Okay, most don't admit it, but, there are alot of procrastinators out there. First, make an enormous bowl of Romaine salad with 20 dif veggies you love in it (i.e. add lots of veggies). Enough to feed 3 dozen. You know that huge, huge, HUGE Tupperware bowl? Yup. Now you're talking. You have to be INTENTIONAL about this. Make 2 homemade, or your fav low cal store bought dressings. Slice up some lemons into wedges stored in baggies in your fridge, or nestle the bag in the top of the bowl for easy carrying. It's wise to put the salad serving utensils or tongs on top, inside, as well. Get some good extra virgin olive oil (great for a simple dressing when used with the lemon).

Now you have a great, healthy, low cal, salad that YOU like to eat either as a first course, or, take with you to the wherever or whatever gathering. If you get really industrious, you could bake chicken breast or salmon to go with the salad.

The salad can be made 2 days ahead. If you cut the Romaine with a plastic knife, and fill the container to the top for little to no air space inside the bowl, it will not turn brown.

Here are some other links from bloggers I subscribe to, for foods and food gifts. I'll give a brief description followed by the link.

Far-ranging content here in this list of links, including printable gift tags, "Last Minute Holiday Helpers":
specials.about.com/servi
ce/newsletters/frugallivin
g/1324443600.htm

Christmas Morning Casserole Roundup, from $5 Dinners. Erin says:
If you haven’t decided on a casserole for Christmas morning, here are a few ideas for you…
•Ham and Broccoli Breakfast Bake
•Blueberry Breakfast Bake
•Sausage and Peppers Breakfast Casserole
•Slow Cooker Egg Casserole with Sausage and Red Pepper,
•Spiced Make Ahead French Toast Casserole
•Caramel Apple Breakfast Casserole
•Apple Cranberry French Toast Bake
•Caramelized Onion Quiche
•Pumpkin Pie French Toast - not a casserole, but had to include it!
www.5dollardinners.com/2
011/12/christmas-breakfast
-casserole-roundup.html

Favorite Holiday Recipes from Amy's Finer Things:
APPETIZERS LINKS
•Layered Shrimp Spread
•Stuffed Jalapenos Wrapped in Bacon
•Tortilla Roll-ups
BRUNCH LINKS
•Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
•Cranberry Almond Stuffed French Toast
•Crescent Sausage Wraps
•Savory Mini Quiche
DINNER LINKS
•Aussie Chicken
•Barbecued Beef Brisket
•Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
DESSERT LINKS
•Caramel Pecan Cheesecake
•Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Pie
•Layered Chocolate Pie Dessert
•Strawberry Pretzel Salad Dessert
SWEET TREATS (GREAT FOR FOOD GIFTS)
•Christmas Bark
•Chocolate Pecan Crumb Bars
•Oreo Cookie Balls
•Pretzel Turtles
•Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
amysfinerthings.com/favo
rite-holiday-recipes

Festive Christmas Food Ideas from Beauty & Bedlam (check out the turkey cheese ball link:
beautyandbedlam.com/chri
stmas-eve-food/

A New Christmas Tradition:
If you don't have much to spend on gifts but would still like to bless people in your community, here are some terrific ideas from the Dollar Hollaring Homemaker:
www.thedollarholleringho
memaker.com/2010/11/new-ch
ristmas-tradition.html

An Easy Food Gift: Homemade Seasoning Mixes
www.lynnskitchenadventur
es.com/2011/12/an-easy-foo
d-gift-homemade-seasoning-
mixes.html

Festive, Fabulous Holiday Food from About.com:
specials.about.com/servi
ce/newsletters/todaysl/132
4411200.htm

And here are some links from earlier blogs:

Homemade Gifts Galore
specials.about.com/servi
ce/newsletters/frugallivin
g/1323234000.htm

Lots of links and ideas here:
specials.about.com/servi
ce/newsletters/todaysl/132
3453600.htm

Frozen Cookie Dough Gifts:
www.5dollardinners.com/2
011/12/homemade-break-n-ba
ke-other-frozen-cookie-dou
gh-gifts.html

Snack Mix in a Jar:
www.5dollardinners.com/2
011/12/snack-mix-in-a-jar-
kitchen-inspiration.html

Great Holiday Recipes:
specials.about.com/servi
ce/newsletters/frugallivin
g/1323838800.htm

Christmas Dessert Recipes:
I love making white peppermint cake - white cake mix, white frosting of your choice, crushed peppermint sprinkled all over the frosting and between the layers. Very impressive looking, but simple.

Here are someone's favorite Christmas Dessert Recipes, including gluten free, including fail proof cheesecake tips:
www.lynnskitchenadventur
es.com/2011/12/a-few-chris
tmas-dessert-recipes.html

DON'T FORGET YOUR FRIEND, THE CROCK POT. Crock pots are indentured servants, making everyone's life easier. If you have a crockpot and a salad, you're home free baby! Stephanie O'Dea's recipes are gluten free, real life tested, small picky children tested, AND SHE HAS PLENTY OF HOLIDAY RECIPES:

Alphabetical Index List
crockpot365.blogspot.com
/2007/12/alphabetical-list
ing-of-recipes.html

Slow Cooker Holiday Food
crockpot365.blogspot.com
/2007/11/crockpot-holiday-
food.html