A while back, I bought a Kuhn Rikon 4th Burner Multi – Pot thinking I would use it when a big meal was crowding my small cooktop. It quickly found a place in this cook’s heart and I wrote about, Loving this Odd Little Cooking Pot. Since then I keep finding more instances when it scores as the perfect answer to a kitchen chore.
For Thanksgiving, it worked well at its trick of fitting on a crowded stovetop. It’s seen here ready to cook rutabagas. Even with my giant roasting pan on the stovetop, it stood its ground. I often fit a 12-inch skillet in front of it.
But, before it reached that point in its turkey day to-do list, it had already joined up with a China Cap Chinoise Strainer to strain turkey broth. And, post rutabagas this combo was used to strain the gravy.
I’m nominating this as the perfect holiday gift for someone who cooks for one or two people, someone who has a tiny kitchen like mine, or anyone who will make good use of this true multi-tasker.
Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
Last week, over on the Trip Advisor Boston forum, a visitor asked about Christmas Markets. It made me think about the special Holiday Markets and events like CraftBoston that I could recommend to anyone thinking about a special shopping experience that will result in presenting unique, handcrafted, or at least carefully selected gifts for the holidays, or to stockpile for the rest of the year.
Here are some of the events and places I recommend to avoid chains, keep the money local, and support hard working artists and artisans.
Madeleine Ahlborn's Edge 2012 (mixed media and oil on canvas 6×6 feet)
The Museum School of the Museum of Fine Arts will hold their Annual Art Sale of student, alumni, and faculty work from November 29th to December 2nd. (The photo above of one of the pieces on offer is courtesy of the Museum School. )
SOWA Holiday Market Saturday & Sunday, December 8 & 9, 2012. This is always a fun event and if you've attended in the past, you should note that they have a new location. This year's market will be held at the Ben Franklin Institute, 41 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA.
If you are in the North End, stop by the North Bennet Street School Gallery for carefully crafted gifts from this school's skilled students and alumni. This neighborhood also has a nice collection of small shops and is a wonderful place to buy food gifts.
And, Beacon Hill, and Charles Street in particular, still has a wonderful collection of neighborhood shops where you can buy hand selected items in a warm, friendly place. The community has done a great job of protecting their neighborhood from chains so it's worth a visit.
Any more places or events you love to shop? Add them in the comments below or send us an email and we'll check it out for a possible update to this list.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
Last week, over on the Trip Advisor Boston forum, a visitor asked about Christmas Markets. It made me think about the special Holiday Markets and events like CraftBoston that I could recommend to anyone thinking about a special shopping experience that will result in presenting unique, handcrafted, or at least carefully selected gifts for the holidays, or to stockpile for the rest of the year.
Here are some of the events and places I recommend to avoid chains, keep the money local, and support hard working artists and artisans.
Madeleine Ahlborn's Edge 2012 (mixed media and oil on canvas 6×6 feet)
The Museum School of the Museum of Fine Arts will hold their Annual Art Sale of student, alumni, and faculty work from November 29th to December 2nd. (The photo above of one of the pieces on offer is courtesy of the Museum School. )
SOWA Holiday Market Saturday & Sunday, December 8 & 9, 2012. This is always a fun event and if you've attended in the past, you should note that they have a new location. This year's market will be held at the Ben Franklin Institute, 41 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA.
If you are in the North End, stop by the North Bennet Street School Gallery for carefully crafted gifts from this school's skilled students and alumni. This neighborhood also has a nice collection of small shops and is a wonderful place to buy food gifts.
And, Beacon Hill, and Charles Street in particular, still has a wonderful collection of neighborhood shops where you can buy hand selected items in a warm, friendly place. The community has done a great job of protecting their neighborhood from chains so it's worth a visit.
Any more places or events you love to shop? Add them in the comments below or send us an email and we'll check it out for a possible update to this list.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
Last week, over on the Trip Advisor Boston forum, a visitor asked about Christmas Markets. It made me think about the special Holiday Markets and events like CraftBoston that I could recommend to anyone thinking about a special shopping experience that will result in presenting unique, handcrafted, or at least carefully selected gifts for the holidays, or to stockpile for the rest of the year.
Here are some of the events and places I recommend to avoid chains, keep the money local, and support hard working artists and artisans.
Madeleine Ahlborn's Edge 2012 (mixed media and oil on canvas 6×6 feet)
The Museum School of the Museum of Fine Arts will hold their Annual Art Sale of student, alumni, and faculty work from November 29th to December 2nd. (The photo above of one of the pieces on offer is courtesy of the Museum School. )
SOWA Holiday Market Saturday & Sunday, December 8 & 9, 2012. This is always a fun event and if you've attended in the past, you should note that they have a new location. This year's market will be held at the Ben Franklin Institute, 41 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA.
If you are in the North End, stop by the North Bennet Street School Gallery for carefully crafted gifts from this school's skilled students and alumni. This neighborhood also has a nice collection of small shops and is a wonderful place to buy food gifts.
