How much do we love the holidays? Honestly, between Thanksgiving, end-of-year parties, dinner parties at home, and the lead-up to Christmas, we’re blessed with a veritable treasure chest of culinary pursuits, heavily laden tables, and the bliss that comes from breaking bread with family and friends. 

But all of that wonderful food doesn’t come without a cost and we’re not talking financially. At least not in this context, rather we’re talking about that most hated of culinary currencies - the calorie!

So how do we feast our way through December and still start the new year strong? Dear reader, we may have just solved that problem for you.

'Tis the Season for Cooking!

Image by AnonymousTraveller 

FIRST, PLAN YOUR MENUS

The easiest way to navigate your way through healthy eating this December is to plan for it. Knowing what parties you’re hosting, who’ll be attending, and what you intend on doing over Christmas and the new year will help you break down what your shopping list needs to look like, and where you mean to get your supplies from. 

A good menu planner is not just about ingredients, it’s also about the availability of those ingredients. Bertagna Family Farms is a great source because the product high-quality healthy foods and all the ingredients you could want for a delectable, fresh and healthy table spread.

IT’S ALL ABOUT GOING NATURAL

Fresh, naturally and organically produced foods and ingredients don’t have to compromise on taste and presentation. The opposite is actually true, because a table decked with brightly colored fruits and vegetables doesn’t just burst onto the tastebuds, but it also revitalizes the imagination.

Snack on Raw Organic Almonds, yogurt, and honey for something sweet, and roasted vegetables in olive oil and rosemary, sage, and other exotic spices and herbs will leave your visitors craving more, and feeling as if they could actually have more.

SUPPORT LOCAL

When you can, support your local industries and farms. Not only will this mean you have fresher produce but you’ll also be taking part in the economic recovery of local economies in the United States. (Or wherever you might find yourself).

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY (IT’S A THING!)

We’re always so tempted to over-prepare and ensure that our tables are creaking under the weight of giant turkeys, serving bowls overflowing with their contents - and then having to live off leftovers for the next few days.

Planning your meals and preparing them with quality, fresh ingredients go a long way to make sure that tummies are well filled without excess and waste. It is the perfect time of year to celebrate all of God’s goodness while being mindful of everyone who might not be in that same position. Quite literally, food for thought.

INSPIRED COOKING

Do some homework. Search for recipes that will appeal to your family’s palette and still hit your healthy eating goals. Remember, you don’t have to abandon all of your favorites, you just have to make a few smarter choices and over the season, they will lead to big results.

We want you to have a blessed, safe, and prosperous season filled with love and abundance. So happy eating, and happy Christmas!

PIN ME!

Savory Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

Savory Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year.  I love to start the day watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with my family.  Then, we head to my husband's family Thanksgiving celebration which usually begins at 2:00pm.  We spend a few hours with his brother's family, aunts, uncles, and cousins before heading to my mother's house where she hosts both my dad's side and her side of our extended family.  We spend the evening with my parents, my brother's family, aunts, uncles, and cousins before returning to our home where we collapse bone tired from the day's festivities.  That is if our adult children (and sometimes my mother and her cousins) don't talk us into an all night shopping spree.  Those all night shopping sprees were fun for a while but now I prefer to come home,  plop down in front of a Christmas movie, and shop online.  Now, let's talk about the food!  With the busy schedule I just described, I usually do all my cooking on Wednesday with a little touching up in the oven, microwave, or air fryer while we enjoy the parade on Thanksgiving morning.  My favorite contributions are chicken casserole, sweet potato soufflé, and chocolate oatmeal no-bake cookies.  Do you know what you are bringing to the Thanksgiving table this year?  If you have no idea, perhaps this list of 20 savory recipes for Thanksgiving dinner will help you decide.  

Feel free to add to the list in the comments section at the end of this post.  

20 Savory Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

The Appetizer

Let's start with an appetizer idea.  I found a new one that I might try this year.  How about fried olives?  This recipe posted by Carolina Gelen looks simple and delicious.  

The Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie boards are all the rage right now. There are a million ways to put one together, but if you need some inspiration, check out this Harvest Charcuterie Board for a tasty appetizer option from Melissa at No. 2 Pencil.

The Meats

Now for the main attraction, the turkey!  Are you the one who cooks the turkey for your family Thanksgiving meal?  Maybe you are cooking the turkey this year, but you've never cooked a turkey before?  Melissa at No. 2 Pencil has you covered with her yummy looking Garlic Herb Butter Turkey Thanksgiving Recipe.  I don't have to cook the turkey this year but if I did, I would try this recipe out.

Sometimes we have more than one meat offered at our Thanksgiving celebrations.  If you want to add chicken, ham, roast (or all three), then consider adding the next two recipes to your family table.

Ginger Orange Roast Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts by Sarah at Whole and Heavenly Oven

CrockPot Ham by Jessica at The Novice Chef (Need a good slow cooker?  I have one similar to this one and I love it!)

Ribeye Roast with Garlic and Herb Crust over at Butter Your Biscuit.

The Dressing AKA The Stuffing

Jill at the Carefree Kitchen offers us Grandma's Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe.  She has included a video to help ensure that your stuffing turns out perfect.

Another popular stuffing or dressing recipe is this Make Ahead Sage Apple Stuffing from Denise at Sweet Peas and Saffron.

The Bread

We love Kings Hawaiian Dinner Rolls but if you want a homemade bread to serve at the Thanksgiving dinner table, try this Savory Monkey Bread recipe from Samantha Skaggs at Five Heart Home.

The Salad

This unique Thanksgiving Brunch Salad by Lily Mathuse includes pork sausage, eggs, and caramelized apples.  It looks both delicious and filling.

