Ingredients

• 1 Large can of chilled pineapple
• 1 Two-Litre bottle of chilled lemon lime flavored soda
• orange sherbert to taste

Instructions

1. Mix lemon lime flavored soda and pineapple juice in a punch bowl
2. add orange sherbert (amount used to your liking) with an ice cream scoop 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

The mixture will form a froth as it melts. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 cans creamed corn
• 6oz of cream cheese
• Garlic salt to taste
• 1/4 to 1/2 of a small can of jalapenos

Instructions

1. Warm corn in medium pan
2. Add cream cheese stirring constantly so doesn’t burn
3. Add in remaining ingredients as needed to taste

Enjoy!!

Do you have a Holiday recipe that you would like to see featured in a Facebook Family Cookbook? Join us at www.facebook.com/MaltOMealFanPage to become a fan and to get all the details!

“When I was growing up, Thanksgiving meant dealing with horrific traffic from Long Island to Staten Island, getting together with family, watching Mighty Joe Young, the Dallas Cowboys and enjoying the best stuffing on earth compliments of my cousin’s grandfather AKA “Popo” Mikey. Mikey was a cook in the Navy and passed this recipe on to our family. It’s not for the lighthearted—it’s practically a meal in itself. Vegetarians beware.

Ingredients

• 3 onions
• 2 cans of chicken broth
• 7 stalks cut celery
• hand full walnuts
• chicken liver small container
• 1 half pound thin bacon
• 1 Pepperidge farm ground sausage in a roll and Italian sausage
  thyme
• 2 bags croutons (stuffing mix)

Instructions

1. Mince bacon… easy to cut if frozen
2. Mince onions and celery in food processor
3. Boil liver about 5 minutes
4. Sautee bacon until fat is burned, put bacon in container.
5. Sautee onions and celery in bacon oil add chicken broth to moisten.
6. Put cooked ingredients in bowl
7. Cook minced sausage fully.  Add to container.
8. Place croutons in large bowl, add chicken broth to moisten.  When moist, add other ingredients from other bowl.  Mix together until consistency is like dry oatmeal.
9. Add walnuts and thyme.
10. Place in aluminum baking sheet and cook @ 300 degrees for 1 hour or until top is golden brown.

Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes prior to serving.

This amazing stuffing recipe was contributed by David Armano. Do you have a favorite family recipe to share in a Malt-O-Meal Facebook Family Cookbook? Visit: www.facebook.com/MaltOMealFanPage to become a fan and get all the details. Enjoy!

“Mom’s turkey and gravy was exceptional. If you’re looking for a little holiday meal inspiration, this could be it.”

Turkey ingredients

• 1 large turkey with giblets and neck reserved
• 1 Cup of flour
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 1 stick of margarine
• 2 tart apples
• 2 12oz cans of chicken broth

Instruction

1. Follow turkey cooking time and heating instructions on turkey package to insure maximum food safety
2. Wash turkey with salt including the neck and giblets.
3. In bowl add 1 cup flour, salt and pepper.
4. Melt 1 stick margarine and brush the whole turkey with it.
5. Sprinkle flour mixture all over turkey.  Rub it in with hands.
6. Put 2 apples inside turkey.
7. Continue to baste turkey with throughout cook time with chicken broth.  ( approx. 2 cans but more or less may be needed)

Mom’s Gravy Ingredients

• Turkey pan drippings
• 1 1/2 Cups all-purpose flour
• 2 12oz cans of chicken broth
• 1 Cup water
• 1/2 Cup soy sauce

Mom’s Gravy Instructions

1. Place turkey pan on 2 burners.
2. In bowl add 1/2 – 1 cup flour with chicken broth and water until it reaches a soupy consistence.  ( don’t worry about lumps)
3. Add soy sauce to turkey pan and cook on low.
4. Add flour mixture slowly and combine thoroughly (add more or less flour to get your desired gravy consistency)
5. Strain gravy and serve.

For many people April brings tons of rain, green grass, leaves on the trees, beautiful flowers, longer days and warmer weather. But, there is something else that April brings that many people dread…..

Tax Season.

But, for people who receive refunds instead of dread their thoughts are consumed with trying to figure out what they are going to do with their tax refund. Should they save it? Should they pay-off a credit card? Should they put on an addition on the house? Should they invest it?

While all are fantastic ideas on traditional things to do with your tax refund. I’m going to write about something a bit non-traditional.

How about Investing your Tax Refund in your Family?

You might be thinking, “Investing my Tax Refund in the Family? What does that mean?” Well, let me explain.

