November is met with differing degrees of enthusiasm by the man of the house than it is by his wife. From the minute the first trees start to show a splash of color, the Michigan men start counting days until deer season. As wives look ahead they see Thanksgiving, Christmas, shopping, cleaning, cooking and company looming with considerably less excitement. But really now, wouldn't you rather do what we do, than get up before daylight and go to the woods and sit on a frozen stump all day? So pass the sticky notes and let's get at it.

Pat Chapman, of Suttons Bay, said she made this salad for her family and it was such a hit, they encouraged her to send it in.

Mac and Cheese Bake Off tix on sale; Classes set for holiday desserts; Wanted: Holiday cookie sale info

Editor's Note: Five in the Eicher home have fevers, including Lovina. She was unable to complete a column for this week. We are wishing her a quick recovery for next week. This week I am sharing two of my favorite recipes that Lovina wrote for inclusion in "The Amish Cook's Baking Book," available in stores now.

A slice of cake is always a pleasure, but it doesn't have to be a guilty one. When baking cakes, there are a few things you can do to give most recipes a healthy makeover. This pumpkin-cranberry spice cake, for instance, is an indulgent but healthy treat that uses tricks easily applied to other recipes.

Whether you need a last-minute hors d'oeuvre or an effortless way to use a spare round of purchased pie crust, try these sweet or savory pinwheels that come together in minutes, bake up attractively, travel well and are incredibly versatile.

A side of salmon is an easy and elegant way to serve a crowd.

If you're looking for easy, no-recipe-needed Halloween treats, these creeped out cupcakes, dips and seeds are eerily good choices for school snacks, work treats or party grub. Eew! Don't say "grub."

It's afternoon on a gray fall Saturday. Every male in the house is glued to a TV watching a big football rivalry play out. Not Andrea Novarro, Julie McNally and Kari Roberts. They're in the kitchen, slicing, dicing, laughing and tasting. Oh, and having a few Bloody Marys. It's their annual salsa-making ritual.

If, by some fluke, you still have zucchini left, here's a great recipe that will put it to good use. Loretta Alberta, of Cedar, got this from Engadine in the Upper Peninsula and says everyone loves it.

We're ready to round up some cookies. And we want your tragically funny Thanksgiving stories.

Yesterday we had brunch at Emma and Jacob's house. Brother Albert's family, his daughter Elizabeth, her husband and two children and Albert's three oldest sons and their special friends all came along. This gathering was held so Albert's family could meet little Marilyn Jane.

The cost of store-bought Halloween party treats can be more terrifying than the ghouls crowding your doorstep. And if you want a real fright, take a glance at all the sugar and artificial coloring listed on the nutrition labels. These mini jack-o'-lantern pizzas cost less than 60 cents each to make and will be a hit with adults and kids. Plus, they're made with wholesome ingredients.

It's a bumper crop. And there are more varieties than ever. Apples are in season and, if you're worried about the bushels you couldn't resist buying, settle down. When cared for properly, apples can last into the winter. Of course, that's a professional talking, specifically John King, co-owner of King Orchards in Central Lake. They have climate-controlled storage for their apples, which are "living organisms," he said.