Blog

  • It’s Irish Soda Bread Season!

    Every March, Irish Soda Bread starts showing up everywhere. We've seen it at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Markets. But, we prefer the versions from a few favorite area bakeries.

    Where do you buy your favorite Irish breads? Tell us in a comment below or send us an email and we'll add your ideas as an update.

      6a00e54fc42bb88834014e60460637970c-800wi

    Clear Flour Bread had both white Soda Bread with raisins and traditional whole wheat brown bread (above) last weekend. They hope to have it Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through St. Patrick's Day. We recommend getting there early before they run out of the day's supply. And, call ahead on weekdays to see if they happen to have some.

    Clear Flour Bread, 178 Thorndike St., Brookline, MA 02446 (map & reviews) Phone: 617.739.0060

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016763b429b9970b-500wi

    Any time of year, you can find a full line of exceptional Irish Breads at Greenhills Irish Bakery in Adams Village, Dorchester. They add caraway seeds to their Irish Raisin Soda Bread (above). It tastes just like the recipe Penny learned to make with her Irish cousins.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016763b42a69970b

    They also make this Irish Brown Soda Bread that's perfect with meals, a Treacle Soda Bread for those with a sweet tooth, and Irish Barm Brack – a raisin yeast bread. 

    Greenhills Irish Bakery, 780 Adams St, Dorchester, MA (map & reviews) Phone: 617- 825-8187 ‎ 

    DSC_2563 - Version 22013-03-06-irish-soda-bread-trader-joes-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We even took one for the team and taste-tested this "Trader Joe's Blarney Scone Irish Soda Bread." It was not a superlative version but, that said, soda breads are forgiving and there was none left a day later. 

    Over on the Boston Chowhound board, a couple of trusted hounds recommended Hi-Rise Bread Company in Cambridge and Keltic Krust in West Newton as their favorite spots for soda bread. 

    (Update: Keltic Krust closed in 2014)

    Tomorrow, we'll help you learn to make your own soda bread with a great collection of recipes, one of Ed's all time favorite carbo-loading versions, and a great video that shows the technique for Brown Bread that no recipe can completely capture!

    (Update: Here's a link to that post. Irish Soda Bread Recipe Collection.)

    Related Posts:

    Greenhills Irish Bakery, Adams Village Dorchester

    Clear Flour Bread– Clearly Artisan, Clearly Charming…

     

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: © 2011- 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

    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.

  • It’s Irish Soda Bread Season!

    Every March, Irish Soda Bread starts showing up everywhere. We've seen it at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Markets. But, we prefer the versions from a few favorite area bakeries.

    Where do you buy your favorite Irish breads? Tell us in a comment below or send us an email and we'll add your ideas as an update.

      6a00e54fc42bb88834014e60460637970c-800wi

    Clear Flour Bread had both white Soda Bread with raisins and traditional whole wheat brown bread (above) last weekend. They hope to have it Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through St. Patrick's Day. We recommend getting there early before they run out of the day's supply. And, call ahead on weekdays to see if they happen to have some.

    Clear Flour Bread, 178 Thorndike St., Brookline, MA 02446 (map & reviews) Phone: 617.739.0060

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016763b429b9970b-500wi

    Any time of year, you can find a full line of exceptional Irish Breads at Greenhills Irish Bakery in Adams Village, Dorchester. They add caraway seeds to their Irish Raisin Soda Bread (above). It tastes just like the recipe Penny learned to make with her Irish cousins.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016763b42a69970b

    They also make this Irish Brown Soda Bread that's perfect with meals, a Treacle Soda Bread for those with a sweet tooth, and Irish Barm Brack – a raisin yeast bread. 

    Greenhills Irish Bakery, 780 Adams St, Dorchester, MA (map & reviews) Phone: 617- 825-8187 ‎ 

    DSC_2563 - Version 22013-03-06-irish-soda-bread-trader-joes-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We even took one for the team and taste-tested this "Trader Joe's Blarney Scone Irish Soda Bread." It was not a superlative version but, that said, soda breads are forgiving and there was none left a day later. 

    Over on the Boston Chowhound board, a couple of trusted hounds recommended Hi-Rise Bread Company in Cambridge and Keltic Krust in West Newton as their favorite spots for soda bread. 

    (Update: Keltic Krust closed in 2014)

    Tomorrow, we'll help you learn to make your own soda bread with a great collection of recipes, one of Ed's all time favorite carbo-loading versions, and a great video that shows the technique for Brown Bread that no recipe can completely capture!

