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This year we are headed to a friend's house for Super Bowl Sunday.  My job is to bring the appetizer.

A few months ago, I found a Greek spread recipe on Pillsbury.com for a Greek dip. I thought about bringing that, but then found a recipe on pinterest.com for something called Crazy Feta.  It looks so good.

Crazy Feta

2 - 8 oz. bricks feta

3 whole jalapeño peppers

1/4 c + 1 tbl. Olive oil

1 bulb garlic

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Zest of 1/2 lemon

Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Chop the top off garlic and drizzle with olive oil.  Wrap in foil and roast for 25 to 30 minutes or until garlic turns golden in color.  At same time, brush jalapeños with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Place in oven alongside garlic and roast until charred.  Remove both from oven and let cool.  Once jalapeños have cooled, remove skinds, cut in half and discard seeds.  Chop into small pieces.  (Do not touch your eyes when handling jalapeño seeds.)

In a large bowl, crumble feta, add chopped jalapeño, lemon zest, and lemon juice.  Squeeze roasted garlic directly into feta.  Add 1/4 cup oil and mash with fork.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with pita chips.

In reading this recipe,  I thought adding some chopped kalamata olives sounded good or even sprinkling some chopped tomato or cucumber on top.

I have a terrible time actually printing the zillions of digital photos I have. Deals like this make it easier for me to catch up!

If you have pictures from the holidays that you want to print off, now is the time! Snapfish.com has a deal: 99 4 x 6 prints for $0.99. Just visit their site and load your pictures. When you get to checkout use the coupon code: 99PRINTS to get the discount.

This offer is good until January 25 at 11:59 PT. You will have to pay shipping and as these photo deals usually goes, you cannot order the prints for in store pick up.

So round up those pictures and get those photo books filled!

Companies are coming up with more and more ways to reach consumers and entice them with words like "Savings" and "Coupons". Sometimes the deals are amazing, other times.... its just an excuse to shower us with marketing. As consumers, it is our responsibility to know the difference between the two.

One new way that companies have started reaching their tried and true are through text message alerts in regards to hot sales and coupons. Target offers both mobile coupons and text messaging when you sign up online. You can choose the frequency and type of alerts you want to receive, as well as if you want the monthly mobile coupons.

Now HyVee is on board as well. You can sign up to receive text messages on sale items as well as special alerts on hot sales like "6 Hours Only" or promotions like $10 off of $50.

You can choose what items you are most interested in receiving sale information about; you can also choose to only have "Special Sales" sent your way. Either way, you control what comes to your phone and then you can judge if the deal is a good one for you. Not every deal will be great or even noteworthy, but having the heads up on even a couple of super deals is worth it to me.

Standard message rates will apply, if you don't have an unlimited text plan with your mobile carrier, you may want to rethink or minimize your subscriptions to text based applications like this one.

As always, use your best judgement on "sale" items and don't buy something just because the price has appeared to drop; enjoy your shopping and enjoy saving money!

How many of you have included healthy eating as one of your New Year's resolutions?

My family and I have made this decision.  You know it's bad when your 15 year old says, "There's nothing to eat but junk food in the house!" Boy, was that an eye opener.

It seems that we let things really go over the holidays. We turn to convenience instead of nutrition when things get busy and stressed. So, my son's proclamation the other night was just what I needed to clear out the pantry.

The ads this week in the Journal-World are full of "get healthy" items. Not only food, but exercise equipment and videos, workout clothes, supplements, etc.

My grocery list will include more fruits and veggies, chicken and fish.

So, for those of us making these healthy changes, I thought I'd share a quick recipe to get started.

I found this one in the January/February 2012 issue of Food Network Magazine.

Italian Wedding Soup (makes 4 servings@ 350 calories/serving)

1 tbls extra-virgin olive oil

1 small onion finely chopped

3 carrots finely chopped

2 cloves garlic finely chopped

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp chopped fresh sage

3 cups fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth

1 Parmesan cheese rind*, plus 1 tbls grated Parmesan, plus more for topping

1/2 lb. ground pork

3 tbls breadcrumbs

3/4 cup orzo (rice shaped pasta)

8 oz. baby spinach

Heat olive oil in large pot over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and carrots and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 4 minutes. Add half the garlic and 1 tsp each Worcestershire and sage; cook 1 minute.  Add the chicken broth, 3 cups water, and the Parmesan rind and bring to a boil.  Cover, reduce heat to medium and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 7 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix the pork, breadcrumbs, 1 tbls grated Parmesan, the remaining garlic, Worcestershire and sage in a bowl.  Form into 1-inch meatballs.

Increase heat to medium-high and bring the soup to a boil.  Stir in the orzo and cook 6 minutes. Add the meatballs and cook until they are firm and float to the top, about 4 more minutes.  Stir in the spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 more minute. 

Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle with additional Parmesan, if desired.

