I know a lot of people are decking the halls already but there’s another holiday tucked in there before Christmas comes: Thanksgiving! 
Thanksgiving is less than a week away, but it feels a bit overlooked this year. That makes me a little sad, considering how much there is to love about this holiday.
We love Thanksgiving
Think about it: you gather with family and friends, enjoy a delicious meal, and have a day to reflect on all that you’re grateful for. There’s no pressure to have presents bought and wrapped, or having the house all decorated. It’s a chance to get together and enjoy good food and good conversation.
Gathering might not always be with family, either. Perhaps distance or other life circumstances prevent you from being with family. Perhaps you gather with friends that have become family, or neighbors, or your church family, or coworkers. This holiday, as with most holidays, is about being with those you care about.
We also realize that holidays can be hard, too, especially if you have difficult family dynamics to navigate, or if you’re grieving the loss of a loved one. Our wish for you is peace this holiday season.
Ashley’s is ready to help
As the days to Thanksgiving tick away, you can rest easy knowing there’s still time to place an order for all of your favorite treats from Ashley’s – but you have to act quickly! Give us a call today (Friday) or tomorrow (Saturday) to order your dinner rolls, freshly baked bread, holiday cookies, cakes and pies. 
We’ll be open Tuesday and Wednesday for order pickup, so let us know how we can help complete your feast.
Because Thanksgiving is as much about the company you’re with as it is the food you eat, you may not want to spend a ton of time in the kitchen, yet want something delicious to add to the meal. We rounded up a few quick recipes that are low on time, but high on impact.
Easy, tasty recipes
Appetizer/ snack: Ranch Oyster Crackers
This is great for kids and grownups alike. It’s easy to grab a handful if you’re waiting for the turkey to finish cooking, and it’s a great snack with a beer as you watch the football game.
Ingredients:
1 bag plain oyster crackers
1 – 1 oz. packet of ranch dressing/dip mix
¼ cup vegetable or olive oil
½ tsp. dill
Combine oil, mix and dill. Pour over crackers and stir gently. Bake at 250 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Stir halfway through. Enjoy!
Side Dish: Corn Casserole
A crowd pleaser that’s simple to make but oh, so delicious! You just need five ingredients to whip up this tasty casserole, which is a great complement to the traditional Thanksgiving meal.
Ingredients:
1 can of corn
1 can of creamed corn
1 cup sour cream
½ cup butter, melted (1 stick of butter)
1 box of Jiffy cornbread mix
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Put mixture into an 8×8 greased pan and bake for about 45 minutes, or until the middle has completely set. This is the basic recipe, but there are ways to kick it up a notch. We like the ideas here from Tastes of Lizzy T.
Dessert: Pumpkin cookies
These cookies taste so yummy, you won’t believe how easy they are to make! They are light and fluffy, which makes them a great dessert option to enjoy after a big meal.
Ingredients:
1 can of pumpkin
1 box of spice cake mix
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Mix the pumpkin and cake mix together. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto the baking sheet, about two inches apart. Bake for 13-15 minutes.
You could also add chocolate chips to the mix, or frost the finished cookies with cream cheese frosting, or sprinkle powdered sugar on top to up the “wow” factor.
We hope this holiday brings full bellies and lots of laughter and love. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us to all of you!