Category: A BostonZest Shop

BagPodz Reusable Shopping Bag Kit Is the Perfect Special Gift for Special People

With the advent of the plastic shopping bag ban in Boston, we have been giving some of the special people in our lives a BagPodz set. This has been one of Penny's favorite finds of the past year.

We have to admit, whenever possible, we opt out of gift exchanges among our friends for holidays and special occasions. What we prefer to do is find something like this that makes life easier and really works, we buy a few and give them to the people who will make the most of them.

The special people we're giving these to are the ones who call when they're going shopping and ask if we, as car-free friends, would like to come along. For the past year, unpacking the car on these trips has been easier because everyone knows that the lime green bags are ours. To keep things easy, we bought the other colors for our wonderful drivers.

In the photo of our green bags (above), you see that they're the size of the simple t-shirt shopping bags that have been banned. Unlike the flimsy free bags, they can hold a lot of weight without showing any strain. They come in kits of 5 or 10, but you really want the 10. Read on to see why.

We do have a supply of plastic bags for very wet or messy items, but in the case of a spill, the BagPodz bags pop right in the washer and come back strong.

We each carry one or two of the mighty green bags folded up and held with an elastic in our pockets or backpacks for those serendipitous shopping stops. With a moment of careful folding, they even fit in the back pocket of our jeans.

Not only do we love them, but they've also become a great hit with supermarket cashiers and baggers. You open the zipper and they pull out as many bags as they need. At the end of the order, we remind them to add the bag holder to the last bag. When we arrive home, we open the end and push all the clean bags into the holder and toss any wet ones in the laundry. They make our lives easier!

Who are the special people in your life who will love this special gift?

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2018 Penny & Ed Cherubino

December 20, 2018
Assistive Devices for Dogs with Injuries or Disabilities

Almost a decade ago, we were introduced to Eddie’s Wheels for pets when we met a senior Weimaraner named Kepler rolling along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. His hind legs were gently harnessed into a wheeled cart. Kepler had always been a very active, athletic dog. At age 13, his wheels gave him the freedom to stay that way.

Eddie’s Wheels is a company based in Shelburne Falls, MA. They build custom wheelchairs for dogs and cats and improve the quality of life not only for companion animals with disabilities, but also for the people who love them.

We were reminded of all the progress that has been made with assistive devices for dogs and cats when we spotted Bernie, a young Samoyed, wheeling his way along the mall in a far more streamlined rig.

Ramps, Stairs, and Lift Assistance

Cha Cha is a dog Penny sees on her morning walks. She's 16 years old and, like many a little old lady, needs a bit of help with her daily activities. Her guardian has added a lift assist harness to her walking gear. Cha Cha moves at her slow pace and when she needs a bit of an assist, a gentle sling around her belly allows her person to add support.

We had a visit from one of our rescue Westies, Swiffer, in his later years. He was having problems getting into the right position to relieve himself. We tore a wide strip off an old beach towel and used it exactly the way Cha Cha’s lift assist works. Assistance can be simple and homemade or something designed for that purpose.

This is one of our favorite portraits of our little pal Swiffer. How we all miss him!

Small footstools have been used by our dogs, as they aged, to get up on chairs and sofas. But there are also ready-made stairs and ramps that help a disabled or injured dog or cat reach a favorite spot. For example, there are special ramps designed to make getting a large dog into a car easier for everyone.

Tools for Special Needs

While we can hold an ice pack on our own sore spots, we need help to use ice to heal an injured animal. Now there are purpose-made, physical therapy icing devices that wrap around and stay secured on a leg, shoulder, neck, or paw.

Special splints, wraps, and booties can protect injured paws or skin and fur. Around the house, where wheels might not work, there are drag bags for paralyzed pets.

Today we address incontinence in pets with indoor puppy pads, diaper suspenders, disposable diapers, belly bands, and sometimes medication.

A halo harness for blind dogs protects their heads by bumping into things before the dog does.

For a deaf dog, you can use a vibration collar to help train the pup to recognize that you want their attention. (Since we have always been vehemently opposed to shock collars as training devices, we want to be clear that this assistive device emits a simple vibration like the one you have on your phone when you put it in silent mode.)

Before you decide to struggle along and make the best of a difficult situation, check with your pet care pros. Your veterinary team may suggest physical therapy where some of these products are commonly in use. A local pet shop may stock or be willing to special order the right assistive device. And pet sitters see the problems that others have solved, so be sure to ask their advice as well.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.)

