Showing posts sorted by date for query thanksgiving. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query thanksgiving. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dishes

 

Thanksgiving is all about the food, and the side dishes are just as important as the main course. From classic dishes like mashed potatoes and green bean casserole to more creative options like roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potato gratin, there's a side dish out there for everyone.



Garlic Parmesan Sweet Potatoes by Maria’s Mixing Bowl

Cracker Barrel Mac N Cheese by The Cagle Diaries

Orange Spiced Sweet Potato Casserole by Crinkled Cookbook




Cranberry Pecan Rice Pilaf from Val’s Kitchen

Pesto Brussel Sprouts by Veggies Save the Day

From Scratch Green Bean Casserole by Served From Scratch

Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole by Two Pink Peonies

Roasted Pumpkin Beetroot Salad by Maple + Mango

Brussel Sprout and Apple Salad by Conflicted Vegan

Sauteed Sweet Potatoes by Two Cloves Kitchen

Harvest Quinoa Salad by Honest and Truly

Browned Butter Sage Mashed Sweet Potatoes by What a Girl Eats

Spiced Rice Stuffed Squash by Little Farro Kitchen




Green Bean Bundles by Bitz n Giggles

Best Cranberry Sauce by Ann’s Entitled Life


Find more favorite recipes here:

Thanksgiving Dinner Sandwich

12 Cranberry Sauce Recipes

Homemade Play Dough Recipes: A Fun and Easy Way to Keep Kids Entertained

 Play Dough Recipes: A Fun and Easy Way to Keep Kids Entertained

Play dough is a great way to keep kids entertained for hours on end. It's also a great way to help them develop their fine motor skills and creativity. And best of all, it's easy to make at home with just a few simple ingredients.




Here are a few of our favorite play dough recipes:


Ice Cream Playdough by Bitz n Giggles

This playdough idea is perfect for a mess free ice cream play session with the kids.


Thanksgiving Playdough by Making Frugal Fun

Make this for the family feast, and give the kids something to do while they wait to have dinner!


Shimmer Makeup Playdoh by In the Playroom

Who knew you could make playdough with make up?! This is a fun idea for girls who love all things glam.


Cornstarch and Lotion Playdough by The DIY Nuts

This recipe makes for the softest playdough ever. You are going to want to squish this a few times before letting the kids have it.


Pumpkin Spice Playdough by Suburbia Unwrapped

Playdough is always fun, but when it smells of pumpkin spice, the experience is twice as nice.


Super Soft Fairy Dough by Little Bins for Little Hands

This recipe for fairy dough is so soft it feels nothing short of magical!


Glittery Pumpkin Pie Playdough by Retro Potluck

A pinch of glitter takes this pumpkin pie play dough experience to the next level.


Glow in the Dark Playdough by Our Wabi Sabi Life

This playdough glows in the dark for an incredibly fun experience for kids.


Kool Aid Playdough  by The Best Ideas for Kids

This playdough is made with kool aid for such a vibrant color!


Chocolate Play Doh by Rainy Day Mum

Make a batch of chocolate play doh for kids to play with!


5 Minute Playdough by Made in a Pinch

This recipe only takes 5 minutes to make and is just the thing for a rainy day activity!


Color Changing Playdough by STEAM Powered Family

This recipe makes for a magical color changing dough that kids are going to love to play with.


Extract Scented Play Doh by The Typical Mom

This dough is scented with extracts for a sensory experience that kids are going to love.


Glittery Blue Playdough by Tikkido

This glittery blue play doh is perfect for a Frozen themed play session.


Conditioner Playdough by Sweet Silly Sara

Make this recipe with conditioner for a really soft playdoh to share with the kids.





Play Dough Variations There are endless possibilities when it comes to play dough variations. Here are a few ideas: Add glitter or confetti for a festive touch. Add essential oils for a calming aroma. Add herbs or spices for a sensory experience. Add different types of flour for different textures. Add salt dough to make ornaments or other crafts. With a little creativity, you can make play dough that's perfect for your kids. So get started and have fun!

