Celebrate Or Commiserate Tax Day With Dinner Party Dishes For The Penniless And The Millionaires

Tax Day always splits the American population in half: There are those who are celebrating all those dollars that have just landed in their bank account, and there are those who are desperately depressed, watching all that hard-earned money disappear before their eyes. Whatever your situation this Tax Day, make sure you pour yourself a strong drink, and invite some friends over for a dinner party to celebrate the stress of filing taxes being over for another year.

This swanky recipe is topped with a spicy caviar vinaigrette to ensure that every penny you've been given has been spent by the time the shopping for this party is done.

For the Black Bass With Caviar Vinaigrette recipe, click here.

Start your meal with some Russian blinis topped with smoked salmon, the perfect accompaniment to your vintage Champagne. Top with some salty caviar for the ultimate indulgence.

For the Blini With Smoked Salmon recipe, click here.

This recipe for simple cinnamon baked apples is a great low-key way to end your meal. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a satisfying end to a comforting, affordable meal.

For the Cinnamon Baked Apples recipe, click here.

Rice and beans is an authentic Cuban dish that is hearty, comforting, and tasty: Everything you need to cheer yourself up having just seen the sad state of your checking account.

For the Cuban Rice and Beans recipe, click here.

Chocolate is definitely one of the most expensive baking ingredients, and also one of the most delicious. The simple flavors in this dark chocolate tart are so elegant, and the texture is fantastically silky and rich.

For the Dark Chocolate Tart recipe, click here.

Canned tuna is every broke person's best friend. Chunks of tuna and salty capers are cooked in a sweet tomato sauce, before being combined with nutty Italian farro for a super tasty entrée.

For the Farro With Tuna and Tomatoes recipe, click here.

Douse those elegant strands of perfect al dente pasta in a rich, buttery, creamy sauce, and shave black truffles over the top. This is food heaven: There could be no better way to spend your tax money than on this dish.         

For the Fettuccine With Chardonnay Cream Sauce and Black Truffles recipe, click here.

Thrifty cooks always turn to lentils. Just because they have a friendly-looking price tag doesn't mean they taste bad. This hearty, spicy, Asian-inspired lentil soup is the perfect appetizer for your affordable dinner party.

For the Ginger Coconut Lentil Soup recipe, click here.

Rice pudding is the most comforting dessert. This rich and milky rice pudding is laden with cinnamon to add a warming kick to this retro dish.

For the Horchata Rice Pudding recipe, click here.

If you have really lucked out with your taxes this year, it's time to behave like a billionaire and dine on this extreme surf and turf dish of lobster-stuffed filet mignon.

For the Maine Lobster-Stuffed Filet Mignon recipe, click here.

Scallops would be a fancy enough celebration served pan-fried in a pea purée, but we recommend that you go one step further this Tax Day and serve these pretty shellfish raw, in this lemon ceviche.

For the Meyer Lemon Scallop Ceviche recipe, click here.

Oysters are obviously appropriate for any extravagant celebration, and they're even better suited to your party marking your newfound wealth when topped with a Champagne granita.

For the Oysters With Frozen Champagne Mignonette recipe, click here.

A classic Italian pasta dish is the best place to look for an affordable, but delicious meal. This simple pasta is served with a spicy tomato sauce for a tasty, always popular dinner.  

For the Penne all'Arrabbiata recipe, click here.

Maybe steak isn't going to be on the menu of the penniless peoples' post-tax-return dinner party. But cauliflower steak definitely can be. Embrace this latest food trend, and pretend you're not being forced to do so, by serving these lightly spiced vegetable steaks.

For the Roasted Cauliflower Steaks recipe, click here.

There can be no cheaper snack than homemade popcorn. Those kernels cost next to nothing and taste fantastic when doused in plenty of spicy sriracha.

For the Sriracha Butter Popcorn recipe, click here.

A perfectly risen soufflé is truly the most beautiful dessert. This delicate vanilla soufflé is a challenge to make — you may want to spend some of that money on a private chef to bake this for you — but the result is the most enjoyable, celebration-worthy sweet treat.

For the Vanilla Soufflé recipe, click here.