November 5, 2017
Assistive Devices for Dogs with Injuries or Disabilities

Almost a decade ago, we were introduced to Eddie’s Wheels for pets when we met a senior Weimaraner named Kepler rolling along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. His hind legs were gently harnessed into a wheeled cart. Kepler had always been a very active, athletic dog. At age 13, his wheels gave him the freedom to stay that way.

Eddie’s Wheels is a company based in Shelburne Falls, MA. They build custom wheelchairs for dogs and cats and improve the quality of life not only for companion animals with disabilities, but also for the people who love them.

We were reminded of all the progress that has been made with assistive devices for dogs and cats when we spotted Bernie, a young Samoyed, wheeling his way along the mall in a far more streamlined rig.

Ramps, Stairs, and Lift Assistance

Cha Cha is a dog Penny sees on her morning walks. She's 16 years old and, like many a little old lady, needs a bit of help with her daily activities. Her guardian has added a lift assist harness to her walking gear. Cha Cha moves at her slow pace and when she needs a bit of an assist, a gentle sling around her belly allows her person to add support.

We had a visit from one of our rescue Westies, Swiffer, in his later years. He was having problems getting into the right position to relieve himself. We tore a wide strip off an old beach towel and used it exactly the way Cha Cha’s lift assist works. Assistance can be simple and homemade or something designed for that purpose.

This is one of our favorite portraits of our little pal Swiffer. How we all miss him!

Small footstools have been used by our dogs, as they aged, to get up on chairs and sofas. But there are also ready-made stairs and ramps that help a disabled or injured dog or cat reach a favorite spot. For example, there are special ramps designed to make getting a large dog into a car easier for everyone.

Tools for Special Needs

While we can hold an ice pack on our own sore spots, we need help to use ice to heal an injured animal. Now there are purpose-made, physical therapy icing devices that wrap around and stay secured on a leg, shoulder, neck, or paw.

Special splints, wraps, and booties can protect injured paws or skin and fur. Around the house, where wheels might not work, there are drag bags for paralyzed pets.

Today we address incontinence in pets with indoor puppy pads, diaper suspenders, disposable diapers, belly bands, and sometimes medication.

A halo harness for blind dogs protects their heads by bumping into things before the dog does.

For a deaf dog, you can use a vibration collar to help train the pup to recognize that you want their attention. (Since we have always been vehemently opposed to shock collars as training devices, we want to be clear that this assistive device emits a simple vibration like the one you have on your phone when you put it in silent mode.)

Before you decide to struggle along and make the best of a difficult situation, check with your pet care pros. Your veterinary team may suggest physical therapy where some of these products are commonly in use. A local pet shop may stock or be willing to special order the right assistive device. And pet sitters see the problems that others have solved, so be sure to ask their advice as well.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

(Adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.)

November 5, 2017
Cutting the Cheese! Our Favorite Cheese Accessories

We love our cheese plane so much that we just bought a second one, in case it breaks or they stop making them.

Here it is "posing," after shaving off curls of Pecorino Pepato. While many people grate this cheese, we love eating these paper thin slices as part of a cheese course.

Recently our friend Annie asked what we use to cut cheese and that sent us on a new search for a duplicate of our favorite cheese slicer. We found a few versions available:

The Norpro BS3A Stainless Steel Cheese Plane Slicer is just like the one we've had for years. We sent Annie the link but happily, when she saw it, she remembered having one of these stored away. We have had many guests ask about the one we use, so we ordered another. It will make a great gift or just serve as a second one for when we have a number of cheeses to serve.

If we need a pile of grated cheese, we have a many, many years old ZYLISS Classic Rotary Cheese Grater that does a great job.

If we only need a sprinkle of cheese, we use the microplane we reach for many times a week for zesting and grating tasks.

For us, these three cheese tools increase our enjoyment of the special cheeses we love. With our afternoon apples, we'll often use the cheese plane to add some shavings of cheddar to the plate. Cheddar and apples are a great match!

And, Penny has used it to pile cheese on bread to make grilled cheese. So, while this may be a uni-tasker, it is a busy one!

What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

September 22, 2017
Cutting the Cheese! Our Favorite Cheese Accessories

We love our cheese plane so much that we just bought a second one, in case it breaks or they stop making them.

Here it is "posing," after shaving off curls of Pecorino Pepato. While many people grate this cheese, we love eating these paper thin slices as part of a cheese course.

Recently our friend Annie asked what we use to cut cheese and that sent us on a new search for a duplicate of our favorite cheese slicer. We found a few versions available:

The Norpro BS3A Stainless Steel Cheese Plane Slicer is just like the one we've had for years. We sent Annie the link but happily, when she saw it, she remembered having one of these stored away. We have had many guests ask about the one we use, so we ordered another. It will make a great gift or just serve as a second one for when we have a number of cheeses to serve.

