When people think of fall, visions of pumpkin pie soon come to mind. Who doesn't love pumpkin pie? But, pumpkin is far more than just pie. In fact, there are hundreds of different recipes you can make with pumpkin. Best of all, when Thanksgiving rolls around, you can always find great deals on pumpkin puree. This week, let's save some money in the kitchen by making some delicious pumpkin treats.

First of all, don't make the mistake of purchasing pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling can be overly spiced, not to mention that it can't be used for savory dishes. Instead, purchase either whole pumpkins to make homemade puree or purchased cans of pumpkin puree. Canned pumpkin puree has a long shelf life and truly takes all the work out of pumpkin recipes.

Next, purchase pumpkin pie spice for sweet treats. Pumpkin pie spice makes it easy and affordable to prepare pumpkin treats. Instead of having to buy cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc., all you need is one bottle of pumpkin pie spice.

Now it's time to look for recipes. Pumpkin can used to make soup, bread, pie, turnovers, cake and so much more. A quick search on the internet will give you a wide selection of pumpkin recipes. Of course, you can also try the following recipe, if you like.

Easy Pumpkin Bread
Makes 1 Loaf

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 -2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, to taste
1/2 cup chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream together the butter, sugar and eggs with an electric mixer.
3. Stir in the pumpkin puree, flour, spice and pecans.
4. Pour batter into a glass loaf pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted in the center of the loaf and comes out clean.

What could be more comforting in the fall than stew? Also, what could be more affordable? A large batch of stew can be served for a couple days and the leftovers can be frozen for a quick meal a couple weeks later. While it may be tempting to grab a can of stew at the grocery store, homemade stews are far superior and much more affordable. This week, let's save some money by making a big batch of stew.

First of all, if you haven't already got a large soup pot, now's the time to invest in one. Large soup pots are great for pasta, soup, dumplings, and so much more. During the cold winter months you'll find yourself using a soup pot quite often.

Another great purchase is a slow cooker. Slow cookers are perfect for small batches of stews. More importantly, slow cookers allow you to cook your stew all day so that it's ready when you get home.

Last, but not least, go on the hunt for delicious recipes. There are cookbooks devoted to soups and stews, but free recipes are easily found online. You can even join online groups to find even more recipes. Of course, you know that I can't write this blog without giving you a delicious recipe to start out with.

Easy and Lean Beef Stew

Serves 6 - 8

8 cups low sodium beef stock

2 tablespoons of tomato paste

2 pounds sirloin beef tips, trimmed of fat

1 pound of baby carrots, cleaned

1 pound of baby Dutch potatoes, cleaned

2 large onions, chopped

Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

4 tablespoon cornstarch

Water

Fill a four quart slow cooker with the beef stock and tomato paste. Stir long enough to dissolve the tomato paste.

Add the beef and vegetables.

Season with pepper and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.

In the last 30 minutes of cooking, mix the cornstarch with enough water to create a slurry and add to the stew.

Turn the slow cooker to high and cook until the stew thickens.

Serve with crusty French bread and a side salad.

When you're on a budget, a birthday party can seem extremely expensive. This is especially true if the birthday party is hosted outside the home. Everything from a cake to the meal can cost a fortune when celebrating at a local restaurant. Instead of spending a fortune on birthday parties, why not save some money in the kitchen and make your own birthday cake and party foods?

A restaurant meal is a special way to celebrate a birthday. But, making someone their favorite meal from scratch means so much more. That's especially true if it's a meal you don't make very often because it's expensive or time consuming. This is the perfect way to celebrate when only a few people will be coming over.

If a lot of people will be attending the party, food plattersare a wonderful idea. As always, you will definitely save money by putting platters together yourself. You will also save more money the more you have to do. For example, instead of buying cheese cubes, buy large blocks of cheese and cut them yourself.

The most important part of any birthday party is of course the cake. Just because you'll be making the cake at home doesn't mean you have to go with a mix. In fact, making a cake from scratch is much more affordable. Not to mention that they taste a lot better. There are literally hundreds of recipes online.

Speaking of recipes, the following recipe is great for entertaining.

