| Many Americans plan to entertain at lot more at home this summer to combat the sluggish economy and soaring gas prices. And it all starts in just a few days with the Fourth of July. This Fourth of July, I want to suggest, and give you the tools to throw a party for ten people just $22.50 in honor of America's 225th birthday. Here's how you do it! To throw a great party on a budget, I always follow these three simple rules: think creatively, plan every detail, and stick to your shopping list. It can be tempting to buy everything in sight when you walk into the grocery store. But, the better your plan, the quicker your trip to the store. Before making a shopping list, look around your kitchen and try to build meals around items you already have. Next, think each course out in its entirety and plan for portions. Let store circulars and sales help inform your menu. Don't forget to log onto ValuPage.com -- there's lots of great offers on everything from paper plates to salsa! Take a look at all of the great food we put together on budget. We started off with a two-dollar appetizer by mixing some corn and salsa together. We only spent six dollars on our main dish by mixing canned foods with other ingredients. This variation on the stuffed chili cheeseburger recipe from mealtime.org. It combines canned chilies, olives and ground beef, with a great homemade tomato relish. We made a $3 side by combining a can of baked beans and mini hot dogs. Rice and pasta are cheap and go a long way. Look at this chilled tuna and pasta salad with and this Chinese Rice dish with. They cost 4 dollars each. Add our two desserts - Jell-O with mixed fruit and yummy cinnamon sugar popcorn and it all comes in on budget. Here's the recipes and the prices I paid. Remember that these prices may be slightly different in your supermarket -- and with using ValuPage and other coupons you may even be able to beat my cost! 1. STUFFED CHILE-CHEESEBURGERS WITH WARM TOMATO RELISH (price: $7.50) Ingredients:
Chile-Cheeseburgers
1 can (4 ounces) diced green chilies (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese (about 2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced black olives (canned)
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 lettuce leaves (if desired)
4 hamburger buns, toasted
Warm Tomato Relish
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained 1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar Preparation: In small bowl, combine canned chilies, cheese and canned olives; set aside. In medium bowl, combine beef, salt and pepper, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape beef into 8 (4-inch) thin patties. In center of 4 patties, place 1/4 cup chili-cheese mixture. Top with remaining patties. Press edges tightly together to seal. Grill burgers over medium-hot coals 8 to 10 minutes or until burgers are cooked to desired doneness, turning once. Meanwhile, in small saucepan, combine tomatoes, sugar, cornstarch and cumin. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 3 to 4 minutes or until mixture thickens. Remove from heat; stir in vinegar. Place one burger on each lettuce-lined roll. Spoon about 1/4 cup warm tomato relish mixture on each burger and serve. Servings: 5 2. CHILI DOGS (price: $3.00) Ingredients:
1 Can 14 oz chili
1/2 Cup shredded cheese
1/4 Chopped onion
5 Hot dog buns Preparation: Heat chili and divide on rolls and top with cheese and onions. Serve hot Servings: 5 3. BAKED CHIPS (price: $2.28)
Ingredients:
12 flour tortillas
Spray oil
1 Envelope of taco seasoning Preparation:
Cut tortillas into 6 triangles each. Layer on a cookie sheet and spray with oil. Sprinkle with spice and bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Servings: 10 4. SALSA CORN SALAD (price: $2.31) Ingredients:
´´ Cup salsa
1 Can Mexican corn
1 Tbsp. Sugar
1 Chopped Jalapeno pepper
Salt and Pepper Preparation: Mix all ingredients together and let sit 30 minutes before serving. Servings: 10 5. TUNA PASTA (price: $ 2.63) Ingredients:
1-8 oz. Can tuna in water, drained
8 oz. Cooked pasta
´´ Cucumber slice
´´ Cup ranch dressing
´´ Chopped red onion Preparation: Mix all ingredients and chill at least 30 minutes before serving. Servings: 10 6. CINNAMON POPCORN (price: $1.49) Ingredients:
4 Cups hot cooked popcorn
2 Tbsp. Cinnamon
2 Tbsp. sugar Preparation: Mix cinnamon and sugar together. Sprinkle onto hot popcorn and serve. Servings: 10 7. JELL-O SALAD CUPS (price: $2.19)
Ingredients:
1 Package of cherry Jell-O
1 Package of orange Jell-O
1 Can mixed fruit cocktail Preparation: Make orange Jell-O as per the package. Allow to cool, then pour in small plastic cups. Allow to almost set and then make cherry Jell-O. Allow cherry Jell-O to cool and then pour on top of orange Jell-O layer. Chill 30 minutes, then divide fruit cocktail evenly on top of thickening Jell-O and chill until set. Servings: 10 FINAL PRICE LIST:
5 burgers: $7.75
5 chili dogs: $3.01
Baked chips: $2.28
Salsa corn salad: $2.31
Tuna pasta: $2.63
Cinnamon popcorn: $1.49
Jell-O salad cups: $2.19
Kool-Aid: $0.79
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TOTAL: $22.50 TOTAL BUDGET FOR 10 PEOPLE: $22.50! And for those who love contests - check out mealtime.org and enter the Great From The Grill recipe contest! Have a great Independence Day! | 
