So this is what the “holidays” look like in Phoenix.  Like living in a desolate wasteland.

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is only one week away!  ONE WEEK!  I love cooking (obviously) but I’m also super thankful that I’m not hosting this year.  Not so thankful that I will be working that day, but you win some you lose some I suppose.  At least I will be off in time to eat some delicious Thanksgiving food (that I didn’t have to cook myself)!

Those of you who are hosting, did you know that there are several items that you can make in advance? Like, today? You can make your rolls, stuffing, and even your gravy over the weekend leaving you free to visit with your guests on the big T-Day. Unless, of course, you don’t want to visit with your guests on Thanksgiving… I won’t tell.

With holiday baking starting this weekend, now is probably a good time to check your leavening agents to make sure your cakes and cookies will bake correctly. On the off-chance you don’t bake often, baking soda and baking powder DO go bad. If you don’t remember how long ago you opened yours, they might be worth checking.

I’m dying over these cupcakes on A Farmgirl’s Dabbles. Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Latte Cupcakes. It’s everything I love in one tiny, delicious package! Like they were made with me in mind.

Even though I don’t believe in talking about Christmas until AFTER Thanksgiving (with Nordstrom earning my respect with this Nordstrom initiative).  I wish more stores would follow suit.

(YOU GO WITH YOUR BAD SELF, NORDSTROM!)

I got super excited at a recent trip to home depot where we saw Yoda in a santa outfit!  We have almost zero Christmas decorations so of course I immediately started jumping up and down and screaming about how we needed to have it.  (Note: I would have had the same reaction even if our entire house was filled to the top with Christmas decorations)

Not want.  Need.  BF said we couldn’t get it because he knows I will set it up in our bedroom for the other 11 months of the year.  As if that’s a “bad” thing…

OMG!  And look whose home-made faux-reos made the cover for this week’s Share Your Sweets on SeriousEats! You can click the picture to go straight to the recipe.

I’ve been really bad about entering pictures lately.  I kinda forgot the whole thing existed… oops?  You should definitely make these, they’re super easy and you can make a million variations of the filling.  So good.  Now I want to make them again!

Speaking of SE, they posted this video of things exploding in the microwave (in slow motion).  If you, like me, have always wanted to explode things in the microwave, but realize that you would end up cleaning up the mess, this video may help to fulfill that desire.  Or strengthen it.  I’m still not sure which.

That’s all my Thursday things… Enjoy your weekend, I’ll have a Thanksgiving roundup this weekend for those of you who are still trying to plan your menus!