Rhia's Kitchen : NEW RECIPES! Whipped Goat Cheese 7-Layer Dip, Vegan Mushroom Gravy, Instant Pot French Onion Soup, and MORE!

Latest recipes from Simply Recipes.



Hello, my friends! Today, I want to talk a little bit about traditions. When I was a kid, I LOVED the time between Halloween and New Year's. It just seemed like this joyous ride through all the best holidays, made special mostly thanks to my mom. There were things we did every year — our little family's special traditions — and Mom was the magic maker who made it all happen. (Shout out to all the moms and dads and magic makers out there!) After I left home and got married, holidays were really hard. I felt like I lost all of the beloved traditions that made this time of year so special. Even if I was able to go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas, it was like glimpsing the magic for a brief moment through the doorway instead of being surrounded by it all season long. It made me really lonely. A few years ago, it dawned on me: My husband and I needed to create our own traditions. We needed to be our own magic makers. And so that's what we did. We decided that our tradition would be to get a Christmas tree every year on Thanksgiving and it would stay up through New Year's, even if we were traveling. (My husband, initially reluctant, now loves this and likes to give our annual tree names like "Gertrude" and "Simon.") We also always get the Lego Star Wars advent calendar and take turns opening the windows. I buy pine-scented dish soap and wear holiday-themed socks. This year, I'm establishing a new tradition: My parents are flying out on Thanksgiving Day for the third year in a row. Since my dad runs a bakery that gets massive orders for the holiday, they can't fly out earlier and Thanksgiving always feels a bit frantic and unspecial by the time they arrive. So I've decided that we will celebrate Thanksgiving on Friday from here on out. It will start by going out to buy a Christmas tree together, decorating (and naming) that Christmas tree, and then making dinner together while it twinkles by the window. When I told my mom about this new tradition I wanted to start, she got really excited. She has told me that the holidays have been hard for her, too, since my brother and I left home. It makes me happy to be able to bring a little bit of that joy back into the season. Turns out that being the magic maker feels pretty great. I've rambled long enough and you have new recipes to check out and turkeys to thaw, but I just wanted to say don't be afraid to make your own traditions this holiday season. Be the magic maker, both for yourself and for your loved ones. Happy Thanksgiving! XO Emma

Whipped Goat Cheese 7-Layer Dip

by Nick Evans

Need a festive make-ahead appetizer for your holiday party? Try this Whipped Goat Cheese 7-Layer Dip, topped with pistachios, dates, raisins, bacon, sunflower seeds, and honey. Yum!

by Sally Vargas

Vegan Mushroom Gravy is rich with the earthy flavor of cremini mushrooms and intensified with an umami kick from soy sauce and miso. Pour this vegan gravy over mashed potatoes on your Thanksgiving table. Freezes well, too!

by Coco Morante

Instant Pot French Onion Soup! French onion soup is comfort food at its finest. Rich, intensely-flavored broth and caramelized onions, topped with crusty, cheese-covered bread is sure to warm anyone on a cold winter's night. Make this delicious soup in half the time by using your Instant Pot!

by Jessica Gavin

Whipping up a batch of bread pudding doesn't get easier than this! The slow cooker creates a smooth and custardy texture. This version is rich with bananas, warm spices, and caramel sauce for a bread pudding twist on the famous New Orleans dessert: Bananas Foster!