The Nourishing Joy Guide to Thanksgiving

Taking time to celebrate is one of the greatest joys of life – whether it's a lavish feast or a simple gathering. The simple act of being aware of the blessings (and the griefs) of the past year and taking time to rest, meditate, laugh, pray, and feast nourishes us as we continue on the journey.

Thus, we've gathered several of our favorite recipes and resources into this one guide to help you make THIS Thanksgiving a particularly memorable (and delicious) one. Our mission is to make it easy to plan a Thanksgiving that's meaningful, stress-free, and delicious. Happy feasting!

Browse by Section

Resources for a Joy-Filled Holiday

The Turkey & Other Entrees

Potatoes, Stuffing & Sides

Condiments & Relishes

Appetizers

Drinks

Desserts

Breakfasts

Leftovers

Kids' Activities

DIY From-Scratch Tutorials

Simplify this year's feast with our joyful Thanksgiving planning guide.

DOWNLOAD THE PLANNER

Give thanks with this delightful collection of poems & meditations to read around the table.

DOWNLOAD THE READER

The Bird & Other Centerpieces

The simple, foolproof technique for a perfect roasted turkey
Needing to cook a completely frozen turkey? Here's your simple guide to getting a beautiful, fully cooked bird to the table without breaking a sweat.
Whether you want to slow-roast your ham or blast it to have a super-short cook time ham is versatile - and here's a simple chart with proper cook times.

Potatoes, Stuffing & Sides

Keep your Thanksgiving additive-free by making green bean casserole from real food ingredients. It's tastier too... :)
Make creamy, fluffy, perfect mashed potatoes easily by using the Instant Pot!
Slow Cooker Stuffing for Thanksgiving (or anytime!) | NourishingJoy.com
These 1-hour dinner rolls are both fluffy and big on flavor. Whether you need a quick dinner roll for Thanksgiving or you want a perfect accompaniment to pulled pork, this recipe is sure to please.

Condiments & Relishes

This classic cranberry sauce is sweet, tart, and delicious - and this is the simplest, quickest method in which to make it. It's super-simple!

Drinks

There's nothing like the rich, creamy taste of classic, old-fashioned eggnog to make it feel like a holiday. Our classic recipe features cream, eggs, and an absolutely ridiculous amount of nutmeg.
Skip the syrupy versions in the store - this deeply scented chai concentrate will satisfy your every chai craving

Desserts

The surprise secret to thick, billowy whipped cream
Pumpkin panna cotta is the simplest Thanksgiving dessert you can make. It comes together in about 5 minutes and is elegant to boot!

Breakfasts

Pumpkin Pie Pancakes - yummy yummy yummy!
Caramelized Apple Slow Cooker Oatmeal - a fantastic solution for school mornings, lazy mornings, holiday mornings - pretty much anytime! | NourishingJoy.com
Whether you're feeding just your family or feeding a crowd on Christmas morning, make it cheery, hearty, and nourishing with these favorite Christmas breakfast recipes.

Appetizers

These SWEET chickpea-based dips will not only provide excellent protein and minerals, but will delight the tastebuds of pretty much anyone
Three Pates to Satisfy ANY Palate - even picky eaters! Each of my kids likes a different one and they GOBBLE them down. :)
Cranberry beans are velvety in texture and nutty in flavour - a gorgeous combination in this scrumptious bean dip.

Kids' Activities

What to Do with Thanksgiving Leftovers

Pot-pie biscuits and gravy are about as simple as Thanksgiving leftovers can get - and it's comfort food, to boot.
These simple wraps are delicious and versatile! They're customizable in about a million ways...
Use your thanksgiving leftovers in a completely new (delicious) way! Make Dutch-style croquettes (kroketten), a deep-fried treat.

DIY From-Scratch Thanksgiving Staples

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice | NourishingJoy.com
Making your own simple homemade cream of mushroom soup to have on hand for casseroles and cravings will help you avoid food additives and save money.
Homemade Mulling Spices - scent your holiday with the warmth of the season
Make homemade evaporated milk and homemade sweetened condensed milk - the easy way!

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