Crazy for crawfish

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If you spend enough time in the Junior League Tea Room, you will see – in a chef’s coat – a Junior League institution. Michael “Chef Mike” Smith has been making Junior League of Houston favorites for over 23 years. His cheer and easygoing Louisiana demeanor make him a favorite with everyone. Here, we talk…

Junior League’s Fire and Ice Ball Draws Hot Crowd for Cool Party

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LEAVE IT TO THE JUNIOR LEAGUE to throw a boisterous bash year after year. The women’s group has hosted fundraising affairs to remember for seven decades now, and last weekend’s two-night, black tie annual charity ball was no exception. This year’s theme, Fire and Ice, was meant to reflect League members’ “fiery passion” for helping the…

Photos: See how the Junior League of Houston began

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Stereotypical images of stay-at-home moms and ladies who lunch begone. The reality of the Junior League is a group of trained female volunteers who raise funds and develop projects to meet pressing community needs. At the Junior League of Houston, specifically, more than 78 percent of its members work full time. This year, the local…

Junior League kicks off three-night ‘Fire and Ice’ charity ball with red hot Preview Party

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The first night of the Junior League of Houston Charity Ball got the three-night extravaganza off to a rousing start as more than 250 guests turned out to The League’s River Oaks-area building to celebrate the 71st annual soiree, themed “Fire and Ice.” Chaired by Tanya Merla Leiber in collaboration with assistant chairman Kenedy Hughes, underwriting chair Amanda Boffone,…

An ode to chocolate

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Turn on the television or walk down the greeting-card aisle and you will see that chocolate is the MVP of Valentine’s Day. If chocolate is your love language, what chocolate do you choose? From Stop and Smell the Rosemary: “Chocolate is produced from the pods of the cacao tree, which are roasted and cracked open. The…

Building a better community with Junior League of Houston

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HOUSTON — The Junior League of Houston has been committed to building a better community since 1925.  The women-run organization serves the greater Houston area through volunteering, financial support and training women to share the skills they have learned to continue philanthropic efforts. The Junior League of Houston Fire & Ice Charity Ball is the…

Meatless Mondays

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January always brings around new health kicks. This year I have friends and coworkers giving up soda, attempting a Whole30 diet, cutting out gluten, cutting out dairy and following a keto diet. Resolutions are always great, but these types of complete overhauls are not for everyone. I think being realistic is key. Meatless Monday is…

Book-club Christmas banquet

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I go all out for all holidays, but Christmas holds a special place in my heart. My mother has always hosted friends and family in a cheerful home for the holidays, and I love carrying on that tradition. December feels magical. I even have a miniature food-themed tree in my kitchen. One highlight every December…

50 Years of Junior League Cookbooks

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Since 1968, Junior League of Houston cookbooks have inspired countless home cooks. Often handed down generationally, from mother to son or daughter, with notes scribbled in margins and spills on time-worn pages, the books are much more than mere mélanges of recipes. They’re the products of hundreds of hours of work – all volunteer –…

More holidays, more fun

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I’m just going to say it – day-to-day cooking is not my favorite. Planning meals, finding time to grocery shop, and cooking after a long day at the office or meal prepping on Sundays while my 3-year-old and 6-month-old daughters are playing nearby is not high on my to-do list. We eat out and pick…