When I buy groceries, I like to pick at least two or three types of meat for weeknight meals, and I usually don’t have a clue what I’m going to do with them. But I never thought that my Trader Joe’s pork chops would end up floating in noodle soup.

(more…)

No matter how elaborate a feast my sister and I prepare every Thanksgiving, there are those in our family who will mutiny if there are any traditional dishes (like green bean casserole) missing. Unfortunately for them, my sister and I love to experiment (and hate using cream-of-anything soup). So I’m always on the lookout for dishes that will satisfy traditionalists without being strictly the same old thing. My Mom insists on having a “normal” pumpkin pie every Thanksgiving, and this is an elegant tart version of the classic. I decided to take this recipe for a test drive last weekend.

(more…)

I’ve made and sampled a million different pumpkin breads, most of them tasting about the same. That’s why I pounced on this recipe – it’s different. It doesn’t knock you over the head with spices or turn into a dark brown loaf, but instead bakes up into a delicately flavored moist and dense quick bread. Sure, I had to stop myself from tossing in little bit more cinnamon and adding a touch of nutmeg, but I’m glad I did. The fall flavors came together perfectly. This is going to end up in the bread basket at my family’s Thanksgiving dinner in a few weeks.

(more…)

I love minestrone soup, and this version is quick, easy and healthy, making it a perfect weeknight meal. You can mix and match different seasonal vegetables and make it with or without meat, but don’t leave out the kale.

I didn’t even realize I liked kale until I tried this recipe. This member of the cabbage family and a close relative of broccoli does not look very appetizing, with curly rough leaves. But the hearty greens add great flavor and texture to this soup, and it’s a super nutritious cancer-fighting food.
(more…)

I love leisurely Saturday mornings spent sipping strong French-pressed coffee and devouring stacks of fluffy pancakes. And these are the fluffiest, moistest, hands-down best pumpkin pancakes I’ve ever tried. The secret is whisking the egg whites until they’re foamy and then gently folding them into the batter – the pancakes turn into delicate soufflés. I also brought all the wet ingredients to room temperature before blending with the dry ingredients.

(more…)

Happy Halloween! I made these cookies on a whim one fall, and everyone in my family was amazed by how well the pumpkin and chocolate flavors worked together. Moist pumpkin pie spiced cookie is packed full of chocolate chips and walnuts, then topped with vanilla icing. Now we make them as a signature baked good at my parents’ farm, Vala’s Pumpkin Patch.

(more…)

Fall Food at Vala’s

Kettle Corn - We’re famous for our special recipe.
Big Barn Bakery - Fresh baked cinnamon rolls, cookies, pies and pumpkin bread
Lolo’s Fudgery - Sells fudge and cheese popcorn
Kirsten’s Coffee Shop - It may be a farm, but you can get a Starbucks pumpkin latte at my coffee shop
Snow Cones - Watch out for the bees!
Turkey Legs - Yumm.
Potato Patch - All things potato.
Cotton Candy - Kids love watching through the window.
Country Bakery - Serving chili in bread bowls, cupcakes and pumpkin cheesecake.

My family always used to have Sunday suppers at my grandparents’ house when I was young. I remember the smell of roast pork, sour kraut and dumplings washing over me as I stepped into their house. “Sunday is family day,” my Mom would say, whenever I wanted to plan weekend activities with friends. But I didn’t usually mind. I loved gathering around my grandparents’ table with my parents, sisters, aunt, uncle and cousins. For an afternoon the rest of the world was put on pause.

I made Sunday supper for Geoff and I last weekend. After habitually screening recipes for quickness and ease for weeknight meals, it was fun to plan on taking my time. For the first time in a while I was cooking for fun instead of necessity.

(more…)

I’m somewhat of a cooking snob, but when a friend recommended Cooking Light as a great recipe resource and the opportunity to buy a discounted subscription came along, I jumped on it. The magazine has been delivered to my apartment monthly since June, most issues languishing neglected in my magazine wrack. But the October issue lured me in with the promise of  low-calorie comfort food.
(more…)

While I was in high school and college, I ran my parents’ farm stand during the summer months. We sold tomatoes, peaches, melons, but most of all, we were known for having the best sweet corn. Sometimes I would wake up at dawn to pick corn with my Dad. We would drive out to the field and work our way down row after row of dewy corn stalks, stuffing rough burlap bags full of bi-colored sweet corn. (more…)