And, Beacon Hill, and Charles Street in particular, still has a wonderful collection of neighborhood shops where you can buy hand selected items in a warm, friendly place. The community has done a great job of protecting their neighborhood from chains so it's worth a visit.
Any more places or events you love to shop? Add them in the comments below or send us an email and we'll check it out for a possible update to this list.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
There are many reasons to add cider to your holiday menu – for meals, for cocktail hour, or mulled and warm on a chilly evening. And, there are many types of cider to serve to your family and guests.
1. Artisanal ciders will be a hit with fans of microbrews and fine wines. Our wine guru, Howie Rubin of Bauer Wine & Spirits, recently recommended Bantam Wunderkind, a new local cider from Cambridge, MA. He knows our taste and this crisp, clean, dry creation was perfect with a supper of salad with buttery croutons and goat cheese.
2. At farmers' markets and farm stands you'll find sweet, fresh cider for those who prefer non-alcoholic drinks. You can even find single source ciders like this one made from honeycrisp apples. And, most cider is gluten-free. Just be sure to check that the one you're choosing really is safe for those who restrict gluten. You never know what some producers might add to the mix.
3. Cider's history makes it a perfect fit in this season of traditions. We wrote more about cider's past in our post, You Only Think You Know Cider.
4. Cider gives you a new world to explore! Try an imported, sparkling cider from someplace like Normandy where there is a long tradition of turning apples into a companion for food. One of the most respected producers is Etienne Dupont. Penny loves the barnyard funk of their organic version. It has that same mysterious quality of some of our favorite Italian wines. We wrote more about it here.
5. If you want to keep up with the conversation among food lovers, you should add some cider knowledge to your repertoire. Everyone is starting to rediscover this once lost beverage. Here'a a primer from NPR, Americans Rediscover The Kick Of Hard Cider. And, remember, don't judge ciders by the mass produced versions. Try a small scale, local producer recommended by someone you trust.
Beer glasses, like the one below, are perfect for serving cider. Or, you can pour it into the same glass that other guests will use for wine or serve it in a brandy snifter
as we did in the top photo.
And, thanks to everyone who clicks over to Amazon from here. It doesn't cost you anymore, but it puts a few coins in our tip jar.
Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
There are many reasons to add cider to your holiday menu – for meals, for cocktail hour, or mulled and warm on a chilly evening. And, there are many types of cider to serve to your family and guests.
1. Artisanal ciders will be a hit with fans of microbrews and fine wines. Our wine guru, Howie Rubin of Bauer Wine & Spirits, recently recommended Bantam Wunderkind, a new local cider from Cambridge, MA. He knows our taste and this crisp, clean, dry creation was perfect with a supper of salad with buttery croutons and goat cheese.
2. At farmers' markets and farm stands you'll find sweet, fresh cider for those who prefer non-alcoholic drinks. You can even find single source ciders like this one made from honeycrisp apples. And, most cider is gluten-free. Just be sure to check that the one you're choosing really is safe for those who restrict gluten. You never know what some producers might add to the mix.
3. Cider's history makes it a perfect fit in this season of traditions. We wrote more about cider's past in our post, You Only Think You Know Cider.
4. Cider gives you a new world to explore! Try an imported, sparkling cider from someplace like Normandy where there is a long tradition of turning apples into a companion for food. One of the most respected producers is Etienne Dupont. Penny loves the barnyard funk of their organic version. It has that same mysterious quality of some of our favorite Italian wines. We wrote more about it here.
5. If you want to keep up with the conversation among food lovers, you should add some cider knowledge to your repertoire. Everyone is starting to rediscover this once lost beverage. Here'a a primer from NPR, Americans Rediscover The Kick Of Hard Cider. And, remember, don't judge ciders by the mass produced versions. Try a small scale, local producer recommended by someone you trust.
Beer glasses, like the one below, are perfect for serving cider. Or, you can pour it into the same glass that other guests will use for wine or serve it in a brandy snifter
as we did in the top photo.
And, thanks to everyone who clicks over to Amazon from here. It doesn't cost you anymore, but it puts a few coins in our tip jar.
Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
There are many reasons to add cider to your holiday menu – for meals, for cocktail hour, or mulled and warm on a chilly evening. And, there are many types of cider to serve to your family and guests.
1. Artisanal ciders will be a hit with fans of microbrews and fine wines. Our wine guru, Howie Rubin of Bauer Wine & Spirits, recently recommended Bantam Wunderkind, a new local cider from Cambridge, MA. He knows our taste and this crisp, clean, dry creation was perfect with a supper of salad with buttery croutons and goat cheese.
2. At farmers' markets and farm stands you'll find sweet, fresh cider for those who prefer non-alcoholic drinks. You can even find single source ciders like this one made from honeycrisp apples. And, most cider is gluten-free. Just be sure to check that the one you're choosing really is safe for those who restrict gluten. You never know what some producers might add to the mix.
3. Cider's history makes it a perfect fit in this season of traditions. We wrote more about cider's past in our post, You Only Think You Know Cider.
