cups mayonnaise

***For a lighter version substitute Plain Yogurt for mayo

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon curry powder

1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks or tidbits

Cut cooked chicken into bite-size pieces. Wash grapes and dry on paper towel; cut each grape into quarters. Put the cut chicken pieces into a large mixing bowl and add to it the celery, quartered grapes, onion, and 2 cups toasted almonds. Mix well.

In another bowl, blend mayonnaise (or yogurt) with lemon juice and curry powder.

Combine mayonnaise mixture with chicken mixture, adding some pineapple juice to make the salad the consistence you prefer.

Chill for several hours in a large glass or stainless steel bowl.

Place a generous serving on a crisp lettuce leaf, sprinkle each mound with remaining almonds and garnish with pineapple chunks.

***If you prefer, the pineapple chunks can be folded into the salad mixture.

Makes 12 servings

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MANDARIN ORANGE SALAD

1/4 cup almonds, sliced

1 T. plus 1 tsp. Sugar

½ head iceberg lettuce

½ head romaine lettuce (**Or use a bag of ready salad if it is cheaper)

1 cup celery, chopped

3 green onions, thinly sliced

1 (11 oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained

Dressing:

¼ cup vegetable oil

2 T. vinegar

2 T. sugar

1 T. parsley, snipped

½ tsp. Salt

Dash pepper

Dash hot pepper sauce (Tabasco)

*Tear lettuce into bite size pieces. Place greens in large plastic bag, add celery and green onions. Fasten bag and refrigerate.

*Combine well in a jar: oil, vinegar, sugar, parsley, salt, pepper and Tabasco. Refrigerate at least one hour.

*Cook and stir almonds and sugar over low heat until sugar is melted and nuts are coated. Cool on wax paper and break apart.

*Pour dressing into greens bag 5 minutes before serving. Add oranges. *Shake bag. Add almonds and serve.

*Serves 4-6

$50 is enough to assemble an amazing cheese plate with fruit and crackers.

Hi, you can try steamboat buffet at Kaki Bukit Ave 1, only $9.80/person. Do call them for reservation first, hotline: 83834422. Cheap and good buffet, local style. :)

pot luck they do this at work all the time and you have theparty and people bring the dishes. it is fun and all love it. variety and something special at times.

try it.