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​The $10 Dinner Party

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Ever avoid having visitors because it costs too much to prepare a delicious meal? Well avoid no more! Cheapskater Anne had a lovely dinner party for four and for under $10! And that's $10 in total - yes, just $2.50 per person!

Here's how she did it:
"​We had visitors for dinner last Saturday night, friends we only see a couple of times a year. I wanted to serve a nice dinner, something a little different and more special than our usual run of the mill meals, but I also didn't have a lot of money to spend. In fact I didn't have any money to spend, I had to make a dinner party standard meal using the ingredients already in the pantry, fridge and freezer.

Here's my dinner party menu. I costed it out, using the prices I paid for the ingredients and it came in at under $10 for a two course meal for four. I was happy with that!"
Anne in Melbourne
​Chicken and Bacon Parcels

Ingredients:
2 slices bacon, finely diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 skinless chicken breast fillets, cut into small cubes
1/2 cup chopped onion
90g cream cheese, softened
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 egg, beaten

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius. In a medium fry pan, cook bacon until crisp; remove, drain on brown paper and set aside. Drain pan; do not wipe out.

Add olive oil to pan and add chicken and onion. Cook together until onion is tender and chicken is no longer pink, about 7-8 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon to medium bowl.

Add cream cheese and bacon to chicken mixture and mix well.  Cut the pastry sheet into four squares. Divide the chicken mixture between the pastry squares and fold in half. Seal edges and press with fork. Place on baking sheet and brush with beaten egg.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until deep golden brown. Remove to wire rack and let cool 5 minutes before serving; the filling is very hot!

Cost: $4.50
​Scalloped Potatoes

Ingredients:
500g potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
1-1/2 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup cream
1/4 cup grated cheese

Method:
Oil a 2 litre casserole dish. Layer the potato and onion, ending with a potato layer. Combine the chicken stock and cream, pour over the potato. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle grated cheese over the top and return to the oven for a further 10 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.

Cost: $1.45
​Green Beans

Ingredients:
500g green whole green beans
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp white pepper

Method:
Cook beans according to directions on packet, or if using fresh bring to a boil in a large saucepan and cook for 7 - 8 minutes until tender. Drain well and set beans aside.

Melt butter and olive oil in saucepan and add garlic. Cook 1 minute. Add beans along with lemon juice, salt, and pepper and toss gently to coat.

Cost: 1.30
Baked Apples
 
Ingredients:
4 medium apples
4 dates
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup boiling water

Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Core apples. Place the apples in a greased casserole dish. Put a date in each apple. Mix the brown sugar, butter and cinnamon together. Divide evenly between each apple, pushing down into the centre. Pour 1 cup water into the casserole dish. Bake for 40 minutes or until the apples are tender and the sauce has formed. To serve place apples in dessert bowls, drizzle sauce over the top.

Cost $2.70

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  • Home
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  • Recipes
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    • $300 a Month Food Challenge >
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