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It was barely 20 degrees and with the wind gusting it felt like 5… but we persevered.
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If the trolls could take it, so could we.
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It really was a beautiful way to spend an evening.
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So many places to explore, each one prettier than the last.
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If you’re wondering why I have so many pictures of the lighted sea and lighthouse, it’s because my husband found someone to talk to and I had to wait for his conversation to finish.
No surprise there.
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To be continued…
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Merry Christmas to me.
Or not…
We opted for a peaceful holiday this year, no travel no party no family, just a quiet day at home with a slow roasted turkey dinner.
And that’s where it went horribly wrong.
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Because turkey’s not supposed to be green.
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But ours was when I pulled it out of the fridge to cook this morning.
It was a fresh bird I purchased on the 20th with a sell by date of the 26th… but clearly the big storm that knocked out power last week claimed this gobbler as victim.
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Good thing I made lasagna last night because it looks like it’s leftovers for us.
Ho, ho, Hell….
🥴
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By the time we finished the craft show and museum at the college we were famished, not to mention thirsty, and headed for a restaurant I’d heard good things about in Bangor called Timber.
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Upon entry we saw snow globe dining had made a return. This started during Covid and people liked the private option so much some places have continued the trend.
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I don’t want to eat in a plastic bubble, but to each their own.
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Timber was named to reflect the logging heritage of Northern Maine…
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So rustic woods met casual elegance in the decor.
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Being with my husband, naturally we sat at the bar.
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Which is never my first choice, but it is closer to the cocktails so I don’t complain too loudly.
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Round one? A blood orange cranberry margarita.
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Timber’s cocktail menu is multi paged and varied and I happily sampled a few.
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Round two was a Stoli blueberry fog with a fantastic elderflower foam. The only thing wrong with it was the size of the glass. Bring me a pitcher!
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Yes, there was food. Perfectly prepared crab cakes with spicy corn relish for me.
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French onion soup for the husband. He was a bit disappointed in this as it wasn’t the traditional preparation… but I thought it was wonderful.
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Round 3 for me was a Hendricks cucumber cooler. Crisp, green and herbal. Perfect.
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Loggers on the way to the rest room.
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Brick oven forest mushroom pizza with arugula and fontina cheese for me. Hand tossed and so rich I barely got through half… but it was heavenly.
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Butternut squash ravioli with cranberries, feta cheese, tomatoes and spinach for my other half. Thankfully he loved this.
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When it came to dessert I drank mine off the special menu.
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A sugar cookie martini. I don’t usually like these over sweetened concoctions but in place of pie? It works.
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Husband opted for lemon meringue cheesecake and coffee.
Heck, someone had to drive…. and it certainly wasn’t going to be me.
🤣
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You know I’m never going to run out of these.
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Just when you think things can’t get any more ridiculous….
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They do.
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And speaking of nipples….
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Jesus wept.
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Humans aren’t a very bright species. Id say that’s proof..
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Call me crazy, but if you’re living somewhere illegally? It’s probably not a great idea to call this much attention to yourself.
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They’re back…
And more horrible than ever.
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Sorry.
I’m knocking it… and not trying it.
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Deep fried pickled eggs?
Never.
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I prefer my cupcakes without brine injectors thank you very much.
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That’s the ultimate sacrilege right there.
Keep your pickles out of my chowder!
😡
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Here are a few tidbits worth sharing from my great…. but admittedly slightly weird, state.
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For anyone who has ever been north of Bangor, this is not a surprise.
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I’ve been north of Bangor.
It’s easy to do.
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Take a chair, give a chair?
Interesting concept.
Christmas can look a little different up here as well. Northern Maine is potato country…. and in Aroostock county?
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Potatoes take center stage.
Farther south? It’s all about the lobster and trees are made out of buoys….
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As well as traps.
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Santa?
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He arrives on a lobster boat, with an extra large lobster riding shotgun.
😊
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I was peeling carrots the other day and pulled this one out of the bag…
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Produce shouldn’t have legs.
Arms?
Thanks Monsanto.
😳
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I remember eating at Friendly’s as a child.
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It wasn’t haute cuisine but the sandwiches were halfway decent and every meal ended with an ice cream sundae so no one really cared.
The other day when my friend and I were out shopping, it was literally the only place around so we stopped in for lunch.
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I vaguely remembered their Big Beef being a sizable burger and decided to take a trip down memory lane.
That was a big mistake.
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What the holy hell!
At first I thought they’d fried an egg on my burger but that was cheese.
A cheese ‘skirt’ to be precise. And though you’d think it would be hard to go wrong with half a plate full of cheese… they managed, because it was awful. Greasy on top, hard as rock on the bottom.
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And the Big Beef?
The only thing Big was my disappointment because the Beef was practically non existent… not to mention well done and crunchy.
The waiter at this restaurant may have been friendly, but the food certainly wasn’t.
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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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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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River's world..... 