Alternative Holiday Dinner in Merritt BC

Affordable Alternatives to Canadian Traditional Holiday Meals

 

 

Serving an Alternative Holiday Dinner in Merritt BC

 

 

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Alternative Easter Dinner

In most households, a glistening baked ham or roast dinner is the focus on Easter Sunday. Including myself and many it’s a tradition that isn’t often broken for fear of change or family opinions. But Easter doesn’t have to be all about ham or pot roast. If you’re wanting to break away, try mixing things up with an affordable alternative holiday dinner with these. 

 

 Buy Beef Stew Meat or A Brisket

Skip tradition with alternative affordable holiday dinner meals that won’t break the bank. Generally,  Easter Roasts often use high-quality cuts of meat like tenderloin or sirloin, instead, consider serving beef stew meat. Moreover, throw everything in a slow cooker or pot, and away you go, back to the Easter Egg Hunt. Leaving it to slow cook and will be just as tender at a much nicer price point.  For that reason, an affordable beef brisket from your local butcher store is ideal for a tender delicious meal.  Therefore, sometimes it is good to call your local butcher a day before to put your order in, and don’t hesitate to ask about the best ways to serve or prepare. After all, he is the expert.   

 

 Alternative & Affordable Italian Cuisines 

If you’re skipping the traditional dishes, how about an Italian-style Easter? Mixing things up with these delicious meals. Affordable alternatives to your holiday dinner. 

Italian-style Easter Braciole – a rolled beef flank stuffed with breadcrumbs and two Italian kinds of cheese (substitute to choice), rolled and tied, and oven-braised in white wine and marinara sauce. 

Vegetable Fettuccine Alfredo – A holiday dinner doesn’t need to be elaborate. To brighten up the traditional alfredo, toss in spring vegetables like asparagus, peas and shiitake mushrooms. A sprinkle of chives and a dash of lemon zest add the perfect finishing touch to this punched-up pasta.

Shrimp Francese over Linguine – pasta and shrimp placed over linguine is ideal if having a small crowd for Easter dinner. Simple, quick and easy while being an upscale dish.

 

 

 

Alternative Christmas Dinner Merritt BC

Instead of purchasing an entire ham, buy smoked ham slices in the quantity you need. Additionally,  opting to purchase  smoked ham slices inside of a whole ham can help slice your costs in half. Equally if feeding a small group, partial turkey parts are just as tasty and affordable. What about cost-sharing with family, friends, or guests for that tasty Christmas dinner? A medium-sized turkey is perfect for a group of people, and even better when everyone shares the cost. Moreover, guests take care of the cleanup. Making things less stressful and enjoyable at the same time.  With food prices going up and meat costs at about a 2 to 4 % hike, cost-sharing benefits everyone wanting that Traditional Christmas Dinner.  

 

Alternative Turkey Holiday Diner

Herb-Roasted Salmon  – a personal favourite of mine. Moreover, quick and easy. For example, serve on a bed of rice with vegetables. 

• Preheat your oven or grill to approximately 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius).​
• Rinse fillets in cold water,  and pat them dry with paper towels before seasoning on both sides.  
• Apply olive oil or butter to your preferred type of cooking method, whether it be an oven-safe baking dish or a grill pan. 
• Place salmon skin side down, season to choice. I like to wrap Salmon in tin foil and place it on an oven grill or cast iron pans. Cook for about 10 to 20 minutes depending on its thickness. I like to cook slower at a lower temperature. 
•  Check  salmon with a fork to see if it flakes easily before removing it from the pan or oven. If pink still, it’s raw, if it looks grayish-white, it’s cooked.  Make sure not to overcook, or it will turn spongy and not so good.  
• Serve with lemon wedges, vegetables or side dishes of your choice.

 

Roasted Stuffed Chicken – unstuffed or stuffed your choice. Moreover, easy and quick alternative to turkey dinner. Throw in your veggies, season with garlic, lemon, virgin oil, and fresh herbs and relax. 

 

Vegan Eggplant Parmesan – gluten-free, allergy-free, quick and easy to prepare vegan dinner. Recipe for this delicious meal with more ideas for an alternative holiday dinner at A Seasoned Greeting.

