Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or just serving family dinner, starting with appetizers is extra fun. It’s a great way to sneak in a special in-season vegetable or whet appetites with an out-of-the-ordinary treat. Our best easy appetizers offer tons of variety: Think sweet and savory dips, fancy skewers, baked pinwheel, crunchy snacks, fresh veggies and cheese plates. You’ll find choices for vegetarians and carnivores, and ideas for every season of the year.
This French onion casserole recipe takes all the delicious, comforting elements of French onion soup and turns them into a side dish you can put on a plate, perfect next to homey braised beef or casual roast beef sliders. Silky, caramelized onions are tossed with flour and butter to make a rich sauce, then topped with croutons and layers of melted cheese.
Your complete guide to making simple, healthy smoothies
When you need a nutritious breakfast on the go or a midday snack, it doesn’t get any easier than a smoothie. This complete guide to creating smoothies offers more than 100 recipes packed with fresh flavors and nourishing ingredients. With helpful tips and tricks for making the most of your blends and nutritional information included with every recipe, you can add a nourishing routine into your daily life.
The Complete Book of Smoothies includes:
115 creative recipes—Sip on health-boosting blends, protein powerhouses, antioxidant-rich recipes, classic green smoothies, kid-friendly beverages, and drinkable desserts.
Prep and setup—Discover which smoothie staples to keep on hand, how to store ingredients to extend their shelf life, and how to swap for dietary needs or personal preference.
Smoothie anatomy—Learn how to build your smoothie from the base up, including pre-blending and layering ingredients for the perfect creamy texture.
Enjoy a fast, easy, and refreshing drink anytime with The Complete Book of Smoothies.
“The Complete Book of Smoothies by nutritionist Andrea Mathis is packed with quick, nutritious, and delicious recipes that are fun, easy to make, and suitable for busy families or anyone looking to eat better and feel better. I would happily recommend this book to patients, friends, and family.” —Dr. Tara of @drtarasunshine, MD, mom of 3, and healthy food blogger
“Rockstar dietitian Andrea Mathis brings her fun and joyful spirit to the kitchen and all the smoothies she creates! She breaks down everything you need to know to make a perfectly delicious healthy smoothie, and this book is a must for anyone looking for new tasty smoothie recipes!” —Mary Ellen Phipps, registered dietitian nutritionist, Milk & Honey Nutrition
“This book is a must-have for every smoothie lover! Registered dietitian Andrea Mathis shares not only how to make delicious smoothies that appeal to every taste, but also how to make each one nutritious at the same time. I know this book will be a staple in my kitchen for years to come.” —Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDCES, author of 2 Day Diabetes Diet and founder of Healthy Mom, Happy Family
“Andy has created a beautiful, fun, and nourishing collection of smoothies. There’s something for everyone, and I’m excited to make my way through the recipes!” —Marisa Moore, registered dietitian nutritionist in media & culinary nutrition communications –This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
ANDREA MATHIS, MA, RDN, LD, is an Alabama-based registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of the healthy food blogs Beautiful Eats & Things and Little Eats & Things. Andrea has worked in several different health care settings, including clinical, public health, and long-term care. She believes in achieving optimal health by incorporating healthier eating habits into your lifestyle and making healthy eating fun! –This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Pigs in a blanket are a classic party appetizer for a reason. What’s not to love about buttery dough wrapped around a savory, smoky sausage? The dish isn’t exactly memorable, though; your guests have probably had dozens of versions of pigs in a blanket that all taste (and look) the same. Our pigs in a blanket wreath is a cute and festive change-of-pace that no one will forget!
This creative pigs in a blanket idea is delicious and fun to eat. The little crescent dough bundles bake together to create a pull-apart pigs in a blanket ring. Garnished with rosemary sprigs, it looks like a festive Christmas wreath, but the recipe isn’t just for the holidays. Serve it on game day, at family get-togethers or anytime you need crowd-pleasing finger food.
Cranberry feta pinwheels hit all the right notes: creamy, salty, tangy, sweet. The whipped cream cheese gives the filling its plush texture, while crumbled feta adds a briny sharpness that doesn’t hold back. Dried cranberries bring chewy pops of tart-sweet flavor, and chopped green onions cut through the richness with a clean, peppery edge. The filling is then spread on soft flour tortillas that are rolled into tight spirals. These feta and cranberry pinwheels chill into neat little bites with just enough structure to hold their shape but still feel tender when you sink your teeth in.
These are the kind of snack that disappears fast, whether you’re setting them out for a party or pulling a roll from the fridge for lunch. They look as good as they taste—white and green flecked with ruby red cranberries—and they’re designed to be made ahead. Let them hang out in the fridge for a bit while the flavors deepen and the tortillas soften, and everything will hold together like a dream.
