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Oi, Gente!

The weekend before Thanksgiving is here and you know what that means: it’s prep time!

If you’re anything like me, this is the weekend for making menu lists, doing all grocery shopping, and getting ahead on anything that can be made now (because future-you deserves to actually enjoy Thanksgiving day 💁🏽‍♀️🥂).

Whether you’re hosting a big dinner or just bringing a dish to share, there’s so much you can prep ahead... sides, desserts, drinks, even appetizers, to make the big day way easier.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes to make ahead or prep this weekend:

Pão de Queijo The classic Brazilian cheese bread is chewy, irresistibly cheesy and they're great to make-ahead! Make the dough balls this weekend and freeze it. Then, bake straight from frozen for hot, fresh cheese bread on Thanksgiving day. Get the Recipe!

Cachaça Cranberry Sauce Bright, tangy, and lightly boozy, this cranberry sauce gets a gorgeous flavor boost from a splash of cachaça. Make it this weekend and refrigerate - it only gets better after a couple of days in the fridge! Get the Recipe!

Turkey Dry Brine This rub easily gives you a juicy, flavorful turkey, using spices and seasonings you probably already have at home. Mix it up this weekend and rub it onto your bird at least 24h and up to 3 days in advance! It makes your turkey taste incredible whether you roast, grill, or smoke it. Get the Recipe!

Compound Butter Rich, savory, and full of aromatic garlic and herbs, this compound butter melts into the turkey as it cooks, keeping the meat tender and delicious. Make it ahead and keep it chilled... then slather it on right before baking for maximum juiciness and unbelievable flavor. Get the Recipe!

Pudim This condensed-milk Brazilian flan isn’t just a delicious 4-ingredient dessert… it’s a hosting strategy. It loves a long, relaxed chill to set properly, which is why it’s perfect to make ahead. That slow chill is one of the things that give you the no-drama unmold every time. Make it by Wednesday morning and enjoy one less task on Thanksgiving day! Get the Recipe!

If you’re craving even more holiday help, FESTAS is packed with 40+ recipes, make-ahead guides, and full menus for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, all filled with Brazilian flavor and designed to take the stress off your plate.

And it's on sale this week! 🎉

Here are a few exclusive FESTAS favorites you won’t find on the site:

• Melzinho de Cachaça: Warm, sweet, and lightly spiced, these little cachaça honey shots are one of my favorite ways to kick off a party with a Brazilian twist. They instantly bring the festa vibes to life, and the best part is they come together in less than 5 minutes!
• Mini Pumpkin Soup Shooters with Bread Farofa: Cozy, creamy, and so festive, these mini pumpkin soup shooters make the perfect holiday starter. And the bread farofa is absolutely unmissable! That crunchy, sweet-savory topping is what makes every little sip feel extra special.
• Pan-Seared Queijo Coalho: Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and topped with flavors that make it irresistibly Brazilian, this appetizer brings the taste of Brazil straight to your table. Can’t find queijo coalho where you live? No worries! halloumi works beautifully.

These and so many other recipes and hosting tips for a smoother, more flavorful, stress-free holiday season are waiting for you inside FESTAS.

👉🏽 Get FESTAS today and enjoy 20% off , just $7.99 through Thanksgiving, to make your holiday prep even better!