 

Instead of Mixed Nuts, Make a Snack Mix

Dishes of mixed nuts not only go quickly with hungry guests but can be costly. Instead, make your salty snack mix. Pair mixed nuts with budget-friendly ingredients like store-brand rice crisp cereal with chocolate candies and throw in some pretzels. Involve your children or grandchildren in mixing and tossing together party snack mixes. Inexpensive no-name shreddies, cheerios, chocolate,  season,  throw into the oven for a few minutes and roll into small bite-size balls.  Trail mix packages you can get for a dollar have all the ingredients along with a box of cheerios and pretzels to make affordable snack mixes. 

 

Affordable Alternative Seasonal Holiday Dips  

Holiday snacks such as dips can be affordable while tasting great. Use sour cream and onion mix for an all-time favourite. Importantly, sour cream is an essential ingredient used for everything. Most non-brand names taste the same as brand names. Whip up some garlic, sour cream and herbs, with a dash of cayenne or smoked garlic, absolutely delicious. Have a fridge full of salad dressings,  such as Catalina, Cole slaw dressing, ranch, and Italian, which are perfect as is, and throw them into a cute bowl surrounded by veggies. Melt some cheese Wizz or cut up some apples and have peanut butter for dipping. 

 

Affordable Veggie Dip Ideas

Veggie dips you say. here are some alternative easy dip ideas in Merritt BC.  We all know what the 3 top veggies to dip with are. The three top favourites are carrots, celery, and broccoli. or cauliflower. Stay away from those cute baby carrots or pre-made trays. Tend to be costly while when opened at home you find the veggies limp and tasteless. If your veggies are a bit drab, lifeless, or wilting, throw them in the sink with cold water to liven them up. Store in your fridge wrapped in a wet cloth or paper towel.  

 

Swap in Some Sparkling Apple Cider for Alcoholic Beverages or Try a Punch Bowl

Albeit, If you’re worried about alcoholic beverages hiking up the cost of your holiday dinner budget, or not wanting to play bartender? Consider picking up a few bottles of sparkling apple cider.  Moreover, how about a punch bowl, one for adults and one for kids or non-drinkers? This festive drink can be enjoyed by everyone at the dinner table and makes a nice alternative to wine or soda options. Affordable alternative to buying so many different kinds of costly alcoholic beverages. Importantly, with a bowl of sparkling Holiday punch, we have ourselves a party! 

Blast From The Past – The Shirly Temple Mocktail 

The Shirley Temple is one of the best and most famous nonalcoholic mixed drinks around. This popular mocktail is made with lemon-lime soda, ginger ale, and grenadine, and topped with a maraschino cherry. Moreover, this drink is sure to bring back childhood memories for some. named after the famous child star Shirley Temple. 

 

• You can add vodka to make a Dirty Shirley or rum to make a Shirley Temple Black. 

 

 

 

Quick Fact – Mandarin can be thrown in salads, used in punch bowls, finger food, or a dessert covered in ice cream or whip cream. Making a Jell-O desert is not only affordable but loved by all ages, throw slices of seasonal fruit for added flavour. 

 

Worldwide Cuisines Alternatives for your Holiday Dinner

Furthermore, ditch the traditional holiday dinner this year. Swap out the ham for barbecued shish- kebobs Cooking an alternative Holiday dinner could be a fun and exciting way to share with family and friends. Although a traditional feast is great, spice it up with  Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian even go a bit Mexican. 

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More Worldwide Cuisines Ideas 

You could merely skip the turkey and whip up an Italian favorite Porchetta, or if you are feeling adventurous, light up the barbecue Aussie style! Alternatively, go vegetarian or vegan this Easter and try your hand at cooking a nut roast or a tasty vegan wellington. Additionally, make it a family affair. Throw your favourite Countries by picking written down countries Write down your favourite foods from your country, throw them in a hat, pick them out and make that your Christmas Holiday dinner. 

 

 

 

 

Alternative and Affordable Holiday Dinner in Merritt BC

 

The best advice I can give is to be creative and not to stress about that so-called perfect holiday dinner. Most of our cupboards are full of all the ingredients needed for spicing up your spread. After all,  Holidays are for the time we spend with our family and friends, not stressing over the costs. We are all experiencing the high costs of production and feeding a household of guests can be very daunting not to mention expensive. Canadian Holidays are celebrated with family, friends and delicious food.