Linni Cooks Cheap & Easy
A Guide to 20-something Party Planning
Linni Kral
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Can You Hear Me Now
 Media Credit: Jessica Yant Linni Cooks Cheap & Easy |
1. Acquire a ping pong table
2. Buy enough Solo cups to stock a bomb shelter
3. Stack a few racks of beer in the corner
4. Blast music from the iPod speakers your parents got you for Christmas
5. Relax and smoke a bowl on the couch until your guests arrive.
But if you're making that awkward transition into the real world, your most recent acquisitions are probably more in the realm of business cards than gaming tables, and your parents probably don't pay for much more than your cell phone bill these days (thank god for the family plan). With little time and money to spare, does this mean you should stop throwing great parties?
Nonsense. If anything, newly-graduated 20-somethings have more use for a good get-together than they did back in the dorms. On a campus, it's easy to meet people and find common places to congregate. Life after the university setting ain't so easy. You've got work friends, college friends, people you meet on the train or even the nice girl who cuts your hair and now randomly wants to hang out. Making friends is a very different thing when you don't have Freshman Orientation to facilitate bonding.
With all these random acquaintances floating around, it makes perfect sense to throw a party, but how can you do that on a budget without falling back on beer pong?
The recipes below give a few ideas for fun party snacks that appear sophisticated, without sophisticated price tags. They can be professional if you're having work pals over, but are playful enough that you won't seem stuffy if you're trying to impress a new someone you met at a bar.
Life after college is hard (and expensive) enough. Party planning should not be.
Blue Corn & Black Bean Nachos
1 bag blue corn tortilla chips (2.99)
1 jar black bean dip ($1.99)
1 jar pineapple salsa ($1.99)
1 guacamole kit ($2.99)
1 package soyrizo (optional) ($1.99)
1 16 oz. container sour cream ($1.69)
1 12 oz. bag Fancy Mexican Blend shredded cheese ($2.99)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
This is probably the easiest prep job a party planner could ask for. Simply spread the chips in an even layer on two cookie sheets. Spread the black bean dip in small spoonfuls across the chips. Sprinkle the soyrizo in an even layer as well, followed by the shredded cheese. Pop that into the oven til the cheese melts and the soyrizo starts to brown or crisp up a bit, about 10-15 minutes, watching carefully so as not to burn the chips. Remove from the oven and top with an even layer of the guacamole, salsa and sour cream, or serve these things in small bowls on the side if you have vegans or lactose intolerant party-goers.
Estimated prep & cook time: 20-25 minutes
Serves 6
 Media Credit: Google Images Garlic Naan |
1 box of frozen channa masala ($2.19)
1 bag frozen spinach ($1.09)
1 bag frozen garlic naan ($1.99)
Dump the channa masala and about a cup of spinach (adjust to your taste) into a medium stockpot and cook on medium-high heat until thawed and heated through. Meanwhile, cook the naan according to package directions and spread butter when you pull them out of the oven, if you like. Serve the channa masala in bowls on a plate with a piece of naan on it, and instruct your guests to scoop the mixture onto their bread to make wraps.
Estimated prep & cook time: 15 minutes
Serves 2-If doubling the recipe, only double the channa masala. If tripling, only triple the channa masala and double the naan; one bag of spinach can serve 6 people and one container of naan has 4 pieces of bread.
 Media Credit: Linni Kral Soyrizo Chili |
1 tablespoon oil of your choosing (I use olive, but canola is fine)
1 container mirepoix, carrots separated ($2.99)
1 package soyrizo ($1.99)
1 can tomato sauce ($1.39)
1 can diced tomatoes (optional) ($1.69)
2 cans beans of your choosing: kidney, garbanzo, black, or pinto ($.89-1.09)
1 bag frozen edamame, shelled ($1.99)
Optional toppings: Sour cream, avocado slices, chopped fresh cilantro, additional chopped onions or celery
In a medium stockpot, heat oil over medium heat, then add the onion and celery from the mirepoix. Saute one minute, then add soyrizo and fry until browning, about five minutes. Add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, beans, edamame and carrots, and cook until heated throughout, stirring continuously, about 15 minutes. Serve in bowls with the toppings of your choosing, or plain. You may salt this if you wish, but I find the canned beans bring enough brine on their own.
Estimated prep & cook time: 25 minutes
Serves 6
 TJ Vegetable Birds Nes |
1 container edamame hummus ($2.19)
1 bag snap pea crisps ($1.49)
1 bag wasabi seaweed tempura chips ($3.49)
1 box frozen tempura birds nests ($3.29)
This requires next to no prep work on your part. Set the oven to 400 degrees, then reduce to 350 once preheated. Put the nests in on a baking sheet and cook 10 minutes on each side until golden and crispy. While they are cooking, scoop the edamame hummus into a bowl and place it in the center of a platter or large dish. Dump the tempura chips and snap pea crisps on one half of the platter, saving room for the bird nests. Once cooked, put the nests onto the other half of the platter, and serve with the accompanying dipping sauce either on the platter or on the side, depending on how much room you have left.
Estimated prep & cook time: 35 minutes
Serves 4-6
 Media Credit: Google Images Beer Float |
Bottles of Trader Joe's Annual Vintage Ale (seasonal) ($4.99)
1 carton vanilla ice cream ($3.99)
Mugs or glasses chilled in the freezer
Remove frosted mugs from the freezer. Tilt the mug and beer bottle to 45 degree angles and pour slowly, splitting each beer bottle between two mugs. Scoop 1-2 scoops of ice cream per mug and serve with spoons.
Estimated prep & cook time: 5 minutes (not including mug-chilling time)
Serves 2-If doubling, tripling, or quadrupling the recipe, increase the amount of beer; one carton of ice cream should serve more than two, depending on appetites!
 Media Credit: Google Images Cranberry Brie Puffs |
1 package Trader Joe's puff pastry sheets ($4.99)
1 wedge of St. Andre triple crème brie ($9.99/lb, one wedge about $5)
1 container Trader Joe's Cranberry Sauce (seasonal) ($2.99)
One mini muffin pan or sturdy miniature cupcake papers-a regular muffin pan may be used, but the puffs will be large and more single-serving than bite-size.
Preheat the oven according to puff pastry package directions. Cut through every layer of the puff pastry to make one-inch squares and place each square into a muffin cup. Cut the brie into small square pieces to fit each puff, place on the squares in the pan, and top each with a spoonful of cranberry sauce. You may also drizzle each with honey if you have a sweeter tooth, but it's not necessary. Place in the oven and bake until the puff pastry is puffing up and browning and the cheese is melted, about 10-15 minutes. Best served immediately, but also good cold.
Estimated prep & cook time: 25 minutes
Serves 6-If doubling the recipe, only double the puff pastry; the cranberry sauce and cheese are enough to make two batches.
* Prices quoted are based on a California Trader Joe's location and are subject to changes in other areas.
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