ME + me

Since Maine and I will soon be bidding one another adieu, I thought it only fitting to bring a little bit of the state's bounty back with me. If all goes according to plan, I'll be transporting 10 lbs of MOFGA-certified organic blueberries back to Brooklyn to share with y'all.

The blueberry possibilities are truly endless ... blueberry crumb bars, blueberry pancakes, a traditional (food processor-less) blueberry pie, blueberry coffee cake (à la Audrey), lemon-blueberry sorbet.... Gawd, I send like the dude from "Forrest Gump" so I'm going to stop now.

I'll be hanging at McCarren Park on Sunday (8.10.08) afternoon with blueberries. Would love to see you! Bring a vessel with you, if you're interested in taking some home.

See ya Sunday?

The Visitor

One perk of living in NYC is how friends from all corners of the earth are delivered to our doorsteps in summertime. Although it usually happens to be the most miserable heat and humidity, it's a blast to host out-of-towners. It provides a great excuse to visit your favorite haunts, and indulgently live beyond your means, knowing that it's just for a brief stint.

When I return this weekend (!), I look forward to meeting up with a couple that I haven't seen since we traveled together three years ago in Ecuador. It was with this Dutch duo that I went diving in the Galapagos Islands and swam with manta rays! But, I have missed out on a number of visitors this summer, including our fun-loving friends Brigid and Christopher, who recently escaped Billyburg for the Malibu sun. Thankfully, I got to hear all about their return to NY from Matt, who wrote about Brigid's arrival in this hilarious one-act play.

* * * * *

O.M.G. ~ a play in one act
by Matthew McKenna

9 p.m
Although Matt is expecting his friend Brigid to have dropped her luggage in the apartment when her plane arrived in NY from LA in the afternoon, he is confused to find the keys have been picked up from the exterior mailbox, and yet no sign of Brigid in the apartment.

1 a.m.
Matt receives text from Brigid -- "I'm outside." He opens apartment door, heads into hallway, and sees her... at the top of the stairs outside our upstairs neighbor Kevin's door.

BRIGID: Wait, I thought this was your apartment...

MATT: No.... uh.... it's down here.

BRIGID: Oh shit, I left my stuff in there this afternoon! The door was open.... and now it's locked. I remembered "2nd floor" from your directions and went upstairs.

MATT: What?? Oh my god... I was wondering why your stuff wasn't sitting in my living room. Let me see if he's there. [goes up & knocks on Kevin's door -- no sound; goes downstairs & rings his doorbell -- nothing].

MATT: Hmmm.... he comes home pretty late sometimes -- maybe we could leave him a note?

BRIGID: Well... I have stuff I really need tonight, like Breathe-right strips & earplugs, and I have to work on my computer tomorrow....

MATT: Oh. Well, he works at Barcade around the corner -- let's go see if we can find him there.

[We go. We ask the bouncer inside -- he tells us Kevin has already left. We walk back home.]

MATT: If I had to guess, I'd say he's out with friends... shoot.

BRIGID: Curses... of all the mistakes.... you don't think he threw my stuff out, do you?

MATT: No, no, he's a really nice guy... he may not have even noticed that some random luggage was sitting in his kitchen.

BRIGID: Living room. I left it in his living room -- I thought the place looked surprisingly like a bachelor pad... If only there was a window or something...

MATT: A window.

BRIGID: Yeah, I mean, I've already been in there once, right?

MATT: Yeaaah... but that was by accident. I don't think it works that way...

[We walk to the back of the house & look up at his windows for signs of life.]

BRIGID: See, he has a fire escape that looks easy to climb up. And then I could just pop the screen off, and be out in 2 seconds.

MATT: Uhhh... I really don't think that's a good idea. I don't even know him very well... and that's sort of -- burglary. I'm really uncomfortable with that idea.

BRIGID: But it would be really quick and I really need that stuff tonight.

MATT: I really can't let you break into my neighbor's apartment -- my landlord lives right there... he could easily kick me out of the building.

BRIGID: I'm just trying to get my stuff back...

MATT: I know -- you're putting me in a really awkward position, though. I mean, Kevin could be there for all we know... and that would be a whole 'nother kind of disaster.

BRIGID: Hmmm....

