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Cocktail and Dinner Party Menus

There was a day when entertaining a crowd meant making an extra big pot of chile con carne or spaghetti sauce. And while that certainly remains a possibility...

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Madlynn is Kid of the Month

Biggest Loser Family Cookbook: Budget-Friendly Meals Your Whole Family Will Love

by Devin Alexander, Melissa Roberson

As grocery costs continue to rise, many family cooks are finding themselves in a tough predicament: How can they feed their families healthy, satisfying meals without breaking the bank? In The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook, New York Times best-selling author Devin Alexander shows families that eating on a budget can be easy, nutritious—and delicious! With more than 125 recipes that will satisfy every member of the family, Chef Alexander provides complete, affordable options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with mix-and-match side dishes, healthy snacks, and desserts. From Broccoli & Cheddar Frittatas to Steak Fajita Quesadillas, Family Sized Meatball Parmesan to Peanut Butter Fudge Sundaes, these wholesome, satisfying dishes will become an essential part of every family cook’s repertoire. In addition to an overview of the Biggest Loser eating plan and Chef Alexander’s recipes, readers will find helpful cooking and cost-saving tips from favorite Biggest Loser contestants and online club members. They will also find simple ways to get kids involved in the kitchen and fun ideas for family.

10 Tips for Improving Your Family's Eating Habits

With today’s busy lifestyles, families don’t always eat as healthfully as we would like. But by practicing healthy eating habits at home, you can make it easier for your family to eat right. Try these 10 tips designed to encourage healthy eating habits:


Be a good food role model. Telling children to eat nutritious foods is one thing — showing them is better. If you offer nutritious foods regularly — and if they see you eating them — your children likely will learn to like them.
Serve a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. In addition to bananas and apples, try something new like kiwi or papaya. Add vegetables to stir fries or casseroles.
Schedule a snack time and stick to it. Space snacks at least two to three hours before a meal.
Involve kids in meal planning and preparation. Children often will eat foods they help plan and prepare.

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Angie's Money-Saving Tips

by Angie Ketterman

Tough, fatty cuts of meat are best for slow cooking. Buy inexpensive cuts like pork butt, pork spare ribs, beef short ribs and beef shoulder.


Leftovers can do double-duty — use pork butt in pulled pork sandwiches or shred short ribs to serve with rice and beans.
Tortillas are a great way to use up leftovers — you can put anything into them.


Potatoes are inexpensive and make soups and stews more filling. You can also try pasta, beans or grains.
Homemade soups cost a fraction of the canned version and are usually healthier. Freeze extra in single-serving portions for quick lunches.
Buy extra sweet corn at the farm stand, cut kernels off the cob and freeze in plastic bags. It's great sautéed with butter or tossed in soups and stews.

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Consumer: food and drink news
 

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Single Moms - find here resources on financial aid, scholarships, help with basic needs, food, prescription drugs, health care, housing, legal info, and much more...

Christmas Recipes

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Grahams Recipe

60 Servings
Preparation: 30 minutes


INGREDIENTS
1 jar (18 ounces) peanut butter
1 package (14.3 ounces) graham crackers, broken into rectangles
1-1/2 pounds milk chocolate candy coating, coarsely chopped

DIRECTIONS

Spread a rounded teaspoonful of peanut butter on one side of half of the graham crackers. Top with remaining crackers.

In a microwave, melt candy coating; stir until smooth. Dip cookies in coating to completely cover; allow excess to drip off.

Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets; let stand until set. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place. Yield: 5 dozen.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 each) equals 141 calories, 8 g fat (4 g saturated fat), trace cholesterol, 86 mg sodium, 15 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 3 g protein.

Cookie Angels Recipes

18 Servings
Preparation: 35 minutes, plus chilling. Bake: 10 minutes per batch plus cooling


INGREDIENTS

2/3 cup butter-flavored shortening
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
36 miniature pretzels
1 can (16 ounces) vanilla frosting, divided
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
Brown paste food coloring
18 yellow Life Savers
10 green Life Savers, crushed
Decorating gels

DIRECTIONS
In a small bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Set aside 1/2 cup of dough; divide remaining dough into three portions.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion into a 6-in. circle; cut each into six wedges. Transfer to ungreased baking sheets.

For angel heads, roll teaspoonfuls of reserved dough into 18 balls; lightly press onto pointed end of each wedge. Press a pretzel into each side for wings.

Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

For hair, in a small bowl, beat 1/4 cup vanilla frosting and confectioners' sugar until smooth; tint with food coloring. Press dough through a garlic press. Trim strands to desired length; place on heads. For halos, attach yellow Life Savers.

Frost gowns with remaining frosting; sprinkle with crushed Life Savers. Use decorating gels to add faces. Yield: 1-1/2 dozen.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 each) equals 283 calories, 12 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 12 mg cholesterol, 182 mg sodium, 41 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 2 g protein.

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Swedish Butter Cookies Recipe

36 Servings
Preparation: 10 minutes, Bake: 15 minutes/batch


INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons maple syrup
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add syrup. Combine flour and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Divide dough into eight portions. Roll each portion into a 9-in. log.

Place 3 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 11-13 minutes or until lightly browned. Cut into 1-in. slices. Remove to wire racks to cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Yield: about 6 dozen.

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (2 each) equals 94 calories, 5 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 14 mg cholesterol, 87 mg sodium, 11 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 1 g protein.

