As fall approaches, and the temperature cools down, I finally feel like using my oven again. It is just too hot in the summer to cook with it and I would rather grill outside than heat up my house. I can cook almost anything on the grill, but there are a few things I like better when cooked in the oven. The first on my list is vegetables.

I’m not sure if I mentioned this before, but I grew up on a raspberry farm - a real working raspberry farm. I think I know almost everything about growing berries and think I’ve cooked/baked everything possible with them. I love berry jams, jellies, muffins, cake, pies and cobblers.

Every summer, I purchase a "Community Supported Agriculture" (CSA) share. Local farmers sell their "shares" (similar to a membership or subscription) to people like me who live in the city but want produce directly from the farm.

When I’m talking about cooking or baking with friends, I often hear them say, "I don’t like baking, it’s too complicated" or "I don’t make anything with a crust, it never turns out right." I sympathize with their frustrations; I have made many pie crusts and baked goods that have turned out too dry, too doughy, or went straight to the trash.

This past week, my childhood best friend was visiting from Washington DC and I decided to throw a party in her honor. I wanted her to meet some of my friends and neighbors, and of course, their children. I scheduled the party and began my search for a great dinner party recipe.

I always know spring is near when I start hearing radio and TV commercials advertising fish sandwiches. I love fish sandwiches and the commercials make them sound so good, especially when I’m driving and hungry.

We take birthdays very seriously at our house. No, we don’t go overboard by celebrating birthday "weeks" or "months," but we definitely make the festivities last all day. To kick-off the special day, my husband prepares breakfast in bed for the birthday girl/boy/wife. He wakes up before the rest of us, cooks breakfast, and then brings it upstairs on a tray for our very own breakfast in bed.