Cinnamon Apple Crisp

Cinnamon Apple Crisp

Sitting on our deck, I’m watching a gaggle of wild turkeys in front of me scratching the dirt and pecking at dried-out grass fronds. They are a nervous bunch. Four of the twenty birds are caught in our fenced yard, and in a panic. Ric goes to open the gate and shoo...
Apple-Cherry Pie

Apple-Cherry Pie

Years ago, when I had my gourmet shop on Fishers Island, my mother-in-law at the time, Anna, would make pies and cookies for me to sell at the store. I decided to sell the pies for fifteen dollars, which Anna thought was outrageously expensive. However, the minute I...
Browned Butter Cherry Bars

Browned Butter Cherry Bars

I had just finished a round of mountain-climber planks when she said “take a breath. Put your hands on your heart. What are you feeling? Anger, sadness, like you want to laugh, or cry?” With that, I began to feel tears slowly trailing down my cheeks. Something about...
Purple Sweet Potato Pie

Purple Sweet Potato Pie

There is a bit of excitement surrounding the forecast when a big storm is arriving. It begins as it usually does, with soft, fluffy flakes of snow gently drifting down through the sky. It’s cozy inside with the fireplaces warming us, and then we wake up with...
Fresh Peach Tea Cake

Fresh Peach Tea Cake

The two massive paws planted on our glass front door were startling to say the least. Our mountain life is full of wild creatures, more so this summer than ever. A visiting fox, squirrel or chipmunk elicits “oohs” and “aahs” at their sweet cuteness. A seven-foot...