Here’s a salad fit to join the lineup for your fanciest dinner or holiday meal. Each of the ingredients brings its own unique taste and texture to the mix, but the standout is the praline. A hard candy typically consisting of sugar and nuts, praline was invented in the 17th century by the French (which […]

NEW YORK Whether Royal, Charlie or Salem, Skyler, Justice or Oakley, unisex names for babies are on the rise among parents more willing than ever to embrace the possibility of gender fluidity in their children and attempt to head off sexism on their behalf. “We’re definitely seeing more conversation today around the distinction of a […]

ATTLEBORO, Mass. As Bethany Charron prepared to graduate from Nichols College a few months ago, she made a decision similar to one thousands of millennials across the country are making: to move back home with her family. The 23-year-old South Attleboro woman, who studied history and English, said she plans on staying with her family […]

My youngest son, Lindell, ran into the house last week and said, “My teacher sat with me at lunch today!” Of course, my mom radar immediately went off: Was this a case of Lindell and his buddies misbehaving, so the teacher had to sit next to them to quiet them down? “No,” Lindell said, offended. […]

Hints of impending spring weather might stir a desire to grow plants even in people not usually drawn in that direction. If you are one of them, yet your thumbs lack the slightest hint of green, take heart: There are houseplants even you can grow. You’ll have to forgo color if you require a truly […]

There is nothing quite as devastating for many older people as having to leave the comfort of home because of poor health or limited mobility. But a new generation of services and technology is making it possible to stay at home longer, safely and happily, experts say. “Most people would rather stay in their own […]

A flower planter or hanging basket bought ready-made at a nursery: lush with showy, vibrant blooms, providing an instant splash for your porch, stoop or deck. Your DIY flower container: sparse-looking for weeks, with one plant that dies, and scraggly stems, small blooms or yellowing leaves as the season goes on. Still, many gardeners keep […]

The dead of winter is much more tolerable when you a make a mood-lifting dinner like this one. And with St. Patrick’s Day approaching, Irish dishes seem like the right thing to do. (I don’t believe I have a drop of Irish blood in me, but that doesn’t stop me from getting caught up in […]

To be honest, I have not felt much like writing. Ever since I read the news about 10-year-old Marissa Kennedy, who was allegedly beaten to death by her mother and stepfather, Julio and Sharon Carrillo, in Stockton Springs, I have felt gutted and flat. Just writing that sentence — “beaten to death by her mother” […]