Well, hi there! I hope this email finds you well and filled with hope and gratitude! And ready to “fall back” if you live in a state that goes back to standard time. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night, and don’t forget to vote if you haven’t already! Elections are on Tuesday!
Today’s newsletter is full of marvelous sides for your Thanksgiving menu planning, two new recipes, non-turkey main dishes, how to make your own vanilla extract and so much more!
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Be sure to browse the Table of Contents below to easily navigate this post.
22 Epic Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
I find my plate at Thanksgiving heaped with all of the fabulous side dishes that I typically only get a couple times year, I hope you will enjoy a few as well!
Whether you are hosting or bringing a dish to share, while the turkey is essential for me, it’s ALL-ABOUT-THE-SIDES!
Easy Homemade Corn Pudding Recipe without Jiffy Mix
This homemade Corn Pudding Recipe without Jiffy Mix is so simple, ready in a jiffy, without Jiffy! Using everyday, all-natural ingredients will become your favorite side dish, too!
Crispy Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli
Beautifully seasoned and oven roasted to perfection, these healthy crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli recipe is a game-changer for weeknight meals. The prep is quick, and it only takes about 30 minutes for the veggies to roast.
The Best Festive Holiday Salad Recipe
For a beautiful Holiday Salad Recipe this year, add a healthy punch of bold flavors to your holiday menu. Simple greens, fruits, and veggies topped with goat cheese and crunchy nuts — it is a festive holiday salad topped with pomegranate arils and a pomegranate balsamic vinaigrette.
Crockpot Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole Recipe
Crockpot Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole is rich, cheesy, and the ultimate comfort food! It's almost effortless, made with frozen hashbrowns, butter, and sour cream all tossed into the slow cooker, for the easiest side dish ever!
Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole (Vegetable Au Gratin)
As we enter the holiday season, easy side dishes are a must and slam-dunk recipes like this vegetable au gratin are always a winner. You will also love my broccoli gratin, potatoes au gratin and this not your Grandma’s Green Bean Casserole.
Classic Green Bean Casserole Recipe with Bacon
This homemade version of Classic Green Bean Casserole with Worcestershire is packed with creamy and savory flavors. Made with fresh green beans, a from scratch sauce, crisp bacon and topped with traditional French-fried onions. No canned soups in sight!
Best Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe
An easy Thanksgiving Stuffing recipe that is the best, savory sausage, apple, walnut stuffing made with fresh pumpernickel, sourdough and brown bread, a new holiday tradition!
Creamy Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Dreamy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes; enhanced with the flavorful elegance of roasted garlic, these will become your go-to mashed potatoes.
How to Make Gravy from Scratch {Turkey Giblet Gravy}
This recipe for silky, smooth, oozing with amazing turkey flavor gravy is the last one you will ever need! Make ahead and save time on your busy holiday, while you wow your guests with this gravy.
Easy Cheesy Broccoli Au Gratin Recipe
This creamy and cheesy Broccoli Au Gratin Recipe is made with fresh and tender broccoli florets, sharp white cheddar, nutty gruyere cheese, and seasoned with minced garlic and fragrant herbs. The perfect holiday side dish.
Cheesy Funeral Potatoes
Cheesy potato casserole topped with buttery corn flakes, creamy, cheesy, easy with no canned soup. The best potluck and holiday dish ever. Make ahead and gluten free option.
Cheesy Asparagus Bake {No Fail!}
Even non-asparagus fans will LOVE this recipe for roasted asparagus cheese bake! It's a snap to make, 5 minute prep, 20 minutes in the oven — perfect cheesy asparagus every single time!
Southern-Style Green Beans
Homemade Southern-style green beans are a staple of the holiday celebrations in my home. Parmesan makes them rich and cheesy, and they have just the right amount of crunch from fried onions and toasted almonds. It's my take on green bean casserole with bacon!
Potatoes au Gratin (Potatoes Dauphinoise)
Potatoes au Gratin are the best!! This classic French potato side dish is also known as potatoes Dauphinoise. Thinly sliced potatoes layered with a creamy herb and garlic infused sauce, studded with rich and nutty Gruyère cheese; baked to golden, creamy, bubbly perfection! Oh and they are naturally gluten-free!
