ome and hearth. Thanksgiving unites them, and us, in a way no other holiday does. Friends and family come from miles around to share food and memories, honoring the past and looking toward the future with hope and promise. No matter where we start out – in the yard, on the porch, in front of the TV – we end up in the kitchen, gathered around the table. The kitchen is the heart of a home; every dish a memory to be savored and shared.

This special Semi-Homemade® Thanksgiving Issue is filled with special foods for a special day – all made simple and scrumptious with my own special shortcuts. Give the festivities a fun start with a homey, wholesome breakfast of Pumpkin Cinnamon Pancakes, cookie-cuttered into Thanksgiving shapes. Let the celebration begin with a kickoff cocktail – a sparkling glass of Apple Champagne that greets guests with a spritz of cheer. For easy hospitality, fill a silver tray with glasses and have it waiting on a table by the door. Anchor your sideboard with tiered pastry pedestals stacked with beautiful Chocolate Bon Bons or Wine, Cheese and Fruit that double as décor. To make sure the guest of honor – the turkey – looks (and tastes) its holiday best, try these Fabulous Turkey Tips, plus a few extra tricks for turning a dinner disaster into a glitch-free gourmet meal.

Variety is the spice of life – and Thanksgiving – especially when it comes to dessert. Give a slice of tradition a dollop of your own sweet style with a trio of feel-good favorites – Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Crème, Maple Pecan Pie and Honey Apple Cake – all a heartwarming end to a fabulous feast. Leftovers can be even better the next time around, with make and store treats, like melt-in-your-mouth Harvest Walnut Cookies, a snack kids love that will keep for days in a sealed container. Send a handful home with guests in favor bags or fill a woven box and give as hostess gifts or care packages for friends and neighbors.

I hope my Semi-Homemade® recipes make your Thanksgiving as special as the people the day brings together. Of course, the true recipe for a memorable Thanksgiving is to eat, drink and count your many blessings. They’re seated all around you. Savor them all!