Find more play doh ideas here:
Play Doh Food Puzzles
Play Doh Pie Counting

Handprint Crafts for Kids

Are you looking for some fun ways to keep the kids busy this winter? Well, why not look down, at your hands, to get a little inspo!

We love hand print art! When the kids were tiny, they liked nothing more than making some homemade monster puppets with their handprints!




Handprint art is so much fun for kids to make, but adults also love handprint art. It makes for the perfect reminder of when their hands were that small. Who doesn't love art that doubles as a keepsake? I gathered some of my favorite cutie pie ideas from some of my favorite bloggers to share with you. Please make sure you click through the links to check out the tutorials. Pin the ideas that appeal to you. You might just want to start a new board because all of these are adorable.



If you make any of these crafts with your kids make sure to hop over to facebook and share a photo with me!


You might also want to check out these cute hand print fish puppets.

Unique Nacho Recipes

 Are you looking for some easy meal ideas to get dinner on the table in a flash? Lately I have been LOVING nachos! The whole family will eat them without complaint, and there are so many ways to prepare them. You could serve nachos every week without repeating a recipe if you really wanted to!



I don't know about you, but just thinking about all of the cooking I have ahead of me in the coming weeks is enough to leave me overwhelmed. I like Thanksgiving; who can resist pie and turkey with all of the trimmings? But. Hear me out. I am over cooking these epic feasts already! I never want to eat it after cooking all morning, and the mess is enough to make me want to cancel dinner and stay in bed.

This year, I am going to give myself a BREAK before Thanksgiving and take the easy out for as many meals as possible. My meal plan for the month includes some very basic plans like soup and grilled cheese, crock pot chili, and of course, we are going to have nachos a few times.



I gathered some of the recipes I want to try the most to share with you. These are unique and easy. I am sure your family will love them all. 



Blackened shrimp nachos by Ask Chef Dennis 

I really want to try this recipe because I love shrimp and often keep a bag in the freezer for easy meals. With the price of everything being so high these days, I love that I could make these with what I have on hand, switching out the veggies for what I have in the fridge. 



Waffle Fry Nachos by Dinner at the Zoo

This is a delicious twist on fries and nachos! I have a feeling my kids would love to mix up the toppings to get all of their favorites in there. 



Mexican Street Corn Bacon Nachos by The Forked Spoon

This recipe mixes up so  many good ingredients like corn, tomatoes and avocado to make a really delicious nachos that your family will gobble up!



Green Chile Nachos by Homemade for Elle

These are colorful and just the thing for someone, like me, who LOVES green chile flavor! I would probably add some olives and maybe onions to the mix too!



Loaded Cauliflower Nachos by I Hacked Diabetes

These are perfect for eating a lighter, yet totally satisfying meal. I don't know if my kids will love this recipe, but my waistline will thank me for taking a lighter route at dinner a night or two when I am faced with all of the epic holiday desserts to come my way.



Crispy Loaded Jalapeno Nachos by Crayons and Cravings

If you love jalapenos, then you are going to want to dig into this recipe! Crispy jalapeno nachos look incredibly appealing to me. I LOVE spicy food!



Nachos Deluxe by Ann's Entitled Life

This recipe is loaded with good things! And it looks just messy enough to be fun to eat! I would add some fresh veggies to the top of this plate!


Which of these nachos would you try first?

While you are here you might like to check out 12 Lasagna Recipe You Will Love or My Copycat Cracker Barrel  Chicken and Dumplings recipe.

14 Christmas Casseroles for Breakfast

Are you looking for a way to make Christmas breakfast amazing without spending much time in the kitchen? This list has 14+ breakfast casseroles that will make the holiday morning deliciously satisfying!




From casseroles loaded with sausage to hearty casseroles that are straight from the Amish country. This collection has some really decadent ideas for you!  I can't wait to hear which is your favorite!

As you might have figured out already, I am all about the Christmas holidays! I drive my family a little nutty with my enthusiasm for the holidays. I begin building steam in September and am elbows deep in crafting, cooking and wrapping by the weekend after Thanksgiving.

I guess you could consider this your one stop shop for crafty ideas, easy foods and great gifts. Well, enough about my holiday obsession and let's get on to these recipes! Be sure to click thru the link to visit the recipes.




