Phoebe's Kitchen

Find the Taste and Tales of Massachusetts at Orchard House in Concord, MA

Orchard House was the home of author Louisa May Alcott.  The house is most noted for being where she wrote and set her beloved classic, Little Women, in 1868 at a "shelf desk" her father built especially for her.  Approximately 80% of the furnishings on display were owned by the Alcotts, the rooms look very much as they did when the family lived there, causing many modern-day visitors to comment that, "A visit to Orchard House is like a walk through Little Women!"

Our cookbook, the Taste and Tales of Massachusetts is available at the Orchard House Museum Store.  This weekend there will be holiday festivities at the House, "A Little Women Christmas at Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House"

French Apple Pie

 6      large apples - 2 each                                    MacIntosh,  Cortlands and                            Granny Smith  

1/2   teaspoon cinnamon                        

1/2  teaspoon nutmeg                               

1      cup sugar                                               

        pinch  sea salt 

 1     tablespoon flour                                      

 3/4 cup raisins tossed with 1 tablespoon  flour

1. In pie shell arrange alternate layers of apples, sugar,spices, and raisins.  Cover top with thin pastry.
2. Slash top in several places and seal edges.
3. Bake 60-70 at 350° until pastry is golden.
4. Top with confectioners sugar mixed with water.

Optional:  Add 1/2 cup dried cranberries before covering pie.

Find Taste and Tales of Coastal New England at R J Julia in Madison, CT

R J Julia at 768 Boston Post Road in Madison, CT now carries the Taste and Tales of Coastal New England, A Taste of Lobsters and some tales too... and the Taste and Tales of Cape Cod.  

Growing up our family spent many hours along the Connecticut shoreline.  I took my first boatride at the age of 6 months from Clinton, CT.  As teenagers my brother and I spent time at Hammonasett Beach.  It is so different than it is today.  Back in the 1960s, there was a wonderful boardwalk with concession stands and even music events on weekends. The My brother and his pals usually spent a week camping at the State Park.  The word Hammonasett means, "where we dig holes in the ground" and refers to the place where a settlement of eastern woodland Indians farmed along the Hammonasset River. The park has served many purposes since 1898 when it was used as a testing range for Wincester Repeating Arms Company; an army reservation during WW II and an aircraft firing range.  I best remember it as a beach. My brother and his pals usually spent a week camping at the State Park.  I remember going from our home in Old Lyme one evening and having sloppy joes sitting around a campfire.  

                                                                                                                                                                    
Sloppy Joes                    

1 pound lean ground beef  

1  medium onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 cup chopped celery

1 cup celery

1 cup ketchup

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon ground mustard

freshly ground pepper to taste

6 hamburger buns, split

 

1. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef, onion, garlic and celery over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients except buns. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender.
3. Fill buns with beef mixture.

Serves 6

 

 

Taste and Tales of New York

        Introducing our latest cookbook with over 200 recipes and nearly 200 interesting tales and tidbits. 

Once again Louise Minks of Leverett, MA painted an amazing image that we used for the cover.  The colors literally just jump off.

Kudos go to Lynee Rudie of Turners Falls who designed the book.  She did an absolutely fabulous job. 

The book is available through our website, www.basspondpress.com.  There are representative tales and a delicious recipe for the official muffin of New York, an Apple Muffin.

 

 

Find Us In Wareham

The books from Bass Pond Press can be found in several stores in the Wareham area.  The first retailer to carry our books was the Tihonet Village Market.  It is a great little market and I can highly recommend their Cranberry Chicken Salad and their yogurt parfait.  Each Columbus Day weekend they host the Cranberry Harvest Festival.  Taking one of the helicopter rides is on my to-do list.  The last time I was there, the wind was simply to high for me.

Other places that are the Taste and Tales of Massachusetts,  Cape Cod , Coastal New Enlgand, A Taste of Cranbberries and A Taste of Lobsters include The Old Company Store, Borders, and the Paper Store. 

The Old Company Store is more than a general store.  Whatever Christmas present you are looking for be it cookbooks, specialty foods, penny candy, and all sorts of really neat gifts.

The new stores are joining forces this Saturday, Growing up Elf on the Shelf was a favorite.  I still have my elf which comes out each year.   Winter Wonderland Hay ride this Saturday, Decmber 4th! Arrive at Tihonet Village Market or The Old Company Store to join in the Elf Search. Ride over the river and through the Bogs searching for Elves and little Elf Houses. Cider, Cocoa, and treats will be served. Cookie and CupCake Decorating, Elf Hats, and other fun activities 10:00am-3:00pm.

Have fun shopping!

Thoughts of Thanksgiving

Four years ago my Mother, Phoebe “Perry”, passed away on the Monday before Thanksgiving and since that time I have been spending the holiday with family friends in Gloucester.  My mother was a graduate of the nursing school at Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester where she had two really good friends, Barbara “Mac” Mack Kennedy and Josephine “Polly” Capillo.  The names in quotes are their nicknames they gave to each other based on their last name.  I visit Mac’s son, Brien and his family each Thanksgiving.

