Hi Neighbor!

If your Halloween candy has dwindled, the squirrels have nibbled through your pumpkins and you’ve added turkey stock to your grocery list, it can only mean one thing: Thanksgiving is here!

Last week, one of our editors asked “Where’s Thanksgiving?” and I really connected to the sentiment. Thanksgiving can get lost in between the fun chaos of Halloween and the joyful December holidays, but I’m going to come out and say it: Thanksgiving is my favorite. Seasonally speaking, it’s the perfect time of year where there’s a light frost cover in the morning, temps can still reach into the 60’s and a fire welcomes you in the evening. Culinary speaking, Thanksgiving dishes are my IDEAL comfort foods. Consider me happiest when I’m at home, in my stretchiest of pants, ready to tuck into the holiday staples.

This year, we’re mixing things up and heading to the beach with my husband’s extended family. We’ve rented three houses and will be having a catered Thanksgiving dinner together. I know it will be a fantastic trip but I’m a little nervous to be so far out of my typical Turkey Day element. To help myself feel “at home”, I’ll be taking some of my holiday necessities with us and thought it would be fun to share a few of these must-haves with you:

To Bake: It’s not Thanksgiving without something sweet and pumpkin-ey at my disposal and these Brown Butter Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies hit the spot. I made and froze a batch to take with us but have already decided to make another round this time leaving off the icing and adding chocolate chips, walnuts and dried fruit.

To Create: With a 3 year-old in tow, staying busy is always the name of the game. I’ve become a big fan of the Busy Toddler on Instagram as I find she generally keeps her craft ideas playful, developmentally useful and (above all else) easy.  I plan to try a few of her Thanksgiving activities from this plentiful list!

To Sip When It’s Late (-ish): One of my favorite Thanksgiving Day rituals is an afternoon adult beverage (what, it’s a holiday!). Over the years I’ve perfected the Perfect Manhattan (pro tip: splurge for the fancy cherries) and my husband makes an amazing fresh-ingredients-only Whiskey Sour. Follow these exact recipes and mix your way into some guaranteed holiday cheer.

From all of us at MLN: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Marisa
P.S. If you’re also traveling for Thanksgiving, or just like to get a head start on things, this article from America’s Test Kitchen has some really great tips on make-ahead timing, how-to’s for freezing and plenty of recipes for holiday classics.