Easy & Healthy Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
In minutes you will be serving hot, fluffy Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes. They are incredibly healthy and easy to make, and they turn out perfectly soft inside with a delicious crispy skin.
Easy Instant Pot Glazed Carrots
This recipe for easy Instant pot glazed Carrots is so simple, with the fresh, earthy flavor of tarragon, a little butter and sea salt, you will have an incredibly easy, quick and tasty side dish.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Balsamic Glaze
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Balsamic Glaze has a secret to the perfect crispy, roasted leaves, then drizzled with a warm honey balsamic glaze.
Fall Harvest Salad {with Roasted Butternut Squash & Quinoa}
This fall harvest salad complements any meal with its sweet and smoky flavors. There are such wonderful colors and produce this time of year, so I love having a go-to fall harvest chicken salad recipe up my sleeve for any event. This recipe is perfect for a fancy luncheon, a hearty dinner or to serve as a healthy option during the holidays.
Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe
This Air fryer asparagus recipe is a healthier and easier way to prepare garden fresh asparagus. A fresh and healthy veggie side dish with simple seasonings for amazing flavor and beautiful presentation.
Harvest Wild Rice Salad {Holiday Salad Recipe}
Wild Rice Harvest salad is overflowing with lots of satisfying crunchies, and you’ll enjoy eating the rainbow of toppings. Dressed with this easy to prepare maple Dijon vinaigrette.
Holiday Praline Yams (Sweet Potatoes)
An amazing make ahead side-dish for the upcoming holidays! Light, creamy, complex, with undertones of orange and cinnamon, touched with a hint of whiskey, not to mention the indulgent sweet pecan praline topping.
Fresh Cranberry Relish
This has been on our holiday table since I can remember, I was a young kid when I learned to love the sweet-tart flavor of fresh cranberry relish! This gets better with time, so make it ahead!
What I’m Making’
You are going to love these new recipes! The peach cobbler cinnamon rolls might be a smidge past their season, but I HAD to get them out, so tuck that recipe away for next year! Or make them with frozen peaches, out of this world!
And shredded pork sliders!! The coleslaw alone is worth making this for, but the sliders take it over the top!
Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders Recipe
Have saucy shredded pork sliders on the dinner table in no time! The ingredients are simple, including tender BBQ pulled pork, creamy coleslaw, French-fried onions, and melty cheese.
You may surprise yourself with how mouth-watering this easy recipe is!
Easy Peach Cobbler Cinnamon Roll Recipe (Homemade)
My recipe testers (friends, family, neighbors) RAVED about these peach cinnamon rolls; several even said they could be sold in a bakery. So take a deep breath, and let’s dive in!
Non-Turkey Main Dishes
I have some friends who do not like turkey, personally, I LOVE turkey, but that’s okay; everyone has different tastes; below are a few recipes that you are going to love especially if you are not a turkey lover!
Best Juicy Marinated Pork Tenderloin (Air Fryer + Oven)
Have you ever made pork tenderloin in the air fryer? It only takes 25 minutes and uses fresh ingredients! A pork tenderloin with a sweet and savory cranberry orange chutney; perfect for a holiday meal or a Sunday dinner. Comfort food at it’s best! And if you don’t have an Air Fryer (hello Christmas list) I provide oven directions too.
Best Easy Honey Baked Ham Recipe (not dry!)
Learn how to cook spiral Ham without drying it out, it is easier than you might think. My copycat Honey baked ham recipe is a perfectly moist spiral ham. With a honey sugar crust, most of the work is done in your crock pot.
Italian Braised Short Ribs
These tender Italian Braised Short Ribs are exquisite, elegant and amazingly simple; for everyday or a special occasion. Slow braised beef short ribs in a rich, herb and vegetable infused red wine beef gravy (sauce).
In the here and now | Real-life stories
That snowstorm that was promised last week? Boy, oh boy did it come! We received about 6-7 inches of fresh snow! And baby, it was cold! A couple of nights were in the teens; let’s just say I was happy we got all that firewood stacked.
But since the storm waited until later on Saturday night to hit, it changed all sorts of plans. Church was canceled, so we went to our friend’s house for brunch instead — we had a fabulous time together.
For those who don’t know me, I live for snow! Maybe it was growing up in So Cal with so many 90-degree holidays that I crave cooler weather, but I love it. Below are a few pictures from our week!
