Just look at this place. How could you resist? We stumbled across it in the Back Bay area of downtown. Any handmade sweet treat your heart desires plus delightful gifts to bring back home for the neighbor that got your mail or your housesitter! L.A. Burdick Chocolate Shop & Tea Room http://www.burdickchocolate.com/chocolateshop-cafe-boston.aspx 220 Clarendon St. [...]

There was a time when extra overripe bananas meant the pleasure or pressure to bake. Once I made the banana ice scream recipe from the Vitamix cookbook, I realized that bananas were just as useful frozen as any other frozen fruit. This is an easy way to preserve those spare bananas without them sticking together! [...]

The North End neighborhood of Boston is the city’s oldest residential area. It is famous for Italian eateries. I don’t know that you can go wrong with any of them! The salads and pastas were authentic and rich at this establishment. La Galleria 33 http://lagalleria33.com 125 Salem St. Boston, MA 02113 (617)723-7233