[We walk slowly back to the front & go back into the apartment.]

MATT: I could go get you some Breathe-right strips from Sunac down the street and.... I don't know....

[Matt goes outside and tries the doorbell one more time. And miraculously -- hears a rustling sound upstairs.]

MATT (excitedly): Kevin? Kevin? It's Matt, your neighbor...

[Kevin eventually manages to open the door and peeks out, groggy with sleep and clothed only in boxer shorts.]

MATT: Oh, man, I'm really sorry -- my friend accidentally dropped her luggage in here today, thinking it was my apartment.

[In a leap & bound, Brigid is up the stairs and in his dark, sweltering apartment looking around, apologizing profusely.]

KEVIN: Yeah -- I was wondering about that -- I figured things would explain themselves.

BRIGID: Thank you so much -- you really saved me. New York Stories, huh?

[We breathe a huge sigh of relief downstairs again with bags intact.]

BRIGID: Whoa, man, it's a good thing I didn't try to get into his apartment.... thanks for getting all legal on me.

MATT: I'm glad things worked out. Disasters averted.

.the end.

New York, I Love You....

One of my summer projects was to physically inspect 24 reels of 16mm film that was recently acquired by the archive. Salvaged from a New Hampshire dump, the donor was uncertain of the film's content. So, I was able to live the life of a detective and film archivist, learning more about this family with each new can. Ultimately, I was unable to crack their entire story, but I enjoyed crafting plenty of possible family narratives. Below is a beautiful example of film decomposing, which depicts "my family" in New York in the early 1930's...

Blueberry Pancakes

I nearly forgot! Recently, I also whipped up some pancakes, using picked-with-my-very-own-hands wild blueberries. I usually love a light, buttermilk pancake, but prefer to integrate a portion of whole wheat flour. I feel this recipe does a good job of keeping the 'cakes light yet giving them a little more substance.

(adapted the Tassajara buttermilk pancake recipe)

1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. white or pastry flour
1/2 t. salt
1 t. baking powder
1 c. buttermilk (or 1 c. milk + 1 T lemon
1 egg
3 T. butter
berries

mix all the dry guys. then add wet. heat butter over low-medium heat. use ladle to form pancakes. keep them separated: add berries once the batter has been added to the pan & not before, so as to protect the lil' berries from too much heat and keep the operation neater. makes about 20-24.

Notes: They were definitely tasty. I always forget, though, that when a recipe calls for melted butter, one must wait for it to cool -- adding it too warm/hot will actually start to cook the egg. Be warned! Also, I didn't have any baking powder, so I just skipped it, which I think compromised the texture. Next time, I'd definitely separate the egg...adding the yolk to the dry mixture and then whipping the white until peaks form and then, gently, adding the egg white to the mixture. A dash of vanilla is nice, too. Yum!

My Numbered Days

The week has been so fun & exhausting. Not only did I host visitors, but I also participated in a Summer Symposium that delivered over 30 film archivists and historians to our tiny port town. This year's theme, City & Country, seemed particularly in sync with my own life of late. For an academic "conference," it felt really comfortable and provided a ton of opportunities to casually chat with many of the scholars we've read in class. Trying not to spurt lobster juice everywhere when cracking the tail off a lobster at the big dinner was the hard part. Ah, Maine...

Now, it's hard to believe my little stint is wrapping up. I can count the days that remain on just two hands! I now find myself plagued by questions impossible to answer: did I take advantage of my time here enough? Did I savor the smells and sounds of the country? Did I really explore the rich film collection that's housed here to the fullest extent? Will I ever finish my internship project that's dragging on and on? I dunno. All I know is that I've really enjoyed my time, but find myself itching for the inspiration that's inherent in city life. Once I'm back in the land of concrete and steel, I know I'll crave that smell of pine and the feel of the cool ocean breeze.

All About the Fend(i)s

It was the best of times, and then it was the worst of times for a visit from Alana. The rain had not poured so hard in all my weeks in Maine, and the lightning was seriously out of control. But, we had one another during the tornado watch and it was crazy to see the bay illuminated by bolts of lightning throughout our restless sleep.

