From The Trees to Seas

Yesterday was full of vegetables – true autumnal abundance, harvested from the heart of the season. There’s something special about cooking with ingredients that take time and care to prepare. It feels more intentional, more connected to the rhythm of the earth.

The best part, as always, was bringing it all together in my crockpot – my modern-day cauldron. I love letting everything simmer slowly through the day and then watching the family gather around the table to share a meal.

This one was particularly magical. My oldest filled his bowl twice as we sat together telling spooky tales from Maine and Florida, stories from days long past that seem to come alive this time of year.

Ingredients

• 1 small spaghetti squash (halved and seeds removed)
• 1 small pie pumpkin (peeled and chopped)
• 2 carrots (diced)
• 2 celery stalks (diced)
• 1 apple (peeled and diced)
• 1 medium onion (diced)
• 1 green pepper (diced)
• ½ cup fresh cranberries
• 3 cups broth of choice (I used beef broth)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary
• 2 bay leaves

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients into the bottom of the crockpot.
2. Lay the spaghetti squash halves on top, cut side down.
3. Cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–5 hours, until the vegetables are tender.
4. Remove the spaghetti squash, scrape the strands with a fork, and discard the skins.
5. Stir the squash strands back into the stew.
6. Serve warm with a sprinkle of feta cheese and slices of fresh bread.

The flavors in this dish came together like a harmony of sweet, earthy, and cozy spices – perfect for an evening by the fire (even if it was still 83°F and the windows were open). It tasted like autumn in every sense: comforting, grounding, and full of love.

But my favorite part? Watching my son happily eat every bite and ask for more. That’s when I know the love stirred into the pot truly came through.

Because in the end, a family meal shared at the table – that’s the heart of autumn for me. 🍁

As the seasons shift, may you always find comfort in what you create with your hands and heart.

– Mikaela