super tight budget- suggestions for mm please

blessedqueen

Thu, Feb 20 2014, 1:29 pm

personally, as long as I get chocolate ones, I dont care what anyone calls the mm
but seriously, I have always prided myself on homemade amazing mm- we go to a large extended family seudah, where everyone gives each other, approximately 20 families.
now this year- unfortunately we are on a super tight budget, (really counting every food purchase for the family, let alone for "frills") so beyond the necessary mitzvah mms, what can I give for all these other families?
thank you and may next year we all afford to give mm, and donate to all worthy causes Exclamation

momX4

Thu, Feb 20 2014, 1:42 pm

How about doing a mini theme. Make mini cupcakes and tiny cookies and wrap it up. One cupcake recipe should give you tons of mini cupcakes.

blessedqueen

Thu, Feb 20 2014, 3:56 pm

mini cupcakes,mini cookies is adorable, and possibly include a pasuk about miracle of purim, "they were many, and we were few-" small can be better-? "huge brachot in tiny caloric form"??
thank you. I feel maybe I can pull this off, and make it appear deliberate and not desperate Applause

Lady Godiva

Thu, Feb 20 2014, 5:02 pm

The minis theme is really cute and it can looks very nice, but I think that the "they were many, we were few" theme is a Hanuka theme. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) Maybe connect it to Purim in another way?

Pineapple

Thu, Feb 20 2014, 7:08 pm

amother wrote:

do you have a popcorn popper? homemade popcorn is really cheap and a great bag filler.

You don't need a popper you can do it in the stove

Rutabaga

Thu, Feb 20 2014, 7:38 pm

I know someone who once did a mini theme. Her line was, "Good things come in small packages." Everything she included was in miniature and she packaged it in a small gift-wrapped box. Adorable!

UQT

Thu, Feb 20 2014, 8:25 pm

Last year I got a small water bottle and mini bag of carrots - for a 'gym' or 'diet' theme. You can get away with a lot in the name of themes...

The best Mishloach Manos I get is 1lb. of cholent from a friend. I love when we get to that stop! I guess they give something small for a second min..

seeker

Thu, Feb 20 2014, 9:46 pm

I've done the homemade soup and breadsticks one, it was very well received.
Also did a cut-up veggies with dip thing, used little deli cups for the dip and put it all on a (nice but not expensive) plastic plate with saran wrap.
Both were inexpensive but I didn't make 20 so dunno what it ends up being...

Tova

Thu, Feb 20 2014, 10:25 pm

(don't use water as a min without clarifying with a Rav...we hold it does not qualify as a min)

busymother

Thu, Feb 20 2014, 11:52 pm

seeker wrote:

We did cut up veggies once and it came out more expensive than we thought... Maybe only 20 would have been cheaper... Just saying.

a1mom

Fri, Feb 21 2014, 12:20 am

amother wrote:

do you have a popcorn popper? homemade popcorn is really cheap and a great bag filler.

You can give out two diffrent types- like a garlic onion powder variety and a candied one or drizzles with some baking chocolate. Oh nuts in cedarhurst has at least 10 different varieties that I am sure can be duplicated with minimal cost and maximum yumminess..
place in cellophane cones.
yum

see link
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/g.....corn/

http://www.pinterest.com/glamm.....ipes/

seeker

Fri, Feb 21 2014, 12:51 am

busymother wrote:

We did cut up veggies once and it came out more expensive than we thought... Maybe only 20 would have been cheaper... Just saying.

ONLY 20? I did maybe 10. Used inexpensive veggies - carrots, celery, cucumbers, I think my splurge was orange pepper to go with the green-and-orange motif. Squirt of mayo, ketchup, and mustard already in my fridge plus some spices = orange dip. Maybe I'll do it again this year, come to think of it...
Though if you're making 20+ I can see the slicing being a pain, unless you have some big kids to help you.

blessedqueen

Fri, Feb 21 2014, 3:03 am

wow, I am so humbled by the willingness to help me, and your terrific on the mark ideas- thank you
love the soup idea, can start asking butcher for meat bones and chicken bones, and make stocks, and give 2 kinds of soup- bean/meat and chicken/barley/carrot
you ladies are the best Flower

the cut up veggies I love, but way too much work for me :
and the good things in small packages is great- and yes, chanukah and purim- al hanissim, gets mixed up by me, embarrassed

and this way with soups and breadsticks, I also have excuse not to overdo on wrappings, just need 2 plastic containers, or even empty glass jars (recycling is in!)
may all your mms be delicious- ones received and ones given!
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