Easy and inexpensive food to make for an Oscar viewing party?

Question

Having some friends over on Oscar night and am trying to come up with something I can make for around 15 people. It doesn't have to be too fancy just something I can pull off without much stress and inexpensive. Last time I had people over we did a burrito making buffet. Don't want to do that again. So what are some other ideas?

maybe something that's a tad more creative then chips and dip....but thanks for that anyway...

Answer 1

How about for dessert having star shaped cookies with the nominated actors/actresses on them or cupcakes with the nominated movies on them.

You could have popcorn in Movie tubs.

How about having a "Movie concession" stand - hot dogs with all the fixings, nachos, theater packages of candy?

Hope my ideas helped

Answer 2

How about meatball subs? You can make the meatballs ahead of time (I bake mine on a cookie sheet in the oven). And then just heat them in a tomato sauce (there are some very good sauces by the jar) in the oven, or in the slow cooker. Kraft makes a good 4 cheese blend already grated. You could leave the meatballs in the slowcooker and let everyone build their own, or you could do it , and fill a big platter full. There are all sizes of buns available, so you could get a small bun that holds a couple of meatballs, or larger buns if you want. Have a veggie and dip tray to go with it. And a plate of sweets or have your local bakery decorate a cake with a movie theme.

Answer 3

Lasagna is inexpensive, easy to make and it can be made days ahead of time and put in the freezer to bake until the day of. You don't even have to boil the noodles-just add extra tomato juice to your basic spaghetti sauce. If you can borrow 2" steam table pans 2-3 of those will feed 100-150. A basic sauce 3 #10 cans diced tomatoes (or their equivalent) 2 #10 cans tomato sauce 1 10# box lasagna noodles 12 eggs 5# cottage cheese 1/2 c Italian Seasonings (oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme, etc. mixed) 1/4 c garlic powder 1/2 c sugar.. If you want meat add 10-25# cooked ground beef. Mix everything but the noodles and eggs and cottage cheese together in a large heavy pot. You don't even need to cook it, just mix it together. Then mix the 12 eggs into the cottage cheese. In the bottom of the pan put in enough tomato mix to cover bottom, layer with noodles and more tomato sauce. Between layer 2&3 of the noodles add a layer of cottage cheese and egg mix. keep layering until you are 1" to 1/2 inch from top of pan. Cover with plastic wrap THEN foil (tomatoes interact with foil in a bad way and cause black spots. The plastic wrap adheres to the foil and the pan so it doesn't get in the food. You can make this 2-3 days ahead of time and just set in the fridge or freezer. This recipe will make LOADS. Add some French bread and green beans and you have a complete meal. (You can get 15 slices to a loaf of French bread and 3 #10 cans of green beans go along way, if not everyone loves beans.) Chicken and noodles is really inexpensive too. 10# pulled chicken 10# Noodles 5 gal stock 3# onions chopped This CAN"T be pre made. Mix meat, onions and stock together. Cook noodles as per package instructions, drain and add to the chicken and stock. Heat until onions are tender. Serve over mashed potatoes (about 25# potatoes would make enough mashed potatoes and they can be peeled, covered with water and set in the fridge 24 hrs in advance. Just make sure the are all covered or they will turn black.) Complete with same green beans as above. Hope this helps. Happy Birthday to the Birthday Girl

Answer 4

Only because I don't cook much, I think it would be fun to have an "Oscar" Mayer Wiener party! Same concept as the burrito bar, but just put out chili, cheese, onions, relish, jalapenos, ketchup, mustard, etc.
I don't know if it's warm enough where you live to BBQ, but you can easily just boil the hot dogs. You can also get Kosher or vegetarian for specific friend's needs, and it would be very inexpensive and fun!

Answer 5

Round Roast and Potatoes


2-3 lbs top round roast
1 (12 ounce) can cola (or cherry cola)
4-6 medium sized potatoes
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package Lipton golden onion soup mix
Pound the heck out of (or stab, as I did) the roast. Place unseasoned roast in deep baking dish.
Quarter potatoes and place all around roast (do not peel).
Sprinkle golden onion soup mix all over roast and potatoes.
Add cola and cover loosely with foil.
Bake at 300 degrees for 3-4 hours. Let sit 15 mins before slicing (against the grain). Spoon juices from pan over slices of beef.

Answer 6

One easy thing that I get asked to make all of the time. It is easy and people love it.

INGREDIENTS
4 (12 inch) flour tortillas
9 ounces shredded cheese (your choice of cheddar, montary)
1 tomato, diced
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/8 cup chopped green onions
1/3 cup black beans, drained
2 tablespoons hot salsa
1/8 teaspoon chili powder

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Mix veggies, salsa, beans and spices in a bowl. Take tortillas and using a cup or a mug cut in to smaller circles. Place small circles in a muffin tin and fill with mixture. Top with cheese and bake for 5 min or until the cheese is bubly.

Answer 7

Just an idea:
- A platter of Potato salad or Caesar salad with smoked salmon toppings. It's easy.
- Fettucine with creamy salmon sauce on the side
or
- Tapas : mini lamb chops, calamari, etc.
or
-Grilled Chicken with penne and creamy mushroom sauce
- Mix assorted sweets and mini chocolates in a huge bowl (for sweet toothed guests, also nice for decorations)
- Huge platter of fruits. (optional)
- Canapes - the simplest and cheapest to make actually. Its always a hit with parties. Get some ritz crackers or plain, cheese of ur likings, strawberries sliced and wedged into little bits, cheap caviar, halved boiled quail eggs. Either u preset it or just arrange it all in the tray for ur guests to help themselves. If u arrange it in the tray, be sure to put a bunch of grapes as well.
- A small table to mix drinks, glasses and ice.

Answer 8

how about a pasta buffet? if you have a couple of crockpots you can make a marinara & a cream sauce (or just buy a pre-made) and have a few different pastas to choose from, along with various toppings (chicken, shrimp, mushrooms, etc).

You can also try japanese soba noodles (buckwheat) - VERY easy. They sell the soupbase where you just add water & heat up (or just leave it cold!).

pair all that with a nice leafy green salad & bread...voila!

Answer 9

Minni pizzas, just use a bagel or english muffin and top it with either some pizza sauce or garlic butter and have an assortment of fresh veggies and small meats already cooked so they can build their own Minni pizzas to there liking, then just have like a toaster oven or convection oven to cook it for a minuet or two to crisp up the veggies and melt the cheese.

Answer 10

Make a couple of baked Ziti casseroles, salad and crusty bread