Leah's Life: Pearls and Oysters

Cranberry Turkey Sandwich

If you just can’t wait for Thanksgiving, buy some cranberries and you can give yourself some tastes of the holidays this week. With a little cranberry sauce you can make the Cranberry Roquefort Tartines if you are feeling festive. If you just need a sandwich for work, buy some turkey, bread and take the mayo out of the…

Safe Havens: Food for Thought

We all have places where we can go either figuratively or literally to feel safe. For some of us it is a place that’s easily accessible and we live our day primarily in a safe place whereas for others it’s only a state of mind or a brief moment that is not easy to get…

Cranberry Roquefort Tartines

This is a great bite that you can throw together in minutes. It is a perfect addition to a cocktail party. You can serve it with drinks before a formal meal. You can pour a glass of wine and throw it together for a grown-up “after-school snack” while the children play lego on the coffee…

Ode to Verrill Farm

Verill Farm is a place that I’ve always wanted to go. I have heard only good things about the farm stand. With the hectic life of running after a two year old and a four year old and living in Cambridge I have never quite made it out there. I was sad to hear…

Planning For Thanksgiving: Cook It

If you’re coming over for Thanksgiving, this is what’s on our menu. Roast Turkey with Bacon-herb butter and cider gravy (Bon Appetit Nov. 2008) Roasted Fall Vegetables in Cheddar Crust (Eating Well Dec. 2008) Herb and Onion Stuffing (Bon Appetit Nov. 2008) or Rustic Bread Stuffing with Dried Cranberries & Oyster Mushrooms (Fine Cooking Nov. 2008)…

Turkeys & Turkey Trots

If you would prefer to have your Turkey prepared and cooked for you, then you check out Planning for Thanksgiving: Buy it. If you want to tackle the bird yourself then you’ve got several options. Since childhood, I have always been someone who prefers vegetables and fish to meat especially poultry for the simple reason that…

What’s For Dinner?

It’s a grey, now rainy, day today and there is a definite chill in the air. This would be a perfect day to curl up with a book. If I were still in college, I would probably head to a local cafe with my books and a notebook and actually get some work done. Yes,…

Planning for Thanksgiving: Buy It

Let’s face it — life’s different now. This can mean many things for many people. Maybe it has to do with the recent election. Maybe it has to do with life with children versus life before children. Maybe it has to do with you when you were single versus you now (or vice versa). Maybe…

Restaurants, Reading & Changing the World

This is rather short notice, but there’s nothing like spontaneity. If you already had a babysitter lined up then you’re all set and if not, you can contribute in other ways. Head out to The Elephant walk on Wednesday, November 12th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. for their Benefit Reception for Room to Read. The…

Veterans Day/Remembrance Day

This is a day of rememberance of those who fought for our freedom. Today, I was saddened to hear from Bob Oakes on NPR that one of every four homeless people in New England is a veteran. There are many ways to help the homeless year-round. This is a good time to get started and…

Thanksgiving: The Red Berries are Coming

Yes, it’s true…I’m Canadian and Thanksgiving happened last month, but I live here now and the only real Thanksgivings I have ever celebrated are American Thanksgivings because it’s just not such a big deal in Canada. We have had some great vegetarian Thanksgivings. We have made the pilgrimage with a million other tired people rushing…

Sweet Tooth

Somehow the holidays are upon us at the stroke of midnight on November 1st. Whole foods has their holiday orders table set up in the meat department. Formaggio Kitchen has their list of delicious Thanksgiving offerings. Hi-Rise has their towering list that sways down over the weekly dinner sheet at the cash register listing all…