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When your usual mashed potatoes recipe has fallen flat on the taste buds of your Thanksgiving guests, arouse their palates with our whipped potatoes and horseradish recipe inspired by Bon Appétit. Ultra creamy in texture and attention-grabbing in flavor, these horseradish whipped potatoes are one holiday side-dish you’ll want to serve for everyday meals. ALSO TRY: Roasted garlic mashed potatoes Mashed potatoes are an expected side-dish on the holiday dinner table, but these superlatively smooth whipped potatoes are not what your guests expect....

Why are we doing this? Oh, yeah, it’s for the deals. For toys. For gifts. For stuff. Stuff that no one really needs, including me. So, again, why are we doing this? I only participated in Black Friday once, 11 years ago. That was more than enough. I cannot conceive of a reason why I need to get up at 3:30 a.m. to go shopping for toys and technology and dishes and kitchen rugs....

Purple people eater cocktail Between the name and its vibrant purple color, we don’t know how it would be possible to pass up this Halloween purple people eater cocktail created by Homemade Hooplah. It’s reminiscent of good old-fashioned purple Kool Aid — only in an adult version. It’s ideal for anybody with a sweet tooth, because after all, there won’t be enough sugar within arms length at a Halloween party. The bright color comes from the blue curacao which is a common ingredient in many festive cocktails....

There are ways, however, to avoid some of the stress when hosting a holiday meal, according to Karen Blakeslee. “Traditional Thanksgiving menus can be easily divided so guests can share in the preparation and lighten the load for holiday hosts,” says Blakeslee, a Kansas State University Research and Extension food scientist. Here are a few frequently-asked questions — and her answers — related to preparing a turkey and storing holiday leftovers....

Melted crayons Got some older crayons around the house — you know, the ones with no box to keep them together? Use these discarded nubs to dye Easter eggs. First, carefully slice the crayons into a pile of small shavings and make sure to mix the colors up. Once your eggs are boiled and still toasty warm, roll them around in the shavings. The heat will cause the crayon shards to melt and color the eggs....

Historians tell us that these long noodles have likely been around since 12th-century Sicily, but they only became wildly popular when spaghetti factories sprung up some 700 years later. That kind of mass production meant everyone could make and enjoy the tasty pasta strings without much effort, and recipes proliferated. National Spaghetti Day is January fourth each year — though, of course, many folks would say that every day is a good day for a plate of spag....

But which apple pie to choose? As you will see here, there are so many different kinds you can make — each a slightly different take on the traditional recipe, using a variety of apples, toppings and other goodies under the top crust. To help you choose the most scrumptious dessert to make for your near and dear, we gathered eight of our favorite apple pie recipes. If you have a tough time deciding, just remember that apple pies can be a lot like actual apples — you don’t have to pick just one!...

The only problem with these bacon-wrapped shrimps is that they will go quickly! If you’re asked to bring an appetizer to your Thanksgiving potluck, prepare these at home first, set them on a baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap, and then pop right in the oven when you arrive. Find the recipe for this Apple Butter Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Thanksgiving appetizer over at Nutmeg Nanny.

For a stronger punch to serve at a holiday party, Mixologist Colton Brock of Barrio Urbano suggests you add add 1/2 cup to 1 cup brandy to the punch base. Yield 6 Once sugar is saturated in citrus oil, add the grapefruit juice, lemon juice, Chambord and bitters. Mix completely until all sugar is dissolved. Strain out the zest solids. Store in the refrigerator. To serve: Add the punch base to a large punch bowl or pitcher....

Here’s how to DIY your jeans to get frayed, distressed and painted looks easily and quickly. Materials Overalls Fabric paint Scissors Star stamp Cheese grater Pliers DIY Jeans: Frayed Jeans with a frayed edge that hits right at the ankle is the hot look right now — but you don’t have to buy new jeans to get it. All you need are scissors and a cheese grater. Yes, that’s right: a cheese grater....

