Silky Parsnip-Potato Soup with Bacon

Although I'm a year-round soup kinda girl, I'm especially happy to enjoy a bowl of warm comfort during the seasons when my fingers and toes never seem to lose their chill entirely. In other words, right now. After a month-long flurry of planning, prepping, and eventually enjoying my favorite meal of the year, all I really want to do is make a big pot of soup and relax with a good book (or movie or tv series).

Today I want to share not only a perfect bowl of soup, but also the perfect pot in which to make it. I've mentioned the fact that, as a whole, All-Clad makes my favorite pots and pans. If my kitchen could be stocked with them, life would be so much easier. I'm working towards that goal. While I did receive the soup pot that I'm sharing with you today at no cost, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

Masala Omelette inspired by The Hundred-Foot Journey #FoodnFlix

This month's edition of Food 'n Flix features a movie that both starts and ends with food-laden scenes (not mention everything in the middle)—The Hundred-Foot Journey. Based on the novel of the same name by Richard C. Morais, the story begins in India with the Kaddam family restaurant. We see a young Hassan Kadam, already exploring food with his senses under the tutelage of his beloved mother. When tragedy strikes and the family is displaced from their home, they eventually make their way to a small French village by way of fate since sometimes "brakes break for a reason".

As fate would have it, there is an abandoned restaurant for sale in this quaint town...but it happens to be a mere hundred feet across the street from Madame Mallory's acclaimed Michelin 1-star classical French restaurant. And she's none to happy to welcome the competition or the "life" that comes with it.

Cranberry Apple Crumb Pie #FridayPieDay

Not only is today FridayPieDay, it's also the day after Thanksgiving, a holiday with a dessert table that centers around pie in my family. This year we had a mid-size gathering at my mom's house—just mom, her kids, and our kids which makes 15 people total. And yet, we still wound up with 5 pies. 3 people to a pie.

It's funny because there was only 1 pie and 1 cake scheduled in the initial "plan". We'd all volunteered to bring certain dishes and apparently all decided, individually, that 1 pie just wasn't going to cut it. And who knows what happened to the cake because it wound up being a no-show.

More than 400 Recipes Ideas for your Thanksgiving Table

I had such a blast rounding up more than 400 recipes this month for my favorite "food day" of the entire year - Thanksgiving! I hope that you were able to find some ideas and inspiration in the roundups and side posts. I know that our table was overflowing this year, and for that I am thankful.

I've gathered the links to all of these wonderful Thanksgiving posts in one spot so that you can click through easily if you're looking for anything in particular, either this year or in years to come. By clicking on any of the photos below, you'll go directly to the page that lists the 25 recipes in that category. Be sure to scroll down to find links to a few other relevant posts that I featured this month.

Poultry Roasting Chart = Less Holiday Cooking Stress!

It seems like Halloween just ended and people are already beginning to plan out the rest of the season. For those celebrating Thanksgiving, sometimes planning and decor start pretty early.

Should we cook more food this year since many folks brought plus ones last year? Shall we cut back on the beer since the wine was such a hit? And for many families Turkey is a given so the question is "how big of a bird do we need?"

Stylish On-The-Go Thermos Choice, a Libre Tea Glass Review

Last month I introduced you to the Libre Tea Glass, a pretty, practical, and convenient on-the-go glass with a removable filter for leaf tea. It's 100% BPA free, has a glass interior, and keeps drinks hot or cold. Today I'm going to share my thoughts on the glass after using it for a couple of weeks.

Appearance: It's definitely a looker. I ordered their 14-ounce Classic Glass Tea Infuser. It's very sleek and sophisticated with shades of tan, gold, and silver. The outer material is a durable poly, while the inside is glass.

Feel: Substantial...and this is a good thing. The glass has a bit of weight to it, which in my mind means that it's not going to flip over or blow away if I'm outside in the park, at a ball game, etc.

Stovetop Green Bean Casserole

When I sit down to plan our Thanksgiving menu, I start out by making a list of dishes down the left side of my paper. Most are very distinct, so I only leave room for the name of one dish to be written beside it. Others are more a category than a dish, so I leave room for two or three options. Without fail, this is how my menu planning begins:

• Turkey
• Gravy
• Stuffing
• Potato
• Sweet Potato
• Cranberry Sauce
• Side Dishes
• Bread/Rolls
• Desserts
• Drinks

A KitchenAid Stand Mixer Holiday Giveaway!

We have a super special treat for you just in time for the holidays! I've banded together with Angie over at My So-Called Chaos, her sponsors, and some other wonderful bloggers and people to offer all of you lucky readers a KitchenaAid Stand Mixer. Do you want to win a KitchenAid Mixer? I thought you might.

