Leah's Life: Pearls and Oysters

Pencil It In: Incomplete

I’m playing around with ways to streamline my calendar of events for all of you. It is still a work in progress for this week, but I didn’t want you to miss out on some of events happening today and tomorrow… There are a lot of great events happening on Monday including days of service…

Vinaigrette for one or two (Recipe )

A vinaigrette takes a minute or two to make. Usually I make a whole jar at once but yesterday I just wanted to make enough for my micro green salad. Ingredients: Cider vinegar Vermouth Vinegar Dijon mustard Olive oil Camp Mix You can use all cider vinegar or sub in Champagne or white wine vinegar…

The Best Brunch of the Year: Boston’s Super Hunger Brunch

The Greater Boston Food Bank’s Super Hunger Brunch is an event that I try to participate in every year. It is the easiest way to support one of Boston’s most important organizations. It’s a fun event to participate in, and the restaurants and chefs put so much into this day that there is no excuse…

An Heirloom Kitchen in Dedham: From their kitchen to your table

When Bakers’ Best closed it was a sad day for me. Even though it is not in my neighbourhood I would drive over to Newton because I knew I could pick up some really good food on a day that I didn’t want to cook. I liked it better than takeout because you see the…

Starting Simple – Green Smoothie (Recipe)

It is a new year and my fridge is somewhere between bare and simply stocked with the basics. It is winter so a bowl of citrus is sitting in the kitchen counter for my favourite winter indulgence: Fresh squeezed orange juice. Ingredients: 2 juice oranges a handful of blueberries a handful of baby kale Blend…

Winter Farmer’s Market: Beyond Kale

Why bother going to a farmer’s market in the winter? If you live in New England are you just going to a room full of booths with kale and other hardy greens? Fear not, the winter’s farmers markets go way beyond root vegetables and fibrous greens. There is locally roasted coffee, baked treats to keep…

Recipe to Soothe a Sore Throat: Lemon Bourbon Elixir

When I was little I used to have a froat. Now when I’m home sick with a burning inside my neck I feel like a little kid with a froat and would gladly wake up to my mom by my side to take care of me. But now, I’m home alone (Isabelle is off climbing…

New England Sangria: Gold and Red Sparkling Sangria (Recipe)

I wanted to make a winter sangria that I could enjoy myself after a day of running around, baking, shopping, taxiing the kids here and there, but also fancy enough to serve at a dinner party or a casual gathering with friends. This is what I came up with. Aside from the Pomegranate and Moscato…

If you like x, Try y: Cambridge/Boston – Montreal

If you like Mariposa Bakery and Café in Central Square… …then try Café Santropol in Montreal. Mariposa Bakery & Café 424 Massachusetts Ave Cambridge, MA 02139 Café Santropol 3990 Rue St-Urbain Montréal, QC H2W1K2

Skate on In to Winter Today

I have a favourite local rink . I love the tiny sweet rink in Harvard Square at the Charles Hotel, but recently I saw a photo that might tempt me across the river. The Rotunda Rink at the Boston Harbor Hotel. The rink is open Monday – Friday 3:00 to 8:00 pm and weekends from…

Restaurant Review & Guest Post: Temple Bar

I write about food, which includes restaurants, but I cringe a bit when I’m asked if I do restaurant reviews. I don’t write about food to review restaurants because taste as well as the restaurant experience is such a personal thing. On the other hand, I like supporting my local chefs and restaurateurs because feeding…

#MartiniMonday Is a Thing: Cranberry Orange Martini (Recipe)

Okay, so maybe Martini Monday doesn’t really exist but I think it could and probably should. I have talked about reviving the cocktail hour and this is just one more piece of the puzzle. Tonight I inaugurated, christened, kicked-off #MartiniMonday with a cranberry orange martini. 2 1/2 oz of Absolut Ruby Red ( or any…