what jen does

Life, home, and a little travel

Author: JEF

  • Year 1 with Eleanor

    Year 1 with Eleanor

    My mom is always and forever asking me why I don’t write more about Eleanor. I always say that I have to write about other things like recipes and hiking and breakfast sandwiches. Life’s greatest experiences of course…  Eleanor doesn’t get more press coverage in part because I’m highly reluctant to the label of “cat…

  • Winter in Boston

    Winter in Boston

    I’m currently in LA for a few days … and soaking up all that translates to. I went for a run yesterday morning on the beach. I’ve been drinking ice coffee. I talk about the traffic. Those are LA things as far as I’m concerned. But, the best part of going someplace nice and warm……

  • A few bright blooms

    A few bright blooms

    I’d like to think that I’m not one of those people that you hear complaining about all the winter. Summer is my favorite of course, but winter isn’t bad. It means fleece, fireplaces, endless hot coffee, and being cozy. Also, cross-country skiing. That being said, it does also mean that I’ve worn my Hunter Boots…

  • polenta bake with sausage and kale
    recipes

    polenta bake with sausage and kale

    I believe sausage and kale is one of the best combinations out there. It’s like peanut butter and chocolate as far as I’m concerned. That being said, the combination is rather definitely indicative of Fall and Winter dining. I’m not sure how you make this combo into a summer meal … so perhaps we should…

  • weekend.

    weekend.

    I am a bit of an early riser at times and this weekend was one of those times. But it helped me to really maximize my Saturday. We had a bit of snow during the work week and thankfully it stuck around a bit so I could go skiing.  The rest of the weekend was…

  • recipes

    Country Beef Stew (with fresh bread)

    Sometimes I have a really hard time finding something to make for Sunday dinner. Yesterday was one of those days, I had visions of beef slow cooking on the oven while I watched the Olympics … but I wasn’t really finding anything that fit my fancy. I thought about switching to fish… but was equally…

  • Baby Pea Oven Risotto
    recipes

    Baby Pea Oven Risotto

    Last weekend I stood in the Charlestown parking garage with a dilemma. I already had two bags to carry the .80 mile (or 12 minute) walk home… but I also really wanted to bring this heavy cast iron dutch oven as well. And, it was raining. The thing is… I had a lot of plans…

  • Low Sodium Cooking Adventures
    recipes

    Low Sodium Cooking Adventures

    I’m really behind in my posting. Honestly, I thought about just posting the links to the original recipes and calling it a day. I even thought about pretending these recipes didn’t happen just to feel caught up. But I’m a terrible liar and that feels like lying. I had a really awesome day yesterday and…

  • broccoli kale soup
    recipes

    broccoli kale soup

    This soup sounds a bit like something you’d eat for lunch if you were trying to be really healthy. But in reality it’s what I made for the a Downton Abbey Dinner … except that we were so tired that we opted to instead just watch “How I Met Your Mother”. Sometimes you just need…

  • Podcasts and Snowy Walks

    Podcasts and Snowy Walks

    This picture you see here is the most popular Instagram posting I’ve ever had. I’m not quite sure why. I went to Italy for 3 weeks, spent the summer at the beach, and I love to cook with anything that looks or tastes like bacon. But anyway. I’m super behind in writing. I got an…