How to make a special New Year's Eve dinner without spending much?
This year I don't have the budget to go to a fancy restaurant. I want to make something decent at home but without going overboard with spending, I've got a family of ten people.
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I do this all the time with my coworkers and family. What works is focusing on one well-made main dish instead of trying to do everything: make something like a good seafood rice or roasted chicken with potatoes, that goes a long way and isn't expensive if you shop at the market instead of fancy supermarkets. For the sides take advantage of simple salads, homemade bread if you have time, and for dessert a nicely decorated gelatin or fruit with melted chocolate, people enjoy that just as much. The truth is what matters is that it's made at home with care, that's worth more than any restaurant, and ten people are gonna care more about being together than the cost of the food.
I'd do it with simple stuff but make it look really nice, you know? A good homemade broth with cheap seafood like shrimp or mussels, then some rice or pasta with whatever you can find at a good price, and for dessert a fruit salad or a homemade flan - people eat with their eyes first and trust me if you plate it nicely nobody notices the budget! For ten people, with how expensive everything is, I'd estimate like 60-80 euros if you shop at the supermarket without premium brands, and honestly people value being together with family way more than eating a 40-euro steak at some pretentious restaurant.
I make a lot of dinners at home and the key is choosing dishes that look fancy but are easy and cheap, like a nicely presented charcuterie board, some garlic shrimp, a nice salad and a good homemade dessert. With ten people it comes out way more affordable than a restaurant and people appreciate home-cooked food more, I'm telling you from experience.
That's the smart move. What I do is build dinner around a good broth or stew that I can make days ahead and just reheat on the 31st, so I save myself stress and money on fresh ingredients. For ten people, something like a stew with cheap meat, potatoes and veggies goes a long way, and then I focus on a simple dessert but something that looks nice, like homemade flan or fruit with something sweet. Decent red wine and good music make it feel special without having to spend a fortune.
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