If it’s your turn to host the holiday party this year, but you can’t decide what to serve and you’re on a budget… this is what you do (no, don’t order out or buy the veggie platter at the grocery store ;), serve a variety of appetizers! We’re not doing ranch dip and carrots this year… take it up a few notches with these flavorful bites.

Serving appetizers is a great way to feed a crowd because, with so many options, even the pickiest eaters will find their favorite platter. For the bean dip lovers, make Bette_0713’s Mexican Crockpot appetizer. You’d never guess this is an appetizer, it’s hearty and… you don’t have to cook it! Let the crockpot do the hard work.

I’ve never met a caramelized onion recipe I didn’t love, this is why I’d go for Redking’s Gorgonzola and Caramelized Onion Appetizer. It’s sweet, savory and… best of all, can be made ahead of time. Great appetizer for an office party, too.

So we’ve got mexican food, let’s move on to something Italian. JaneTreva’s Baked Ravioli Appetizers with Dip comes with a dipping sauce that’s a bit unique, reminds me of an old favorite… think chips! Sour cream and onion combined with cheese… delicious! Mouths will water at the site of her ravioli appetizer.

If you want to stick to something a bit more traditional, follow MyTastyTreasure’s instructions for how to prepare an Antipasto Tray at home. Why pay someone else to do the work when you can save money, prepare this in minutes, and know it’ll still be fresh when the guests arrive?! Here it is…

Other than soups and stews, the one meal I really look forward to during the fall and winter months is a hearty pot pie with a great crust! There’s something about the crust… it has to be special, it can make or break the pot pie, I think! Even if you don’t have pastry crust in your freezer, there are still so many options when it comes to finishing off your savory pie!

For instance, Peach 106’s Beef Shepherd’s Pie with Garlic Mashed Potato Crust differs from most pies in that the crust isn’t made out of flour. Mashed potatoes make the perfect topping to this beefy meal; when the pie bakes up in the oven, the mashed potato crust becomes golden… extra delicious.

ChicagoErin20’s Chicken Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust is another keeper. Cornbread is always a tasty side, now it’s the crust! She includes the recipe for the cornbread, it’s a classic. If you’re on a gluten-free diet and want to enjoy a bread-based crust, use this recipe but substitute the flour for rice flour and add 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum — that’s it!

Now how about a pie with the crust on the bottom? What? Yeah, pizza of course! Atlantagirl1375’s Hamburger Pizza Pie is for fast food and comfort food lovers. If you don’t have time to whip up a pizza crust from scratch, think about grabbing a loaf of french bread after work… or use those english muffins that are about to go stale… or even bagels!

Make one of these pies for dinner tomorrow and you’ll probably be able to take a break Saturday, most of them yield a good amount of leftovers!

After you’ve put on your comfy clothes and turned on the heater after a busy day at work, you find that you’re still… hungry. Right! It’s time for dinner. The only thing you’ve got is beef. But don’t feel limited, warm up with one of these filling beef stews.

Krl10106’s Sweet and Sour Beef is perfect for when you really want something a little different. Like any other stew, you’ll find carrots and onions in here. But where does the sweet and sour flavor come from? Vinegar and brown sugar, the secret ingredients.

For something a little more traditional, try Bsherrill’s Beef Stew with Bacon, Mushrooms and Pearl Onions. She serves this over mashed potatoes. This is the kind of stew you can serve to dinner guests.

Cartaphilus’ Winter Beef Stew is another classic. This family friendly meal includes one of my favorite ingredients, bacon! You can count on that and the Italian Dressing to liven up the flavor. I have a feeling you can even throw this in the slow-cooker… that’s the beauty of a good stew, it’ll practically make itself :)!

Want to know a tasty and affordable way to spice up an ordinary dish? Add some of your favorite sausage. Breakfast sausage has it’s place next to the eggs, especially at my house, but I’ve recently started using flavored sausage (like apple or Italian sausage) to add a bit of flavor and flair to our dinners. At about $2 per link or two, you can’t go wrong. Here are some seasonal sausage recipes guaranteed to make your mouth water.

CDrier’s recipe puts a new spin on an old favorite… what we were just talking about, breakfast sausage. If you’ve got a few links left over from breakfast, you’ll need to make Apple Glazed Sausage with CDrier’s Canadian Bacon. Pork lovers will find themselves in heaven when they taste this double-sausage bacon and apple delight. It’s a savory dish made sweet with ingredients like apple jelly and maple syrup.

Karen_3925 Pasta with Pumpkin and Sausage is packed with scrumptious ingredients. Pasta doesn’t need tomato sauce to taste delicious, especially when pumpkin, cinnamon and sweet Italian sausage are involved.

Who says you’ve got to be a meat-eater to enjoy a hearty sausage meal? Megabeth’s Acorn Squash Stuffed with Vegetarian Cajun Sausage will make heads turn and mouths water. This dish has style… it’s severed up in an acorn squash. What’s the acorn stuffed with? A spicy bean and rice filling that includes… vegetarian sausage!

So far, all you’ve got on the Thanksgiving menu is your classic mashed potatoes dish. It’s the staple everyone loves, but you’re convinced that more veggies need to be on your holiday table this year. How do you sneak them in? Here are a few ideas…

Katlubecki’s Butternut Squash Risotto is warm and comforting. This Barefoot Contessa recipe has color and flavor, thanks to ingredients like saffron threads and pancetta. Her risotto might even compete with the stuffing!

While the oven’s still warm after the turkey’s baked, try Nadira’s Oven Roasted Vegetables. With a hearty assortment of veggies, it’s a real feast for the eyes. This is a pretty lean side, too, so you’ll be able to pile on the mac and cheese and not feel so guilty about it ;).

You might’ve tried stuffed baked potatoes, but how about Corbett Cook’s Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes? Now there’s a real mouthful. Everything that makes your spud mouthwatering can be found in this mashed tater dish, from the bacon to the sour cream!

Your Thanksgiving menu is almost set! Almost? Yep, we have quite a few other holiday recipes we still need to share!