Receta Budget Friendly Labor Day Buffet
This is the prequel to our Labor Day weekend festivities. On Labor Day, we’ll be traveling back from Texas and I already know that we had a good time. Who knows, we just may party again the weekend after, cause that is how we roll!
Other than share these pictures, I also wanted to show you how to put together a budget friendly buffet. Granted some of the items I had on hand but with a little DIY, imagination and a glass of chardonnay, it came together quickly.
Simple and budget friendly Labor Day Buffet
For the majority of the snacks on the table I took advantage of the variety and low prices at one of my favorite stores, Big Lots.
In addition, for a change of pace, I set this table up in the kitchen. My table is squarish and is in front of a baby window. However, Mother Nature could have cared less about sunshine it was very overcast. The base layer of the table is my trusty ivory muslin cloth, overlaid with a red-white-blue fabric remnant.
From Michaels I bought red-white-blue denim squares. At 80% off, they only cost $1.00. Most of the pack of squares made up the bunting that hung in front of the table. I used mini clothespins to secure them to white ribbon. Moving from front to back here’s how the rest of the table came together.
Turkey and ground beef sliders
My turkey and ground beef sliders were a big hit. Serving them on these silver glass trays on each side of the table was a good idea. To keep the cost down I bought a pack of dinner rolls and split them in two rather than buy slider buns. I topped each with a green olive.
Between the sliders, I placed theme appropriate plates, a small red pail with napkins, and a mason jar to hold the cutlery. A quick ribbon tie and the jar was almost ready. I also added dried beans to the bottom so that the cutlery would sit over the top for an easy grab.
I think I missed much of the “use mason jars” for serving, so decided to fill a few with pasta salad and they were on the center of the table right and left side. On the rings of the jar tops, I glued red-white-blue ribbon. A white garden stand held a small white plate with Greek Yogurt protein bars. They received a quick wrap of waxed paper and tied with red and white twine.
Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
I’ve had a box of red velvet cake mix staring me down for the longest and used it for cupcakes. Cream cheese frosting and Red Velvet anything are a match made in heaven. A two tier vintage stand I scored from Hobby Lobby back in the spring was also the perfect serving piece. It was marked down from $49.99 to $9.99, Booyah! The cupcakes took their place in the center back of the table.
Creating height is an important element of any buffet table and here it has been increasing gradually. Flanking each side of the cupcake stand are the crunchy snacks. I’ve had a couple of cardboard boxes wrapped in white paper for a long time that I use as risers. To brighten them I used blue ribbon at the top and bottom of one and red on the other. I secured the ribbon with white thumbtacks. I love the contrast in color and didn’t want to use any adhesive on the paper that might destroy it. The tiny whole from the thumbtack can easily be hidden with ribbon, lace, etc.
I have quite a few 12×12 wooden plywood squares that I use for chargers, risers and serving plates. I covered a few with white contact paper, placed color appropriate scrapbook paper on top of them, and sat them on the boxes. On these risers, I sat my red mini colanders that held the crunchy snacks. Scrapbook paper cones hold cheesy garlic pretzels, Cracker Jacks, and chocolate covered graham cracker squares. I lined the inside of the cones with wax paper to avoid greasy spots from the snacks.
Lastly are the bottled drinks with a polka dot straw tied with twine. Tah dah and here’s the cost breakdown:
Sliders (raw ingredients) – $10.11 – Meijer’s
- Cream Cheese Frosting – $2.78 – Meijer’s
- Pasta Salad (raw ingredients) $4.40 Meijer’s
Crunchy Snacks & Beverage – $8.80 – Big Lots
Paper Products – $3.50 Michaels
Total Cost – $29.59
Not bad at all! Wherever your plans take you this weekend I hope you find peace and joy. Take care my friends and I’ll talk to you again soon!
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House of Hipsters
Wow Us Wednesday’s
Tablescape Thursday’s
Inspire Me Tuesday
Play Party Pin
It’s Overflowing
Katherine’s Corner
DIY by Design
Rustic and Refined
Your Turn To Shine
The Scoop
Celebrate and Decorate
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