Woo hoo, Sweet Friend! It's a brand new week!

This week’s theme? Cook once, eat twice. 👏 Every recipe below pulls double duty — they’re crowd-pleasers and perfect for stocking your freezer before the holiday rush. Think of it as feeding your people now and future you later. (Who else loves Future You-you'ing?!)

And with trick-or-treat night around the corner, these meals are exactly what you want simmering on the stove (or waiting in the slow cooker) before everyone heads out the door!

🥔 Thanksgiving Mashed Potatoes

Triple this recipe and freeze a couple of pans for Thanksgiving. Then take the extra batch, reheat it, and turn it into a mashed potato bar! Set out toppings — cheese, bacon, scallions, sour cream — and watch everyone build their own. A few years ago, I paired it with a big bowl of salad and grilled chicken for my grandmother’s birthday dinner — total hit.

🌶️ 5-Ingredient Chili

This one’s a Prepsgiving and Halloween essential. It’s the ultimate make-ahead meal — hearty, fast, and freezer-friendly. Double it, freeze half for Thanksgiving week, and serve the rest with your favorite toppings for an easy, warming dinner before the candy run.

🐖 Quick & Easy Pulled Pork Chalupa

Hosting a crowd? Make this! It’s a crowd-favorite that stretches beautifully and reheats like a dream. Serve it buffet-style with all the toppings — shredded lettuce, sour cream, cheese, and salsa — and everyone builds their own. Zero stress, big flavor.

🫘 Pinto Beans & Cornbread

One of my all-time favorite cozy meals. Cook a big pot of beans now, freeze half for later, and you’ll have comfort food on standby. I’ve been doing this with beans and collards — straight from the freezer to the oven, then serving with a fresh skillet of cornbread. It turns a Tuesday night into a little ritual.

✨ Prepsgiving Tip:​
Take one quiet afternoon this week to do a few tiny things that will make Thanksgiving week so much easier: wash your linens, polish your silverware, and check your oven thermometer. It’s amazing how peaceful the holiday feels when you’ve handled the details early.

💕 A Little Reminder

Gathering people around your table doesn’t need to be fancy — it just needs to be real. Whether it’s a pot of chili and a pile of candy wrappers, or mashed potatoes and laughter around the kitchen island, it all counts.

Happy cooking (and trick-or-treating!),
Ashley