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in 2007, I was headed down the Mass Turnpike when I got a call and was told to go to the Elks out on Bass Rocks.  I am positive that there is not an Elks in the country with such a view.  It is where the Easterly Restaurant used to be.  It seems on this day every year they serve over 200 meals to area senior citizens.  I will never forget that day 4 years ago.  I arrived a very sad person and walk into a bevy of activity.  I was assigned to assist with putting the take out containers together as over 40 of these are prepared and delivered to home-bound seniors.  This was the best remedy for my sadness.  Before long the tears subsided and were replaced by smiles.  

This year, for once, the weather was beautiful, not a cloud to be seen and the surf was smooth as glass.  The seniors came and partook of a delicious meal of turkey and  all the trimmings.  These were not your grocery store turkey, but ones raised by a member of the Elks.  Everyone always has a great time and this year the party was graced by two Pilgrims.

 

As like most people we overindulged on Thanksgiving with a wonderful dinner prepared by Brien’s wife Annette.  I contributed my Cranberry Apple Sausage Stuffing along with Pumpkin and Cranberry Bread.  On my way to Gloucester, I stopped at Henry’s Market in Beverly and picked up some of their delicious crab dip.  This was indeed enjoyed by all.

On the Friday after Thanksgiving, I headed to Kennebunk, ME to do a book signing at Keys to the Kitchen.  This is a wonderful kitchen supply store in the Lower Village on Rt. 35.  After the book signing, my friend and I head to H.B. Provisions to grab a bite.  Since a lobster roll was on the menu, we both decided to have one.  It was absolutely delicious!  The roll however was not a hot dog roll, but a hamburger bun and not your everyday bun.  It was served with tomato and lettuce with a tad of mayonnaise.  I will definitely enjoy these again in the future.

On the way back to Gloucester, we stopped at Tendercrop Farm in Newbury to pick up some extraordinary crackers, La Panzanella Sesame Croccantini.  Use them with cheese spreads, sandwich mixtures such as egg salad or even in Meat Loaf.  We also picked up some English Toasting Bread which is delicious with apple butter, jam or jelly.

Heavenly Meatloaf Appetizer

• 1 pound ground beef and 1 lb of ground pork
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1/2 cup of La Panzanella Croccantini, finely crushed
• 1/2 cup of red onions, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup of ketchup
• 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
• 1 minced garlic clove

1. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and fill ungreased loaf baking pan.
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until center registers at 160 degrees. Continue to bake for an additional 10 minutes.
3. Let cool to warm temperature before serving.
4. Serve sliced into small wedges on top La Panzanella cracker, garnished with thin sliver of sun dried tomato.

From www.lapanzanella.com

On Saturday, I drove out to Rockport to do another signing at Toad Hall bookstore.  When I started Bass Pond Press, Amy was my first bookstore customer and has been astrong supporter ever since.  Through the years I have spent many happy hours in Rockport.  I would like to thank Heather Atwood, Food Editor of the Gloucester Times, was her lovely write-up on her blog.  She said, “These cookbooks are the kind you take out thinking you’ll have a cup of tea and look for something to do with two pounds of cod.  An hour later you’re still leaning on the counter with the tea kettle whistling dry.”

When I finished the signing I returned to Gloucester where we sat down to a second turkey dinner.  This one consisted by turkey fricassee on toast with a little stuffing and cranberry sauce on the side.  This is my favorite way to have turkey.  

My visit over, I headed home along with several thousand other people.  Quite the trip!!

In our wonderland country we have a lot to be thankful for.  We should be thankful every day that we have our freedoms that the majority of people in the world envy.

 

 

 

 

 

Come To CLASH on Cape Cod this Weekend

 Come to the Cape this weekend and partake of the many events that are happening.  CLASH stands for the "Celebration of Land and Sea Harvest" and happens at the end of September.  For the past three years the weekend had been hampered by rain, but this weekend it is suppose to be beautiful. 

I have been invited to participate at a tasting event at the Riverway Lobster House in South Yarmouth on Route 28.  Our hosts will  be sampling Lobster & Crab Chowder along with some hot hors d'oeuvres.  I will be signing copies of "A taste of lobster and some tales too...".  The event takes place on Friday, September 24, 2010 from 2 - 4 p.m.   This event was organized by Marie McHugh, Manager of Books By the Sea in Osterville and South Yarmouth.  Rmember a portion of each book sold goes to breast cancer research.

On Saturday, September 25, 2010, I will be doing a booksigning at Where the Sidewalk Bookstore in Chatham at the end of Main  Street.  Met Joanie Goodrow whose delicious Divine Lobster Pie is on Page 74.  Stop in at Gustare Oils & Vinegars which is right
across the street from the bookstore and sample some of their marvelous extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegars. 

Check out all the events happening during CLASH.  Other bookstores having booksignings include Titcomb's in E. Sandwich and Books By the Sea will be at the Osterville Historical Society on West Bay Road at the Osterville Farmers' Market.

