Festive Appetizers on a Budget

If you’ve been a reader here for a year or longer you might recall a post from the holidays in 2022 for creating festive appetizers on a budget and I hope that another installment might be helpful!

Grocery store prices still remain high. According to the USDA, there has been a 2.1% food price inflation compared to October 2022; the USDA also shares that “food prices are expected to grow more slowly in 2023 than in 2022 but still at above historical-average rates”. It’s important to appreciate that having discretionary income for groceries and purchases outside of the essentials is a huge privilege that unfortunately many do not have access to. It’s the hope of this post that this reaches the right audience, while still remaining cognizant of the food insecurity crisis in our nation. As with the previous post, this blog will focus on festive holiday appetizers that can be prepared for less than $10 total* that you can take or serve at holiday events or enjoy at home while relaxing - whatever you need from this season!

Burrata and Pesto Baguette:

Burrata cheese $5.39

Genovese or Rosso Pesto $2.55

French baguette $1.85

Dessert Hummus app:

Dark chocolate, vanilla bean or sugar cookie dessert hummus $1.99-2.19 (depending on flavor/size of container)

Strawberries for dipping $4.39

Cinnamon or original graham crackers for dipping $2.19

Shrimp Cocktail:

Shrimp ring $6.49

Cocktail sauce $1.45

Lemon about $0.48/each (sold in a 2 pound bag for $4.29 total)

Ham and Cheese Pinwheels (this one goes above $10 total, but the butter and honey will go beyond just this recipe. Feel free to also forgo the honey drizzle!):

Crescent dough $2.15

Deli sliced honey ham $3.55

Swiss cheese $2.09

Butter $2.49

Honey $4.29

Festive Mocktail:

Black cherry or pomegranate plum juice $3.75

Black cherry sparkling water $0.79 or ginger beer $3.85

Limes $0.69/each (sold in a 1 pound bag for $2.75 total)

Resources:

ALDI Grocery Stores - Quality Food. Everyday Low Prices.

aldi.us