*If you don't have the parmesan rind, I think it can be easily omitted.

So you may ask, is there any shopping to be had on Christmas day?  The answer is yes.  Walgreens and CVS are both open today.  Walgreens is open from 9 a.m. To 6 p.m.and CVS is open from 10 a.m. To 6 p.m. (according to the website).  You might want to call to be sure about the hours.

But if you are taking a shopping break to celebrate the holiday, the clearance sales start pretty early on Monday.

JCPenney opens at 6 a.m. and their ad features a $10 coupon off purchases of $25 or more.

Kohl's is open at 5 a.m. And you can clip the coupon for an additional 20% off when you spend $100 or take an additional 15% everything.  

Michaels opens at 7 a.m. on Monday.  Along with their clearance prices, there is a coupon for $5 off on every $25 you spend (good Monday only).  Also, 50% off any one regular price item (good through 12/31).

Target opens at 7 a.m. Monday .  If you're looking to get organized in the new year, Target has lots of storage containers on sale including several sized Sterilite containers for $6.99.

So rest up on Sunday for a big shopping day on Monday.

Gift-givers are on the final push before Christmas. One week left to the big day.  

Just wondering, any procrastinators out there?  Or are most of you ready to go — all your shopping and gift wrapping complete?

Me?  I'm a little of both, if that's possible.  I've been doing some crafting, so those gifts are done.  I still haven't purchased the gift cards I need, but that's a one stop shop.  I have not wrapped, although I do like the convenience of gift bags. So, I'm feeling pretty good about where I am the week before the holiday.

For those of you who have waited, I'm just curious . . . are you in panic mode and go on a marathon to get your shopping done?  Or are you like the husband character on the TV show, "The Middle," who procrastinates until the last minute, and then heads to the nearest drugstore to improvise whatever gifts he can justify his wife needing?

If you are still shopping, whether you are just getting started or wrapping it up, this week's ads should help you get your task accomplished.

For me, the Michaels coupons, in particular, caught my attention.  Two 50-percent coupons on a regular priced item.  Make sure you use the right one — one is Sunday through Wednesday (Dec. 18-21) and the other is Thursday through Saturday (Dec. 22-24).  Plus, the 20 percent off on entire purchase coupon today (Dec. 18) from 4 pm to 8 pm.

You still have time to use your Kohl's coupon from your mailer, plus you can earn Kohl's cash — $10 for every $50 spent.

World Market has food items and some great looking accessories on ad.

If you are headed to Target, looks like the TVs are still the big ticket items.  Plus they will match competitor pricing in any printed ad for identical products.  Movies make great gifts, and Target is showing a decent variety for $4.75, $7, and $10.  And if you still need a Christmas tree, their artificial trees are 50 percent off.  If you're entertaining over the holiday and need pop, 12 pack cans of Coca-Cola products are $2.79.

Old Navy is still advertising gifts under $10. I don't know what kind of selection is left, but it might be worth a try.

These are just a few of the ads you'll find in the Journal-World today.  Happy shopping!

So I  feel like I finally have the house decorated.  Now I can focus on my holiday baking.

In Sunday's ads, I saw some baking supplies on sale.  I have the same cookie menu every year.  I shared my husband's grandmother's butter cookie recipe last year.  Not only are they delicious, but they are a sentimental favorite.

So in honor of Grandma Rose's upcoming birthday, I am going to share again her wonderful butter cookie recipe.

I would love for any of you to share your family favorites.  I am always looking for new cookies to add to my annual baking marathon.

Butter Cookies

1 lb. butter

1 ¼ cup sugar

5 ¼ cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

2 eggs plus 1 egg yolk

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, flour, baking soda and baking powder a little bit at a time.  Beat until all is incorporated.  Do not over beat.   Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 8 to10 minutes.   These cookies just melt in your mouth.

With two weeks left until Christmas I'm making my lists and checking them twice, making sure I've got everything that I had planned and that I've finished all of the homemade gifts that I started (still working on that one ....). The to-do that I always leave until the end is filling up those stockings so gently hung by the chimney with care.

I hate shopping for stocking stuffers.

Growing up my mom did a great job filling our socks with fun trinkets and along with the traditional apple, orange a few nuts she would give us one cellophane bag filled with our favorite holiday candy. Mine was always the hard raspberry candies with the soft centers. Mmmmmm.

I digress.

I think my mom did a great job of being creative and not wasting resources or filling our lives with junk. That has not always been my experience with other people in my life, which in turn makes me even MORE appreciative of my mom's minimalist take on this particular Christmas tradition.

I try to do the same for my kids. Instead of filling their stockings with gobs of candy and dollar bin trinkets that will break by December 26th I'm trying to be creative. This year I'm filling their Holiday Hosiery with art and craft supplies.

