Hi Cooking Moms, Dads & Friends,

It’s the day before Thanksgiving. I’m getting excited. My daughter, Ireland is home from college in Minnesota. I haven’t seen her in months. Thanksgiving is feeling so different this year but I’m feeling so blessed. I’ll have both kids at the table and we are healthy and safe! I’m also so incredibly thankful for all of you! I appreciate all your love, encouragement and support. You’ve helped me turn my dream of sharing my recipes with others into a reality. I’m doing what I love and I’m so thankful. I’m wishing all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

We decided to get a turkey. It's not a big one. I’m dreaming of smelling it roasting in the oven on Thursday! Tuesday I was LIVE on Facebook with a very special guest. Okay, confession…I begged her! LOL! It was fun to show my daughter, Ireland how to make the Perfect Roast Turkey with plenty of No Lump Gravy! Hope you enjoy my secrets, tips and tricks to make it the best turkey ever!

It snowed a bit here in Wisconsin this week but it's supposed to be nice on Thanksgiving. We always try to get some exercise on Turkey Day, so we'll take a nice hike. I think I’ll make the kid’s favorite Bundt Streusel Coffee Cake for breakfast. It’s so yummy! Easy too!

After the hike, let the snacking begin! We watch football and just hang out. I’m making a few dips like Hot Artichoke Dip. It’s just 5 ingredients. I’m making it today and baking it tomorrow before kickoff. Love that! I just gotta make my Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts too. They are a family FAVE!

Click Appetizers for more recipes sure to be a huge hit!

I live in Wisconsin and I’m a cheesehead. My Hot Swiss Dip Almond Dip is so darn good! If you pick up Swiss cheese I bet you’ve got everything in your kitchen to make it right now. This is also a make ahead. Just bake it when you are ready. Warm out of the oven it’s heavenly! Click Appetizers for more recipes sure to be a huge hit!

Got fresh cranberries? My Cranberry Fluff Salad is super easy and so pretty. Don’t you think? Click Salads for more of my favorite holiday salad recipes.

Still on the fence about making a turkey this year? I get it. What about my Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Chicken Breasts? They look so fancy but they are crazy easy and so good!

Speaking of bacon, it’s still not too late to add my Bacon Wrapped Green Beans to this year’s menu. I promise they will be a winner!

Click Dinner, Slow Cooker, Sandwiches and Sides for more easy breezy holiday recipes.

For dessert, instead of pumpkin pie why not change things up? My Pumpkin Mousse is super yummy. No baking, but it will really WOW everybody! LOVE THAT! Click Desserts for more super easy sinful desserts.

After Thanksgiving we’ve always got a seriously crowded fridge. I say leftovers are a good problem. I'm all over that!

I love making soup with the leftovers. My Southwest Turkey Soup is healthy and delicious! It's perfect after a long day of shopping. Click for more Soups and Stew recipes.

If you've still got turkey after that I say make a casserole or as my dear friends in Minnesota say - a hot dish! Either way they are my FAVES! My Turkey Divan with broccoli and cheese is divine.

My Turkey and Stuffing Casserole and my Taste of Thanksgiving Casserole both freeze great. Then, a few weeks from now when you're craving all your Thanksgiving favorites, no problem. Just take one out of the freezer to thaw and throw it in the oven to bake!

And don't even think about throwing out those leftover mashed potatoes! Use them to make my Loaded Potato Casserole. Click Casseroles for even more ideas.

The kids love my Mashed Potato Soup. It's so easy to make! I like to load mine up with cheese, bacon and lots of green onions. Now, we're talking!

Got extra cranberry sauce? We always do. Use it to make my Cranberry Chicken Bake.

You can also make some fun holiday appetizers and game day munchies with the leftover cranberry sauce! My Cranberry Crostini and Cranberry Meatballs are always winners! They are perfect for any holiday get together. Just throw them in your slow cooker and watch them disappear. Mix a little extra cranberry sauce with cream cheese and my Cranberry Honey Cream Cheese makes a great spread for bagels!

Join Me Next Year for Some AMAZING Culinary Trips!

We had more great news this week about vaccines for the virus. I’m hopeful it will be safe to travel again by next summer! I’m super excited for my next trip in June 2021 to gorgeous Mackinac Island, Michigan. We’ll catch the ferry over to the Island and then check into the absolute best hotel! The Mission Point Resort was even voted one of the best hotels in the Midwest! We’ll spend 3 nights. We’ll have plenty of time to experience it all. We can take a carriage ride around the island, rent bikes, and take a sunset cocktail cruise. We’ll learn how to make Mackinac Island fudge at one of the island's best fudge shops. If you like wine, you’ll want to enjoy a 5-course gourmet wine dinner! We’ll be there when the lilacs are in full bloom, too! It’s going to be magical! The trip is already booking up! Click on Join The Cooking Mom on a Trip to Mackinac Island to read my blog post with details, pictures and pricing for the trip.

In September 2021, if it’s safe to travel I’m planning another big trip! Have you always wanted to go on a river cruise through Europe? It’s been on my bucket list! We’ll take a trip to Germany for Oktoberfest and a top-of-the-line river cruise through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland! In 2022, I’m working on trips to Ireland, Italy and more! To find out more about my other upcoming trips, click Culinary Vacations with The Cooking Mom. I’d also love to hear where you’d like to go, so email me at info@thecookingmom.com!

Order My Cookbooks for The Holidays!

If you like my recipes, I think you will love my cookbooks. Order one for yourself and they make great gifts too! Both cookbooks are filled with nearly 200 unique recipes. They're available on Amazon. Click Amy's Books on Amazon to order.

Watch Me on TV in Milwaukee and Chicago this Week!

Looking for more recipes and ideas for Thanksgiving? Watch me on TV this week! I’ll be cooking LIVE from my kitchen on TV in Milwaukee this morning at 8:30am CST. I’ll be sharing my favorite leftover recipes on TV in Milwaukee Friday and in Chicago on WGN-TV on Friday afternoon too. You can always see what I'm up to on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Check out my videos on YouTube, too. Follow me!

I hope you all have wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. Stay safe and as I always say cook up some memories!

Take care,
Amy, The Cooking Mom

Order Amy's Cookbooks Online!