I can’t think of a better way to end a meal, and a great fall day, than with some sweet fall treats. A fresh baked Blueberry and Brown Butter Square would go great with a cup of tea or coffee. As an indulgence, my favourite White Chocolate and Whisky Croissant Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce would be a real treat.

Whether it was on a school trip or with the family, I always enjoyed visiting orchards and farms, especially ones where you could carefully select and pick your own fruits or vegetables. Our family, like many, would go berry picking in the early summer for incredibly sweet and juicy strawberries, always eating more than we put in our baskets. Late summer meant a trip to the apple orchard for all things apple – pies, cider, fresh pressed juice and a bushel or two of apples of course. In the fall we would pick corn, running up and down the rows.

This school year I am getting ready to send the twins off to grade primary, leaving me at home with an empty nest. Needless to say, I am both excited and nervous. One of the challenges I face this year is getting the twins to eat their lunches without my supervision. How will I know if they eat their fruit and sandwich before indulging in their "treat"? What if they discover that they can "trade" unwanted foods or magically make them disappear without me knowing?

As summer slowly winds down, I start to get the kids back onto their regular schedules. Late nights are no longer an option as we prepare to go back to school. This year Jack and Ella are off to start their education in Grade Primary and Caitrin begins Junior High. Needless to say, the mornings around here are going to be borderline hectic, but that doesn’t mean we skip breakfast.

This spring/summer, I put on my overalls, sun hat, grabbed my tools and decided to play farmer. Since moving into our new house at the end of last summer, I’ve been staring at all the raised vegetables beds, dreaming of a bounty of vegetables and planning my garden. I’ve never really grown my own food before in large quantities. Sure, I’ve dabbled in herbs, but these new adventures in gardening are on a much larger scale. Little did I know how much work it would be.