May 8, 2024

Nora Rae Pearl | Author


Spring Into the Kitchen

April 6, 2024

As the daffodils start to pop up and the crocuses bloom, let’s bring that same sense of renewal into our kitchens. The first of the harvest is just arriving, giving us a sneak preview of what awaits us in the season ahead.

For these recipes, we are embracing some of the grea... Read More >>

Heirloom Recipes With Heritage, History, and Nostalgia

March 23, 2024

Before we begin to stash our coats and put winter behind us, let us remember what years past have taught us…fake spring has arrived. The higher temps are showing us what is to come, but we will still have to get through some cold days first.

That’s what inspired me to... Read More >>

Dining In with Restaurant-Inspired Recipes

Feb. 17, 2024

To dine in or eat out? That is the question…and we have the answers.

For a night on the town, head to Nonna’s Ristorante at The Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor. Start the evening off right with a signature Old Fashioned or a bottle of Caymus. Pair your drink with the r... Read More >>

A New Recipe Twist for the New Year

Jan. 20, 2024

As we turn the corner into 2024, let’s look to some of Michigan’s oldest and finest bakeries to inspire our cooking this new year.

Family-owned Lehto’s Pasties in St. Ignace has been serving the Yooper classic since 1947. While most pasties (pronounced pass-t... Read More >>

Ginger, Spice, and Everything Nice

Dec. 9, 2023

The holiday cooking season has arrived, and we’re here to help you start this month on the right boot—we mean foot. We’re keeping things warm and cozy with two recipes that will give you all the holiday feels and look great on the potluck table.

December produce ... Read More >>

Pumpkins are Good for More Than Pie...and Here's Why

Nov. 4, 2023

Acorn, autumn frost, buttercup, carnival, delicata, kabocha, and sweet dumpling. These are just a few of the winter squash varieties we get to look forward to this season. Who says late fall produce is boring?

Take the butterkin for instance; it has the skin of butternut, the shap... Read More >>

The Apples Are Calling...and We Must Go Eat Them!

Sept. 30, 2023

Crisp air, rosy foliage, and hot cider—the hallmarks of apple season in northern Michigan—are luring us out of the house and into the orchards this October.

One of my favorite U-pick spots is at Jacob’s Farm on M-72, home to some of the fullest apple trees you ha... Read More >>

Certified Fresh Tomatoes

Sept. 16, 2023

Fruit or vegetable, tomayto or tomahto, we can all agree: Michigan’s tomatoes are the priceless rubies of the September growing season. Before we dive into this month’s recipes, here are a few of my favorite northern Michigan farms for amazing produce:

Hot ... Read More >>

Corn Fields Forever

Aug. 19, 2023

Welcome to a new featurette in Northern Express! We’re excited to share recipes—featuring local ingredients bought at local stores and farms—to inspire seasonal cooking with the help of home chef Nora Rae Pearl.

As the blustery clouds roll in and glimpse... Read More >>