Another delicious looking salad for the Thanksgiving dinner table is this Fall Harvest Salad from Georgia at The Home Cook's Kitchen.  This salad included candied walnuts and dried cherries!   Top it off with a maple balsamic dressing.

Vegetables

When I came across these Cheesy Roasted Broccoli Patties from Po' Man Meals, I decided to add these as a regular table staple at my house.  We all enjoy broccoli and think these will go over well every time.  Add these to your Thanksgiving meal and also enjoy them year round.  

Is it even Thanksgiving if a Green Bean Casserole isn't on the menu?  Check out this one from Betty Crocker.

As a child, I avoided sweet potatoes as much as possible, but a an adult, I can't get enough of them.  Add a little color to the plate with these Rosemary Parmesan Roasted Sweet Potatoes from Marcie at Flavor the Moments.

If vegan is how you roll, you'll love these Savory Vegan Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes from Healthy Taste of Life.

I live in the South where collard greens are just part of life.  I'll admit that they aren't one of my favorite foods, but I like them occasionally.  My mother used to cook them often and they were almost always on my grandmother's table no matter the day of the year.  If you aren't from the south and you've never had them, here's a great recipe for you to give them a try.  Check out Southern Collard Greens from Small Town Woman.

Raw carrots are great but cooked carrots are really great.  Add Roasted Carrots with Honey and Garlic to your table this year and watch them disappear fast.  This recipe is brought to us from Jennifer at Carlsbad Cravings.

Another pretty dish for the Thanksgiving dinner table is Roasted Fall Vegetables from Lauren at Delicious Little Bites.  You'll enjoy Brussels sprouts and butternut squash accented with cranberries and maple walnuts.

If you're doing the Paleo or Whole 30 lifestyle, you'll enjoy Ultimate Stuffed Roasted Acorn Squash from Michele at Paleo Running Momma.

Here's a different way to cook corn.  Have you ever had fried corn?  I've had boiled corn on the cob, creamed corn, corn casserole, but here's something different - Five Ingredient Garlic Fried Corn from Mariah at The Simple Parent.

I hope these suggestions will help you fill your table with foods your family will love.  

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

PIN ME!

Pumpkin Crafts and Activities for Kids

It's October!  October means all things pumpkin.  October also means lots of fall fun for kids.  Here is a list of pumpkin crafts and activities for kids.

Pumpkin Crafts and Activities for Kids

1.  Apple Stamping Pumpkin Craft:  Stamp cute pumpkins onto paper using an apple and orange paint.  Add googly eyes for super cuteness.  Check out this fun pumpkin craft from Made to Be a Momma.

2.  Easy Tide Pod Pumpkin:  Make a cute plastic pumpkin using an empty Tide pod container.  This craft looks nice with the green glittery lid.  Learn more about this craft from Tot School Resources here.

3.  Create mini pumpkins using orange pipe cleaners.  There are lots of other pipe cleaner crafts here at Fabulessly Frugal.

4.  Pumpkin Memory Matching Game:  Not only will your children improve memory skills, but they will also learn about emotions.  They'll improve social skills as they learn about 12 different emotions represented in this pumpkin matching game (update:  This game is no longer available.)

5.  Pumpkin Seed Puzzles:  Practice number recognition using this pumpkin seed puzzle suggestion from I Can Teach My Child.

6.  Paint Squishy Pumpkins:  Add colorful character to these solid white squishy pumpkins using this squishy pumpkin craft kit.  They can develop those motor skills while squishing them as they play with these pumpkins and decorate them.

This item is available here.

7.  Pumpkin Pounding:  Grab a real pumpkin, wooden pegs, and a child safe hammer.  Let the kids pound the pegs into the pumpkin.  This is good for hand-eye coordination.  There are lots of other pumpkin crafts and activities for 3 year olds here at No Time for Flashcards.

8.  Fall Wreath Craft Kit:  Let the kids help decorate your home.  They can make a fall pumpkin wreath using this fall wreath pumpkin craft kit.  Hang it in a place where they can see it and enjoy it all season long.

This item is available here.

9.  Color Mixing Pumpkin Activity:  Would you believe this activity is MESS FREE?  Find out how to let your kids enjoy this mess free pumpkin painting activity here at Crafts on Sea.

10.  Pom Pom Painted Pumpkin Patch on Paper:  Use painted pom poms to stamp pumpkins onto a paper pumpkin patch.  Learn more about this activity from Glued to My Crafts.

11.  Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin and a Bean Bag Toss:  This pumpkin activity kit includes two party games for kids.  They'll love trying to pin the nose on the pumpkin while blindfolded.  They'll also love knocking down the cans with bean bags.  This pumpkin activity kit could keep your kids busy having fun for hours.

This item is available here.

12.  Popsicle Stick Pumpkin Keepsake:  Make a pumpkin themed photo keepsake using popsicle sticks.  Keep the memory of that sweet smile forever with this idea from Fireflies + Mud Pies.

13.  Puffy Paint Caramel Apple Craft:  The kids will enjoy making these paper caramel apples using puffy paint.  See them here at I Heart Arts N Crafts.

14.  Candy Corn Bowling Game:  This activity isn't a pumpkin activity but I had to include it because it's cute and looks like fun.  Let the kids knock down the candy corn pins with the plastic bowling ball.  This is a great outdoor activity!

This item is available here.

15.  Pumpkin Pop Up Card:  Check out this adorable pumpkin pop up card activity from The Soccer Mom Blog on Pinterest.  This would be a great card to send to out-of-town relatives, especially grandparents.

You might also like:  Fall Pumpkin Activities

PIN ME!

Pumpkin Crafts and Activities for Kids