Create a Christmas dinner on a budget 🆙

The year passes in a second. We always have that impression in this period. The mountains of Panettone in supermarkets confirm this. The delights of supper fill our imagination. The daydream is short-lived. We woke up not knowing what to prepare for the guests. We only know that the ingredients, most of which are imported, are expensive. With the dollar soaring, it will be necessary to pay even more. Prices have increased by 90%. The kilo of salted almonds was R$49,90, today it is found for R$94,90. Pistachios increased from R$59,90 to R$99,90. The hazelnut rose from R$79,90 to R$114,90.

The price of traditional cod rose 14%. Traders replenish their stocks cautiously. Who appreciates a good wine is good to be smart. According to the Associação Españaeira de Supermercados (Abras), imported wines are 24,3% more expensive. Traders who paid R$30 for a bottle last year are now paying twice as much. If the 2014 dinner was one of the most expensive of all time, this year's is not far behind. See the price variation of some products in a year:

Create a Christmas dinner on a budget — Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum / Unsplash

Peru: 9,5%
Tender: 9,2%
Chester: 9,3%
Loin: 9,6%
Panettone: 9,1%
Sparkling/sparkling wines: 13%
Dried fruits: 13,2%

You don't want to be ugly in front of the guests. Compromising the budget is also out of the question. So, how to serve well while spending littlePlanning is the first keyword. Knowing how many people you will receive is essential. Don't wait until the last minute to buy meat. Keep an eye out for supermarket promotions.

The supper consists of a starter (salad, antipasto, pie, dumplings, etc.), main course (meat, poultry, fish), side dishes (mayonnaise, sausage, farofa, rice, potatoes, vegetables) and dessert. If you are going to receive few people, reduce the amount, serve a starter, a main course, a side dish and a dessert. A chicken with farofa feeds and satisfies five people. Another option is the tender, made with lean pork. The product comes seasoned and ready to serve. Cut into cubes or thick slivers, it's delicious with mango, kiwi and pineapple. As a main dish, serve with lightly sweetened sauces.

Replacement is the other keyword. Bet on fruits and vegetables to create the impression of plenty. Pork can be substituted for chester or chicken. Whole turkey is expensive, buy some parts (thighs, drumsticks and breast). Swap cod for fresh fish. If you can't forgo it, buy enough to shred and make a salad. Who doesn't give up dried fruits, choose a maximum of three. Cakes and puddings can be replaced by delicious tropical fruits, colorful, juicy and healthy. For those who think that supper without sweets is not supper, a coconut manjar is a cheap and delicious dessert. Serve drinks with dessert and at midnight toast.

Christmas dinner on a budget?

Yes, it is possible. And don't think it's a bland supper. We researched and discovered practical and very tasty options. We will present a starter, a main course, a side dish, two dessert options and three non-alcoholic drink options. With our tips, gathering family and friends will be even more delicious. Prepared? So, pencil and pen in hand and get to work.

Tickets

turban salad

1 package of bread
1 glass of palm
1 can of green corn
1 glass of chopped olives
300 g of shredded chicken breast
300 grams of ham
200 g chopped fried bacon
1 package of potato straw
1 can of whey-free cream
100 grams of mayonnaise

Preparation

Cut the bread into squares. Shred the chicken breast. Chop the hearts of palm, olives, ham and bacon. With the exception of the potato, mix all the ingredients in a refractory. Place the potato over the ingredients. Serve immediately. The recipe makes 7 to 10 servings.

main course

chicken with farofa

Ingredients for the chicken

1 large boneless chicken
2 tablespoons butter
Juice of a lemon
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 bay leaf
1 branch of sauce
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Salt to taste

Ingredients for the farofa

2 cups of breadcrumbs
1 green pepper without seeds, chopped
1 cup of chopped green tea
200 grams of chopped bacon
1 large onion cut into cubes
1 can of corn
10 chopped green olives (optional)
Salt to taste

chicken preparation method

Defrost the chicken. Remove the giblets and set aside. Drizzle the chicken with lemon juice. Add garlic, bay leaf, parsley, salt and pepper. Leave in the fridge for 4 hours.

Stuffing preparation method

Cook the gizzard in a pan with water and salt. Chop the gizzard, cut the liver and heart into small pieces and set aside. Fry the bacon and giblets in another pan. Put the butter and fry the onion. Add the green pepper, corn and olives. Gradually add the breadcrumbs. Turn off the fire, add the green smell and put a pinch of salt.

Close the chicken with a thick line. Leave an opening to put the farofa. Coat the chicken with margarine and cover with aluminum foil. Place the bird in a preheated oven at 200º. After 1 hour, remove the paper and use the broth that has formed to baste the chicken. Bake for another 30 minutes or until golden. Makes 7 to 10 servings.

