Go to seed This time of year, it seems pomegranates are popping up everywhere. Those little seeds taste great, but the effort exerted to eat them hardly seems worth it. But the Pomegranate Council’s Web site has a whole range of recipes, including the pictured… Read More
Off with their heads …Or their feet – whichever you want to eat first. Epi Sub & Pizza on Main Street in Bangor is holding its annual gingerbread fund-raiser for the Bangor Humane Society. You can buy traditional or white chocolate-dipped gingerbread people for $1… Read More
Berry good Cranberry sauce is a holiday staple, and it’s even more festive when it’s made with cranberries from Maine. Bradshaw’s cranberry sauce and cranberry spread are tasty as a side for poultry, as a glaze for pork and ham, or simply slathered on a… Read More
Maine dishes Two associates from Maine are featured in the 2004 “Wal-Mart Family Cookbook.” Kathy Marston of Lee entered her Crockery Cooker Enchiladas and Diane Raymond of Caribou contributed a recipe for spicy, moist Apple Bread. To make the pictured enchiladas, cook 12 ounces ground… Read More
Gobble-gobble If you have too much turkey, The folks at GLAD (wraps and containers) can help. They teamed up with chefs from Legal Sea Foods, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and T.G.I. Friday’s to present innovative recipes for leftovers. Chef Rick Vallente of Legal Sea Foods… Read More
Toaster with the most-er Why should bread and bagels have all the fun? Croissants, pitas and rolls have needs, too. That’s why Rowenta designed the Integrating Warming Platform, which heats pastries and breads on top of the toaster. It reheats 25 percent faster than toaster… Read More
Throw in the towel There’s a spider in the kitchen, but don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere. It’s part of Crate & Barrel’s trio of Halloween-themed dish towels, which makes a festive addition to any kitchen. They cost $7.95, and if you hurry, they… Read More
Luscious lobster They came. They cooked. They conquered. And when it was all over, chef William Clifford of The Daily Catch in Boothbay Harbor walked away with $1,000 and the right to call himself the Maine Lobster Chef of the Year. Clifford’s recipe for Maine… Read More
To diet for Who’s your diet guru – Dr. Atkins? Dr. Ornish? Dr. Phil? Nutritionist and activist Sally Fallon, who will speak this weekend in Fryeburg, says none of the above. Fallon, co-author of “Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the… Read More
October cheer Add a little oompah to your weekend at the eighth annual Oktoberfest celebration in Southwest Harbor. The event will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Smuggler’s Den campground on Route 102. You can raise your glasses in the beverage tent,… Read More
Maine dish The state’s restaurants are thinking globally but cooking locally as part of Maine Menus Month. The event, sponsored by the Maine Department of Agriculture, celebrates restaurants that feature local produce, meat, seafood and other products on their menus. In October, diners are encouraged… Read More
Thrill of the grill Amy Oliver of Bangor, the pastry chef at Guinness & Porcelli’s, won third-place honors in Jack Daniel’s nationwide “The Secret is in the Sauce” recipe competition. To make her Caramelized Onion Jack Barbecue Sauce at home, melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter… Read More
Old-school cooking Baby boomers and budding young chefs alike will love the retro-cool reissue of “Betty Crocker’s Cook Book for Boys and Girls,” first published nearly 50 years ago. It features such tasty treats as Ice Cream Cone Cakes, Pigs In Blankets, and Raggedy Ann… Read More
Winter port Why settle for any port in a storm? You can have “The Flying Dutchman,” a blackberry port-style wine that is the first in the Winterport Winery’s schooner series of specialty wines. It is a full-bodied, rich, fortified wine that pairs as well with… Read More
A tasty tour You can take a peek at some of Camden and Rockport’s most elegant kitchens and taste some of the area’s best cuisine during Merryspring Park’s Kitchen Tour, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Wednesday, Aug. 6. During the self-guided tour, which… Read More
The AAA-List You don’t have to wait for your car to break down to enjoy a meal at one of AAA’s Four Diamond Award winning restaurants. The American Automobile Association of Northern New England has announced its Maine choices, which have set themselves apart for… Read More
Bee good Wondering what the buzz is all about in Orono? It’s time for the historical society’s eighth annual tasting bee, which allows foodies to sample food from six local restaurants. The event will take place from 5 to 7 tonight at the Asa Adams… Read More
Maine meals Wondering “What’s for Suppah?” Come find out at the Maine Film and Video Association’s meeting tonight at Maine Public Broadcasting Corp. The meeting is open to the public and will include a social hour from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by a live… Read More
