• Thanksgiving turkey drawing
    Food

    Thanksgiving Gravy with Pan Drippings

    Once you learn how to make good gravy, Thanksgiving Day is much more relaxing. Thick enough, still hot, and richly flavored gravy will accompany quite a few dishes on your guests’ plates, yet many of us struggle with this part of the dinner.  Drippings can be intimidating to handle, and by the time you’re about to make it, the day often has become quite hectic with balancing multiple dishes, pouring drinks, and generally keeping the mood festive. All of this led me to share my tips on how to make a gravy for which you will give thanks. For most of my life, gravy-making felt like such an art that…

  • Maple roasted squash and roasted figs on plate with microgreens and cheese
    Food

    Maple Roasted Squash and Figs

    Celebrating the naturally sweet notes of fall ingredients, balanced with tangy cheese and peppery microgreens, this recipe makes a meal seem decadent.  Best of all, this decadence comes together on a sheet pan, which makes for easy cleanup.  Certainly, if you’re already thinking ahead to Thanksgiving, consider serving this as the sweeter offering on the table.  When fresh figs are unavailable, dried can be used by simply rehydrating then roasting them for a shorter period. With just a few ingredients, the timing of each is important for the final result.  Always use your best judgment as to when the squash has reached your preferred level of doneness.  Slices can be…

  • Baking

    Chocolate Granola

    Add a little chocolate to your breakfast or simply snack on this homemade granola. With Halloween approaching, this is also a healthier treat to enjoy throughout the day. Sweetened with pure maple syrup, the combination of oats and mix-ins in this chocolate granola recipe become even more delicious when tossed with cocoa powder and baked until toasty.  As a final touch, I add some chopped chocolate toward the end of baking. Sprinkle on more or less depending on just how chocolatey you like things. On the weekend I may flip some ricotta pancakes or make a more extensive breakfast, but granola is my preference midweek, and I make lots of…

  • Lavender maple iced coffee mocktail
    Drinks

    Lavender Maple Iced Coffee Mocktail

    This drink will ease you from summer into autumn with a combination of lavender and maple reminiscent of both. Lavender brings us back to the height of our gardens, while maple offers the nuanced sweetness we associated with so many fall dishes.  In lieu of a coffee cocktail, try this chilled non-alcoholic and dairy-free drink when you’re in the mood for notes both light and dark, lightly sweet and earthy, in other words that beautiful feeling when you hold onto both seasons and enjoy the best of each. Ingredients 3 ounces chilled coffee3 ounces oat milk¾ ounce lavender maple syrup Lavender Maple Syrup ½ cup pure maple syrup¼ cup filtered…

  • Peach upside-down cake
    Baking

    Peach Upside-Down Cake

    There is always a bit of magic in an upside-down cake, complete with a final reveal – the turned cake coming effortlessly out of the pan and showing its glossy, caramelized topping.  For this cake, peaches or a combination of peaches and plums create a delicious top layer.  Actually, that’s the bottom layer when you’re building this in your cake pan.  All part of the magic. With the steps below, you’ll learn how to make that final flip reliable, so your fruit doesn’t stick, and make the cake even more delicious with some of my favorite batter additions. While stone fruit season is still here, try this recipe to hold…