Last night we had prawns with rice.
Rice: basmati, cooked till its done. We usually buy 10lb bags for about $4 and it last for few months (if not too many parties at home).
Prawns:
1 bag of prawns (Save-on-foods) has sale buy one get one free, so it works out as $4.50 a bag of 32-35 prawns.
1 onion, we buy bag at Superstore for under $3
few cloves of garlic
oil
butter
lemon juice

Peal prawns, onion, garlic. Chop onion, fry at low hit in oil ( a lot of oil so onion is tender and not brown), add butter (couple of tablespoons), minced garlic, prawns and lemon juice (a teaspoon). Of cause salt and pepper to taste. Cook on med heat turning once in a while till prawns are red and cooked.

I think guests are impressed when prawns are served as one of the dishes - they do not realise it is cheap and easy to make.

Prawn recipy is somewhat taken from Bill, owner of Greek Taverna Skiathos where I used to work till it burned down one Christmas morning.