Fire Up The Grill for a Fiesta Burger

A while ago I was sent a variety of seasoning packets from a company called Amazing Taste. Being one who usually likes to mix my own spices, I'll admit I was a bit skeptical at first as to what kind of flavor these little packets would produce. (I was sent seasoning packets for poultry, burgers, steaks, fish, and pork.)

Let me tell you, I recently tried the Amazing Taste for Burgers, and the flavor was delicious! A nice blend without any one overpowering flavor and without being wimpy on taste.

These little packets are only .99 cents, perfect for a great meal that doesn't require much in the way of cost (or fuss to make). I like that. 

Earth Day 2009: Take Time to Celebrate and Appreciate

I'll admit, I don't spend much time thinking about the earth. I'm sure happy to see it reappear when winter recedes the white blanket in favor of the green, however. And living here in Maine, year round, I do appreciate the change of seasons. But winter always disconnects me from thinking much about anything more than surviving the cold and barrenness until spring.

The Vegan Cook's Bible

Soon to be in bookstores is Pat Crocker's The Vegan Cook's Bible. Challenged to devise a book that not only provided amazing, solely vegan recipes, but also a resource book for all, she succeeded as this is one you'll want within easy reach on your cookbook shelf. It is a comprehensive and thoroughly researched book featuring information on the 7 body systems, how to optimize their function through conscious nutrition choices, and suggestions for positive changes in diet and lifestyle modifications.

Maine Events Calendar: April 2009

The time has sprung forward, the mercury (we hope) is on the rise, and spring seems a bit more than just a promise now. We've managed to weather a long winter, and have so much anticipation for warmer breezes, blooming flowers, and budding trees. I used to think using the word "rebirth" with the word "spring" was an old cliche. After this winter, rebirth and renewal seem to me the most beautiful words in the dictionary. Mud pies are in season as we celebrate Earth Day! 

Francine Bistro: A Camden Dining Experience

I recently had my first visit to Francine in Camden. Let me just start by saying that stepping inside this charming bistro (without reservations on a Saturday night), you would never know we were in the middle of any kind of economic crisis. A branch of blossoming forsythia and the smile of a friendly host hinted at the beautiful experience awaiting me. The atmosphere was inviting, warm, and cheery.  Low lighting, a full house, friendly wait staff, and divine food and drink were among the reasons I hope to make a return trip very soon, if I can wrestle my wallet to comply.

St. Patrick's Day: 10 Great Things Associated with Ireland

St. Patrick's is a day of pride and tradition, as well as a nod to all who carry the Irish spirit and maintain the hope that at the end of the rainbow, there really is a pot of gold.

The Editor in the Yellow Hat

Curious George's owner, as you may recall from the childhood storybook favorite, was the "Man in the Yellow Hat." Well, now I am the "Editor in the Yellow Hat."  I'm very pleased to say that I am, as of this morning's mail, the owner of a lovely new yellow hand knit hat, courtesy of our Creative Vegetarian columnist and contributing blogger, Mary Lake.

It all started when Mary blogged on her site, Mitten Machen, that she was working on this yellow hat, and would anyone like it once it was completed. I wrote back immediately to stake my claim, as I am one of the few people I know who sports a yellow jacket in winter.  Now my ensemble is complete.

Thanks for keeping me stylin' and warm, Mary! Hats off (or should I say on?) to you!!

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.

Maine Events Calendar: March 2009

As March comes roaring in, let's hope it leaves in its wake the lamb like days of spring we're all anxiously awaiting. Below is a list of upcoming events for March. Be sure to take in a Restaurant Week destination or two. Look for the maple syrup to be flowing, another month of great opportunities to take a cooking class, and spring to be in the air as you stop and smell the flowers at Portland's Annual Flower Show. Welcome, spring!

Maine Shrimp Pizza: Cornucopasetic!

