Our oldest turned fifteen at the end of April. He wasn't certain if he really wanted a birthday party, but he did think the idea of having a "handful" of friends over would be great. So, once we agreed upon what a "handful" was (five) and spring track season ended, we planned to have his friends over during Memorial Day weekend.
Feeding a handful of fifteen year old boys, nevermind a thirteen year old sister and her friend, is no small feat. We went the simple route for dinner: many large pizzas and soda. In the morning, I debated picking up
Whim, North Andover, MA
by TT May 26th, 2011 | Restaurant News, Summer Restaurants
We are starting our summer series with a brand new restaurant, Whim, which is located at Smolak Farm. To learn more about this restaurant, we interviewed Michael Smolak, owner of the farmer.
TT: Last summer you had a chef demo series. How did you decide to integrate that into your farm?
MS: We had been doing farm demos for years as crops came available. At the urging of our customers we took a chance and reached out to restaurants that were actually suggested to us by friends of the farm, such as Edible Boston and others, and we were shocked by
TT: Last summer you had a chef demo series. How did you decide to integrate that into your farm?
MS: We had been doing farm demos for years as crops came available. At the urging of our customers we took a chance and reached out to restaurants that were actually suggested to us by friends of the farm, such as Edible Boston and others, and we were shocked by
Summer Restaurants 2011
by TT May 25th, 2011 | Restaurant News, Summer Restaurants
Depending on whom you ask, summer has a different starting point. For some, the summer solstice is considered to be the start. According to meteorologists, it is June 1st. For children, it's the day that school is done for the year.* For others, it's Memorial Day weekend. Regardless to which date you observe, summer is approaching rapidly.
Summer brings longer days and warmer temperatures. Even those who work year 'round look forward to a slower pace and weekend cookouts. Fresh produce is readily available, and lemonade stands can be found in neighborhoods everywhere. Another reason to look forward to summer
Summer brings longer days and warmer temperatures. Even those who work year 'round look forward to a slower pace and weekend cookouts. Fresh produce is readily available, and lemonade stands can be found in neighborhoods everywhere. Another reason to look forward to summer
Rice & Beans, Vegetarian Style
by TT May 23rd, 2011 | Main Dishes, Recipes
As I've mentioned previously, our 13 year old daughter has become a vegetarian. After six months of this lifestyle, she is enjoying it and not missing any of the foods that I thought she would, such as filet mignon or bacon. What has been helpful to this change is her love of legumes: garbanzo, kidney, black, pinto- she likes them all.
While I am aware of her enjoyment of beans, it does strike me as funny sometimes. Last week, my husband was going to be traveling for two nights. He is not a fan of legumes, which our daughter is quite
While I am aware of her enjoyment of beans, it does strike me as funny sometimes. Last week, my husband was going to be traveling for two nights. He is not a fan of legumes, which our daughter is quite
Pampered Chef Measure-All Cup
by TT May 18th, 2011 | Equipment Reviews
Mayonnaise, cream cheese, and peanut butter can prove to be daunting while cooking. When an exact measurement is needed for a recipe, a standard measuring cup isn't very useful. Sure, you can scoop the desired ingredient into the cup, but then you need to use a spatula to scrape all of it out of the cup. It becomes a messy, timely activity.
Although Pampered Chef's Measure-All Cup is not a new item, it is a much needed kitchen tool that solves this problem. With its two-part design, the cook can adjust the cup to measure the exact amount. Once the
Although Pampered Chef's Measure-All Cup is not a new item, it is a much needed kitchen tool that solves this problem. With its two-part design, the cook can adjust the cup to measure the exact amount. Once the