Fall is officially here. The leaves are changing while spectators revel in the beauty of the fall colors. The mixture of red, purple, orange and yellow captures spectators into the wonder of the autumn season as they enjoy their pumpkin spice latte or hot apple cider.

Fall is a season that has many traditions: trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, Sunday afternoon hikes and a cozy home-cooked dinner with a homemade apple pie for desert. Apple pie has become a tradition in many homes across the country.

Every year my grandmother would make apple pie for her large family of daughters, their husbands and all of her grandchildren. Her home always smelled warm and welcoming. She was the best baker I have ever met. There was nothing that she couldn’t do and she always did it with love in her heart. Secretly, I hoped that I could be the kind of woman she was some day.

My grandmother died of cancer when I was in high school and it was a very hard time. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of her. Just recently, I wanted to start baking again. In a way it makes me feel closer to her.

Recently, I made my first apple pie. I decided to use an easier recipe from Taste of Home magazine. I want to work up to my grandmother’s recipes. Even though I didn’t use her recipe, I still felt closer to her and enjoyed the whole experience. I remembered how much baking meant to her and realized how much I loved doing it myself.

That moment was confirmed when I saw my first apple pie come out of the oven all golden brown and bubbly. Perhaps a homemade pumpkin pie should be next?