Fast and Easy Cranberry Meatballs

The holiday entertaining season is here! And everyone should have a few essential ingredients in their freezer to prepare for last minute gifts or to take along on your upcoming holiday visit. Always add your favorite frozen meatballs to the list! Or make and freeze for future nibbling. This recipe is always a hit in our home. So simple it's silly, but oh so good!

Ingredients•1 bag frozen prepared meatballs
•1 bottle (14 ounces) Heinz ketchup
•1 bottle (12 ounces) Heinz chili sauce (found next to ketchup in the grocery store)
•1 small can or jar (approximately 8oz) of prepared cranberry sauce

Preparation:
Put meatballs in slow cooker. Mix remaining ingredients together in a bowl with a spoon, then pour over the meatballs in the crockpot. Heat on low until thoroughly heated through about 3 hours. Stir once per hour to keep ingredients blended and heated thoroughly.

Serve with toothpicks or spoon into a large casserole dish for a wonderful side dish! Enjoy!

Make it a gift: Take this prepared recipe along with a holiday themed cookbook. Here are a few options that I found on Amazon that fit the theme!


Maxi-Matic Elite Cuisine Slow Cooker
Currently $14.99

Betty Crocker Christmas Cookbook
Currently $17.13

Happy Giving!
Photo courtesy of www.schwans.com

Fast and Easy Cranberry Meatballs

Asiago Cheese Dip

The perfect compliment to your favorite beer bread recipe or store bought crusty bread...I double the recipe to have extra on hand for evening snacking :)

3 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes or red peppers (not oil-packed)
1 cup water
1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup finely shredded Asiago cheese (2 oz)
3/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions (4 medium)
1/4 grated romano cheese

In small bowl, mix tomatoes and water; let stand 30 minutes. Drain thoroughly.

In a microwavable ceramic dish, mix tomatoes, Asiago cheese, sour cream and onions. Microwave uncovered on Medium 3 minutes, stirring every minute, until cheese is melted.

Savory Hostess Gift Under $20

First of all, please excuse the picture quality! My camera battery is dead and wanted to get a shot of this before I actually give this gift tonight! Using the "Gift of Three" strategy, I put together this little gift basket from my stash of goodies in my gift giving pantry. I have been stashing premade edible gifts and mixes in the event an unexpected party comes up and I just don't have the time to make something. Here is a super gift that I put together for a grand total of $16.79.

The basket includes:
Gourmet Olive Oil for $6.99
Tastefully Simple Tuscan Sundried Tomatoe Dip Mix for $8.99
A mini-loaf of Italian bread (it's fresh...I picked that up today!) for $.79
Metal gift basket: Free. I recycled it :)

My guess it that we'll probably tear into the basket tonight because it has everything you need for a fun appetizer. Who doesn't love fresh bread and a savory dip? It's all here! Of course you can save even more money if you whip up a dried dip mix (recipe here) and loaf of bread yourself, but we all know that sometimes this just isn't practical. But if you plan ahead, the only out of pocket cost could be the olive oil...it's your choice!

For more "Gift of Three" gift ideas, please download your free copy of Giveology today!

Savory Hostess Gift Under $20

Fantastic Crab Dip

Thank you to my friend Camera Bartolotta for sharing a fast and easy family favorite that is absolutely perfect for holiday entertaining.

Ingredients:
1 stick butter
1 8oz pk cream cheese
1 can LUMP crab meat
1 tiny jar pimentos.

Directions:
Melt butter and cream cheese ,slowly, in saute pan, whisking to blend. Stir in pimentos then gently fold in crab meat. That's it. Keep warm and serve with Trisket crackers and keep arms and hands out of the way! Amazing stuff!

Make it a Gift: This elegant dip would look beautiful in this crystal chip and dip tray. The hostess will be thrilled when you tell her to "Just keep the dish!"



Godinger Dublin 11-3/4-Inch Crystal Chip and Dip $24.99 at Amazon.com

Fantastic Crab Dip

Giveology: A Gift Giving Survival Guide

I am so proud of this edition of Giveology. I am looking at it right now and am filled with such gratitude that I can hardly breathe! It took three long months to complete but the final results are amazing...I don't think you can find this kind of money saving and gift giving advice anywhere. Giveology really does have it all! And what did I do to earn the trust of my four fabulous contributors? Stevie, Aly, Kim and Julia...thank you for allowing me to share your voice and expert knowledge with the world. I am simply honored and humbled beyond belief. To my friends, supporters and unofficial editing team, THANK YOU! Expect a special thank you gift when you least expect it :) And praise the Lord for granting me with the patience, knowledge and resources that I needed to get this important publication out into the hands of the folks who need it the most. My prayers have been answered...AGAIN!


If you haven't checked it out yet, you can view your free copy of Giveology by clicking here. I am very anxious to hear your feedback and hope that you will share it among your friends and networks. This is great stuff and it needs to be shared! As always, thank you for visiting and being such an inspiration to me! God Bless and Happy Giving!

Giveology: A Gift Giving Survival Guide

Guiness Cheese Spread

Cheese...great beer...what's not to love? The following is my favorite recipe for a fast and easy appetizer that can be made for entertaining guests or noshing at home. Enjoy!

Ingredients
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 onion finely chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 ounces Guinness stout
6 ounces grated sharp Cheddar
2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Assorted crackers and crudités

Preparation
In a small skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add shallot and sauté until soft, 3minutes. Add garlic; cook for 2 minutes longer. Transfer to a food processor and let cool.

Add Guinness, cheeses, caraway and paprika to food processor and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Place in a serving bowl, cover and chill for at least 4 hours. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with crackers and crudités.

*photo courtesy of recipeczar

Guiness Cheese Spread