Improvise: Beautiful things happen when you are lacking

It's raining in the woods. A light mist and gray skies have brought a peaceful calm to the day. I've always been a lover of rain and have missed it this winter! I'm used to messy Downeast Maine winters where rain seems to frequent more than snow. Even though I've missed it, after my first winter in northern Maine I have come to appreciate the consistency of cold temperatures with very little to no mixes of precipitation.

Napping, snacking, snuggling, reading, baking, and EATING.....rainy days are made of these and they are a few of my favorite things! Jackson on the other hand, thinks of one thing and that is his play time outside. At 45 degrees, things are a little too warm for snow pants so we are thankful for his big cousin's hand-me-down rain suit. :)

Foodgawking is another favorite rainy day activity (or any day activity) of mine. If you've never been to foodgawker.com then you are MISSING OUT. Gorgeous professional pictures of every food you could ever imagine will take over your computer screen teasing you with each scroll of the mouse. They say to never go grocery shopping when you are hungry. I say the same about Foodgawker.  Never browse when you are hungry...it's just torture. If you're trying to be good...there is a "No Desserts" button. But honestly, don't click on it. You will miss out on some of the most mouth watering looking treats. So beautiful that sometimes it makes me want to cry. I believe that food is an art, and Foodgawker combines that art with the art of photography. In the words of Martha Stewart, "It's a really really good thing". :)

When the weather is yucky, I want to cook and bake and I want to eat. When I logged onto Foodgawker earlier today, I had every intention of focusing on a dinner plan. But out of no where.....BAM.....this picture of perfection caught my eye. A coconut shortbread cookie with a little crater of CARAMEL in the middle. Saints behold!!! The search for dinner was going to have to wait.

Now, in my baking opinion, more butter usually means that it will probably taste better. When I clicked on the picture and it took me to the recipe....the first thing line of ingredients read: 3 sticks of unsalted butter. Sold.

 

The recipe went smoothly until I ran out of caramel. I knew I was going to run out because I only had part of a bag. I could have made some more the homemade way...but I didn't feel like it. I started thinking about something else I could put in the crater of a coconut cookie. I felt like the father on the movie The Croods.....IIIIIII HAVE AN IDEAAAAA!!! Really it's not that much of a revelation. It's more of a given.....it pairs well with most everything....chocolate! Not just any chocolate....chocolate ganache....and not just chocolate ganache.....chocolate ganache with COCONUT RUM!!!
Perfection if I do say so myself.

 Similar to a Samoa....but homemade and ten times better.

 

 If dinner doesn't get made....at least we know we have these to fall back on!

Hop on over to The Sweets Life for the recipe. Enjoy!  

http://www.thesweetslife.com/2014/04/coconut-thumbprint-cookies-with-salted.html

Cusk Chowdah

After around 15 fresh inches, the snow started tapering off yesterday afternoon. The sun made a strong attempt to peak out from behind the clouds, but didn't succeed until right around sunset, leaving the edge of the horizon painted in pinks and purples. We took full advantage of what might be our last big storm by cooking, eating, and lounging around.



Chowdah....the classic Maine comfort food. Potatoes, onions, butter, heavy cream, and salt and pepper, and did I say, BUTTER? When I see that much butter floating in top of a dish...I can't help but smile. It's a beautiful thing!

The cusk was caught at neighboring Ross Lake. It was our first time trying the white fish and we were pleasantly surprised at how much it reminded us of haddock.



Similar in texture and with the same mild taste, exactly what I'm used to in chowder. Jackson was particularly excited when he got a sneak peak inside at the fish's stomach contents.
Yummy!




It will be interesting to see what the rest of the month brings us, but until the snow starts to melt, we will lay low and enjoy the stillness of winter and all the comfort food we can get our hands on.
   

Oh, Food: A few old and new favorite Maine eateries

Well friends, it's been a while! I returned to the woods a couple of days ago after a refreshing stay with family and friends. I was happy to be able to visit the Old Port for the first time in three years...it had been too long!

I am not a girl who likes to shop. Take me to a mall or a Walmart, and I immediately become overwhelmed and uneasy. Overload! There is a reason why I shop at Machias Hardware and Hannaford in my hometown before coming back to Clayton Lake. I know where everything is and I know the names and faces of people who work there. I like to keep it as simple and familiar as possible. As far as clothes shopping goes, if I'm being honest, there's no reason why I need to go shopping until I leave Clayton lake because my daily outfits consist of flannel pajamas, my husband's socks, and a baggy t-shirt or comfy sweatshirt. Isn't that what we all wear when we stay at camp?? Sorry, husband. :)

Oh the bread....and butter....

I AM a girl who LOVES to eat. When I think of Portland, I do not think shopping. I think FOOD. Fore Street is one of my favorites, and is a must for me when in Southern Maine. An old brick building with an open kitchen, wood burning ovens, and dim lighting gives off an old fashioned tavern vibe like no other. When walking on the cobblestone streets of the Old Port, you know you're getting close when the heavenly combination of wood, fire, food, and ocean fills your senses. Local, fresh, and delicious food...every single time!

I've been following the Holy Donut on Facebook for weeks now. Not sure why I do that to myself when they post mouth watering picturesevery day. I'm not exactly a stone's throw away to be able to go grab a couple of their donuts! When you walk in and see the simple mouthwatering display of fresh donuts.....it's a little hard to choose just one. The bacon cheddar stuffed donut....oh goodness. Salty, creamy, and a hint of sweetness. And they are made with a bit of Maine....Maine potato in every bite!

Visited Local 188 for the first time and it was delicious! Loved the atmosphere and the local, fresh food. Pickled quail eggs, strawberry margarita with jalapeno infused tequila, parsnip cream risotto, delicious hummus with fresh pita bread....noms.

I couldn't go back to the woods without stopping (several times) at my favorite diner in my hometown. Homemade éclairs, thin shaved Pastrami, crispy haddock burger...just a few of my favorites at Helen's Restaurant in Machias. My only regret was that my strawberries were not slathered in the same rich chocolate that coats the éclair.

So.....I know this is a little different than most of my posts, but most likely, it will not be the last time you hear me rant about food. Happy eating, friends!

My First Limit

When you're a stay at home mom with two boys under the age of 4, it's often quite necessary to get some kind of break!!! Jackson is at the perfect age of three for me to send him with his Dad to do some trapping. He's completely obsessed with anything and everything that his Daddy does. Even if it's for a couple of hours...that's plenty of time for me to feel refreshed and find some sense of self!

 

It's hard though because a lot of the time I want to get out too! This area and all it's creatures are gorgeous but you're never going to soak that up while sitting at home! It's refreshing to get out in the crisp November air and soak up the simple beauty. The boys and myself had been closed up in the house for too long because they both brought colds back into the North Woods with them. I'm so relieved to say that they both recovered with no sore throats or ear infections and no doctors visits!

 

My parents were coming to stay with us and I had every intention of cleaning the house while the boys were out but I changed my mind and hopped in the car with them. We spent the day trapping and hunting. Quality time spent on dirt roads and in the woods. This won't last forever...when in Rome....:)

Two limits in two hours. Not bad!

 

 

 

Getting ready to run!



Tough bird

And dinner is served!!! Roasted potatoes, parsnips, onions, and garlic and crispy cornflake partridge!

My first limit. :)