Buffalo Chicken and Onion Rollups
Serves 20

1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken, cooked and shredded
10 burrito sized tortillas
8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
½ package of ranch dressing mix
Buffalo wing sauce
1 cup of chopped green onions

1. Toss the shredded chicken with enough buffalo wing sauce to make it moist.
2. Mix the softened cream cheese with the ranch dressing mix and spread onto the tortillas.
3. Top with green onions and roll.
4. Cut each roll into five pieces and serve on a large platter.

Are you guilty of turning to restaurants when you need a quick meal? I'll admit that even I used to eat out at least four nights a week because my boyfriend and I work 10 hour days. But, I discovered just how quickly I could cook meals with a pressure cooker. I know what you're thinking and I used to think the same thing too. You're wondering about the safety of pressure cookers. Today's pressure cookers are nothing like they used to be. The new digital models have several built in safety features that keep them from exploding. This week, let's talk about saving money in the kitchen by using a pressure cooker.

Pressure cookers come in a variety of different sizes to fit your needs. They also have several different features that make them versatile. For example, many digital pressure cookers include a slow cooker function. This means you can get the convenience of two great appliances in one. This not only saves money, but it saves space as well. The digital models even have a brown function which allows you to brown meat and sauté vegetables before cooking.

Speaking of meat and vegetables, a pressure cooker can cook them in a fraction of the time of other cooking methods. You can enjoy a roast in a little over an hour. Vegetables can even be cooked in less than 5 minutes. But, you can do more with your pressure cooker. They can also be used to make soups, rice, and even desserts.

Of course, what would an introduction to pressure cookers be without a recipe?

Creamy Mushroom and Onion Pork Loin
Serves 6 - 8

3 pound pork loin roast
8 ounces of sliced mushrooms
1 large onion, sliced
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 pack of onion soup mix
Chicken stock

1. Place the pork loin roast fat side up in the pressure cooker.
2. Top the roast with mushrooms and onions.
3. Mix the soups together and add enough chicken stock to equal 2 cups of liquid (or more depending on the needs of your pressure cooker).
4. Cook on high pressure for 70 minutes.
5. Serve with mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, and rolls.

There's something satisfying about a big plate of pasta after a hard week at work or school. If you agree, chances are your family has a favorite Italian place they visit as often as possible. Who could resist the plates overflowing with lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo, and of course those delicious cannolis for dessert? But, what if you could make two Italian dishes at home, plus appetizers and dessert for less? Not only would you please the entire family, but there would be leftovers for the next day. Let's see how you can save money by enjoying family night at home with delicious Italian food.

A typical dinner for four at an Italian restaurant would include the following:

Appetizers $10
Drinks $8
Entrees $48
Dessert $20

Total: $86

That's quite a total. Let's see how much we can shrink it.

Appetizers (Cheese Sticks):
Mozzarella cheese $3
Eggs $2
Seasoned bread crumbs $2
Total: $7

Drinks:
Water $0
2-Liter of soda $2
Total: $2

Entrees (Chicken Alfredo and Spaghetti with Meat Sauce):
Dry Fettuccini $2
Alfredo sauce $3
1 pound of boneless skinless chicken $5
Dry Spaghetti $2
1 pound of 93% lean ground beef $5
8 ounces of sliced mushrooms $3
Spaghetti sauce $3
Garlic bread $4
Total: $27

Dessert:
Cannolis from an Italian bakery $5

Total $41

Less than half of what you would pay at an Italian restaurant! Best of all, these dishes are easy to prepare. Plus, if you enjoy having Italian night at home, you can save even more money by investing in a pasta machine and a good Italian cookbook.

Another perk is being able to enjoy entertainment while having Italian night at home. You could pick out some Italian movies to watch. If the kids are older, you could choose gangster films, but if they're younger, why not go with the classic +Lady and the Tramp+?

Family night doesn't have to be expensive to be enjoyable. In fact, spending time together at home gives families more time to bond. Stop paying expensive restaurant prices and gather your family around the table at home. When your children are grown and gone away to college, you'll be glad you did.

Do you love to take your family out for steaks on Friday night, but feel your budget getting tighter and tighter? Then why not fix steaks at home? With the wonderful warm weather, right now is the perfect time to enjoy family night at home. You can break out the grill and create a delicious steak dinner that costs a fraction of what you would pay at the steakhouse. This week, we'll discuss how you and your family can enjoy a delicious steak dinner in the comfort of your own home.

