Heavenly Homemakers

Encouraging women in homemaking, healthy eating and parenting

The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide for Women

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It’s here: the Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide for Women. (Huge thanks to my assistant Bethany for putting this together for us!!)

I created this list of tried and true gift ideas to help take the stress out of your Christmas shopping. There’s nothing worse than standing in the aisles of Wal-Mart the week before Christmas, desperately trying to find something for everyone on your list. Even typing that scenario makes me sweat a little. I’ve had Christmases where I procrastinate my shopping until the last minute, and years where I’ve gotten it done ahead of time, and I can tell you: I vastly prefer getting it done early!

Just in case you, too, are hoping to cross your shopping off the list in November this year, here is my very best ideas for your mom, sister, and bestie!

You might, also, want to send this list to your hubby. He might appreciate a few suggestions as well. And if there is something in particular you love on this list, give the guy a little head’s up. ;-)

The Ultimate Gift Guide for Women

10 Gifts for Women Under $10

15 Gifts for Women Under $30

10 Gifts for Women Under $50

10 $75+ Gifts for Women (when you want to splurge!)

I hope you found something for your loved one on this list!

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30+ Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

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With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about menu plans! Today I’m sharing our absolute favorite Thanksgiving side dish recipes!

30+ Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes!

If you are hosting this year, you might be prepping to roast a Turkey, and whip up the Turkey Gravy. With the main dishes already set in stone, perhaps you are looking for a new side dish or two to bring to the Thanksgiving table.

Turkey stuffing, cranberry relish, and dinner rolls might make an appearance on your Thanksgiving menu every year, but if you are like me, it’s fun to shake things up, and whip up a few new recipes every year!

In our family, no one wants to bring the relish tray. Sure it’s great to have a platter of fruits and veggies, but everyone wants to bring a dish with more pizzaz than simply celery and carrot sticks. Side dishes are so much fun! You can get creative with them, and pretty soon that recipe you tried a few years ago has become the dish you are asked to bring again and again. The recipes we cook year in and year out become a part of our family culture, and holiday traditions.

So are you ready to find a new family favorite dish? Here is a list of my absolute favorite Holiday side dishes for you to try. Your family is sure to love them!

Veggie Side Dishes

Fruit Side Dishes

Bread Side Dishes

Desserts

I hope you try (and love) these recipes!

Now you’re time to share! What is your favorite Thanksgiving recipe? Share below!

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How to Have a Stress-Free Thanksgiving

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Hosting Thanksgiving is a lot of work! Today we are sharing with you how to host a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner, but still have the time to enjoy time with your family. Ready to have a stress-free Thanksgiving?

How to Host a Stress-Free Thanksgiving

There have been years when I’ve spent the majority of the holiday in the kitchen–roasting the turkey, whipping the mashed potatoes, and simmering the gravy. While I love making food for my family and friends, I felt sad that the majority of Thanksgiving was spent making food, serving food, and cleaning up afterwards.

I know families that purchase Thanksgiving dinner so that less time is spent on cooking, and more time can be spent visiting! But I do love all my homemade food. What’s a mom to do?

That’s when it occurred to me: what if I prepped most of the food in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, and then the day of I could simply pull out the pre-made food for my family to enjoy! Homemade food, and still time to catch up with my fam? Yay!

I am here to tell you what I wished I knew all those years ago: make your Thanksgiving meal ahead of time! The key to a stress-free holiday starts weeks before Thanksgiving day. Try it this year, I know you will love it!

How to Have a Stress-Free Thanksgiving

One Week Before Thanksgiving

Two Days Before Thanksgiving

One Day Before Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day

  • Enjoy a large cup of steamy coffee in my recliner for a very long time (because I can)
  • Everyone on their own for breakfast (probably cereal)
  • Mix dry ingredients together for Stir-and-Pour Rolls (for easy, no-brainer mixing about an hour before meal time)
  • Put Cranberry Apple Cider into a crockpot to heat (this is a huge hit with guests!)
  • Set out butter to soften for rolls
  • Plates, silverware, cups, and napkins set out

About 1 1/2 hours before serving time, I will bake or re-heat prepared foods. Then I will make gravy and bake the rolls. Easy peasy!

Here are the quick links to all the recipes you’ll need:

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The Best Pumpkin Recipes (20+ Recipes for You to Try!)