If we need a pile of grated cheese, we have a many, many years old ZYLISS Classic Rotary Cheese Grater that does a great job.

If we only need a sprinkle of cheese, we use the microplane we reach for many times a week for zesting and grating tasks.

For us, these three cheese tools increase our enjoyment of the special cheeses we love. With our afternoon apples, we'll often use the cheese plane to add some shavings of cheddar to the plate. Cheddar and apples are a great match!

And, Penny has used it to pile cheese on bread to make grilled cheese. So, while this may be a uni-tasker, it is a busy one!

What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

September 22, 2017
Portion Control: Small Dishes Are Healthy Eating Tools

For the past year, we have both been eating in a much healthier way. Today's "Friday Link" is to some reports on portion control and how important the concept is to our overall health.

First you have to understand that what we consider a "portion of food" today has changed over the years. Business insider gives a breakdown of the change in size of some popular items we eat.

Over on VegKitchen there is a breakdown of how the size of dinnerware has increased.

The Mayo Clinic has a post on visual cues you can use to remember what a portion of various food groups should be. For example, your protein portion should be the size of a deck of cards and four dice-size cheese cubes = one portion.

Tips and Tricks

One of the tricks that Penny has used in her successful weight loss program is serving herself on smaller plates.

This light supper of avocado toast and vegetables looks like a full plate when it's served on a small bread & butter dish.

A little treat like ice cream is served in espresso cups. That way a treat does not become a threat to a healthier lifestyle.

Other nibbles, like almonds, are measured out in mini mason jars in the morning, assuring that she knows how many she's eaten that day.

In fact we have lots of mason jars in various sizes. These can hold about one portion of pretzels or grapes for snacking or pre-measured servings of soup or a casserole for a meal.

When Dining Out

Often Penny will order an appetizer as her main course or we'll share an entrée and appetizer or an entrée and dessert. She has also discovered that if she chooses a food that takes time and attention to eat – such as clams, mussels, chicken wings, or artichokes – she'll take her time and eat less. And a slice of grilled bread (like the one in the photo above) is always shared with Ed, the resident bread-a-holic.

When faced with an oversized portion, you can decide how much you can eat. Ask for a sharing plate. Put the portion you want on that plate and either offer the rest to your dining companions or ask the server to put that in a take-out container to have for another meal. While there are certain dishes we love ordering, the portions are often so large that we can enjoy two or sometimes three meals from them.

If you make yourself more aware of what a portion should be, you'll eat healthy quantities and perhaps decide that you would rather buy smaller portions of local, sustainable food instead of large portions of cheap food from big commercial producers.

What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

September 15, 2017
Portion Control: Small Dishes Are Healthy Eating Tools

For the past year, we have both been eating in a much healthier way. Today's "Friday Link" is to some reports on portion control and how important the concept is to our overall health.

First you have to understand that what we consider a "portion of food" today has changed over the years. Business insider gives a breakdown of the change in size of some popular items we eat.

Over on VegKitchen there is a breakdown of how the size of dinnerware has increased.

The Mayo Clinic has a post on visual cues you can use to remember what a portion of various food groups should be. For example, your protein portion should be the size of a deck of cards and four dice-size cheese cubes = one portion.

Tips and Tricks

One of the tricks that Penny has used in her successful weight loss program is serving herself on smaller plates.

This light supper of avocado toast and vegetables looks like a full plate when it's served on a small bread & butter dish.

A little treat like ice cream is served in espresso cups. That way a treat does not become a threat to a healthier lifestyle.

Other nibbles, like almonds, are measured out in mini mason jars in the morning, assuring that she knows how many she's eaten that day.

In fact we have lots of mason jars in various sizes. These can hold about one portion of pretzels or grapes for snacking or pre-measured servings of soup or a casserole for a meal.

When Dining Out

Often Penny will order an appetizer as her main course or we'll share an entrée and appetizer or an entrée and dessert. She has also discovered that if she chooses a food that takes time and attention to eat – such as clams, mussels, chicken wings, or artichokes – she'll take her time and eat less. And a slice of grilled bread (like the one in the photo above) is always shared with Ed, the resident bread-a-holic.

When faced with an oversized portion, you can decide how much you can eat. Ask for a sharing plate. Put the portion you want on that plate and either offer the rest to your dining companions or ask the server to put that in a take-out container to have for another meal. While there are certain dishes we love ordering, the portions are often so large that we can enjoy two or sometimes three meals from them.

If you make yourself more aware of what a portion should be, you'll eat healthy quantities and perhaps decide that you would rather buy smaller portions of local, sustainable food instead of large portions of cheap food from big commercial producers.