The next day, our plans to do summer-camp-kid-things could not be realized during the storm's tumult. So, we embraced Maine's best indoor activity: thrifting. We hit up a couple stores, the best of which was the Belfast Goodwill. At the day's end, we had purchased 3 belts and 5 pairs of shoes, the most noteworthy of which were a pair of early 80's Fendi pumps that Alana literally walked away with for $2.99. I picked up a pair of red loafers and these t-strap Hush Puppies sandals:


Our time together was pretty legendary, vacillating between 4th grade slumber party and Foodies Gone Camping. We jointly prepared a dinner of Maine scallops with garlic scapes, tomatoes and capers, accompanied by quinoa and red chard. Post-dinner we attempted to ward off our increasing fullness by just drinking more beer out on my deck. Crafty Alana then tailored our newly-purchased wolf-printed t-shirts, reinventing them from boxy bores to official cutewear. Bret beware! We capped the night with some ice cream eating and fell asleep to the dulcet tones of Paul Rubens in "Pee Wee's Big Adventure."

High but Dry

Color me ecstatic. Two visitors in one week! A gal really couldn't ask for much more.

A lightning and thunder storm last Friday wiped out our water supply here in Cabinville. My friend, Erin, who traded in SF for some East Coast adventures, landed here in Maine just in time for my drought. She wanted to spend some time in nature and ended up getting more than she signed up for. We didn’t let it get us down or hold us back – no siree, Bob. Our laundry list of weekend activities reads like a list of my all-time favorite Maine things: strolling through the farmers market while nibbling samples, leisurely coffee-sipping at the Co-op, hiking to the top of Blue Hill, riverside lobster roll-eating, and a nice, long scenic drive for ice cream. Oh, and wine sipping while watching a movie on my 12-inch Powerbook -- can't forget that one. There are few people I know who can relay stories and anecdotes as descriptively (and entertainingly!) as Erin. It was such a treat to have her here, as we usually only get to spend time together in Telluride.


It was Erin’s enthusiasm to swim Sunday morning that lured me into the 50-degree bay for the first time. She’s a crazy and strong swimmer (sooo not me) who’s accustomed to cold water swimming. Though chilly, the water is super clear and super calm. It was beautiful and a far superior way to bathe than in my outdoor, spider-infested shower.


My next cabin guest arrives in just over an hour! Alana has signed up for some QT with KT here in Maine. She and I have one (somewhat failed) canoe ride under our belt from last summer's adventures on the North Fork. I'm hoping we'll get the chance to reinvent ourselves as kayakers this time 'round.  Oh, and the plumbers resolved the water issue so we'll even get to brush our teeth.

Pitchfork

I'm really bummed to miss out on this summer's Pitchfork Music Festival, which starts today. Last year, we had such a good time hanging out with friends and family in good ole Chi-town. And, it's just so damned cheap! I would love to see Fleet Foxes, my latest obsession, live. Sigh....


Using Imeem, Pitchfork has put this nifty set of playlists featuring songs from this year's line-up. [Oh, and y'all have met Imeem, right? It's the place to go and make & share playlists, and basically listen to any/every song. I guess it's legal cuz it's streaming and not downloadable?]

Improv Eats

My kitchen is tiny, but I am making the most of what I have. Focusing on super fresh produce and whole grains, I'm not only eating healthfully, but also rather inexpensively. I'm usually married to recipes, but I've been trying my hand at a more spontaneous, improv-style preparation, tasting as I go. Following my hankerings and using what I have on hand has been fun. Here are some of my creations from the last week...

Roasted Beets, Quinoa and Walnut Salad
Inspired by an Amy's Breads salad, I love tossing this together whenever I get my hands on beets. If you haven't tried the mineral-rich seed called quinoa (it's really not a grain), then you're missing out. Preparing quinoa is so, so simple and does not require the lengthy cook times, like rice or barley. My tip is to boil 2 parts vegetable broth with one part quinoa, which really seems to add some depth to it. Cook until liquid has been totally absorbed on the little quinoa guys appear to have a ring around them. Allow the quinoa to cool. Ensure to wash your beets thoroughly (remove beet greens for some future sauteeing), drizzle olive oil over them and roast for 35-45 minutes at 400 degrees. (roasting time varies depending on the size of the beet). Next, just toast some walnuts. (Watch them so they sure they don't burn.) In addition, you can incorporate whatever else tickles your fancy. This week, I added chickpeas and red pepper, as it's what I had on hand. Toss all ingredients together with a simple citrus vinaigrette and place over arugula or mixed greens. So good and super filling!

