I don't know about you guys, but I am so over this rain. We had a long Labour Day weekend at the cottage in Cavendish and it rained every single day, almost like a storm rolling through on repeat. We were blessed not to get too much damage out of it, just one glass panel in our fire pit didn't make it. Small stuff in the grand scheme, but if I'm being honest, weather like that is a little triggering for us. We've had a couple of big hurricanes over the last seven years that were pretty traumatic, and any time the wind picks up and the rain won't quit, my body remembers that before my brain does.
A Season of Transitions
Back to school always brings back all the feels for me, and this year is no exception. We're right in the middle of moving back to town from the cottage, which is its own kind of chaos every fall. All the food, kitchen appliances, clothing, and toiletries have to make the trip back too, and honestly it probably takes us a good two weeks to feel fully settled again. And in the middle of all of that, it is still very busy season at the Preserve Company. We stay steady right through until basically the end of October, and then we transition straight into Christmas.
I know, I know, not everybody wants to hear that in September. But we've actually been working on Christmas since July behind the scenes to make sure we have all the goods ready for everybody this year. We're really trying to ramp up our corporate gifting division too, and we're heading back to Royalty Crossing again this season, hoping to make it even better than last year. Last year was such a good one for us there, so the bar is high.
Comfort Food Calling My Name
All of this fall energy has me craving comfort food in the biggest way. We had a really good video shoot the other day for some upcoming content, and I'm still deep in cookbook work too, tweaking recipes and adding new ones to the list as they come to me. One I made recently that I am almost embarrassingly proud of is an Apple Cranberry Glazed Chicken. It is genuinely like a hug on a plate, and it feels so right that we're right on the cusp of apple picking season with the cranberry bogs just about ready too.
I think ripping the band aid off and admitting summer is behind us has actually been kind of freeing. Cozy fall vibes are ahead, and that shift always calls me into the kitchen to experiment more.
Even this past weekend, I found myself craving corn chowder, something I honestly hadn't had since my twenties. I pulled out my mom's recipe and tried to infuse a little Preserve Company personality into it using our seasonings, because I really wanted something smoky. I used our Barbecue Rub to cook down the bacon, onion, celery, and carrots, and then finished it with a bit of chili flake for warmth. It's a little spicy, but I am not mad about it. A dollop of sour cream on top with some green onions and honestly, chef's kiss.
Here's the funny part though. It did not look picture perfect at all. If I'm being real with you, it was kind of a mess in the pot. But it tasted absolutely incredible, and that's the stuff that reminds me not to let the pursuit of a perfect photo get in the way of just cooking something that feels good. Things like that are what push me to keep being creative in the kitchen, and I love that fall gives us permission to slow down and do exactly that.
Fall as My Reset
For me, fall is almost like a second January. It's a reset, but a much less dreary version of one, because we've got apple picking, the foliage, and all of that good stuff still ahead of us to look forward to. Adam and I also sneak in a little travel every fall, so even smack in the middle of our busiest stretch, we've always got something fun to look forward to.
So if you're also standing at your window right now willing this rain to just stop already, you are so not alone. As Little Orphan Annie said, hopefully “the sun will come out tomorrow”. The apples are almost ready, the bogs are close behind, and there is a pot of chowder in your future if you want it.
Lots of Love,
Marsha