Located in Mesa, Arizona, True Garden is only one of these farms of the future popping up across the U.S.. A first-of-its-kind facility, it boasts impressive sustainability stats. In addition to the dramatically reduced water consumption mentioned above, vertical farms like True Garden use 90 percent less land (True Garden only takes up 1/10th of an acre) yet can yield 90 percent more food. MORE: Make sure your water is safe to drink What’s more, the fruit and veggies grown are 100 percent organic — there are no harmful chemicals, pesticides or herbicides used....

New Year’s Eve golden glitter white chocolate Oreo truffles Start the new year with a fanciful treat that will make your whole family giddy with excitement for a no-bake dessert. These New Year’s Eve golden glitter white chocolate Oreo truffles, from Alaina at Bullock’s Buzz, are ideal for all of your New Year’s activities. You make these shimmering balls of yum by crushing Golden Oreos and cream cheese together for the filling....

MORE: Free printable Easter coloring pages your kids will love

Should the eggs be room temperature or straight from the fridge? Should the eggs be placed in the water while it comes to a boil or after? How long should they cook, exactly? And how long should the ice bath last to avoid a) burning the hell out of your fingers and b) overcooking the eggs and turning the yolks green? MORE: How to make the perfect hard boiled eggs Well, your Instant Pot is here to save everything from Easter to your everyday meal prep, thank goodness....

Want to add a splash of color and show some country pride for the summer holidays? Make a few of these patriotic sequin-covered pots that were inspired by Homemade Interest! All you need are a few supplies, a bit of time, some creativity, and the desire to create something unique, fun and functional. Use these to decorate your dining room table, kitchen windowsills, patio table, front porch — really, they can go anywhere....

Pile the apples up in this pie because they will shrink down as it bakes, but leave you with a nice domed pie to feed a crowd. For complete ingredients and instructions, click here » Mile High Apple Pie Recipe If you need to feed an even bigger crowd, but don’t want to have to make TWO pies, this is what you do. You make a slab pie! Bake the pie on a sheet pan and feed up to 20 people....

It doesn’t matter how ready you thought you were to be a mom, nothing really prepares you for the beautiful chaos of raising a tiny human. So, here at MakeItGrateful.com, we decided to give a few amazing mamas the opportunity to retroactively reach out to themselves in that daunting first year. We asked them to reveal to their new (read: flustered) mom selves the advice they wish they knew back then....

If you love the combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and banana, you have to try these muffins. They make a perfectly sweet breakfast, but are so indulgent (without the guilt), that they also make a delicious dessert muffin. They’re sweetened by the banana, the addition of honey (or agave nectar, if you prefer), and a pinch of brown sugar. We’re telling you–for an ooey-gooey, yet light and fluffy muffin, skip the flour!...

There are two sets here: fun coloring with autumn scenes and objects, and another bunch of printable pages with a Thanksgiving theme. Fall coloring page: Boy playing in leaves Fall coloring page: Farmer doing the harvest in a tractor Fall printable coloring page: Boy raking leaves MORE: Printable: Your 1-week Thanksgiving meal planner/countdown checklist Fall printable coloring page: Cute bird in a scarf Autumn printable coloring page: Boy and girl Thanksgiving printable coloring page: Native American boy Printable coloring page: Fall vegetables Also see: 5 crafty Thanksgiving decorations Fall printable coloring page: Girl playing with leaves Thanksgiving printable page: Cute cartoon turkey Fall printable coloring page: Autumn owl Thanksgiving printable: Grinning Pilgrim boy MORE: Fun & free printable Thanksgiving word search...

Tired of your usual Thanksgiving turkey recipe? Give your holiday bird a bacon-wrapped update, with this recipe inspired by Better Homes & Gardens, and watch your family and friends drool when you bring it to the table! Bacon makes everything better, especially traditional recipes that deserve a prime place on our holiday menus but have become rather boring on the palate. The Thanksgiving turkey is one such holiday staple that needs a culinary revival....