There’s something reassuring about a pot of beans simmering on the stove. An onion softens, garlic warms in a little oil, and the kitchen begins to smell like dinner. Add a few vegetables, some herbs, perhaps a handful of pasta or a ham bone saved from another meal, and a humble bag of dried beans...Read More

Which kind of pumpkin is best for baking? Smaller is better – large field pumpkins, which are specially bred for Halloween jack-o-lanterns, are generally too tough and stringy for baking. Choose “pie” or "sugar" pumpkins or other flavorful varieties, such as Sugar Baby. Small and sweet, with dark orange-colored flesh, they're perfect for pies, muffins,...Read More

A beautiful pumpkin pie begins long before the cinnamon comes out of the cupboard. It starts with choosing the right pumpkin—and that isn’t usually the big orange one the children have picked for carving. Those Halloween pumpkins have an important job, but making a rich, silky pie filling generally isn’t their specialty. For baking, you...Read More

Autumn may be filling the farmers market with apples, persimmons, and winter squash, but don’t pass by the tomatoes just yet. Our farmers still have loads of beautiful field-grown, sun-ripened tomatoes—and there’s time to put some away for winter. Look for tomatoes from Pinnacle Organic, Spade & Plow Organics, KT Farms, Borba Family Farms, Munak...Read More

With fresh fruit at the farmers market and time to enjoy the process, now is a lovely moment to put a homemade pie or two in the freezer. There’s something about autumn that brings us back to baking. Perhaps it’s the cooler mornings, the apples piled high at the farmers market, or simply the thought...Read More

There’s something wonderfully inviting about the aroma of roasting chestnuts. Gently sweet and earthy, with a tender, almost potato-like texture, they’re a seasonal pleasure worth slowing down for. Serve them warm on a chilly evening, or set some aside for holiday stuffing, creamy soups, and rich winter braises. You don’t need an open fire to...Read More

Kitchen Wisdom for holiday baking—and that anxious moment when it’s time to turn out the cake. Nothing takes the pleasure out of a baking afternoon quite like turning over a Bundt pan and discovering that the cake has decided to stay put. I’ve greased and floured. I’ve greased and sugared. I’ve brushed on homemade baker’s...Read More

Among the colorful heaps of winter squash at the farmers market, kabocha is easy to overlook. Its squat shape and deep green skin are modest enough—but slice one open, and you’ll discover brilliant orange flesh with a sweet, nutty flavor that deserves a place in your fall kitchen. Often called “Japanese pumpkin,” kabocha tastes something...Read More

A farmers market table piled with winter squash is one of autumn’s most inviting sights. Buttery tan butternuts, striped delicatas, deep green kabochas, and ribbed acorn squash promise the kind of cooking that cooler evenings call for: fragrant soups, caramelized roasted vegetables, and hearty suppers from the oven. Each variety has something different to offer....Read More

A tree laden with tiny red or golden crabapples is one of autumn’s prettiest sights. But take a bite, and you may wonder whether these little fruits belong in the kitchen—or are better left admired from a distance. Don’t give up on them just yet. Beneath that mouth-puckering tartness lies the promise of beautiful jelly,...Read More