Last-Minute Party-Planning Tips

(NAPSI)-The thought of planning a last-minute party may sound like an invite for stress, but it doesn't have to be. Try these tips for being ready to go at a moment's notice:

Party-Ready Pantries

• Keep your list of easy-to-prepare "go-to" recipes handy.

• Stock your pantry with all the necessary ingredients so you're ready to cook anytime.

• Presentation is everything-keep colorful plates, napkins, hors d'oeuvre picks and platter decorations at the ready.

• Customize your "go-tos" for different events and party themes. Dream up fun serving suggestions, such as fancy glassware and garnishes or small variations for each recipe.

You can find even more tips at UltimatePartyMeatballs.com. The site features just about everything you need for planning any kind of party such as a holiday party, birthday or a big game night.

In just three ingredients, hosts can score big with tasty game-day treats like the Ultimate Party Meatballs or Ultimate Party Wings. For an elegant girls' night in, Ultimate Baked Brie will do the trick!

Try this classic party favorite:

Ultimate Party Meatballs

1 16-ounce can Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce

1 12-ounce bottle Heinz® Chili Sauce

1 2-pound bag frozen, precooked, cocktail-size meatballs

Combine sauces in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth. Add meatballs. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally. Makes 30 appetizer servings.

Slow-cooker preparation: Place meatballs in a slow cooker. Combine sauces and pour over meatballs. Cover and cook 4 hours on HIGH.

For more party ideas, visit www.ultimatepartymeatballs.com.

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Bringing Delicious Ingenuity To Leftovers

CC Note: Don't know about you, but I'm still stuffed from all the wonderful Thanksgiving treats on my table. Here's a variation of my own Ultimate Leftover Turkey Sandwich. In mine, I use my homemade cranberry sauce along with a healthy dose of cranberry stuffing with my turkey. An added treat is a thick slice of Havardi cheese. I find it's the perfect snack as I overdose on the college football this weekend. Of course, I will serve this sandwich in wheel form for the annual Georgia- Georgia Tech game.

(NAPSI)-When it comes to preparing festive meals, it almost seems customary for the host to prepare much more food than can be eaten at one meal so friends and family can savor the flavors for several days to come. Cold turkey and its fixings can be as delicious as when they are first served if you bring a spark of ingenuity to your leftover recipe ideas.

Why settle for an ordinary turkey sandwich when you can have a deluxe offering that combines tastes from all corners of the table? The Ultimate Leftover Turkey Sandwich starts with slices of turkey breast that are complemented with a scoop of bread stuffing and tangy cranberry sauce. This leftover classic is dressed up with hearty multigrain bread that's been spread with Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil, which has all the taste of regular mayo but only half the fat and calories.

Roasted sweet potatoes combine in beautiful color and texture with celery, walnuts and red onions in a Roasted Sweet Potato Salad. This seasonal twist on a classic potato salad is also brightened up with the great taste of Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil that delightfully blends all of the recipe's flavors, while delivering only half the fat and calories of traditional mayonnaise.

For more recipes and tips on healthy living, visit www.kraftfoods.com.

The Ultimate Leftover Turkey Sandwich

Prep: 10 min.

Total: 10 min.

2 slices multigrain bread

1 Tbsp. KRAFT Mayo with Olive Oil Reduced Fat Mayonnaise

3 oz. oven-roasted turkey breast, sliced

½ cup prepared STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Turkey

2 Tbsp. cranberry sauce

Spread bread with Mayo; fill with remaining ingredients.

Makes 1 serving.

Serving Suggestion:

Serve with a mixed green salad tossed with your favorite KRAFT Dressing.

Creative Leftovers:

Substitute 1 leftover dinner roll, cut in half, for the 2 bread slices.

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Prep: 40 min.

plus cooling

1 lb. sweet potatoes (about 3), peeled, cubed

⅓ cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing, divided

3 Tbsp. KRAFT Mayo with Olive Oil Reduced Fat Mayonnaise

2 stalks celery, chopped

½ cup PLANTERS Walnut Pieces, toasted

¼ cup chopped red onions

Heat oven to 400° F. Toss potatoes with 3 Tbsp. Italian dressing; spread into shallow foil-lined baking pan.

Bake 25 to 30 min. or until potatoes are tender, stirring after 15 min. Cool completely.

Mix Mayo and remaining Italian dressing in large bowl. Add potatoes, celery, nuts and onions; toss lightly.

Makes 6 servings, about ½ cup each.

Substitute:

Substitute green onions for the red onions.

Make Ahead:

Salad can be made ahead of time. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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Delicious Holiday Meatballs

(NAPSI)-It doesn't take a special gift to add a delicious twist to holiday gatherings--just a new take on some party classics.

For instance, meatballs are ideal because they are warm, enjoyable, bite-sized appetizers. But many holiday hosts don't know the Italian treats can be served in a number of tasty ways.

You can find recipes for serving meatballs--in virtually every form from soups and salads to stews--in a new cookbook called "101 Things to do with Meatballs" from The New York Times best-selling author Stephanie Ashcraft.

The book offers ideas for cooking with brands such as Casa Di Bertacchi meatballs, which are prepared with 100-percent boneless beef and seasoned with high-quality Italian ingredients, then seared and steamed in a traditional multigenerational Italian style. The cookbook is available for purchase online at www.gibbs-smith.com and is available for preorder on Amazon.com.

Try this unique twist on a classic favorite:

Holiday Meatballs

Ingredients

52 (2 lbs) frozen Casa Di Bertacchi fully cooked meatballs

1 can (16 oz) whole-berry cranberry sauce

1 cup barbecue sauce

Slow Cooker Directions:

• Place frozen meatballs in a 3½- to 5-quart slow cooker prepared with nonstick cooking spray.

• In a bowl, stir together cranberry sauce and barbecue sauce.

• Pour mixture over meatballs. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2½-3 hours.

• During a party, meatballs can be left in the slow cooker on warm or low setting.

• Serve as appetizers with toothpicks.

Stovetop Directions:

• Combine all ingredients in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan.

• Cover and simmer over medium-low heat on the stove for 55-60 minutes, stirring occasionally until meatballs are heated through.

• Serve immediately or place them in a chafing dish to keep them warm.

The meatballs are available at Sam's Club. For more recipes and ideas, visit www.casameatballs.com.

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