(below: fair trade quinoa producers in Ecuador )

Salmon with Roasted Fennel
I was really in the mood for salmon and was happy to find some wild Atlantic locally. For this dish, I didn't really follow a recipe, but rather took into consideration a few (like Barefoot Contessa and Jamie Oliver) ideas and kinda improvised. You really can't go wrong with: salmon + fennel + citrus (orange preferably, but lemon works well too). This time, I sliced up one fennel bulb, flat leaf parsley and the fennel sprigs. Placing the salmon in a baking dish, I surrounded the fish with my fennel mixtures. Be sure to add salt and pepper, a drizzle of olive oil and place thinly sliced citrus on top. Roast at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish.

I just actually turned down a free work lunch, as I would prefer to eat my salmon leftovers than have a blah sandwich and make awkward conversation with work people and consultants!

Big Wheels Keep on Turning

Many of you have asked what it is I exactly *do* here at this film archive. In addition to a lot of griping, I've actually learned a ton. I've had a chance to inspect new film acquisitions, plus transfer the films to video for researcher access, and digitize the content. On top of that, I get to curate the weekly "Archival Moment," a short from the collection that precedes our weekly first-run feature. I am also trying to mastermind a way for them to manage their digital assets, but that's a longer and less exciting story.

What I'm most proud of to date is transferring my family's 24 reels of Super-8 films. I was able to push hard to get the job done pre-trip to California, and presented my mom with our family movies (1977-1986) on DVD for her birthday. Some real family legends were actually captured on film! (Like my brother Kevin's first birthday party, in which he promptly bites attendees with whom he does not want to share.)

Below is just a lil' taste of Kim circa January 1984. Although it doesn't look it, our driveway was quite steep back in the day -- the steepest on Layton Street. Riding down was truly a feat to be proud of, even for a little show-off like me.

Our beloved first dog, Toby, is featured in a rare, on-screen appearance. Rest in peace, Toff (1980-1992).

Farm Fresh

Because my co-workers are borderline socially-retarded (a quote from Matt), and the social calendar of my only family friend in Maine (who BTW is 75 y.o.) is booked solid through July, I take delight in the smallest of social interactions. That's why I love my friends the farmers so much. They're always pleasant, always chatty and seem to delight in the simplest of life's pleasures.

Haight Farm is across the road from my cabin and the patriarch Court is just as sweet as his hydroponic tomatoes. My predecessor, former cabin dweller, and a MIAP alum, Sean gave me a head's up back in May about the tomatoes, claiming they're the best he's ever tasted. For me, they're definitely up there.

A recent discovery was the Homewood Farm, where I was lucky enough to buy a huge bag of super-sweet sugar snap peas for half the prize of what they're going for at the local store. The drive to this farm is quite precious, as you pass baby goats and lambs along your way. And their strawberries are to die for!
Last week, I also made it over to the Belfast Farmers' Market. There, I bought some great golden beets, summer squash, and the real coup de gras was the garlic scapes. Maybe you saw the recent NYT article that discussed these graceful guys, which are young stalks of garlic? (They're not green garlic, which usually emerges in early spring with tiny little bulbs on the tips.) I've yet to actually cook with them, as I'm so taken with their striking beauty. Their wild unwillingness to conform comforts me as they stand pseudo-erect in their temporary mason jar home.

My weekend was filled with solitary delights, like the discovery of blueberry barrens along my hike on Caterpillar Hill. This city girl was elated to pick her own wild blueberries. I may just have enough to get baking... I want to make a pie but lack a food processor for crust-making. Oh, well...vamos a ver.

Feliz Cumpleaños, Mr. White

Many writers have sought inspiration and refuge along Maine's craggy Central Coast. Two beloved children's authors, E.B. White and Robert McCloskey, spent large chunks of their lives in the area -- North Brooklin and Deer Isle, respectively. McCloskey's iconic Maine, as depicted in Blueberries for Sal and One Morning in Maine, first introduced me to the peninsula over 20 years ago. [On a recent trip to Boston, I was reminded again of McCloskey, as his now-famous (bronzed) ducklings have made their way to a permanent home in Boston Commons.]


