Autumn brings more than cooler evenings and comforting meals. It also brings a sacred season of faith, remembrance, and hope known as Allhallowtide. As we prepare for All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day, I’d love to share how my sweet mom, Gloria, helped me understand these holy days—and how her loving example continues to shape the way I live my Catholic faith today.
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Table of Contents
- Remembering My Mother and the Meaning of Allhallowtide
- Three Sacred Days of Faith, Remembrance, and Hope
- The Beautiful Gift of My Mother’s Faith
- Sharing Our Traditions and an Autumn Blessing
- More Saint Recipes and Blog Posts
- Grand Teton Ancient Grains
- Grind Your Own Flour with the Mockmill
- Farmhouse Teas (and Herbs!)
- Backwoods Home and Self-Reliance
- Mother Earth News
- Guideposts
- The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
- The Modern Pioneer Pantry
- Start Your Traditional Foods Journey
- Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
- Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
- Kitchen Academy Videos
- Shop for My Favorite Items
Remembering My Mother and the Meaning of Allhallowtide
As we approach the end of October, my thoughts naturally turn to Allhallowtide and to my sweet mom, Gloria.
Allhallowtide encompasses three sacred days in the Christian calendar: All Hallows’ Eve on October 31, All Saints’ Day on November 1, and All Souls’ Day on November 2. Growing up in a practicing Catholic home, these days were not simply dates on the calendar. My mother made sure I understood their meaning and treated them with the sacred tradition and respect they deserved.
- Learn more: The Feast of Saint Francis: A Joyful Celebration of Faith, Love, and the Annual Pet Blessing!
Three Sacred Days of Faith, Remembrance, and Hope
On All Hallows’ Eve, we prepared our hearts and our home for the holy days ahead. There could certainly be innocent childhood fun where my father would take me trick or treating, but my mother never allowed me to lose sight of what the evening truly anticipated: the great Feast of All Saints.
On All Saints’ Day, we rejoiced in the holy men and women who had gone before us and now enjoyed the Beatific Vision in Heaven. We attended the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, where we honored the saints and thanked God for the beautiful examples of faith, courage, sacrifice, and devotion they left for us.
Then, on All Souls’ Day, our attention turned tenderly toward the dearly departed. We prayed for our loved ones who were no longer physically present with us. It was a quiet and reflective day, but it was also filled with hope because our Catholic faith taught us that death does not have the final word. There is hope in life everlasting in Heaven.
- Learn more about Saint Hildegard of Bingen with How to Make Herbal Digestive Bitters.
The Beautiful Gift of My Mother’s Faith
My mother approached these three days with such reverence. Through her example, I learned that our faith is not reserved only for Sunday mornings. It accompanies us through the seasons of the year, into our homes, around our tables, and through the joys and sorrows of family life.
Looking back, I realize what a tremendous gift it was to grow up in such a rich, traditional, and faith-filled home. My mother did more than teach me the customs of Allhallowtide. She helped me understand the beautiful communion that unites the Church on earth (The Church Militant), the souls being purified (The Church Penitent), and the saints rejoicing in Heaven (The Church Triumphant).
Those childhood traditions remain very dear to my heart. And as Allhallowtide approaches each year, I remember my sweet mom Gloria with deep love and gratitude for the faith she lived—and so lovingly handed down to me.
Since my mother is no longer here with me on Earth and has returned to her heavenly home, I take comfort in knowing that she is watching over me and smiling down from Heaven as I treasure her memory and stay true to our Catholic faith.
- Make a Saint Joseph recipe with pasta and homemade bread crumbs.
Sharing Our Traditions and an Autumn Blessing
Do you have any special All Saints’ Day or All Souls’ Day traditions in your family? I would love for you to share them with me.
Although my mother was of Italian heritage, my father was of Irish ancestry. So in the spirit of Irish blessings, let me say to you…
“May these coming autumn days bring warmth to your kitchen, peace to your home, and renewed faith to your heart.”
More Saint Recipes and Blog Posts
Cozy Fall Evenings: Homemade Soups, Favorite Books, and Classic Movies
Make French pumpkin soup and Italian chickpea and pork rib soup, then unwind with favorite books, classic movies, and cozy TV shows.
The Feast of Saint Francis: A Joyful Celebration of Faith, Love, and the Annual Pet Blessing!
The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi celebrates his deep love for all of creation and the cherished tradition of blessing animals.
