Cozy Pups Recipe
Looking for a quick kid-friendly treat or meal on a busy night? Here is an old standby that you may have forgotten about. As children, we called them pigs-in-a-blanket but the updated version is this Cozy Pups recipe.
Ingredients:
8 hot dogs, cut in half (or 3 cans of vienna sausages)
8 slices low-fat American cheese, cut in half (optional)
1 can of refrigerator biscuits, cut in half (or divide each biscuit into 2 layers)
Instructions:
Wrap a cut cheese slice around each hot dog (a pup if you cut them in half. 
) Wrap the cut or divided biscuit dough around the hot dog and cheese. (Wrapping is a great way for younger kids to help.) Pinch dough closed at the seams. Place on a non-stick cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Check the biscuits’ cooking directions for a more exact time.
Dip in your favorite sauce or serve as is.
Note: To turn this into a meal, just include baked beans or even veggie sticks. This makes a great meal on Halloween night before trick-or-treating. It is also a quick and easy summer snack.
3 Ways To Give Thanks By Sharing
Do you get so busy preparing for Thanksgiving that you forget to be thankful? Many of us do. We get so wrapped up in all the preparations, the cooking and all the family coming that we forgot to stop and remember all our blessings. Here are 3 ways to give thanks by sharing. Start now to really get into the holiday spirit.
There are so many basic things we should be thankful for yet we take them for granted. If we have a roof over our heads, we can be thankful we have shelter. We all have the occasional bout with flu or colds but overall we are fairly healthy. We can be thankful that we are able interact with loved ones. If we have a change of clothing and appropriate seasonal wear, we can be thankful that we are warm and dry.
We all have things to be thankful for yet we need to share the blessings for them to make the most impact. Here are a few easy ways to share with others.
One way to share your blessings is to give some gently used items to a reputable charity. There are many good organizations out there that take clothing and other household items. Even though you could donate all year round, Thanksgiving is a good time to think about giving back.
Another wonderful way is to donate your time to a homeless shelter. Most have a special meal at Thanksgiving for those without homes or families. Even if you put off your own family dinner until Friday or Saturday, imagine the joy you would bring to others by giving up your time to make one day a little brighter for them. And you don’t have to stop after one day. There are many opportunities to volunteer year round.
Take time to share your fond memories before you sit down to your Thanksgiving meal this year. You may even want to start a new Thanksgiving tradition of giving each family member or family group an item which reminds them of shared family memories. These reminders can be a card with a personal message or another item which would have a special meaning for them.
The key to getting the most out of your Thanksgiving celebration is remembering why you are thankful and sharing your time with others. These 3 ways to give thanks by sharing will help you get started on a great path. Use them often.
