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9 Low-Cost Date Night Activities to Ignite Your Love

02/16/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

One of the best pieces of advice my parents gave me when I started my marriage is to not sacrifice date night. They’ve been going out at least once a week for as long as I could remember! Now after 30+ years of marriage and a 20+ year military career, they still enjoy the time spent out exploring something new or visiting a familiar place.

Especially with unexpected separations that military couples endure, it’s important to set aside time dedicated to strengthening your relationship. Date night is a great way to rekindle your love and to continue learning from each other. So, taking my parent’s advice to heart, my husband and I are constantly looking for ways to keep the flame alive.

Another important piece of advice, date night doesn’t have to break the bank. My parents love to utilize dining deals from local restaurants (i.e., 2 for 1 pasta dishes or 2 taco dinners for $20). Check out your local eateries to see if anything like that is possible.

Aside from going out to dinner, I wanted to share with you 9 fun and (possibly) romantic date night activities that are easy on your wallet that my husband and I regularly practice.

Cook dinner together: We’ve found this to be our go-to activity because we love the end result! It’s fun to pick a recipe and work together to create a delicious meal. Yum!
Go to the movies: Check out your installation’s MWR for ticket vouchers and/or movie theaters to see if a movie that you’re interested in watching is playing. My husband and I have seen several movies on-post already and utilize the vouchers given out by our MWR. Also, big theater companies like AMC and Cinemark offer discounted rates for military. Call your nearby movie theater to see if they offer a military discount.
Walk in a park: Early in our relationship, my husband and I took a lot of walks on the trails on and around Fort Drum. It was an opportunity for us to talk and soak in the beautiful sights– for free!
Play a game: One evening my husband and I were completely stumped on what to do. Then, he suggested playing cards. We spent the evening teaching each other the card games we knew. That motivated us to purchase other board games like Scrabble and Monopoly to play on other evenings (they are under $20 on Amazon.com). A little competition doesn’t hurt in a marriage.
Shop at a flea market or thrift store: To be honest, I might enjoy this activity more than my husband, but we both like the idea of finding unique items together. Since we’re still on the lookout for items to fill our home, this is a great way to find a bargain too.
Visit the library: Sharing quiet moments together can also be powerful. Swing by your local library to pick out your next read and if it happens to be close to closing time, head to a coffee shop to continue your reading with a coffee or tea.
Start an ongoing project: It’s going to sound silly when I say this out loud, but my husband and I build with Legos. We strategize and come up with ways to put together different structures. There are so many other things that you and your loved one can do. It can be an art project or maybe a home improvement venture. Whatever it is, it’s a great way for you and your spouse to work as a team.
Learn something new together: This should be anything like going to a museum (which many have discounted military rates) or attend an evening class at a community center. My husband and I enjoy learning from our experiences together.
Buy tickets on special military discount sites: For the nights that you want to splurge a little bit, check out GovX, Veteran Tickets or your local USO for discounted tickets to performances in your area.

What’s your go-to activity for a romantic and easy date night? Share your ideas in the comments section.

How to Spend Your Tax Refund Wisely

02/12/2015 By Kimber Green

It’s that wonderful time of year: tax season.

I’m always such a procrastinator when it comes to taxes. I don’t wait until the last minute, but I put it off as long as I can. The first time my husband and I filed taxes together he insisted on going to a tax preparation business out in town. I’ve always done my own taxes so I was quite mad when we finished up and I saw our bill. I’m still annoyed by it so I continue to procrastinate every year.

My husband is adamant that we use a tax preparation company since they offer a guarantee that if something is wrong, they will fix it. Having special military pay and working in tax-free zones for part of the year can all add up to some tax confusion so having the comfort of knowing a professional is doing the paperwork is a bit of a relief.

Recently I discovered that H&R Block has offices on more than 100 military bases offering free tax services. You have options for filing your taxes for free too. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program offers “no-cost tax advice and preparation, return filing and other tax assistance to military members and their families” and through Military OneSource, you can use H&R Block At Home Online Tax Return Preparation. If you want help, you can go in person or call their help line 24/7 until June or if you want to do it yourself at home you can too. You don’t need to spend money to file your taxes.

However you choose to file your taxes, you have to do it before April 15. Hopefully you’ll be receiving a refund. We can all hope.

Once you file your taxes you still have one big decision left to make, what are you going to do with your tax refund?

There are 5 options of how to wisely reinvent your tax return.

