about me
Hello & Welcome!
LadyPearTree is the namesake of this website. My name is Donna Poirier, i.e., Donna (meaning lady in Italian) and Poirier (meaning pear tree in French).
My name represents my cultural background. Let me explain...
I grew up in a home where Italian roots ran deep. My mother was a second-generation Italian Canadian, so her heritage shaped much of the food and culture that filled our everyday lives.
Veggies, legumes, cozy soups like my Italian lentil and barley soup, and pasta like a Sunday marinara with Italian sausage or pasta with broccoli, olive oil, and garlic were always front and center.
On the other hand, my father’s background was a blend of French Canadian from his father and British from his mother. Visits to that side of the family meant sitting down to roasts, rack of lamb, plum pudding, and buttery shortbread.
Finally, growing up in Québec, Canada, and still living here, the local culture naturally finds its way into my kitchen, too.
I ♥️food
Whether it's the comfort food of homemade pizza, Italian broccoli pasta, or smoked meat poutine, eating a bit of everything in moderation is my philosophy to a happy and healthy life.
Cooking Background
I've been cooking for my family for over thirty years, and I love it now as much as I did then.
Over the years, I’ve scribbled recipes on scraps of paper, tucked them into drawers, and saved them wherever I could.
Now, this website is where I gather those recipes—both the old favorites and the new creations.
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
My Biggest Fans
My husband and kiddos are my biggest cheerleaders. One’s flown the nest, but my husband and son happily hold down the fort as my in-house taste testers (a job they take very seriously—and with zero complaints) 😉
It’s pretty normal for me to ask for their brutally honest ratings. Their feedback—the good, the bad, and the ugly, (and occasionally hilarious)—helps shape the delicious recipes I get to share with you.
more about me
Fun Tidbits
- I contributed to the TasingTable article about making store-bought Alfredo sauce taste homemade.
- I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from McGill University and pursued a business career.
- 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 love watching Antiques Roadshow.
- My best pal is my dog, and her name is Lola.
- I can’t pass a shoe store without a quick peek—just a look, I swear!
- I prefer potato chips over ice cream.
- I save the elastics from the broccoli bundles. Do you do that too?
Let's Eat!
Let's roll up our sleeves and get cooking!
Get in touch by sending your questions or comments to [email protected]
Stay hungry, stay curious,
Donna ♥️