TV cooking star Paula Deen's holiday dishes may be rich, but they're not costly to prepare.

Her Southern-style comfort food _ down-home and traditional _ is a natural fit for the season too. It works out for anyone on a budget who's throwing a party for friends and family in coming weeks.

"I've always referred to my food as very humble food," said Deen, who hosts "Paula's Home Cooking" on Food Network. "It's not packed with expensive things to dress it up."

Sticking with traditional fare is a good start if you need to economize. At the same time, you don't want your thriftiness to rain on the festivities. Food Network host Sandra Lee notes there are times when it's worth paying a little extra.

"There's a fine line between saving money and the cost of your stress," said Lee, who hosts "Money Saving Meals" and "Semi-Homemade Cooking." In other words, not everything needs to be made from scratch.

In separate interviews, Deen and Lee share ideas for indulging your guests, without overspending.

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A GAME PLAN

Before you start shopping, consider setting a budget and estimating how you want to divvy it up. This way, you'll know how much you can spend on each dish or drink, without counting pennies along the way.

Once you're ready to map out a menu, pick recipes you're familiar with or know you can manage. If you aim for something too ambitious, you might be unsure of how much to make, or end up overbuying certain ingredients. You also increase the odds of bungled recipes, wasted food and feeling wiped out.

"The hostess sets the mood," Deen said. "So if you come in haggard and stressed out, you're immediately going to pass that onto the guests."

Another free strategy to throwing a good party: Choose your company wisely.

"There are some people you love so much, that a hot dog tastes like steak," Deen said. "And you can have the finest cut of beef with other people and it ain't all that much fun."

THE MENU

Crowd-pleasing appetizers and desserts are generally easier to throw together without spending a lot. So focus your energies on the main course.

That doesn't mean you should sink your budget into filet mignon. More affordable cuts of meat can go over just as well. For some, Deen notes that it doesn't get much better than a slow-cooked chuck roast paired with mashed potatoes and gravy.

Your meat dish doesn't have to be beef either; a pork tenderloin with pecans or roast chicken with vegetables are more affordable, and can be just as impressive. And don't worry that dishes like turkey or ham are too ho-hum. Such old favorites are why people love the holidays.