9 Easy Potluck Recipes Under $5 (some less than $3)

Photo courtesy of tablespoon.com

 

 

Everyone loves a good potluck!  But what happens when you have to bring a dish and the budget is tighter than bark on a tree?  Here's a few great budget options that don't feel cheap:

Photo courtesy of sunset.com

Sweet and Sour Cucumbers

4-5 large cucumbers
2 large onions
Salt
1 cup vinegar
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water

Slice cucumbers & onion very thin. Layer into a high-wall casserole dish or large bowl, salt each layer and let sit for about an hour.  Combine vinegar, sugar, & water separately then pour over cucumbers & onion.  Refrigerate overnight or at least for 4 hours. Makes 10-12 servings.

Cornbread Mini Muffins with Honey Butter Spread

Photo: babble.com

Mini muffin tins
2 boxes Jiffy Corn Bread Mix
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs

1 cup softened butter or cold margarine
1/3 cup honey
(a dash or 2 of cinnamon would be amazing, too)

Make Cornbread per specifications of the box.  Should make approx. 24-30 mini muffins. Blend butter and honey and chill until ready to serve (bring real butter back to room temperature for easy spreading).

Deviled Eggs

one of the thousands of photos
 on allrecipes.com

Ohhhhh no. You're not going to trick me into putting up a deviled egg recipe!  Offering someone a deviled egg recipe is like offering to name their first-born.  Everyone has a favorite set of ingredients... and if you don't, I suggest you ask a trusted relative or jump out to Allrecipes.com for a great recipe...there are 159 waiting.   And as long as you don't get all fancy schmancy with your ingredient add-ins, you should easily be able to make 24 egg halves for less than $3.

 

Ribbon Jell-O

The commodity for this dish is time. You'll need 4-6 hours in order to allow each layer to set up before adding another. But since each box of gelatin is only about 50 cents each, this is a very budget friendly show-stopper.

flickr.com
 

8 small 3oz boxes of flavored gelatin (4 flavors, 2 of each flavor)
2 cans evaporated milk
9x13 clear casserole dish or trifle dish

You will alternate a clear layer with a milky layer. start with a clear layer.  Mix one box of gelatin with 1 c. boiling water in a separate bowl or large measuring cup.  Dissolve.  then add 1/2 c. cold water and mix well.  Pour into serving dish and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until set. Next make a milky layer of the same flavor. Mix one box of gelatin with 3/4 c. boiling water. Dissolve. Then add 3/4 cup evaporated milk and mix well.  Pour over clear layer and refrigerate 30 minutes or until set. Continue to make the clear and cloudy layers until all 8 layers are complete.

Rice Cereal Treats

Recently, a box of Post Brand Rice Krispies has become a bit pricey.  So for this potluck, I suggest using the store or generic brand of rice cereal for $2-$3/box.  This treat also lends itself to lots variations.  But the Original still seems to be the most cost effective (minus the Post branded cereal).  Although if you happen to have some extra peanut butter or chocolate chips lying around the kitchen, you might look into other recipes.



so many different rice treat recipes

3 tablespoons butter (not margarine) 

1 package (10 oz., about 40) Marshmallows   

or                                                                                      

4 cups Miniature Marshmallows      

or

1 jar (7oz) marshmallow creme                         

6 cups rice cereal                                                           

In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add cereal. Stir until well coated. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares. Best if served the same day.  Makes 24 servings

Italian Pasta Salad

When boxes of pasta go on sale for a buck, it's hard not to stock up.  Take advantage and make a pasta salad that everyone will love.

1lb favorite pasta - bowtie, mostaccioli, macaroni, corkscrew, etc

momsdish.com
 

1 can diced Italian tomatoes, drained
1 large green pepper, finely chopped
1 large onion, any kind, finely chopped
1 bottle (16 oz) zesty Italian dressing
salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta as directed for al dente. Rinse under cold water until completely cooled and drained.  In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.  Makes 10-14 servings.

Last, but not least...never underestimate the power of HOMEMADE.

cute tag from twiggynest
 

Potluck contributions that would otherwise be mundane are made awesome when made with love.  Tortilla Chips, Seasoned Popcorn, or Zesty Hummus are always favorites, especially when crafted in your our kitchen.









