Gatherings Blog

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It's 5 p.m. - do you know what your family is having for dinner?

If you are like me many weeknights, you have no clue if there will even be dinner! Between errands, chores and other responsibilities, dinner can be the last thing on your mind.

Well, fear not - here are a few of my favorite quick and simple recipes on Gatherings, based on what you have in your refrigerator or pantry. With just a little prep, you'll have a meal you can be proud to serve your family.

Sound off: What's for dinner tonight?

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Lucky #1– Meet the Gatherings Gal

I’m not a superstitious person, but something about posting this first post on 1/11/11 makes me feel a little, dare I say, lucky?

It seems fitting that my first post as Gatherings Gal be today - it’s not only the first post, but also the first time I’ve been personified online by a cartoon. (And a good looking cartoon, at that.)

About the Gatherings Gal blog

This is meant to be a resource for you. There are times I search the Internet for creative but simple party planning ideas and come up short. This is designed to help you plan simple, fun and meaningful gatherings for your family and friends … and to do so with just little time and small budgets.

About Gatherings

Gatherings.info has been around since November 2001. As a fraternal financial services organization, Modern Woodmen of America created the Gatherings site to tie to its core value of helping people achieve quality family life.

About me

My “official” bio is under "About" (or click here). But here’s more info, in “firsts” form:

The first meal I made for my husband was a pot roast. It took most of the day to figure out what to do, and I ended up getting hamburgers from Wendy’s to hold us over. I think this was probably the first time he wondered what he had gotten himself into. (I promise I’ve come a long way.)

The first thing I do in the morning is hit snooze. I’m not a morning person.

The first gathering in our first home was a housewarming party – 100 of our closest friends and family came. (Thank goodness for potlucks and good weather.)

The first job I had was working at a calendar kiosk in the mall when I was 15.

The first things I would rescue in the event of a fire are my two pugs. And then my recipe notebook. And then my wedding scrapbook.

The first person I think of when I think of a true hostess is my mother, who effortlessly made family and friends feel welcome when she hosted a gathering. (I hope it’s in the genes.)

The first CD I owned was “The Bodyguard” soundtrack. I can still belt out a mean “I’ll always love you.”

Okay, so now you know me. We’re practically BFFs. Let’s get to know you.

Sound off: Tell me about yourself and one of your “firsts.”

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Add a little giving to your gathering

If you’ve planned a wedding, you know all the details planning entails – from guest lists to cake tastings. But with all the excitement, is there a way you can also give back?

This is the question my husband and I pondered during the planning of our December 2007 wedding. We were bringing together 300 of our friends and family – what a great time to do something special and meaningful (besides the obvious holy matrimony part, which is both of these things). How many of us would love to have a captive audience of 300 people when we’re planning a volunteer project or fundraising? (I’m raising my hand.)

As fate would have it, a way to give back came to us as we looked at the poinsettias decorating the reception hall. What would we do with all these red and white beauties after the wedding? They certainly wouldn’t all fit into our starter home.

Could a local nursing home appreciate a little festivity? A quick call to a nearby nursing home was all it took. The morning after the wedding, we loaded up a truck with 50 plants and brought them to the facility. Elderly residents were excited and thankful for this holiday gift as we placed them throughout the space. The colors brought a little holiday cheer to the waiting area and the dining room.

Could we have done more? Certainly. But this small act of kindness brought joy to others – and to us. What a great beginning to a marriage full of love – and giving!

Gatherings with Purpose

You don’t have to be planning a wedding to think about giving back. We all want to include a little purpose to our lives – and why not begin with gatherings? From birthday parties to family reunions, there is always a way to add extra meaning.

Members of Modern Woodmen, a fraternal financial organization, gather with purpose through local chapters and youth service clubs nationwide. To thank others who are also improving communities through volunteerism, we designed the Gatherings with Purpose Giveaway.

Have you collected coats for the needy at a holiday party? Or brought together a group of friends for a community clean-up? These are simple ways to give back while enjoying the company of friends and family – and both would qualify for the giveaway.

You can read about last year’s winning gathering.

11 simple ways to save at the grocery store

It’s January 20. Do you know where your New Year’s resolution is?

If you began the year with a resolution to save money but have fallen off the wagon, it’s not too late. Here are a few of the ways I save cash while grocery shopping. We all have to buy food, so why not do it frugally?

Make a list
I make a list before shopping and stick to it. You’ll be amazed how much you save by avoiding those impulse purchases. (In case you’re wondering, my impulse purchase is usually Oreos.)

To stay healthy and save money, I also shop primarily around the perimeter of the store – fruits and veggies, meat and fish, and dairy. Then I just swing into rows if I need something specific, like pasta or bread. This helps me save a lot of money because I don’t pass by all the items that I don’t need but may want (insert Oreos). Plus, it makes the trip much shorter.

