A Fun, Frugal Party Idea:
A fun party doesn't have to use up your monthly budget. You can have fun while entertaining friends, as long as you remember that the point of entertaining is to have fun and entertain your friends!
Everyone loves one kind of taco or another, the key to making it fun is to allow your guests to assemble their own tacos. Provide a few different filling options, several types of wrappers, and lay out all the possible toppings a taco lover could want. Then invite your guests to have fun making their own tacos.
Decorating Ideas:
Choose any one or all of these ideas, depending on what you have around your home, to give your table the ambience of a Mexican fiesta:
Did you pick up a blanket on a trip to Mexico? Use that as your table covering.
Assorted linens in red, white and green will lend the colors of the Mexican flag to your table.
Tie white napkins with green and red raffia.
Fill a bowl with colorful bell peppers for your centerpiece (use them in your cooking later in the week).
Did you pick up a Mexican sombrero with your blanket? Use that as your centerpiece instead. Place jalapeno peppers around the brim.
Menu:
- Tortilla Chips
- Chicken Tacos - Just make the filling in this recipe and allow guests to pick from the wrappers and toppings.
- Beef Tacos - A perennial favorite.
- Black Beans and Rice - A delicious, easy and satisfying side dish.
- Wrappers: Flour Tortillas; Corn Tortillas; Hard Shell Tacos
- 5-Minute Salsa - Tastes fresher than jarred salsa, but you can make it year round since it uses canned tomatoes.
- Basic Guacamole - Remember to use a ripe avocado.
- Toppings: Grated cheddar cheese; sour cream; minced cilantro; shredded iceberg lettuce; minced red onion
- Vanilla Ice Cream and Mexican Chocolate Sauce - Easy and delicious.
Total Estimated Cost for 8 People - $62.01:
1 Large Bag Tortilla Chips - $2.99
Beef Tacos - $4.00 plus cost of a jar of cumin if you don't have on hand $3.89/jar
Chicken Tacos - $17.78
Black Beans and Rice - $3.39
Wrappers:
- Flour Tortillas - $2.58/12
- Corn Tortillas - $0.79/12
- Hard Shell Tacos - $2.29/12
5 - Minute Salsa - $3.88
Basic Guacamole (Double Recipe) - $5.38
Additional Toppings :
- 1/2 Pound Grated cheddar cheese - $2.49
- Pint Sour Cream - $2.49
- 1/2 Bunch Cilantro - $0.75
- One head iceberg lettuce - $1.99
- Red Onion - $0.83
1.5 Quarts Edy's Grand Vanilla Ice Cream - $4.99
Mexican Chocolate Sauce - $1.50