Side Dishes

Christmas rice

Ingredients

2 cups of rice
4 cups of boiling water
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 medium onion, chopped
3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 chopped tomatoes
1 grated peeled carrot
1 cup of champagne
1 cup of apricots
1 cup of raisins
Salt to taste

Preparation

Soak the raisins in boiling water for 10 minutes. Do the same with the apricots. Sauté the onion, garlic, rice, tomato, raisin and apricot for 3 minutes. Add the 4 cups of water and 1 cup of champagne and let it cook. Put the rice in a container and add carrots and apricots. Mix the ingredients well and serve. Makes 7 servings.

Desserts

Fruit salad

Ingredients

1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 tablespoons lemon, orange or passion fruit juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
200 ml of plain yogurt
Various fruits: suggestions- mango, strawberry, kiwi, grape, melon, watermelon and orange

Preparation

Beat the condensed milk and juice in the blender for 3 minutes. Add yogurt, lemon zest and beat until combined. Distribute the fruit cut into cubes in bowls. Put the cream on them. Place in the fridge until very cold. Makes 8 servings.

Coconut manjar with plum syrup or burnt coconut

delicacy ingredients

2 cups of milk tea
3 tablespoons of corn starch
1 ½ cups shredded coconut
1 cup of coconut milk tea
1 ½ cups condensed milk
½ cup of sour cream
Oil for greasing or plastic wrap

plum syrup

2 cups pitted dried plums
2 cups of sugar soup
1 cup of water

burnt coconut syrup

1 cup of coconut milk tea
1 packet of burnt coconut
1 ½ cups condensed milk

Manjar preparation mode

Put the milk in a pan and dissolve the cornstarch. Add coconut milk, condensed milk and grated coconut. Cook until thickened and stir occasionally. Turn off the heat, let it cool, stirring constantly to acquire a creamy consistency. When cool, add the cream. Put the mixture in the greased shape or with plastic wrap. Place in the fridge for 2 hours, or until hardened. Unmold and serve with your favorite syrup.

plum syrup

Place the plum, sugar and water in a saucepan. Cook over low heat until you get a syrup.

burnt coconut syrup

Add the coconut milk, the burnt coconut and the condensed milk. Cook over low heat and stir until you get a thick syrup.

Beverages

strawberry smoothie

Ingredients

60 ml of natural strawberry juice
30 ml of condensed milk
Ice

Preparation

Shake the ingredients in the cocktail shaker. Serve immediately.

Tip: decorate the glasses with pieces of strawberries or umbrellas

Pina Colada

Ingredients

1 pineapple
1 box of pineapple juice
30 ml coconut milk
30 ml of condensed milk
2 dessert spoons of sugar
Ice

Preparation

Peel the pineapple and make a hole. Add the pieces you took from the fruit and mix with sugar. Add coconut milk and condensed milk to this mixture. Pour into a cocktail shaker, along with the pineapple juice and four ice cubes. Mix well and then serve.

Sweet lemon

Ingredients

6 lemons
30 ml of condensed milk
2 tablespoons of sugar
Ice

Preparation

Remove stems, skins and seeds from the fruit. Cut them evenly. Blend lemon juice with water and sugar in a blender. Squeeze a lemon together with sugar, the same way you make a caipirinha. Mix the two juices well, add ice and serve.

Tips: Add mint leaves or a few drops of honey 5 minutes before serving.

Decoration

The supper is economical, but with creativity you can make a beautiful decoration. Use elements you have at home and make the house beautiful to welcome your family and friends. We separate some tips. Christmas balls play a prominent role.

Place gift bows and Christmas balls on candy canes.
Make a curtain with balls and other Christmas decorations to put in the window
Place Christmas balls in vases of various shapes. Harmonize the colors in each vase. Almonds and hazelnuts are also great ideas.
Wine bottles can become super charming decorations. Hot glue the bottle and cover it with string (brown and red are cool colors). Place natural or artificial dry branches. To spice things up even more, stick the word “joy” on the bottle. Sew the letters with pieces of calico.
Candles in a cinnamon holder look beautiful. Insert a large candle into a rubber band, inside, attach the cinnamon sticks. Hide the elastic with a string. A ribbon with a bow is the finishing touch.
Red or gold bows and stars on the chairs add special charm
Small red candles with small pine cones around make the table beautiful
How about demarcating the place of each guest? Use felt bags in green and red colors. Sew the name with a contrasting color.
If you have a fireplace, pass a ribbon between the loops of the balls and make a different garland. Tie a knot at the ends and give the fireplace a special charm.