The typical trip to a steakhouse for a family of four can really add up. In fact, even eating at a steakhouse chain can be quite expensive.

4 sirloin steak dinner $48
4 drinks $8
4 desserts $12

Total $$68

That's quite a large total when you're trying to live on a budget and even a buffet restaurant costs around $48 for a family of four. Thankfully, you can prepare a delicious, high quality meal for a much smaller price.

4 (8 ounce) sirloin steaks $10
4 baking potatoes $4
Sour Cream and Butter $4
Salad Mix $4
Salad Dressing $3
Rolls $4
Bakery dessert $6

Total: $31

The truth is you could even afford to serve rib eye steaks if you wanted. You'll always save money when you prepare your own meals. If you want to save even more money, consider stocking up when steaks go on sale and stashing them in the freezer.

You can make this a special meal by cooking and eating outside or even incorporating other family night activities into the evening. You could play music, have a movie marathon, or even break out some fun games. The fun part apart about having family night at home is being able to be with your family. You can be as loud as you want and do what you want. Best of all, you don't have to a leave a tip.

Memorial Day was the unofficial start of summer. From here through September, you'll probably be enjoying barbecues and other outdoor parties. You'll probably be tempted to visit the local deli to pick up delicious side dishes, such as gourmet flavors of potato salad. Why waste your money on these expensive products? Many delis charge at least $6 per pound for these side dishes. This week, let's discuss saving money in the kitchen by skipping the deli and preparing your own gourmet side dishes. I'll even include a couple recipes.

There's nothing wrong with going to the deli. In fact, it's a great place to get ideas. Scanning the different side dishes available can give you wonderful meal ideas. If you like, you can even ask to try the products. This gives you an idea of what ingredients are used and which main courses the side dishes would best suit your needs and taste. One of my favorite kinds of potato salad is baked potato salad. After trying this delicious deli side dish, I decided to come up with my own recipe.

Baked Potato Salad
Serves 6-8

1 cup of mayonnaise
Sea Salt, to taste
Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
8 baking potatoes, baked and chopped
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
½ pound of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 bunch of green onions, chopped

1. Combine the mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.
2. Stir in the potatoes, cheese, bacon, and green onions.
3. Chill for at least 2 hours.
4. Serve with steak or hamburgers.

If potato salad isn't your thing, why not consider this pasta salad recipe?

Pepperoni and Mozzarella Pasta Salad
Serves 6-8

4 ounces of dry bow tie pasta, cooked
4 ounces of small mozzarella cheese balls
4 ounces of pepperoni, chopped into large chunks
1 large bell pepper, chopped
1 large red onion, chopped
1 ½ cups of Italian or ranch dressing

1. Combine all the ingredients and chill for at least 2 hours.
2. Serve with grilled chicken.

Why pay high prices for deli side dishes when you can create delicious recipes in your own kitchen? These salads are the perfect combination for all those delicious meals that will be coming off your grill this summer.

Have you ever wondered how fast food restaurants keep their prices so low? Take a close look at their menu and you'll notice that many of the items contain the same ingredients. This is also a wonderful way to save money in the kitchen. Instead of buying bags and bags of ingredients, why not consider preparing a menu that revolves around only a few ingredients? Not only does this save money, but it ensures that everything you purchase actually gets used. This week, I'll share tips on how to prepare a menu that saves money and time. I'll even throw in a couple recipes.

I find that the easiest way to prepare this type of menu is to start with the sales papers. For example, if hamburger was on sale as well as onions and green peppers, I might prepare a meatloaf one night and spaghetti another night. Here are a couple recipes to get you started:

Oniony Mushroom Meatloaf
Serves 8

1.5 pounds of 85% lean ground beef
1 packet of dry onion soup mix
½ cup of sour cream
½ of a large green bell pepper, pureed
½ of a large onion, pureed
2 eggs
1-2 cups of dry bread crumbs
4 ounces of sliced mushrooms
Olive oil
1 (10 oz.) jar of beef gravy

1. Combine the first 6 ingredients.
2. Stir in one cup of the bread crumbs and add more if needed.
3. Put inside a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until cooked through.
4. In the meantime, sauté the mushrooms in olive oil, drain off the excess oil and add the gravy. Continue to cook until heated through.
5. Slice up half the meatloaf and serve with gravy and mashed potatoes.