Pie often takes center stage when it comes to Thanksgiving desserts, but Thanksgiving cookie recipes deserve just as much attention. These bite-sized treats are perfect for dunking into a hot cup of coffee after the big meal or during the day while the turkey roasts. From spiced pumpkin and maple-flavored cookies to doughs filled with cranberry, pecan and chocolate, these autumn cookie ideas are whimsical, comforting and a welcome change of pace after a feast.
Our holiday cookie recipes range from soft and chewy classics to crispy creations, flavored with everything from fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom, to apple and caramel. They are rich in flavor and ideal for gatherings big and small. Many can be made ahead and stored in airtight containers, so they stay fresh for days.
For extra holiday charm, these fall cookie recipes can be decorated with playful touches (one even looks like a turkey) and seasonal colors, making them perfect for pretty dessert trays and gift baskets. Pair them with French hot chocolate or hot apple cider throughout the season for a cozy treat. A few cookies next to the best Thanksgiving pies will create a memorable dessert spread.
Billed as “the world’s most visited dinner show attraction” with locations in Branson, Missouri and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Dolly Parton’s Stampede dinner theater has drawn millions (the latest published count is a mind-blowing 20 million people) since its opening in 1988.
Famous for more than just its namesake, the four-course meal served in tandem with stunning live performances also keeps generations of fans coming back for more. Among the items that have been a mainstay on the menu for decades is the show’s beloved Dolly Parton Stampede Soup (a Southern recipe that Dolly loves).
Available exclusively at the show, this creamy, comforting soup is loaded with a medley of tender vegetables (just like Dolly’s stone soup recipe) bathed in a rich and flavorful creamy broth. Luckily, thanks to our easy copycat recipe, you can now enjoy this soup any night of the week—from 9 to 5. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s the perfect easy soup recipe to make on a busy weeknight.
Full disclosure: This is not Dolly’s official recipe. Dolly has not released the official recipe or ingredients for her famous Stampede Soup (she has shared her 5-layer casserole recipe, though), so we had to take some creative license to arrive at our copycat version.
Our Dolly Parton Stampede Soup recipe is based upon the ingredients disclosed in the Original Creamy Soup Mix available to purchase from the Dolly Parton’s Stampede website and various other copycat recipes around the web. When combined, we think our version is about as close as you’ll get to the real recipe without buying a ticket to the live show.
If you’ve ever wanted an excuse to eat sausage and cheese in one bite-sized, delicious puff of glory, this is it. These sausage cheese puffs are like the love child of your favorite breakfast sandwich and that cheesy biscuit you can’t resist at restaurants. They’re crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and packed with savory sausage and sharp cheddar. Plus, they’re the perfect finger food, which means less time with a fork and more time savoring every bite.
This easy slow-cooker chicken pot pie is every bit as good as the original. Traditional chicken pot pie is baked in the oven and topped with a flaky pie crust. It’s hard to think of a heartier family meal—but on a hectic weeknight, who has the time? This ultra-simple twist makes it possible to get all the amazing flavors of a classic chicken pot pie with none of the hassle.
The secret to this easy Slow-Cooker Creamy Chicken Pot Pie: Pillsbury™ Grands!™ Biscuits. Paired with chicken thighs, thawed, frozen mixed veggies, and a handful of other simple ingredients, it all comes together to make a delicious, hearty meal with almost no prep—perfect for busy weeknights.
Looking for more ways to use up the chicken in your fridge? We have a ton of easy chicken recipes to choose from.
Add a few kitchen staples to your slow cooker; then, set it and forget it! You’ll have creamy, comforting homemade pot pie that practically makes itself. Here’s what you’ll need.
Pillsbury™ Grands!™ Southern Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits: These create a fluffy, golden topping that makes this dish feel like old-fashioned comfort food.
Chicken Thighs: They stay juicy and flavorful in the slow cooker—unlike chicken breasts, which can dry out with longer cook times.
Chicken Gravy Mix: This adds instant, savory flavor and helps thicken the sauce, making the creamy filling rich and delicious with minimal effort.
Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Frozen mixed veggies are a pot pie must-have! Bonus: they come already cut into bite-size pieces, so you don’t have to spend time chopping. Heavy cream and flour help create a rich, silky gravy, and poultry seasoning gives this dish a nice, savory, homemade flavor.
For many chocolate lovers, there’s no better dessert than a batch of homemade brownies. But this twist on the classic may just change minds! This recipe dresses up chewy brownies with an unexpected topping: gooey pecans.
This pecan pie brownies recipe starts with chocolaty brownies as the base and has a sweet brown sugar pecan pie topping. It’s everything you love about a classic pecan pie paired with the ultimate brownie base layer. Try a batch for Thanksgiving or a holiday dessert exchange. Everyone in the group is guaranteed to ask for seconds.
Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let's Eat! 