Thinking about drinking A new exhibition at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, “Beyond Thirst: The Dimensions of Drink,” explores the cultural significance of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. It includes decorative drinking implements, such as a seven-piece silver tea service, as well as works on… Read More
Corn reborn There’s nothing like the first ear of corn of the season, but after a while the corn-butter-salt combo can get a bit mundane. To combat corn-on-the-cob boredom, the Fresh Supersweet Corn Council has amassed a bunch of recipes, including the pictured Grilled Corn… Read More
Go nuts With salad days approaching, the California Almond Board has posted a selection of recipes on its Web site (www.almondsarein.com). The site features such meal-size salads as the pictured Almond Super Falafel Salad, as well as side salads and main dishes. To make Almond… Read More
Punchy lunch If you’re sick of your sandwiches getting smooshed in your lunch bag, try one of these stylish and cheap lunch boxes from the Pearl River Market in New York City. The stainless-steel boxes come in two sizes: 5 by 61/2 inches for $3.95… Read More
Art on the menu As part of its family-friendly educational outreach program, Margaritas Mexican restaurant in Orono will hold a public demonstration by Mexican wood carver Epifanio Fuentes Vasquez from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Vasquez, a native of Oaxaca, Mexico, combines religious, decorative and… Read More
Just desserts Satisfy your sweet tooth and support a good cause at Spruce Run’s annual Gala Dessert Party from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Spectacular Events Center on the Griffin Road in Bangor. The event will feature “desserts by the area’s most famous chocolatiers… Read More
Coastal challenge Feeling chili? Warm up at the Village Soup Chili & Chowder Challenge, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Camden Snow Bowl in Camden. Twelve restaurants from Camden, Rockport and Rockland will serve up 11 chilis and six chowders. Diners will cast… Read More
Honey, who shrunk my Martha? Wintertime … and the cooking is easy. Martha Stewart’s new venture, the pint-size Everyday Food magazine, is full of surprisingly simple recipes with ingredients that you can find at the grocery store without traveling to Boston – and most of… Read More
Chinese New Year Eat, drink and be merry at Legal Sea Foods’ Chinese New Year celebration in Boston. The event, which takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the restaurant’s Park Square location, will feature traditional crafts and demonstrations, Chinese music, dancing and… Read More
Flexing her mussels Rosemary Conners, former proprietor of Pasta Vino in Bangor, has won a nationwide recipe contest sponsored by Great Eastern Mussel Farms. The Tenants Harbor-based firm put a call out for dishes featuring farm-raised mussels, and Conners’ Prosciutto and Tarragon Mussels won her… Read More
Sea smoke Any New Year’s Eve party could use a burst of flavor, and Stonington Sea Products has a bevy of options, including its $89 smoked seafood party pack. Stonington Sea Products’ gourmet packs include such treats as smoked scallops, salsa smoked mussels, hickory-roasted salmon,… Read More
Cooking up business Atlanta-based Metrokitchen.com, run by Brewer native Jay-Paul Thibault, just released its first catalog in time for the holidays. The company features high-end cookware, including pots and pans by All-Clad and Mauviel, knives by Wusthof and Henckels, and appliances by Cuisinart and Waring. Read More
Festive treats You could just skip the turkey and head straight for dessert. Crate & Barrel makes it easy with its collection of six fall cookie cutters and “decoratifs,” which is fancy for “sprinkles.” The cookie cutters come in taffy apple, pie slice, scarecrow, pilgrim… Read More
The great pumpkin If you’ve already scooped out the seeds and carved your jack-o’-lanterns, you’ll probably be happy if you don’t see another pumpkin for a while. But Stonewall Kitchen’s Maple Pumpkin Butter lets you enjoy the fruit without the labor. The only work you… Read More
Frightening fromage Contrary to popular belief, it is easy being cheesy. Hormel’s Goblin Cheeseball recipe will add a goofy yet ghoulish touch to any Halloween party menu, and you can make it in a snap. All you need to do is buy a prepared cheese… Read More
Bathtime treat If holiday desserts go straight to your thighs, give Philosophy’s Pumpkin Pie a try. This way, you can rub it on (it’s a shower gel) and it won’t stick – unlike its edible counterparts. It smells good enough to eat, yet you can… Read More
Specialties of the house When Jo Carol Alford put out a call for submissions to “Favorite Recipes from Friends of Edith Patch,” she didn’t know what to expect. The response was overwhelming. Apparently everyone wants to help restore the Patch House on the University of… Read More
