Tag Archives: food

Not to be trifled with.

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Because sometimes recipes make me cry.

Every Thanksgiving I’m asked to bring this dessert, a cappuccino mousse trifle. It’s easy to make and sits well overnight so I can make it ahead of time and not rush the morning of.

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The reason it chokes me up?

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It’s written in my mother’s hand, one of the few examples of her script I have. Yes, it’s old and stained … but to me, it’s precious.

As are the memories of her helping me make it.

If you want to follow along it goes something like this…

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Cube a pound cake.

I like to slice off the top so the coffee absorbs more fully.

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If you have a trifle bowl do three layers, if not… do two like this one. I use Starbucks medium roast instant coffee as it’s much smoother than Folgers.

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Soaked cubes, then coffee mousse layer sprinkled with chocolate. Be sure to use whole milk, not lower fat versions.

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Top with Cool Whip and cinnamon.

I don’t pipe rosettes but feel free to dress it up if you’re an over achiever.

As I said, I make this the afternoon before and find the flavor is deeper the next day.

Enjoy.

😊

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Here a 🦀, there a 🦀.

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Every Thanksgiving I’m asked to bring my Crab Toasties appetizer. And since I rarely make them at home because my husband doesn’t like crabmeat… I’m happy to oblige.

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It’s a treat that takes a good chunk of 💰 seeing that fresh crabmeat is currently $30 a pound and I doubled the batch and needed two pounds, but holidays are made for splurging.

Use fresh crabmeat… do not, I repeat DO NOT! use canned… here’s the recipe.

It’s quick, easy to make and oh so yummy.

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** Crab Toasties **


1 pound cooked crabmeat
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup mozzarella cheese

1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 package Thomas English muffins

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Mix first 5 ingredients together

Quarter English muffins and arrange on cookie sheet.

Spread crab mixture on muffins heavily, sprinkle with paprika and parsley flakes if desired.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

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Easy peasy, nice and cheesy.

Line cookie sheet with parchment paper for quick clean up.

👍

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Royal River Grill House

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One of the few restaurants that rarely disappoints.

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Dead fish greeters.

What’s not to love?

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Their seasonal sangria is to die for.

PUMPKIN PATCH SANGRIA
white wine, vanilla vodka, chai latte,
cinnamon sticks, white cranberry juice,
topped with Downeast pumpkin cider

Mmm, mmm good.

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A tasty calamari appetizer with zucchini, onions and peppers with pepperoncini aioli for nibbles.

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For dinner we both had the same thing because it’s fabulous.

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PAN SEARED PANKO HADDOCK
almond compound buttered green beans,
confit garlic & parmigiano mashed potatoes,
crispy leeks, charred scallion aioli

If you’re in the neighborhood be sure to drop by.

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The #1 reason you should not annoy your waitress at breakfast…

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My husband goes to breakfast with “ the boys” every Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning. Three different restaurants, three different groups of “boys”. I don’t join him because they’re standing tall at the doors when the places open at 5:30am. That, and the fact they love to argue politics before the sun comes up is more than enough to keep me away.

The waitresses at all three restaurants know them, enjoy their business and treat them like family.

This is evidenced by one of the server’s response when a certain sarcastic fellow was giving her a hard time.

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No, it wasn’t my husband.

But he did take the picture of these anatomically correct eggs I’m sharing with you now.

Waitresses.

Ya gotta love ‘em.

🤣

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News you can’t use.

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I often wonder who can, but then realize I don’t want to know.

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And look, she wore diamond covered pancakes in appreciation. Isn’t that sweet?

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And they say New Yorkers are heartless.

Pfft!

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It’s McDonald’s, so that’s saying something.

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The chain has added the McSalad Burger to its menu in New Zealand. The name is silly, but when you look at what’s being sold, customers should ask some questions.

McDonald’s Salad Burger features tomato, shredded lettuce, slivered onions, American cheese, two pickles, and peppery McChicken sauce, on a toasted sesame seed bun.

