A Frugal but Elegant Thanksgiving- Over the years I have had groups of 10 - 12 over to our house for Thanksgiving and served a nice dinner with all the extras without breaking my budget. It takes planning and watching the sales early instead of buying everything the week before. Something else that at first I was reluctant to do, is not to turn away help!
Appetizer Veggie Pizza- Whether it's for a party at the office or a holiday gathering, this is a perfect appetizer. Topped with fresh vegetables and cheese, you just can't go wrong.
Autumn and the Comforting Taste of Pumpkin- Every year as soon as the air starts cooling off I get out my pumpkin recipes. It doesn't seem to matter that I use canned and buy extra to keep on hand all year. I love baking with pumpkin in the autumn. It's one of those wonderful comfort tastes and smells. For years I made my annual pumpkin bread and pie, but didn't venture beyond the traditional. Since then I have realized that pumpkin is nutritious and a frugal choice if you stock up during the autumn sales at the store. Plus, when I bring one of these recipes to a family get together there usually isn't a duplicate!
Autumn In My Kitchen- The wonderful smell of autumn is here. From simmering cinnamon to the addictive aroma of fresh baked apple pie, nothing could be finer than Fall. To help you celebrate the tastes of this marvelous time of year, try some of these seasonal breads, muffins and loaves. Don't forget the flavored butters to add that final touch.
Awesome Apple Munchies- Apples are a wonderful source of vitamins, they're sweet and delicious, and there are so many recipes that you and your kids can make from them! Here are a few variations to choose from, all are fun for children and easy enough to do with help from a grown up.
Awesome Applesauce Loaf- The marvelous smell of cinnamon baking in the oven is like no other. It's spicy-sweet aroma wafts through your kitchen and through the rest of your house causing family members to come and ask "Whatcha makin'?" Makes me smile just thinking about it.
Cranberry Peach Cobbler- Buy too many cans of cranberries for the holidays? What to do with those leftover cans? Make this scrumptious cobbler with your leftover baking goodies and serve with vanilla ice cream for a special treat!
Crazy for Cranberries- Cranberries have long been considered part of a traditional Thanksgiving meal. For many the "perfect" cranberry sauce is a can-shaped cylinder of red, jiggly sweet stuff that accompanies turkey and dressing so well.
Creating Your Own Stuffing- Years after her passing, the wonderful taste of Grandma's stuffing is still quite vivid. It's the same recipe that has been handed down for generations. I still remember the first Thanksgiving at my soon to be in-laws home -- oh how I missed my Grandma's stuffing. Over the years, I've come to enjoy my Mother-In-Law's recipe as well. Here are some tips to help you create your own wonderful stuffing or even improve upon Grandma's recipes!
Decorative Vegetables- A picnic or holiday table adorned with decorative vegetables is pleasing to the eye as well as appetizing! Making fresh vegetables look like the pros do does not have to be difficult. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Edible Pilgrim Hats- These adorable (and edible!) Pilgrim hat favors will decorate any pretty holiday table. Turn them over to use as a treat cup and fill with your favorite treats.
Festive Beverages for the Holidays- Whether you are celebrating at home with your family, or throwing a large get together, special punches and beverages add a festive touch to the holidays.
Football Sandwich Cookies- These soft, chewy football cookies are perfect for the next school pep rally or a Sunday tailgating party with the gang! Tint the icing to match your favorite team's colors. Go team, Go!
Handprint Turkey Cookies- Kids will get a kick out of watching their handprints turn into turkeys. This fun group activity allows kids to not only make their own creations, but eat them too!
Holiday Stuffing Recipes- The following recipes can be used to stuff any poultry you may be serving for the holidays, or you can bake them for 30-45 minutes in a casserole dish. I would be sure to add a little extra moisture to each one if you do this since it won't have the juices from the poultry. Be sure to cover the casserole dish as it's baking.
Holidays Buffet Style- Buffet service fits perfectly into the relaxed, informal pattern of busy lives. If you have limited dining space, or if you are a do-it-yourself hostess, buffet service permits you to entertain with more ease than any other type of service, and just as graciously and pleasantly.
