I have noticed that the price of party platters are amazingly ridiculous. With a lot of people getting ready to throw Holiday parties, and some of the same people having financial problems, everyone needs cheaper options. There are other options for us all. Learn to be creative. We all
have it in us, somewhere.
The first thing you will need for all of your party platters, are platters. Do not be afraid to use plastic trays, especially if the party is not at your home. You can buy these in bulk at any of the warehouses, or local party supply stores. Some other place carry these during the holidays, but very few other times of the year. If you would like another form of platter, check your local discount store. There are great discount stores that you can purchase nice, crystal trays for up to 80% off the retail price. Yard sales are another option. I have found nice unopened trays for as little as $3.
Vegetable Platters:
You should always have fresh vegetables for your platter, shop for them no more than 4 days in advance. If there is a farmers market in your area, check there and see what items they might have. You can get quite a few fresh vegetables for a very cheap price. If you do not have one, or would like another option, check your local ads. This way you will be able to purchase the vegetables you would like at the best price.
To make a vegetable tray more appetizing, offer a dip with them. There are a few different choices, and recipes. Do a little research to find the perfect one. Try to use colorful vegetables that coordinate with the holiday. This will be more vibrant, and festive.
Fruit Platters:
For fruit trays, you should also use fresh fruit. Check local ads, or farmers market. There are not many fruits that correspond to the holiday colors, but you can always place a piece of lettuce under the fruit. Another option is, make a whipped cream dip, and use food coloring for color.
Sandwich Platters:
You can get great deals on all of sandwich meats, be sure to check the sales papers again. Find out if you have a discount bakery in your area. You can sometimes get a few loaves for as little as a dollar.
Be creative with your sandwich platter. You do not have to dress the sandwiches. Use the items as decoration, even the cheese can be decorative. Another way to add color is, toothpicks. You can now buy toothpicks with amazing colors, for a reasonable price.
Cheese and Cracker Platters:
This would be one of the more cost effective party platters. You can buy these items for very reasonable prices, and they are easy to make. For these I would use a colorful platter to make the platter more vibrant. Again, add a dip to the
platter.
When making any of these platters, remember to shop around. Many place will be having great deals for all of these items. Be creative with the colors, correspond as many colors to the holiday you are preparing it for. Do not over load the platter. You want it simple, but appealing. You can make beautiful party platters for the holiday, even if you are on a budget.
