The Cheap Gourmet

Thanksgiving Tips

Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. Currently, we have about 48 hours left until Thanksgiving Feast Day arrives! I've been scouring the 'net to find quick, easy Thanksgiving tips that will help you prepare the perfect turkey, bake the best pies, serve delectable desserts and locate a cornucopia of Thanksgiving recipes.

The first Thanksgiving Tip is provided by Whole Foods Market. They offer a Holiday Meal Planning Guide which will help you organize your guest list, prepare a menu and shopping list and develop a cooking plan. Organization is the key to presenting an elaborate Thanksgiving feast. Whole Foods Holiday Meal Planning Guide will help you get everything under control in no time!

Support Our Troops Holiday Care Package Update

As promised, here is an update on the Support Our Troops Holiday Care Package Campaign. In less than 24 hours, we've already received $40 in contributions. A HUGE thank you to:

Tracy Bonczyk of www.MiniMeditations.com
Belinda Bigginger from Denver, CO

Support Our Troops Holiday Care Package Campaign

This post is rather long, but please bear with me. I'm looking for 30 people who would like to help me do something special for our troops. The young man in the photo is Jacob. He is a friend of my daughter.

Jacob was on leave in September and spent a few days with us. We took him to Sea World, showed him around town, fixed him a home cooked meal and played euchre until the wee hours of the morning. Jacob is the King of Euchre and won every time.

Comfort Food Recipe Contest

Nubella.com is a wonderful healthy food website that offers an abundance of recipes, health tips, health news, healthy blogs and a variety of sponsored giveaways. Nubella is currently hosting a "Comfort Food Recipe Contest" where the winner receives a Sunbeam breadmaker.

Simplify Your Life with Menu Planning Central

I recently discovered a wonderful place that is perfect for families on the go. It's called Menu Planning Central and they offer a unique service I believe you will appreciate. The founder, Christine Steendahl, has devised a system that delivers a menu plan, recipes and a categorized shopping list.

Menu Planning Central offers three menu categories including: Family Friendly Menu, Healthy Menu and Vegetarian Menu. As a member, you receive 4 weekly menus from each category complete with recipes and shopping list. Talk about simplifying your life!

Announcing: The Healthy Holiday Recipe Collection

It's official. The holidays are rapidly approaching and it's time to start thinking about what we'll be serving for holiday meals, social gatherings and office parties. Since many of us are attempting to eat healthier foods, I wanted to share my collection of healthy holiday recipes. Best of all, it's free! ;-)

The Healthy Holiday Recipe Collection is a 25-page report that includes a Holiday Menu Planner that is super easy to use. Simply select one recipe from each category, along with two side dishes and you'll be well on your way to creating a delectable, tasty holiday meal everyone will be talking about!

Banana Spice Loaf Cake

Personally, I love loaf cakes more than just about any type of dessert. They are easy to prepare and can be served with nearly any meal. Loaf cakes make a terrific snack or stand-alone dessert. They can be topped with ice cream, whipped cream, berries or fruit toppings. You can add fruits, veggies, nuts, flavored syrups and liqueurs. In essence, loaf cakes are probably the most versatile dessert on the planet.

The following Banana Spice Loaf Cake was developed by me when I worked at a famous Country Club. We would cut it into thin slices, slather one slice with a delicious cream cheese spread and place another slice on top. Then, we would cut the loaf cake "sandwich" diagonally to create four triangles. This technique makes the perfect appetizer or bite-size snack.

Easy Ways to Get Your Nine a Day

Everyone knows eating a healthy diet means consuming seven to nine servings of fresh fruits and vegetables each day. For many, trying to accomplish this is a daunting task but with a little creativity and a bit of planning you can easily obtain the USDA's recommended daily allowance.

The following tips can help you easily and effortlessly integrate more fruits and vegetables into your daily routine. Incorporating these tips will provide you with more energy, radiant skin, healthy bones and help you shed those extra pounds.