Today is the birthday of E.B. White, who passed away 23 years ago. White, one of the New Yorker's first editors, and a contributor for the subsequent six decades, is the celebrated creator of Wilbur, Charlotte and the Zuckerman farm gang. Apparently, the fair in which Wilbur wins first prize at the end of Charlotte's Web was drawn from White's summers at the Blue Hill Fair.


I'm bummed to miss out on this year's fair & the concomitant piglet races (I'll be in Telluride, CO), but I'm heartened to know that some things seem to stay the same.

"The Blue Hill Fair (8/28-9/01) is still the major local happening each Labor Day weekend; rereading White's description of it, I don't think it's changed at all in the intervening decades, a charming fact that turns unnerving when you're seated atop the creaky Ferris wheel. White's book is so closely associated with the actual fair that the livestock area is called Zuckerman's Farm. There, you can see tragically fat pigs, tawny patchwork cows, and fluffy, topiary-like alpacas. Between ogling the animals in their stalls and the cabbages in the vegetable hall, you can watch the horse pull or the piglet race or the lumberjack show. Adults can play bingo in the smoke-filled "over 18 only" parlors while kids loop jerkily through the twilight on the spinning-teacup ride.

The fair, in other words, is a quick way to dip a toe into a culture where the past and the present, the fictional and the real, the delightful and the tragic, are intertwined. The midway lights and "the crackle of the gambling machines and the music of the merry-go-rounds and the voice of the man in the beano booth" announce the shuttering of summer. As White so aptly puts it, "The crickets sang the song of summer's end...'Summer is over and gone,' they sang...Summer is dying, dying.'" Whether you're a native contemplating the frigid months ahead or a summer visitor facing your return to the real world, this is a moment as nostalgic and fun as it is quietly heartbreaking." (excerpted from a piece by Heidi Julavits)

Following a cross-country flight, the four-hour drive back to Bucksport reminded me just how far away I am up here in Maine. I had true pangs of envy as Matt boarded a flight to JFK and I veered off toward the BOS gate. Damn, I even tortured myself by watching "Flight of the Conchords" on the plane and catching up on my back issues of TONY.

Alas, I shall not resort to a woe-is-me mentality; after all, many people would kill to get out of NY for the summer and hang in Maine. I'm trying to remember my original desires for leaving...immersing myself in this strange world of archiving, doing some of that hiking + swimming stuff, practicing yoga, and cooking up a storm. The never-ending options in NY tend to overwhelm an inveterate multi-tasker like myself, so the downtime really is good for my soul. Sure, there are a slew of things I'd like to be doing back in my 'hood (like this and this), but I've only 4 weeks left and I need to curb my FOMO (fear of missing out) aches and aprovechar this opportunity.

Two dear friends have claimed to be making imminent journeys to visit. Seriously, any one who makes the lengthy sojourn shall be duly rewarded with lobster and wild blueberries.

3 in 4

Having attended three weddings in four weeks, I can safely say I'm exhausted. It was really important to me to be a part of these weddings; all three of the couples are so well-suited for one another. The three ceremonies and receptions were so different and it's nice to see that nowadays cookie cutter affairs are eschewed for parties that reflect personalities. One "nautical casual" wedding took place on a boat in upstate NY (and the reception was in a bowling alley!); Megan's brother (having recently become an ordained minister through the Universal Life Church) officiated the ceremony at an citrus grove-lined historic park in Riverside, CA; and Alexis and Mike's party was in this awesome California Mission revival building, formerly a library.

Now, I'm back in Maine. It took a long time to make it back from the country's southwest to the oh-so-very northeast, but I'm here. And, now that I'm halfway done with my internship, I really need to hunker down and get busy.

In the meantime, here are some photos from the adventures...

Pre-Wedding 4th Celebration: Me & Alexis
Matt may never want to see a paper lantern ever again, but I know Lex & Mike appreciated all of our diligent reception set-up work...


Rio Reunion: Matt, Alison & me
I heart photo booths! Ali was actually traveling with me when I met Matt in Rio in April 2005 -- it was the night we arrived in Brazil.