    (Update: Here's a link to that post. Irish Soda Bread Recipe Collection.)

    Related Posts:

    Greenhills Irish Bakery, Adams Village Dorchester

    Clear Flour Bread– Clearly Artisan, Clearly Charming…

     

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: © 2011- 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

    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.

  • Is Your Sunday Dog a Snow Lover?

    Does your canine companion drool at the thought of a walk in the snow? Or do the four-paw brakes go on when the door opens onto a scene wet with wintry white?

    CHE_1800 - Version 32013-02-13-poppy-snowgirl-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Our 10-month-old puppy, Poppy loves playing "Queen of the Snowbank!" You can see the smile on her funny little face in this photo.

    But, some of her neighbors are not fond of wet or snow.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340147e2ffd8ec970b-800wi

    For example, our pal Smudge loves to Pose but not on wet days. Then, he will do his business in record time and try to get back inside. He thinks kids like Poppy, who like being out in it, are a bit looney tunes.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834014e8629da4a970d-400wi

    Elvis Lives Next Door, and that's where he prefers to stay on snowy days. He doesn't like wet. He's not even into cold and declines to go out and play in the wet with Poppy.

    CHE_2590 - Version 22013-03-09-poppy-snow-hopper-westie-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    What do the dogs in your life think of snow? What do they do that makes you laugh when confronted with a few inches of the white stuff? In her first year, Poppy has become a champion "snow hopper" and that makes all three of us smile.

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

    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!

     Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2011-2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    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.

  • Is Your Sunday Dog a Snow Lover?

    Does your canine companion drool at the thought of a walk in the snow? Or do the four-paw brakes go on when the door opens onto a scene wet with wintry white?

    CHE_1800 - Version 32013-02-13-poppy-snowgirl-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Our 10-month-old puppy, Poppy loves playing "Queen of the Snowbank!" You can see the smile on her funny little face in this photo.

    But, some of her neighbors are not fond of wet or snow.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340147e2ffd8ec970b-800wi

    For example, our pal Smudge loves to Pose but not on wet days. Then, he will do his business in record time and try to get back inside. He thinks kids like Poppy, who like being out in it, are a bit looney tunes.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834014e8629da4a970d-400wi

    Elvis Lives Next Door, and that's where he prefers to stay on snowy days. He doesn't like wet. He's not even into cold and declines to go out and play in the wet with Poppy.

    CHE_2590 - Version 22013-03-09-poppy-snow-hopper-westie-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    What do the dogs in your life think of snow? What do they do that makes you laugh when confronted with a few inches of the white stuff? In her first year, Poppy has become a champion "snow hopper" and that makes all three of us smile.

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

    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!

     Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2011-2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    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.

  • Is Your Sunday Dog a Snow Lover?

    Does your canine companion drool at the thought of a walk in the snow? Or do the four-paw brakes go on when the door opens onto a scene wet with wintry white?

    CHE_1800 - Version 32013-02-13-poppy-snowgirl-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Our 10-month-old puppy, Poppy loves playing "Queen of the Snowbank!" You can see the smile on her funny little face in this photo.

    But, some of her neighbors are not fond of wet or snow.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340147e2ffd8ec970b-800wi

    For example, our pal Smudge loves to Pose but not on wet days. Then, he will do his business in record time and try to get back inside. He thinks kids like Poppy, who like being out in it, are a bit looney tunes.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834014e8629da4a970d-400wi

    Elvis Lives Next Door, and that's where he prefers to stay on snowy days. He doesn't like wet. He's not even into cold and declines to go out and play in the wet with Poppy.

    CHE_2590 - Version 22013-03-09-poppy-snow-hopper-westie-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    What do the dogs in your life think of snow? What do they do that makes you laugh when confronted with a few inches of the white stuff? In her first year, Poppy has become a champion "snow hopper" and that makes all three of us smile.

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

    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!

     Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2011-2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    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.

  • Snowy Comm Ave Walk (Photos)

     IMG_1143 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    I was having second thoughts about a snowy Commonwealth Avenue walk with my furry 10-month-old terrier, but she convinced me that it’d be fun! Poppy explained the basics …

    IMG_1137 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Find a big pile of snow …
    IMG_1130 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino
    Eat as much as possible …
    IMG_1135 - Version 32013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Shake off the excess!

