When autumn arrives in Minnesota, home begins to feel a little different. Windows close against the crisp air, evenings arrive earlier and the kitchen once again becomes a natural gathering place. For Cari Ann Carter, founder of the Cari Ann Carter Group and the voice behind Fresh Roots Living, the change of season also signals a return to one of her favorite ways to unwind: cooking.
While Carter spends her workdays immersed in the fast-moving Twin Cities real estate market, time in the kitchen offers a welcome contrast. Chopping vegetables, tending herbs and waiting for something to slowly simmer are less about checking another task off the list and more about creating space to enjoy the moment.
“Cooking evolved as my outlet, a mandatory pause to step away from the fast pace of daily life,” Carter says. “For me, it’s about taking a breath, nourishing the people I love, and finding absolute respite and rejuvenation in the process.”
That appreciation for food goes beyond a casual hobby. Carter has completed more than 120 hours of classical culinary training, giving her a foundation in traditional techniques that she adapts for everyday life at home. Her style favors familiar flavors and seasonal ingredients rather than complicated presentations. Root vegetables, fresh herbs and dishes that become better with a little time are frequent players in her kitchen.
She also draws inspiration from lifestyle figures such as Martha Stewart, whose approach to cooking, entertaining and homemaking helped shape Carter’s own interest in creating thoughtful experiences at home. For Carter, however, good food doesn’t need to be fussy. Some of the most memorable meals are also among the simplest.
That is especially true when fall settles over the Twin Cities. After months of grilling, fresh produce and lighter meals, Carter finds herself craving something warmer and heartier.
“When October hits, my mind immediately gravitates toward warmth and comfort after a long summer,” she says. “There is nothing quite like a traditional pot roast slow-cooked in a Le Creuset Dutch oven. It fills the entire house with the nostalgic aroma of rosemary, sage, and braised beef. It’s simple, decadent, and universally loved.”
The classic dish fits naturally into a leisurely Sunday afternoon. A roast is first seared, developing the deeply browned exterior that provides the foundation for the meal’s rich flavor. From there, it is paired with a colorful assortment of cool-weather vegetables. Carrots and baby potatoes are familiar favorites, while parsnips and rutabaga bring an earthy sweetness particularly suited to autumn.
Fresh rosemary, sage and other garden herbs add another layer of seasonal flavor before everything is tucked beneath the lid of a Dutch oven and given time to cook. The result is the kind of meal that requires relatively little attention once it is underway, leaving time to settle in at home, spend an afternoon with family or simply enjoy the aromas drifting from the kitchen.
Carter encourages home cooks to make the dish their own, including adjusting the cooking method depending on the texture they prefer.
“Don’t be afraid to adjust cooking times to your schedule,” she says. “A slightly higher heat gives you a classic roast beef slice, while a long, slow cook breaks down the proteins until the beef literally melts off your fork.”
Just as important as technique is what goes into the pot. Through Fresh Roots Living, Carter emphasizes an appreciation for knowing where ingredients originate and supporting growers, farmers and food producers close to home whenever possible. A neighborhood co-op or local purveyor can turn grocery shopping into another way to connect a meal with the community around it.
“Sourcing matters,” Carter says. “When you use beautiful, grass-fed beef from local purveyors like Wise Acre Eatery or your neighborhood co-op, the flavor profile of a simple roast completely transforms.”
Seasonal vegetables can receive the same consideration. A farmers market haul, produce from a co-op or carrots and herbs pulled from a backyard garden can all find their way into the pot. It is an approach that celebrates ingredients without demanding perfection—and makes a traditional meal feel personal to the household preparing it.
“Whether you’re harvesting from your own garden or gathering produce from a neighborhood market, these traditional, earth-to-table meals ground us,” Carter says. “It’s a reminder that no matter how demanding work or life gets, creating a welcoming table at home is where we truly recharge.”
It is a philosophy that also brings Carter’s culinary interests and real estate career together in an unexpected way. A home, after all, is more than its architecture, square footage or address. Its meaning develops through the routines and memories created within it—the Sunday dinners, crowded kitchen counters, favorite recipes and familiar aromas that eventually become part of a family’s story.
For Carter, a pot roast slowly braising on an autumn afternoon captures that idea beautifully. It isn’t simply dinner. It is an invitation to linger in the kitchen, gather around the table and enjoy home at a slightly slower pace.
Want the full recipe card, plus this month’s autumn root vegetable pairing guide?Subscribe free to get it delivered straight to your inbox, along with weekly seasonal recipes, garden planning guides, and intentional home essays. freshrootsliving.substack.com.