Holiday Meatball Wreath Appetizer

This easy to make, yet elegant Holiday Meatball Wreath Appetizer is sure to steal the show at your next holiday party or get-together...

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carando®. All opinions are entirely my own. 

One thing that I really love about the holidays is being able to host & entertain. I love to invite over a small group of family & friends for a little cookie baking party or maybe for hot cocoa & to watch Christmas movies. I always seem to host at least one cocktail or wine party before the start of the New Year. 








I prefer my holiday get-togethers to be casual, simple yet elegant, & as fuss-free as possible for me. I mean, what holiday hostess wants to be spending all her time in the kitchen & not mingling with her loved ones? (Not me! ;) )








That is why my new go-to for holiday appetizers this season is the tasty selection of Fresh Italian Style Carando® Meatballs that I can pick up in the refrigerated meat aisle at my local Food Lion. 

Not only are Carando meatballs easy & convenient (you only have to brown them in the oven for 20 minutes!), but they are also authentically crafted for the perfect texture & amazing flavor without you having to do any of the work...

Mini Honey Roasted Almond Cheese Balls

These Mini Honey Roasted Almond Cheese Balls are a creamy mixture of mozzarella, Parmesan, & cream cheese that are rolled in sweet & crunchy honey roasted almonds and served on a pretzel stick...

This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds.

It is hard to believe that another year is almost done and over with. This has been such an incredible year for Frugal Foodie Mama, and I first and foremost want to thank all of you out there who come back day after day to read what I have to say, grab my recipes, pin them, share them, and just be a part of this little food blogging dream of mine. 

Without you all, this dream of mine wouldn't even be possible. So THANK YOU. :) 

I am determined to make 2016 another fabulous year for this little space of mine, so stay tuned. There is so much more good stuff coming your all's way very soon.

But let's talk New Year's Eve for a second, shall we? I have never been much for partying it up and painting the town for this big night. I have always loved staying at home with the ones that I love to ring in the new year. 

But we always try to make it a special night with lots of delicious finger foods, plenty of bubbly (sparkling grape juice for the kiddos), and watching the ball drop at midnight (for those of us who make it til then, lol.). ;) 

I have always been a sucker for all things sweet & savory, so when Blue Diamond sent me their new Honey Roasted Almonds to try out in a recipe I knew I wanted to make a little something for New Year's Eve. 

Cheese balls have always been a favorite with my family, so I decided to turn one of our favorite creamy appetizers into the perfect finger food- these Mini Honey Roasted Almond Cheese Balls! 

These mini cheese balls are a creamy mixture of mozzarella, Parmesan, & cream cheese that are rolled in sweet & crunchy honey-roasted almonds and served on a pretzel stick...

Hoppin' John Dip

A big thank you to Hamilton Beach for providing me with their Stack and Snap™ 10 Cup Food Processor and helping me bring you all this delicious recipe for a Hoppin' John Dip perfect for serving at your New Year's Eve get-together...

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

Anyone else just a little superstitious when it comes to what you eat on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day? Growing up, I remember my mother making pork chops and sauerkraut every New Year's Day (and she still does). 

I am not sure really when or why my mama started this tradition of pork and sauerkraut for New Year's dinner, but it originally started as a German & Pennsylvania Dutch custom. Eating both together brings good luck for the New Year. 

And even though I was not a fan of sauerkraut at all, I sucked it up and took ONE bite with my pork chops each year. I mean, I wasn't going to risk an entire year of bad luck over some silly sauerkraut. ;)

Looking for a more tasty and just as good fortune inducing dish to replace my mother's traditional pork chops and sauerkraut, I came across the classic southern dish of Hoppin' John. Hoppin' John is basically pork, greens, onions, and black-eyed peas all cooked together and then served over rice. 

The peas represent coins and wealth, & the greens represent paper money. It was thought that to eat "poor" on New Year's would be bring wealth the rest of the year. 

Hoppin' John is a dish that is usually served on New Year's Eve, not on New Year's Day. Since I typically only serve appetizers and nibbles for my New Year's Eve get-togethers, I decided to transform this delicious southern dish into a dip perfect for serving at a party or small gathering.

This Hoppin' John Dip starts out the same way as the traditional southern main dish, but then everything is put into a food processor and pureed together to make a tasty hummus-like dip...

Sweet & Spicy Fruity Dipping Sauces {for Meatballs}

Serve this trio of Sweet & Spicy Fruity Dipping Sauces- Mango-Salsa, Cherry BBQ and Orange-Ginger- alongside your favorite meatballs for the perfect game day or party appetizer...

When it comes to hosting a get-together for the big game (or games), I often like to rely on easy recipes that can feed a crowd no matter what their taste preferences are and that also happen require very little prep on my part. I mean, who wants to be stuck in the kitchen the entire time and missing all the big plays? Not this game day hostess! I have a bracket to keep up with, you know. ;)

That is why I am loving this recipe for Sweet & Savory Fruity Dipping Sauces for meatballs. I like to use frozen and fully cooked meatballs, so all I need to do is heat up the meatballs (Easy, peasy, right?). While the meatballs are heating, I quickly whip up 3 different dipping sauces for these party-perfect meatballs: Mango-Salsa, Cherry BBQ and Orange-Ginger. Your guests are sure to find one or more of these sauces that they will love dipping these meatballs in, and you're going to love how much of the game you don't miss serving these up... 

