Hi Reader!

Are you as excited as I am that Thanksgiving dinner is coming up??? 🦃 🍽

Well, I'm here to remind you that it's never too early to plan your Thanksgiving menu! This helps you map out a timeline for things you can make ahead of time.

It can also help with your shopping plan! I recommend buying your non-perishable ingredients well before Thanksgiving, lest you have a hard time finding something you need at the last minute. 😉

​Maple-Glazed Turkey with Bacon + Sage Butter​
​The title alone says it all. Sweet. Savory. Bacon! This is the BEST turkey this side of the Mississippi! (Not to mention the other side of the Mississippi...🤗)

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​Juicy Slow Cooker Turkey with Herb Butter​
​This recipe is the easiest, most delicious way to cook juicy and flavorful turkey in the crockpot! It’s perfect for Thanksgiving when everyone fights over the white meat or when you don’t need an entire giant turkey!

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​Cornish Hens with Citrus Glaze​
​Easy-yet-impressive roasted Cornish hens are highlighted by a sweet and tangy citrus glaze, bursting with flavors of fresh orange and lime. As an alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving, you can serve each guest their own beautiful and delicious Cornish hen!

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​Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham​

This is one of my top holiday recipes...every holiday! Some people enjoy serving a ham to accompany their turkey. (Are you one of those people?) In addition to being delicious, this effortless recipe is made in the crock pot so that it's not competing for oven space!

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​Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy​

This silky, flavorful, and super quick recipe is easy to make, saving the stress of frantically making gravy at the last minute when you're already busy putting together a big holiday dinner!

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​Thanksgiving Salad​
​This gorgeous, delectable salad is a vibrant addition to any menu, bursting with pomegranate arils, sweet pears, toasty pecans, and sliced brie, all dressed with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette.

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​Holiday Honeycrisp Salad​

I always serve this salad on Christmas, but according to my website traffic analytics, many, many of you enjoy it for Thanksgiving as well! 😉 It's full of flavor and texture thanks to fresh apple slices, crunchy toasted pecans, chewy dried cranberries, zippy blue cheese, and a tangy-sweet apple cider vinaigrette.

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​Garlic + Herb Stuffing​

Certain members of my family would eat only this for Thanksgiving if allowed. (🙋‍♀️I might be one of them.) It's a stuffing/dressing that combines chewy French bread with tender cornbread -- plus plenty o' garlic and herbs -- and it's nothing short of heavenly.

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​Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes​
​Not only are these mashed potatoes oh-so-yummy, but there’s real beauty in a recipe that can be prepped up to a few days in advance of a holiday, stored in the fridge, and then simply popped in the oven before mealtime!

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​Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes​
​This recipe is easy to prep, hands-off, and great for freeing up stove and oven space…but best of all -- despite the minimal effort -- it yields creamy, flavorful, and delicious mashed potatoes!

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​Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes​
​These scrumptious 'taters boast a smooth, creamy filling and allow everyone to choose their favorite topping...either toasty marshmallows or crunchy pecan streusel!

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​Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole​
​This sweet, creamy, scrumptious sweet potato casserole boasts a fabulously crunchy pecan topping (or you can swap with toasted marshmallows) for a holiday favorite that will lend nostalgia to any Thanksgiving menu!

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​Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole​
​But this easy sweet potato casserole always disappears fast as well! Mashed sweet potatoes are naturally enhanced by pure maple syrup, warm spices, vanilla extract, and a crown of toasted pecans on top.

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​Green Bean Casserole from Scratch​
​This creamy, savory, and easy-to-make casserole is loaded with fresh green beans, mushrooms, and garlic and then topped with a golden Parmesan-Panko crust for a fantastic upgrade to the traditional holiday side dish...and one that’s sure to impress your family and guests!

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​Bacon Green Bean Casserole​
​This unique spin on green bean casserole combines fresh green beans with crispy bacon and then dresses everything in a sweet-and-savory brown sugar glaze.

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​Bacon Green Bean Bundles​
​Or if you're looking for a "fancier" presentation of your green beans, the recipe for these cute little bundles actually inspired the above (quicker/easier) casserole recipe!

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​Brussels Sprouts Gratin​
​This amazing side dish is loaded with bacon, Gruyere, and crunchy breadcrumbs…how could it possibly be bad?! 🤪

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​Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries + Pistachios​
​These fabulous roasted Brussels sprouts are crispy and addictive with pops of flavor, delectable texture, and a festive color scheme.

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​Cream Cheese Corn Casserole​
​This decadent holiday side dish features sweet corn in a buttery cream cheese sauce. Topped with more cheese. 😬 And it's worth every calorie! Or as a bonus, you can also make this recipe in the crockpot for a hands-off version that frees up oven space!

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​Ultimate Cornbread Casserole​
​For yet another corn option, this recipe takes a classic side dish to the next level, except it's made from scratch with the flavorful additions of bacon, cheddar, and jalapeño.

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​Scalloped Corn​
​Or there's this simple, classic side dish...loaded with corn, a custard-like filling, and a topping of buttery crackers!

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​Instant Pot Honey Cinnamon Carrots​
​When the stovetop is crowded, the oven is bursting, and the crockpots are full, you can still make these sweet glazed carrots in mere minutes...in the pressure cooker! Or in case you've still got a spare slow cooker, there's a version for that, too. 😉

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​Broccoli Cheese Casserole​
​This comfort food classic side dish features frozen broccoli, an easy homemade cheese sauce, and a topping of buttery cracker crumbs!

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So are you hungry yet? I sure am!

I hope this list helps you get a start on your Thanksgiving menu this year!

Unfortunately, I ran out of room before I could squeeze in Thanksgiving rolls, appetizers, drinks, and desserts, but not to worry...I'll be sharing those in next Sunday's e-mail!

Or, in case you can't wait until then, here's a link to ALL of my Thanksgiving recipes in one convenient place... ⤵️

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In the meantime, I'd love to know...what is your favorite, must-make Thanksgiving food?