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A burger without the burger.

The very definition of stupid.

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Poor rooster.

He’s just doing what roosters do…

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With thanks to Jan…

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A blogging friend shared her favorite mac and cheese recipe with me recently so you know I have to post about it.

http://jttwissel.com/2023/11/12/best-mac-cheese-silentsunday/

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Gathering all the ingredients, I was ready to make the magic happen.

This recipe was a bit more labor intensive than my old standby, but I was up to the task.

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Rich and creamy doesn’t begin to describe the sauce.

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Out of the oven, the freshly made garlic topping smelled wonderful.

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I served this alongside twice baked pork chops and fresh green beans but honestly it was so decadently cheesy it could stand alone as a meal. My husband found the garlic topping a bit overpowering, but he’s not a lover of the pungent bulb and I am… so it stayed.

I’m looking forward to polishing off another bowl of this yummy leftover for lunch and while a lot of recipes lose their cheesy goodness the next day, I’m betting this one won’t.

Thanks again Jan!

It’s a winner.

👍

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Because every now and then a girl needs a 7 page cocktail list with lunch.

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Replacement windows.

They’re enough to drive a girl to drink.

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And what better place than the Blind Pig with their extensive cocktail menu?

First up… a spiked pear margarita.

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In a word?

Yum.

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This isn’t one of my husband’s favorite places as the food is hit or miss, but the cocktails can’t be beat.

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Round two was the mad mojito, but I requested it without the coconut milk top.

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Mmm…. fresh strawberries and mint.

And thankfully the chicken tenders were amazing that day. Fresh and juicy with a nice crisp coating. Even the husband approved.

😉

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Thanksgiving fun.

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As I mentioned before, we spend Thanksgiving with close friends. So close we’re like family. The homeowner grew up with my husband, and his neighbor is my husband’s ex BIL.

A good time was had by all.

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Great minds think alike and there was twice as much Sangria.

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Though mine emptied more quickly.

😉

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My husband found the dart board before dinner and a close game of sharply pointed projectiles ensued.

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And then we all had to trot out to the garage to check out our friend’s new (old) toy.

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A fully restored 1972 Jeep.

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Later that afternoon it was time to carve the turkey and make the gravy.

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And sit down to feast.

I stopped taking pictures at this point and happily sampled a little bit of everything.

Hope your holiday was full of food and fun as well.

💕

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Happy Turkey Day!

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Here’s hoping your Thanksgiving is filled with all your favorite things.

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For me it’s all about the stuffing. Or dressing if you prefer. The right one makes the meal, the wrong one kills it.

I’m also making a double batch of Harvest Sangria. That goes a long way to improving people’s mood.

And I’m not sure why this even needs to be said, but apparently it does.

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Someone.. sometime… had to do this.

The mind boggles.

🤣

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The donut review.

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On our way back from the disappointing brewery the other day I made the husband pull into The Holy Donut…. because I’ve posted about them a few times but haven’t had the chance to try them.

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The almost $24 half dozen box cradled comfortably in my lap, we made for home.

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I was excited to try these extremely popular, much talked about, potato laden famous Maine treats.

Flavor assortment from top to bottom:

Apple cider glazed, apple cinnamon, toasted coconut, maple bacon, vanilla chai and the one slot I afforded my husband… an old fashioned. Yes, the only donut he likes is plain, to which I respond – why bother.

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As I dove in to taste test, the first thing I noticed was size. These things are big.

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But sadly, like everything else…. quantity does not equal quality. While the apple cider glazed and toasted coconut were tasty enough, I have to admit I was underwhelmed. The donuts were heavy, thick and generally nothing special. I admit to trying a chunk of each one while they were fresh and can’t say they were worth the effort or price (3.75 per). People go nuts for these things in Maine and will stand on line outside the stores in order to purchase them but honestly, after trying them? I don’t understand why.

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