(All recipes courtesy of allrecipes.com)

Steamed Cranberry Pudding

2 teaspoon baking soda
½ cup hot water
1 tablespoon white sugar
½ cup molasses
2 cups whole cranberries
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup unsalted butter
½ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water. Stir in 1 tablespoon of sugar and molasses, then mix in the cranberries and flour. Pour into a greased 6 cup steamer mold.

2. Cover the mold, and place into a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover the steaming pot. Cook over medium heat for one hour before checking, but it will take about 1 ½ hours total. A toothpick inserted into the pudding should come out clean. Loosen the edges, and cool on a wire rack in the mold.

3. Make the hard sauce just before serving: Heat the unsalted butter, cream, 1 cup sugar and vanilla in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook stirring constantly until heated through and smooth.

Chocolate Almond Bark

½ cup chopped almonds
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 tablespoon shortening

Line a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside. Put chopped almonds in a skillet. Cook, stirring often over medium high heat, until golden brown. Remove from heat.
In a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt chocolate chips and shortening until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in ½ the toasted almonds. Spread onto the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with the remaining almonds, and chill 30 minutes, or until solid. Break into bite-size pieces to serve.

Raspberry and Almond Shortbread Thumbprints

1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup white sugar
½ teaspoon almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup seedless raspberry jam
½ cup confectioners’ sugar
¾ teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a medium bowl, cream together butter and while sugar until smooth. Mix in ½ teaspoon almond extract. Mix in flour until the dough comes together. Roll dough into
1 ½ inch balls, and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Make a small hole in the center of each ball, using your thumb and finger, and fill the hole with preserves.

3. Bake for 14 to 18 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Let cool 1 minute on the cookie sheet.

4. In a medium bowl, mix together the confectioners’ sugar, ¾ teaspoon almond extract, and milk until smooth. Drizzle lightly over warm cookies.

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Thanksgiving is a special time of year. Traditionally, friends and family gather around the dining room table for fun, food and fellowship. The smell of a freshly-roasted turkey, combined with the intoxicating aromas from all those mouth-watering side dishes, can turn any home into a feast for the senses.

You know what’s another great way to keep that warm, thankful feeling with you all year long? Get life insurance.

Sound crazy? Well, not really. Life insurance is one of the best ways to say “thanks” to your family on Thanksgiving. Think about it. Life insurance turns PENNIES into DOLLARS when your family needs the money the most.

What would happen to your family’s income level if YOU were to suddenly DIE? Could your family survive without your paycheck? For most households, a family’s biggest asset is the breadwinner’s ability to earn a living.

According to a recent CNBC report, nearly half of all Americans…49 percent…are living paycheck-to-paycheck. Which side of the fence do YOU reside on?

Benefits of Life Insurance

When you own a life insurance policy, you don’t have to worry about your family being kicked out of their home, or not having the financial resources to pay bills and utilities. You could even use the money to send your kids to college. In short, your family will be financially taken care of, if your paychecks went away.

That’s what life insurance does the best. It provides peace of mind. And in these uncertain times, who doesn’t need a little more of that? We’re all going to die. None of us knows exactly when. And rarely does it happen when we expect it.

What type of life insurance should I get?

That depends. But whether you purchase term life insurance, which covers you for a set amount of time (typically 10 to 35 years) or permanent life insurance, which give your family lifetime protection (providing your policy is in force when you die), life insurance is an awesome way to financially protect your loved ones and your legacy (what and who you’ve left behind when you die).

So if you truly want to “give thanks” on Turkey Day, why not consider purchasing a life insurance policy for your family? It truly is the gift that keeps on giving. For more information, talk to AccuQuote. We only represent the top-rated, brand-name insurance companies you know and trust.

And on behalf of everyone here at AccuQuote, we wish you all a happy and enjoyable Thanksgiving.

The post At Thanksgiving, Let’s Talk Turkey About Life Insurance appeared first on Accuquote.

According to a recent survey sponsored by the Life Insurance and Market Research Association (LIMRA), for the first time since 1960, there are more Americans who have life insurance through a company group policy (108 million) than own individual policies (102 million).

Sounds good, right? After all, getting life insurance as part of an employee benefit package is a great perk. Who wouldn’t want free life insurance?

