Hi, Reader,

Can I level with you? It's been SUCH a strange year.

It started with me going about business as usual - running my writing business in addition to this blog (and a couple others), feeling totally drained and exhausted.

By spring, I knew I wanted needed to shift gears away from writing for others and finally writing just for myself.

Plus, having the room to follow my passions and curiosities instead of trying to shove them into the corners of my life.

It's sort of amazing looking back and seeing how much this blog has grown despite knowing I couldn't ever really dedicate my time and focus on it.

It was built off of stolen moments and this desire to share really delicious, fun recipes with people.

Now here I am, almost to the end of the year, and I'm amazed at what I was able to create with actual time for my business.

I've created multiple ebooks, The Handmade Year is back, and I have time to go through old posts, make lots of new recipes, and really think about where I'm going next.

Lately, I've been trying to clarify what I do and who I'm writing for.

Many, many food blogs are all about quick weeknight dinners or slow cooker recipes (which I love), but that's not necessarily my thing.

When I sit down and really think about what I'm creating and WHY, it's really more about those stolen moments.

There is peace and comfort in whipping up a batch of scones or muffins.

My recipes become future food memories and traditions your family will request year after year.

When I'm in the kitchen, I instantly feel connected to my grandma, great-grandmothers, and countless unknown women who kept the generations alive so I could be here today.

And really, all of those things point clearly to the fact that cooking, baking, canning, and being a good steward of your resources is a survival skill.

This is a way of being our ancestors lived by and is as innate to our bodies as it is for squirrels to hide nuts in trees.

In an age where none of us actually have to know how to cook or can anymore, here we are choosing to put up the harvest or make things "the right way."

Do you have to know how to make scones from scratch? Nope.

Do you have to know how to turn apples into apple butter or applesauce? Nope.

Then why? Well, how could we not? It's right under the surface.

Our hands want to cut butter into flour, roll out cookies, and ladle hot jam into jars.

Our bodies remember these skills as part of our heritage.

Plus, can I say it's just fun? And delicious? Like a hobby that feeds you the best snacks.

So do I know how to explain that in a quippy one-liner? No.

But do I know what I'm doing and why? I sure do, and hope you can feel my sincerity.

I've been running this blog in particular for 5 years because I know it's my mission to help people bring the past into the future and reclaim these almost-forgotten parts of themselves.

I have no desire to slow down and have many, many more recipes on the way!

6 New Recipes to Try

Ready to get your hands dirty right away? Here you go!

1. ​Homemade Caramel Sugar ​
2. ​Apple Pie Spice​
3. ​Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars​
4. ​Cinnamon Sugar​
5. ​Vanilla Bean Glaze​
6. ​Lemon Poppyseed Muffins​

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