Maple Leaf Shortbread Cookies- These light and airy shortbread cookies are dressed in autumn's beautiful bold colors. The light maple flavoring is the perfect accompaniment to your Thanksgiving pumpkin and apple desserts.
Mini Cucumber Sandwiches- These mini open faced cucumber sandwiches have been around for as long as I can remember. From office parties to family gatherings, they are a tasty and refreshing addition to any appetizer tray.
Popcorn Ball Turkey- Make these fun turkeys for Thanksgiving and watch family and friends gobble them up! Kids will have a blast putting these goodie gobblers together.
Pumpkin Cake Balls- Dressed in bright orange and green, these little pumpkins will look charming decorating a party table. Add an icing face to them and they'll turn into jack o' lanterns, making them a irresistible favors for your Halloween party guests.
Rice Crispy Turkeys- These cute little rice crispy turkeys will make a sweet addition to your child's Thanksgiving table. They are sure to gobble them up for dessert!
Scarecrow Cheese Ball- This guy is all dressed up and ready to appear on your
Thanksgiving table. This is one time that you won't
have to worry about a scarecrow shooing away the
birds!
Scarecrow Sugar Cookies- These scarecrows are a little nutty - they're cut from an acorn cookie cutter. Whip up a batch of these sugar cookies to keep the kids busy after Thanksgiving dinner while the adults enjoy a few minutes to relax.
Talking Turkey with Emeril: Leftover Safety- We're all probably guilty of making a turkey sandwich with meat that should've been tossed a couple of days earlier. Keep in mind that roasted turkey must be refrigerated as soon as possible.
The Warmth of Spicy Cookies- Fresh baked cookies are a year round treat, but spicy cookies a cool weather tradition for our family. Homemade ginger and molasses cookies are so much better than store bought! Plus, they are full of the warmth of family and homemade goodness.
Turkey Cupcakes- This fun and festive recipe was brought to you by Holiday Fun With Cupcakes by April Johnson. Holiday Fun With Cupcakes focuses on creative ways to decorate the ever forgotten cupcake. These days Dads and Moms are busier and need quicker and easier ways to clean up and cupcakes are the way to go.
Thanksgiving
The leaves are almost done falling and Thanksgiving is quickly approaching! Whether you are looking for fun crafts, great recipes, or costume ideas, you'll find it all here. Here are a few examples to get you started...
Family Matters Radio
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Whether it's for a party at the office or a holiday gathering, this is a perfect appetizer. Topped with fresh vegetables and cheese, you just can't go wrong.
These adorable (and edible!) Pilgrim hat favors will decorate any pretty holiday table. Turn them over to use as a treat cup and fill with your favorite treats.
Whether you are celebrating at home with your family, or throwing a large get together, special punches and beverages add a festive touch to the holidays.
These soft, chewy football cookies are perfect for the next school pep rally or a Sunday tailgating party with the gang! Tint the icing to match your favorite team's colors. Go team, Go!
Kids will get a kick out of watching their handprints turn into turkeys. This fun group activity allows kids to not only make their own creations, but eat them too!
These light and airy shortbread cookies are dressed in autumn's beautiful bold colors. The light maple flavoring is the perfect accompaniment to your Thanksgiving pumpkin and apple desserts.
These mini open faced cucumber sandwiches have been around for as long as I can remember. From office parties to family gatherings, they are a tasty and refreshing addition to any appetizer tray.
Make these fun turkeys for Thanksgiving and watch family and friends gobble them up! Kids will have a blast putting these goodie gobblers together.
Dressed in bright orange and green, these little pumpkins will look charming decorating a party table. Add an icing face to them and they'll turn into jack o' lanterns, making them a irresistible favors for your Halloween party guests.
These cute little rice crispy turkeys will make a sweet addition to your child's Thanksgiving table. They are sure to gobble them up for dessert!
This guy is all dressed up and ready to appear on your
Thanksgiving table. This is one time that you won't
have to worry about a scarecrow shooing away the
birds!
These scarecrows are a little nutty - they're cut from an acorn cookie cutter. Whip up a batch of these sugar cookies to keep the kids busy after Thanksgiving dinner while the adults enjoy a few minutes to relax.
Win Fun Stuff!
Missed the last couple of newsletters? Haven't visited for a while? This section highlights articles and crafts that have recently been added to FC...