How to Make Saint Patrick’s Bacon Casserole
Enjoy this recipe as part of your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Grand Teton Ancient Grains
Check out the organic berries and flours available from Grand Teton Ancient Grains. I love their high-quality Einkorn, Emmer, Spelt, Millet, and more you can get to create nutritious and delicious baked goods.
Exclusive Newsletter Discount Code
Sign up for my Mary’s Nest newsletter for an exclusive discount code you can use on your order of berries and flours. This discount is available for a limited time, so be sure to stock up on the Ancient Grains you would enjoy using to bake delightful breads, desserts, and more.
And if you’re looking for a grain mill to make fresh flour from your wheat berries, I recommend the Mockmill electric grain grinder. (See below.)
Grind Your Own Flour with the Mockmill
When it comes to electric grain mills, after I did A LOT of research, I decided to buy a Mockmill. And am I so happy I did! The Mockmill is a very affordable but beautifully crafted German-made mill that stone grinds grain with settings ranging from 1 to 10—fine to coarse ground grain.
Learn more about Mockmill electric grain mills for making fresh flour and their Flake Lover’s Flaker that flakes whole grain in minutes. (This is not a sponsored post. I bought the Mockmill products that I show you, and I’m a happy user of their devices in my kitchen.)
- Get the Mockmill 100 Stone Grain Mill (Same product I show you in my unboxing video.)
- Mockmill 100 Grain Mill unboxing
- Flake Lover’s Flaker from Mockmill in action (Using this device, you can flake whole grain in minutes.)
Farmhouse Teas (and Herbs!)
If you are looking for an excellent source for dry herbs, look no further than Farmhouse Teas. And even better, they are offering my sweet friends a 10% discount off their wide selection of herbal tea blends and individual dry herbs.
You can also use my discount code and links below to get the ingredients to make the following natural remedies that I’ve shown you how to make in earlier recipe videos.
- Anti-Inflammatory Drinks
- Herbal Acne Salve
- Star Anise Tincture
- Herbal Elixir
Backwoods Home and Self-Reliance
The Backwoods Home and Self Reliance printed magazines are two of our favorite publications, especially since they deal with topics of interest to traditional foods cooks and modern pioneers.
- Special Offer: The publisher of Backwoods Home and Self Reliance is offering my sweet friends 50% off subscriptions to their printed magazines. This is not a sponsored post. I love these publications, and I’m grateful you can get them at a discount.
Mother Earth News
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Guideposts
Guideposts is a faith-based inspirational magazine with stories about ordinary people who overcome life’s challenges through faith and hope. An earlier issue of Guideposts magazine featured my Faith, Love, and Grace story. I’m a subscriber, and I know you’ll enjoy this uplifting publication too. Be sure to take advantage of the discounted rate below for new subscribers.
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The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.
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The Modern Pioneer Pantry
Simple ingredients, timeless techniques, and a well-stocked pantry. Discover over 100 nourishing recipes to preserve food and turn pantry staples into homemade meals. Build a wholesome, traditional pantry—just like a modern pioneer!
Start Your Traditional Foods Journey
Sharing my passion for traditional cooking goes beyond my YouTube cooking school—it also comes to life in the pages of my cookbooks. Both of my books, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook and The Modern Pioneer Pantry, are proudly published by Penguin Random House.
The first is filled with time-honored recipes to help you create a traditional foods kitchen, while the second is your complete guide to home food preservation. Order both books today to start or continue your traditional foods journey.
Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!
Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
Are you looking for more traditional foods videos? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community get access to exclusive videos and other members-only perks. Plus, your YouTube comments include a special members-only badge.
Kitchen Academy Videos
A Cozy Fall Kitchen: Cooking, Books, and Cherished Memories
Join me for a cozy fall visit filled with oven cooking, favorite books, and memories of my mother’s winter pantry preparations.
How to Mix Whole Grains for a Warm and Nourishing Porridge
Learn to mix oat groats, barley, and other whole grains for a warm, nourishing porridge with easy make-ahead tips and tasty toppings.
How Much of Each Natural Remedy Should You Make?
Use your family’s needs, past experience, and seasonal habits to decide how much to prepare for your Healing Pantry.
Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest
- Subscribe to My YouTube Channel for Traditional Foods Videos (Free) - When you subscribe, be sure to click on the notification bell that will let you know each time I upload a new video.
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- Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy - For more detailed videos and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.
- Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook - Get a hardcover book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.
- Order The Modern Pioneer Pantry - Get Mary's latest hardcover cookbook about preserving food and making delicious meals from your Four Corners Pantry. Mary's second cookbook is also published by Penguin Random House.
I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!
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Favorite Kitchen Supplies
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- Whisk
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