As Americans prepare for a traditional Thanksgiving meal, a pumpkin pie is frequently on the menu. Pumpkins were first cultivated in Central America around 5500 B.C. and were one of the first foods that European explorers took home from the New World. Their first mention in Europe dates back to 1536, but within a few decades, they were grown regularly in England, where they were called “pumpions” after the French word “pompon,” referring to their round shape.
Sometimes early pumpkin pie recipes were seasoned to be savory, with herbs such as marjoram or thyme. Others were sweet with sugar and cinnamon. I was utterly spoiled as a child by Mom, who had become a master baker, with the finest pie crust I have ever consumed to this day. She upped her pumpkin pie game with a Pumpkin Chiffon Pie that is awesome and made me never order nor make a regular pumpkin pie again.
Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
This is how Mom made her classic autumn pie. In her light, flaky, homemade pastry shell, it was melt-in-your-mouth perfection. She always covered the pie with a thick layer of freshly whipped cream and sprinkled chopped pecans over the top. (My apologies that the photo is not her actual pie.)
3 beaten egg yolks
¾ c brown sugar
1½ c canned pumpkin
½ teaspoon salt
1–1½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp ginger
½ c milk
1 envelope plain gelatin (1 T)
¼ c cold water
3 egg whites
¼ granulated sugar
9” baked and cooled pie shell
Combine first 8 ingredients. Cook in double boiler over simmering water until thick, stirring constantly. Soak gelatin in cold water. Mix softened gelatin into hot mixture. Chill until partially set. Meanwhile, beat egg whites; add sugar and beat until stiff. Fold sweetened egg whites into pumpkin mixture. Pour into cooled pie shell and chill until set (2-3 hours). Garnish with whipped cream.
(Photo by Kristy Marett)
That was the theme for Granddaughter Adaline’s 2nd birthday party… or perhaps I should say Toooooo Groovy. We all donned our happy hippy best. (And yes, in my costume bin I did still have a few tidbits from the 1960s and early 70s. Others were added just for fun and silliness.) But even the 2-year-old sported bell bottoms!
Such a lovely time with Adam and Caiti, our fellow grandparents, and Adaline’s cousins, aunts & uncles.
Sooo many wonderful textures and flavors go with peanut butter. In making sandwiches, we may opt for a straight-up toasted peanut butter sandwich (a personal favorite). Or we may choose to slather one slice of bread with a favorite jelly or jam. Or simply top the peanut butter with a layer of sliced bananas and a sprinkle of cinnamon and/or brown sugar. A chocolate spread and a sprinkle of chopped nuts work well, too. But this is National Fluffernutter Day, so marshmallows rule the options.
On this day we pause to recognize what makes someone truly beautiful. It has nothing to do with looks. No make-up will help. It comes with no jealousy, bragging, or conceit. Inner beauty cannot be faked.
“There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.”
While similar to British apple crisps, Apple Brown Betty is an all-American dessert, the recipe for which was passed down from generation to generation. Unlike an apple crisp, the topping for which typically contains oats,… or an apple cobbler that has a biscuit dough topping… Apple Brown Betty is made with old, stale breadcrumbs or leftover cake.
Okay… in all fairness, today is also National Cinnamon Bun Day. However, just thinking about the sugar made my teeth ache, and focusing on the yumminess made me want to eat 2 or 3…. Warm and toasty with a nice drizzle of light icing. So, I am displaying a rare moment of restraint and opting for National Taco Day.
In these post-Hurricane Ian days, weeks, and months, many hearts, souls, and lives will be tested. Many prayers for courage, strength, and patience are going out to all who are suffering and have suffered devastating losses.
I live to eat. I love food. Thus, I love cookbooks. I read them as many people read novels.
Apple cider and apple juice are not the same thing, although they are both made with pressed apples. Juice is filtered and pasteurized, giving it a clearer texture and longer shelf life. Apple cider is definitely thicker, as it is unfiltered. Plus, sweet cider tends to be seasonal because it is not pasteurized and has a limited shelf life.
