Hi Cooking Moms, Dads & Friends,

I hope you all had a great week! It was kind of crazy here in Wisconsin. We had a serious blast of winter with cold, snow, and ice. The works! It’s a bit early for this, but what are you gonna do? The cold does have me so ready for Thanksgiving. My daughter Ireland will be home from college. Yippee! I can hardly wait. Now is the perfect time to start planning your holiday menu. It’s always fun to try a few new dishes.

I put together some really fun, delicious recipes that will really WOW your guests but won't have you stuck in the kitchen all day. Tomorrow I’m headed to California for what I’m calling Turkey Tour 2019. I'm cooking The Ultimate Holiday Dinner on TV in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Santa Barbara. Gobble Gobble! I promise to post lots pics on Instagram.

I like to put out a bunch of appetizers earlier in the day before dinner. We like to watch football, play board games, and just hang out together before the big meal. My Turkey Appetizer Platter is a great way to get the pre-Thanksgiving munching started. Isn't it cute? I know it looks hard to do, but I promise it’s not! It serves as a centerpiece for your buffet too. Take a picture quick though because it will disappear before you know it. LOL!

My hot Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip is always a hit. Looks so pretty in a bread bowl and it's so good! My Cranberry Brie Bites are also on my menu. Talk about easy! Just 3 ingredients. They are a great way to use leftover cranberry sauce too. Click Appetizers for more more pre-dinner appetizer recipes.

Thanksgiving dinner is over before you know it. That’s why I try to make it last as long as possible! I like to start out Thanksgiving dinner with a nice, beautiful salad. Pick up some grapes and make my Heavenly Grape Salad. You can make it ahead. It really is heavenly. I make a mean Cranberry Fluff too. Click Salads for more of my favorite holiday salad recipes.

Not that I don’t love the turkey but probably my favorite part of the holiday dinner is all those sides! Click to read my latest blog post Up Your Side Dish Game with My Cheesy Corn and Green Chile Casserole This dish is AMAZING! Super easy too!

My Green Bean Bundles are my absolute favorite! They make a great appetizer or side dish. They are TO DIE FOR! Trust me, your gang will love them.

Instead of the cranberry stuff in the can, why not make your own this year? It’s so much better. My recipe for Cranberry Sauce is super simple. The orange zest makes it extra special! Makes the house smell like oranges too.

This year why not free up oven space and make my Slow Cooker Stuffing? It’s the best.

If you need to bring a dish to pass this year, make my Easy Loaded Mashed Potato Bake. No peeling potatoes because this starts with pre-made mashers from the grocery store. Tasty AND easy!

Don't forget the sweet potatoes. My Praline Sweet Potato Casserole is a winner. I've got a soft spot for that crunchy topping. So will your family.

I heart brussel sprouts. My Bacon Brussel Sprouts are delicious! For even more side recipes, click Sides.

Finally, for dessert, instead of pumpkin pie, why not make my Pumpkin Cheesecake Parfaits? That way you don't have to fuss with a pie crust. Plus, everybody gets their own dessert. So special!

And watch the kiddos light up when you put out my Turkey Cupcakes. They'll gobble, gobble these right up. In fact, why not get the kids in the kitchen to help decorate them? What fun!

Join me Saturday, November 23, 2019 for a Holiday Cooking Class and More in Bowler, WI!

I’ve got a great event coming up! Are you a deer hunter's widow or just looking to do something fun with your girlfriends? I’ve got an idea. Join me for the Fearless and Fabulous Women’s Expo at North Star Mohican Casino Resort! It’s on Saturday, November 23rd. The event is filled with great motivational speakers and workshops. I’ll be doing a live cooking demo at 12:30pm. I’ll be dishing out lots of kitchen tips and tricks and making some of my favorite holiday recipes. You’ll even get to taste them. Plus I hear they’ll be serving free mimosas! Click Fearless and Fabulous Women’s Expo for more information.

Please Invite Me

I’d love to come to your town and meet you! Tell your library about me. I’ll come do a cooking demo for your company or event too. Click Hire Amy for more ideas for how we can spend time together!

My Cookbooks Make Great Holiday Gifts!

If you like my recipes, I think you'll love my cookbooks! They make a great holiday gifts! Both cookbooks are filled with nearly 200 unique recipes. They're available on Amazon. Click Amy's Books on Amazon to order. If you would like an autographed, cookbook stay tuned. I’ll be doing a few holiday cookbook signings in Wisconsin. I’ll post more details soon.

Gotta run. I haven’t even packed yet for my trip to California. I promise to post lots of pictures. You can always see what I’m up to on Facebook and Instagram. Follow me!

I hope you have a great weekend. Cook up some memories!

Take care,
Amy, The Cooking Mom

Turkey Cupcakes