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‘Tis the season for all things pumpkin (and everyone rejoiced)! Today I’m sharing the best pumpkin recipes for you to try!

Do you like to drink pumpkin with your coffee or no? I have never been a fan of the famed Pumpkin Spice Latte, it’s just not my cup of tea–ahem–coffee. Honestly, I would vastly prefer sipping a cup of coffee with Chocolate Whipped Cream, some Hot Vanilla Milk, or a Peppermint Cream Cocoa.

While I may not be a fan of drinking my pumpkin, I sure do like eating it in baked goods! Give me all the pumpkin donuts, bread, muffins, cookies, and custard. YUM!

To celebrate pumpkin season, this week we are sharing how to make your own pumpkin puree, and our very best pumpkin flavored baked goods!

Are you ready? Let’s go!

Make Your Own Pumpkin Puree

Are the stores out of canned pumpkin? Or do you have a pumpkin on your front porch that you’d like to process, and freeze? Then you should follow this tutorial on how to cook a whole pumpkin!

Did you know that you don’t have to slice up a pumpkin before you bake it? It’s true! Simply bake it in its whole form, and you won’t have to deal with the awful task of sawing through the tough outer skin. I’m not sure why I haven’t been cooking the pumpkin in its whole form all along – but once I figured it out, I’ve never cut up a raw pumpkin since!

Yum

What I’ve Been Baking

We’ve been mixing up a big batch of Pumpkin Waffles every Sunday, and then using that batter to make fresh waffles for the first few days of the week. They are a big hit with my toddlers, and I feel good that they are getting a veggie in with their breakfast! I’ve also frozen several batches of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins for easy snacks and breakfasts later on. As a result, we have a freezer full of yummy food ready for busy mornings! I love baking and freezing pumpkin baked goods this time of year, while we have a lot of pumpkin to use up, and then using those easy snacks and meals in the coming months.

Next, I really want to make a big batch of my Make-Ahead Pumpkin Donuts!

The Best Pumpkin Recipes

Now that you have secured the pumpkin puree, what are you going to do with it? Well, you could freeze it for later, but I highly encourage you to give a few of these recipes a try!

Here are my absolute favorite pumpkin recipes for you!

You've got to try this recipe!

What’s your favorite pumpkin recipe? Share below!

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How to Make a Gyro

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Note from Laura: I asked my friend Bethany to share this. I’ve never attempted it – but she has mastered it! So now we can all learn how to make a gyro!

Gyro meat recipe

By Bethany:

I was pregnant, and I wanted a gyro.Yum

Needed a gyro. Couldn’t think of anything BUT a gyro. And so I began my search.

We live in a small town, and the closest restaurant with gyros was over an hour away. I knew I didn’t want to drive that far with a toddler in tow to buy one, so I took myself to our local Arby’s, and ordered a sandwich on their menu that included the word “gyro” in its description. A few minutes later I was sadly eating a subpar, roast beef sandwich. Strike out number one.

Next, I scoured Wal-Mart, and found a kit in the frozen food section for gyro sandwiches. I’m not usually one to frequent the fast food drive thru OR frozen food aisle, but–pregnancy craving–so I bought it, made it, and regretted it. Those “gyros” were even more pitiful than the Arby’s version. Strike out number two.

I searched the second grocery store in town for anything even vaguely resembling a gyro, but to no avail. Strike out number three.

Completely out of options, I opened my laptop, and researched how to make gyro meat. Then I got to work in the kitchen. I used ground beef, added tons of spices, blended the meat, baked it, sliced it, and served it in homemade pita bread with lots of toppings.

It wasn’t until my husband was eating a gyro, and asked me where I had found gyro meat, that I knew it tasted authentic! Yay!

And now, I am sharing the recipe with you, sweet readers!

Be Mindful of Your Blender

When I was making this recipe, I was blending the meat in the blender, and thinking wistfully about how both Laura and Tasha own and love their Blendtec blenders. I was wondering, as I merrily blended away, if/when my own generic blender of five years bit the dust I, too, could buy the Blender of all Blenders.

As I stood there, staring out the window, dreaming of another blender, smoke began seeping out of my own blender.

I think I killed it with my own disgruntled thoughts.

That, or attempting to blend too much meat all at one time.

