Fall in Bar Harbor, Maine: A Cozy Autumn Recipe & a New Romantic Mystery

Taste of Fall in Bar Harbor, Maine

There's something about fall in Bar Harbor, Maine, that makes me want to slow down a little. The changing leaves, crisp coastal air, apple season, and the return of warm, comforting meals.

And since my upcoming novel, The Year You Came Back, takes place during autumn in Herring Point, a fictional village of Bar Harbor, Maine, I thought it would be fun to bring a little of that seasonal inspiration into the kitchen!

In fact, I have the perfect recipe to share from the autumn section of my reading companion and wellness journal, Nourished by the Seasons.

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From My Autumn Kitchen: Apple-Sage Turkey Skillet

This simple, one-pan dinner combines crisp apples, sweet potatoes, ground turkey, kale, and savory herbs. It's hearty, nourishing, and full of flavors that remind me of fall in New England.

Serves: 4 | Prep: 15 minutes | Cook: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 pound lean ground turkey

• 1 small onion, diced

• 1 medium sweet potato, diced small

• 1 crisp apple, diced

• 1 teaspoon dried sage

• ½ teaspoon dried thyme

• ½ cup low-sodium broth or water

• 3 cups chopped kale

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds

• Pepper to taste

Directions

1. Warm olive oil in a large skillet. Cook turkey and onion until turkey is fully cooked.

2. Add sweet potato, apple, sage, thyme, and broth.

3. Cover and cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potato is tender.

4. Stir in kale until wilted. Finish with apple cider vinegar and pepper.

5. Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and enjoy!

*Recipe from Nourished by the Seasons

Meanwhile, in Herring Point, Maine...

Fall is also the backdrop for my newest novel, The Year You Came Back, releasing November 18 from Tule Publishing!

Twenty years ago, a mysterious car crash claimed Kateri Grey's father's life and nearly took hers. Now she's returning to the coastal Maine town where it happened, hoping to finally uncover what really happened that night. But as she begins digging into the past, long-buried family secrets start coming to light, and the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous her search becomes.

And then there's Aaron Brogan, a police officer with his own connection to that terrible summer, who might just give Kateri another reason to stay.

Here's a little glimpse of Bar Harbor from the novel:

Outside, the sky had long deepened into evening, moonlight catching on the windshields scattered through the lot. Down along the docks, storefront lights flickered off one by one, the day’s bustle giving way to the slower rhythm of the off-season. Bar Harbor in autumn carried its own kind of hush—still alive, just differently so. - The Year You Came Back

If you've read any of my other books, you probably know by now that food always seems to find its way into my stories! Whether it's a family meal, something baking in the oven, or a little café where everyone knows everyone, I love including those everyday moments that make a place feel like home.

And honestly, after spending so much time writing about autumn in Maine, sharing a recipe from my own journal just seemed fitting. I can't promise the residents of Herring Point will ever have a quiet season (they have far too many secrets for that!), but at least we can enjoy a good meal while we wait to find out what happens next.

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