16: Kate MacLean, Longest Acres Farm

Kate MacLean and her husband Nick of Longest Acres Farm in Chelsea have a familiar farmer story. Tired of working in office jobs, they visited Kate’s farming cousin in the country and fell in love with the lifestyle of hard work, fresh air, and a direct connection with animals and the environment. They haven’t looked

The Birthday Cake

This is a recipe that my mother got from a little old lady at a church bake sale one year. It’s so good that it instantly became the birthday cake in our household; Rick requests it every year. Tools 10-inch tube pan or bundt cake pan Large and small rubber or silicone spatulas Electric mixer

Spicy Sweet Potato Mash – A New Tradition

Sweet potatoes are a favorite around here because of their flexibility. They can be served right from the oven with just a little butter, salt and pepper, and make a fine side dish.  They can be loaded with toppings like a jacket potato, and are also delicious as a pie. They can be served sweet

Brew your own kombucha

It’s the hot new health trend that’s been around for thousands of years! Yes, even I have been bit by the kombucha craze. But at $5 – $6 per bottle it’s also a very expensive habit. So, I decided to try making my own kombucha at home. The first couple of batches have been tasty,

Roast chicken, four ways

Eating healthy. Scratch cooking. Meal planning. They sound good-for-you and also time-consuming and possibly difficult. But I’ve discovered that roasting a whole chicken and creating various dishes out of one bird is both an easy and an economical way to plan several meals in the course of one week. Start by cooking the chicken, and

Holiday Traditions: Family, friends, and feasts

Over the years, we’ve adapted our holiday traditions to fit the holiday elements that we value most, namely: spending quality time with friends and family, eating and sharing delicious homemade food and drink, and making and giving practical gifts. We hope you’ll be inspired by the stories we tell in the video, and share some

Pumpkin Pie: an easy version of the American classic

I had never really loved pumpkin pie until I started experimenting with a recipe from The Recipe Cottage, which a former co-worker shared with me. After some tweaking, I found that I really enjoyed the creamy texture and strong pumpkin flavor of this version of an American classic. Ingredients 1 medium pie pumpkin (or other

Cranberry Relish: A Fruity Accompaniment to a Meal

My grandfather loved his cranberry jelly in a can; for me that stuff was the one part of Thanksgiving Dinner that was never touched. It wasn’t until I learned to make my own cranberry relish that I understood why this dish is traditional at all. I call this version of “cranberry sauce” a relish because

Cold Oatmeal: Filling and Hearty All Year Round

Ah, winter. Time for hearty, sustaining foods that get us through long dark days. Ironically, it’s the time that I turn to one of my favorite breakfasts, cold oatmeal. I’ve never been a fan of hot cereal – something about the warm, gluey texture just puts me off. But I discovered I do like oatmeal