Shop on a full stomach
If you are anything like me, you are likely to buy more food when you are hungry. Everything looks more delicious when you are starving. So, eat dinner or a snack before grocery shopping.

Choose the best grocery store
You usually pay higher prices in convenience stores. Supermarkets will nearly always have lower prices than small stores, because they can buy their stock in larger quantities. And, if you are willing to hit more than one grocery store, you can save a bundle. I visit two grocery stores regularly because they both have specials that cannot be beat.

Compare costs
I compare the prices of food items to get the best deal – fresh, canned and frozen items can vary in price. For example, I buy frozen fruit for smoothies because it’s much less expensive than off-season fresh fruit. Plus, it lasts a lot longer.

Evaluate different brands by price-per-weight or price-per-unit
Just because boxes or jars are the same size doesn't mean they are the same. Compare weights of different brands to choose the better value by volume. And don’t be tricked by jars that look bigger or smaller than they are. Be a smart consumer!

Carry a calculator
Figuring out the total as I shop helps me stick to my budget. Also, pay close attention at the checkout counter and review the receipt carefully. Mistakes happen, and these little mistakes cost customers millions of dollars a year.

Take the farmer’s market approach
Buy when produce is fresh, less expensive and in-season. This gives you delicious-tasting food and rock-bottom prices. Plus, fresh-picked produce has more nutrients because it’s picked later in the growing cycle.

Know a store’s deals
Many supermarkets give special deals to regular customers. The cards are free, and the discounts can be substantial. Also, many stores now give a rebate to customers who use reusable bags. That five cents per bag really adds up.

Go for reusable
Instead of buying jumbo packages of paper towels each week, I use microfiber cloths. Instead of paper plates, I use dinner plates. I save tons of money on paper products because of this. And, as a bonus, I am also helping the environment.

Steer clear of packaged foods
Simply put, packaged foods cost more because you pay for convenience. Buy a head of lettuce instead of a ready-to-go bag. Make a pasta dinner with the actual ingredients instead of from a box. And check out the bakery counter. At my grocery store, fresh loaves of bread are cheaper than the brand-name variety. And they taste better too.

Be kind and patient
No need to hold hands and sing Kumbaya, but I am convinced that being nice helps me save money on groceries. I try not to rush through the store to make sure that I get everything I need at the best price. I ask questions (nicely) of staff members and get friendly answers in return. When checking out, I am friendly to the cashier. Often, he knows of coupons that I don’t and is happy to ring them up for me. I also learned from a cashier that I could save by using reusable bags. It all goes back to the golden rule.

Sound off: What are your tips for saving money on groceries?

Gatherings Gal Grills…James Shockey

Everyone has a story. In “Gatherings Gal Grills…,” I’ll grill someone new every other week about their favorites, their gatherings and their recipe. This will spice things up faster than adding chili pepper to pancakes.

And if you are interested in being grilled, simply let me know.

The basics:

My name is: James Shockey

I am a: Modern Woodmen financial representative.

I am from: Old Fields, W.Va.

The “important” questions:

Vanilla or chocolate? Chocolate

I like my steak cooked: Medium

White or wheat bread? Wheat. It’s healthier.

Get to know me:

On a Saturday afternoon, you’ll probably find me: napping on the sofa or preparing to go to a Modern Woodmen chapter event.

My favorite memory of a family gathering is: Last June my family traveled to Germany to the town we lived in when my father was in the service. I was able to meet the German family we lived with back then. It was the most memorable family gathering I’ve ever had.

The next gathering I’m planning is: A pancake supper for our Modern Woodmen chapter.

My favorite volunteer activities are: donating Modern Woodmen’s Youth Educational Programs to local schools or youth groups. They’re free programs that help kids learn.

My favorite recipe is: Apple Crisp

1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 cup packed brown sugar
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
Dash salt
½ cup butter or margarine
2 pounds apples (6 medium)
2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
Vanilla ice cream
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Combine oats, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and dash salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; set aside. Peel, core and slice apples to make 5 to 6 cups. Place apples in a 10x6x2-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with granulated sugar. Sprinkle crumb mixture over all. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes. Serve with ice cream. Serves six people.

4 healthy recipes for your body and wallet

Millions of people make resolutions to get healthy on Jan. 1. It’s most noticeable at the gym, where mysteriously all the treadmills are suddenly in use. (I may be one of those who is magically showing up at the gym now; I’ll admit it.)

If getting fit or saving money are on your list of resolutions, here are six Gatherings recipes perfect for trimming down your waist and your pocketbook.