Travels + Tribulations

Flying to California from Maine. One wouldn't think it would be that difficult, right? So wrong. After driving 3 hours from Blue Hill to Portland (the closest airport), the United agent explained that my flight's been delayed and that I wouldn't make my connection in Chicago. So, he rebooked me on an alternate flight and assured me that I should be okay. One lightning storm and five hours later I find myself reclaiming my checked bag in Portland and awaiting the shuttle which will deliver me to my Mazda, which I parked in the long-term lot just hours before. It seems as if the best viable option for me--to ensure that I'll make my friend Megan's Saturday afternoon wedding, is to drive to Boston, sleep over, and take the first BOS-LAX flight out the following morning. The only consolation is that through all my negotiations with station agents I've been bumped to first class.

Twenty-seven hours after my journey began, I arrive in LA. I've just enough time to take a shower, grab a bite to eat, and hop in the car to get myself to the ceremony. I was super exhausted at the wedding, but it was great to see so many blasts from the past. And the experience really sharpened the Amazing Race competitor in me. In the event that Matt ever changes his mind and decides he'll be my teammate, I'm confident we could take it. I mean, a couple of hippies won it all last season!

I am actually taking a vaycay from Maine and will be here in LA for a wedding double header: one down, one to go on Saturday the 5th.

Playgirl

I received a fab package a couple weeks back from my friend Jasmin, the all-time greatest sender o' surprise packages. So excited to receive mail, I exuberantly opened the box in the office at work. Thankfully just one of my co-workers saw the magazine laying right on top...I have a feeling this rather tame 1974 Playgirl would nonetheless provoke some raised eyebrows in these parts. (The Brando interview is awesome!)

Finds Aplenty

When I decided to spend the summer in Maine, sure I was excited about the hiking and the lobster and all, but I was way excited for cheap vintage finds. In July 2006, having just returned from the World Cup and not ready to call it quits on vacation, Matt and I made a beeline for Canada. We lingered in Montreal and Quebec City, luxuriating in the humidity-free environs. On our way back home, we traveled through Maine, stopping in Bangor. We were actually trying to find Stephen King's house, when we found the mecca that is the Bangor Goodwill. We ended up spending $23 between us in the 18 minutes prior to their closing, but the finds were gems. The place was super clean, super organized, and way cheap. When I'm digging through clothing racks at the overcrowded Beacon's Closet my mind usually wanders back to Bangor.

The good state hasn't proven me wrong. It turns out that there are more and bigger Goodwill Stores, and some even have well-edited "vintage" sections (all items priced at $3.99). One Sunday, I went antiquing--as they say up here--and ended up with a pretty awesome array of hard-to-find vintage house wares (I have a bit of a Pyrex fetish).

I'd been bummed that this random little thrift store on Main Street always seemed to be closed even when its "Hours" sign stated it should be open. I inquired with my teenage friends at the nearby Dairy Port who just shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders. Then, last week, as I was checking out the daily soft-serve flavors at the Dairy Port, one of the girls excitedly yells out to me: "It's open! Talk 'n Shop is open!" And, sure enough it was. I entered and proceeded to FILL A BAG FOR A DOLLAR. Yeah, yeah, I know there are places like this...I've heard of them. But, I'd never experienced it. My bag contained 5 t-shirts, a navy windbreaker, a dress shirt for Matt (he wore it to our friend's wedding that weekend), and this c. 1972 faux-wooden bird wall hanging. For a dollar.



It's now become my favorite lunch-time activity. When I get tired of work, tired of the people, or my co-worker's stench becomes too overpowering to overcome (she's a back-to-the-lander who seemingly shuns even hippie deodorant), I head to Talk 'n Shop. The only consistent thing about it the adventure is that I'll spend a dollar.

Late to the Party

So I think I just may be one of the last people on the face of the earth to have not made Jim Lahey's No-Knead Bread. For those of you who have been hiding out with me in our little corner of the world, here's the nutshell: Mark Bittman (aka The Minimalist) shared Lahey (of the famed Sullivan Street Bakery)'s bread recipe in a New York Times article.

