There is usually a mix in every Super Bowl crowd: the ones there for the games, the ones there for the commercials, and the ones in it for the snacks. We don't judge your motivation for hanging out with friends during Super Bowl XLVI (that's 46 for you who never learned Roman numerals or are too lazy to add letters, natch). Whether you're hosting or in charge of bringing a tasty treat, read on for some suggestions for Super Bowl snacks.

I just finished watching an episode of The Walking Dead and I can't help but put myself in their shoes. We might not be in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, but when your goal is to save money, one place to start is getting creative with meals, beginning with leftovers and excess food. Don't let it go to waste. Any good food that ends up in the trash equates to you having your money rot like those brain-thirsty zombies.

Whether you’re observing Indigenous Peoples Day up in Berkeley or Native Americans Day in South Dakota or just plain-Jane Columbus Day everywhere else, happy that one.   We hope you have a paid day off and aren’t too frustrated by all the closures around town.  We weren’t really sure how to celebrate this one but, with a little digging, we discovered fry bread. It makes sense that Native American foods would be bum friendly. There’s a pretty disturbing history still making itself felt. We present this article on fry bread in the hopes of honoring one of the many peoples who make up our fair city.

As many of you Angelenos probably know, this week is the Jewish New Year aka Rosh Hashana. People around the city will be gathering for festive meals replete with round Challah loaves, dishes of honey, and slices of apple. These round, sweet foods symbolize the hope for a sweet, complete year. This goodness is mighty appealing so whether you’re celebrating yourself or just throwing good wishes around, consider making a ceremonial dish yourself- non-traditional but perfectly spirited baked apples.

It’s true, somehow we missed National Waffle Week. This would be really sad except that we’re okay with celebrating holidays on the wrong day (because it’s often cheaper). It’s still September so it’s even kind of on time to have a waffle brunch or breakfast-for-dinner feast. Invite your friends and get down to business.

To me, there is something soothing about mixing together butter and sugar. I started making these cookies in college when finals, expenses, and relationships stressed me out so much I couldn’t sleep. Midnight often found me digging through cookbooks for new cookie recipes, but I often came back to these chocolate chip cookies. Something about their basic, easy, crowd-pleasing nature made them a top comfort cookie. In the middle of the night, or any other time, the instant gratification of these cookies may help make things just a little bit better.

Okay, it’s already 1pm on Labor Day and a BBQ blast beckons. But, you volunteered to bring dessert. It’s a bit of a dilemma when time is tight and your kitchen is too hot to bake but you can’t disappoint all the friends eagerly awaiting a tasty treat. Dah dah dah…it’s time to go old school with Rice Krispies Treats to the rescue. Just a few ingredients and a few minutes and you’ll be ready for all the applause.

The Loop may be off-air, but it left us with an important message: "you can't get mad at someone while you're eating fondue." While we won't put this to the test, we will whip up some delicious fondue. Cheese or chocolate, it's your call. Both rock. You may think that you don't have the requisite cookery, but we'll show you how to make do.

Summer heat is finally sneaking in and, with it, the need for refreshment. The farmers' markets are bursting with fresh summer fruits and the big box grocery stores always have a supply of orchard yielding. You can pretty easily turn some of that sweetness into a delightfully refreshing beverage. We know this is not an original idea, it's just a do-it-at-home-and-save-a-lot-of-money pointer.

Yes, June gloom seems to be out in full force, but sunny, bathing suit days are right around the corner. We'd venture to guess that most Angelenos would like to drop 5-10 lbs before donning said garment. If you've read any news for the past 10-ish years, you're probably aware that your diet has something to do with your weight. We know pear is a shape, but hourglass and inverted triangles are more popular summer options. So, we've found some free ways to kick-start your summer shape-up. Read on for some free ways to jump on the Angeleno "Omigosh, you look so good! Did you lose like a zillion pounds?!" bandwagon. (We mock, yet we understand.)