Pay off credit card debt: Take this opportunity to pay off, or at least lower, your credit card debt. If you have student loans, vehicle payments or mortgage payments, you could put your return toward that as well.

Invest in your future: Financial planning, while not very exciting, is important. Meet with a financial adviser and see what types of investments are right for you. Perhaps it’s time to start a Roth IRA if you don’t already have one.

Invest in your children’s future: If you have children and hope they will go to college one day, setting up a college fund now can help offset tuition and other expenses down the road.

Buy a new vehicle: Have you been dreaming of a new car? Your tax refund might give you the additional income desired to put down a significant down payment.

Take a vacation: Everyone needs a little down time. Take some much needed time with your family, or just yourself and get away for a while. While you are vacationing, don’t forget to ask for a military discount at hotels, museums, attractions and restaurants. You can also book a vacation at a military resort if you want to stretch your tax refund dollars a little farther.

No matter how you choose to use your tax refund, do something that will make you happy. While your neighbor is showing off his new shiny car, you might be smiling having invested in your children’s 529 college savings program. It might not be flashy, but it will have a great reward one day when your children head off to college.

What are you planning to do with your tax refund?

20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military

02/11/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

Despite the roller coaster of emotion that comes with being a military spouse, I believe there are many moments that are wonderful and touching. What better time than now to reflect and cherish all those moments that make us proud to be married to the military.

20 Moments to Cherish Being Married to the Military

Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography

Here are 20 military moments that take our breath away.

Courthouse Weddings
Waiting for their Plane to Land
Photo Credit: Michaela Stuart Photography
Homecoming Kisses
Photo Credit: Michaela Stuart Photography
Homecoming Hugs
Photo Credit: Michaela Stuart Photography
Slow Dancing at Birthday Balls
Tears in Your Eyes During the National Anthem
Watching Your Kids Put their Hands on their Hearts during the National Anthem
Family Group Hugs
Celebrating Promotion Ceremonies
Growing Families
Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography
Our Babies in Military Gear
Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography
Exploring the World
Dress Blues
Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography
Proud Communities
Photo Credit: Michaela Stuart Photography
When Strangers Thank Service Members in Uniform
Conversations between WWII Veterans and Today’s Active Duty Service Members
Crafting the Perfect Care Package for the Right Occasion
Knowing that They Will Receive that Care Package
Receiving a Special Unexpected Letter
Lastly, that Moment Following the Homecoming Kiss. Keeping them close till the next time duty calls.
Photo Credit: Lauren Nygard Photography

Now it’s your turn: What do you love about military life? Tell us in the comments section.

Delicious Sweet Potatoes Recipes You’ll Want to Try

02/11/2015 By Kimber Green

February is National Sweet Potato Month. It’s a great time to introduce your family to this delicious and nutritious vegetable. If you have picky eaters, this might be one vegetable they’ll actually eat.

Sweet potatoes are very flavorful and sweet enough on their own that you won’t need to add other ingredients to get your family to eat them.

My son loves sweet potatoes. I still laugh at the memory of his face the first time he tried them at 7 months old; it was priceless. Two seconds later he decided he loved them. From that moment on he would cry when I ran out of sweet potatoes. It didn’t matter how much I made; he just loved them so much. He’s almost a year and a half now and he still loves them. I don’t need to hide them under cheese, like I do with broccoli, or anything else to get him to eat them either.

I love that sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients such as vitamin A and beta carotene. Vitamin A promotes eye and skin health and also protects against infections. Beta carotene has been shown to help in the prevention of specific types of cancer such as lung cancer. Sweet potatoes also have other important nutrients including vitamin C, potassium and fiber.

These health benefits are all great reasons to add sweet potatoes to your regular menu. Make sure when you’re shopping at the commissary to look for ones that are firm, deep orange and not discolored and when you get home, store them in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area. Also make sure that you choose the right kind of sweet potato for the recipe you plan to use.

Related: Use Food to Boost Your Mood

Did you know all sweet potatoes aren’t the same? In fact, sweet potatoes aren’t potatoes at all. They come from a completely different family of plants. While sweet potatoes and yams look similar, they too are not related. To make things more confusing, many grocery stores in America market sweet potatoes as yams. How can you tell the difference?

Yams have a cylindrical shape with blackish or brown, bark-like skin and white, purple or reddish flesh. Sweet potato skin color can range from white and yellow to red, purple and brown, while the flesh can be white, yellow, orange or even orange-red. These vegetables have an elongated shape with tapered ends.

