Thank you to Walmart+ for partnering on this post, and to my readers for supporting my blog. I have made all my product purchases, and all reviews are my own.
Matt and I are very fortunate to have a very close group of friends here in town! Life gets so busy; we all have growing kids and hectic schedules. But we all try to prioritize getting together as regularly as possible, and this time is always much needed! It is great for the soul to get together with friends and catch up over drinks and a delicious meal.
One way that we like to kick off the holiday season is by having a “Friendsgiving” get together. This usually takes place the weekend before the actual Thanksgiving day. I also enjoy the opportunity to test drive any new recipes before Thanksgiving!
We have had an incredibly busy fall, and I’m still in disbelief that it’s the end of November. Between the kids’ school schedules, home projects, and travel, I feel like I have barely stopped to catch my breath. When I first signed up for my Walmart+ membership, I immediately knew that I would appreciate it the most during the busy holiday season. I was right!
Once I had planned the recipes that I would contribute for our Friendsgiving meal, I put together the list of ingredients I needed and got to work! And by “work,” I mean that I quickly ordered all of the items using the app on my phone. It was so convenient, and as always, the order was delivered for free to my home ($35 order min. Restrictions apply), at the exact time that I requested. I am always so impressed by the accuracy of my deliveries, and the fresh, top quality of the produce in my order. Once again, I am so thankful for my Walmart+ membership and all of its benefits!
While preparing my dishes for our Friendsgiving meal, I inadvertently stumbled on another perk of this membership that I didn’t even know about! I realized that I had run out of maple syrup for the butternut squash salad, and hadn’t ordered any in my original order. I was not happy! I was right in the middle of everything in the kitchen, Matt wasn’t home at the time, and going to the store with all three kids was the last thing I wanted to do!
I opened my Walmart app to see if it would be possible to get this on such short notice, assuming it couldn’t be done. Again – Walmart+ truly came to my rescue! They will deliver any order – no extra delivery fees ($35 minimum does apply)! I had a couple of hours to spare and could wait for them to deliver the ingredient I needed, along with a few other last-minute items. I was super impressed!! Whether I’m “planning ahead” a few days before an event, or need a super last-minute item – Walmart+ delivers for me!
If you have a Walmart+ membership, you will get free delivery from your store ($35 minimum, restrictions apply), free shipping from Walmart.com – with no order minimum (excludes Marketplace items, location and freight surcharges), member prices on fuel, and mobile scan & go when shopping in store.
This year, we did a bit of a twist on the traditional Thanksgiving meal, and the food was out of this world! Here are a few of my favorite recipes that I used…they are perfect for the holidays or anytime during the holiday season!
Truffled Mac & Cheese
via Williams Sonoma
I first made this a few years ago, and it’s still one of my favorite mac and cheese recipes! The truffle oil truly makes this dish special!
Ingredients
Unsalted butter for baking dish, plus 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick)
Salt, to taste
1 lb. elbow macaroni
2 tsp. truffle oil
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. sweet paprika
1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 cups milk
1 cup half-and-half
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
2 Tbs. minced fresh chives
Directions
Preheat an oven to 375°F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until not quite al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package instructions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. While the pasta is still warm, drizzle with the truffle oil and stir well.
Return the saucepan to medium-high heat and melt the 4 Tbs. butter. Add the flour, paprika and mustard and cook, stirring well, until no visible flour remains, 1 to 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk, half-and-half and a generous pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Simmer, whisking frequently to smooth out any lumps, for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add a pinch of pepper and 1 cup each of the Gruyère and cheddar. Stir until smooth.
Pour the cheese sauce onto the macaroni, add the chives and stir well. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining cheeses. Bake until the top is lightly browned and the sauce is bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Serves 6.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma One Pot of the Day, by Kate McMillan (Weldon Owen, 2012).
Shop the ingredients for my Truffled Mac and Cheese here!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cinnamon Butternut Squash
This super simple recipe was a hit! Make it as a salad with the measurement of ingredients proportional to the number of guests.
Directions
Toss Brussels sprouts in olive oil and salt. Roast in the preheated oven at 400 F for about 20 minutes.
Toss cubed butternut squash in olive oil, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Roast in the preheated oven at 400 F for about 20 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine roasted Brussels sprouts, roasted cinnamon butternut squash, cranberries, and lightly toasted pecans.
Add a small amount of maple syrup and toss it!
Tips and Tricks
To save time, roast both Brussels sprouts and butternut squash on 2 separate baking sheets at the same time, on the same rack in the oven.
Adding maple syrup to the salad at the end is optional. If you do decide to add it, add small amounts. Start with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, then add more, if desired, and toss with the salad ingredients to combine.
Shop the ingredients for Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cinnamon Butternut Squash here!
Pear and Gorgonzola Salad
via Taste of Home
This is the perfect green salad for fall! I love the combination of sweet and salty flavors.
Ingredients
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
1 can (15 ounces) or fresh pear halves, drained and sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup olive oil
6 cups torn mixed salad greens
2 medium pears, sliced
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
Coarsely ground pepper, optional
Directions
To make dressing: In a blender, combine the vinegar, pear halves and salt; cover and process until smooth. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream.
In a salad bowl, combine the greens, sliced pears, walnuts and cheese. Drizzle with desired amount of dressing; toss to coat. Serve with pepper if desired. Refrigerate any leftover dressing.
Shop the ingredients for Pear and Gorgonzola Salad here!
Easy Cranberry and Apple Cake
via Ina Garten
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This recipe is so easy, and is perfect for any winter holiday!
Ingredients
12 ounces fresh cranberries, rinsed and picked over for stems
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and diced
1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1 tablespoon grated orange zest (2 oranges)
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 1/8 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup sour cream
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Combine the cranberries, apple, brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon in a medium bowl. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs on medium-high speed for 2 minutes. With the mixer on medium, add 1 cup of the granulated sugar, the butter, vanilla, and sour cream and beat just until combined. On low speed, slowly add the flour and salt.
Pour the fruit mixture evenly into a 10-inch glass pie plate. Pour the batter over the fruit, covering it completely. Combine the remaining 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon and sprinkle it over the batter. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean and the fruit is bubbling around the edges. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Shop the ingredients for my Apple and Cranberry Cake here!
A shot of the spread before it was demolished!
We had such a fun evening, and it was so nice to be able to catch up and have a night in before the craziness of the real holiday prep begins. For your dinner party prep – I highly recommend the convenience and value of Walmart+!
Click here to see one of my favorite tablescapes for fall and winter, created with items from Walmart Home!
If you want the ease of Walmart+ for yourself to access their great prices without sacrificing convenience, follow the easy instructions below!
HOW TO SIGN-UP FOR WALMART+
The price to sign-up for Walmart+ is $98 per year. You can also choose the option to pay $12.95 per month.
Go to WalmartPlus.com > Click “Start 15 Day Free Trial” > Enter your address > Select Annual or Monthly Plan > Add your credit card information > Submit by clicking “Start your 15-day free trial”
You will be shown a window with all the Walmart+ benefits available to you based on your address. Membership benefits vary based on your location.
Please let me know if you take advantage of this service! I can’t wait to hear how you love Walmart+! It has been such a time saver for our family, and I hope it will help yours too!
Thanks to Walmart+ for partnering with me for this post!
What are your favorite recipes for fall and winter entertaining? I would love some inspiration! Let me know in the comments!
