A quick last-minute appetizer, just a cracker and cheese with a leaf of fresh basil, a small bite that won't ruin appetites. So simple but oh my, that basil is surprising! Real Food, Fresh & Inventive. Mere Minutes to the Table. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Potluck & Party Friendly. Scales from Small Plates to Large Platters. Easy DIY.

It's a big food week in the U.S., thank you, Thanksgiving. Odds are good, the contours of this iconic holiday meal are set in stone by tradition or circumstances. And it's such a big meal, who does appetizers? Here, I've collected a few ideas, light bites that won't fill up the meal that somebody's gone to a lot of effort to cook. They're ones to inspire all the way into the new year ...

Small individual servings of pumpkin pie filling, crust-free and baked in mini mason jars or ramekins and served warm or cold, with whipped cream on top, for sure! For anyone who extra-loves the filling in pumpkin pie – it's like pumpkin pudding, right?! – this easy recipe's for you. Homemade Pumpkin Pie Filling, Made from Scratch. Real Food, Fresh & Family-Approved. No Mixer Required. A Great Last-Minute Dessert for Skimpy Suppers or Special Holiday Gatherings. Spice Forward! Portable for Potlucks & Outdoor Parties. Budget-Friendly. Vegetarian.

It's Turkey Day minus 11 so best to get organized, yes? For a little extra inspiration, I've collected recipes for my "dream" Thanksgiving dinner, all the staples plus a few surprises.

A tasty purée of root vegetables, either purple-topped turnips or, as pictured here, the lovely sunny-fleshed rutabagas. It's a favorite Thanksgiving vegetable casserole from my Canadian family. Real Food, Fresh & Seasonal. Budget Friendly. Easy to Make-Ahead for Thanksgiving or a Family Meal. Weight Watchers Friendly. Vegetarian & Easily Converted to Vegan. Rave Reviews.

Yeah-yeah, pie is usually served at the end of the Thanksgiving meal, yikes, just a couple of weeks away. So why kick off November with my favorite pie recipes? Well ... maybe we should all start the Turkey Day with pie. Really. Truly.

My long-time homemade chili, meaty and full of spices and flavor and a touch of chocolate. Nothing says "welcome home" like a big pot of chili simmering on the stove but our favorite way to "slow cook" chili is in the oven. Feeding a crowd? Serve Chocolate Chili with mashed potatoes, an old Iowa farmwife technique to make meat go further when feeding hungry farmhands. Real Food, Fresh & Family-Tested. Meaty and Bright with Spices and a Touch of Chocolate. Weight Watchers Friendly. Whole30 Friendly. Low Carb. Naturally Gluten Free. High Protein. A Signature Recipe. Budget Friendly. One-Pot Meal. Great for Meal Prep. How to Feed a Crowd. Potluck & Party Friendly. Rave Reviews.

Hey, hey, y'all. This week's collection features my very favorite winter squash, that would be the butternut and how easy it is to slip butternut squash into main dishes. I hope you love these recipes as much as I do!

For Election Night Gatherings We all collect recipes for special occasions. But who has special recipes for Election Day gatherings and Election Night parties? Now you do! Old-Fashioned Southern Brunswick Stew is an old southern tradition to lure people to the polls. It's a simple stew, just layers of different meats and favorite southern vegetables like corn, okra and lima beans. And it's healthy too, great for parties but simple enough for family meals too. Traditional Food for Election Day in the American South. Real Food, Fresh & Flexible. Budget Friendly. One-Pot Meal. How to Feed a Crowd. Potluck & Party Friendly. High Protein.

This week, I've pulled together an entire patch of pumpkin recipes. (Can one ever have too many?) Here's the chance to turn your own kitchen into pumpkin heaven ...