Drew from  "Nantucket Wild Gourmet & Smokehouse will join the fishermen on the Chatham Fish Pier on Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. with samplings of their smoked fish and pates.  After chatting with the retired fisherman and sampling some delicious bluefish pate stop in at the Chatham Pier Fish Market for some of their delicious chowder.

Take tours of some of the farms and get delicious produce and other products at their stands such as Crow Farm in E. Sandwich, Surrey Farm in Brewster, Tuckernuck Farm (Yarn) in Brewster, Coonamessett Farm in East Falmouth, or stand in at the Tihonet Market in Wareham and pick up some cranberries.

Hope to see you at either the Riverway Lobster House or Where the Sidewalk Ends!

 

 

Find Us in Essex, CT

Goods & Curiosities, a retail store of the Griswold Inn located at 47 Main Street in Essex, CT.  The shop  now carries the Taste and Tales of Coastal New

England, A Taste of Lobsters and some tales too... and A Taste of Cranberries and some tales too. 

The Griswold Inn is the oldest continuously operated Inn in the U.S.A.  It originally opened in 1776   Its Hunt Breakfast is served every Sunday at the Inn.  To learn more about it read the tales in the Taste and Tales of Coastal New England.

Farmers' Markets of Cape Cod

    For a few days in August I had been asked to do booksignings at some of the Farmers’ Markets at the Cape.  On Tuesday the 17^th, I arrived at the green on Rt. 6A in Sandwich early and had the opportunity to chat with a few vendors before the day began.  At the corner was a mobile pizza vendor called “Pizza Barbone.”  Jason O’Toole is the chef and produces a delicious variety of pizza. I was curious about the brick ovens and he told me that the internal temperature reaches 1000 degrees so he is able to cook the individual pizza in 2-3 minutes. There had been an article in the Sunday Cape Cod Times about Jason and his mobile pizza.  I can truly say people came from near and far to purchase his pizza.  Regretfully, by the time I got over to buy lunch, the Lobster Pizza was gone, actually everything was gone, but I managed to get half mozzarella and sopressata and the other half mozzarella and basil.  Jason does private parties, festivals, farmers’ markets, and even weddings and can be contacted through his website, www.pizzabarbone.com.

 

Also at the Sandwich market, I met the owner of Nantucket Wild Gourmet and Smokehouse in Chatham.  Drew catches all the fish, except the salmon, that he then smokes for nearly 20 hours.  I purchased some Smoked Bluefish to make the Bluefish Paté that J.W. Jackson in Phil Craig’s novel made famous.  This recipe was featured in a previous blog.

 

My friend, Lori Caron, of Salty Lou’s Lobster, hosted me at the Sandwich and Hyannis markets.  Her partner, Rob Martin harvests the lobster with over 500 traps in Cape Cod Bay and out to Stellwagen Bank, where this time of year the whales are on the move, along side his faithful four legged friend Salty Lou.  These products are guaranteed fresh, live and local.  Look forward to Lori's new restaurant, The Farmers Table on Sea Street in Hyannis.  As soon as it it officially open, I will let you all know.

 

LOBSTER WHIP

 

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons sour cream

1 small onion minced

sea salt, pepper, celery salt

sprinkle of Worcestershire® sauce

1 pound cooked lobster meat, cut in bite-size pieces

 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Mix together all of the above ingredients and place in a

1-pint baking dish.

3. Sprinkle with slivered almonds.

4. Spread with lobster.

5. Heat in oven for 15 minutes.

6. Serve on crackers directly from oven dish.

The Taste of Gloucester (1976)

 

 

I love going from table to table checking out the unusual fruits and vegetables that simply aren’t available at local grocery stores.  This year it was chocolate and husked cherry tomatoes and a zucchini/summer squash combination.  The husked cherry tomatoes have a tartness to them and are fun to squeeze from the husk and I thought 

the chocolate cherries from Crow Farms in E. Sandwich were a little sweet, but had no taste of chocolate.

 

 At Osterville, I was the guest of Books by the Sea for a booksigning along with three other authors.  It was here that I came across the husked cherry tomatoes from Allen Farms in Westport, MA.  Next to him was the Great Cape Baking Company.  They were also in Sandwich, but like the pizza man, they had nothing left by the time I got to them.  This time I was determined to try their apple cider donuts.  I almost lost out again.  This was   all they had left within a half hour of their arrival.  

 

On Saturday morning, I stopped by the Orleans Farmers’ Market to buy some of the soap by Summer House Soaps.  After much pondering, I decided on the Hydrangea, Beach Rose and Vineyard Lilac.  Their scents are marvelous and packaging quite lovely.  They would  

make terrific Christma gifts.

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed my few days at the Cape this year and look forward to next year!

Find us in Kennebunk, ME

Keys to the Kitchen on Rt, 35 in the lower village In Kennebunk, ME now carries the Taste and Tales of Coastal New England, A Taste of Lobsters and some tales too... and A Taste of Cranberries and some tales too.