Jam packed The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade recently awarded Stonewall Kitchen its Best Product Line honors. The York-based purveyor of gourmet condiments is no stranger to the awards, which it also won in 1995 and 1996. You can share the sweet taste… Read More
Sticking to it When Rosemary (Momma) Baldacci passed away this winter, it was uncertain what would happen to the breadstick company she started with her daughter, whose name is also Rosemary. Mother and daughter did all the baking, delivering and marketing themselves, and the younger… Read More
Beyond boiled It’s not exactly the Iron Chef – the contestants already know what the secret ingredient will be – but competition will still be pretty tight at the Blaine House on Thursday. Nine Maine chefs will square off for the Great Taste of Maine… Read More
A fair to remember Competition was tight Monday at the Bangor State Fair, but after hours of tasting judges chose recipes by Mary Harbison of Houlton and Stacey Guerin of Glenburn for blue ribbons in the Fleichmann’s Breadworld.com and Spam Oven Roasted Turkey contests. Harbison… Read More
Aw, shucks If you’ve been hiding out all summer, it’s time to get out of your shell for the 37th annual Yarmouth Clam Festival, which opens at 10 a.m. Friday and runs through 6 p.m. Sunday on Main Street in Yarmouth. This year’s fair will… Read More
A cooler cooler This summer, you can stay cool, old-school, with Coleman’s “C Steel” cooler from Restoration Hardware. With a 54-quart capacity, it maintains ice for up to three days, even when temperatures soar to 100 degrees F. And with a shiny steel exterior, it… Read More
Tealicious Not that it’s been hot enough to think about cool treats, but for those who like to plan ahead, the Stash Tea Catalog has a few ideas. Stash’s summer catalog offers pitcher-size tea bags in flavors such as Fruity Blueberry, classic American Blend, and… Read More
International flair Montes International Catering in Bangor has kicked off its wildly popular International Weeks. This week’s feature is Mexican, with quesadillas, fajita wraps and vegetarian black bean soup for lunch and enchiladas, grilled chicken with jalapeno cilantro salsa and grilled tuna with a mango… Read More
Dysart’s dining “The Dysart’s Cookbook,” published last April, just keeps on truckin’. The book, which includes such favorites as Dysart’s Famous White Bread and the Hermon restaurant’s house blue cheese dressing, was such a hit that it’s now in its second printing. It was written… Read More
O Christmas sweets For the sweet tooth who has everything, Godiva’s Yuletide Temptations Basket makes an extravagantly tasteful Christmas gift. The golden wire basket includes a stocking stuffed with chocolate bars, a chocolate Santa, truffles, biscuits, coffee and more. It costs $100 and is available… Read More
Soy to the world Looking for a healthy gift? Bar Harbor-based Soyatech has teamed up with Healthy-Eating.com to urge people to “give the gift of soy” this holiday season. The gifts include cookbooks and food-sampling baskets packed with soy goodies. To view the full line… Read More
A nutty treat The First Congregational Church of Milford will sell its homemade, salty-sweet peanut brittle through the holiday season as a fund-raiser. The candy comes in 10-ounce bags for $2 each and is available at the church (Tuesdays are the best days to stop… Read More
Sweet gifts Whether you decide to give them or keep them all for yourself, the treats in Pillsbury’s “Holiday Cookies and Candies” will inspire you to start your holiday baking early. In addition to sweet little Snowman Face cookies and String o’ Lights Almond Wafers,… Read More
Charmed, I’m sure Unless you have six different wineglasses, there’s bound to be some confusion over whose glass is whose when you entertain. Chiasso has the solution: chrome-plated wine charms that encircle the stem of each glass, each with a witty description that leaves no… Read More
Gobble-gobble To heck with the bird. This year skip straight to dessert with Wilburs of Maine’s 12-pound solid chocolate turkey. You don’t even need to stuff it! The tasty turkey costs $95 and is available by calling (888) 762-5787 or visit one of Wilburs’ three… Read More
Coffee connection If you’d like to kick back with a steamy cup of coffee, a cappuccino or a latte, try the new Vault Caf?, in the former People’s Heritage Bank building at the corner of Hammond and Columbia streets in Bangor. Jim, Sam and Sarah… Read More
Brew-ha-ha Raise your pint glasses for the Maine Brewers’ Festival, this Saturday at the Portland Expo. Admission costs $19 in advance, $20 at the door, and includes a souvenir tasting glass and 12 sampling tickets, so you can taste some of Maine’s best brews. In… Read More
Home-grown menus Restaurants across the state are cooking up locally grown and raised ingredients in honor of Maine Menus Month. With offerings such as steak fajitas, roasted game meats, stir-fried veggies or Maine crab ravioli, the selections are all mouth-watering. Maine Menus Month is a… Read More
