At the end of each month I update the recipe page with fabulous new recipes for you to try out. Sounds good, right? However, what has been happening is the previous months recipes are gone -- Not so good. So, we decided to create an archive page for you to be able to access those recipes longer.
September (2008) - Harvest
Pickled Dilly Beans: This is a recipe for my favorite canning fall snack, dilly beans!! If you have never had a dilly bean before, it’s like a pickle, only skinny!
Blueberry Coleslaw & BBQ Sauce: Here in Maine you often hear about ‘Wild Maine Blueberries’, and the health benefits of antioxidants associated with blueberries, but what else can you make with blueberries besides just muffins, pies and tarts? How about a BBQ! First, cool blueberry coleslaw, and hot blueberry BBQ sauce.
Apple Squares: But what is harvest without the apples? This is a recipe my mom used to make for me when I was a little girl. I still enjoy these. Thanks, Mom!
October (2008) - Foliage
Foliage to me means colors; bright vibrant colors: red, orange, and yellow.
Red. Roasted Tomato and Basil soup. Even the name will warm you up! The deep red hue of the roasted tomatoes reminds me of the large maple leaves once they have transformed into their glorious shade. I enjoy my soup with some croutons or some nice crusty rolls!
Orange. For your picnic basket, orange always meant carrot sticks. But we need something to keep that tummy warm for those crisp days. One of my personal favorites is Carrot Ginger soup. It’s thick and creamy, almost into the stew family, but smooth enough to put into a thermos to bring with you to share. Don’t forget your spoons!
Yellow. Don’t forget dessert with Wicked Lemony Squares. These are so easy to package up and bring with you for your picnic. Don’t forget the napkins!
November (2008) - Hunting
Big game:
Moose: One thing to be aware of with moose meat is that it tends to be much leaner than beef, so it can dry out pretty quickly. So recipes involving liquid are good. It has a gamier flavor, than most other meats.
Deer: Even though I am giving you non-steak/roast recipes, if you are cooking venison (deer) steaks or chops, marinate first to make meat tender. Cover the steaks or chops with the marinade and let stand overnight in the refrigerator. Drain and pan broil.
Small Game:
Rabbit: Cholesterol level in rabbit meat is much lower than chicken, turkey, beef, or pork. Rabbit is highest in protein and is all white meat. Rabbits are raised up off the ground and one of the cleanest meats there is.
Upland game bird:
Pheasant: With pheasant careful attention must be paid to not overcook the delicate pheasant meat, particularly the plump, white breast meat. There are many varieties of pheasants. However, the most common is the Ring-Neck Pheasant. Farm raised are consistently tender and have a more delicate flavor than wild pheasant.
Partridge: Partridge meat is a very lean dark meat comparable to Pheasant but firmer and not as delicate, but with an earthy taste. Prepare as you would pheasant or quail. Do not over cook.
December (2008) - Preparing for Winter
I am going to give you some recipes before you start your day. It has come to my attention that I haven’t been giving any breakfast recipes. The following recipes are a good way to fill up on your starches to keep your tummy full while out burning off the calories.
Gorilla Bread, this is a favorite of my co-workers. Plus it’s quick and easy!!
Sticky-quickies, growing up this was always a frequent request for my mom to make!
French Breakfast Puffs, also another childhood favorite. It is still requested to this day by my brother when visiting with his family.
German Pancakes or Dutch Babies, after living in Germany for a little while, I came home with this recipe. If you make one large one it’s a German Pancake, if it’s smaller ones, they are Dutch Babies.
Piggy Pudding Breakfast, my husband introduced me to this recipe (courtesy of Paula Deen).
January (2009) - Ice Fishing
All this talk about cold and ice has made me think about recipes for warm drinks, and not your normal coffee. These are drinks that you can bring with you or you can prepare while you are in your shanty if it has a burner. But since ice fishing is such a social event as much as it is for the sport, you may want to show off your kitchen skills by inviting some friends to your shanty and making them a drink or two.
Mulled Cider: Mulled cider is one of those drinks, I remember from living in Germany (along with Glühwein).
Hot toddy: A typical hot drink mostly associated with Britain. Toddies can range from cider to chocolate based.
Hot chocolate: This is not to be confused with hot cocoa, there is a difference. Hot chocolate is general chocolate chunks heated and mixed with milk, whereas, cocoa is powered based. Try both and tell me which is better.
Hot Cocoa: This is your typical American drink associated with winter time. Research has shown that the consumption of hot cocoa (or hot chocolate) can be positive to one's health. A recent study has shown that hot chocolate contains more antioxidants than wine and tea, therefore reducing the risk of heart disease. However, it does contain caffeine, but less than a cup of coffee.
February (2009) - Snow Fun
I am going to give you some recipes you can start up in the morning in your slow cooker, once you are how from your snow fun day, you can fill up on a nice hearty meal already done! These are some of my favorite comfort foods.
Hearty Beef Stew: Probably one of the most common made items in the slow cooker. All you need are some buttered biscuits!
Smokey Slow Cooker Short Ribs: This is the recipe that would make me come inside from a day of sledding without even asking!