Have you tried…
- This soup is for anyone and everyone, with a little kick to remind you of why you love soups! 10 Vegetable Soup a Panera Copycat recipe.
- No-Knead Cranberry Walnut Bread – this recipe takes about 5 minutes to stir together, it rises overnight and you bake it in the morning! OH SO GOOD!
- Ever had the pumpkin pie from Costco? Well this one is even better, a creamy custard pumpkin pie that will have everyone drooling!
What Readers Are Saying about…
Harvest Grain and Nut Pancakes
You’ll adore the wholesome texture and distinctive buttermilk taste in these nutritious pancakes. Packed with whole wheat flour, nuts, and oats, this IHOP Harvest Grain Pancake replica is a delightful choice. Finish it off with a dollop of butter and a drizzle of maple syrup for a satisfying breakfast.
I made these for the first time today and they were terrific! However, I felt that they needed some honey in the batter to make them taste like the IHOP pancakes. I added just a touch to the last pancakes I cooked and they were perfect. I will definitely be making these again!
Nancy
Harvest Grain and Nut Pancake Recipe (IHOP Copycat)
You'll love the hearty texture and signature flavor of buttermilk in these healthy pancakes. Whole wheat flour, nuts and oats, this copycat IHOP Harvest Grain Pancake recipe is delicious! Top with butter and maple syrup for a hearty breakfast.
What Caught My Eye | Sales and Deals
Check out the below items HERE! Plus, previous week’s finds!
What I’m Loving | Holiday Planning
A few things caught my eye this week!
- Air Fryer | If you don’t have one, they are genius and I love my Ninja Foodi Air Fryer that air fries, grills plus so much more! With just the two of us home, grilling is now a year-round pleasure without mess!
- The Christmas season will be here before we know it; so get a jump start on your decor. I love these Sherpa stockings, or these chunky bauble knit stockings, but these darling knit stockings are a much better deal!
- I am changing up my mantle decor this year and decorating with artificial Norfolk pine garland and these fun bells and these too, with these simple stocking hangers to hang them from! I love this prelight tree topper star!
- I adore this magnolia and pine door wreath from Joyfully Said and this one from Amazon.
- My husband and I are always chilly, I might get this electric throw for us to enjoy this holiday season. (20% off coupon).
October Best Sellers | You all loved this Onedream Sweatsuit (I have it in black and olive) and these Staub Bakers (set of 2) at Crate and Barrel and also on Amazon (but not in white).
Browse my Amazon Storefront
How to make your own vanilla
Ever made your own vanilla extract? Check out my post on how to make your vanilla extract (and bourbon vanilla) with everything you need to know. They make great gifts, PLUS I have free printable gift tags for you! Stock up on vanilla beans to make your own; I love these organic Madagascar vanilla beans (10-pack), and this 50-pack is an excellent deal!
Remember, for my readers, you have free access anytime to all of our printables! Password Thankyou
Weekly Inspiration | Encouragement for your soul
With our ever-increasing instant everything world, including news from around the globe, it can sometimes weary our souls. This is an older daily devotion from Daily Bread but I felt like it was timely.
Hearing Christ, Not Chaos
After watching TV news for hours each day, the elderly man grew agitated and anxious—worried the world was falling apart and taking him with it. “Please turn it off,” his grown daughter begged him. “Just stop listening.” But the man continued to spend an excessive amount of time on social media and other news sources.
What we listen to matters deeply. We see this in Jesus’ encounter with Pontius Pilate. Responding to criminal charges brought against Jesus by religious leaders, Pilate summoned Him and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (John 18:33). Jesus replied with a stunning question: “Is that your own idea . . . or did others talk to you about me?” (v. 34).
The same question tests us. In a world of panic, are we listening to chaos or to Christ? Indeed, “my sheep listen to my voice,” He said. “I know them, and they follow me” (10:27). Jesus “used this figure of speech” (v. 6) to explain Himself to doubting religious leaders. As with a good shepherd, He said that “his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice” (vv. 4–5).
As our Good Shepherd, Jesus bids us to hear Him above all. May we listen well and find His peace.
By: Patricia Raybon
With hope and joy today and always,
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