Patch work

The Friends of Edith Patch are compiling a cookbook to raise funds for the restoration of the Dr. Edith Marion Patch historical home on College Avenue on the Old Town-Orono town line. Patch worked as a professor at the University of Maine from 1904 to 1937. She was a world-famous entomologist, an expert on aphids and the first woman president of the Entomological Society of America. The friends group has collected about 200 recipes so far, from restaurants and supporters in Maine and across the country. The group hopes to collect between 800 and 1,000 recipes. To contribute, send as many recipes as you’d like, but be sure to include the recipe title, ingredients, instructions, a short (one or two sentences) family or historical anecdote related to the recipe, your name, phone number and the number of cookbooks you’d like the group to reserve. Send all recipes to Jo Carol Alford, 23 Pond St., Orono, Maine 04473. For information or to reserve a copy of the cookbook, call 866-7517.

Graves Site

Hungry for style? The Graves Design Store can fill your craving with sleek designs by the Princeton, N.J.-based architect. Included among his “objects for the home” are his famous stainless steel Whistling Bird Teakettle and coordinating kitchen accessory pieces. For more information, visit www.gravesdesign.com. For a catalog, call (609) 497-6878.

Stress points

If you pig out when you stress out, it’s time to check out the April issue of Shape magazine. It offers the following six secrets to stop stress eating:

1. Use your mind: Practice “thought stopping” techniques as stress antidotes. The minute a negative thought arises, raise a stop sign in you mind and say, “In the midst of difficulty lies opportunity.” This induces hope-the antidote to stress-into the situation.

2. Crunch without calories: Eat baby carrots and celery if you need to munch.

3. Include protein: It satisfies longer and helps kill carbohydrate cravings. Pump up your raw veggie snack with some low-fat cheese, for example.

4. Drink low-cal fluids: Water-based bean soups are perfect.

5. Avoid alcohol! It often leads to out-of-control eating and disturbed sleep.

6. Take vitamins: A daily multivitamin and a B-complex can help fight stress.