The holidays are a time of togetherness, a time for friends and family to catch up and enjoy each others' company. It's no wonder meals are a central focus of the holiday schedule what better way to get people together than over a delicious meal? But preparing the perfect holiday feast doesn't require a major investment. Careful planning and smart shopping can help you put together a memorable family meal without breaking your holiday budget. Here are a few simple tips to get you started. 1. Simplify There's no need to go over the top when it comes to planning your holiday meal most of the staples (turkey, stuffing, vegetables, pie) are relatively inexpensive, especially when you prepare them yourself. Skip fancy hors doeuvres in favor of seasonal favorites, and complement your main dish with simple sides like fresh green beans or mashed potatoes. Simplifying your menu allows you to prepare a big, delicious meal without overspending. 2. Get everyone involved The holidays are about s

Nestled on the edge of Austin's bustling downtown district, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, or simply Moonshine, as it's often called, is truly one of the starts of Austin's culinary scene. With its gourmet take on comfort food favorites, Moonshine offers a unique dining experience. Spread out over several different dining areas in multiple buildings, Moonshine offers its patrons options when it comes to ambiance. The lively outdoor bar and patios are a great option for a fun night out socializing with friends, whereas the interior dining room and adjacent stone house the second oldest building in Austin, in fact, and said to be haunted offer a quieter, more intimate option. Regardless of where you choose to sit at Moonshine, keep in mind that reservations aren't available on weekends, and the wait time can get long earlier than you'd think. But the wait is definitely worth it from the custom cocktails to the delicious appetizers the corn dog shrimp is a house favorite to the incredib

One of the most attractive parts about life in Austin is our ability to be outdoors almost the entire year round. Austin's restaurants reflect this outdoorsy aesthetic, with many of them providing attractive and fun al fresco dining. Here are some of the best patios to be found around Austin. Old Alligator Grill - This casual South Austin staple has a large, wooden patio. Specializing in oysters, shrimp, and other Cajun delicacies, the OAG even has live music periodically. The patio, although adjacent to the parking lot of a mall, features enormous trees for shade, and the people watching is premium. A great beer selection and an unbelievable happy hour make this South Lamar spot an oasis for all. (3003 South Lamar, Austin, TX 78704) Eastside Cafe - This East Austin treasure has long held to a local, natural, and partially vegetarian menu, and their patio has the unique distinction of being adjacent to the garden from which they harvest much of their daily ingredients. Walking throu

As the standard cost of living continues to rise, more and more people are finding themselves in need of budget cuts and cheaper alternatives to the everyday expenses that they can't cut out altogether. One of the biggest spending arenas is, without question, the grocery store. Clearly food, house wares, cleaning supplies, etc. cannot be left out of the budget, but as the costs associated with these must-have items continue to rise, many people are feeling the crunch. To help ease the stress and strain of shopping for these necessities, we've put together a list of tips to help you get the shopping done while still sticking to your budget. Shop around Your local grocer may not be the best price in town when it comes to a specific item or product. In fact, your most economical shopping option may involve a couple of different stores a specific market for produce and another for household items and paper goods. Of course you'll want to take into consideration driving distances and other

Apparently Tory think tanks believe that many northern towns are beyond saving and that the best thing to do would be to move northern residents out of their ‘predicaments’ and settle them down south. This may be surprising and outrageous news to many Northerners who were not yet aware of their ‘deprived’ existence in areas that have been criticised as being beyond the point of rescue or regeneration. Of course the idea has received a barrage of criticism from the general public and MPs. I for one would be particularly unhappy if I were forced to move from the spacious villages and beloved homely cities of the north to relocate south. It is doubtful that hardy Northerners would believe any think tank nonsense or take it to heart, after all those softy southerners can think about the north all they like. No-one up here wastes time thinking about such tank nonsense, the pubs here are far too good for that sort of chit chat. My recommendations of good pubs and bars in Manchester to d

