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Hop to It

Due to the pandemic, most of us won't be able to gather family and friends together (indoors, at least) for a traditional Easter dinner this year. Brunch might be a simpler option for a smaller crowd. With simple recipes and often-thrifty ingredients, this fun twist on the holiday meal can be easier on the wallet, too. These menu suggestions go all the way from a welcome cocktail (or mocktail) to a sweet array of desserts.


Related: 20 Easter Recipes From Around the World

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‘Best Lemonade Ever’

Is there a more classic harbinger of warm days than lemonade? Impress with a homemade version, not-so-humbly called the “Best Lemonade Ever” (reviewers seem to agree). It’s easy to make — do it a day ahead to allow it to chill properly. At just 72 calories a glass, it leaves room to indulge in the brunch buffet to follow.


Recipe: Allrecipes



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Non-Alcoholic Sangria

Let the kids join the fun with a non-alcoholic sangria recipe.  It’s filled with juice and fresh fruit and destined to become a favorite for summer barbecues, as well.


Recipe: Food.


Related: 14 Cheap Punches to Liven up Summer Parties

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Citrus Cocktail

Trisha Yearwood’s reputation in the country-music world is certainly established, and she’s showing similar prowess on the food scene. Guests will love the zesty spirit of her citrus cocktail. The drink includes a selection of fresh citrus fruit and citrus soda mixed with vodka.


Recipe: Food Network


Related: 17 Refreshing Summer Cocktails From Around the World

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Blueberry Tea

It may be called “blueberry tea,” but this recipe includes no blueberries. It’s a warm-you-up, spiked hot-tea drink that will take the chill off, should Easter morning be a bit brisk, and inexplicably tastes a bit like its namesake fruit.


Recipe: The Spruce


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White Bean Dip and Pita Chips

As guests gather, put out appetizers like Giada De Laurentiis’ white bean dip with pita chips from Food Network. The centerpiece is canned cannellini beans — a more-than-thrifty ingredient, although dried beans are even cheaper. To save more pennies — and carbs — skip the pita chips and serve with cut vegetables.


Recipe: Food Network


Related: 17 Unusual Canned Foods You Might Actually Want to Use

Baked Goat Cheese :: Sunday Morning Sugar by Malori Maeva (None)

Baked Goat Cheese

Sometimes a rich and savory showstopper is worth a tiny splurge. These days, goat cheese has become a supermarket staple, so it’s not hard to find the ingredients for a baked-goat-cheese recipe from the blog The Wicked Noodle, home of “sinfully delicious dishes.” We’re drooling already.


Recipe: The Wicked Noodle


Related:25 Appetizers You Can Make for Less Than $5


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Hidden Valley Oyster Crackers

This recipe for seasoned oyster crackers from the salad-dressing giant Hidden Valley is sure to delight all ages. Coat traditional oyster crackers with salad dressing/seasoning mix and a few simple ingredients, then bake to create an unexpected flavor.


Recipe: Hidden Valley


Related: 32 Incredibly Easy Holiday Recipes for People Who Can't Cook

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Artichoke Hearts Gratin

Video blogger and YouTube celebrity Chef John offers up this appetizer. Canned artichoke hearts and staples such as grated Parmesan, olive oil, and bread crumbs combine with an elegance that keeps the humble ingredients a secret.


Recipe: Allrecipes


Related:40 Cheap Air Fryer Recipes to Cut Calories Not Flavor

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Canadian Bacon and Egg Cups

Guests following a gluten-free or low-carb diet may have to scramble to get their share of these little delights made with a recipe by Jones Dairy Farm. The dish features just Canadian bacon, eggs, cheddar, and, if desired, parsley.


Recipe:Jones Dairy Farm 


Related: Go Gluten-Free Without Busting the Food Budget

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Zucchini-and-Potato Frittata

There are countless easy frittata recipes out there. This one can be made up to four hours ahead. If there’s any left over (doubtful), it makes a great breakfast sandwich the next morning — especially if you add a slice of bacon.