Free life insurance is certainly nothing to sneeze at. But here’s the rub. The benefit amounts of many group employee life insurance plans are relatively small, typically $25,000 to $50,000. If you have a family to financially protect, that payout probably won’t be enough on its own to get the job done.

Think about it. Would $50,000 replace the rest of your life’s total income potential for your family? If I wrote you a check…right now…for the total death benefit for all the life insurance you possess, would you be willing to work the rest of your life for no pay? Would that final check be enough to keep your loved ones in the family home? Or pay off any outstanding debts? Or send your kids to college?

What if I do need more coverage? Can I buy more insurance through my company?

Some companies will give you the opportunity to purchase additional life insurance…on your dime. And I pointed out in a 2012 article on the subject in Kiplinger, many company group policies set their premiums in five-year age bands, so the rate you’ll pay will jump as you get older, and become exorbitantly expensive once you get into your late 40’s or early 50’s. The additional insurance probably won’t require you to take a medical exam, but again, policies that don’t require an exam are typically more expensive than individually obtained policies that do.

But what if I leave my job or get downsized…what happens to my life insurance?

Most companies’ group plans are NOT portable. That means when you leave your job, you usually lose the coverage.

What can I do to avoid this particular pitfall?

Frankly, if you’re young and healthy, you can probably get a better deal on additional life insurance if you purchase an individual life policy instead of simply adding to your group coverage. A 40-year old, non-smoking male, can buy a 20-year guaranteed level premium, term life policy for $500,000 for under $30 per month or about $350 a year. Depending on your age at issue time, terms are typically from 10 to 35 years.

But remember, term life insurance is only “temporary insurance.” If you want permanent life insurance that can’t be cancelled ever (as long as you keep your policy in force), there are plenty of options available. You’ll pay more in premiums (compared to a term life policy), but you will own life insurance that is a) guaranteed for life, b) has cash value that you can borrow against, and c) delivers a death benefit to your beneficiaries that is generally income tax-free.

How much coverage do I need to protect my family?

Some experts say, depending on your age, that you should buy coverage that equals 8 to 10 times your annual salary. But here at AccuQuote, we believe that every client is different, so we advocate a deeper dive to come up with a number that better suits your family’s precise needs.

This dive starts with asking yourself two key questions:

1. How much money will my family need to meet immediate financial obligations? This includes all your final expenses (funeral expenses, burial costs, etc.) and lump-sum obligations (uncovered medical costs, estate-settlements costs, outstanding debt, mortgage payments, etc.).

2. How much income will my family need to continue living a comfortable lifestyle? This means calculating your family’s current day-to-day living expenses and future needs (groceries, utilities, child care, etc.).

Need some help? We have a life insurance needs calculator available that can help you get started. All you have to do is answer a few quick questions. It’s quick and easy. You may be surprised how much coverage your family would actually need to be fully protected after you’re gone.

If you’d rather talk to an experienced life insurance professional, one-on-one…talk to us. Since 1986, we’ve been helping people just you save money on their life insurance. Rest assured that we only represent the top-rated, brand-name insurance companies you know and trust.

The post Employer-Provided Life Insurance May Not Be Enough appeared first on Accuquote.

The holiday season is rapidly approaching. According to the Automobile Club of America (AAA), more than 103 million Americans traveled during the year-end holidays last year. And as we all know, the cost of traveling can be pretty pricey.

But there are ways to get to where you’re going this holiday season…without breaking the bank. Here are some smart ways to save money on travel:

1) Avoid travelling on peak travel days – Flying a day or two before Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve will cost you an arm and a leg. However, if you fly on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day, you will pay less.

2) Compare travel rates online – There are a ton of travel sites online, such as Expedia, Hotwire, Trivago, Travelocity, and Orbitz that offer competitive pricing on airlines and hotels worldwide.

3) Choose an alternative airport – In some cities, there is more than one airport available to take you on your way. In fact, sometimes an airline will offer more attractive rates at an airport that’s a bit more off the beaten path. So if you’re willing to drive a little out of your way, you might be able to save some money on your airfare.

4) Pack smartly – People sometimes pack more than they actually need for their trip. And since some airlines charge you by the bag, that extra piece of luggage could cost you big time. So if you can pair down your travel belongings to just one bag, instead of two or three, you could save some serious money right there.