Tips and Tricks when looking for a budget friendly dish:
- Avoid meat and cheese.  Most meat and cheese is pricey.  If you absolutely must provide a meat potluck, look for dishes that incorporate a starch like pasta, rice, or potatoes.  Or look into an inexpensive options like canned tuna.
- Look out for the 90-ingredient dish.  OK, ok, no dish has 90 components, however there have been times I set my sights on a dish that ultimately ends up costing twice what I thought simply because it calls for a dozen or more things that need to be purchased at $2 each....yowzers.  
- Go in with a friend and do a group dish, for instance one brings the gourmet pita chips and the other brings the fancy dip.

Supply List for a Summer Crawfish Boil

 

 

For several years now we have thrown an annual crawfish boil to start off the summer.   There's nothing else that let's one experience East Texas and Louisiana life like fresh crawdads! And that's what we bring to Wisconsin every summer.  I thought it high-time to share my checklist with others, and also for posterity (a place for me to find the check list when I need it....ha!)   This is a checklist, not necessarily a how-to.  There are plenty of websites and YouTube that will give you the step-by-step instructions on how to boil your crawdads...you'll probably have your own special techniques as well.

Letting the crawfish purge
and clean up before 'The Big Swim'. 
A great conversation
piece while awaiting the meal!

As fun as the entire event is, the biggest part is having the crawfish flown live from Louisiana for an authentic feel!  Once I shopped around, I was surprised to find it was practically just as expensive to have live crawdads overnighted on a Saturday than it was to buy frozen from the fish monger here in Wisconsin.  So check around!  I've listed the link to my source in the list below.






I hope this checklist of supplies helps you have a FANTASTIC Crawfish boil experience!  We have lots of people over, but this can easily be paired down to fit your party's needs.


 Bon Appetit!







For 50 ppl:

30lbs  Live Crawfish
20lbs Frozen Shrimp
20lbs Kielbasa
72 pc Frozen Corn
12lbs red potatoes
6 loaves of French Baguette Bread
3 lbs lemons
Seafood boil seasoning (2 pkgs) - depending on where you get the Crawfish, this may be included
Asst hot sauce condiments (Tabasco, Chalula, etc)
Spray Bottle Margarine
salt & pepper


Non Food Checklists:
Food Boat/Basket/Sturdy Paper Plates
Plastic Table Coverings
Butcher Paper/Freezer Paper
Empty & Clean Coolers - use these to hold your cooked food since you'll likely be doing it in batches
Turkey Fryers w/ colander strainer or colander scoops - Borrow a few extra turkey fryers to get the job done fast
Propane tanks for each fryer
Kiddie Pool
Paper Towels (3-4 rolls)
Wet Wipes
(2) 8ft tables for food spread
Large Trash Cans, Double Lined and taped into place
NO EATING UTENCILS - the fun of a boil is the finger licking experience.  But make sure your guests know ahead of time to prepare accordingly.

4 Vacation Cities for Night Owls

When making vacation plans, it's always nice to know what type of night-life options are available in your destination's area.  Night-life ToDo's are usually reserved only for night clubs and live bands.  But if you select the right vacation spot, you might just strike nocturnal gold.  Some cities are no-brainers for 24 hour fun; New York & Las Vegas are two that come immediately to mind.  But there are others that might surprise you.  Whether you're a night owl looking for vacation destinations to accommodate the nature of your evening-dwelling ways or if you're like me: a traditional sleeper just looking to make the most of every hour of vacation, here is a list of cities I've visited with after-5 happenings.

New Orleans

A shot of Bourbon Street

We all know  the renowned French Quarter comes alive at night in this city dubbed as America's Most Interesting City.  Vibrant, unique and filled with energy and "spirits".  This nocturnal atmosphere has bled into quite a few other tourists areas.

The Big Easy has got you covered for
late night feedings.

When hunger strikes late at night in NOLA, you'll be happy to know there is no lack of late night/ all night eateries.  From Gentilly to the Warehouse District, the Big Easy has got you covered.  Café Du Monde is only one of many 24 hour restaurants.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention New Orleans' music scene.  Jazz, Blues, Rock, Alternative, and much more; it's all done with Cajun flare until the wee hours of the morning.