Quick Spaghetti and Meatballs
Serves 4

½ of a large green bell pepper, chopped
½ of a large onion, chopped
4 ounces of sliced mushrooms
Olive oil
1 (16 oz.) jar of spaghetti sauce
½ of leftover meatloaf, sliced into large cubes
1 pound of spaghetti, cooked

1. Saute the vegetables in olive oil.
2. Once the vegetables are cooked, drain off the olive oil and add the meatloaf and spaghetti sauce.
3. Heat through and serve over cooked pasta with a side salad and garlic bread.

There's something nostalgic about going out for ice cream. This simple treat seems to bring families closer after the end of a long week. Unfortunately, it also seems to suck money from your wallet. The cost of a family of four having simple ice cream cones is around $16 and more expensive treats like brownie sundaes cost around $20. This week, we'll discuss making ice cream cones and sundaes at home. Not only will you save money, but everyone can get exactly what they want.

Four ice cream cones can cost $16. That price doesn't seem too expensive until you consider what you could buy at the grocery store for around the same price.

2 boxes of waffle cones $7
2 half gallon containers of high quality ice cream $11
Total $18

That's enough for at least a week's worth of ice cream cones! The savings get even bigger if you purchase store brand ice cream and cones. That's not all though. Even brownie hot fudge sundaes are more affordable when served at home.

1 gallon of store brand vanilla ice cream $6
2 containers of hot fudge topping $6
1 box of brownie mix $3
Whipped topping $3
Nuts $3
Cherries $3
Total $24

Not only would you have enough ingredients to serve hot fudge sundaes to your entire family twice, but you would have vanilla ice cream leftover for milkshakes as well. What about the king of all ice cream treats though? Can you also save money on banana splits?

1 gallon of Neapolitan ice cream $6
8 large bananas $3
Strawberry sauce $3
Hot fudge topping $3
Pineapple topping $3
Whipped topping $3
Nuts $3
Cherries $3
Total $27

That's enough ingredients to have banana splits two nights in row.

Without a doubt, ice cream night is much more affordable at home. Best of all, if you like having ice cream at home, you'll save even more by investing in an ice cream maker and waffle cone maker. Not to mention that ice cream seems to taste even better when you're kicked back in front of the TV.

Is there anything better than a soup and sandwich on a cold evening? Chances are you probably serve this meal several times each winter. Truth be told though, tomato soup and grilled cheese, while classic, can get old after a while. Are there ways to update the grilled cheese and make it something different? Sure. In fact, here are a few recipes to get you started.

Mexican Grilled Chicken and Cheese
Serves 4

8 slices of white bread
4 tablespoons butter, softened
12 ounces of southwestern seasoned chicken strips
4 one-ounce slices of pepper jack cheese

1. Spread the slices of bread with butter.
2. Add a slice of cheese and three ounces of chicken to each sandwich.
3. Cook in a large skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown on both sides.
4. Serve with tortilla or taco soup.

Italian Grilled Cheese
Serves 4

8 slices of Italian bread
4 tablespoons of butter, softened
4 one-ounce slices of whole mozzarella
4 ounces of turkey pepperoni
½ cup marinara sauce

1. Spread the slices of bread with butter.
2. Add a slice of cheese, one ounce of pepperoni and two tablespoons of marinara sauce to each sandwich.
3. Cook in a large skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown on both sides.
4. Serve with Italian Wedding soup or minestrone.

Fruity Grilled Cheese
Serves 4

8 slices of French bread
4 tablespoons of butter, softened
8 ounces of low-fat strawberry cream cheese
4 ounces of strawberries sliced
4 tablespoons sugar-free chocolate sauce

1. Spread the slices of bread with butter.
2. Add two ounces of cream cheese, a quarter of the strawberries and one tablespoon of chocolate sauce.
3. Cook in a large skillet over medium heat until golden brown on both sides.

These recipes are not only a different approach to a classic food, but they're something your kids will love. There are several ways to make your own signature grilled cheese. Best of all, you can easily incorporate your children's favorite foods to make something they'll truly love.

