Author: Carrie

Top Three of Kennebunkport, ME

CarrieLeave a comment

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of going to Kennebunkport, Maine. If you are asking yourself, where have I heard about this place before, here is the answer. It is the place where the Bush family spends their summer among many other places I am sure. It is a quaint little town that will bring pure relaxation and pleasure to your life. With a view of the shoreline and the sweet smell of the ocean air, it is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of your daily life. We stayed at The Beach House (1), which I highly recommend. There is a cocktail hour in the afternoon where you can enjoy a glass of port or brandy, or simply just a cup of tea. They also serve breakfast in the morning to all their guests. The staff makes you feel at home and are very accommodating to your needs.
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I also recommend Joshua’s Restaurant (2) for a classy dinner. They feature the trifecta: always freshness first, organic or natural second, local or from Maine third. With a combination like this, the dishes are delightful to the tastebuds. Their creations are pure perfection. You can check their menu here.

As we headed back to Boston, we stopped at the Maine Diner (3). It was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives on the Food Network. They specialize in breakfast dishes that feature Maine lobster and Maine blueberries. It’s inexpensive and a great way to start the day. Wherever you decide to stay or eat in Kennebunkport, I can ensure you will be one happy customer if you take my suggestion.

Top 3 February Flea Market Finds

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One of the things I love to do is to go shopping at local flea markets or antique marts.  I often find things at great prices.  Last month, I did found a few things to add to my collections.  Here are the top three.IMG_0884
This chef utensil holder was a bit more than what I would have liked to pay for it at $25. But where can you find something with as much character these days? They just don’t make ceramics like they used to.
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Martha Stewart would be jealous of this batter bowl find. At $25, it was a steal. It just happens to match the paint color of my new pantry area. This area of the house is almost complete. I will update you with pictures as soon as the project is completed.
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These chef salt and pepper shakers were irresistible at $10. The lady who sold them to me took $2 off the ticketed price and I didn’t even ask for a discount. Don’t be shy when at a flea market or antique mart. It is standard operating procedure to ask for a 10% discount. Often at a flea market, you can haggle your way to the price you are willing to pay as well. Sometimes the sellers are just looking to unload their treasures, especially in this economy. Get out there and find some hidden treasures of your own!

Stuffed Cabbage

CarrieLeave a comment

I have always had a love for golumpki. This is the polish word for stuffed cabbage. It just doesn’t get much better than this. Who doesn’t love a polish style meatball swaddled in tender leaves of cabbage. On a day like this, a pot of golumpkis are the perfect comfort meal served along with a side of mashed potatoes.

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This recipe for Stuffed Cabbage is adapted from Ina Garten.

Ingredients
3 tablespoons good olive oil
1 large sweet onion chopped
2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes and their juice
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 cup raisins
salt and pepper to taste
1 large head green cabbage, including outer leaves
For the filling:
2 1/2 pounds ground beef
3 large eggs
1/2 of a large sweet onion chopped
1/2 cup panko
1/2 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1 teaspoon thyme
salt and pepper

Directions
For the sauce, heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, add the onions and cook until the onions are tender. Then, add the tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, raisins, salt, and pepper. Bring this to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.

In the meantime, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Remove the core of the cabbage with a paring knife. Place the head of cabbage in the boiling water for a few minutes. As the cabbage cooks, peel off each leaf with tongs as soon as it seems flexible. Set at least 12 leaves aside.

For the filling, in a large bowl, combine the ground chuck, eggs, onion, panko, rice, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add 1 cup of the sauce to the meat mixture and mix lightly with a fork.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

To assemble, place 1 cup of the sauce in the bottom of a large Dutch oven. Remove the hard triangular rib from the base of each cabbage leaf with a small paring knife. Place 1/3 cup of filling in an oval shape near the rib edge of each leaf and roll up toward the outer edge, tucking the sides in as you roll.
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Place some of the cabbage rolls in the bottom of the pot in a snuggly fashion. Then, add more sauce and more cabbage rolls alternately until you ve placed all the cabbage rolls in the pot. Pour the remaining sauce over the cabbage rolls. If you have extra meat mixture and not enough cabbage leaves, simply hand form meatballs and place them on top of the cabbage rolls. They will cook just the same and taste just as delicious. Cover the dish tightly with the lid and bake for at least an hour and a half or until the meat is cooked and the rice is tender. Enjoy!