Happy Thanksgiving! I just love Thanksgiving, don’t you? This week, I’m sharing some family favorites that you might like to include with Thanksgiving or any other family meals as we head into the holidays.

There is something so nostalgic about carrying on the traditions of favorite dishes at your family meals! My husband’s family loves the cucumber salad, and it has been a showstopper at almost every holiday meal for years in his family’s history! My Grandma’s Pink Jello is the one dish you can count on getting completely wiped out at our gatherings, why? Because the kids all love it! And Pumpkin Crunch is the one dessert that can turn anyone into a pumpkin lover!

These are some really nice sides to go with your fantastic meal, and they are easy and a hit!

So let’s begin with the pumpkin dessert, called “Pumpkin Crunch“. Doesn’t that sound fantastic? It really is! To me, it is like a pumpkin toffee cake crunch kind of thing, and it is so delicious and very easy to make!

Mmmm! I can almost smell it coming out of the oven!

The fragrant smell of the cinnamon, and buttery crunch topping is almost too good to resist.

Serve it up with some vanilla ice cream, coffee and maybe even some whipped cream!

If you would like to try this recipe, click here: Pumpkin Crunch

Next, lets talk about that Cool and Creamy Cucumber Salad.

What could be better than a salad that mixes thin slices of cucumber, red onion, sour cream, vinegar and dill?

Troy’s mom makes this better than anyone I know! It is exquisite!

If you would like the recipe for this, click here: “Creamy Cucumber Salad“.

And finally, let’s talk about “Grandma’s Pink Jello“.

It is really so simple and so good. Just 4 ingredients.

The magic is in the pink fluffy topping. Oh that is the good stuff!

When I serve it, I like to garnish it with some sliced strawberries.

Mmmm doesn’t that look good? And I think you are technically allowed to call it a salad! Even better!

If you would like the recipe to this delicious and easy recipe, click here: Grandma’s Pink Jello

As the holidays are now upon us, I can’t help but reminisce about all the treasures of special memories in days gone by! Maybe you have them too! This year, I am so very thankful for family. From my earliest memories to today and wherever it takes us tomorrow.

Our family was large when I was growing up, and holidays were a beehive of activity. Aunts and uncles and grandparents and cousins would all come piling in! The coat closet filled up, and laughter and chatting could be heard all over the house. I stood on tiptoe to peek out the window at all the cars in the driveway and street and it amazed and delighted me! This was my family! So many of them! Each one brought a smile to my face! All of us felt the same way!

But there was one that wrapped around your heart with a love so deep and pure, it felt almost sacred.  My Grandma Hammonds.

I know even now any of my family members looking at this picture, gazing into her beautiful warm smile and kind eyes, they feel a longing, a flood of love and the memories like a warm cloak on a cold day. She was the essence of love. She looked at every person in wonder and amazement and was captivated with them. Oh what a gift! Her humble, selfless love set the tone for how family relationships would go in our family.

That is what family is all about. My Grandma has now gone on to Heaven some 25 years ago now. But we carry the torch, as families do.

Aren’t families a gift? And as your family gathers for Thanksgiving, I hope that you and every person at your table feels drenched in the knowledge that you are loved, and belong and that is permanent. Unconditional love is what families are all about. That is what frames the thankfulness in our hearts because that love is so precious, it tells us we are worthy, respected and valued. It grounds us to carry us through the good times and the challenging ones.

I want to thank you for allowing me this venue to share from my heart. This is such a blessing to me! I love to write, and most of all I love people. This blog allows me to reach out in this world and connect with precious folks like you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness.

I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Love Always,

Amy

Family – where life begins and love never ends.   ~Unknown