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Plan Once, Shop Smarter: My Monthly Meal Planning Workbook

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If you are tired of going to the store and coming home with things you did not need, or of finding science experiments in the back of the refrigerator, monthly meal planning might be the fix. I wrote the Monthly Meal Planning Workbook around four simple steps you repeat every month: take inventory of what you have, plan a month of dinners around it, do one big shop for shelf-stable and freezable foods, and keep a short perishables list for weekly pickups. It works on a fixed income, a part-time income, a lot of money, or very little, because your rent, insurance, and car payment all come due monthly no matter how your paycheck lands. When I made the switch, I saved about $50 a month almost immediately. Full disclosure: I am the author. The paperback is currently 30% off at the IngramSpark shop: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=TFKTOMzVSy4htl0rXmji8lUNzMdPovHYOkDJ7QULuuv Read the full review, including my weekly dinner rhythm and what the book and course cost: https://the-good-...
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Chicken and Cabbage

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Looking for a budget friendly dinner that tastes anything but basic? Chicken and Cabbage pairs warm spiced chicken with carrots and cabbage in one cast iron skillet. The vegetables cook in the chicken drippings and create their own golden sauce, and fresh lime ties it all together. Learn why the method works, how to store leftovers, and how to adjust the spices to your taste. Read the full recipe at The Good Plate: https://the-good-plate.com/chicken-and-cabbage/
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Three Easy Halloween DIYs for One Weekend

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  Halloween costumes and decorations do not need a craft store run. First, build a spider costume from black leggings and a long-sleeved shirt; knee-high pantyhose stuffed with bubble wrap and pipe cleaners become legs that bend. Next, turn the same black clothes into a Fashionista Cat Costume, where coordinated accessories do all the work. Finally, greet trick-or-treaters with a Halloween wreath; wired ribbon helps the bows hold their shape. Spider Costume: https://the-good-plate.com/tarantula-costume-halloween/ Cat Costume: https://the-good-plate.com/cat-costume-well-dressed-black-cat/ Halloween Wreath: https://the-good-plate.com/how-to-make-a-halloween-wreath/ All 9 Halloween ideas: https://the-good-plate.com/9-irresistible-holiday-recipes-and-crafts/
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Nothin' Scary Here: Four Easy Halloween Ideas

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Halloween food can look frightening without being difficult. Start your party with a Skull Cheeseball, shaped by hand and finished with walnut teeth ( https://the-good-plate.com/skull-cheeseball/ ). Next, welcome guests with a Halloween wreath; wired ribbon helps the bows keep their shape ( https://the-good-plate.com/how-to-make-a-halloween-wreath/ ). For dinner, Grave Digger Pie dresses up classic shepherd's pie with a mashed potato graveyard ( https://the-good-plate.com/grave-digger-pie/ ). Finally, Day of the Dead Brownies add chipotle and cinnamon for a warm finish ( https://the-good-plate.com/day-of-the-dead-brownies/ ). See all four on the front page of The Good Plate: https://the-good-plate.com/
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What's Cookin'? Treats, October 2026

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  The October issue of What's Cookin'? from The Good Plate is here, and the theme is Treats. On the menu: Cherry Tomato Phyllo Tart with Pesto and Feta, Honey Jalapeno Chicken and Dragon Eggs, Garlic Fries, Welsh Rarebit, and Cherry Lime Rickey Round Baklava for dessert. Halloween falls on a Saturday and it's Oktoberfest season, so there is something here for both parties. Read the full issue with all five recipes: https://the-good-plate.com/newsletters/whats-cookin-treats/
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Garlic Fries Keep Vampires Away

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This week's recipe leans into Halloween folklore: garlic has a centuries old reputation for keeping vampires away, and these crispy garlic fries make the flavor case just as strongly. Russet potato wedges roast with fresh garlic, olive oil, and black pepper until golden and crisp. Read the full post, including serving and storage tips, on The Good Plate: https://the-good-plate.com/garlic-fries-keep-vampires-away/
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Prime Day is COMING!

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Prime Day is coming October 6-7, and this year I put together a roundup ahead of time instead of scrambling once the sale actually starts. The Thanksgiving side is built around an actual hosting day, not just a pile of gadgets: prep, oven overflow, carving, and leftover storage, plus a nod to my own cookbook, Talking Turkey. The Halloween side keeps things welcoming rather than gimmicky. And if you're not signed up for Amazon Prime yet, this is genuinely the window where it matters. Full roundup, and the thinking behind each pick: https://the-good-plate.com/newsletters/amazonprime-day-october-2026/
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Honey Jalapeno Chicken and Dragon Eggs

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This Honey Jalapeno Chicken and Dragon Eggs recipe pairs honey jalapeno marinated chicken thighs with colcannon stuffed twice baked potatoes, rubbed in edible gold for a Halloween table with a little dragon story built in. The chicken cooks on a barbecue grill, a rotisserie, or a cast iron pan, then gets finished with a glossy honey jalapeno glaze. Read the full recipe at https://the-good-plate.com/honey-jalapeno-chicken-and-dragon-eggs/
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