We’re hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year, and I’m already looking forward to being with family, to playing games, and to preparing (and eating) those delicious foods associated with the holidays. Which means I’m already thinking about food! What’s new, huh?

Are you a “traditional Thanksgiving dinner” family? Or do you cook something different? Like Mexican food? Or steaks with potatoes? Or Beef Burgundy?

We’re a “traditional dinner” kind of family (at least most years), and this year we’ll have turkey with cornbread dressing and all the fixings. Each family will bring their favorite dishes to share.

I’ll prep some old favorites like Mammy’s Fruit Salad, Aunt Lyda’s Sweet Potato Souffle, and Mimi’s Delicious Biscuits (Mimi was my Mom), and also her yummy Chocolate Cake!

I actually keep my favorite recipes (especially the oldies from family members that are on recipe cards) in a picture file on my iPhone so that, if I’m at the store and need to be reminded of the recipes, the recipes are handy! Does anyone else do that?

When my daughter Kelsey was young, she used to love helping me while I baked. With “help” being a relative term . . .

I love to cook. But I really love to bake. Baking is relaxing for me. Sometimes when I’m writing and I get stumped as to where to go next, I’ll head to the kitchen to bake up something sweet and yummy. And Keto, of course, in keeping with our lifestyle choice.

There’s just something comforting about preparing foods of your heritage, foods you’ve enjoyed with family and friends through the years. Especially now that the years are flying by and so many of those loved ones are gathered Home with Christ.

Maybe that’s why I include so many recipes in my historical novels. Recipes from the past. I LOVE it when friends send pictures of recipes they’ve made from one of my novels. Recipes like Mam’s Irish Butterscotch Pie from Colors of Truth, a Carnton novel that just released. Thanks, Jan!

So tell me, are you a traditional Thanksgiving dinner family (Turkey and dressing, etc…)? Or do you break the mold with something new and different? What are some of your favorite family recipes to make during the holidays (and who passed them down to you)?

Much love, friends, and I look forward to hearing from you. I love our community here at Inspired By Life & Fiction!

Tamera

GIVEAWAY TODAY HERE ON INSPIRED BY LIFE & FICTION

I’m giving away two fabulous hardback cookbooks today—here on this blog post. Cookbooks filled with yummy sweet desserts to get you started thinking about your holiday baking!

Simply leave a comment below and your name will be added to the hat. (If you’re not interested in winning one of the books, just add a quick comment stating that in your post.)

GIVEAWAY ENDS at 8PM tonight when I’ll draw two names at random and post the winners here by 9PM. Due to postage costs, winners must have U.S. mailing addresses, please.

. . . who won the cookbooks! Donna Howe won the First Prize Pies and Brooke T. won the Loveless Cafe!

Ladies, please email me here with your snail mail address and I’ll get your books in the mail! Thanks, everyone, for your comments and sharing. What a fun exchange today!