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It is almost time for the weekend! If you are just completely over the cold and snow in Massachusetts, I highly recommend a trip to Finland Steam Baths in Quincy.

Finland Steam Baths

A couple of weekends ago (and several weeks into bad colds) we kicked off a glorious Sunday with an hour long steam at this lovely little hidden gem.

Finland Steam Baths

The spa as an unassuming exterior with a bright, friendly entry area. Health is a main focus here, and steaming is great addition, as long as you are healthy and check with a doctor first. Upon arrival, we were welcomed warmly and showed to our little steam cabin. Each cabin features a private dressing room, shower, and steam room. Buckets and towels are included in the $30/person/hour fee. Credit cards are not accepted, and payment is made up front to make for a relaxing experience through to departure.

Finland Steam Baths

Going back and forth between the steam room and a cool shower is a invigorating experience and feels amazing after being cold and feeling blue for so long. The steam was great for our breathing and for our skin; the owner recommended I not wear any lotions or makeup that day, and my skin appreciated being rejuvenated and open to the air.

Finland Steam Baths

We spent the rest of the day feeling energetic and upbeat, something we definitely needed after the stress of the holidays and the endless cold dark days of a New England winter.

Boating season is less than four months away; in the meantime you will be able to find us steaming in Quincy to deal with the tundra we live in!

Are you a steam room/sauna/spa fan?

Tags: Quincy, spa

I am definitely not one to choose a wine by its label. I learned long ago that cutesy labels often hide not-so-great wine, so I rarely, almost never buy any wine without tasting it first even if I like the looks of it.

When I received some very fun-looking wine samples a few weeks ago, I was curious about what was inside the bottles with the quirky labels and names, and tasting was the only way to find out.

Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc

I was sent a bottle of Mumbo Jumbo Pinot Noir and a bottle of Lobster Reef Sauvignon Blanc, and I ended up absolutely loving both of them. While it’s nice that  our wine fridge tends to be full of wines that are a little more collectible, it certainly leaves us looking for wines for everyday. These two definitely fit the bill.

Mumbo Jumbo Pinot Noir

{Mumbo Jumbo Pinot Noir: Suggested retail price: $12.99-14.99}

The Pinot Noir is fun, flirty, and fruity. It’s light in color but really juicy and bursting with flavor. It offers burst of fruit after fruit, cherries and strawberries, without being sweet or cloying at all. Suggested pairings include duck and lamb stew, and I think it would be absolutely perfect with one of my favorite salmon recipes, this Salmon with Cherries and Zinfandel.

Lobster Reef Sauvignon Blanc

{Lobster Reef Sauvignon Blanc: Suggested retail price: $10-15}

The Sauvignon Blanc brought forward some classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc flavors, that bit of grassiness and punch of grapefruit. It is nicely acidic but also has a ton of mineral notes on the finish. This wine is a delight. Suggested pairings include shellfish and goat cheese. This wine would be a perfect oyster wine.

I received these wines as samples, however all opinions are my own.

On another topic, our condo is for sale! If you know anyone of looking to buy a condo in Dorchester/Boston, please feel free to pass along the listing:  http://www.37edisongreen.isnowforsale.com/

The kitchen is definitely one of my favorite places in the whole property; perfect for cooking and dance parties and wine tasting. 🙂

EGKitchen

Tags: value wine, wine, wine tasting

Over the holiday season, we had a lot of family in town from Ireland, and while their trip seemed to fly by, we had a few fun get-togethers while they were here. We were most excited to have everyone over our new house for sledding. We live behind a park that kids come from all over to sled in. We bought our own sled when we moved in, and we were very excited when we nailed down an afternoon for our nieces and nephew to come over to sled.

First, there were a few runs down the hill. Running up was a bit more difficult, but I swear I am going to get back in shape someday soon. . .

sledding

Then there was brunch! Brunch is one of my favorite meals, but it’s not a thing in Ireland. I explained that Americans love it because booze + breakfast. It just makes sense.

On our brunch menu:

Cinnamon Brioche Baked French Toast

Cheesy Frittata

Canadian bacon, regular bacon, and sausage patties

Jam-Filled Sugar Cookies

Irish Whiskey Chocolate Cake

Carrots with Hummus and Pesto Cream

Clementines

Hot Chocolate, Sparkling Wine, Orange Juice, White Wine, Red Wine, Beer

Brunch is a great meal because there is so much you can prep in advance. I got the Baked French Toast ready the night before. This is such a simple recipe, and one I sort of eyeball: brioche, cinnamon, vanilla, cream, and eggs. They soak overnight, and when it’s time to bake, they bake at 325 until the egg mixture is set.

cinnamon brioche

The biggest plus? Our home smelled wonderful and cinnamon-y while it was baking.

baked French toast

The spread included cookies from our new neighborhood bakery, Sweet Life Bakery, which we absolutely love. Great coffee, decadent cupcakes, and fresh bread!

Sweet Life Bakery Cookies

My Irish Whiskey Chocolate Cake was also part of the spread, along with fresh whipped cream. Shots of whiskey on the side were optional. Hey, it’s brunch. Winking smile

Irish whiskey chocolate cake

The family is definitely made up of carnivores, so a pile of meat was necessary. The kids especially went for the bacon.

sausage and bacon

And, of course, there was sparkling wine. I know mimosas are brunch staples, and I did have them available, but for me a glass of bubbly all alone is best. We bought a ton of Freixenet Carta Nevada on sale at Bin Ends, and we LOVE this wine. We got it for $6 a bottle, yet it is full of fine persistent bubbles, citrus and stone fruit flavor, and a nice bit of body. It’s a delicious, fresh great value wine. I would highly recommend it for brunch or any other time of day. For some reason, snowy days and bubbly just work together.

Freixenet Carta Nevada

Everyone really seemed to enjoy brunch, and it made us extremely happy to have a full house for the first time in our new home. I tend to get anxious about cooking for large groups, but this success made me want to do it more.

Do you like to entertain at home? What’s your favorite/go-to meal or menu?

Tags: brunch, brunch menu, cookies, cooking, French toast, sparkling wine

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