Create a festive spread for less this holiday season.
Kathryn Snearly is known on social media as the creator of Do It On A Dime, where she shares shopping tips and secrets like buying ingredients at dollar and discount stores to entertain yourself on a budget.
Just in time for the holidays, Snearly shared three simple ideas with “Good Morning America” for an impressive party assortment that costs less than $25 to make and uses items from her local dollar store.
“The first place you should go is the spice department. You can save so much,” she said, before grabbing more staples like pasta packets and pasta sauces. “I'll save about 70% when I get my cream cheese out of the fridge – and for just $1.25 I can get some cheddar cheese for my cheese ball.”
Kathryn Snearly of Do It On a Dime shares tips for hosting a festive holiday party without spending too much.
ABC
Check out her recipes below for two easy, delicious appetizers and a hot chocolate-inspired dessert.
Holiday cheese ball
Ingredients
Two 8-ounce cream cheese packages (softened)
1 cup grated cheese (cheddar)
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup chopped green onion (optional)
1 bag (1/2 cup) cashew-almond mix (lightly crushed)
Pretzels for dipping
Directions
1. Combine softened cream cheese, shredded cheese, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and scallions in a mixing bowl.
2. Form the mixture into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Place the wrapped ball in the refrigerator and let it solidify for several hours.
3. Remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator, unwrap it and place it on a serving platter. Press the crushed nuts onto the outside of the cheese ball until it is completely covered.
4. Serve chilled with pretzels for dipping.
Noodle chips
Ingredients
1 bag (8 ounces) pasta (farfalle used in video)
1 tablespoon oil (olive oil or rapeseed oil)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt to taste
Spaghetti sauce or marinara for dipping
Directions
1. Cook pasta al dente (according to package instructions). Drain, do not rinse.
2. Add cooked pasta to a mixing bowl with oil, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and salt. Mix until everything is well coated.
3. Place the noodles in a single layer in the air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 7-8 minutes, shaking the basket once.
4. Remove from the air fryer and allow to cool. Serve with spaghetti sauce or marinara for dipping.
Whipped cream with cookies
Ingredients
4 ounces whipping cream (1/2 of standard 8-ounce container)
3.5 ounces marshmallow creme (1/2 of standard 7-ounce container)
1 packet hot cocoa mix
1 candy cane (crushed)
1/2 cup mini marshmallows
Cookies for dipping (ginger snaps and chocolate mint cookies)
Directions
1. Mix whipped cream, marshmallow creme and hot cocoa in a bowl.
2. Crush the candy cane and sprinkle on one half of the mixture. Cover the other half with mini marshmallows.
3. Dip cookies and enjoy!