I was so excited (and incredibly nervous) to get to do a phone interview with Melissa d’Arabian winner of this season’s Next Food Network Star, the star of Food Network’s Ten Dollar Dinners. I’m a huge Food Network fan and I watched the entire season of Next Food Network Star, so it was fun to speak with Melissa on the phone.
Melissa is working with Walmart to help people create Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings and sides for under $20. Yesterday I shared some of Melissa’s delicious Thanksgiving recipes, today I want to share the interview.
Melissa’s a quick talker, but …read more

Thanksgiving is coming up fast. This year Walmart challenged Food Network star Melissa d’Arabian to come up with some solutions and recipes for preparing a holiday meal with all the fixings. With these recipes, all you need to do is add a few personal touches and you have a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.

Melissa won this season’s Next Food Network Star, and she now has her own show, Ten Dollar Dinners.
I got to interview Melissa D’ Arabian last week, and I’ll have the interview for you coming up in the next day or so. Woot!
Today I have some of Melissa’s favorite low …read more

I still have some Thanksgiving cocktail recipes coming in to share with you. So if you haven’t found that perfect Thanksgiving cocktail yet for your celebration keep an eye out here. I’ll have at least one more post of them after today.
I also have a fun interview with someone from The Food Network, more Thanksgiving recipes, and a giveaway, so stay tuned!
You can tell your guests your Thanksgiving signature drink is a Mayflower Martini, or a Pilgrim Toddy. How fun is that?

The Mayflower Martini

1.5 oz. of Rhum Clément Première Canne
.5 oz. of Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb
1 oz. of Cranberry …read more

Today I have some more yummy holiday cocktail recipes to share, these recipes would work great for your Thanksgiving dinner, or any holiday party. The recipes are courtesty of mixologist Deborah Harris from New York’s trendy Harbour Restaurant.
These cocktail recipes have all the flavors of the season. I’m a big fan of egg nog and of gingerbread this time of year, so I can’t wait to give a couple of these a try. Add in the cranberry and nutmeg flavors, and I’m sure these will be a big hit for any holiday party.

Maple Cinnamon Nog:
A combination of Bourbon, clove & …read more

The traditional way to cook your Thanksgiving turkey is baked and basted in the oven for several hours. Today I have a few more turkey cooking ideas for you. Some of them involve the oven, but  others involve other cooking methods that will still yield you a delicious turkey on your Thanksgiving dinner table.

If you’re in charge of the turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner feast, here are a few ideas to cook it to perfection.

One of our favorite ways to cook our Thanksgiving turkey is on the grill, yep grilled turkey is loaded with flavor, and delicious.
Along the same idea, …read more

When you’re planning your Thanksgiving menu, you might want to include a cocktail or two. Today I have a couple more yummy Thanksgiving cocktail recipes, from Blue Ice Vodka, these flavors combinations are all very fall, and holiday. Maybe one of these can work as the signature cocktail at your holiday bash.
Even if you’re not the party hostess, you can offer to pitch in with the cocktails for your contribution to the party. These recipes can be great conversation starters, and your friends will be impressed that you came up with recipes so perfect for the holiday.
Blue Ice Pumpkin Pie …read more

Have your champagne and your turkey too. I love to experiment with different flavors and combinations when I’m cooking turkey. Today I have a recipe for you from Foster Farms for a turkey basted in champagne. Don’t worry, you don’t have to use the whole bottle. You can save a little savor while you’re cooking.
Recipes you can prepare ahead work great for Thanksgiving day, then you can relax and mingle with your family and friends when they arrive, they’ll just think you’re super human (don’t tell them otherwise).

A bottle of champagne is the secret to the moist turkey recipe below, …read more

I’ve been sharing several healthier dishes with you lately for your holiday meals. Don’t tell your guests they’re healthier for them, and they’ll never know. If you do tell them, they will probably thank you.
Today I have recipes for mashed potatoes, gravy, and asparagus courtesy of Smart Balance. Mashed potatoes are a staple on most Thanksgiving menus, and asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables, so I can definitely see me adding both of these to my Thanksgiving day feast.

New-Fashioned Mashed Potatoes and Onions

2 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
1/4 cup Smart BalanceTM …read more

With Thanksgiving coming up I thought I’d talk turkey about everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving dessert, pumpkin pie. Yum! One of my favorite recipes for pumpkin pie is right on the back of the Libby’s can, but you don’t have to stick with the traditional pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. I thought I’d share some other pumpkin recipes with you today. Just in case you want to put a new spin on your Thanksgiving dessert this year.

I love these cute little pumpkin pie bites
Not quite pumpkin pie, but still delicious, pumpkin cheesecake
Pumpkin pie in miniature, pumpkin tartlets
Looking for a lighter version? Try crustless …read more

Today I have a couple yummy fall cocktail recipes that would work great as a little something for your Thanksgiving gathering, or for a delicious treat for the adults after trick or treat.
The spiced apple cider features some delicious fall flavors with hot apple cider, real cinnamon sticks, and a little splash of Zaya Rum. Both drinks will warm you up on a cold fall evening.
These cocktails would be perfect for a fall bonfire, or a tailgate party. Just heat up the drinks and fill up a thermos with the warm cocktails. Bring along mugs for your guests, and you …read more