On our quest for fellow Maine foodies, and those keen on Maine shrimp, we delight in finding Cornucopasetic! A January post of theirs called Pandalus Pandemonium sounds just what's in order at my house for the weekend. Pizza has traditionally been a weekend food, perfect with the kids at home and enjoyed with a movie or two on a Saturday night. Combine two favorites, pizza and Maine shrimp, and I think we have the makings of a very tasty dinner. I'm thinking this will pair nicely with the movie "Forrest Gump".

Calling All NASCAR Fans: Pit Stop in a Southern Kitchen

Here is a little known fact about yours truly: I am a NASCAR fan. Stashed away in my attic are various model cars of the #24, as well as books, posters, and other memorabilia. I am not in the category of die-hard NASCAR fans as I once was, never missing a race. It's just that now between work and life, my time is valuable and sitting on the couch all Sunday afternoon, watching cars go around in the same circle for hours on end gets me a little antsy. I mean, I am busy and have a lot to do. Not to say I'm don't keep up with the stats of my favorite driver (#24) Jeff Gordon; it's just I check in on him between vacuuming, laundry, and the like. Being a dad, husband, and racing legend, I'm sure Jeff appreciates my support and multitasking abilities. That's life in the fast lane!

Maine Events Calendar: February 2009

There are many February flings going on this month in Maine. Lots of hearts, valentines, and chocolate! This is a great month to try out a cooking class, make plans for that garden (yes, spring is coming!), or attend a canine cocktail party.  Try something on our events calendar to relieve that cabin fever. Less than 50 days until spring!

As always, if you have an event you'd like posted, email us at blog@mainefoodandlifestyle.com

Maine Shrimp-ly Delicious

My son didn't know what had possessed me. I went all gourmet on him last night. I picked him up at Nana's after work and said "How does shrimp sautéed in white wine and garlic, topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and organic parsley over rice sound for dinner tonight?"

Fun Food Facts by Mike Bellino

Fun Food Facts by Mike Bellino, published by Author House in 2008, will whet your appetite for food trivia. I have been thumbing through my copy here at the office, and find myself spouting facts about foods now as the opportunity arises and my knowledge bank has increased its stores of information.

Ice Fishing: A Real Maine Winter Sport

I remember going fishing with my Dad. It was something he enjoyed and taught me about. And it was something we did together. Most of the things I remember my Dad doing with me involved sports or some form of competition: shooting hoops, bicycle riding trips, target shooting, walks and hikes through the woods. So, when my dad came down with Alzheimer's Disease about five years ago, at least the one thing he still had was his physical health.

Maine History Lesson #2: Government

My Maine education was solid. Before I could graduate from high school, like every other Maine student I had to pass a course in U.S. Government. Government was not one of my favorites, by any stretch of my imagination. We had a young red-haired teacher everyone in good fun called "Spaz". He knew his stuff, no doubt about that. But I don't think he had the first clue of how to impart his vast knowledge to us.

Maine Events Calendar: January 2009

Wishing our readers a Happy and Healthy 2009! Below is a list of some special events going on in Maine for the first month of 2009.

The Craft of Gifting

One of my favorite gifts this year came from my dear friend and former college roommate, Jen. We've remained loyal friends through the years despite the fact that we rarely see each other. Our friendship has kept vital mainly through the lively letters we've shared over the years. Every letter and email we exchange is a gift in itself.

Maine's Best Burger: The Owls Head General Store

In the undeniably quaint center of Owls Head is a spot of hometown Maine nostalgia. The Owls Head General Store is the town's focus, where locals meet, fishermen come in for a bite to eat, and fame is discreet. That is, until recently. Now the beloved little Maine store is about to get some big-time, national recognition. We couldn't be more pleased.

Shrimp Jambalaya

I'm seeing the signs everywhere. Maine shrimp is back! My first batch with no doubt be one of my favorites-simply boiled, peeled, and eaten plain. They are so sweet they don't need any added flavors. The purist in me loves them this way. But I'm also in the mood for hearty meals these days that are easy to prepare. I came across this one courtesy of The Bristol Inn in New Harbor. I know what I'm having for dinner tonight, do you?