So, readers, learn from me: perhaps blend the meat in small quantities to avoid any issues! Unless, of course, you are trying to kill your blender in order to buy a Blendtec. Ahem.

Gyro Meat
 
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Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
  • 1 small onion peeled, and quartered
  • 2 pounds ground beef or lamb
  • 6 cloves minced garlic
  • 2 T Italian spices (oregano, rosemary, thyme)
  • 3 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoons ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Blend the onion chunks, and then put them into a paper towel and squeeze out the moisture.
  2. Stir all the ingredients, including the blended onions, together in a bowl and set in the fridge to marinate for 1-24 hrs.
  3. Remove meat mixture from fridge. Adding a little at a time, blend it in your blender.
  4. Take the meat mixture, and pack it into a bread pan, being careful to remove any air pockets.
  5. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until done.
  6. Remove the pan from the oven, pour off any oil that has accumulated.
  7. Wrap a brick or heavy bread pan in foil, and set on top of the gyro meat loaf, to compress the meat. After twenty minutes, remove the weight.
  8. Chill, and then slice into thin strips for your gyros!

How to Construct a Perfect Gyro Sandwich

The perfect gyro meat is:

  • Heavily spiced (use lots of garlic, cumin, and Italian spices)
  • Has a dense texture (in order to achieve this at home, be sure to blend the meat, and then compress it after it is cooked)
  • Sliced into thin strips (after it is completely cooled)

How to serve the gyro:

  • Serve the meat in pita bread.
  • Add sweet onions, feta cheese, halved cherry tomatoes, and shredded lettuce.
  • Make your favorite cucumber yogurt dressing or Greek dressing to top it.

Additional Recipes:

 

 

Bethany is a stay-at-home mom to two. During her babies’ naptime, when she’s not dreaming of Blendtec blenders, she works behind the scenes for Laura.

Do you love gyros as much as I do?

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40+ Real Food Muffin Recipes

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Muffin lovers, unite! And bring your chocolate chips when you come. Some of the 40+ real food muffin recipes we’re about to share are going to need them.

40 + Real Food Muffin Recipes

For eleven years now, I’ve been posting muffin recipes here to share with you. We decided it would be nice to list them all in one place for you to access! But first, two of my favorite muffin-making tips…

  1. Make Muffin Batter ahead of time!

    Follow this tutorial to easily freeze muffin batter for later. I love this time-saving trick.

  2. Make Muffin Mix!

    Make a big batch of Muffin Mix so you can easily whip up a pan of muffins without getting out all the ingredients!

And now it’s time to share our favorite muffin recipes. These are all either whole grain or grain free!

40+ Real Food Muffin Recipes

My boys’ favorite muffins are the Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins. Matt’s favorite is the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffin. My favorites are any that are topped with cheesecake!

What’s your favorite kind of muffin?

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Real Food Recipes That Include Natural Peanut Butter

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Peanut butter is a great source of healthy fat and protein, but also, it just tastes delicious. Pair it with chocolate, and all we need is a glass of milk and a smile. Today we’ve got 40+ Real Food Recipes that Include Natural Peanut Butter. But first, let’s talk about making homemade peanut butter. It’s incredibly easy!

Real Food Recipes That Use Natural Peanut Butter

As my life has become more full (ha, I didn’t think that was even possible!) – I’ve stopped making every single food from scratch. I’m looking at you Homemade Ketchup and Homemade Hashbrowns. But Homemade Peanut Butter? I can’t not make it. The homemade version is just too incredible. So I take 5-pounds of peanuts and spend the time turning them all into peanut butter. One mess, 6ish jars of homemade peanut butter. Fast, easy, and WORTH IT.

Here are the tutorials for making peanut butter. Be amazed at how easy!

Now we’ll take that peanut butter and turn it into any of these 40+ recipes!

Real Food Recipes That Include Natural Peanut Butter

See that recipe up there for Homemade Peanut Butter Captain Crunch? Ha! I’d forgotten about that one! If I’m not taking the time to make ketchup or hashbrowns anymore, I’m certainly not taking the time to make Peanut Butter Captain Crunch. But you’ve gotta admit: It’s fun to see how it’s possible. And it is super delicious.

What are your favorite ways to use Peanut Butter?

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The Best Christmas Gift Ideas for Women (for every budget!)

