Nothing beats a homemade pumpkin pie from scratch. Turning fresh-baked pumpkins into puree, forming and rolling out the dough, and fluting the crust satisfies my earth-mother side and ensures that my family will eat pies made from the healthiest ingredients. I'll confess to not being the world's best pastry chef. For the longest time I could … Continue Reading ››

The cooler days of autumn bring us hot cider, the comfort of soups and stews, and the beauty of turning leaves. A hint of mystery permeates the air, and with it the promise of soon-coming holidays. Bright pumpkins sit outside grocery stores and dot farmers' fields, waiting for eager hands to carry them home. During the years … Continue Reading ››

How well I remember the family homestead in Missouri, where my cousins and I spent lazy summer days picking blackberries. We always returned  with purple stains around our mouths, scratches on our arms and legs, and only a few berries in our buckets. We didn't know it then, but those excursions would become treasured memories. The … Continue Reading ››