We all have those days when we simply don't feel like cooking. You may have a cold, the weather may be dreary, or you may just be tired. This is when fast food signs seem to glimmer on the way home. You're so tempted to hit the drive thru, but you know it's not healthy. How can you prepare a healthy meal for your family without spending hours in the kitchen? Don't worry. There are recipes that can be prepared quickly so that you can get the rest you need.

Roasted Chicken and Vegetable Pizza
Serves 4 to 6

4 cups of roasted chicken, any flavor from supermarket
1 whole wheat pizza crust
½ cup of low-fat Alfredo sauce
1 ½ cups 2-percent shredded mozzarella or Italian blend cheese
1 large red onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, julienned
4 ounces of mushrooms, sliced
4 ounces of black olives, pitted and sliced
2 large Roma tomatoes, chopped

1. Remove the skin from the chicken breast and chop into bite sized pieces.
2. Top the pizza crust with the Alfredo sauce, cheese, chicken and vegetables.
3. Bake according to the directions on the pizza crust.
4. Serve with a side salad.

Tips: To cut even more time, hit the salad bar while picking up the roast chicken. You'll find all the vegetables you need and then all you need to do is chop some chicken, assemble the pizza and bake.

Creamy Orange Shakes
Serves 4

2 to 3 cups of orange juice, depending on the thickness you like
2 cups of orange sherbet
2 cups of fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt

1. Pour the ingredients into the blender in the order listed.
2. Blend until smooth and serve in a frosty glass.

If you're worn out and don't feel like cooking, these recipes are just what you need. All you really need to do is assemble these recipes and let the appliances do all the work. All it takes is a quick trip to the grocery store and you'll be able avoid that dreaded drive-thru food.

Salmon is a great source of heart healthy fat. While you may enjoy salmon sautéed in olive oil with a side of steamed vegetables, your children may turn their noses up at this healthy meal. Thankfully, there are ways to make salmon more appealing to children. The key is use salmon to prepare foods and recipes they already love.

Salmon Sticks
Serves 4
1 pound of thick salmon filets
1 cup of flour
4 egg whites, beaten
2 cups of bread crumbs
2 tablespoons of ranch dressing mix
Cooking spray

1. Cut the salmon into sticks about 2 inches long and half an inch wide.
2. Place the flour and egg whites in separate shallow dishes.
3. In a third shallow dish, combine the bread crumbs with the ranch dressing mix.
4. Dip the salmon sticks in the flour, then the egg whites and the seasoned bread crumbs.
5. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and place the sticks in a single layer. Spray with additional cooking spray and bake at 400 degrees until cooked through, about 20 to 30 minutes.
6. Turn the sticks halfway through the cooking process.
7. Serve with a salad or baked French fries.

Salmon Tacos
Serves 4
1 pound of salmon, deboned and trimmed of skin
½ teaspoon of cumin
½ teaspoon of chili powder
1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon of sea salt
Olive oil
Whole wheat tortillas
Shredded lettuce
Salsa

1. In a small bowl, mix the spices together and sprinkle them onto the salmon.
2. Coat the bottom of a large skillet with olive oil and sauté salmon until cooked through and browned on both sides.
3. Use two forks to break apart the salmon and then top each tortilla with a ¼ of the salmon.
4. Top with lettuce, tomatoes and salsa.
5. Serve with baked tortilla chips.

These recipes are only a starting point for introducing your children to salmon. Play around with this wonderful ingredient and discover more recipes your children will love. As they get older, they'll be more apt to eat salmon on salads and even by itself.

Juvenile osteoporosis used to be a very rare condition. Unfortunately, many children aren't getting the amount of calcium they need each day. For this reason, juvenile osteoporosis has become a well-known condition. The causes may be poor nutrition found in school meals and the fact that children choose to reach for pop rather than milk. Thankfully, as a parent, there are things you can do to prevent this horrible condition. It all begins with providing your family with meals and snacks that are high in calcium. Here are a few recipes to get you started.

The Breakfast Parfait
Serves 4
This is both fun and packed with calcium. Best of all, you can prepare this breakfast in a reusable container so that kids can enjoy it on the go.