4. Cider gives you a new world to explore! Try an imported, sparkling cider from someplace like Normandy where there is a long tradition of turning apples into a companion for food. One of the most respected producers is Etienne Dupont. Penny loves the barnyard funk of their organic version. It has that same mysterious quality of some of our favorite Italian wines. We wrote more about it here.
5. If you want to keep up with the conversation among food lovers, you should add some cider knowledge to your repertoire. Everyone is starting to rediscover this once lost beverage. Here'a a primer from NPR, Americans Rediscover The Kick Of Hard Cider. And, remember, don't judge ciders by the mass produced versions. Try a small scale, local producer recommended by someone you trust.
Beer glasses, like the one below, are perfect for serving cider. Or, you can pour it into the same glass that other guests will use for wine or serve it in a brandy snifter
as we did in the top photo.
And, thanks to everyone who clicks over to Amazon from here. It doesn't cost you anymore, but it puts a few coins in our tip jar.
Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
With the summer farmers’ market season coming to a close Thanksgiving week, it’s time to spread the word on winter markets. Today's Friday Link will take you to farmers' markets around the area.
The team over at Mass Farmers’ Markets says, “Turns out they are opening up all over the state! We are expecting more than 30 of them to crop up this winter; to find out if there is a Winter Market opening up near you visit our website [www.massfarmersmarkets.org], click on the FIND tab and type the word "WINTER' in the 'name of market' field.” They are adding new information as market details are submitted.
Here are some Boston area dates & locations:
Brookline Winter Farmers’ Market, Sundays, Noon – 5pm, (Nov 4 – Early June) at The Arcade, Coolidge Corner, 318 Harvard St., Brookline
We've included the Wayland Market in this list because this is a wonderful destination market.
When father frost has us in his icy grip, the Wayland Winter Market at Russell’s Garden Center is a trip to the tropics. Russell’s lush greenhouses are turned into a festival of food vendors. They not only sell products for you to enjoy at home, but also host a food court where you can enjoy breakfast or lunch in the greenhouse.
This market supports all aspects of local food production. In addition to having local wine and cheese producers on their regular vendor list, they hold special events for them. The annual Massachusetts Farm Wineries Day will be held on January 26. This year, the Russell’s team has added a Farm Cheese Day on March 2nd. These are opportunities to sample, purchase, and support these value-added products from area farms.
Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
With the summer farmers’ market season coming to a close Thanksgiving week, it’s time to spread the word on winter markets. Today's Friday Link will take you to farmers' markets around the area.
The team over at Mass Farmers’ Markets says, “Turns out they are opening up all over the state! We are expecting more than 30 of them to crop up this winter; to find out if there is a Winter Market opening up near you visit our website [www.massfarmersmarkets.org], click on the FIND tab and type the word "WINTER' in the 'name of market' field.” They are adding new information as market details are submitted.
Here are some Boston area dates & locations:
Brookline Winter Farmers’ Market, Sundays, Noon – 5pm, (Nov 4 – Early June) at The Arcade, Coolidge Corner, 318 Harvard St., Brookline
We've included the Wayland Market in this list because this is a wonderful destination market.
When father frost has us in his icy grip, the Wayland Winter Market at Russell’s Garden Center is a trip to the tropics. Russell’s lush greenhouses are turned into a festival of food vendors. They not only sell products for you to enjoy at home, but also host a food court where you can enjoy breakfast or lunch in the greenhouse.
This market supports all aspects of local food production. In addition to having local wine and cheese producers on their regular vendor list, they hold special events for them. The annual Massachusetts Farm Wineries Day will be held on January 26. This year, the Russell’s team has added a Farm Cheese Day on March 2nd. These are opportunities to sample, purchase, and support these value-added products from area farms.
Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
With the summer farmers’ market season coming to a close Thanksgiving week, it’s time to spread the word on winter markets. Today's Friday Link will take you to farmers' markets around the area.
The team over at Mass Farmers’ Markets says, “Turns out they are opening up all over the state! We are expecting more than 30 of them to crop up this winter; to find out if there is a Winter Market opening up near you visit our website [www.massfarmersmarkets.org], click on the FIND tab and type the word "WINTER' in the 'name of market' field.” They are adding new information as market details are submitted.
Here are some Boston area dates & locations:
Brookline Winter Farmers’ Market, Sundays, Noon – 5pm, (Nov 4 – Early June) at The Arcade, Coolidge Corner, 318 Harvard St., Brookline
We've included the Wayland Market in this list because this is a wonderful destination market.
When father frost has us in his icy grip, the Wayland Winter Market at Russell’s Garden Center is a trip to the tropics. Russell’s lush greenhouses are turned into a festival of food vendors. They not only sell products for you to enjoy at home, but also host a food court where you can enjoy breakfast or lunch in the greenhouse.
This market supports all aspects of local food production. In addition to having local wine and cheese producers on their regular vendor list, they hold special events for them. The annual Massachusetts Farm Wineries Day will be held on January 26. This year, the Russell’s team has added a Farm Cheese Day on March 2nd. These are opportunities to sample, purchase, and support these value-added products from area farms.
Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
