Stephanie's Slice Of Life

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    • Parker’s Maple Barn

      Posted at 10:52 am by StephMo
      Feb 25th

      I have been going to this restaurant off the beaten path in Mason, NH since I was a young child. This is another one of those places that I have no idea how my parents found out about it, as it was not close to home. This maple barn is about an hour and 15 minutes from Boston, and you would never find it unless you were looking for it. While I loved the food and seeing the unique restaurant itself, I always dreaded going because my parents would leave so early to get there. This is a very popular place and there can be quite a long wait, which my parents always tried to avoid by getting there when it opened. Obviously even pre-internet the word got around about this fantastic little spot.

      I hadn’t been in quite a few years and decided on a breakfast date with my husband. Unlike my parents who could only go on weekends, we went during the week and did not have to wait very long for a table.

      Outside you will find little covered bridges and other things to walk around and look at while you are waiting. They also have a sugar house open in March where you can see how they have been turning their maple sap into maple syrup for over 50 years.

      When you enter the rustic barn restaurant you will be greeted by the smell and sound of wood stoves crackling, along with a barn full of antique farm pieces. My favorite are the tables made with antique cow stanchions that were once used when milking. Of course I love these since I love all things old, repurposed, and unique. If only I could figure out a way to sneak one out 😉

      For this trip my husband and I both tried the Buckwheat Blueberry Pancakes to be a little healthier, which were really good. I was a little skeptical about buckwheat, but I have to say I really enjoyed them. In the past I have tried their other pancakes which were even better.

      I hardly ever use maple syrup, and never on pancakes. I figured I would give it a try since they make their own, and after trying it I kept finding myself adding a little more onto my pancakes. Wow, it is really good, and I don’t think I have ever said that about maple syrup. The next time we go I might have to buy some. When ordering pancakes everyone gets their own little “nip” size bottle of syrup to use and take home. Let me tell you, those little bottles did not go to waste at my house.

      Even though the pancakes were more than enough for breakfast, I wanted to try a side of something as well. I ordered the corned beef hash and while I like hash, I’m not usually one to eat much of it. This hash was so good that I admit I ate a little more than I probably should have. I really had to use willpower to stop myself from eating it it all.

      I mean look at that, right? My husband also ordered an omelet that he really enjoyed.

      As March is the busy time for them with tapping trees and making syrup, make sure to take a trip to this wonderful barn soon and experience a little taste of history, and REALLY good maple syrup.

      Posted in Blog Posts, Parker's Maple Barn, Restaurants | Tagged food blog, food blogger, maple syrup tapping, pancake restaurant, parker's maple barn, stephanies slice of life
    • Katz’s Bagels

      Posted at 2:22 pm by StephMo
      Feb 15th

      Every few months or so I take a ride over to Chelsea for bagels. This little family run bagel shop sits on the corner of Park and Pearl Streets, and is pretty much the only place I will go for bagels. It isn’t that far of a drive, maybe 20-25 minutes, but far enough that it may seem odd when there are a handful of other bagel shops within a mile from my house. They may be called bagels, but they aren’t really good bagels. If you have never had an authentic bagel you probably don’t know what I am talking about, but I strongly encourage you to try them.

      This isn’t the type of bagel shop where you order a bagel toasted with cream cheese, or a bagel sandwich, or sit an have coffee while you eat your bagel. You order your bagels, and your cream cheese comes in a container. Sometimes we will get some on the way to the beach so I always go prepared with a plastic knife in the car. Even though they have signs up stating they do not toast bagels, I bet people ask every day if they can get their bagel toasted.

      When I got home today I only managed to type the title of this blog before diving in to a fresh marble bagel smeared with their own scallion cream cheese. So good! I don’t know what it is about their cream cheese, but it is the best I’ve ever had. It’s so good that I will even admit that I have had two of their bagels in one day. I know that is very piggy and I’m not proud of that, but I couldn’t help myself. Don’t judge until you’ve had them!

      Katz’s has been in the same location since they opened in 1938. In the 70’s they created the pizza bagel, which is just what it sounds like. Flattened bagel dough topped with sauce and cheese, delicious! They also have hot dog bagels which are a huge favorite of my son. I love that every time I order some they always ask if I’d like a packet of mustard. Sadly, when I went today they were sold out. That just means I have an excuse to go back soon. They also have the most delicous chocolate half moons, and that is a big deal for me to say because as a baker I hardly ever find a bakery I really like. Once I stopped in when they had Babka, which of course I had to try, and it was yummy. Basically I love everything they make.