Unearthing the Past, Nourishing the Future

I really enjoyed David Buchanan's article "Farming Comes to a Neighborhood Near You- Mapping the Boyd Street Urban Farm." It reminded me of a project my family and I undertook a couple years ago, and got me to thinking about what I could do with the new plot of land we'd recovered.

Andrew Zimmern's Christmas Gifts

Ok, so these gifts weren't actually sent to me as personal Christmas gifts from the star of Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods." They were presents for spreading the word in the food world about the awesomeness of his show. But, I can still admit the gesture to be a lovely token of esteem.

And then I opened the package...

A Taste of it All - Celebrating The Mood of Food

There are books on food, books of poetry, books of musings, philosophical books on memories, art, and the meaning of families ties. And then there are cookbooks. And usually the twain never meet. I recently discovered a compact book full of lofty ambitions, delicious recipes, and family memories with a hearty and tender blend of poetry and food as it moves in and out of the seasons. A Taste of it All - Celebrating The Mood of Food, written by northern Maine native Georgia Manzo Joachim, is published by Thyme & Moss Publishing in Millinocket.

Maine History Lesson #1

Now here something I never learned in all my years in the Maine school system: Maine led the Temperance Movement. As the U.S. recently celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the end of Prohibition, people across the country raised their glasses in a spirited toast. And I began to dredge up some history from Maine's well over my cups of morning coffee.

Dear Santa...A note from the Puppies and Kittens

We've all seen the ads.The nostalgic image of a wide-eyed child's amazement at a new puppy or kitten under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. Hugs, smiles, tails wagging. Then the red bow of newness wears off, sadly, often before the day is through. Fido piddles on the tree skirt. Fluffy flies up the tree, breaking a few antique ornaments and grabbing some tinsel on the way down. The idyllic holiday scene takes a turn for the stressful and chaotic. And what happens to the new puppy or kitten?

Maine Shrimp Season Off to a Hopeful Start

It's official, and I for one am thrilled! The beginning of the shrimping season is here again in Midcoast Maine. A 180 day season has been approved (28 days longer than last year's extended season). There are mixed responses among fishermen about the predicted economy and market on the heels of a limping lobster season. Some are hopeful, while others have opted out this year.

I know I always look forward to Maine shrimp as one of the bright spots to cheer me in the middle of winter. I'm wishing all those heading out soon to trap or drag a very prosperous season. And I'm hoping Mainers get out there and support their local CSFs.

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.

Maine Events Calendar: December

Enjoy the holiday season! Wishing you enjoyment, happiness, and peace.
And as always, we welcome your Maine events on our calendar. Please send any listings for our consideration to blog@mainefoodandlifestyle.com

Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Maine Foods

I had never watched the Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods show starring Andrew Zimmern before last night. Because he was coming to Maine, I had to tune in. I asked my brother Brian, Chef at the Thomaston Cafe, if he'd ever seen it. "Oh, that guy? I watched last week and he was eating blood sausage. You should see the things he eats. Crazy!" was his reply.

Maine Featured on Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods

Hey Maine food fans,

Have you ever watched Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Foods on the Travel Channel? We here at the magazine will sure be tuning in for next Tuesday, November 18th's 10 pm episode. Andrew is going to visit his dad in Maine and see what they can dig up for eclectic eats. Should be interesting!

We all know that Mainers tend to get stereotyped as backlanders who don't always rank among the culturally or culinary elite on the food chain. (I am writing this as a native Mainer whose roots go too far back to count, and as the new generation of "educated" Mainers, I tend to get easily offended when someone puts any generation of Mainers down.)

So, I will be anxious to check out this program's bent on putting Maine and bizarre foods on the same plate.

Stay tuned, readers.

And please, mark this show on your calendars, watch it, DVR it, old-fashioned tape it on your VCR, whatever. We're curious to hear your reactions, too.

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.

Maine Events Calendar: November

As we move our way into the holiday season, with Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, check out some of the festive and fun holiday happenings around the state.

Maine Farmers' Markets: Fall Listing

We were pleasantly surprised to find that, although we are turning a corner on seasons, some Maine Farmers' Markets are still going strong. Here is a sampling of what is still out there to enjoy. Make your way to one of these markets while you still can!

