Big families with a small budget can still enjoy the season

  • By Kyle Valentini
  • October 1, 2011
  • 289
                        
Summary: Large family get-togethers don’t have to be costly or stressful. Invite relatives near and far for a day of crafting, decorating, cooking, eating and laughter. You’ll reminisce about days gone by and create new memories to cherish. Succulent roast beef can take the place of the traditional turkey for a variation on the holiday theme. Let everyone pitch in for a special day spent together. Holiday celebrations can be special even when there’s not much money available to throw a fancy party or expensive dinner. Get the whole family involved for a day of decorating, crafting, eating and laughing. Set the scene for a holiday celebration by festooning the house with the spirit of the season. Store- bought decorations can be costly. Decorations made at home can save money and create an atmosphere of togetherness. Try some of these budget-friendly decorating ideas: • Make garlands out of felt or fabric scraps you already have. Cut out holiday-themed shapes like little stockings, mittens, trees and candy canes. String them together with needle and floss or strong fishing line to hang all over the house. Tie a knot on both sides of the shape to hold it in place. You can add more dimension to the shapes by cutting two of each, stuffing them lightly, then sewing or gluing the two together. Used dryer sheets make the perfect stuffing. • Decorate a foyer or entryway by removing the traditional family photos hanging on the walls. Wrap them with inexpensive gift wrap and add ribbons or bows so they look like real gifts. Hang them back on the wall for the rest of the season. • Embellish a chandelier or pendant lamp with greenery cut from trees in your own yard. If you don’t have any evergreen trees ask a neighbor a friend for a few branches. With colorful holiday ribbon and the scent of fresh pine, the whole room will look warm and inviting. Nothing is finer than a big holiday meal with loved ones. But less can be more when trying to feed many mouths with less money. Expensive cuts of meat taste great but so do the cheaper varieties when prepared properly. Comfort food is more popular than ever now. The old stick-to-your-ribs meals you remember eating as a child probably weigh heavier in your memory than the last artfully plated meal at an overpriced restaurant. Try this economical roast beef recipe ay your holiday meal: Ingredients 1 boneless eye-round roast, 4-6 pounds 4 teaspoons kosher salt 2 teaspoons vegetable oil plus 1 tablespoon 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper Instructions 1. Sprinkle all sides of roast evenly with salt. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 18 to 24 hours. 2. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 225 degrees. Pat roast dry with paper towels; rub with 2 teaspoons oil and sprinkle all sides evenly with pepper. Heat remaining tablespoon oil in cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until it is just starting to smoke. Sear roast until browned on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer roast to wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet. Roast until meat thermometer inserted into center of roast registers 115 degrees for medium-rare, 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 hours, or 125 degrees for medium, 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 hours. 3. Turn oven off; leave roast in oven, without opening door, until meat thermometer inserted into center of roast registers 130 degrees for medium-rare or 140 degrees for medium, 30 to 50 minutes longer. Transfer roast to carving board and let rest 15 minutes. Slice meat crosswise as thinly as possible and serve. The trick to this recipe is the salt. By salting the meat a full day ahead and then cooking it at extremely low temperature the meat’s own enzymes break down the tough connective tissue resulting in moth watering perfection. Served with homemade noodles, mashed potatoes, cranberry citrus relish and other economical side dishes, the family will feel like royalty with each tender, juicy bite. And when they help do the cooking it will turn the kitchen into the heart of the home. For family members that have traveled to visit over the holidays, it is nice for them to be able to take something home to remember the season. Inexpensive favors can be as simple as a family photo taken during their visit, quickly printed using your computer printer and placed in an affordable frame available at discount stores. A mason jar full of homemade candied nuts will give travelling family members a snack as they drive home. Make the time with your family count. It’s a great time for bonding, sharing and reconnecting with relatives you don’t see often and a chance to relax with the ones you see every day.


Loading next article...

End of content

No more pages to load