Living and writing in a circa 1840 New England Farmhouse with three generations of my family
I remember vividly the bright red, glossy candy apples I looked forward to at the fair each fall during my childhood. I loved that hardened, glassy red candy with a juicy apple waiting inside, They were so beautiful, so magical looking before I had even Read More
Here in New England, real maple syrup is revered. It’s so beloved that an entire season of the year is marked by the collection of sap from maple trees and the painstakingly slow process of boiling that sap down, down, and down until it is Read More
I love the taste of fresh ginger. I use fresh ginger in both sweet and savory dishes here at the farmhouse. For me, there’s simply no such thing as too much ginger. Luckily, my daughter shares that belief, so she keeps me company. I keep Read More
Every time I serve grits at our farmhouse table, I am taken by how simple, comforting, and delicious they are. Much like potatoes, they can be prepared and flavored in so many ways, making them an ideal companion to almost any meal. They’re a great Read More
Imagine that you live in a small one room apartment without indoor plumbing. Living with you are your closest friends. You dine together in this space. You sleep in this space. You go to the bathroom, when necessary, in this space. It’s not the prettiest Read More
Bone broth is the simplest of preparations and yields such delicious and nutritious results. It requires no fancy ingredients and doesn’t demand constant attention. Given enough time and heat, the bones break down, releasing all of their gelatin and minerals into the liquid. The Read More
For me, a serving of velvety smooth mashed potatoes is at the top of my list of favorite comfort foods. They’re always a welcome sight at our family table. They pair beautifully with so many main courses and I love repurposing any leftovers into the Read More
For me, there are few recipes more rustic and comforting than gravy. It adds flavor and velvety texture to roasted meats, mashed potatoes, and anything else it happens to touch on a dinner plate. With very little effort, simple ingredients can be coaxed into a Read More
These days, I find myself actively looking for meals that fit a few key criteria. I want everyone to be eager to come to dinner, to look forward to the meal that lies ahead. I like to have a multipurpose meal, one that can easily Read More
When heirloom tomatoes are ripening by the basket full in our garden, I experiment with all sorts of ways to feature them on our farmhouse table. I really love preparations that require little to no cooking, allowing the natural texture and delicious flavor of an Read More
Yesterday, I shared with you that I don’t have the words to make sense of the images we’re seeing on the news. At times, I feel so powerless to do anything that can help to soften the blow that each day brings, to remind myself Read More
Boston Cream Pie has always been one of my favorite desserts. It’s difficult to beat the combination of a light sponge cake layered with vanilla pastry cream and topped with chocolate ganache. It wins on flavor and appearance in my book. Sure, it isn’t really Read More