      I have been going to Katz’s for as long as I can remember. Now that I think about it, I have no idea how my parents would have known about this place without the use of the internet or social media. I guess it has had a name for itself for quite some time. We would drive over on occasion and I would always have one of their pizza bagels on the way home. In fact one day we got rear ended by another car while I was eating one of the pizza bagels and it ended up all over my face. I know I should be thankful I wasn’t hurt, but at the time I was really upset my bagel was ruined. My father was more upset that the car was ruined. To each his own.

      The next time you are anywhere near the Boston area, or just craving a really good bagel, go to Katz’s. You won’t regret it. And grab me a half moon if they have any 😉

      Posted in Blog Posts, Katz's Bagels, Restaurants | Tagged authentic bagels, bagel shop chelsea ma, bagels, food blog, food blogger, katz bagels, katz's bagels, katz's bagels chelsea ma, stephanie's slice of life
    • Eagles

      Posted at 10:15 am by StephMo
      Mar 28th
      Juvenile Bald Eagle Snatching A Fish From The Water
      Posted in Blog Posts, Eagles, Photography | Tagged american bald eagle, bird photography, eagle, eagle photography, naturephotography, photography, wildlife photography
    • Wood Ducks

      Posted at 9:38 am by StephMo
      Mar 28th
      Wood Duck
      Wood Duck
      Wood Duck
      Posted in Blog Posts, Photography, Uncategorized, Wood Ducks | Tagged bird photography, birds, nature photography, photography, wildlife photography, wood duck, wood duck photography, wood ducks
    • Owls

      Posted at 9:10 am by StephMo
      Mar 28th

      Screech Owls

      Snowy Owls

      Snowy Owls
      Snowy Owls
      Posted in Blog Posts, Owls, Photography | Tagged bird photography, nature photography, owl photography, owls, screech owl, screech owls, wildlife photography
    • Regina Pizzeria

      Posted at 8:48 am by StephMo
      Jan 2nd

      If you are in Boston and want good Italian food, you head to the North End. If you are in the North End and want good pizza, you head to Regina. Which is exactly what my daughter and I did yesterday and it was so good! We lucked out because we were able to walk right in and get a table which is pretty much unheard of. There is usually quite a line stretched out along the sidewalk and the reason we don’t go more often than we do.

      The North End is filled with restaurants and if you were to walk into any one of them lining Hanover or Salem Streets I’m sure you would not be disappointed. However, tucked away by itself on Thatcher Street is where you really need to go if you want great pizza.

      Regina Pizzeria is one of the oldest pizza restaurants in Boston, if not the oldest? They have been serving up these delicious pies in this location since 1926. It is no frills and in no way fancy, and very possible it hasn’t been updated since 1926. For me, that is another reason I always head to the original location even though their newer locations are easier to get to. Depending on which table you sit in and what time of year it is, you may need to be careful not to lean on the hissing radiator abutting your table.

      They only make and serve pizza and they do it right. No salads, nothing except pizza.

      I hardly ever eat the crust on pizza, but I eat every bite of the crust of Regina pizza. It has to be one of the best crusts I have ever had.

      The next time you are in Boston craving pizza, head to the best. Actually, maybe you shouldn’t so I won’t have to wait too long to get a table 😜

      Posted in Blog Posts, Pizzeria Regina, Restaurants | Tagged best pizza in boston, food blog, food blogger, pizzeria regina, pizzeria regina review, stephanie's slice of life
    • Boston’s Swan Boats

      Posted at 8:45 am by StephMo
      Jun 16th

      If you have never been to the Swan Boats in Boston you must add it to you bucket list. The Swan Boats are in the Boston Public Gardens which is a tranquil little oasis nestled in the middle of the city. I have been taking rides on these old wooden boats since I was a child, as my mother had since she was a child. I don’t believe there are any other swan boats other than those located in Boston, but I could be wrong.

      The Public Gardens were built next to Boston Common in 1837. While Boston Common is a lovely park, in my opinion it is nothing compared to the Public Gardens. While the two parks are next to each other, I never walk through the Common unless cutting through, however I do walk around the Public Garden multiple times a year. In 1877 a catamaran type boat with a foot paddle was created and a swan was built to hide the operator and the Swan Boats were born. They have been run by the same family since the creation and were designated a Boston landmark in 2011.

      Recently I was having lunch with a friend from out of town that mentioned she hoped to some day really see Boston. I asked if she had an hour or two for me to kidnap her and bring her to one of my favorite spots in the city. We zipped into Beacon Hill and with a couple of circles around the Public Gardens, found a parking spot. As if Beacon Hill isn’t beautiful enough as is, when you step through the old black wrought iron gates into the Public Garden you are taken to a different world. While you can still hear the hustle and bustle of the city, you forget it’s there.