What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

September 15, 2017
Bone China for Everyday: A Little Luxury We’ve Never Regretted Buying

Some readers have noticed that we use Wedgwood bone china in our food photo shots. That's because these are our everyday dishes. Once upon a time, Penny managed the home furnishings division of a department store. The china department was part of her domain and she learned about the pros and cons of various types of dinnerware.

In a small city home, we decided we only had space to store one set of dishes. We didn't mind paying for something that would last. Here we are decades later enjoying the same pieces of Wedgwood Nantucket that we bought way back then. We have replaced a couple of pieces what were broken in a really bad drop onto a slate floor. However, since our choice is a classic pattern, we've been able to do that easily.

Why Bone China?

Because it is attractive, graceful, lightweight, strong, durable, and if you buy a timeless pattern from a major fine china producer, you will be able to buy additional pieces or replacement pieces if you ever need them.

If you don't have gold or silver trim, it is dishwasher and microwave safe.

As a cook, Penny loves the look of food on a white plate, so we confined our original search to while bone china with or without an embossed pattern. What's more, with a white pattern, you don't have to worry about colors fading or wearing off. Wedgwood happens to have a great collection of all white bone china, so we narrowed our search to that firm.

Our original plan was to add some pieces of the Wedgwood White pattern as a calmer, simpler choice. You can mix and match the pieces from the various patterns because the white bone china material is all the same color and tone. Since we never tired of our Wedgwood Nantucket Basket pattern, we never did add the second pattern.

Today you have an even wider selection than we had back then. Here are some of the popular Wedgwood all white patterns available on Amazon:

What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

August 11, 2017
Bone China for Everyday: A Little Luxury We’ve Never Regretted Buying

Some readers have noticed that we use Wedgwood bone china in our food photo shots. That's because these are our everyday dishes. Once upon a time, Penny managed the home furnishings division of a department store. The china department was part of her domain and she learned about the pros and cons of various types of dinnerware.

In a small city home, we decided we only had space to store one set of dishes. We didn't mind paying for something that would last. Here we are decades later enjoying the same pieces of Wedgwood Nantucket that we bought way back then. We have replaced a couple of pieces what were broken in a really bad drop onto a slate floor. However, since our choice is a classic pattern, we've been able to do that easily.

Why Bone China?

Because it is attractive, graceful, lightweight, strong, durable, and if you buy a timeless pattern from a major fine china producer, you will be able to buy additional pieces or replacement pieces if you ever need them.

If you don't have gold or silver trim, it is dishwasher and microwave safe.

As a cook, Penny loves the look of food on a white plate, so we confined our original search to while bone china with or without an embossed pattern. What's more, with a white pattern, you don't have to worry about colors fading or wearing off. Wedgwood happens to have a great collection of all white bone china, so we narrowed our search to that firm.

Our original plan was to add some pieces of the Wedgwood White pattern as a calmer, simpler choice. You can mix and match the pieces from the various patterns because the white bone china material is all the same color and tone. Since we never tired of our Wedgwood Nantucket Basket pattern, we never did add the second pattern.

Today you have an even wider selection than we had back then. Here are some of the popular Wedgwood all white patterns available on Amazon:

What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

August 11, 2017
Sous Vide Chicken Gremolata

We finally broke down and added a Joule Sous Vide immersion circulator to our kitchen equipment. Penny did the reading and checked in with some of her more modernist cooking connections to be sure this one was the right one for a beginner at the method.

You can see the juice seeping from this boneless chicken breast that was vacuum sealed and cooked for 55 minutes in a 149-degree water bath.

Gremolata Flavor Component

Penny made a batch of gremolata by chopping together lemon zest, garlic, and parsley until finely minced. (If you would like a real recipe, try this one from Epicurious.)

The chicken breasts were patted dry, rubbed with olive oil, seasoned with salt and pepper, then sprinkled with the gremolata and vacuum sealed. After their bags had spent the prescribed time in the sous vide bath, the breasts were patted dry again and quickly seared in a blazing hot cast iron skillet to add some color and caramelized flavor.

Since the garlic was still in an almost raw state after the low-temperature cooking, it didn't burn during the very quick searing process.

Simple chicken breasts were the first thing we tried after our new Joule arrived. They just had olive oil, salt and pepper. We seared one to have for supper and used the unseared, white meat for a great, moist chicken salad the next day.

With simple cooking methods, you want to showcase the product, so for the first batch Penny bought Bell & Evens chicken. We both agreed it was one of the best "poached style" chicken breasts we had ever made. The batch shown above was made with Halal chicken.

What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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