Tag Archives: Maine

The “Summer Kitchen”

I’m a big fan of a certain television show wherein the host travels around the country interviewing people who cook on unusual, outdoor setups. It’s compelling for two reasons: first, it’s just nice to see folks standing around a fire and cooking a meal without a lot of fake time constraints or competitive judging. Second,Continue reading “The “Summer Kitchen””

Back to the Woodpile

When things feel awful and out of control, I typically default to some combination of exercise and organization an attempt to remind myself that I do, in fact, have the ability to effect change and progress, if even symbolically. In my days as a trial attorney, this typically meant something as simple as cleaning myContinue reading “Back to the Woodpile”

The Rite(s) of Spring

Mainers will tell you they hate the winter. And some of us do. But what we really hate is the spring. The problem isn’t necessarily the weather itself, though the manic teasing of sunny warmth pulled back with a whip-crack of snow flurries does wear thin at times. Nor is the issue the omnipresent mudContinue reading “The Rite(s) of Spring”

Shrimp Fried Rice

#RecipeUpTop (details to follow): 4 cups leftover cooked rice (white or brown); 2 large eggs; 1/2 bag frozen peas and carrots; 1 medium red bell pepper; 5 cabbage leaves; 1 small yellow onion; 1/2lb shrimp (or other protein of choice); Vegetable oil (varies, but less than a 1/2 cup) Sauce: 2 cloves garlic; 1 tablespoonContinue reading “Shrimp Fried Rice”

Sweet Potato-Stuffed Ravioli with Brown Butter and Sage

#RecipeUpTop (details to follow): 5 large eggs (4 for pasta, one for egg wash) ; 3 medium sweet potatoes; 300 grams all-purpose flour; 4 tablespoons butter (total); 1/4 cup whole milk (optional); Fresh sage (to taste); Salt (to taste); Black pepper (to taste); Freshly ground nutmeg (optional); Method: Beat the eggs with six (6) gramsContinue reading “Sweet Potato-Stuffed Ravioli with Brown Butter and Sage”

Caraway-Cognac Apple Turnovers

#RecipeUpTop (Details below): Puff pastry (recipe here); 3 small apples; 1 egg; 1 tablespoon cognac; 1 tablespoon whole caraway seed; 1 teaspoon grains of paradise; Salt (to taste); Sugar (to coat) Method: Peel and dice your apples, and add to a medium mixing bowl with a pinch of salt. Crack the spices with a mortarContinue reading “Caraway-Cognac Apple Turnovers”

Microclimate of the Crystal Palace

When I quit my job after more than a decade as a trial attorney to move my family to rural Maine and focus on a life of reduced cost, reduced consumption, and more focused living, I had the same conversation on loop for about three months. I would tell a contemporary about my plans, maybeContinue reading “Microclimate of the Crystal Palace”

Cinnamon-Sugar Puff Pastry Treats

#RecipeUpTop (details below): Puff pastry scraps (recipe here); 2 tablespoons butter; Cinnamon-sugar, to taste; Method: place the scraps on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat. Melt the butter, and brush the strips, then apply cinnamon-sugar to taste. Bake at 400F for twenty (20) minutes, and remove to a cooling rack. TheContinue reading “Cinnamon-Sugar Puff Pastry Treats”

The Velvet Headphones of a Snowy Day

Well, as predicted, the storm was a comin’, and everything is largely shut down. School is cancelled, meaning we have a house full of stir-crazy children while adult obligations persist unfettered. In my youth, the snow day was a cherished event, an unscheduled reprieve from the monotony of school. An entire day to play outside,Continue reading “The Velvet Headphones of a Snowy Day”