There are 2 main types of sweet potatoes in America: Firm ones have golden skin and a paler flesh than soft sweet potatoes, which have copper skin and orange flesh. They cook differently as well. Firm sweet potatoes will remain firm after cooking and a bit waxy while soft sweet potatoes will become creamy, fluffy and moist. Soft sweet potatoes are often labeled as yams and they are the ones Americans typically use at holiday dinners for casseroles, baked sweet potatoes, sweet potato pies and more. Make sure you check with your recipe to see which type of sweet potato you need before you shop.

Need a sweet potato recipe? Celebrate National Sweet Potato Month throughout February with these delicious recipes.

Sweet potato fries make a great snack. Follow Amy Chow’s tips for easy fries.

Fluffy sweet potato biscuits are always a welcome sight. Try Paula Deen’s version. You can also try this sweet potato muffins recipe.

Mashed sweet potatoes are simple to make and are a delicious side dish to any meal. Follow this recipe and add a touch of cinnamon for a little something special.

Have leftover mashed sweet potatoes? Make sweet potato pancakes!

Of course you can always just poke some holes in a scrubbed sweet potato and pop it in the microwave on high for 8 to 10 minutes and enjoy the simplicity of the vegetable. That is how I usually serve them at home; no fancy recipe needed. If you really want to get your children excited about dinner, let them drizzle some maple syrup on their baked sweet potato or add a dash of cinnamon. Sweet potatoes reheat pretty well, so if they don’t love them tonight, add them to a new recipe and try again tomorrow.

Does your family love sweet potatoes? Share your favorite sweet potato recipes with MilitaryShoppers.

6 Healthy Heart Practices

02/06/2015 By Michelle Volkmann

As a military wife, I spend a lot of time worrying about my husband. I’m concerned for his safety and well-being when he’s at a FOB. I worry about attacks, but also about tragic accidents that take the lives of service members during training exercises.

At home, I worry about my small children. Are they eating a well-balanced diet? Do they need more physical activity during the day? How much is too much screen time?

But when it comes to my health, I don’t worry. My health, including daily exercise and eating leafy greens, tends to get pushed to the back burner. “I’m fine,” I tell myself. I’ll stop eating fast food and find time for yoga someday. Like I said, my mental back burner.

6 Healthy Heart Practices to Reduce Your Chances of a Heart Attack

Which healthy heart habits do you practice?

Then I read Angie Ricketts’ memoir “No Man’s War: Irreverent Confessions of an Infantry Wife.” This book opens with Ricketts driving herself to the emergency room because she was suffering an out-of-the-blue heart attack. Ricketts wasn’t a smoker, didn’t have a family history of heart problems and ran regularly.

I put down the book and thought to myself, if this Army wife suffered a heart attack, what’s preventing me from having one?

February is American Heart Month. Cardiovascular disease—including heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure—is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States. I always thought it was breast cancer. Turns out I was wrong. I was also wrong when I thought that there was nothing I could do to prevent heart disease. Turns out, those healthy habits I’m pushing on my daughters– I should be pushing on myself.

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that researchers determined that three-quarters of heart attacks in young women could be prevented if women closely followed 6 healthy lifestyle practices. Women who adhered to all 6 healthy lifestyle practices had a 92 percent lower risk of heart attack and a 66 percent lower risk of developing a risk factor for heart disease.

Here are the 6 healthy habits to help prevent heart disease.

No smoking. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, now is the time to quit. Tobacco-cessation products are covered under Tricare.
Maintain a normal body mass index. Is your body mass index normal? Or do you need to lose 10 pounds this year? Schedule an appointment with your PCM and ask those questions. Maybe 2015 is the year that you lose the extra weight you’ve been carrying.
Exercise. The study found that a minimum of 2.5 hours of physical activity per week is the workout that your heart needs to keep beating properly. My PCM recommended that I walk at least 30 minutes daily to reduce stress, anxiety and reduce fatigue. When I do it, I always feel energized. When I don’t, I find myself binge watching on Netflix.
Watch 7 or fewer hours of television per week. One hour per day. It’s the same restrictations that I apply to my children. It turns out the same applies to me.
Drink one alcoholic beverage per day. As we know a glass of red wine is good for our hearts. A bottle of red wine, not so much.
Eat a healthy diet. This month, I’m working to incorporate 1 vegetable and 1 fruit into all 3 meals. This means less time in the snack aisle of the commissary and more time selecting fresh produce. Again, it’s something I do for my children. Now I know that these healthy heart habits that I push on my children, I need to push on myself.