      You walk along the paved paths lined by many different varieties of trees, which I have always taken for granted not realizing what a treat this is for someone that doesn’t live in the area. Depending on the time of year you are treated by amazing beds of tulips, roses, and many other beautiful flowers.

      I would say the flowers have gotten a little better over the years. Well, at least cameras have as well as my outfits!

      Then in the middle of this wonderful park is the little man made pond graced with the old wooden boats peddled by a swan. Well, a person sitting in a swan.

      After you pay the whopping $4.50 for a ticket, you will embark on your tranquil ride around the pond. At one end of the pond you will be paddled around a little island and if you have ever read Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey, you will know that this is the island Mr. and Mrs. Mallard decided to make their nest.

      No matter which part of the pond you are on there is never a shortage of ducks ready to greet you.

      You are no longer permitted to feed the ducks, but when I was a child there were vendors selling little brown bags of peanuts for feeding the ducks. You can see a little bag in my hand in the next photo. You can also see the boats appear to be the same boats used today except they were covered with canopies.

      The next time you are in Boston, make a point to take a stroll through this beautiful spot and take a ride on the swans 🦢

      Posted in Blog Posts, Boston's Swan Boats | Tagged boston, boston sight seeing, boston swan boats, boston tourism, lifestyle blogger, stephanies slice of life, things to do in boston, things to see in boston
    • Tulip Picking

      Posted at 12:07 pm by StephMo
      Apr 27th

      My grandfather had the most amazing flower garden, and every week when I would visit as a child he would take me out to the garden and pick me a bouquet of flowers to take home. Those weekly hand picked bouquets sparked an immeasurable love of flowers for me that sticks with me to this day. You can imagine the excitement I felt a number of years ago upon seeing an Ad for a pick your own tulip farm in Rhode Island. I instantly went on-line to find out more information and to my disappointment they were sold out for the year. For the next few years I kept remembering about this farm too late and ran into the same problem. Well, not this year!

      Last week as I was slowly driving through a beautiful neighborhood admiring all of the tulips that had bloomed, it occurred to me that the tulip farm in Rhode Island must be open. When I got home and checked their website I had hit it perfectly this year and there were still tickets available. I couldn’t text my daughter quickly enough to see what her schedule was like for this week so I could purchase us tickets.

      Yesterday morning I grabbed some baskets for picking, a bucket and water for transporting, my camera, and off I went to pick up my daughter at school for the day I have been waiting for for years. We drove about an hour and forty five minutes from Boston to Exeter, RI and it was well worth the drive. You are instantly greeted with friendly employees in the parking area, followed by just as friendly employees at the check in tent. A ticket gets you 10 tulips and if that is all you will be picking, you are allowed an additional tulip. You can also purchase extra tulips if you choose. Believe me, it was a struggle to only taken home 11 tulips each.

      Once entering the farm you are just in awe of the absolute beauty of the neat little rows, upon rows of tulips and all of the people carrying their baskets and buckets brimming with flowers. For a flower lover like myself it was as if I had entered a form of Heaven on Earth. And to share it with my flower loving daughter made for a perfect morning.

      Many of the tulips are organized by color, while some are an assorted mix.

      While all of the tulips were beautiful, we didn’t realize at first that tucked in amongst the classic tulips there are varieties that I have never seen. There is such a wonderful assortment of different shapes and color combinations.

      My daughter noticed these unique beauties right away, and the bouquet she picked for herself were just breath taking.

      We strolled through the rows of tulips for about an hour taking it all in and finding our favorites to bring home. This farm is also the perfect backdrop for photos and just about everyone there was not missing this opportunity, including ourselves.

      As you can see they look even more amazing the next day!

      If you are near Rhode Island I encourage you to take a trip to this farm, I am already looking forward to visiting again in the years to come!

      Posted in Blog Posts, Tulip Picking | Tagged blogger, lifestyle blogger, picking tulips, stephanie's slice of life, tulip picking, tulips, wicked tulip farm
    • DIY Crayon Candle Making Craft

      Posted at 9:27 am by StephMo
      Jan 28th

      These adorable candles are an easy fun craft perfect to do with children. If you are looking to make a properly colored candle, crayons are not the way to color them and you will need to use candle wax dye. However, as far as a craft goes, this is a perfect way to do it. You can be as creative as you want and depending on how much time you want to spend, you can make multiple layers.

      For these candles you will need:

      Candle wax

      Crayons

      Mason jars

      Candle wicks

      Find some crayons that you don’t mind parting with and think of the colors you would like to put together. This is a perfect use for all of those broken crayons you have laying around that the children no longer color with.