    IMG_1120 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    There are always other dogs to see along the way.

    IMG_1118 - Version 32013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    And, if you time it right, there are shovelers to clear the way!

    IMG_1140 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Lots of people stay home on a day like this, so we’ll have the place to ourselves.

    IMG_1152 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    But, you always have to be on the lookout for scary snow plows!

    IMG_1149 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino (2)

    They’re everywhere!
    IMG_1157 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We’ll enjoy watching people wearing funny hats!

    IMG_1132 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    And, when we get tired we can sit and watch the snow pile up.

    IMG_1156 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Thanks, Poppy. You sure know how to enjoy a snow storm!

    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!

    Details:

    Words: Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino  

    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.

     

  • Snowy Comm Ave Walk (Photos)

     IMG_1143 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    I was having second thoughts about a snowy Commonwealth Avenue walk with my furry 10-month-old terrier, but she convinced me that it’d be fun! Poppy explained the basics …

    IMG_1137 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Find a big pile of snow …
    IMG_1130 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino
    Eat as much as possible …
    IMG_1135 - Version 32013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Shake off the excess!

    IMG_1120 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    There are always other dogs to see along the way.

    IMG_1118 - Version 32013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    And, if you time it right, there are shovelers to clear the way!

    IMG_1140 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Lots of people stay home on a day like this, so we’ll have the place to ourselves.

    IMG_1152 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    But, you always have to be on the lookout for scary snow plows!

    IMG_1149 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino (2)

    They’re everywhere!
    IMG_1157 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We’ll enjoy watching people wearing funny hats!

    IMG_1132 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    And, when we get tired we can sit and watch the snow pile up.

    IMG_1156 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Thanks, Poppy. You sure know how to enjoy a snow storm!

    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!

    Details:

    Words: Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino  

    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.

     

  • Snowy Comm Ave Walk (Photos)

     IMG_1143 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    I was having second thoughts about a snowy Commonwealth Avenue walk with my furry 10-month-old terrier, but she convinced me that it’d be fun! Poppy explained the basics …

    IMG_1137 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Find a big pile of snow …
    IMG_1130 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino
    Eat as much as possible …
    IMG_1135 - Version 32013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Shake off the excess!

    IMG_1120 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    There are always other dogs to see along the way.

    IMG_1118 - Version 32013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    And, if you time it right, there are shovelers to clear the way!

    IMG_1140 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Lots of people stay home on a day like this, so we’ll have the place to ourselves.

    IMG_1152 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    But, you always have to be on the lookout for scary snow plows!

    IMG_1149 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino (2)

    They’re everywhere!
    IMG_1157 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We’ll enjoy watching people wearing funny hats!

    IMG_1132 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-poppy-westie-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    And, when we get tired we can sit and watch the snow pile up.

    IMG_1156 - Version 22013-03-08-snow-scenes-boston-plow-commonwealth-avenue- © 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Thanks, Poppy. You sure know how to enjoy a snow storm!

    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!

    Details:

    Words: Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino  

    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.

     

  • Boston Electronics Recycling One Day Event: March 23

    IMG_6709 - Version 2
    Boston residents can drop off electronics that they want to recycle on Saturday, March 23rd. 

    The photo above is an example of what you can't do. Don't put your old computer out with the trash. The city's recycling brochure says, "For curbside pickup, call Sanitation at 617-635-7574. TVs & computer monitors will not be collected with trash."

    On Saturday, March 23, 2013, you can drop off electronics for recycling from 9 am to 2 pm at the West Roxbury Public Works Yard, 315 Gardner Street, Boston MA. Full information on what they will and will not accept are at this link.

    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!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2007 Penny Cherubino  

    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.

  • Boston Electronics Recycling One Day Event: March 23

    IMG_6709 - Version 2
    Boston residents can drop off electronics that they want to recycle on Saturday, March 23rd. 

    The photo above is an example of what you can't do. Don't put your old computer out with the trash. The city's recycling brochure says, "For curbside pickup, call Sanitation at 617-635-7574. TVs & computer monitors will not be collected with trash."

    On Saturday, March 23, 2013, you can drop off electronics for recycling from 9 am to 2 pm at the West Roxbury Public Works Yard, 315 Gardner Street, Boston MA. Full information on what they will and will not accept are at this link.

    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!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2007 Penny Cherubino  

    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.