Entertaining without the Expense

The best part about summer entertaining is that it doesn’t have to blow your budget. Warm-weather get-togethers are usually more casual, which means you can find more creative ways to keep costs low.

Be creative with your timing. Your party doesn’t necessarily have to include an entire meal. You can invite friends for dessert around the fire pit at 8 p.m. or drinks and hors d’oeuvres on the deck from 4 to 6 p.m. A brunch get-together eliminates (or at least reduces) the amount of money you’d spend on alcoholic beverages and expensive entrée items.

Keep the menu simple. One of the biggest misconceptions about hosting is that you have to serve numerous dishes. Just an hors doeuvre, main dish, salad and dessert is all people expect.

Simple appetizers: Cut up pita bread and serve it with hummus, or Italian bread with a good dipping olive oil. You can never go wrong with veggies and dip.

Simple entrees: Simple burgers can be turned into gourmet treats with just a few toppings: bleu cheese, avocado or a homemade chutney. A cheaper cut of meat can be prepared in a casserole or slow cooker and taste just as good as the expensive cut. Ethnic foods are often less expensive because they concentrate more on rice or pasta than meat.

Simple salads: Forget the fancy extras. A basic lettuce with chopped vegetables and bottled dressing is enough. Or toss some sliced strawberries and almonds with baby spinach.

Simple desserts: Try something as easy as ice cream drizzled with your favorite topping or some fresh fruit. Or melt some chocolate chips and let everyone dip chunks of fresh fruit.

Concentrate on in-season and on-special foods from your local supermarket. There?s no need to choose an exotic culinary theme.

Make your own. If you feel the need to make an impact, do so with inexpensive homemade treats. Do you have a breadmaker or ice cream maker languishing in storage? Crack it out and your guests will feel special that you made something from scratch for them. (You don’t have to let them know it’s cheaper than buying bread or top-shelf ice cream.)

Accept help. When your guests offer to bring something, accept with pleasure. They wouldn’t offer if they didn’t want to share in the meal preparation.