      For the wax, I use soy wax but you can use whatever candle wax you choose. You can either melt the wax and crayons on the stove as I have, or melt them in the microwave if that is easier. For the stove method, add a small amount of wax to a saucepan along with an unwrapped crayon broken into pieces.

      I made two identical small mason jar candles and used about 4 oz. of wax per layer with one crayon for each layer.

      The wax and crayon melt very quickly. The color will be streaky as crayons don’t mix perfectly with candle wax.

      Take the pan off of the heat and let it cool for a few minutes.

      While your wax is cooling anchor the wick to the bottom of the jar. To do this dip the bottom of the wick into the melted wax before placing in the jar. Keep in mind once you pour the hot wax into the jar the wick may move. Be sure to either hold it in place while pouring or use a wick holder which sits on the jar.

      Once the wax has cooled for a few minutes you can pour it into the jars. The easiest way to do this is to use a funnel. It not only helps you by not spilling the wax all over your counter, but also helps to keep the wick in place. I’ve tried a few different ways and the funnel was definitely the best option.

      Let each layer set for about 30 minutes before repeating the melting process and adding another color.

      Once the candles are set trim the wicks with scissors and they are ready to light.

      Aren’t they cute!

      Posted in Blog Posts, DIY Crayon Candle Making Craft | Tagged blog, blogger, candle making, candle making craft, crafts for children, crafts for kids, crayon candle craft, crayon candles, diy candle craft, diy candles, homemade candles, lifestyle blogger, stephanie's slice of life, using crayons for candles
    • DIY Homemade Candles

      Posted at 4:06 pm by StephMo
      Jan 27th

      I am constantly purchasing antique mason jars whenever I see them at estate sales and use them for so many different things. I absolutely love old jars, all kinds of jars actually. I have made snow globes out of antique mason jars, have many decorating my sunporch filled with shells and seaglass that I’ve found, and some on my kitchen window sill helping me root plantings I have cut. As an antique dealer I often use them to sell fun decorative collections of vintage marbles and thread spools. The repurposing possibilities are endless, and I wanted to share another fun use for those fantastic old jars.

      Of course you don’t have to use antique jars to make candles, new mason jars will work just as well.

      Making your own candles is quite easy, the only somewhat difficult part is calculating the wax to container ratio, and the fragrance to wax ratio. You have to remember that wax is measured by weight and not by volume. What this means is if you have a 3 oz. jar that does not mean you use 3 oz. of wax, you use 2.4 oz . I have included a chart below to help you calculate the measurements.

      The first number represents the size of the container by volume, and the second number next to it represents the amount of wax needed by weight.

      3 oz. – 2.4 oz.

      4 oz. – 3.2 oz.

      6 oz. – 4.8 oz.

      8 oz. – 6.4 oz.

      10 oz. – 8 oz.

      And so on.

      If you decide to add a scent to the candles, use fragrance oil specifically for candles. As far as the measurements go, I used .5 oz of fragrance oil for 1 lb. of wax, and .75 oz of fragrance oil for 20 oz. of wax and they smelled nice and not too overpowering.

      You can also color the candles but you need to use dye specifically for candles. Food coloring or crayons will not work perfectly. I did make some candles with crayons for a fun craft idea, but the crayons don’t blend well with the wax and the colors aren’t as nice they would be with candle dye.

      To start you need some candle wax, I purchased 10 lbs. of soy wax.

      You will need a scale to measure out the wax. I used a kitchen scale that I had and just scooped the wax onto the scale.

      Once the wax is measured, transfer it to a saucepan and melt it on medium heat on your stove. It melts very quickly and easily.

      Once the wax is melted stir in the fragrance if you are using one, and remove it from the heat to cool.

      While your wax is cooling anchor the wick to the bottom of the jar. To do this you can dip it in the melted wax and stick it to the bottom of the jar. Keep in mind once you pour the hot wax into the jar the wick may move. Be sure to either hold it in place while pouring or use a wick holder which sits on the jar as I have.

      Once the wax has cooled for a few minutes you can pour it into the jars. The easiest way to do this is to use a funnel. It not only helps you by not spilling the wax all over your counter, but also helps to keep the wick in place. I tried a few different ways and the funnel was definitely the best option.

      Once the candles have set, trim the wicks with scissors.

      Now they are ready to burn. I am loving not only the coffee scent, but how it looks in this aqua colored antique jar!

      Posted in Blog Posts, Candle Making | Tagged antique mason jar ideas, blog, blogger, candle making, candles, candles in mason jars, diy candles, diy ideas, homemade candles, homemade soy candles, lifestyle blogger, repurposing mason jars, soy candles, stephanie's slice of life
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