Omega 3s to Your Health!

Nana just celebrated her 87th birthday in June. She is as sharp as a tack, doesn’t miss a beat, reads avidly, does mind puzzles, and enjoys going out and having a good time. She follows all the sports teams from baseball to hockey to football, reads the daily newspaper, and enjoys talking and debating current events and politics. She is cheerful and fun and one of the most beautiful women I know. And she has always had the most beautiful skin and hair.

Topless Waitresses at Rockland Lobster Day?

Driving down Main Street in Rockland this morning, you could see a sign of the times. In a brassy move guaranteed to gather local attention, the menu board outside of the Brass Compass Cafe, open for breakfast and lunch, read “Topless Waitresses.”

In an attempt to warm up the chill in the local economy by drumming up business with their attention-grabbing sign, The Brass Compass is warming things up today, in anticipation of tomorrow's Rockland Lobster Day event.

A brief phone call of inquiry by our Creative Director Jim prompted a walk down the street from our office to see for ourselves just what was going on down there. When asked how long the waitresses would be topless, Lynn laughed, “All day!!”

Lynn Archer, Proprietor, says “This community is fueled by a feeling of goodwill right now, coming together over the sharp drop in the local and national economy and the state of the lobster industry. It is so good to see everyone coming together.”

On Saturday, October 25 Rockland's downtown and area businesses are showing their support for the local lobster industry. Rockland, the Lobster Capital of the World, is coming together with a "Lobster Give-Away and Raffle." Enter a raffle for FREE at participating downtown Rockland businesses for a chance at winning 10 fresh local lobsters. Many businesses are running their own specials as well in honor of the event.

And that's not all. Spruce Head Fishermen's Co-op lobstermen will be at the New England Express convenience store at 191 Park Street in Rockland to sell fresh caught lobsters off their truck at $3.50 per pound.

Heidi Stevens of By George Jewelers has teamed up with Lynne Post of Andrus Flowers to pull this amazing show of support together. A list of participating business can be found in the Free Press.

And The Brass Compass, home of Rockland's "topless" waitresses, will sell lobster rolls all day Saturday at cost!

The Brass Compass waitresses, from left: Lynn, Taylor, Joyce, and MaryLou.
Overheard in Rockland later this morning, "Will there be a Calendar for 2009?"

In other local economic bail-out attempts, Shepard Motors in Rockland is offering 10 free lobsters with every car sold, Cafe Miranda is striking up a special meal deal, and anyone who purchases jewelry at By George Jewelers on Saturday will receive between one and 10 lobsters as a thank you.

If ever there was a time to support everything local, it’s now.

And if ever there was a time I was especially proud to be a Mainer, it's now.

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.

Artascope Studios and My Birthday Party Flashback

As my birthday falls the week before Halloween, I have fond memories of every childhood year having a cool theme party hosted by my Mom. One of my favorites was when she sent out invites to all my friends to come dressed as a famous celebrity. I think I was 11 or 12 the year we had Hercule Poirot, Smurfette, Dolly Parton, Katherine Hepburn, Blondie, Marilyn Monroe, and Brooke Shields (me), among about a dozen others, all together in my star-studded livingroom. Everyone signed an autograph book wishing me a Happy Birthday in their character, quoting something their character would've said to me on my special day. And of course, all the celebs posed for photos taken by my paparazzi-playing, shutter-bug mom. There hasn't been so much glam all together in one room since!!

Here's to simpler times, younger days, and the fondest memories. And, as I think it was Marilyn who said it best, "Yours till the lipsticks!"

Came across Artascope Studios blog, whose October 15th Painting Party birthday idea post stirred this creative thought up from the memory bank.

What a great place to get creative again!

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.

Maine Ghost Hunters

Ok, so where was this blog when I was a kid and so interested in otherworldly stuff like this? Well, back then I didn't have a computer, no one even knew what a blog was, and I guess I was too busy exploring the neighborhood and trying to find my own spiritual connections by visiting the local graveyards, doing grave rubbings, and studying up on local lore. This site is awesome, especially as All Hallows' Eve lurks just around the corner. This is the coolest thing since "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"!

http://www.maineghosthunters.blogspot.com/
Happy Halloween, Boys and Ghouls....

