It's official... September brings us National Grandparents Day! While technically observed on September 11 this year, I see no reason whatsoever to limit ourselves! Granted, this grandma may be a wee bit biased, but I think we should be celebrating these folks every day of the year. I honestly feel that every meal I make is an homage to the lessons learned from those who have gone before... never mind the countless other ways my life has been enriched by that older generation.

Help me spread the love this grandparently season by serving up a spread of family favorite recipes handed down through the generations. Jessica Harrington of Bennington, VT may just have the perfect way to start: with her Grandma's Secret Apple Brownies! "My Grandmother used to make these all the time for me when I was young," explains Jessica. "She finally gave me the recipe and I have been making them since! They are super moist and just incredible. Have one in the morning with your coffee or warm one up and place vanilla ice cream on top for dessert!" Or if you're anything like me, do BOTH! We're so glad Jessica was willing to share this simple apple cake with us... Just remember, it's a secret!

It is a favorite recipe for Congo Cookies that causes Franklin, TN cook Carie Turner to start reminiscing about her grandmother. "This was my Grandma Bure's recipe and she made it for me when I was a little girl," says Carie of these easy, chocolaty bar cookies. "Yep, I loved chocolate even then. I remember making this in the kitchen with my mom and with my own children as they were growing up. It still remains a family favorite. Recently I made 4 batches that were consumed by my daughter's college soccer team. They didn't last long." The Crew and I just love how very easy Carie's recipe is! Her grandmother's Congo Cookies capture the magical richness of homemade chocolate chip cookies, but with the ease of a bar cookie. It's a great choice for feeding a big crowd... or your own big sweet tooth!

And with memories so sweet and vivid you can almost taste them, comes Jackie Garvin of Valrico, FL.

"I spent a lot of time during the summer with my grandparents in the little town of Geneva, Alabama in southeast Alabama," recalls Jackie fondly. "Summer in the South means insufferable heat but it also means blackberries. My grandmother would send me out, as a very young child, to pick berries armed only with a bucket to fill with the delectables. The best berry bushes were down by the railroad track. The bushes grew dense and the thorns were big and protective of the fruit. As Granny walked me out of the front door to start my journey, she would admonish me to 'be particular for snakes, Shug'.

"She was sending me off to the railroad track amongst the snakes to pick blackberries. You can’t get away with that today. That was a different era and a different place. But I loved picking the berries. I’m not sure what part of it I actually enjoyed. Was it the freedom of being responsible enough to have a job as important as picking the berries that Granny would turn into delicious cobblers and jelly? Was it the challenge of seeing how quickly I could fill up my bucket? Or was it simply that I loved the smell of the berries as they cooked away in Granny’s little kitchen knowing what the end result would be? Whatever the reason, I developed a love of blackberries that is still with me today. I remember the sweet, fruity wine-like aroma that wafted throughout the house. I thought the scratches and stickers from the thorns and the occasional chiggers (redbugs) were worth it all. But most of all, it was worth it hearing Granny sing her hymns as she went about making cobblers and jelly. Granny singing, the aroma of blackberries cooking and the promise of cobblers and jelly... That’s what heaven will be like."

Jackie was generous enough to share with us her favorite Blackberry Cobbler recipe from those early days in Alabama. Let me tell you, you can taste every bit of love that goes into this spectacular dessert! It has fast become a favorite among the Crew and I. Serve it with a dollop of cream or a scoop of your favorite ice cream. Eat it while it's still warm, and savor every bite of the season.

Special thanks to all you grandparents for the innumerable ways you've enriched the lives of family and friends alike. In particular, I'd like to acknowledge Just A Pinch member Dana Ramsey who recently reminded us of just how important - and fulfilling - it is to get the grandkids involved in our everyday cooking. She let us know that she loves getting into the kitchen with her young "JAP Member in Training" (also known as her beautiful granddaughter.) Dana and her family are living proof that with every cookie baked together and every spoon licked clean, comes one more priceless memory made.