Angie asked the wonderful people participating in this giveaway with me to share their favorite holiday treats with you. Maybe our answers will inspire you, and if you win, you can make those treats in your brand new kitchen baby. Swoon!

25 Ways to Use Up your Thanksgiving Leftovers!

Thanksgiving week has finally arrived! I've had such a delicious time sharing Thanksgiving recipes and recipe roundups with you this month, and I hope that you've found some inspiration on the pages. I have a couple more recipes coming up between now and Thursday, so don't forget to check back!

Today I'm sharing some ideas for ways to use up those leftovers, because let's admit it—sometimes the leftovers are more enjoyable than the meal itself when it comes to Thanksgiving. If you're anything like me, you actually plan for leftovers by cooking a little extra of a few choice menu items. So, here's to a successful week of planning, prepping, cooking, and gathering. Happy Thanksgiving!

The History of (and 18 Variations on) the Classic Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Did you know that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the classic Green Bean Casserole? It was originally developed in 1955 in the Campell's Kitchens by Dorcas Reilly and a team of home economists as an "easy recipe featuring a few simple ingredients", and known as Green Bean Bake. Apparently it caught on, because today, over 20 million households make green bean casserole and Campbell's receives over 10,000 requests for the recipe every year.

Given that fact, it probably doesn't come as much of a surprise to hear that 25-30% of all Campbell's Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup is sold in the month of November. Last year, the green bean casserole page on the Campell's website received 722,052 page views on Thanksgiving day alone!

25 Desserts (that aren't Pie) for your Thanksgiving Table

It's no secret that I love pie...and our Thanksgiving dessert spread reflects that love. But while I'm satisfied with (eventually) making my way through three or four kinds of pie, I hear tell that there are people who don't feel the same. I mean, apparently there are people who don't even serve a single pie, but instead turn to cake, cookies, cheesecake, or another sweet treat. I know—MIND. BLOWN.

Dramatic? Me? 

But seriously, if you're looking for a couple of dessert options that aren't pie, I've gathered 25 absolutely tempting dessert recipes below, all of which have a "fall feel" and would fit perfectly at your Thanksgiving table this year. And guess what? I even have one non-pie dessert option planned to serve alongside my pie. Madness!

25 Drinks for your Thanksgiving Table

Although there's absolutely nothing wrong with serving milk, juice, cider, wine, or even water as the beverage options at your Thanksgiving table, sometimes it's fun to mix things up. Literally. Today I'm sharing 25 fall-inspired drink ideas for sipping alongside your turkey, stuffing, and pie. While the majority of them are cocktails, I've also included some non-alcoholic ideas for kids and adults who aren't imbibing.

Why not add a little pizzazz to your Thanksgiving spread this year with a custom drink? I think it would make a fun holiday tradition to set out some fruit, spice, herb, alcohol, juice, and sparkling water options and ask your friends and family to create their own inspired drink, as well. I hope the fantastic drinks below will inspire you!

Cranberry Port Ring (Jellied Cranberry Sauce)

I've mentioned my fear of the jiggly cylinder that had a prime spot on the Thanksgiving tables of my youth before, but recently I decided to look at it in a new light. I know some pretty diehard fans of jellied cranberry sauce. Like my grandma, they have special serving dishes made specifically to fit that "can" shape when laid down on its side. They slice it ever just so, stacking a disk or two lovingly on their plate.

I decided that it was time to reevaluate my position on the stuff. After all, I didn't think that I liked cranberries at all as a kid unless they were in the form of juice or chewy dried bits, but it turns out that I actually can't get enough of them. For the past 20 years, that bowl of glistening ruby goodness that is whole-berry cranberry sauce is one of my favorite things on the table. And yet, I've seen the faces on some of my older family members when they realize that, once again, there is no can-shaped sauce to be found.

Travel Safer this Holiday Season: BubbleBum and $100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

Can you believe that the holiday season is already upon us? It seems like just yesterday that the kids were splashing around in the pool while I soaked up some sun on the raft. But alas, it's the time of year when families are hitting the highways to visit family and friends to celebrate the season.

I grew up hopping into the car on Thanksgiving and Christmas to drive to my grandparent's houses. Some years we'd take turns visiting one side of the family, other years we'd make it to both in the same year. Let's just say that I've been roadtripping since a very young age. While this might sway some the other way, I actually love a good roadtrip. There's something satisfying about packing crates with food and arranging them in the trunk before tucking the gifts between them, the blankets, the jumper cables, and the jack.

I know a lot of you are gearing up to do the same, making sure that not only do you have everything you're bringing, but that the kids are snuggled safely into the back seat—with entertainment and snacks.