Since the article's initial publication in fall 2006, people have been raving about the crusty goodness of this oh-so simple bread. Because there is so little work involved -- but loads of fermentation time -- the recipe has caught on like wildfire in the foodie/bloggie community. In fact, Googling "no knead bread" today delivers 2o2,000 results. There's even a Flickr site dedicated to the NKB! People have waxed on about every single tweakable variation to the 4-step process: must you use bread flour for all 3 cups of the required flour? what's the optimum rise time? what works best to coat the bread with: wheat bran, flour or cornmeal? [no; 16-18 hours; wheat bran]

For me, the hardest part has been the absence of a cast iron dutch oven. Alas, I have access to a lil' red Le Creuset beauty here and I've got a loaf in the oven RIGHT NOW. I'm so excited...I picked up some seafood chowder on the way home and my timer reads 12 minutes til bread time. So, stay tuned to see how this all turned out...

I mean, it's supposed to be impossible to screw up...right?

Update: here's the (misshapen) finished product!



And, my lil seafood chowder-salad-bread dinner...

Drive Time

Each day, I commute to work -- 22 miles each way. The drive is incredibly scenic and because of the sheer beauty of the environs, I actually look forward to my hour a day in the car! On bright days, the sun-dappled trees sparkle as they reflect off of Blue Hill Bay. My favorite part is along Route 175, which stretches from my cabin over the Reversing Falls Bridge, and past this magical red barn on Long Island. Driving over the bridge always kind of feels like you're on a ride.




I love the area and I haven't even seen the falls work their magic: "Blue Hill Falls is an unusual reversing falls created by the tide being funneled into a narrow channel to create high (up to 3 feet) standing waves -- 100 - 200 yards total length, depending on the tide," reports one guide book. I have yet to see the tides reach such heights, but I’ve definitely seen the number of kayakers and canoers increase as the temperatures rise. Apparently the area has been a fave with the peeps for centuries: the Red Paint People are believed to have made this place their home over 2,000 years ago.

Gotta love 'em

So, last week when Matt was in town, he received a "courtesy ticket" in Bangor. This is the precise language on the ticket:

"The City of Bangor values your visit. This car is in violation of the time limit for this zone. Since this violation may have been an oversight on your part, the City does not issue parking tickets when the vehicle has not been in violation of a time limit during the previous 90 days."

Poor Man's Food

There was a time when inmates in a Maine penitentiary wrote to the governor begging for more variety in their meals, complaining that their daily dinner of lobster was boring them. Laws were soon passed which made serving lobster to prison inmates more than once a week illegal, as doing so was considered "cruel and unusual punishment."

Today, lobster is definitely a rich man's delicacy. Purchased live, lobsters today will run you $7.50/lb locally. But, for me, the quick and satisfying way to do lobster is to stop at one of the many "lobster pounds" in Coastal Maine and pick up a lobster roll. Done right, the bun is toasted lightly with just a little butter and the lobster meat inside is bound together with just the tiniest bit o'mayonnaise. Their cost ($12.95) and richness make them a wonderful once-in-a-while treat.

Or, you can bite the bullet and order a whole guy, which usually comes with coleslaw and fries. The messy work breeds tasty rewards.

Lavender Love

I keep my food blog obsession on the DL, but it's pretty serious. It usually starts with just a quick glance, a visit to Smitten Kitchen or 101 Cookbooks, for example...just to see what's cooking. Then, I'm quickly sucked in a link vortex; if I click to TasteSpotting it's over: an hour is simply shot. And I'm famished.

There are a dozen or so sites that I deem must-visits and, and were I to not live in a cabin in the woods sans Internet, I would visit daily. So, with a co-worker's birthday on the horizon, it seemed a legitimate reason to revisit some of my favorite online haunts (at work). I discovered this recipe for lavender cupcakes with citrus cream cheese frosting which seemed perfectly summery. I love the way the dried lavender calls to mind the festiveness of sprinkles, without the sugary fakeness, and with the added bonus of the subtle fragrance.

They turned out really well, except I had to forgo the cream filling. It turns out that if you beat heavy whipping cream just seconds too long, you'll end up with lavender butter instead of lavender cream filling. Whoops. But, lavender butter was a happy accident, as it is a fabulous topper on fresh-baked bread (btw these dudes do it right).


