2 cups all-purpose flour



½ cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

1 egg (lightly beaten)

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped into smaller pieces

½ cup pecans chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease the muffin tin. In a large bowl mix together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a separate bowl mix the eggs, applesauce and oil. Add the applesauce mixture to the dry ingredients and mix together gently (do not over mix).

Gently fold in cranberries and scoop mixture into muffin cups until 2/3 full.

Bake at 350F for approximately 30 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan.

It's every parent's worse nightmare — Christmas is coming and money is tight. Many parents out there sympathize with you, and are going through the same thing you are. You're definitely not alone! Here are some tips for Christmas fun on a budget.

Buy on Sale – If you can, don't leave all the shopping for the last minute. There are some great sales on the run up to Christmas. Look through your local papers and try to buy items before they go up in price. And remember you don't have to buy tons of presents for a lot of people, be measured in your buying and remember that Christmas is not just about presents.

Don't Forget the Yard Sales – Depending on the weather where you are there may not be many at this time of year but you may still find some good bargains in your local magazine. Often times people will sell toys that still look like new for a fraction of the price, your kids won't mind or even know they're not new and you'll save a bundle of money.

Handmade Gifts - Are you a crafter? Use your talents for creating handmade items and make all your Christmas gifts this year. Kids love things like long, funky scarves and hats. Not only can you make gifts, but your kids can, too. Let them make cards, calendars and scrapbook pages on the computer to print out for family members. Homemade goodies like cookies or candies are great presents to give to teachers and neighbors too.

Fun for Everyone - Is there something that all your kids have wanted for a while? Purchase one nice, “big” gift for them to share. Kids are almost always flexible when it comes to these things.

Buy for Younger Kids Only - Tell your family that you will only buy presents for the kids in the family and that they don't have to worry about giving to you either. This will take the pressure off you and the less you have to buy for, the easier it will be to stay within budget.

Stay Home - Christmas means traveling for many families. This year, save your money and stay home for Christmas. Your family will understand if money is tight. Staying home will mean less stress for you and less money spent.

Volunteer - Volunteer your family's time at a local shelter or nursing home. You will be amazed at how much fun your children will have helping others. Even if you are on a tight budget yourself, this is an opportune time to see just how blessed your family is this holiday season.