Dinner Partying for Penny Pinchers

So you may have heard we've had a veritable snowmageddon here; I had planned a dinner party for this past Sunday but postponed due to snow until last night--when we had a blizzard. Luckily my dinner guests braved the snow and the show went on (thanks AK, JH, JW, JT & SK for trekking through the snow, and ZFS, DS & RK for walking down all those stairs :))

This dinner party was a challenge to myself to make a really delicious and filling meal with an appetizer, salad, main dish, 2 side dishes and dessert for less than $8 per person. To my surprise, I actually made the party for less than $7 per person!

Here is my menu & shopping list--stay tuned for the recipes over the next few days!

The Menu:

Sesame-Soy Salmon w/ Crispy Brown Rice Cake

Spinach, Heirloom Tomato & Blood Orange Salad

Crock Pot Spice-Rubbed Chicken & Potatoes w/ Garlic, Onions & Blood Oranges

Oven-Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Brussel Sprouts

Spicy Corn Muffins

Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Cake





My Shopping List:

salmon: 9.16
rice: 2.99
carrots: .99
soup stock: 1.99
cremini mushrooms: 1.99
spinach: 1.99
cucumber: 1.69
tomatoes: 3.49
blood oranges: 2.99
chicken: 15.63
potatoes: 1.99
onions: 1.19
sweet potatoes: 1.79
brussel sprouts: 2.49
creamed corn: .79
gluten free flour: 3.45
eggs: .99
bananas: .57
other pantry items: <3.00

Grand total: $59.17 [$6.57 per person]