Hey, Sweet Friend!

Happy Sunday!

I have some very exciting news.

We are officially ELEVEN DAYS away from Thanksgiving.

ELEVEN.

Which means it's time to stop talking about all the things we're going to make ahead and actually start making them.

Now, before anybody starts hyperventilating into a paper bag, I want to remind you of something:

We're not trying to do everything.
👉 We're trying to do a few things that make everything else easier.

And this week? We're getting some serious mileage out of our time in the kitchen.

We're making meals that stretch, stocking our freezers for the weeks ahead, and checking a couple more Thanksgiving essentials off the list.

Because I want you to enjoy the holidays, not spend the entire season chained to your stove.

Let's get into it!

THIS WEEK'S GAME PLAN

We're officially entering the part of November where a little planning goes a LONG way.

Here's what I'd love for you to tackle this week.

1. Double-check your Thanksgiving guest list.

Do you know who's coming? What are they bringing? What time you're planning to eat?

If you're hosting, now is a great time to send a quick message confirming the details.

And if someone asks, "What can I bring?"

GIVE THEM SOMETHING.

We are not handing out gold medals for doing everything ourselves.

2. Make your final Thanksgiving grocery list.

Go through your recipes and write down every ingredient you need.

Check the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer before you add anything to the list.

Separate the things you can buy now from the fresh ingredients you'll need closer to Thanksgiving.

And don't forget the unglamorous essentials: butter, foil, parchment paper, storage containers, and something to send leftovers home in. I've got an Amazon List of 20 Things People Forget that you might want to peruse! (Yes! That's an affiliate link -- which means, when you purchase something, I get a small commission at no cost to you. In Michael Scott's book, it's a win-win-win.)

3. Check your serving dishes.

Pull out the platters, casserole dishes, serving spoons, and anything else you'll need.

If you're feeling extra organized, put a little note in each dish telling you what goes where.

This is one of those tiny tasks that saves an enormous amount of brainpower on Thanksgiving Day.

4. Get something into the freezer.

One dinner. One batch of meatballs. One casserole.

Whatever works for your household.

Remember, we're not just preparing for Thanksgiving. We're preparing for the busy weeks that follow it, too.

5. Make room for the people.

This one isn't about cooking.

Think about the flow of your gathering. Where will everyone sit? Is there room for another chair? Will people have somewhere comfortable to visit before dinner?

A little thought now makes everyone feel more welcome later.

DINNER TONIGHT, LUNCH TOMORROW

This week's recipes are all about cooking once and making that effort go further.

And some of these are going to be downright heroic when December rolls around.

Thanksgiving Butternaise Chicken

Let's have ourselves a little Thanksgiving practice run, shall we?

This chicken is a wonderful way to try out Butternaise seasoning before committing to it for your Thanksgiving turkey.

Think of it as a dress rehearsal for the Ultimate Dinner Party.

And here's the EXTRA win: once you've enjoyed the chicken, save those bones!

We're making homemade bone broth, baby!

A delicious dinner AND the beginnings of another kitchen staple? That's what I call using every bit of what you've got.

RECIPE: https://sweetpealifestyle.com/thanksgiving-butternaise-chicken/​

Oven-Baked Meatballs

You know what's a wonderful thing to find in your freezer on a random Tuesday in December?

Homemade meatballs.

I'm talking about rolling out a BIG batch, baking them up, and freezing the extras for later.

Spaghetti and meatballs? Done.

Meatball subs? Absolutely.

A quick appetizer when somebody stops by? Look at you, being all prepared!

One afternoon of rolling meatballs gives you so many easy meals down the road.

RECIPE: https://sweetpealifestyle.com/how-to-bake-meatballs-at-400-in-the-oven/​

Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork

Now THIS is a recipe that understands the assignment.

Make a big batch of oven-roasted pulled pork, enjoy it for dinner, and then portion the leftovers for the freezer.

Because that pork can become SO many other things.

​Leftover Pulled Pork Enchiladas? YES.