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It’s that time of year again! Time to start thinking about Christmas shopping for all of your loved ones. It can be so overwhelming to narrow down the millions of options to one or two that are just right for your mother, sister, or daughter. I put together this list of the best Christmas gift ideas for women (for every budget!) to help you find the PERFECT gift for the women in your life! No matter their age, hobby, or occupation there is a little something for everyone on this list!

The Best Christmas Gift Ideas for Women

Low on cash or short on time? You can give her the gift of an experience or create her something using your own two hands! Everyone loves receiving something homemade. Can you draw? Sing? Knit? Sew? Use your talents to create a gift that she will treasure forever.

Here are a few low-cost options.

5 Gift Ideas for Women That Are Almost Free

  1. Knit or crochet her a scarf or a hat
  2. Give her a coupon for a chore that you will do for her (clean out her car, her fridge, etc…)
  3. Make her a few babysitting coupons
  4. Write her a letter about all the things you love about her, and put it in a card.
  5. Invite her over for a girls’ movie night at your house (you provide the movie, the snacks, etc…)

20 Gifts for Women That Are Under $25

PAVOI Sterling Silver Freshwater Cultured Stud Pearl Earrings - 5.5mm AAA Quality

Give her the treat of a spa experience within the comfort of her home, and buy her this set of Bath Bombs, and pair them with these Face Masks or perhaps a Bath Pillow!

Help her feel extra cozy this winter, and give her this pair of memory-foam, wool-lined Slippers or a Cozy Throw Blanket.

These Pearl Earrings are so beautiful, and are a great price!

Does she work or exercise out in the cold? Get her this warm Winter Hat with Built-in Bluetooth so she can listen to music on the go!

If she likes floral patterns, these Measuring Scoops and Cups are so pretty!

BeeSilk Hard Lotion is my favorite and might be yours too. I love this stuff!!

Get her a high-quality candle that is made with soy and essential oils like this Vanilla Bean Candle.

This coffee is super delicious. Or if she doesn’t have a coffee grinder, get this. How about a fun new mug to go with it?

If she loves tea, this is a great gift set.

Check out these yummy Hazelnut Chocolates!

This Butterfly Suncatcher is so pretty!

On the more practical side: here’s a fantastic Stainless Steel Knife Set in a Wooden Block.

And another Stainless Steel Knife Set in an Acrylic Stand.

Look how pretty this Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser Necklace is!!

This Wood Picture Photo Frame for Wall Decor is so cute I can’t stand it.

And even prettier – this Floating Living Memory Locket Pendant Necklace!

What a great idea: a Q&A 5-Year Journal for Moms

Or how about Mommy’s 5-Year Memory Book?

I have two of these sets of Pyrex Bowls with Lids and use them approximately 40 times every day.

For the woman who loves cats, get these super cute Cat Socks!

More Than $25 (but oh so worth it!)

This Cook N Home 12-Piece Stainless Steel Set is amazing. She will make you good food in this. 

If you really, really want to knock her socks off, get her a BlendTec (and then help her put her socks back on). It will last forever and be invaluable to her.

Does she have a KitchenAid Mixer? This is a must-have, if she loves to bake, and comes in a bunch of pretty colors!

Is she a coffee drinker? Check out this AMAZING Smart Coffee Mug. She can control the temperature of her coffee, from an app on her phone!

Cuisinart ICE-21PBLK Frozen Yogurt - Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker - Pink

Does she like to make ice cream? Get her this awesome Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker (this machine doesn’t require ice, and it comes in both pink and red!).

Now let’s talk food

Not found anything yet that seems quite right for that special lady in your life? Then I wholeheartedly suggest that you make her some food! Whether you surprise her with breakfast in bed, serve her a fancy coffee you whipped up at home, or bake some cookies, package them up in pretty cellophane, and pop them in her stocking–she will love having something yummy to eat!

Here are some great food ideas that are easy to make and always a hit.