Blueberry smoothie

Perfect for a quick and portable breakfast, this smoothie recipe is both tasty and healthy, with a serving of vitamin-packed blueberries.

361.5 calories/serving
$2.38/serving

Almond-Chicken Pear Salad

A lunch of champions, this recipe, with a variety of veggies, chicken, pears and almonds, packs a punch and is filling enough for a meal.

270 calories/serving (4 servings)
$3.81/serving

Cumin chicken

Perfect for a healthy dinner, this chicken recipe has a little zest. Served with healthy sides, it’s a great choice for the entire family.

153 calories/serving (one chicken breast)
$3.80/serving

Light honey mustard chicken salad

A great way to use up vegetables, this salad – with garlic, chicken and mandarin oranges – is a winner for all ages.

212 calories/serving (4 servings)
$3.19/serving

(Gatherings Gal disclosure: I use Spark to calculate calories and Netgrocer to calculate prices, but your specific ingredients and portion sizes may alter caloric content, and prices may vary due to your location.)

Sound off: What’s your favorite inexpensive and healthy recipe?

Six steps to a simple and successful gathering

When I think of childhood family gatherings – from summer barbeques to holiday soirees – the last words that come to mind are stressful or painful. My mother was a hostess in every sense of the word, with happy, satisfied and comfortable guests. And I don’t ever recall her seeming stressed.

Maybe I get that gene from her. Is there such a thing as a gathering gene? Because I’ve grown to love a good gathering.

But all too often, people get nervous and stressed about planning the perfect gathering. The truth is, planning a get-together should be at least as enjoyable for the host or hostess as it is for guests. Don’t let the stress of inviting friends or family keep you from hosting memorable gatherings.

The process can be quick and painless. Take it from me.

A family brunch

My husband and I host a simple family brunch every year at our home after Christmas. It’s become a tradition in our household and a great way to connect with both sides of our family (which rarely happens). Here are the steps I took.

1. Set the date. To begin, I chose a date and time and invited my family. While I love formal invitations, sometimes a simple email is just better. If you have less than three weeks before your gathering, I would recommend a phone call or email to your guests.

2. Get inspired. I used Gatherings to collect ideas for the brunch. Here are a few of the tools to use:

Check out the variety of recipes to find the ones perfect for your event. For our brunch, I chose recipes for Sunrise Breakfast Casserole, Sausage in a Blanket and Fruit Dip.

I like to use the quick party planner on the website. It lets me find recipes and develop an organized shopping list with all necessary ingredients, making shopping a breeze. This means no more last-minute runs to the store for forgotten ingredients.

A theme can actually make your planning simpler. It gives you a focus for food, decorations and games. You can check out the themes section to find the perfect theme for your gathering, or submit an idea of your own. The site is full of great user-submitted ideas.

To add a little giving to a gathering, check out Gatherings with Purpose ideas, which will help you think outside the box for ways to bring more meaning to your gathering. For example, I’ve donated floral arrangements used from my gathering to a local nursing home to brighten their day.

3. Make a list. In my perspective, a gathering without a list is like a family reunion without the family. It just doesn’t make sense. I find that writing everything down from the beginning makes planning a get-together much more organized.

I begin by writing down the invited guests, and then I make a list of what I need to decorate and foods I would prepare. Next, I create a handy shopping list. By writing everything down from the start, I avoid forgetting something important.

4. Go shopping. The more detailed the shopping list, the less of your time you’ll spend shopping. Instead of making everything from scratch, consider a few store-bought items. Your time is valuable, and sometimes shortcuts really help simplify planning. At our brunch, I decided to purchase cinnamon rolls from the local bakery. Purchasing them was both simple and delicious.

5. Prep. When I host guests, I complete as much as possible ahead of time.

One week before: Clean and decorate.

3 days before: Shop for all necessary ingredients and items.

2 days before: Set the table and serving areas.

1 day before: Prepare dishes ahead of time. (For our family brunch, nearly everything was prepared the day before. Casseroles, relish trays and desserts are all dishes that are easy to prepare in advance.)

The more you can do before the gathering, the less time you’ll spend rushing around on the day of the event.

6. Enjoy! Remember what matters most about any gathering. It isn’t the invitation, the centerpiece or even the food. You host a gathering to spend time with those you care about.

If you don’t have time to vacuum or forgot to buy chips for the dip, try to let it go. Spend time with your guests and enjoy the work and time you’ve put into the get-together.

On the morning of our brunch, my husband and I finished up a few last-minute details – including baking the casserole and pouring drinks – before family arrived. Then, I set up a simple buffet, and everyone enjoyed a lively conversation at the table. I’d like to believe that in years to come, this tradition will continue. And I do believe that we’ll all remember these gatherings with a smile.