Ahhh, harvest season. For most of us this indicates a time to slow down and ease into the our impending hibernation mode, but for wine growing regions harvest time means long days, laborious hours dedicated to the vines with little time for relaxation or even travel. So it’s a treat that winemaker Julia Cattrall from Lumus winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley has slipped in one more trip to Chicago before the season beckons her home. more ›

For the squash novice, we recommend trying the Acorn variety. They are firm, dark-green, and about the size of a cantaloupe. Here are two methods of preparing Acorn squash. more ›

This time of year is probably the most bountiful for our farmers markets, with a litany of in season fruits and vegetables available for purchase before the weather truly turns. With pumpkins and other gourds ripening, apples and pears available by the bushel, and root vegetables ready for the spotlight it's also an exciting time for home cooks. more ›