For Her Sweet Tooth

chocolate cheesecake

Chocolate Cheesecake Dessert

Caramel Popcorn

Pineapple Cream Dessert

Peanut Butter Brownie Cups

Low Sugar Vanilla Ice Cream

For Breakfast

ham and egg cups1

Easy Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast Pizza

Easy Ham and Egg Breakfast Bowls

For Lunch or Dinner

Oven Roasted Rotisserie Chicken

Beef Roast with Gravy

Salmon Patties

Simple Garlic Butter Shrimp

Simple Oven Fried Chicken

Creamy Bacon Spaghetti

Fancy Drinks You Can Make Her

Healthy Homemade Chocolate Frappe

Warm Vanilla Soother

Chocolate Whipped Cream served on top of a cup of coffee

Warm Chocolate Soother

Chocolate Mint Soother

Warm Pumpkin Custard

Chocolate Frappe

The Gift of Time

If she doesn’t have this already, get her a Simple Meals subscription. This will save her hours every week!!

What are some gifts YOU’VE received in the past, that you’ve loved?

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65+ Christmas Gift Ideas For Men

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Are you struggling to find Christmas gifts for the men in your life? Struggle no more! I put together this list of 65+ Christmas gift ideas for men to help you find the perfect gift for your husband, dad, or son!

Select a gift, order it, and then you can relax knowing that you’ve crossed another gift (or two) off your list: put your feet up and drink a big ol’ cup of coffee with Chocolate Whipped Cream on top or eat a few Peanut Butter Brownie Cups to celebrate!

The Best Christmas Ideas for Men!

8 Gift Ideas for Men That Are *Almost* Free

  1. Vacuum and wash his car or truck
  2. Make him coupons for a batch of his favorite cookies or his favorite meal
  3. Give him a book that he would enjoy (check out thrift stores to find an inexpensive copy)
  4. Order copies of photos of his family and put them in a little album for him
  5. Put magnets on the back of pictures, so he can put them on his fridge
  6. Give him a coupon for an experience (going fishing with him, on a walk, shopping, etc…)
  7. Make something for him (draw a picture, knit a scarf, record a song, write a letter)
  8. Put together a CD of all of his favorite songs

Gifts for Men That Cost $25 Or Less

4 for Camping

  1. Single Hammock ($20)
  2. Color-Coded Roasting Sticks ($20)
  3. Two Person Tent ($13 – Amazing Price!)
  4. Biolite Portable Light ($15) If you need to do things in the dark, the USB will also operate this light. NO batteries, no electricity required.

3 for Baseball

  1. MLB Team Logo Baseball (less than $8)  You choose the team!
  2. Equipment Backpack ($25)
  3. Coffee Mug ($8)

3 for Football

  1. Light-Up Football ($10) So you can play in the dark!
  2. Parking Sign ($18) You choose the team.
  3. 3D Puzzle (like Legos) NFL team characters ($15)  You choose the character.

BARSKA Blueline 8x22 Waterproof Golf Scope (Yards)

3 for Golf

  1. Golf Scope ($15)
  2. Tees ($5-$10)
  3. Golf Ball Pick Up Tool ($5)

2 for Fishing and hunting

  1. Portable Fish Scale with Measuring Tape ($10)
  2. Cross Body Tackle Bag ($20+)

1 for all Sports Fans

  1. Chair with its own shade ($23)

Quik Shade MAX Shade Chair, Navy

6 Great Tools

  1. 3-in-1 Laser Level, tape measure and bubble level with ruler  ($14)
  2. Leatherman Multi-Tool ($25)
  3. Telescoping Magnet ($6) Great for picking up spilled nails, screws and such!
  4. Nice Work Gloves ($14-$15)
  5. Headlamp ($8)
  6. Survival Kit ($13)

3 T-shirts

  1. For Dads with a Sense of Humor ($10)
  2. For the Guitarist ($19)
  3. Me and Mini-Me Set For Your Husband and Baby ($30)

Coffee Mugs

  1. For a Star Wars Fan ($13)
  2. Awesome Dad ($13)
  3. New Dad ($14)
  4. Double Walled Man Mug ($15)

Fun Outdoor Games for Dad (and the Entire Family!)

  1. Ultimate Disc Game ($39)
  2. Kubb ($34)
  3. Lawn Bowling ($21)
  4. Yard Dice  ($38)
  5. Ladder Ball  ($33)
  6. Molkky ($24)
  7. Washer Toss ($20)
  8. Ring Toss ($23)
  9. Frisbee Golf (Disc Golf) Set ($23)
  10. Floating Pong ($10)

Recipes to Make for the Men in Your Life

For Breakfast

For Carnivores

For His Sweet Tooth

What are some of your tried and true gift ideas?

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Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!