My sister asked why I couldn’t just use canned pumpkin puree straight from the can. I started to explain why that wouldn’t work—something about moisture … Read more

The woman at the next stall watched me wrestling with a stubborn butternut squash, my knife slipping on the hard skin. She didn’t say anything … Read more

I had claimed to hate pumpkin desserts for the better part of a decade. Not the savory stuff—give me pumpkin soup any day—but the sweet … Read more

There used to be a tiny bakery tucked between a dry cleaner and a vintage shop on Main Street in my old neighborhood that made … Read more

My neighbor wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by to borrow a ladder—ours had mysteriously vanished into the garage abyss—and the smell hit me … Read more

This was supposed to be a simple batch of apple cider muffins. I had the recipe memorized, the oven preheated, and my favorite mixing bowl … Read more