5) Ship gifts ahead of you – If you planned on bringing gifts with you, it might make sense to send them on ahead. This way you don’t have to pack an extra suitcase, which could save you money at the airport check-in. Some retail stores can actually ship gifts for you.

6) Look into airline/hotel package deals – Sometimes you can get great deals if you book your airline and your hotel room at the same time. Sites like Travelocity and Expedia are great for these type of travel booking discounts.

And here are some travel tips that won’t save you money, but might help you enjoy your trip with less stress.

1) Map out your route to and from the airport ahead of time – The worst thing in the world is getting lost or stuck in traffic when you’re racing to make your flight. One way to avoid all that anxiety is to plan your travel route in advance. If you plot out your route ahead of time using an online navigational site such as Mapquest, you map out the best worry-free route to the airport. Global Positioning System (GPS) devices are great too. Just program your GPS with your destination, and let the tracking device do the rest.

2) Monitor the weather frequently – If you know that a thunderstorm is expected, allow yourself more time to the get to the airport. Sites like the Weather Channel, can give you hour-by-hour forecast updates. The best surprise is no surprise.

3) Don’t bother wrapping your gifts – If you do decide to bring your presents with you, don’t bother wrapping them. The friendly folks at the TSA might decide to inspect your wrapped packages, for whatever reason. It’s probably a better idea to simply pack wrapping paper separately, and wrap your gifts when you get to your destination.

4) Make a “leaving” checklist – Worrying about whether you locked the front door of your home before you left for the airport is just plain nerve-racking. But you can eliminate this anxious moment by creating a “leaving” checklist. Did you turn off the lights? Did you pull the plugs on the toaster and coffee maker? Did you pack a charger for your smartphone? Stuff like that.

The main point is this: The less things you have to worry about, the more fun you’ll have on your holiday trip.

Finally, all of us at AccuQuote wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and a merry holiday season.

The post Smart Ways to Save Money on Holiday Travel appeared first on Accuquote.

For many of us, when we think of Thanksgiving Day, we think of the Macy’s holiday parade, football games, and of course, turkey with all the trimmings. Yes, Thanksgiving is a time-honored holiday that’s typically centered around food, football, and family fun.

But another time-honored tradition happens the day after Thanksgiving…Black Friday. Black Friday is considered to be one of the biggest shopping days of the year. According to CNN, more than 154 million people shopped in stores and online on Black Friday last year.

Traditionally, foot traffic at big box stores (such as Target, Best Buy, Kohl’s, and many more) is still brisk, but in recent years, consumers have been increasingly shopping online. In fact, the web is now the nerve center that drives box store bargains right to your computer or smartphone.

As in sports, the most prepared team has the best odds of winning the big game. In shopping, if you want to save big, you have to be prepared. Here are super suggestions on how to save big on Black Friday:

1) Stock up on gift card discounts – Big box discount gift cards are real easy to get and can save you money. Website such as Black Friday FM and Raise offer great deals online.

2) Sign up for e-mail specials – Most big box stores have “newsletter” sign-up features on their websites. Once you sign up, you can receive that store’s savings and discount coupons online.

3) Organize yourself – Make out a shopping list that is organized by A) who is the gift recipient, B) which store has the gift, and C) which coupons/discounts apply to each gift. It might also help to organize by retailer, in case you’re at a large shopping mall, so you can more quickly shop store-to-store.

4) Use online shopping organizer sites – Websites such as Penny Pinchin’ Mom and Retail Me Not can help you organize your Black Friday shopping safari.

5) Get a babysitter – If you’ve got children, leave them at home. If you need to hire a babysitter, do it. You’ll have a better chance of getting your shopping done in a timely fashion if you’re not distracted by a minivan full of finicky or bored kids.

6) Scan stores early – Some retailers put out holiday items online or in the stores before Black Friday. Don’t wait until the last minute to look online. Start mapping out your battle plan a few weeks in advance.

7) Shop early – Some of the best sale items will go as soon as the store opens, so sometimes it does pay to get to the mall early.

8) Know each store’s return policy – Some stores have a 30-day return policy. Some stores extend that policy beyond 30 days during the holiday season. But don’t assume. Find out what each retailer’s return policy is ahead of time. The best surprise is no surprise.

If you follow some or all of these shopping tips, you will have a much more enjoyable (and profitable) Black Friday.

The post Black Friday Shopping Tips That Won’t Make You See Red appeared first on Accuquote.