my story
Hello & Welcome
LadyPearTree comes straight from my name-Donna means 'lady' in Italian, and Poirier means 'pear tree' in French. Put them together, and voilà-my little corner of the internet was born.
My name reflects my cultural roots. Here's how.
I grew up in a home steeped in Italian tradition. My mother was a second-generation Italian Canadian, and her heritage infused our days with the flavors, and food of her culture.
Vegetables, hearty legumes, and comforting soups like my Italian lentil and barley soup were staples at our house. And of course, pasta was always in the spotlight-whether it was a marinara sauce with Italian sausage or a simple bowl of pasta with broccoli, olive oil, and garlic, we loved it all.
My father's side brought a whole different flavor-a mix of French Canadian from his father, and British from his mother, where visits meant roasts, rack of lamb, and buttery shortbread.
And since I grew up (and still live) in Québec, the local culture finds its way into my kitchen, too-just one more delicious layer to add to the mix.
Cooking is not static. We learn as we go and modify as needed. Let cooking be enjoyable. There are no rules. Know what you like, and do it.
-Donna
Cooking Background
I've been cooking for my family for over thirty years, and I still love every minute of it.
Over the years, I've scribbled recipes on scraps of paper, stashed them in drawers, and saved them wherever I could.
Today, this website is where I bring it all together-merging old favorites with new ideas.
My Mission
- Cook from scratch
- Keep it simple
- Make it healthy
I 💕 food
Whether it's the comfort of homemade pizza, a simple marinara, or a hearty smoked meat poutine, I say enjoy a taste of everything to keep life both happy and healthy.
The recipes I share are the same ones I make for my own family-nothing fancy, just food that's simple, nourishing, and full of flavor. I'm all about one-pot meals (less cleanup-yay!), and I've got a soft spot for pasta, cozy soups, and anything with ground meat.
My Biggest Fans
My husband and kiddos are my biggest cheerleaders. Though our kids are now young adults, and have flown the nest, my husband happily holds down the fort as my in-house taste tester, a job he takes very seriously, and with zero complaints 😉
behide the apron
Fun Tidbits
- I contributed to the TasingTable article about making store-bought Alfredo sauce taste homemade.
- Quoted in Découvrir Montréal's article: Le tour du monde en 80 bouchées : le guide de la meilleure « street food » de Montréal, (Around the world in 80 bites: a guide to the best street food in Montreal).
- I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from McGill University, though I pursued a career in business.
- I completed various certifications at the Canadian Securities Institute and was an equity trader for several years.
- I left the world of business to be a stay-at-home mother, my favorite role yet 🥰
- I have a collection of old recipe books, and the oldest dates back to 1924!
- I'm a fan of Antiques Roadshow.
- Confession: I can't pass by a shoe store without a quick peek.
- I'd choose potato chips over ice cream any day.
- I save the elastics from the broccoli bundles. Do you do that too?
Her Name is Lola
💕 My sweet Havenese, who occasionally steals a taste of whatever is cooking!
Let's Get Cooking
Roll up those sleeves, sprinkle in some fun, and dig in!
Have questions, comments, or just want to say hi? Send me a note at:
Stay hungry, stay curious,
Donna 🩷