Until recently, my friends and I would get together for dinner once a month at one of our favorite local restaurants. But now we’re all trying to save money, so rather than eating out, we’re cooking for each other. Each month one of us hosts, making the entrée while everyone else brings appetizers, sides, or desserts. It’s working out great, but with all of us working full-time, we’re always on the hunt for recipes that don’t take days or even hours to prepare.

I can’t wait for our next girls’ night in, because I know I want to make these Asiago Toasted Cheese Puffs from the 15-Minute Recipes section I found on Safeway.com. I love that I can prepare the puffs in advance and just put them under the broiler when I get to my friend’s house. And, they make a perfect appetizer to serve while the rest of the group is arriving or adding the finishing touches to their dishes.

There are also lots of main dishes that can be made in 30 minutes or less, I think I may drop a hint to next month’s hostess about the Good Easy Garlic Chicken or the Cajun Chicken Pasta, they both sound so good! And while she’s browsing the rest of the 30-Minute Recipes, I’ll make sure she takes advantage of the coupons as well.

Being able to spend quality time with my friends without having to break the bank is great, and eating at each other’s homes rather than restaurants means I get to taste a bunch of new recipes while adding to my savings account—what could be better than that?

*Brought to you by Safeway

The holiday season is filled with parties, presents, shopping and of course, lots of great food. Once the holiday season is over, I want to get back to my regular routine by going to the gym and cooking healthy meals at home. This year I’ll also be keeping to one of my New Year’s resolutions – to save money while eating healthier.

Luckily, Safeway’s website is filled with ways to save money and eat well when I cook at home. They have lots of coupons and health minded recipes online (and even vegan recipes for my vegan friends). Eating delicious healthy meals really helps keep me motivated and wanting to work out. I always feel better when I’m eating better; so it’s a win-win situation!

I’m planning on making the Baked French Fries, and the Best Vegetarian Chili in the World so I can invite my family over for a delicious homemade meal that everyone is sure to love, while keeping up with my New Year’s resolutions. Plus, there’s always a way to get everyone, even kids, involved in the process, whether it be by cleaning vegetables, sprinkling cheese on the potatoes, or even just setting the table.

I feel great knowing that I’m saving money while eating healthier, and I can’t wait to try out lots of healthy and family friendly recipes from Safeway.See you at the gym!

*Brought to you by Safeway

Whether they’re fudgy, cakelike, or chewy, brownies are a popular and delicious dessert for any day of the week. And because they’re made in one pan and simply sliced and served, they’re a fast and easy dessert whenever you want to bake!

But do you know what makes one brownie different from another? It’s all in the ingredients and preparation! Fudgy brownies contain a minimal amount of flour (about a half a cup) and no leavening agent such as baking powder. Also, the butter is melted rather than creamed with the sugar. Cakelike brownies contain less butter and more flour than fudgy brownies, as well as a bit of baking powder to make them softer and lighter, and often the softened butter is creamed with the sugar rather than melted with the chocolate. Chewy brownies get their texture from two factors: an extra egg (or even two) and a combination of different types of chocolate.

And how can we forget about blondies? These delicious bars are typically made with brown sugar, butter, and eggs (and usually nuts as well), and usually have a cakelike texture.

For more brownie secrets and recipes, visit C&H® Sugar.

*Brought to you by Domino®Sugar and C&H Sugar

Have you ever been invited to a holiday dinner or celebration at a friend’s house and wanted to bring something other than the expected bottle of wine? A beautifully wrapped basket or box of homemade treats is a delicious alternative to the traditional hostess or thank you gift and sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.

Simply bake a batch of Streusel-Topped Blueberry Muffins from C&H® Sugar, let them cool, and place them in a cloth lined basket. If you’d rather include an assortment of goodies, bake a batch or two of Molasses Ginger Cookies or a loaf of Banana Nut Bread too.

Then, add a little something extra to make the gift complete—you can include small jars of jams, jellies, or lemon curd, a box of herbal teas, or even a votive candle in a decorative holder. Add a festive ribbon, attach a handwritten card, and you have a deliciously unique gift ready for giving!

*Brought to you by Domino Sugar and C&H Sugar

Homemade recipe books are a great way to organize recipes while adding a personal touch, and are a wonderful gift that can be passed down from generation to generation. Start with your family’s tried and true recipes, add in your favorites, and leave blank pages for future additions.

Decorate the cover of your recipe book using scrapbooking supplies, various cardstock papers cut with decorative scissors, fabric swatches or small ornaments. Customize the look of your recipe book with your personal creative touch for a one-of-a-kind homemade gift.

For step-by-step downloadable instructions to make your very own personalized recipe book, visit C&H® Sugar.

*Brought to you by Domino® Sugar and C&H Sugar.

After spending time and money in the kitchen making homemade gifts for your loved ones, you want to ensure they arrive ready-to-eat and in one piece! C&H® Sugar has some easy (and edible) packing tips to cushion your baked goods while en route to the recipient.