Sausage Apricot Breakfast Casserole by Dukes and Duchesses

Breakfast Burrito Casserole by Homemade Interest

Easy Overnight Egg Bake by Foodal

Overnight Cinnamon Roll Casserole by The Kitchen is my Playground

Sausage Breakfast Casserole by Meaningful Mama

Farmers Market Breakfast Casserole by Two Healthy Kitchens

Cinnamon Roll Casserole by Cook Eat Go

Mediterranean Brunch Bake by Simply Stacie

Potato Breakfast Bake by That Guy Who Grills

Easy Egg Casserole by Mama Loves Food

Cowboy Christmas Casserole by Platter Talk

Eggs Benedict Casserole by Centsless Meals

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole by Spend with Pennies

Amish Breakfast Casserole by Ally's Sweet and Savory Eats

Find all of my holiday crafts here




12+ Cheesecake Recipes for the Holiday Season


The holidays are the perfect time to whip up and enjoy a decadent cheesecake! If you have been looking for a unique new recipe to try, this collection is the perfect starting place.

Make sure you pin this collection to your holiday baking board. 

Social shares are so much appreciated. They help my site grow and send traffic to my blogging friends that participated in sharing recipes for this post. So please, hit that share to twitter, facebook, pinterest or etc button!



This collection has something for everyone! From a sweet sopapilla cheesecake to  cranberry cheesecake bar recipe that is perfect for Thanksgiving



Sopapilla Cheesecake by Spend with Pennies
Monkey Bread Cheesecake by Sweet Recipeas
Red Velvet Cheesecake by Food, Folks and Fun
Maple Bacon Cheesecake by Ashlee Marie
Funfetti Cheesecake  by The Suburban Soap Box
Fireball Brown Sugar Cheesecake  by Sweet Recipeas

Related: Apple Pie Cheesecake Parfaits



Gingersnap Cheesecake by Julie Measures
Birthday Cake Cheesecake by Centsable Mom
Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars by Centsless Meals
Christmas Tree Cheesecakes by Mom Foodie
Peppermint Cheesecake Trifle by Tastes of Lizzy T
Cranberry Cheesecake Bars by Domestic Superhero


If you are craving more holiday goodness check out my Thanksgiving collection.
There is so much fun to be found in my Christmas section, you won't want to miss a moment!


Thanksgiving Dinner Sandwich

There is no shame in my game. I get way too excited about Thanksgiving! The actual meal is pretty wonderful, but the days and days of leftovers are what dreams are made of for me!

There are so many ways to serve them, but my favorite is the Thanksgiving Dinner Sandwich!
I like to serve this on croissants. The flakiness adds so much yum to this! 



This sandwich can be made anyway you like it, with whatever leftovers you have on hand.
I like to stick to the basics, but my husband adds the veggies to his!




To make the Thanksgiving Dinner Sandwich, Sara Style:
Cut a Croissant in half.
Add a layer of stuffing,
a drizzle of gravy,
Then top with turkey and another drizzle of gravy.
Pop in the microwave for about a minute and a half, or better yet, warm in a 350 degree oven for about 13-15 minutes.




This is the way to eat your leftovers on a crusty, flaky open face sandwich! You will need a knife and fork for this one!

From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

Gifts for Men

Guys need great gifts, but finding a gift he will love and not toss in a closet and forget about is a challenge. Lucky for you, I did the shopping to simplify the holiday season for you. Check out some of my favorite gift ideas for the men in your life. Be sure to check back over the next few weeks as I will update this list daily with new finds.

Samples were provided for photography. Affiliate links may be used.



If you need the ultimate gift for an angler on your shopping list, Get him the Go Fish cam. This is awesome because it gives him a glimpse of what is below the surface without interfering with his casting off. He can also live stream his fishing trips for new found stardom in the fishing world. Get it online for  $240.



Coffee is life, but it is not always convenient to brew a pot. Give him the gift of a great cup of coffee, anytime with Waka Decaf Instant Coffee. This is a really good cup of instant coffee. Get it online for about $12 for 8 cups.