4 cups of non-fat yogurt (any flavor)
2 cups of calcium fortified cereal (any flavor)
2 cups of sliced strawberries
1 cup of slivered, toasted almonds

1. Layer the yogurt, cereal and strawberries in tall parfait glasses.
2. Serve with calcium fortified orange juice or low-fat milk.

Black Bean and Salmon Wraps
Serves 4
This makes the perfect calcium-rich substitute for school lunches.

4 whole wheat tortillas
4 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
12 ounces of grilled or baked salmon, skin removed
4 cups of canned black beans, rinsed and drained
8 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese
2 cups romaine lettuce, shredded
1 large tomato chopped

1. Spread each tortilla with a tablespoon of sour cream.
2. Add 3 ounces of salmon, 1 cup of beans, 2 tablespoons of cheese, ½ cup of romaine and some chopped tomatoes to each tortilla.
3. Roll each tortilla and wrap in aluminum foil for easy transport.
4. Serve with baked sweet potato chips and non-fat milk.

Fat-Free Yogurt Shakes
Serves 4
Kids will forget all about sugar-laden sodas when they can have a milkshake instead.

1 cup of non-fat milk
4 tablespoons sugar-free, calcium-fortified chocolate syrup
1 cup of berries, chopped
4 cups of fat-free frozen yogurt (any flavor)

Add ingredients to blender in the order they're listed and blend until smooth.

Winter family meals don't always have to be loaded with calories and carbs. Warm up everyone in your household with these tasty yet simple recipes.

Creamy Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
Serves 8 to 10

5 pounds russet potatoes
1 to 2 cups fat-free buttermilk
Sea salt, to taste
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Chives, to taste
½ cup low-fat parmesan cheese

1. Boil the potatoes until fork tender.
2. Mash the potatoes with enough buttermilk to make the potatoes slightly runny.
3. Stir in the seasonings and chives.
4. Pour the potatoes into a casserole dish, top with parmesan cheese, and bake at 350 degrees until the top becomes golden brown.
Note: You can mash these potatoes ahead of time and then bake them when you're ready to serve.

Broccoli Roasted with Garlic and Onions
Serves 8

4 large bunches of broccoli, trimmed and prepped
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 large red onions, cut into thin rings
½ cup olive oil
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Sea salt, to taste

1. Toss the broccoli, garlic and onions with olive oil and seasonings.
2. Spread the mixture out on a large cookie sheet.
3. Roast at 425 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until desired texture is achieved.
Note: You can use bags of fresh broccoli florets if you are short on time.

Also don't forget to make simple changes, such as serving whole wheat rolls.

Many people enjoy the tradition of serving appetizers on Christmas Eve. As the family gathers round, do you feel good about what you're serving? Or do you worry about all the fat and calories? It's no secret that popular holiday appetizers, such as sausage balls or pigs in a blanket, are loaded with fatty ingredients. What's a hostess to do? How can you satisfy your family, while giving them healthy options as well? The following recipes are meant to be served along with family favorites. By no means do I suggest taking away everyone's beloved snacks. People have been tossed from family parties for far less than that.

Christmas Pita Chips
These make a wonderful substitute for high-calorie chips and other dip-able foods.

10 large loaves of pita bread
Olive oil
Cayenne pepper, to taste
Dried parsley, to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. While the oven is heating, cut each loaf of pita bread into 8 wedges.
3. Spread the wedges out in a single layer on cookie sheets.
4. Brush the wedges with olive oil and sprinkle with spices.
5. Bake at 350 degrees until the wedges start to turn brown and crisp, about 10-15 minutes.
6. Serve with your favorite holiday dips.

Festive Low-Fat Bean Dip
This dip looks so festive due to the colorful ingredients. Best of all, your family will never realize that it's low in fat.

Four 15-ounce cans of fat-free refried beans
Chopped jalapenos, to taste
2 cups of 2-percent shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup of reduced-fat sour cream
1 jar of salsa
½ cup green onions, chopped

1. Mix the refried beans with the jalapenos. Spread the mixture into a casserole dish and bake at 350 degree until the beans are heated through.
2. Top the beans with cheese and continue to cook until the cheese melts.
3. Allow the mixture to cool slightly before topping with sour cream, salsa, and green onions.
4. Serve with Christmas Pita Chips or baked tortilla chips.

I hope these recipes are a hit are your Christmas Eve party.

Merry Christmas!