Did you know that caramel popcorn is a great alternative to traditional packing peanuts? Just add ½ of popcorn into a large clear plastic bag then place bag into shipping box. Adjust bag and popcorn to fill bottom of box, add your baked goods (which should be in a sealed plastic bag), and top off with the remaining popcorn and securely seal the plastic bag. Be sure to release enough air so that you can close the box.

When choosing baked goods to send to friends, choose foods that are moist, firm, and hard—they’ll stay together and the lucky gift recipient won’t end up with a box of crumbs. Holiday treats that ship well are muffins, gingerbread cookies, and bar cookies, and nuts and candies too. For even more packing and shipping tips, visit C&H Sugar.

*Brought to you by Domino®Sugar and C&H Sugar

With winter now in full force, this is the time when I dream about warm days on a tropical island. You don’t have to travel far to get the flavors of the islands; it just takes 10 minutes in your kitchen! This Chicken Mango Spinach Salad blends traditional flavors with exotic influences. Tropical mango and avocado are sliced and included for a textual contrast against the crunchy red onions. Tie all the unique flavors together with KRAFT Light Raspberry Vinaigrette and top with chicken. After a bite of this salad you’ll be saying “Aloha” to those cold winter days.

When selecting mangos, be sure that they are firm but not hard. Also, ripe mangos have a sweet and fruity aroma near the stem end with a yellow-to-red-blushed smooth skin.

  Chicken Mango Spinach Salad

What You Need

   1       pkg. (10 oz.) baby spinach leaves
   1       mango, peeled, sliced
   1       avocado, sliced
   1       small red onion, thinly sliced
2/3      cup KRAFT Light Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing
   2       cups cooked chicken strips

Make It

TOSS spinach with mangos, avocados and onions in large bowl.

ADD dressing; mix lightly.

TOP with chicken. Serve immediately.

Here’s a substitution idea: Mangoes are available canned or jarred. You can use 1 cup of drained fruit if fresh mangoes are unavailable.

*Brought to you by www.KraftFoods.com

As the kids rush out of bed to unwrap their share of presents, say “Merry Christmas” with the comforting scent of Christmas cookies, baked fresh out of the oven. With the inviting aroma filling your home, the kids might even offer to help decorate the cookies with homemade frosting.

Christmas cookies not only create everlasting memories, but they also make delicious and thoughtful gifts. Before the special day comes to an end, share your homemade baked goods with your neighbors and friends.

Holiday Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup – butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup – firmly packed Florida Crystals® Organic Brown Sugar
3/4 cup – Florida Crystals® Granulated Sugar
2 – eggs
2 tablespoons – milk
2 teaspoons – vanilla extract
4 cups – all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons – baking powder
1 teaspoon – salt

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 375°F.

Beat butter and sugars together in large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl; gradually add to sugar mixture. Cover and refrigerate dough 3-4 hours until chilled.

On well floured surface, roll out half of dough at a time, to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned at edges. Cool. Decorate as desired.

Makes about 7 dozen cookies.

Quick Tip:
The type of cookie sheet you use can affect the baking time for cookies. Cookies bake and brown fastest on thin, dark cookie sheets. Cookies bake slowest on insulated cookie sheets so you have more control over the degree of browning.

***

As you enjoy the Holiday Sugar Cookies, sit back and relax with warm cup of aromatic Christmas Coffee. It’s the unique blend of unsweetened cocoa powder, espresso powder, and Florida Crystals® Organic Cane Sugar that makes this coffee such a suitable accompaniment for your holiday taste traditions.

*Brought to you by Florida Crystals

After a long day at work, the last thing that you want to do is to arrange a dish that takes hours to prepare. This Chicken, Pear & Spinach Salad will be ready and on your table in only 10 minutes! If that wasn’t great enough, this fantastic recipe is great way to use any leftover chicken you may have from your weekend meals. This light salad is full of flavor with the combination of sweet, fresh pears and smooth KRAFT Creamy Poppyseed Dressing mixed with baby spinach leaves and cooked chicken. For another refreshing salad idea, substitute KRAFT Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing and ATHENOS Traditional Crumbled Feta Cheese.

  Chicken, Pear & Spinach Salad

What You Need

   2       fresh pears, thinly sliced
   1       cup chopped cooked chicken
1/2      cup KRAFT Creamy Poppyseed Dressing
   4       cups baby spinach leaves

Make It

COMBINE pears, chicken and dressing in large bowl.

ADD spinach; mix lightly.

SERVE immediately.

*Brought to you by www.KraftFoods.com

Did you know you can bake cookies in advance and keep them in the freezer for up to six months? Let cookies cool completely then store in a freezer container (make sure you label it with the type of cookie and date). Frosted cookies can be stored for up to two months, but it’s suggested you freeze the cookies unfrosted and frost them just before serving. Domino® Sugar has even more great baking tips to make your holiday cookies the best ever.

Now that you’ve got the tips down, it’s time to plan your dessert menu! Gingerbread Men are perfect winter holiday cookies and can also be used to make holiday ornaments. If you’re looking for some tried and true cookies to bake up this holiday season, C&H® has a wonderful selection of recipes for you to choose from.

Don’t forget to leave a plate of your scrumptious homemade goodies out by the tree for anyone who may stop by!

*Brought to you by Domino Sugar and C&H Sugar