Ahh, the sounds, sights and smells of spring – Maine windjammer style. The constant drone of a sander, the bustle of crew trekking into the house on a cloud of sanding dust and the pungent odor of paint thinner wafting through the air. Blowing paint dust buggers, chapped and hardened hands, Carharts so dotted with [...]
While I have not experienced all 50 states of our country as yet, I do find that Maine is the home of my heart and where peace wends it’s way to me far more often than not. The news wires today just echo what I feel everyday as Maine was just voted the most peaceful [...]
Herb-Cheese Bread 3 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons shortening 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup sour milk 2/3 cup grated cheddar cheese 2/3 cup cottage cheese 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon dried dill ½ teaspoon dried basil ½ teaspoon dried tarragon ½ teaspoon [...]
Because what could be better than homemade bagels? I must confess that years ago, before I had the hang of making bread by hand, I attempted bagels. It’s a sure thing that when someone uses the word “attempted” that the results perhaps were not stellar. And by not stellar I mean shriveled, wrinkley and hard [...]
Yorkshire Pudding This is a classic that I often serve with Riggin Roast Beef . 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 eggs 1 1/2 to 1 3/4cups milk Drippings from roast beef (you can substitute olive oil or bacon fat). Preheat oven to 350°. Sift the dry ingredients into a [...]
Stuffing is my absolute favorite part of Thanksgiving Dinner, forget the turkey, forget the gravy or the cranberry sauce, if I don’t have my stuffing, I’m feeling a little bereft. These are a few of my favorites that have run in previous years in columns or in the Riggin‘s Windjammer e-newsletters. If you’d like to [...]
When I make this for a special afternoon tea, I replace 1/3 cup orange juice with 1/3 cup Grand Marnier. Pumpkin Bread 2/3 cup shortening 2 2/3 cups sugar 4 eggs 1 16-ounce can pumpkin 2/3 cup orange juice (or 1/3 cup orange juice and 1/3 cup Grand Marnier) 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 2 [...]
Cranberry-Almond Biscotti A passenger of ours, Lauren Hubbell, gave this recipe to me. To dress them up a bit, dip one end of the biscotti into melted semi-sweet chocolate and place on waxed paper to cool. Biscotti are crunchy and store well. They’re excellent for dipping into coffee, hot cocoa, or whatever you’d like. 2 [...]
Focaccia We usually have focaccia at some point during the week on the boat. I make it with several of the toppings, below, for lunch, or as an accompaniment to an entrée. 1 1/2 tablespoons dry yeast 1 tablespoon salt 5 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups warm water 2 tablespoons olive oil Cornmeal for dusting [...]
In the spring, one of my favorite people gifted me with her mother’s french onion soup crocks and while I was excited to share about it then, it was too close to summer for anyone but me to be all that jazzed about French Onion Soup. Only in Maine would someone find a day cool [...]