Jambalaya: If you are in the mood for something hot and spicy, you can not go wrong with some jambalaya.
Easy Slow Cooker Chili: There are so many ways to make chili that you can never go wrong with this basic recipe. I love my chili with cornbread!
March (2009) - Maple Sugaring
Where in the cooking world would we be without sugar? I had to include some simple recipes that highlight sugar and maple sugar. I could come up with thousands of recipes that show off the diversity of sugar and maple sugar, but these are just a few of my favorites.
Maple Taffee (or Sugar On Snow): When I was first told this was the theme of the month; I thought of this recipe first. It reminded me of reading Laura Ingalls Wilder books. It was mentioned as a favorite treat of hers.
Sugar-Crusted Peanuts: Usually peanuts are thought of as salty, but these are a very sweet treat without making peanut brittle (another of my favorites!)
Maple Walnut Sundae: Ask anyone and they will tell you my favorite thing is ice cream. This is a sugary sauce to top your favorite ice cream.
Divinity: This is one of the hardest candies I have ever tried to make. If you cook the sugar too long it comes out tasting like toasted marshmallows, which in my book isn’t such a bad thing!
Maple Sugar Brown Butter Tart: The sweetest dessert I think I have ever had! Of course, I like mine with ice cream!
April (2009) - Fishing
There are so many ways to cook fish that I am only going to provide a few variations.
Salmon & Avocado (soy sauce dressing): I remember the first time I made this; I had to test it out with my mom (who taught me to cook). It’s very light with a great Asian flair.
Seafood Stew: Not your typical milk based stew/chowder that we find in Maine/New England. Spicy and delicious!
Simple Lemon Trout: Sometimes you don’t need to go overboard (pun intended!) with the taste of fish. This simple lemon dish is easy for any level chef.
May (2009) - Spring
Oh spring! Glorious spring, how I have missed thee! This is the time of year I enjoy the most! The birds have returned, the weather is warmer, and the flowers are blooming. It all makes me hungry just thinking about those flowers! Did you know you can eat most flowers? And there are flowers that I bet you didn’t know are flowers:
Allium: Known as the ‘flowering onion’ family, which includes chives, garlic, shallots and, my favorite, leeks. How about a nice creamy recipe with Scalloped Onions, Leeks & Shallots?
Arugula: Yes, this type of lettuce is actually a flower! Usually arugula is stuck in a salad, but why not bring out the rich, peppery flavor in a Gourmet Olive, Tomato, Arugula, Parmesan, and Mozzarella Pizza!
Lavender: This flower is more than just a scent for perfume, however, DO NOT use any part of the oil in your food. I have a lovely, delicate Lavender Crème Brulee that you need to try!
Okra: Reminds me of the squash blossoms! Usually in stews, I prefer my okra deep fried, courtesy of Paula Deen. This is her Cajun Tempura Okra with Scallion Dipping Sauce recipe.
June (2009) - Welcome Summer (strawberry picking)
Health wise, strawberries are a very healthy fruit. One cup of strawberries contains approximately 45 calories and is an excellent source of vitamin C, as well as a good source of antioxidants. With that in mind, I came up with some good summer recipes, guaranteed to cool you down during the summer months and make you the hit of any BBQ you go to this summer!
Strawberry/Rhubarb Pie: Sweet and tart all in one pie! Probably one of my more favorite pies! Just made this for my co-workers, it lasted only 40 minutes!
Strawberry Ice Cream: Cool and refreshing! Yummy and creamy! Strawberry ice cream will make you feel like a kid again!
Strawberry Shortcake: Probably the most simple of the recipes this month, but ‘oh-so-worth-it’! I will admit my mother makes better biscuits than I do, so I snagged her recipe.
Strawberry Poke Cake: This cake has a few names (Refrigerator Cake, Jell-o Cake). And just as many ways to prepare it! Still an excellent summer cake!
July (2009) - Camping/Paddling
Most of these meals are campsite friendly if you prepare ahead of time. A lot of steps can be done at home. I suggest reading through most of these recipes before you leave.
Pizza in a box (without a phone): People always joke with me about pizza in a box and that they can make it as well (as long as they have a phone), but mine is made without the use of a phone!
Omelet in a Baggie: This is a great recipe to have the kids help you make. You can add what veggies or meats you want to make your favorite.
Chicken & Dumplings: A great hearty dinner, if there is a large group of you camping together.
Dinner in a Can: This is one of those meals that you can put together then while it’s cooking you can do other things around the campsite.
Sausage Foil Lunch: This is one of meals you wrap up in foil toss in the hot coals.
August (2009) - Beaches
Picnic lunches don’t have to be bologna sandwiches alone. There are so many yummy things you can make for your day at the beach that don’t have to be cold cut sandwiches. The best part about the following recipes is you don’t have to bake/cook/grill!
Cool off with a creamy cantaloupe soup. Not only will it cool you off, but it’s healthy!
Get your veggies of the day with cucumber ribbon salad!
Wash it all down with homemade lemonade, sweet, tart and refreshing!
My husband loves this peanut butter pie and when he makes it, he gets a lot of compliments from his co-workers!