There are some things you can buy with your tax refund that can enhance the quality time with your family. I am talking about items that you can purchase that the whole family can use for family excursions. Activities that will bring on uncontrollable smiles, laughter and good times. Fun times that will create memories that last a lifetime. I’m talking about investments in family bonding and relationship building activities. Doesn’t that sound like a safe investment? Sure does.

Many family activities and hobbies take money. Some take more money than others. So, unfortunately, many of these family hobbies and activities get pushed back in priority until the family has enough money to do it. Many times these fun activities never happen. How many times have you thought, “Wow, I would love to (fill in the blank) with my family, but that would take a lot of money.”? I know I have thought about that more than a few times myself.

However, if you are planning to receive a Income Tax Refund then this is your chance to decide whether doing fun family things with your tax refund is do-able this year. Truthfully, you don’t have to put a ton of money towards all family hobbies and family activities. Yes, some take quite a bit of money. Many family hobbies require equipment and supplies which can cost a pretty penny. However, there are plenty of fun family things to do that don’t cost much at all such as Hiking and Bird Watching. So, even with the littlest of Income Tax Refund and a bit of brainstorming you should be able to come up with Fun Family things to do.

If doing this is do-able then your next step is to figure out what fun family activity or family hobby you want to do. This might take a bit of creativity and brainstorming, but as a family and team you can figure it out. Let’s face it, whatever you decide to do with your entire family will be a wonderful experience that is sure to be remembered for a long, long time. Memories are something that last a lifetime. Memories are an investment that are guaranteed to pay well over time.

Still need some suggestion for fun family tings to do with your tax refund? Here you go:

Fun Family Hobbies and Family Activities to do with Your Tax Refund

• Take Family Vacation
• Purchase Camping Equipment and Go Camping
• Bikes for the entire Family
• Family Pass to YMCA/YWCA, JCC, or a local Community Center
• Roller blades and Protective Equipment
• Broadway Show or Theater
• Road Trip and Sightsee
• Install a Pool
• If you have a Pool… put in a Sliding Board
• Digital Camera and Take Pictures Together
• Buy a ton of Games and Puzzles for Family Game Night
• Travel to see a Family Member you haven’t Visited in Ages
• Create a Family Room that the entire Family can Enjoy
• Rent an RV and just Go
• Equipment for some Fun in the Snow
• Rent a Cabin in the Woods and Enjoy Nature
• Backyard Equipment
• Murder Mystery Weekend
• Take a Class as a Family
• See Museums, Historic Buildings and Monuments
• Take the Family on a Hot Air Balloon Ride
• Rock Climbing Gyms
• Purchase a Family Pet
• Purchase a Pool Table
• Buy a Video Camera and Make Family Movies
• Go Horseback Riding or Take Lessons as a Family
• Travel to a Beach and Play in the Sand and Waves
• Go Sailing
• Set a Budget & Let Each Family Member Plan a Family Activity
• Buy a Piano for the Family and Take Lessons
• Purchase a Ping Pong Table
• Plan an Adventure Weekend
• Tennis
• Build a Family Garden
• Travel to watch your Family’s Favorite Sports Team Play
• Fly RC Airplanes and Helicopters
• Make Scale Models with the Family
• Travel to Flea Markets and Buy Interesting Stuff
• Buy Golf Equipment and everyone go Golfing
• Take Cooking Lessons as a Family and Get Cooking
• Build a Tree House or a Club House as a Family
• Photography
• Family Scrapbooking
• Woodworking
• Water painting

Keep in mind that everyone in your family are individuals. Meaning, they all have their own tastes and preferences. So, coming up with a decided family hobby or family activity might seem like an impossible task. But, with a bit of brainstorming you will come up with a few things that you all can agree upon or at least can compromise on something. Just remind everyone that the bottom line is that you will be spending time together and enjoying one another’s company. There is no going wrong with that.

What is the Return on Investing your Tax Refund on Family?

If you are investing your money in something you want to know what the return could be, right? No problem. Let’s discuss what type of returns you could see from using your Tax Refund on Family Fun.

The Return on Investing Tax Refund on Family Fun

• Happy Family Members
• Better Interpersonal Communication
• Togetherness
• Focused on enjoying each other
• Building Memories
• Less Stress among Family Members
• Gives Families something to Share
• Get to know your Children as People
• Family Members will know how important they are to one another
• More Peaceful Families
• Keeps doors of Communication Open
• Show Family Members they are Priority
• Children learn problem solving skills from family activities which can help them stay away from alcohol and illegal drugs to deal with troubles

I’m sure there are many other benefits to spending quality time with your family, but you get the idea. The returns on this investment are huge.

Keep in mind that even without any tax refund family fun is extremely important. And, doing so requires no money at all. This post was simply to give you some other options to do with your tax refund.

Top Photo by wsilver