What is one healthy heart habit you can start this month?

You’ll Love the February Deals at Your Commissary

02/02/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

I don’t know about you, but I’m loving the commissary specials for February! It’s probably because of all the deals in juices and for our furry friends this month.

My husband absolutely loves orange juice. He has at least one tall glass every single day. Seriously, we toss in 2 cartons of OJ in our basket at every visit to the commissary. From February 19 to March 4, Minute Maid Premium orange juice is 2 for $3. That’s right folks, meaning each carton is only $1.50 (yes, I’m pretty excited about it!). We’ll be sticking more than a couple of cartons in our basket in that timeframe. That’s for sure.

Not only will there be a discount on Minute Maid orange juice, V8 brand also will be on sale. The 64 oz. V8 Splash juice drink with flavors like Tropical Blend, Strawberry Kiwi, Berry Blend, Mango Peach or Diet Tropical Blend will be 2 for $3 from February 5 to February 16. I’m the tropical juice drinker, so I’ll be grabbing some of that and if you’re into the V8 Fusion drinks, they will be on sale from February 16 to March 15 at 2 for $4.

In our house, our cat Xena is our furry family member (let me be honest, she’s like a child to me) and it’s important for us to make sure she’s happy too. Her favorite treats, Purina Whisker Lickin’s is only $.99. I can probably get enough treats to last her for years at that price. Purina also has a couple other goods on sale too: One Smartblend Cat Food ($5.50) and Fancy Feast Mornings (65 cents). For the pup lovers, Purina’s 16 lbs. Alpo, Come & Get It or Prime Cuts Dog Food will be $6.99 with 28 oz. T-Bonz snacks at $3.50 and 13 oz. Pro Plan Select Dog Food at $1.26.

There’s no denying that it’s still cold outside for most of us. Campbell’s 17 oz. Organic Soup (Lentil, Chicken Noodle or Sun-Ripened Tomato & Basil) is only $2.33 and Homestyle selections (Chicken Noodle, Zesty Tomato Bisque or Healthy Request Italian-Style Wedding is 2 for $3. Paired with a tasty grilled cheese sandwich any of those would be delicious for a quick weeknight meal.

Don’t forget to pair these great discounts with coupons from coupons.com.

If you’re a huge snacker, there are a handful of deals that might be to your liking. I’ve mentioned before that my husband and I love to hike and I’ve actually shared with you some great trail mix and granola bar recipes in the past. Cascadian Farms’ 13 oz. Organic Granola Cereal will be on sale at $1.99 and that would be a great addition for your trail mix. In addition, Larabar Renola, which is grain free granola (yes, grain free and also gluten free!) is a powerbuy at $4.99 for cinnamon nut or berry. It would be a great alternative to actual granola in your trail mix or granola bar recipes. I’m interested to give it a try!

Other great deals for snacks I have to mention:

Totino’s Pizza Rolls, $2.25
Totino’s Party Pizza, $.89
FritoLay Party Sized: Tostitos, Lay’s Potato Chips, Ruffles and Doritos, $2.98

So basically, if you have the munchies, you’re covered!

Want to see the all of February’s Commissary Specials?

Don’t forget to Sign up for the MilitaryShoppers newsletter to get them delivered directly to your inbox!

5 Things Not to Do if You Want to Lose Weight

01/30/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

I was overweight.

During a doctor’s visit years ago, I stepped onto a scale to discover shocking numbers. It was my first time seeing my then doctor, so after we recorded my vital signs we talked about my health and goals. She was trying to be kind, but when you tell someone that they’re overweight, it’s not something to take lightly.

I was a very active child and enjoyed sports and different outdoor activities. I would say my struggle really started after high school and left home. My weight would fluctuate a lot, but I noticed my clothing size get bigger and bigger. Honestly, I must have been in denial and dismissed everything entirely.

That doctor’s visit gave me the push I needed because someone was brave enough to tell me the truth. My health habits haven’t been the best.

I left the office determined to be healthy and took it on myself to change my lifestyle. Finally, I had the means and drive to map out a plan.