Save a special guys back this winter from all of the shoveling he is bound to do this winter with the Back EZ tool. This takes the strain off of the back during shoveling and can be added to most shovels, rakes and more. Get it online for about $10.



If your special guy has a fondness for luxury watchers, he needs a really great watch winder. Check out this single winder from Barrington. The motor is super quiet and this is a great gift for the guy who has everything. Get it online for about $180.





Give a guy that you wouldn't mind gazing upon poolside some awesome swimwear that leaves little too the imagination with Hunk2 underwear and swimwear. They have some great styles available starting at about $60. Order online.



Give the gift of confidence and odor free feet with deodorizer spray from Solemates. I love that you can also use this in gym bags.  For $20, you can keep his shoes funk free with ease. Order online.



We expect so much from the guys in our lives. Why not give them a chance to show their extra side with Extra Extra Socks. These are sized for bigger feet and bring a lot of personality to any outfit. Grab a few pairs to keep his feet cozy this holiday season. Find them online.


The Exact Golf Tool is the gotta get gift for any golfer in your life. It functions as a ball marker, divot repairer, cigar holder, groove cleaner and club grip holder. This little package packs quite a punch and is a must have for his golf bag. By it online for a golfer on your shopping list.



Give the gift of more storage with the Seagate One Touch SSD. This portable storage option fits in his wallet or backpack to allow him access to his photos, media and more with one touch. I like the fabric feel of this external storage option making transfers less mundane. Find it online at retailers like Amazon for about $85.



If you are shopping for a youtuber, the Nextbase Dash Cam is a must get gift for the holidays. The 522GW is an impressive dash cam option. It has Alexa built in, can easily sync videos and even has cool safety features. If someone bumps your car, it will be activated and will also alert emergency personnel if there is an accident. Retailing at under $260, this is the perfect gift for a techie or a youtuber. Buy online at the NextBase site. 


Axe is always a safe bet for the holiday season. Guys from 12 to 102 can appreciate the range of manly fragrances Axe brings to personal care. Grab a gift set this year, or just head to the drug store and buy a range of Axe body wash, hair products and antiperspirant/ deodorants and make a gift basket of your own for a really great smelling guy this Christmas.



Add the ultimate pint glass to his home bar with these really stunning muffin top pint glasses from Brewing America. These are visually appealing ways to serve a cold brew while the design insures a proper head in every glass. Order these online at Brewing America. Add a farewell message to boss and make it even more special for him.








Guys like to snack, so adding beef jerky to his gift is brilliant. But, any old jerky will not do. Get the Old Trapper Brand. There are several delectable flavors available and this stuff is so tender it is unreal. Big bags are about $14, but you can save on recurring subscriptions. Order online from Old Trapper.



If you are married to a really active guy, you can give him a safe ring that he never needs to take off. Groove rings are made of silicone and are perfect for the guy who likes action. These rings are comfortable, fit well, and look great. Order online from Groove Life. Rings start around $30 and can be customized with your own message.



Winter days were made for binge watching favorite shows. If you gift a guy on your shopping list the complete series of Gotham on BluRay, he will have weeks worth of entertainment at his fingertips. This the perfect time to grab this series and celebrate 80 years of Batman.  Find this set at Walmart, Best Buy or from Amazon for under $80.



Shaving is a regular part of life for guys, but that doesn't mean it has to be a boring part of life. Super fans are going to love bringing their favorite team into the mix with some awesome shaving power. Gilette is making these funtastic NFL handles just in time for Christmas. For $25 you can get his favorite team on a razor and  4 5-bladed ProShield cartridge refills. Gilette is also offering the same deal with Nascar if racing is more his thing. Order from Gilette.com.



If you need a useful gift for a frequent traveler, the Airhook is the ultimate. This gadget holds your drink and your device over the head rest for easy entertainment and increased comfort on a plane ride. I love that it gives users a hands free experience for under $30. Order online from the Airhook website or Amazon.



Shopping for the guy who has everything? A space pen makes for a gift that is useful and timeless. These pens can write in any circumstances. Greasy receipt from a burger bag all you have handy? No sweat, you can take the note and keep the pen. These pens write at any angle, under water and even in zero gravity. Buy one online for about $30 from the Fischer Space Pen company.