Recipe: MyRecipes


Related: Hearty Meatless Meals Even Carnivores Will Devour

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Stuffed Overnight French Toast

No one will know you didn’t spend the whole morning in the kitchen when you pull out this dish. It’s built around reduced-fat cream cheese (any brand will do) and cinnamon-swirl bread for shopping-list simplicity.


Recipe: Kraft


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Quiche

Quiche belongs in every frugal cook's repertoire, thanks to its base of inexpensive eggs and impressive presentation. Turn a store-bought pie shell, eggs, and whatever cheeses, meats, and vegetables you have on hand into a singular creation based on a basic quiche recipe. 


Recipe: Food.


Related: 10 Simple Ways to Cook Eggs

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Maple-Mustard-Rosemary Ham Glaze

For those who prefer full-on Easter dinner, offer baked ham with a simple-to-make glaze.  It features maple syrup and takes just five minutes to whip up before slathering on the ham in its final minutes of cooking.


Recipe: Betty Crocker


Related:24 Creative Ham Recipes

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Sautéed Asparagus

Asparagus also often finds a place on the Easter table, whether for brunch or dinner. Fresh asparagus takes center stage in this side dish. An elegant green vegetable is just a simple sauté away.


Recipe: Allrecipes


Related: The Best Casserole Recipe From Every State

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Onion Roasted Potatoes

Bring a bit of heft — and plenty of flavor — to the selection of side dishes with a recipe for spuds. An envelope of the brand’s Recipe Secrets onion soup mix — oh, and potatoes and olive oil — is all you need to make this crowd-pleasing starch.


Recipe:Lipton


Related: Celebrate Spuds With 27 Tasty Ways to Cook Potatoes

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Peas With Lettuce and Carrots

Add nutrition and a jolt of color to the table with a twist on peas and carrots from Rachael Ray. Made with frozen peas, iceberg lettuce, and a few carrots, this dish features simple — and affordable — flavors.


Recipe: Rachael Ray


Related: 30 Spring Vegetables You Should Be Eating Now

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Strawberry Muffins

Muffins are made for multiplying. Make a batch; make two. After trying a strawberry muffin recipe posted on Allrecipes, you might want to make three. Either fresh or frozen strawberries can go in these little treats, so opt for whichever is cheaper — the taste will still shine through.


Recipes: Allrecipes


Related: 25 Dishes Under 100 Calories Per Serving

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Chocolate-Chocolate Pudding Pie

No cooking skills — or long shopping lists — are needed to whip up this chocolate pudding pie recipe.  Featuring instant pudding, a store-bought crust, milk, and frozen whipped topping (feel free to choose any brands), this pie is easy to assemble with only a whisk and a few hours to set in the fridge.


Recipe:Kraft


Related: 18 Cheap Recipes That Celebrate Chocolate

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Lemon Bars

If there’s a chance of overloading on sweets, mix it up a bit with these lemon bars, a satisfyingly tart option. Standard ingredients plus an hour of time yield a perfectly seasonal selection.


Recipe:Allrecipes


Related: 20 Low-Cost Desserts That Are Easy As Pie

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Coconut Buttercream Frosting

Start by whipping up a plain dessert (cake, cupcakes) from a box mix. What’s underneath won’t matter when you slather it with homemade coconut buttercream frosting. A recipe featured by the blog Baked by an Introvert uses just powdered sugar, butter, and coconut milk to transport guests to an island paradise.


Recipe: Baked by an Introvert

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Chocolate Truffles

As if you weren’t already the “host with the most,” send guests home with a special treat: chocolate truffles. This recipe does take time, but the instructions for this recipe are straightforward and, hey, you’re already in the kitchen making the rest of the menu, so relish this chance to leave a dazzling final impression.


Recipe: Allrecipes