Thanksgiving on a budget

Food, football and family are all common descriptions of Thanksgiving. One word that is usually excluded from this list is money.

With costs rising as the economy is dwindling, this year’s Thanksgiving festivities may come up short. Fear not: Here is a Thanksgiving dinner for four that can be made with less than twenty dollars.

Menu:

Turkey – 6.00

Gravy – .50

Rolls – 1.50

Mashed Potatoes – 2.00

Stuffing – 1.00

Salad – 2.50

Corn – 1.00

Cranberry sauce – .75

Apple Pie or chocolate mousse pie – 4.00

Total: 19.25

To add a little homemade touch here are a couple of recipes to help along Thanksgiving dinner.

Double Chocolate Mousse Pie: (very good, and very easy)

1 prepared Oreo cookie crust

1 package (80z) cream cheese

12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

16 oz frozen whipped topping (thawed)

Melt the chocolate chips and the cream cheese together. Spread 1/3 mixture on piecrust. Fold in all but one cup of the whipped topping to the choco mixture. Spread into piecrust. Spread remaining whipped topping over top. Garnish with grated chocolate. Chill until serving.

Cranberry Sauce – (very good, and very easy)

1 bag fresh cranberries (I use the frozen kind, thawed)

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

Boil together until the cranberries start popping

Homemade Stuffing – (very good, a little more difficult)

1 lb bread cut into half inch cubes

1 chopped onion

1 cup chopped celery (about 4 ribs)

1 apple, chopped

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 lb Italian sausage, cooked and drained

1 teaspoon rubbed sage

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

In a preheated 400 degree oven, toast bread cubes 5 -7 minutes or until barely golden. in a large skillet, cook onion, apple and celery over medium heat for 3 minutes or until soft. Transfer to a bowl and add bread cubes, herbs, salt, pepper and chicken broth. Toss well and adjust seasoning. Transfer to baking dish and bake in oven at 325 degrees for 20 minutes or until heated through and crust forms on top.