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Help Families Through Holidays

Merri Lou Dobler Staff writer

If you want to see my husband shake his head in dismay, ask him how much I spend at the grocery store each week. I can walk into a supermarket with a simple list and spend $40 in no time.

There are families that won’t have even that much money for the basics this holiday, however. Their kitchen is bare. They will turn to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund for help.

You may already know that the fund provides not only gifts for children but also a food voucher. It starts out at $20 for an individual and increases to $50 for a family of seven or more; a family of five receives $40.

Five is the size of my family. And I know what $40 will do. But while most of us are deciding whether we’ll have turkey or ham or duck or salmon on Dec. 25, less fortunate families will use that voucher for foods a little less elegant - dry milk powder, canned beans and bread. They will stretch the food dollars as far as they can, knowing that you, our generous supporters, helped them make it through a tough time.

Monsignor Robert Pearson based his sermon at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church the other week on the phrase: “What’s worth doing is worth doing well.”

And so my family gives $40 this year to help another family have meals during the holidays. Respond with your own gift (see the story on the front page of today’s newspaper for details), because The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund is most undoubtedly worth doing well.

Cranberry Meatballs

Adapted from “Taste of Home Low-Fat Country Cooking” (Reiman Publications, 1997).

1 (20-ounce) package frozen meatballs (see note)

1 (16-ounce) can whole-berry cranberry sauce

1 (10-3/4-ounce) can condensed tomato soup

In a large saucepan combine cranberry sauce and soup; heat through. Add meatballs and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve over rice or noodles if desired.

Yield: 6 servings.

Nutrition information per serving, using King’s Command frozen meatballs: 324 calories, 9 grams fat (25 percent fat calories), 63 milligrams cholesterol, 367 milligrams sodium, 43 grams carbohydrate, 18 grams protein.

Note: Check your grocery store for frozen meatballs (King’s Command and Armanino’s are two choices). You can also order meatballs from some store delis, or use this recipe: 1 pound ground round, 1 egg, 1/2-cup crushed saltines, 1/2-cup small onion, diced, 1/2-teaspoon pepper. Combine ingredients and shape into 1-1/2-inch balls. Place on rack and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

, DataTimes MEMO: The goal of Five and Fifteen is to find recipes where you can do the shopping in five minutes and the cooking in 15. Merri Lou Dobler, a registered dietitian and Spokane resident, welcomes ideas from readers. Write to Five and Fifteen, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN, RECIPE - Five and Fifteen

The goal of Five and Fifteen is to find recipes where you can do the shopping in five minutes and the cooking in 15. Merri Lou Dobler, a registered dietitian and Spokane resident, welcomes ideas from readers. Write to Five and Fifteen, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN, RECIPE - Five and Fifteen