Canned pumpkin may be hard to find

Portland, Ore. -- The holidays may not be so sweet this year. Nestle -- which sells nearly all the canned pumpkin in the U.S. -- says poor weather hurt its harvest, creating a potential shortage of its Libby's pumpkin pie products through the holidays. - 11/20/2009

Just desserts: Sweet endings for Thanksgiving

I'll never forget the year I tried to break with tradition on Thanksgiving and served pumpkin mushroom soup to my family before the main event. My brother-in-law shot me a look like I'd had one too many Bloody Marys and my nephew starting gagging at the sight of the mushrooms floating in the orange-colored cream. I actually thought it was delicious and slurped every last drop while my husband smirked at me, trying to look superior (he warned me). Hey, I'm a food writer. - 11/19/2009

Rain may put pumpkin pie in peril, Nestle says

Portland, Ore. -- The holidays may not be so sweet this year. - 11/19/2009

Today's talker

Kellogg can't 'leggo' of Eggos during shortage

Battle Creek-based Kellogg Co. says there will be a nationwide shortage of its popular Eggo frozen waffles until next summer because of interruptions in production at two of the four plants that make them. - 11/19/2009

Taste Panel: Cider Mill Pumpkin Pies

Apple Charlie's makes best pumpkin pie

Pumpkin pie: People either love it or hate it. And six of our seven panelists say they're pumpkin pie aficionados. - 11/19/2009

Market Find: Trifles Confectionery

I first tasted Gwen Borders' sea salt caramels a few years ago and was instantly smitten, then I discovered she had so much more in store. A visit to her candy shop in White Lake was like visiting Willy Wonka all grown up. - 11/19/2009

How to rid pomegranate of seeds

The best way to get the seeds out of a pomegranate is to cut it in half, lengthwise down from the crown, then cut each half in half. - 11/19/2009

Good Stuff: Topping, Gravy, Cookie

Pay some respect to that homemade pumpkin pie this holiday and garnish it with something better than one of those artificial toppings. If you can't (or don't) whip fresh cream for the holidays, the next best thing is Truwhip from Peak Foods. Truwhip is 100 percent natural, contains no GMOs, no hydrogenated oils, no trans fats, no high fructose corn syrup, is gluten free and is perfect paired with everything from traditional pies to fresh fruit. - 11/19/2009

Lynne Rossetto Kasper: The Splendid Table

Meatless feast: Serve roasted vegetable pie

Dear Lynne: My fiancee hates making people uncomfortable, so when she's a guest she doesn't say anything about not eating meat. - 11/19/2009

Kate Lawson: Simply the Best

Reinvent the canned green bean casserole

Every year, it's the same debate about Thanksgiving dinner: Who's going to make the green bean casserole? I turn up my nose like the food snob I've been accused of being and offer to make it with the caveat -- no soup and no canned beans! - 11/19/2009

White House pastry chef wins over Obamas

Washington - 11/17/2009

Kate Lawson: Simply the Best

Black walnuts give smoky flavor to this torte

When I was growing up in Ohio, there was a black walnut tree in my next-door neighbor's yard that used to pepper us kids with walnuts every fall. We couldn't play in the backyard for all the green husks littering the ground and staining the patio (and I think the squirrels made cheap sport of us trying to bonk us on the head as we ran screaming and playing underneath the huge tree). - 11/13/2009

Have a Michigan celebration

Thankful is the message of the season, and following right behind should be "sustainable" and "local." - 11/12/2009

Sandra Silfven: Wine

Rieslings are a good choice for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a Riesling holiday because of the range of sweet and dry levels, friendly prices and compatibility with roast turkey. And, thankfully, there is no shortage of choices with Michigan labels on them. - 11/12/2009