Cheap 2 - 3 course meal?

Okay okay I got my self into trouble last night

My friend Catherine decided to have a dinner gathering at her place and because she is "pretty much" learning how to cook, she wants to do this regularly! so I set down the rules that I will have the dinner party too at my place once a month, or so.

In 3 fridays I organised that I am going to cook! and have them all at my place!

Last night we drank 5 bottles of wine between the 4 of us! (i bought two, the other also bought two, and the other one bought one)So we made a deal, that Who ever cooks the others bring the wine to make it fair.

The problem is, because im getting payed close to nothing, i am not willing to dish out soooo much money!! But then i have no idea what the heck i could make!?

So this is where you all come into my resque and help me out!

I have decided to make Italian bruschetta as appertisers, but what should/could I make as main dish and desert?

Mind you one of them is a Vegetarian, so and ideas is really appreciated!

If youre going to provide recipes Keep in mind its going to be about 4 -7 Women

If one is vegetarian does that mean you only provide vegetarian food, or just some dishes included that she can eat?

Well the other two prefer to eat vegetarian food anyway, so i am thinking of making everything vegetarian. but if more people are coming along then, i would add some meat for them to choose from?

You could do veg. lasagne, an easy way is to use tinned Ratatouille for the veg layers and fresh fruit salad, just cut up some fruit and pour some grape juice over it.

A friend at university (who was vegetarian) made this all the time, it is yummy

and you can always check out cheapcooking.com

A pasta dish would probably we easy and cheap. Any pasta with a tomato sauce (no meat of course) or stuffed shell pasta with cheese and herbs. You can even buy the sauce already made in a big jar for like $2-$4, so you don't have to make it yourself. Pasta is pretty cheap, depending what brand you buy. You can serve it with garlic toast and salad. Cheap and tasty!

I think a pasta dish is always a good way to go. Cheap and filling. I don't know if you have these where you live, but here you can buy "fake" meat which is great in pasta sauces. My husband and I eat vegetarian 99% of the time (with seafood on occasion) and we've learned of lots of great products to add to pasta to make it more "meaty" that even meat-eaters like!

Morningstar brand crumbles - similar to ground beef, but for vegetarians

Tofurky brand Italian "sausage" - tasty cut up and put into pasta sauce

You could serve your appetizer, some pasta, salad, and bread and you're good to go!

3 bean chilli is a great party dish easy, healthy & cheap to make and a great filler-upper - you can make a hugh pan of it...............sit back enjoy the wine and they´d all be full up afterwards !

I highly recommend doing stuffed shells one night. Buy the jumbo shells and boil them and stuff them with ricotta, mozarella, parsley, and what ever other cheeses and italian spices you like. It's hard to go wrong.

Make a sauce using a basic pasta sauce as a base and add garlic, onions, mushrooms, sweet yellow and orange peppers, salt, pepper, 1/4 cup red wine, a bay leaf, italian spices, etc. I also get rave reviews on this sauce. (of course I usually add 1 lb ground beef too)

Pour the sauce under and over the shells in a baking dish and bake until everything is all bubbly.

You can make garlic bread and a tossed salad too and its a great hearty meal that doesn't cost much. Might even pick up a frozen cheesecake for dessert.

Darnit. This is going on my next grocery list. Now I'm craving it.

PS: I also get a lot of great recipes from Allrecipes.com.

Originally Posted by mooficat

3 bean chilli is a great party dish

easy, healthy & cheap to make and a great filler-upper - you can make a hugh pan of it...............sit back enjoy the wine and they´d all be full up afterwards !

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I wont touch beans! we all gas out from them!


Thanks everyone! for the advice, i have decided im going to make garlic bread, and fettucini with veggies in cream sauce. or maybe Tortellini with tomato and cream sauce, with a salad on the side!

I made a salad the other day and brought it to work! gosh were they jealous!

Then im going to make Chocolate Muffins with ice cream

Anyone wanna come along!?

Originally Posted by fwan

I wont touch beans!

we all gas out from them!


Thanks everyone! for the advice, i have decided im going to make garlic bread, and fettucini with veggies in cream sauce. or maybe Tortellini with tomato and cream sauce, with a salad on the side!

I made a salad the other day and brought it to work! gosh were they jealous!

Then im going to make Chocolate Muffins with ice cream

Anyone wanna come along!?

Click to expand...

I'll be there

I just booked my plane ticket!

Sounds yummy!