I Scream, You Scream: Global Vanilla Shortage!

Have you heard?! I learned from my sister in law last weekend that vanilla prices have suddenly skyrocketed in the last few weeks due to a crop failure in Madagascar. My SIL does a lot of baking as a side business: cakes, cupcakes and cake pops. We consult regularly on vanilla purchases because I live near…

The quest for pear butter

So now that I’m fully initiated into the iPhone cult, I can post to my blog while we drive to the cottage! No, I’m not doing the driving. Ever since I had the vanilla pear butter with artisanal cheeses at the now dead-pooled restaurant Locavore, I’ve wanted to make my own version. I hated pears…