The cupcakes were a tremendous success -- everyone at the office had two! I would totally make them again.

Lavender Cupcake Recipe
(Recipe from Cupcake Bakeshop; my notes below)
makes 12 cupcakes / 350 degree oven

1/2 stick butter
3/4 cups sugar
1 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large egg whites

1. soften butter in the mixer on high speed *
2. drizzle the sugar in with the butter and beat until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes
3. sift flour, baking powder, and salt together
4. measure out milk and vanilla
5. add the flour mixture and milk mixture to the butter/sugar in 3 parts alternating between flour and milk and beating well after each addition
6. set aside incorporated mixture
7. in a clean mixer bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form
8. fold egg whites into cake batter until incorporated
9. scoop batter into the prepared cupcake pans
10. bake in the 350 degree oven for approximately 20 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean

Lavender Cream

1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon lavender flowers

1. add sugar and water to a small saucepan set over medium high heat
2. heat the mixture until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon
3. stir in lavender and let the mixture sit over the heat, undisturbed for 3 minutes
4. remove from heat, strain into a small bowl, and set in a second bowl of ice to cool
5. meanwhile add heavy cream to the bowl of an electric mixer and beat with the whip attachment until soft peaks form
6. once the sugar mixture is relatively cool to the touch (it can be slightly warm) drizzle into the cream while beating on medium high
7. continue to beat on high until firm peaks form -- BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVERBEAT!

Citrus Cream cheese Frosting Recipe

1/2 stick butter
1 8oz packages of cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon mixed citrus zest (from lemons, limes, oranges, whatever citrus you have)
1 teaspoon citrus juice (same as above)
2 cups confectioner's sugar
3-4 drops of purple food coloring (I DID NOT USE)

1. soften butter in the mixer on high speed
2. add cream cheese and beat until combined
3. sift confectioner's sugar
4. add about half of the confectioner's sugar and citrus juice and zest to the butter/cream cheese mixture and beat on high speed to combine
5. add remaining confectioner's sugar in stages until desired consistency and sweetness is achieved
6. add purple food coloring and mix until consistent color is achieved (I DID NOT USE)

Assembly
1. using a melon baller, scoop out a bit of the cooled cupcakes
2. using a small spoon, fill each cavity with lavender cream
3. trim off some of the meat of the scooped out cupcake and place back over the cavity
4. pipe cream cheese frosting over the top
5. sprinkle lightly with lavender leaves

* I only have a Braun immersion blender with me here in Maine and it worked just find for this recipe.

Fiddleheads!

I've been really into all things local, since I've dropped my anchor here in Coastal Maine. I feel fortunate to be here during such a fertile season -- I really don't know if I could hack it in winter. One local delicacy, the fiddlehead fern, is prized for its unique taste and oh-so-brief spring appearance. Asparagus is the only vegetable to which it can be compared taste-wise, but even that is a bit of a stretch. Unfurled fronds of ostrich and cinnamon bark ferns, fiddleheads must be boiled (at least 8-10 minutes) prior to eating to remove the toxins found naturally in the plant.

They're crunchy, somewhat bitter yet super tasty. It's quite simple to saute the little snail-like guys with olive oil, garlic. I prepared them last week with asparagus, as the tastes compliment one another and served over whole wheat fettucine and squeezed lemon juice over the pasta.


PS -- I'm trying to improve my food photography skillz...

To Have and Have Not

I have now been living in Maine for just over two weeks. Working at film archive for the summer, I was offered a cabin in the woods to live in for the span of 10 weeks; I graciously accepted the rent-free little abode. Situated on a peninsula overlooking Blue Hill Bay, it's some pretty isolated living.



What the Cabin Has:

• Bay View
• Insulated bedroom
• Refrigerator
  
• 4-burner gas range
  
• Indoor kitchen sink
  
• Outdoor shower
  
• Boom Box
• 1,000+ books, predominantly science-fiction (organized subject & author)
• National Geographic magazines (c. 1914-1965)
• "Port-a-John"
  

What the Cabin Has Not:

• Central Heating
• Television
• Hot water (!)
  
• Bathroom (!!)
  
• Internet access (!!!)