A big, beautiful chalupa piled high with all your favorite toppings? YOU BET.

Sandwiches, loaded baked potatoes, or a quick dinner when you don't feel like cooking?

The possibilities are endless.

This is the kind of recipe that makes me feel like I've got my life together.

Even when I absolutely do not.

RECIPE: https://sweetpealifestyle.com/oven-roasted-pulled-pork/​

Sunshine Squash Casserole

Here's my suggestion:

MAKE TWO.

One for dinner this week and one for the freezer.

I've never actually served this casserole for Thanksgiving, but it is such a lovely midweek side dish.

It's cozy, comforting, and exactly the kind of thing I want alongside a simple dinner when the weather turns chilly.

And having a homemade casserole waiting in the freezer?

That's a little bit of sunshine for Future You.

RECIPE: https://sweetpealifestyle.com/sunshine-squash-casserole/​

FROM SWEETPEA'S FREEZER

We're moving right along with our Thanksgiving preparations, and this week I'm tackling two things that make a BIG difference on the holiday table.

Sweetpea's Parker House Rolls

Oh, honey.

Homemade rolls on Thanksgiving are a love language.

But making homemade bread from scratch on Thanksgiving morning?

Not my idea of a relaxing holiday.

So I'm making my Parker House Rolls ahead of time.

Here's my method:

After the first rise, I slather the dough with honey butter, roll the rolls into their signature shape, and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Then I flash-freeze them for about an hour before transferring them into freezer bags.

When I'm ready to bake, I'll take out however many I need, let them thaw and rise on the counter for about an hour (or until properly risen), and bake according to the recipe.

Fresh, homemade, honey-buttery rolls without doing all the work on Thanksgiving Day.

YES, MA'AM.

RECIPE: https://sweetpealifestyle.com/sweetpeas-parkerhouse-rolls/​

Cream of Mushroom and Onion Soup

Now, before you picture me sitting down with a giant bowl of cream of mushroom soup, let me explain.

This is my homemade version of the creamy soup base I use in casseroles.

And it is SO good.

Mushrooms, onions, butter, Boursin cheese, and heavy cream come together to make a rich, flavorful base that's perfect for holiday cooking.

I love the flavor of mushrooms, but I don't particularly enjoy big mushroom chunks, so I chop them nice and small.

I'm making a batch this week and freezing it in portions for my Thanksgiving recipes.

One less thing to make during the holiday rush.

And a homemade casserole base waiting in the freezer is something I will never complain about.

RECIPE: https://sweetpealifestyle.com/cream-of-mushroom-and-onion-soup/​

THE EXTRA POINT

Can I tell you something I've learned about hosting?

The more decisions you make ahead of time, the more present you can be when your guests arrive.

That's really what all this preparation is about.

We're not trying to prove that we're the most organized people on the planet.

We're not trying to impress anybody with how many homemade dishes we can produce.

We're simply making room.

Room in our schedules.

Room in our kitchens.

Room in our minds.

And, most importantly, room around our tables.

Because when the doorbell rings on Thanksgiving Day, I don't want to be frantically searching for the gravy boat.

I want to be ready to open the door and say, "Come on in! I'm so glad you're here."

SWEETPEA SAYS:

Here's your reminder for the week:

You are allowed to make Thanksgiving easier on yourself.

You can make things ahead.

You can freeze homemade food.

You can buy the pie.

You can ask somebody else to bring the green bean casserole.

And you can absolutely serve a delicious meal without exhausting yourself.

Hospitality is not a competition.

And your guests aren't coming over to grade your performance.

They're coming to be together.

So let's do a little work this week that makes that togetherness a whole lot sweeter.

I'll see you Wednesday for another Table Talk.

We're getting closer to the Ultimate Dinner Party, and I have a few things on my heart I want to share.

With love and a freezer full of good intentions,

Ashley

P.S. Tell me what you're making ahead this week! Are you a freezer-meal enthusiast, or are you still a little skeptical about freezing Thanksgiving dishes? Hit reply. I want to hear from you! 💚