John Hillaby got it right when he said; “Few things are more pleasant than a village graced with a good church, a good priest and a good pub.” Of course Leeds is hardly a village and being Jewish I have no idea how good the priests are, but if anyone is looking for a good pub, then you've come to the right place. 1. The Lord Darcy Alwoodley Leeds ‘The Darcy’ is a home from home for residents of Alwoodley. Popular and long standing the Darcy is the anchor of the local population, not out of tradition but out of quality. A family and friends pub, networking, socialising or just relaxing after a hard day’s work in the city are all done within these mahogany panelled walls. The Darcy serves the kind of food you would expect to find in a traditional pub. Nothing spectacular and no gastro-pretentiousness - expect Betty’s hotpot and chips instead. Quiet window seats tucked away in private corners of the pub let you sit to suit whatever atmosphere you want, the pub is as popular with the y

Most of the best Chinese restaurants are often considered to be in London. Yauatcha and Hakkasan in the West End, Royal China in Queensway and Maxim’s in Ealing are three of London’s best and it would be tempting and easy to write a whole review without stepping out of the capital. Too many reviews are just based London despite the large amount of cooking talent outside the city but as I am feeling particularly adventurous I am setting out to find it for you. 1. Dynasty Thomas Street, Bristol Dynasty has been chosen by Alan Yau, the only man in Britain to have a Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant. I can almost stop writing this review now as this speaks for itself but not before I tell you about how amazing the dim sum is. The menu is more exotic than your average. Don’t worry, no birds nest soup here but if you fancy eels in black bean sauce then this, if anywhere, will be the place to try it. 2. Dragon- I Hope Street, Glasgow Charmingly designed, Chinese but with a modern twis

Panini Sandwich Bar Fill up your panini with any number of rare and imaginative fillings – dependable brie, ostentatious smoked duck, and the real melt in your mouth alpine salami and tomatoes with shredded basil and just a drizzle of olive oil. This place does the simple sandwich a real favour and pepps it up, just for you. Mmm! Wrapid Bang in the city centre is the Mecca for all things flatbread. Fill it, fold it, heat it, seal it, get it down your throat! You can charge up on all kinds of meal-based flat fillings like chilli con carne, curried chicken, or even just a simple lemon and sugar pancake. The point is that this place offers something unique and appetizing which you won’t forget in a hurry. Make the pilgrimage. If you're enjoying this review so far, check out We Love Local. This free service features reviews by customers who have used services or visited businesses in Leeds and throughout the UK. So if you're looking for great places to eat then check out their Leeds C

Eighth Day Cafe Did the Almighty have a hand in this? Not trying to convert anyone, but in terms of serious quality vegetarian fare, you could do a lot worse than worship at this culinary altar. Nearly a thousand organic products are on offer, and as you sit sipping your dandelion coffee you’ll feel the macrobiotically controlled atmosphere infiltrate your system. You’ll leave feeling healthy and full, a rare combination in the North West. Refresh Fresh cooked food is what we’re all after, and this sandwicherie-cum-cafeteria has it in spades. Heavyweight succulent quiches, full-bodied salads bursting with crispness, this is the place for Didsbury-bound perambulators of the empty-belly variety. Fantastic cream teas – and you can take the scones and jam home with you if you’re late for feeding the cat. If you're enjoying this review so far, check out We Love Local. This free service features reviews by customers who have used services or visited businesses in Manchester and througho

Café Soya One of the best restaurants in Birmingham. This place is cheap, cheerful and serves great quality food in a modern and clean restaurant. Situated in the heart of Birmingham City Centre (behind the Rag Market), this unassuming cafe serves incredibly good food at reasonable prices. The waiting staff are all very friendly and more than willing to help you choose something if you are stuck- the menu is pretty extensive, but all meals (including incredibly filling broths) are under £8 or so. Victoria Square Café Top quality greasy spoon for late night drinking recovery candidates. Reasonably priced, nicer than a kebab and tucked away in a hidden square just off Paradise Circus, this place retains a reputation for proper all day breakfasts as we used to know and love them. Kick off your dancing shoes and get down here for double egg and chips. Café Face The top rank (in Selly Oak). This place enjoys enormous reputation thanks to the friendliness of its staff and its ability t