A couple of my favorite places are located in the Blue Ridge city of Asheville. We love catching a sunset cocktail from the famed Grove Park Inn, where ten US Presidents have stayed. But the absolute #1 place is the gilded age’s Biltmore Estate. From its 178,926 square feet in the main house to the 8,000 acres of the estate, the largest privately-owned home in the US is nothing less than jaw-dropping to visit at any time of the year. (Peter Sellers movie buffs will recognize the home and property from his 1979 “Being There” film.)
Every year on September 27th, we can celebrate our heritage. Ancestor Appreciation Day reminds us that regardless of where we were born, where we were raised, or where we may live currently, we all have ancestors.
When two of my favorite foods enjoy the same “national” celebration day, I simply must combine my thinking. I mean, to my tastebuds, there is very little as delectable as the sweet tender meat from a freshly steamed lobster simply dipped in salty, melted butter. Then comes the quesadilla, with its crispy exterior and melty, cheesy yumminess inside.
So, here’s my KISS (Keep It Super Simple) Lobster Quesadilla recipe from 
KISS Tips: These can be assembled in advance and pan-fried as needed throughout your party. You can also vary the ingredients to suit your tastes. For example, sprinkle diced bits of papaya or mango over the lobster before folding the tortillas to cook them. Or try replacing your regular salsa with mango or peach salsa.
So, it’s officially Autumn. Kiss Summer a fond farewell and look forward to Mother Nature’s magic. The leaves turning wild, fiery yellow, orange, and red make me smile. Shuffling and kicking through crispy fallen leaves makes me young again… if even for a few moments. Raking leaves? Well, that makes this stubborn Yankee glad I live in the deep South now. But wherever you may be, inhale deeply and enjoy the warmth of an early Autumn breeze. That frigid chill of Winter will arrive far too quickly, so get on out there and enjoy these lovely days.
Yum! I do love that so many of the “national” days celebrate wonderful foods. Ice cream cones have always held a special place in my little world. As a child, I struggled to finish even a small portion, so Dad always suggested I order a flavor such as strawberry or mint chocolate chip, since he knew that he would be finishing my ice cream. Naturally, he wasn’t impressed if I selected one of those crazy kid flavors, like bubblegum or red, white, and blueberry. Nowadays, I go for a true lemon ice cream (not sherbet), a delightful sorbet, mint chocolate chip, or even some knock-off on the Almond Joy bar. Oh, and serve it with a sugar cone, please.
I am quite sure that nearly every traditionally favorite cookie variety has an official day by this point. Pecans work fabulously in cookies and bars, delivering nutty goodness without any bitterness. I love a pecan cookie that borders on shortbread… slightly crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth soft and chewy inside.
Hmmmm…. In our hectic, day-to-day lives, it becomes far too simple to lose track of people from our pasts. And yet, our hearts are warmed when someone from whom we have not heard in a long time suddenly appears or we hear about something they are doing. Why not take a few minutes and reach out to some childhood chum or a lost high school friend. We may not know where they may have moved or what they are doing, but social media provides lots of avenues to search. Bring a smile to your heart and someone else’s by locating a lost friend and simply saying, “Hi!”
I say it often, and yet not nearly enough. I feel especially blessed.
“Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what no one else ever thought.”
Chocolate Balls
September 12th marks the day that is annually dedicated to uplifting people around us and making a positive impact. Yes! We can all do this. Encouragement is FREE! Let’s give some away!!!
Yes, this is a real holiday. It was initially proposed back in the 1950s and finally became a federal holiday by proclamation signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. Celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day each year, there is no need to send cards. Just share the love… the love of people for people… family for family… and Grandparents can also share it with the children of their children.
“Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.”
Pick a book… any book! Serious nonfiction or comic book, romance novel or mystery thriller… your choice.
“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win.”
“When hope is taken away from a people, moral degeneration follows swiftly thereafter.”
One legend says that this cheesy dish was first developed by Welsh peasants seeking a substitute for expensive meat. There are records of the dish in Wales dating back to the 1500s under the name “caws pobi,” meaning toasted cheese in Welsh. Likely it was a staple throughout Britain, and it remains popular in British pubs.