We adore celebrating the holidays with family and friends. There’s nothing better than a house filled with laughter and aromas of the foods that bring us together. But, when you add hosting to already challenging to-do lists, it can take your holiday stress to a whole new level. All the shopping, chopping, wrapping and decorating while juggling regular commitments can become overwhelming.

Michael knows just where to find me once he realizes I’m missing. My husband doesn’t need to worry, because I’m only a few booths behind, photographing a table of vegetables. On the way here, he prepares for me to vanish, since it happens on all of our trips to the farmers market.

“Hey, how are you? Is this a good time? Really quick, I have a cooking question for you.” It was my son, Aaron, who lives with his wife and kids in Park City, Utah. Many of the conversations I have start with someone asking me a quick cooking question, and my kids are no exception.

Visitors stroll the grounds of the historic property at the Franklin Cider Mill in Bloomfield Hills, sipping cider, munching on doughnuts, caramel apples, specialty foods and artisan baked goods.  

I wait all year to stalk the aisles of the farmers market to hunt for ripe, peak-season fruits and vegetables.

Gardens are a lot of work, and there’s always more to be done.

My backyard is home to an expansive herb and vegetable garden, and all season, it’s my happy place.

As a trained chef with a large patio garden, I am routinely a personal cooking coach.