Here are my 5 major “don’t’s” that helped me lose 60 pounds in 2 years:

Don’t weigh yourself. I know I probably sound nuts, but I didn’t weigh myself once in the two years I lost weight. Well, besides the two times I visited my doctor for an annual visit and that’s when I actually learned how much weight I lost. My goal wasn’t to lose weight…it was to be and FEEL healthy. At least for myself, if I start fixating on a number, I might drive myself crazy. So, losing weight is the result of being healthy, I quickly found that out.
Don’t stay inside. I would say this is the most important step I took in my journey. Instead of going straight home after work, I would go to the gym four days out of the week for 30 minutes. I utilized a New Year’s discounted gym membership plan, but there are lots of different ways to make the gym affordable for you. I also used groupon, livingsocial and lifebooker deals on cardio dance classes to add variety to my workouts. Check out your installation’s gym facility, they might even have that available like mine does here at Fort Belvoir. If you live near or on an installation, there are also gym facilities that you can use for free. The elliptical was my go-to machine and I would listen to my favorite music to pump me up. It really was hard for me not to go straight home after ten hours of working and commuting every day. No excuses became my motto.
Don’t diet. I would never stop eating the foods I loved. Are you kidding me? My favorite dessert is cake and I don’t think punishment is the way to go. Instead, reward yourself after a good workout. Motivate and encourage yourself that at the end of an hour of Zumba, there is a delicious cupcake waiting for you. It doesn’t go without saying though that I changed my eating habits overall. I made sure I stopped eating when I was full and actually stopped drinking soda regularly. Water became me source of hydration and it made me feel better, so I naturally stopped craving soda. Eat what makes you happy, but be mindful of moderation and nutrition. I never counted calories either, only practice recipes that were “more healthy.”
Don’t expect a change overnight. It really took a lot of self motivating to get through each year, but a lifestyle change doesn’t come quickly. That’s why I never did so well with dieting because if I did, I would see immediate results, but then, it would be twice as easy to gain it all back and then some. I had to constantly keep telling myself that as long as I maintain my goals, it will pay off eventually.
Don’t do this alone. It’s a rough journey and having a good support system is key. Before my husband came along, my roommates and friends helped keep me on track and went to workouts with me. There were still there even after my husband and when he’s away! I wouldn’t be where I’m at now without them all. Now, my husband and I keep active by hiking, biking and going to the gym together. We keep each other in check and I’m happy to say enjoy exploring new places, while working out.

After lots of practice, it starts to become second nature. I’ve maintained my weight and activity level for two years after I lost it. Remember the goal is to be and feel healthy!

3 Easy Ways to Spend Less Money in 2015

01/28/2015 By Julie Provost

I don’t know about you but when a new year starts I always think a lot about our money situation: how we are spending our income, which debts we are going to pay off and how much money we are going to save. It only make sense to do this when you are starting a new year.

It is always a good idea to figure out how to spend your money wisely. It shouldn’t matter how much you make. It is a good thing to work to make every dollar go a little further.

Here is a list of 3 ways to help you spend less money in 2015.

They have worked for many people and they can help you get on the road to a better relationship with your income.

Use Cash. This is as simple as making a budget and going to the ATM to get your money out. A lot of people like to use envelopes for different categories such as groceries, entertainment and gas. By using cash you can get a very visual idea of where your money is actually going. It is also harder for a lot of people to spend cash. Using a card is easier and requires less thought. Once you run out of cash for a particular category for the month, you can’t spend any more money.
Use Coupons. Couponing can seem a little overwhelming but once you know what you are doing, clipping coupons becomes a habit. All you need to do is start buying your local newspaper on Sundays, find coupons online and go to the right websites to help you match them with your local stores. It will take you about an hour to get ready for your shopping trip but the savings will be worth it. When you match coupons to sales you are able to save more money than you would think. There are also a lot of great resources out there for those wanting to learn about couponing. Don’t forget to add digital coupons to your commissary rewards card app every week.
Save Your Spare Change. Find an extra plastic tub of some kind. You can also buy a piggy bank. Put all your spare change in it. When it is filled, go and cash it in. You would be surprised to find out how much money you can save this way. You could use the money for a family event or put it in savings. Tell your kids about it and have them contribute to the jar. You will have even more change if you use the cash system to help save money.

Even by making a few changes, you can see a big difference. You can make room in your budget to pay down more debt, save a little bit more or vacation a little bit more with your family. Take baby steps to achieve your financial goals and take the time to sit down with your spouse to discuss what you want in the next few years. It is very helpful to have a goal and be able to work together to get to where you want to be financially.

How are you planning to spend less in 2015?

Find Affordable International Cuisine at Your Commissary

01/26/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

Whether you’re stationed at a CONUS or OCONUS location, there is no denying that the commissary is a wonderful resource for military families. MilitaryShoppers recently shared 10 great reasons why your family should be shopping in the commissary mentioning the amazing international food aisle.