Instead of getting tickets to the Theater when the sun sets on the French Quarter, consider a Cabaret or Burlesque Club.  You're guaranteed a fun-filled, sexy and sassy evening of entertainment.

Bloody Mary's Tours offers the only
moonlight cemetery tour in NOLA

Few other cities offer as many night tours as New Orleans.  Tour topics such as historical hauntings, cemetery, romantic, water, or air tours are available during twilight hours.









Gambling is a popular night time event in many cities, where allowed.  Luckily, NOLA downtown offers Harrah's.  Let's hope Lady Luck works the night shift.

Austin

Austin, TX downtown skyline
 

 As a young adult in the 90's, Austin was a great place to be for nightlife.  Today, it's even better

All Night Owl vacations in Austin should begin with 6th Street.  This seven blocks between Congress and the Interstate are arguably Texas' entertainment mecca.

From fancy to fast, late night is when Austin's grub is at it's finest.  Indian, Vietnamese, and French cuisines are just a few options open til 2a.m.
 

If you're lucky enough to be in Austin on a Sunday evening from May through August, plan a picnic dinner to Long Center City Terrace  at 7:30 p.m to listen to the Austin Symphony for free.

 

Photo courtesy of naturalpatriot.org

Every night at dusk, thousands of bats flutter in smoke-like clouds from underneath the Congress Avenue bridge. Any spot on the bridge gets you a close-up view. Combine the spectacle with a seafood dinner and a view from the patio at the Shoreline Grill.

 

 

 

 

 

Chicago

 

With an after dark culture that's well established, The Windy City is a great getaway for any night owl.  With so many great things packed into one city, here's a few activities you can reserve to do when the sun goes down on other attractions.

Photo Courtesy of Chris Harnish Photography

 

The Navy Pier is one of Chicago's most popular attractions. Set right in the Chicago Harbor of Lake Michigan, it's where tourists and Chicagoan alike gather.  A playground of 50 acres filled with parks, promenades, gardens, shops, eateries and museums.  And the best news, the area is open until at least 10pm or later year 'round.

Photo By Jamie Steinkamp

The night time music scene in Chicago is a vacation in itself.  From renowned jazz to soulful blues to world famous symphony orchestras, Chi-town has it all...and all night. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gazing at the stars in the big city can be hard to do.  However, every third Thursday you can do just that at the Adler Planetarium which holds Adler After Dark.  There also other museums that host routine after hours exhibits and openings, so check around while you're in town.

 

Located on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Center there is no doubt that Signature Lounge’s main attraction is the Chicago view instead of the delicious drinks, but the breathtaking views across Chicago offer 360° scene of the entire city skyline. Try the Magnificent Mile Manhattan, I'm told it's delicious.  And what better way to experience all that this lounge has to offer at night?

 

 

 Nashville

 

One reviewer on TripAdvisor reviewer compared Nashville to NYC but "with boots on".  Downtown Nashville is indeed a mecca for all things of the night, not just country music.  Take an evening stroll and check out the Music City Walk of Fame. You can see the stars in Walk of Fame Park on Demonbreun Street between 4th & 5th Avenues - located at the base of the Music Mile in downtown Nashville.

 

 

 

Whether you're interested in hearing the original songwriters perform at The Bluebird Café or shootin' whiskey at The Wild Horse Saloon, the downtown scene will keep you entertained all night.

 

Admittedly, even with the plethora of night music, you'll have a hard time finding museums opening after hours.  That said, The Frist Center for the Visual Arts  is open until 9:00 pm on Thursday and Friday (Martin ArtQuest closes at 5:30 p.m.).  For a bit of nighttime nature during the summer, visit Cheekwood Botanical Garden which is open every Friday, May through October, until 10 pm. 

 

 

Of course there are plenty of late night eateries, many of which offer live music to boot.  There are also several late night coffee spots for you to get your after dark java.  Café Coco is a 24 hour joint serving coffee and more, JJ's Market provides a low-key coffee experience for the late night intellectual (but only until 11pm).