Now there's a challenge for you!

[Raupe]

I've got a challenge on my hand and hope you can help me!

First a bit of background: On Friday DP and I will have reached a big milestone - we will have saved up exactly half of the house deposit!!! YAY! So I decided I will surprise him (he doesn't know how much we have saved so far ) with a "Halfway-There-Party" . It might sound silly to celebrate this, but after a year of saving, living almost exclusively on toasted cheese sandwiches and working 7 days a week, I think we deserve to PARTEY!
So I invited MIL, SIL and her fiancée. But of course SIL and her DF have cancelled, so it's gonna be a 'intimate' party of three (yay, not!). Great partey, hey? Three people . Anyway THAT IS NOT GONNA STOP ME

So here's the challenge:
As we are flat broke due to depositing nearly all our income into our savings account, I don't know what to cook for MIL that won't break the bank (I reckon I might be able to gather a measly $10 or $15 dollars). So what to make that is a bit nicer that Spag Bog or toasted sandwiches? I was hoping she'd offer to bring something over, as we ALWAYS bring something when we go over for a barbie at her place, but apparently she doesn't like to return the favour. Also, I would love it to go with the theme (halfway-there). Half a pie? Half a muffin? Hehe I need ideas! I want a main meal and a cake (or cupcakes). I do have baking-staples in the pantry, so I won't need to buy much for that.
Also, any ideas on decoration? I still have streamers and balloons in the cupboard, I think. What else could I do?
And lastly, how will I 'present' how much we have saved? Write in on a cake? In a card? Make up a big banner with the $$-figure and "We're halfway-there" written on it? Is it OTT? I also plan on playing "living on a prayer" by Bon Jovi (ahhh how cheesy am I?? )

Please ladies, inspire me!!!

I summarise your challenge:
1. What themed main meal to serve for three people under $15? (Recipes?)
2. What themed cake/cupcake to make? (Recipes?)
3. How to decorate?
4. How to present the $$$ figure?

[Raupe]

Anyone? Please Help!

[*star*]

just to let you know, you have me thinking, Raupe....

Will try to get back to you with something imaginative

[LimeSlice]

Hmm.. I would probably do an Indian theme...curry and condiments are very economical, and something interesting...
With regards he cake... A slab cake with large "bites" taken out of it on the side - so it looks like half is missing. Then you can write half way there on it...
Will be back tonight with more for you

[*star*]

OK - a thought for the cake....

Make a 20cm round buttercake and a 20cm round chocolate cake (or whatever flavours you like). Cut both in half and stack on top of one another and join the two halves in the middle, then write "half way there" on top.

Will think more about main meal...

[Nai]

The Indian idea is a good one - dahl is easy to make and so cheap, do some rice and pappadums to go with it. Otherwise some pumpkin soup, baked potatoes, a frittata or stir fry noodles are all quite economical.

[~Lashes~]

you could jazz up the spag... swap the pasta for the spirals or shells, cook as usual, then put it in a baking dish with cheese on top for 20mins or so untill its golden brown. maybe do domino brownies with the number as the dots on the "dominos"? (they have the recipie on taste.com

[Raupe]

Thanks heaps guys!!! Loving the ideas so far! The "bite" idea is really cool, as well as the half dark/ half light cake!
Baked potatoes, hey? I could serve half a backed potato and make some chilli con carne filling ... You guys are really giving me ideas!
Thanks

Keep it coming!

[Raupe]

[angelaartsstudent]

Nachos are awesomely cheap...esp vegetarian ones.

Corn chips, beans, chilli, sour cream, onion, spices, tomato, cheese.

Not authentically Mexican, buy yumbo.

You could ask everyone to turn up half dressed, in honour of the theme. :-P *joke* (No offence intended!)

[Mother Goose]

I think this is a brilliant idea! And congratulations on making the half way mark!!!!

Home made Pizza done half and half? Get a bread stick and make half garlic and half maybe cheese?

What about two pasta dishes? Half could be a basic tomato, bacon, and onion tossed through it whilst the other could be bacon carbonara or something (you can buy those pre-made sauces in the fridge section).

half a BBQ chicken and some tortillias? Put out some salad and people can make their own chicken wraps (HALF a chicken and HALF prepared )

For dessert - a basic cake with half choc icing and half white/pink/green (whatever). Or only half iced... or with "half way there" written on it but only write half the message? You could miss a few letters here and there and then get DH to guess what the message is!

You could do a rectangle cake and decorate it like a cheque or bank note...

If you put streamers up - you could half hang them!

MG

[Raupe]

You could ask everyone to turn up half dressed, in honour of the theme. :-P *joke* (No offence intended!)

Love it!!! I'm sure DP would be very impressed (not!) if his mum turned up topless!!!!! Now THERE is something he wouldn't forget!

I think this is a brilliant idea! And congratulations on making the half way mark!!!!

Awww Thanks!

half a BBQ chicken and some tortillias? Put out some salad and people can make their own chicken wraps (HALF a chicken and HALF prepared )

Now THAT's clever thinking! Me likey!

If you put streamers up - you could half hang them!

LOL, last time at DP's birthday I *thought* I hung them properly, but DP is sooo tall, his neck got caught in one of the streamers and ripped all the deco off the ceiling Classic! So I have to watch out with half hung streamers! I learnt my lesson . But hanging them in only half the room could work

Thanks for all the great tips!!

[Party-of-five]

well done!!!! half way is awesome!!!
the idea of saving for a deposit is very daunting(we are doing it too) as its seems such a big amount...almost impossible??
so I thought impossible pie?? cheap and yummy
you just mix it all together and as it cooks it makes its own base we used to have it all the time as kids...im so making it now

4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup plain flour
1 cup coconut
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups milk




Method:
Beat the whole lot together and bake in a greased oven proof dish at 180 degrees Celsius for about 50 - 60 minutes. Voila!

could you blow up a copy of your bank balance? maybe use that as a banner?

I think your just the sweetest for going to all this effort to celebrate your fantastic achievement

[Raupe]

Awww thanks sweety

That impossible pie sounds awesome! And yes, saving whilst paying rent (AND I'm a full-time student) does seem at times absolutely impossible! Perseverance, I tell you! I was always known as the "savings-squirrel" in my family; but it was very hard to get DP to come around... That's why I'm so proud of him and I think we really should celebrate all the effort ('cause we gonna have to keep going like this for another year and we need the motivation!). I'm just soooo excited, because he has no idea how much we've got so far, so it will be a VERY pleasant surprise for him!! Hihi, I feel like a little kid on Christmas eve!! I think I'm also so excited, because it means that we are another step closer to starting our family... Ahh, I'm so damn clucky! Tehehe

[Raupe]

Any last minute suggestions before I go shopping?