Soy Thankful By Betsy Osman It’s been said that cooking demands attention, patience, and a true appreciation for the golden comforts of home. When it comes to homemade comforts, Deanne Frieders wrote the book — literally. Deanne is a busy farmer’s wife, a mother, a published cookbook author, and an artful recipe designer. She’s written hundreds of recipes for local, farm-to-table dishes, from seasonal favorites like pumpkin pie bars and honey buttermilk cornbread muffins, to more exotic entrees like Buffalo shrimp tacos and her own signature pesto and lemon-infused marinade. Her website, This Farm Girl Cooks, provides simply-prepared meals and easily-packed field lunches for busy farm families on the move. Peppered between recipes for sweet and sour pork meatballs with pineapple and warm spinach salad with roasted root vegetables, Deanne includes short notes with words of encouragement to her fellow farm wives, acknowledging their sometimes unnoticed hard work and dedication to family farm life. “It’s not always an easy lifestyle,” says Deanne. “I want other busy farm women to know I see them and that they matter.” Over the years, Deanne has developed her own flavor and fashion, but her love for cooking was a hand-me-down. She grew up cooking and baking next to her mom, who was herself a food pioneer. “I remember the first time she served bird’s nest pie’ for dinner,” laughs Deanne. “It was nothing more than spaghetti in a pie dish, but it had never been done before. Now of course there are all kinds of interesting baked spaghetti dishes.” Continues Deanne, “My mom was a trailblazer and showed me so much about how to find solutions in the kitchen that work for family life.” Growing up, Deanne remembers Thanksgiving celebrations as noisy, festive, and bursting at the seams. Her mother was the oldest of nine children, so family gatherings during the holidays meant an abundance of food, laughter, and warm memories in the making. “Our merry party would spill out into the garage where we’d roll out carpet, set up long banquet tables, and serve Thanksgiving Dinner buffet style,” she remembers. Here, Deanne has shared some of her favorite Thanksgiving recipes, using soy-inspired ingredients and seasonal influences. “I hope you’ll prepare these with loved ones,” she says. “This time of year is for family, gratitude, and an awareness of all that we’ve been given.”