Bourbon legends Jim Beam’s great-grandson, Fred Noe, will visit South Portland Thursday as host of the Kentucky Bourbon Circle’s small-batch bourbon collection tasting at the Marriott Sable Oaks. The complimentary tasting takes place at 7 p.m. is open to members of the Kentucky Bourbon Circle. Read More
Cone-y pie land It can get messy trying to walk and eat pie at the same time, but Frances and David Walker of Freedom have the solution: Pie Cones. The Walkers originally created the cones 10 years ago so visitors at the Common Ground Fair… Read More
Romantic dinners Looking to spice up dinner? Forget the curry powder and head straight to Reynolds Wrap’s dinnerunplugged.com, where you can send your mate an e-mail invitation for a home-cooked meal. The site has easy recipes such as Ginger Salmon (pictured), hints for romance (it… Read More
Grilling time Grilled cheese is an old standby, but the participants in Mr. Food’s Hometown Grilled Cheese contest gave it a new twist. Tracy Preston of New Orleans piled Italian bread high with Muenster and pepper jack cheeses, andouille sausage, and pepper jelly before grilling. Read More
Take the cake … or the muffin, or the pie at the Union Fair’s Maine Wild Blueberry Festival. This year’s blueberry bakeoff has five categories: Melt in Your Mouth Wild Blueberry Cake, in which each entrant bakes the same recipe; Wild Blueberry Dessert Competition; Wild… Read More
A grape idea The California Table Grape Commission has concocted an easy, cool summer treat that grownups and kids will like. To make Grape Ice, take 1 pound seedless grapes and remove from stems. Rinse and drain well. Puree grapes in food processor or blender. Read More
Five-alarm recipes Tabasco is calling on firefighters to submit their hottest recipes for the second national Cook & Ladder competition. Ten finalists will be flown to a cook-off at Peter Kump’s New York Cooking School. The grand prize is $10,000; the second prize is $5,000;… Read More
Picnic pretty For your own ?salad days,? check out Tupperware?s new outdoor entertaining line. The ?Impressions? line of salad bowls, salad tongs and snack trays come in translucent summery shades such as lilac, spring green, sunlight, orange cream and delta blue. Prices range from $8… Read More
For smooth(ie) skin A smoothie can be cool and refreshing on a hot summer day, but did you know it also can benefit your skin? A recent study by the University of California at Davis found that the antioxidants in peaches, plums and nectarines can… Read More
Raise the roots So you got a late start on your garden and you’re tired of buying fresh herbs at the grocery store. L.L. Bean can help. The company’s Raised Bed Planter is a garden to go. Just add dirt and some plants and voila!… Read More
The swell jar Cool off your beverages the old-fashioned way with Crate & Barrel’s lidded 2-gallon jar and ladle. Or you could just fill it with snacks. Either way, it looks fabulous. The jar costs $18.95 and the ladle costs $12.95. Both are available online… Read More
Beefless in Bangor When Michelle Thomas’ husband, Scott, developed a cholesterol problem, she developed some new, healthful recipes for her family. One of them, Tasty Lentil Tacos, appears in the June-July issue of Taste of Home’s Light & Tasty magazine. “Finding dishes that were healthy… Read More
Chili chefs The people at The Hinckley Co. may be known for their boat building, but they also make a heck of a bowl of chili. Becky Murphy, who works in Hinckley’s service department, won the fifth annual Chili Cook Off with her recipe, No… Read More
Yankee ingenuity 1794 Watchtide By the Sea, a bed and breakfast in Searsport, has been named an Editor’s Pick in the 2001 edition of “Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England.” This isn’t the first time the Watchtide has been honored by Yankee. Innkeeper Nancy-Linn… Read More
Ale art Kitty Hudson of Missouri used an 80-year-old photograph taken by her grandparents on Monhegan Island as the basis for her winning entry in the third annual D.L. Geary Brewing Co. Label Design Competition. Each year, David Geary selects a design by a Maine College… Read More
Pasta palate On Thursday, taste testers at the University of Maine will try to rate a new gourmet product that incorporates minced crab into fresh pasta. The test will take place from noon to 4 p.m. in Holmes Hall and will be conducted by UM’s… Read More
Food for thought There’s nothing fresher than food grown in your own garden. If you’re looking for unusual, organic seeds for vegetables and spices, try The Cook’s Garden Catalog. It’s packed with seeds, gardening books and prints. For a free copy, call (800) 457-9703, fax… Read More
Just desserts If you live by the governor’s advice to eat dessert first, this weekend’s Gala Dessert Party was made for you. In addition to satisfying your sweet tooth, the event also benefits a good cause. The party will take place from 7 to 9… Read More
Round about So you just found out you owe a week’s pay to the IRS, you already booked your vacation in Florida and you’re already behind on this month’s car payment. It’s time to cut back. One easy way is to take your lunch to… Read More