Is it better to make your pumpkin pie from scratch—or use canned pumpkin? Jennifer Reese, author of Make the Bread, Buy the Butter, finds out the hard way so you can enjoy your holiday dessert for less… without sacrificing taste.

Don’t make the same old boring mashed potatoes for your family—give them a surprising smoky flavor with a secret sauce from Simple Food, Big Flavor by Aarón Sánchez.

By Crystal Paine
Author of The Money Saving Mom’s Budget
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and this year, retailers are readying their Black Friday sales earlier than ever. Here’s how you can be sure you get the best bargains—and finish your holiday shopping without breaking the bank.

By Deborah Goldstein
Road trips with teens and preteens are fairly easy. As long as they can text and snack, they’re mostly self-contained. Younger children, however, don’t tolerate long rides with the same enviable apathy. For little ones, you’ll need some ammo. Here are 10 strategies to help you get from here to there this holiday season, relatively stress-free.

Ready for holiday baking? You can get in your own way (or a loved one’s, therefore jeopardizing your supply of tasty treats) if you don’t set up your kitchen correctly. Of course we all have unique configurations and different amounts of space to work with, but here are a few helpful suggestions from Buddy Valastro, author of Baking with the Cake Boss.

This simple, foolproof sauce adds a mellow sweetness and a smoky, spicy punch to everything from burgers to soup. From Simple Food, Big Flavor by Aarón Sánchez.

The Duggar Family may have to rename their TLC show: Michelle Duggar has announced she’s pregnant… with baby No. 20! Since she’s a pro at teaching good child behavior, we’re sharing her timely tips for holiday and food shopping here. From A Love That Multiplies: An Up-Close View of How They Make it Work, by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar of 19 Kids and Counting.

By Kristy Ojala
It may seem like Halloween barely took its last breath before you saw turkey decorations and Thanksgiving menus cropping up everywhere from your in box to your local supermarket. But now is the time to put aside your resistance and figure out what you’re doing for Thanksgiving, where, and of course, what’s on the menu. Trust us: Don’t procrastinate.

By Jennifer Reese
Author of Make the Bread, Buy the Butter
Hosting Thanksgiving dinner is expensive. As the host, you’ve agreed to provide an abundant feast for family and friends, and while it may be possible to produce a truly cheap meal, the idea runs contrary to the spirit of this great national holiday. Thanksgiving is about sharing and generous bounty. Here’s how to do it without going overboard.

By Deborah Goldstein
Just the thought alone of flying with little ones can put parents on edge. While less people are expected to fly this holiday season, flights will be more crowded [insert collective groan here]. Here’s how to survive your next flight with a baby, toddler, or preschooler.