I shouldn't have taken such a superior attitude towards "Dollar Bin Trinkets" I suppose because I'll be fishing through some of those for said art supplies over at Michael's. From foam stickers to glitter glue and clearance beads and papers there is a virtual treasure trove to be had.

I'm lucky enough to have a space in the kids' toy room to stash these gems so that they don't have to be loose all over the house and each kid has their own bin for storing individual stickers, etc. This makes a more self-sustainable activity for the kids and less of a mess for me.

I've also created flat art boards (pressboard and contact paper) for each kid that can be covered in stickers, used as a hard surface for drawing/coloring/painting or putting together puzzles. These can be easily tucked away under their respective beds when not in use and when they get covered with stickers/glue/glitter/crayons/paint I can change out or cover up the contact paper.

I'm hoping this idea pans out as beautifully as it has in my head and that I'm not cursing said stickers/glue/glitter/crayon and paint come Dec 29 (the "good toys" should hold interest at least that long, right??).

What about you? How do you fill those socks that have been carefully delegated the task of overflowing with bits of fun?

This week Michael's has their actual art supplies on sale: sketch books are buy 1 get 1 free (I use sketch books for SuperBoy who really is a very good little artist. Rather than trying to save each and every drawing he makes for us I have him keep them in the books and I date each book like a journal from the start day to the end day), art easels are 50% off and a variety of artist's gift sets are also on sale.

Looking for something that isn't on the sale list? Michael's has a 50% off one Regular Price Item coupon good for today and tomorrow only as well as a 40% off one Regular Price Item coupon that is valid Tuesday - Saturday.

Michael's has a free app for the iPhone that will have the most recent coupons available, you can have them scan the barcode directly from your phone at the store. Michael's will also accept local competitor coupons and if you have two coupons with different % discounts, you may use both in one transaction.

This week in the Journal-World ads, I noticed some store coupons.

Michaels has a 20 percent off entire purchase on Sunday only between the hours of 4 and 9 p.m.  Also at Michaels, 40 percent off one regular priced item through Dec. 10.  These are great if you are doing any holiday crafting.

Hancock fabrics is offering a 10 percent coupon on your entire purchase.  This is good Sunday (Dec. 4) only. There are also two 40 percent coupons.  One for any fabric item at regular price and 40 percent off any one sewing or quilting notion ( up to $55.99).  These are good through Dec. 7.

Office Depot has 20 percent off shipping and packing services ($20 or more) coupon through Jan. 7, 2012.

At Sears, clip your coupon for an extra 20 percent off regular, sale and clearance items (clothing, intimate apparel, accessories, fragrance and cosmetics).  Extra 10 percent off fine jewelry, watches, housewares, bed and bath, window fashions, mattresses, recliners, Shaw rugs, and luggage (regular, sale and clearance). Coupon good through Dec. 6.

And, at Kohl's you can get an extra 20 percent off everything when you spend $100 or more. Or take an extra 15 percent off everything. This offer is good through Dec. 5.

With Black Friday tucked safely under our belts its time once again to conquer Cyber Monday. The fabled day of great online deals, some disappearing at lightning speed.

In reality, the whole Thanksgiving WEEK has turned into one big sale and if you are shopping for specific items and keep your eyes open, you are likely to get a great deal on what you are looking for. Monday's sales will be good, all major online retailers participate in the event, and Cyber Monday is known for Free Shipping so if for no other reason, this is a good day to buy those items you will be purchasing online.

My most important tip for Cyber Monday, is the tip I give out first for everything: Plan Ahead. Just like shopping in brick and mortar stores, if you don't know what you are shopping for, you will spend money you didn't plan on spending for items you didn't plan on buying, because they look like "a great deal". It isn't a deal if you spend money you don't have.

That being said: be sure to shop through sites like Ebates where you can earn cash back for your already discounted purchases. Searching for your store of choice on Ebates will bring you a list of deals and sales going on that site. When you click through, Ebates creates a tracking ticket and you will earn a percentage of your purchase in cash back. This cash is held in an account on Ebates until you reach the payout threshold (set by you) and then you receive a check/paypal/direct deposit. During Cyber Monday they will be hosting many online retailers at double their normal cash back value, often up to 8% (Old Navy and Gap are both offering 7% back today) It is worth checking out.

You can search sites like RetailMeNot to find online deals and coupon codes for stores that you frequent as well. (Remember if you are using a RetailMeNot coupon code and trying to earn Ebates cash back you need to enter your retail site through Ebats to get the cash back.)

Another good idea is to do a quick Google Search of the item you intend to purchase before you hit the "Checkout" button. Make sure that the price you are getting is truly a deal. Do you know what the "normal" price of the item is? Are you getting all of the accessories normally packaged with the item at this discounted rate? Know what you are buying so you aren't disappointed later.

Have fun, find good deals and shop in your comfy clothes this Monday....but plan ahead and spend wisely!

Happy Shopping!