home > Food > Food Facts
Hospitality for Less
Katie Stewart
A guestbook preserves your hospitality memories.
by Katie Stewart
July 28, 2010
“If there is any concept worth restoring to its original depth and evocative potential, it is the concept of hospitality,” wrote Henri Nouwen in his 1975 book “Reaching Out.” As a young couple on a budget, my husband, Mason, and I have sought to weave this notion of hospitality into our lives without over-spending.
Entertaining can lead to a good deal of pressure on hosts and hostesses. As much as I love Martha Stewart and Design*Sponge, I have to ask, “Who has time or money to decorate such sumptuous tables?” Yet, I’m not willing to put off hospitality until I have the means to present a gorgeously decorated home and a dinner of filet mignon to a dozen guests. My goal is to open my home and share my life with friends, whatever my income. A simple meal at home is merely a vehicle for the true purpose of developing community.
To achieve this goal, we have developed several strategies for hospitality that don’t involve high costs.
Use the grill. We received a basic charcoal grill for Christmas last year, and it has become our main resource when it comes to spring and summer entertaining. Many foods that can be grilled tend to be fairly inexpensive, and often they require only simple seasonings.
Hamburgers and chicken are the obvious choices, but you can prepare all kinds of dishes on the grill, including fish, veggies and fruit. The grill also frees up my small kitchen so I can more easily prepare side dishes.
Go vegetarian. Without meat, your meal becomes cheaper and can still be just as tasty. Veggie kabobs, fruit, hummus with pita bread, and cheese quesadillas with sour cream and guacamole are all inexpensive options for serving to company.
Invite friends to participate. We hosted a “bring your own meat” birthday party where we fired up the grill and asked guests to bring their choice of meat to put on the grill. I purchased chips and dip and made plenty of potato salad. We were able to host around 30 guests at minimal cost to us. For smaller gatherings, potlucks and supper clubs also work well for budget hosting.
Preserve the memory. Buy a guestbook and ask your guests to sign it. Take pictures of the food and your guests. You’ll treasure the community long after the meal has been forgotten.
Last Sunday night, we hosted friends for dinner. Below is our simple menu, which cost little and led to an evening of fun and fellowship.
Tilapia
$10 for 2.5 pounds
Seasoned with cumin, salt & pepper, then buttered, wrapped in foil and grilled
Rice
$1 for high-quality Japanese rice for six; cooked in the rice cooker
Sautéed Vegetables
Squash and zucchini, 88 cents a pound; sautéed on the stove with garlic, onions and olive oil
Ice Cream
A half-gallon of Edy’s on sale for $2.99.
Total: Less than $20.
posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/28/10 at 06:41 PM. [printer version] Share |
COMMENTS
:: recentcomments
Feb 08, 2012 | 01:26 PMWant Medicaid? Ditch the Vanity Plate
Brian C Johnson: The courts will not allow the state to drug test Medicaid recipients, so why waste money and effort on it? How exactly are single mothers--who make up the majority ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 01:19 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Duan C.: Since you guys have turned the thread into a discussion of politics. A while back during one of our meetings we discussed a coming up with a grading system for our elected officials ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 01:06 PM
Want Medicaid? Ditch the Vanity Plate
Ronni_Mott: Republican conservatives are truly confusing. Aren't they the ones who want less government regulation? I suppose that only counts if its regulating things on their ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 12:35 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Walt: Renaldo/Blackwatch you have been simply marvelous in your insight and truth telling on this piece. So glad you're back. I thought we had lost you since I didn't see your posts for so ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 12:22 PM
[Editor's Note] Aloha, Jackson
DonnaLadd: Whoops. On second reference in the above column, I said "Air Force caption" instead of Army captain. I've corrected it above.
Feb 08, 2012 | 12:12 PM
Want Medicaid? Ditch the Vanity Plate
Laurie Bertram Roberts: I will say what I said before how does he even know how someone paid for that $30 tag. It could've been a gift they may have used their tax check because ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 11:43 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
DonnaLadd: Of course, people learn at different speeds; I certainly didn't learn what I know now about writing and journalism craft until I was nearly 40 (of course, that had to do as much as ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 09:56 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Kamikaze: Kudos to you and to your Prof. Cant take anything from ya. But the "problem" with the craft around here (and a LOT of things) is that eveyone considers themselves an authority. I ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 09:19 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
DonnaLadd: I don't want to derail this great thread with journalism lessons, but I'll answer Brad quickly about the problems with yes-or-no questions: Sometimes you can get lucky and get a ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 05:33 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Renaldo Bryant: @Duan In my post about corporate America, I noted that social justice and equity must be the only context under which interactions and contestations must take place. Simply ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 04:41 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Kamikaze: Well, Donna, as a "good" journalist. In my day..a DAMN good one. Ive gotten plenty of broader answers by follwing up with a "why" or "why not". and honestly the WHY of Kenny Stokes ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 04:14 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Duan C.: "Also, transforming Jxn has to be a metro concern, not just a Jxn proper concern. White Flight and residential segregation must be addressed......In the Jxn metro area, they don’t ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 03:31 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
DonnaLadd: No, yes-or-no questions draw completely different kinds of answers, and usually empty sound bites, thus derailing the possibility of getting an intelligent answer. Good journalists ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 03:18 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Kamikaze: Well, a why or why not follow up would take it out of the "yes or no" I think. I dont think Ward 3 needs another councilperson with a "career politician" mentality. The spectre of ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 03:01 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
DonnaLadd: I'm not interested in term-limit questions, or getting anyone to pledge to them), and I try to never ask a yes-or-no question, but the other ones look good. Thanks to both of you. ...
e-mail newsletter
Sign up for the JFP Daily Newsletter to receive breaking news, local events, music listings and more by e-mail.
3|
Guests online: 229
© Jackson Free Press, Inc. - portions of code by CC with EE. User agreement and privacy statement. |