Gingerbread Cookies Recipe - healthy recipe

60 Servings
Preparation: 30 minutes, plus chilling. Bake: 10 minutes per batch plus cooling


INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup molasses
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
Vanilla frosting of your choice
Red and green paste food coloring

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight or until easy to handle.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with floured 2-1/2-in. cookie cutters. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until edges are firm. Remove to wire racks to cool. Tint some of the frosting red and some green. Decorate cookies. Yield: 5 dozen.

Nutritional Analysis: 1 cookie equals 77 calories, 2 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 10 mg cholesterol, 69 mg sodium, 13 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 1 g protein.

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Creative ideas for a festive Christmas table on a budget.
Creative ideas for a festive Thanksgiving table on a budget.
Check out these great Thanksgiving recipes and the fancy Sugar Ghost Cupcakes Recipe.

 

Online Education Advantages: Explore the online experience with us in a real online classroom. Hear from former students and experts about online education. Learn the value of a distance learning degree.

 

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Utility Prices are Significant Expenses

by Randi Lynn Millward

I don't know about you, but my electric bill is sky-high. I've been running around the house unplugging everything in sight so as not to incur charges from my appliances using "phantom energy".

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Because you are somebody special!

by Annette Bridges

Since my trip to Italy, my husband and I have enjoyed a delicious breakfast routine that often includes French toast, fresh fruit and a yummy cup of cappuccino.

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Our Friendships

by Laurie Cesario-Overton

We all have those days when we get overwhelmed and it seems like every time we turn around there is another problem.

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3 Money Rules for Stay-at-Home Moms

As we all know, life is unpredictable. We lose jobs, get divorced and even become widowed...
Here are three steps stay-at-home parents should take to better manage their own and the family’s finances.

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You May Have Too Much Debt But You Also Have Options

How Life Works

If you feel like you're in over your head with personal debt, you're not alone. Millions of Americans have become overextended, many as a result of easy credit and the recessions. Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and raising interest rates do not make a good financial mix.

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Could fat babies mean fat toddlers?

A new study from Harvard Medical School found that babies who gained weight quickly had a sharply higher risk of obesity. The study followed close to 600 babies and found those in the top quarter of weight for their length at 6 months had a 40 percent higher risk of obesity by age 3 than smaller babies.

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Offer to barter

Dr. Marie - Advice for Pet Owners

A vetʼs office is a business that requires a lot of services. In many cases your vet may be willing to barter in exchange for veterinary services.

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How to Find the Best Car Loans for Single Moms

Financial Advice for Single Moms

The best car loans for single mothers might be just around the corner at your local car lot.

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Crystal Bowersox - A Single Mom And A Real American Idol

Read how the amazing Crystal Bowersox. the runner-up of American Idol Season 9, handles fame and life as a single mom, raising her 17 month old son.

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5 Ways for Single Moms to Save Money

Single moms are always looking for ways to save money, and for good reason... It’s important to find ways to cut corners on the little things that perhaps you don’t think about too often, because those are usually where your biggest money drains are.

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Suze Orman's Recession Rescue Plan - helps you survive in times of financial crisis

OPRAH.com

Do you know what your family would do if you lost your job - or worse, your home? Financial expert Suze Orman is ready to help you devise a recession rescue plan to survive - and possibly thrive - during this deepening financial crisis...

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Your Just-in-Case Emergency Plan

by RealSimple

Who do you call if you can't make it home in time to meet the kids' bus? Who do you trust to take in your mail when you're on vacation? Who do you trust with the extra set of keys to your house?

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How to save $10,000

By Liz Pulliam Weston

If you were hoping for a list of small tweaks you could make in your spending to save $10,000 a year, sorry. The reality is that $10,000 is a lot of money. And saving big money usually means making big changes in the areas where we spend the most, such as: Housing, Transportation, Food.

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The Super, Sexy, Single Mom on a Budget

by Renee Rayles

A quick reference guide designed for the busy, single mom who has

little time to read while running the mom taxi, cooking dinner, helping with homework, and trying to fit in a date night every now and then.

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Single Mothers &
Male Role-Models / Mentors

Single mothers carry an enormous load of responsibility, especially those having sole and/or primary custody of minor children. They nourish, they nurture, they teach, they discipline, they shelter, they protect, and they provide… all without the assistance of another equally-invested adult.

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Mom's Obesity Raises Newborn's Heart Risk

from the National Institute of Health

The more obese a woman is when she becomes pregnant, the greater the likelihood that her newborn baby will have a congenital heart defect, a new study suggests. The finding raises concerns because 1 in 5 women are obese at the start of pregnancy in the United States.

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The 10-Ingredient Shopping Trip

By Tara Parker-Pope and Mark Bittman

... In his latest “How to Cook Everything” segment on the Today Show, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman makes it surprisingly easy to cook a week’s worth of dinners with just a 10-ingredient shopping trip.

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Your 5-minute guide to protecting your identity

20 steps to protect yourself from identity theft, and seven ways to clean up things if you become a victim.

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Single Moms in the News

6 Best Celebrity Single Moms
Read about Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Michelle Williams, Reese Witherspoon, Kimora Lee Simmons, Mary-Louise Parker... read more

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

by Jeff Kinney

For those wondering why tween boys don’t read very much, the answer is that more books aren’t like this...

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Cutting Grocery Costs without Cutting Nutrition

Simple, healthy, and affordable ways to weather the rising price of food

by Karen Collins, R.D., American Institute of Cancer Research

Grocery prices are projected to increase again in 2008 – that’s following 2007’s highest annual increase in 17 years. But surviving these tough economic times doesn’t have to mean sacrificing good nutrition. Some simple strategies can help you cut food costs and eat more healthfully, too.

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