Autumn is a special time of the year for the Burke household.

Burlington freshmen Savannah Burke said food gives her family the opportunity to sit down and enjoy each other’s company.

“My memaw is always baking something this time of year; it brings us all together and we have a great time,” she said.

Burke’s grandmother, Lois Napier, generally referred to as “Memaw,” is known for her fall delights.

“Everyone always wanted to know when Memaw would be cooking next; her food is awesome!”

Burke decided to cook her grandmother’s pumpkin pie for her friends this year.

“This was my favorite dish to cook with Memaw; she passed it down to me and I plan on keeping up the tradition,” she said.

Burke’s recipe is below, as well as several other fall recipes. Happy cooking!

Memaw’s Old Fashioned Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:

-2/3 cup shortening

-2 2/3 cups sugar

-Four eggs

-One 16 oz. can of pumpkin

-3 1/3 cups all purpose flour

-Two tbsp. baking soda

-1/2 tsp. baking powder

-1 tsp. cinnamon

-1 tsp. cloves

-2/3 cup walnuts

-2/3 cup water

Instructions:

-Mix the above ingredients

-And pour into a greased/floured two loaf pan

-Bake for one hour and 10 minutes

Spiced cider tea, courtesy of jacksonsorchard.com

Ingredients:

-Three family size tea bags

-Two qts. water

-Five cinnamon sticks

-Two cups apple cider

-One cup orange juice

-Two tbsp. lemon juice

-1 cup sugar

Instructions:

-Brew the tea with cinnamon sticks

-Add in remaining ingredients

-Serve hot or cold

Cranberry salad, courtesy of jacksonsorchard.com

Ingredients:

-Two cups ground cranberries

-Three cups miniature marshmallows

-3/4 cup sugar

-1/2 pint whipped cream

-1/2 cup cut up grapes

-Two cups apples, unpeeled and diced

-1/2 cup pecans, chopped

-1/4 tsp. salt

Instructions:

-Mix cranberries, marshmallows and sugar in a bowl and let it sit overnight

-Mix in the rest of the ingredients in a serving dish

-Chill before serving