How can you have a party for under $50.00?!
Answers:
Baked Ziti with meat sauce, mozzerella, parmesan, ricotta
Romain lettuce salad with tomato, bottled italian dressing
Italian Bread and butter
1 large jug cheap red wine
A few bottles cheep soda.
Need a dessert? Get some ice cream on sale, serve with some cookies.
Now if you need paper plates, cutlery, that could make it tight.....
been there, done that.
Make a big pot of really good chili. Serve it with piping hot corn muffins and a salad. If guests ask if they can bring something (they always do!), take them up on it. Let someone bring dessert, or tell them they can bring along anything they might like as a chili topping (cheddar cheese, sour cream, etc.)
If chili is more casual than you want, there's always pasta. Make an inexpensive pasta dish that tastes and sounds exotic--spaghetti carbonara, for example. Hot bread with olive oil for dipping always seems luxurious, but costs little if you have oil on hand. Make a simple salad and top with something special, yet inexpensive, like roasted vegetables or caramelized garlic.
Go to the dollar store for some things, and then as far as food, ask people if theyre willing to bring a dish of some kind. I would think if 3 or 4 people brought food, there should be enough for everyone as long as there isnt 50 people coming.*
Just a thought
Have a potluck, have everyone bring a side dish and drinks and you can make a hamburgers and hot dogs and make the cake yourself. And you can buy decorations from the dollar store and candy too. And you can do games like Simon Says, musical chairs, and red-light green-light.
act as if you are vegetarian or healthy and get some salads !!