Simple Brussels Sprouts: Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner (Recipe )

Serves 1 Multiply recipe to make as many portions as you like. 1 tsp of Olive oil (or schmaltz, or butter, or duck fat) 5-6 small brussel sprouts or 3-4 large a pinch of Maldon sea salt 1/2 a shallot, thinly sliced Put oil in the pan on low. Peel and thinly slice the shallot….

Brussels Sprouts at the Center of the Plate: Thanksgivukkah Breakfast

Sometimes the brussel sprouts get lost at the Thanksgiving table. Green Beans and Bourbon glazed carrots are the diva vegetables of our feast. So I decided that they need a stage of their own. Breakfast of course! Julienned brussel sprouts with shallots, scrambled eggs and latkes or (for the non-kosher plate) sausage latke patties are…

Wagamama Opens at MarketStreet in Lynnfield

Although I love to support small local businesses, I am okay with chain restaurants every once in a while, especially ones that do what they do well.  Wagamama is one of those places.  I was recently invited to visit Wagamama Lynnfield before they opened to the public and along with several other bloggers and writers…

McDonald’s By the Book

I went to McDonald’s and found a cucumber and books. It is true that McDonald’s isn’t a place I frequent often for many reasons, but the reality is that every once in a while we crave those fries, and the ease and familiarity of a happy meal. In terms of nutritional or culinary value, McDonald’s…

Christmas Festival Opens Today: Off to Judge a Gingerbread Contest

Today the 27th annual Christmas Festival opens at the Seaport World Trade Center. The children have been so excited to be official judges this year with several others. For months they have been trying to imagine what the chefs will create. We’ve even looked at some photos from past years including the impressive Fenway gingerbread…

Jewelry à La Mode: Gemvara Pop Up

These days you can find or make just about anything if you try hard enough. Between DIY instructions pinned on a Pinterest, Etsy, online shopping on big sites like Amazon and then of course all the craft fairs as well as your favourite shops, the perfect gift is out there it is just a matter…

Unwrap the Layers of Monsters University this Holiday

Perhaps Halloween is the holiday of choice at Monsters University but we have Thanksgiving, Thanksgivukkah, Chanukah, and Christmas fast approaching.  Monsters University just released their Blue-ray DVD sets and they make the perfect gift for all the monsters in your family big or little.  If you haven’t seen it yet, save it for your next…

Halloween: The Aftermath

So here we are. On the other side of a night where we dress our children inappropriately in some way or another (too cold, as a scary being, as a branded superhero, as a career choice, a fantasy, too hot, too naked, too hidden). Our homes are filled with piles of candy on the floor…

Halloween Ready: Fun, Tasty, Healthy Pre-Halloween Feast

Okay I think I’m ready for Halloween.  My priorities on this night are to: Gather with friends and neighbours so the kids can go out trick-or-treating as a group.  This lets them see each other in costume and allows the more gregarious trick-or-treaters to support the quieter ones. Feed the adults and children something substantial,…

Saturday Morning Cartoons, Animated Shorts, and Bandes Dessinées

Some of us grew up sitting at arms length from the tv knobs to change the channels back and forth between the three existing stations.  Others spent time adjusting bunny ears to be able to watch a show.  There were hours a day when the screen was just a static blizzards.  There were Saturday morning…