Leah's Life: Pearls and Oysters

Keeping Kosher for the Holidays: Stationery Quandries

I love stationery. I always have. I think it is a tradition that got passed down from my aunt Kathie. She has beautiful stationery and even better tiny, perfect handwriting. I probably have every letter and card she’s sent me stashed away in various places. “So what?” you think. “What does stationery have to do…

What A Night’s Sleep (or lack thereof ) Can Do

In case of emergency do not break glass.

PIN: Pencil it in this week(end)

Tis the season of excess, from spending to indulging, but my favourite kind of excess is overloading the calendar with so many wonderful holiday, community, seasonal events. It is fun if you don’t try to have your cake and eat it too. Choose the ones you want to go to and (if you have young…

Simple Caramel Recipe & A Cookie Swap with Joanne Chang

For our cookie takedown recipe, my partner in crime made some slow cooker caramel. It turned out so tasty I wanted to make some more for my cookies for the Flour cookie swap. Flour Bakery and Café is having a cookie swap on Sunday, December 22nd. I’d love you to join me there! Here is…

Join the Club: Chicken Soup For You!

Chicken soup, especially in matzoh ball soup form, is Jewish penicillin, but it’s not just for those who are feeling under the weather. Chicken soup is the cure for just about everything? Are you feling sick of seeing “elf on the shelf” photos on Instagram? Are you feeling cold and sick of winter even before…

30 Days of Comfort and Joy: Part 2 (#11-20)

In case you missed Part 1 of 3, begin at the beginning with 30 Days of Comfort and Joy: Boston Dining. I’m a fan of oysters, my father is a fan of oysters, my daughter is a fan of oysters and many of my friends are oyster lovers as well. As residents of the coast…

For the Newfound Love of Burgers

When I was child, my family and I went out only a handful (probably less) of times a year and when we did the rule was that we ordered no drinks and no dessert. We always went to a place in Waterloo called Marbles. It was a burger joint with marbles in the table, in…

Oysters in Boston and Beyond: Dining Out

I love oysters. My daughter loves oysters and we recently became members of the Oyster Century Club. We don’t really need any incentive to go out and eat oysters, but it is fun trying to diversify our oyster slurping habits. Often my daughter and I will feel the need for a spontaneous oyster night out. …

Join the Club: The Gifts that Give and Give and Give

Once upon a time there were “gift of the month” clubs. They were expensive, unique, somewhat personal, but the food itself was nothing to write home about. It was more about the novelty of a monthly gift, and beautiful packaging. We’ve come a long way from the original “gourmet” gift of the month clubs. Here…

Join The Club: You’re Such a Ham!

Formaggio Kitchen‘s Charcuterie Share is like having your very own cellar filled with beautifully hand made meats. Formaggio’s award-winning charcutière Julie Biggs transforms locally and humanely raised meats into pâtés, sausages, terrines, and cured delicacies. She sources rabbit, pork, duck, and other meats from small family farms across New England, and maintains the highest standards…