Roasted Garlic Boneless Buffalo Wings

Perfectly breaded & fried chicken nuggets are tossed in a flavorful & spicy sauce in these Roasted Garlic Boneless Buffalo Wings...

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Persil Proclean 2in1. All opinions (& messy stains) expressed below are 100% my own.

If you happen to read my blog pretty regularly, you might have already noticed this by now- But when it comes to game day, I am in it only for the food, folks. Period.  

And with the biggest game of the year happening later on this week, I have been in full-on game day menu planning over here. 

Personally, I do not have a stake in this year's game. But no matter which team you may or may not be rooting for this coming Sunday, one thing is for sure- there is no reason in the world why your football party menu can't be the MVP of the day. ;)

One item that is always a must-make for game day in our house has to be something Buffalo sauced. Whether it be my Buffalo Parmesan Hummus, or this Creamy Buffalo Ranch Potato Salad, or these flavorful Roasted Garlic Boneless Buffalo Wings that I am sharing with you all today, my game day menu isn't complete without something spicy & saucy. 

And let me tell you all about these boneless wings for a sec- they are pretty much ah-mazing. Like lick your fingers clean amazing. And I am not saying that just because I made them, folks.

My son even went so far as to suggest that I patent this recipe & then sell the rights to a certain restaurant chain that is well known for their wings. ;) 

These boneless "wings" are perfectly breaded & fried until crispy & golden brown (I may or may not have posted a video of this golden frying goodness on my Instagram), and then they are tossed in a rich roasted garlic Buffalo sauce...

Shrimp & Asiago Cheese Dip

This bold & oh so cheesy Shrimp & Asiago Cheese Dip is served warm from the oven and is sure to become the star of your next holiday party or get-together...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

This recipe post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

We do a lot of entertaining around the holidays and New Year's, and we also attend quite a few holiday parties and get-togethers. I love having a handful of go-to appetizer recipes on hand that are easy to make and perfect for sharing. 








Although you can never go wrong with a classic platter of assorted cheeses, olives and crackers, what's a party without the dip? I always include a crowd-pleasing, tasty dip of some sort in just about every one of my holiday party menus -- the cheesier the better.








This Shrimp & Asiago Cheese Dip is a delicious twist on a classic spinach artichoke dip. The spinach is swapped out for tender shrimp, and the traditional, more mild Parmesan is replaced with flavorful and robust Asiago cheese. 

This bold, creamy and oh-so-cheesy dip is served warm from the oven and is sure to become the star of your next holiday party or get-together...

Apricot Sriracha Pigs in a Blanket

A childhood favorite gets a sweet & spicy makeover perfect for the adults in these Apricot Sriracha Pigs in a Blanket...

This post first appeared over at Real Housemoms where I’m a contributor.

Who else loved pigs in a blanket as a kid? I remember squirting out an equal dollop of ketchup and mustard side by side on a plate, and then dipping in each flaky crescent wrapped hot dog making sure to get the perfect ratio of ketchup to mustard with each bite. 







At almost 40 years old (I am cringing just a tad even typing that), I still love a good pig in a blanket. It is one of those childhood favorites you just never outgrow, but that's not saying that we can't give them a sweet & spicy makeover that even the most discerning of adults can enjoy. ;)

By adding just two simple ingredients- a little apricot preserves and a tad of spicy sriracha sauce, this childhood classic is magically transformed into a party-ready appetizer for the grown-ups. Okay, well maybe there really isn't any magic involved. However, some may argue that sriracha sauce is pretty damn magical in and of itself. ;) 







Whether you are hosting a cocktail party, a little back deck get-together, or a backyard barbecue, these Apricot Sriracha Pigs in a Blanket are a fun and delicious way to start off your shindig...

The Metropolitan Cocktail

This citrusy Metropolitan Cocktail is a sophisticated twist on the classic cosmopolitan with an Italian flair...

This post was created in partnership with Spello Restaurant.

**Please Note: Spello is now permanently closed.

When it comes to Valentine's Day, I am all about the pretty cocktails. There is just something about starting with a romantic & sexy cocktail that sets the mood for the entire evening- am I right? ;) 

I recently had the opportunity and the pleasure to dine at the newly opened Spello restaurant in Mars, Pennsylvania during their soft opening for friends & family last week. The ambiance was upscale, yet not pretentious. 

The dinner menu is inspired by Chef Melnick's travels to Italy. It is impressive, yet not overwhelming. The emphasis is on the quality of their menu selections rather than the quantity. But that cocktail menu, you all...

The sophisticated boozy concoctions being served at the restaurant come from the creative mind of mixologist & COO of the restaurant group that owns Spello, Colin Smith. Smith has been a part of the restaurant & mixology scene in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area for over 24 years . 

The cocktail menu is higher end (you will find no well liquors here, folks), but is reasonably priced. Most of Spello's libations feature Italian spirits & liqueurs.

I would be lying if I told you all that I haven't sampled just about every cocktail on their bar menu because I have. (I may or not have photographed the entire cocktail menu for the restaurant. ;) ) But my favorite of Spello's boozy offerings is their Metropolitan cocktail- a citrusy blend of vodka, cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, Aperol, & sweet Italian Vermouth...