The international food aisle has a special place in my heart because it offers a little taste of home for me.

I absolutely love it! My Filipino mother met my father while he was stationed overseas. During my father’s 20+ years in service, we were lucky to be stationed in the Philippines and some other Pacific locations. When we arrived stateside, the commissary provided the supplies needed for my family to recreate the sentimental meals that pretty much summed up my childhood from anywhere we were stationed.

It’s actually a challenge to find certain ingredients at your traditional grocery store, for example, pancit noodles, Sky Flakes or lumpia wrapper wouldn’t be accessible to us otherwise. While we were located in South Carolina, Utah, Texas, among other places, there would be Asian markets that might (only might) have what we need or something comparable, but there was no beating the commissary. It’s always the right price and seemed to more convenient for us. My mom would be able to get her fix on her favorite snacks and we would stock up on rice for months.

The specialty foods might also be spread out throughout the commissary, so keep a lookout. My favorite Filipino sweets are in the bakery section. I noticed them when I was getting dinner rolls, so I was delightfully surprised to see that the commissary distributed them. Also, if I’m not feeling up to making the popular appetizer, lumpia, there are actually pre-rolled frozen, ready-to-cook lumpia in the freezer section. I know they are also there in the commissaries I’ve encountered in the past. Be sure to patrol the freezer section.

In addition to sharing our culture and favorite foods, we were so lucky to come across others from all over the world! The military allows for all families to take a piece of their duty station with them when they PCS and the Asian selection is just a fraction of what’s on hand. In my experience, I am truly amazed and proud of how open the military community is to other cultures– and their food!

Even if you haven’t actually been to an OCONUS location yet, the international foods available gives you an opportunity to try out new flavors or recipes that you’ve been itching to put together. Also, if you received overseas orders, your family can get a head start on the cultural food.

What’s your favorite specialty food item sold at your military commissary?

Feed Hungry Football Fans with These Super Bowl Party Favorites

01/23/2015 By Rachel Tringali Marston

Super Bowl Sunday is about a week away!

For Patriots and Seahawks fans, it’s a very exciting time to represent their teams and for the general public, the Super Bowl can be a way to celebrate this all-American sport and watch the two best teams of the football season play one another. If you’re not big on the Big Game, it’s still a great opportunity to get together and watch the commercials, but my absolute favorite part of Super Bowl Sunday is the tasty array of food that usually accompanies a party.

A delicious spread of finger foods and snacks are typically on the menu. Is it your turn to host the Super Bowl party in your neighborhood?

The commissary has some amazing deals going on in January, so don’t forget to stock up on dipable staples like Tostitos Tortilla Chips, Lay’s and Ruffles Potato Chips. Need something quick to use as a flavorful dip? You can grab some Tostitos Queso Dip and PACE Chunky Salsa or Picante Sauce.

Want to make your own queso and salsa? Check out this easy queso recipe that only requires two ingredients! And here’s a yummy salsa recipe that I’ve been serving in my house.

4 (14.4 ounce) cans of diced petite tomatoes
2 jalapeno, diced (keep some seeds if you like it spicy, otherwise deseed it)
1 small red onion, diced
½ bunch cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons lime juice

Mix all the ingredients and let it sit for at least an hour. I like to make it the night before and let it marinade in the fridge. If you like your salsa smooth, you can use a blender or food processor and slowly pulsate to your desired consistency.

My husband loves Buffalo Chicken Dip. It’s great to eat with any kind of chips, breads or even by itself! Instead of dip, you can make Buffalo Chicken Wings. This recipe will have you licking the sauce right off your fingers.

2 pounds chicken wings, cut-off wing tips and separate
3 tablespoons hot sauce
2 tablespoons cooking oil
½ cup ketchup
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 tablespoons honey

Preheat oven to 425°F. Prepare a baking sheet that is at least 1 inch deep by lining the bottom with foil. Spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix hot sauce, oil, ketchup, vinegar and honey. Coat chicken and place on baking sheet. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes and turn the wings at least once.

Not interested in spicy wings? Give this Coca-Cola Chicken Wings recipe a try. Another great finger food that’s not as messy is Pigs in a Blanket.

Can’t end a party without something sweet! Here are some delicious bite-sized desserts that are easy to put together: Strawberry Yogurt Bites, Frozen Fantastic Banana Bites or Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes.

What finger food do you serve for Super Bowl Sunday? Share your favorite party recipes with MilitaryShoppers.

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