Add a handsome waiters corkscrew to his home bar. The next time he is ready to open a bottle of wine, he can rely on this premium waiters corkscrew to get the cork out with ease. This is an affordable gift option for a sophisticated man. Get it from Hicoup on Amazon for about $10.



When the weekend rolls around your favorite guy wants to ditch the work wear and chill. This Brooklyn street sign shirt will help him do just that. Check out the selection of thought provoking tees that are perfect for weekend wear for your favorite guy from the Sticks and Stones website. Prices start around $25 for shirts.



Got a guy with a great beard on your to buy for list? Then you need to get him some goodies for his gorgeous beard. My husband loves the Mountaineer Brand of beard care products. They have some really great kits available for under $50 that have everything a guy needs for a well groomed beard. Mountaineer products are all natural and smell really nice. Buy online and get free shipping on orders over $35.



Why not give a gift that is practical and is super kind to the earth? Epic Water has bottles and pitchers that are perfect for gifting. A pitcher will filter the equivalent of 1000 plastic bottles worth of water on one nano filter. Get one for about $55, or get a bottle which can handle about 4 months of filtering for $35. Stop back after Thanksgiving for your chance to win a prize pack of Epic Water Filter products.
Order these earth friendly epic filters online.


Gifting a guy who loves to grill? This BBQ apron puts the recipes and a lot of info on an apron to keep dirty hands off of cook books. Get the full length version for $25, or a half waist apron from Suck Uk.


If you want a gift that will be useful but is budget friendly, the G Clamp Bottle Opener adds a cool feature to his work bench; a place to pop off a top when he is ready to unwind a little. Get this online from Suck UK for $12.



Headphones make a great gift for anyone, of any age or gender. But, this pair is perfect for men because it is durable and can handle their workouts, adventures and down time too. This neckband wireless headset by iJazz is available on amazon for about $35. It is bluetooth compatible and produces a good quality of sound for an affordable price.



Make a Big Bang this holiday season with the complete season of The Big Bang Theory on Bluray. This special limited edition set has 279 episodes with so much binus content that fans might be binging for weeks to see all these discs have to offer. Find it at Walmart, Best Buy or on Amazon for about $180.


You can find all of my gift guides here.

12+ Cranberry Sauce Recipes to Crave

If you want to step up from canned cranberry sauce, you are in the right place! I found 12 of the best cranberry sauce recipes to share with you. 


I have never even tried cranberry sauce before. I am a 40 year old woman.
Growing up, it was not a dish to be found at a single Thanksgiving meal I attended. I can't recall ever seeing my mom ponder a can of cranberry sauce at the store, and certainly she never bought fresh cranberries. I don't even think those could be found in my tiny town growing up.

My mother in law likes it though. Over the years she seems to have figured out that cranberry never occurs to me when I am preparing the meal. She has been bringing a can of cranberry along hopefully for years.

Canned cranberry sauce looks gross though. It reminds me of beets, which I also don't like. HA! I used to pride myself on not being a picky eater, but this post might prove otherwise.

This year I am going to go out of my way and attempt to make a real proper cranberry dish to wow my mother in law this Thanksgiving. I found 12 recipes that look amazing. So much better than a blob of canned cranberry!



Easy Citrus Cranberry Sauce by Spend with Pennies
Best Ever Cranberry Sauce by Mom on Time Out
Homemade Cranberry Sauce by Sugar Spun Run
Ten Minute Cranberry Sauce by Swanky Recipes
Sugar Free Orange Cranberry Sauce by Make Life Lovely
Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce by A Mom's Impression
Homemade Cranberry Sauce by All She Cooks
Fresh Berry Cranberry Sauce by My Turn For Us
Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce by Cincy Shopper
Cranberry Chutney by Mom Foodie
Grape Cranberry Sauce by Cindy's Recipes
Gran Mariner Cranberry Sauce by The Kitchen is My Playground

Which of these recipes sound best to you? And please! Someone tell me exactly how you prepare a can of cranberry sauce.

Find all of my Thanksgiving posts here