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.

Maine's Best Art Exhibit: Fall Foliage

Look out your window today. If your view is not what you'd classify as "stunning", then I pity you. Because I'd call this morning gorgeous. It's a clear day, the sun is rising through the effusion of breathtaking colors all around me, and I have to count myself among the blessed to be living here. No matter which window I choose to look out of my home right this moment, the beauty of autumn is boldly daring me to take lingering looks. The colors of the leaves on the trees and those decorating the ground are a vision of indescribable color palettes.

If you need a reminder of one of the many reasons we live on the coast of Maine, stand outside for a few minutes today. You can't help but feel the biased awe of living among unrivaled superiority of place.

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.

Portland Food Map

PortlandFoodMap.com’s blogmeister Anestes Fotiadas shared some insight into the genesis of the ever-evolving chart of Portland’s food scene, which he manages in his spare time.

Maine Maize Mazes

Several Maine farms are getting very creative about harvesting their corn fields this year. Mazes are all the rage! When seen from above, these 8-12 feet high corn stalk labyrinths appear in the design of lobsters, lighthouses, moose, emblems and logos, and trains, just to list a few.

Try your skill at navigating some of these great family-friendly fun spots.

http://www.theheartofnewengland.com/travel/new-england/corn-mazes.html

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.

Fur 'n Foliage Walk – Saturday, October 4th

RUN, don't walk (until it's time, that is) for the Dog Walk!

On Saturday, October 4th, the Humane Society of Knox County will hold its annual Fur 'n Foliage Walk beginning at the Thomaston Academy building on Main Street in Thomaston.

Registration for the Dog Walk begins at 10am. You may pick up pledge forms at the Humane Society or download the pdf form from their website for additional information. Or call 594-4897.

Right: Lucy VanCampen of Thomaston, anxious to get to this year's Dog Walk

There will be many other events, including a Benefit Yard Sale beginning at 9am through 2pm.

Other events at this location are:
Pet Portraits with Santa
Doggy Day Spa
Microchip Clinic
Animal Blessing
Raffles

and a BBQ Lunch for just $3! Jeez, what a deal that is!!!

Photo of Santa with Sumner & Marjorie Kinney's Cocker Spaniels taken at the 2007 event by Jim Bazin.

Maine Food and Lifestyle's own Creative Director Jim Bazin has volunteered to take photos of your favorite pooch with Santa. What a great holiday card idea!

Get out and support a noble cause!

http://www.humanesocietyofknoxcounty.org/

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine. 

Maine Events Calendar: October

October is here, and it's loaded with fun things to do! Celebrate this beautiful Fall month by attending some of the Maine events listed below. And let us know of any we missed so we can add them to our list.

Apple Pickin' Time

Yesterday, I did my weekly excursion to the local grocery store for staples for the week. And there they were, as soon as the automatic doors parted to let me in: MAINE APPLES! Not only Maine apples, but coastal (local) varieties of Macs, Cortlands, and others. I bought a half dozen and when I got in the car and had my groceries loaded, I searched them out. I couldn't wait til I got home. I chomped down on the crisp, tart coldness of a Maine Mac all the way home. Such a treat!

And I made a mental note to get to the orchard this year, because I love them even more (if possible!) when I pick them myself.

Get to an orchard near you. Now's the time to indulge in the glorious bounty of Maine in autumn.

http://www.allaboutapples.com/orchard/me.htm

Left: Melanie with son Jacob at Biscay Orchards in Damariscotta
Above right: Maine apples before picking

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.

Maine Events Calendar: September

Fall officially begins on September 22. Help to herald it in by attending one or more of the following fairs and festivals going on this month.

Maine: Are you really "from hea-ah"?

A fun site for determining your downeastern authenticity. See where you rate, or if you can relate!

http://webpages.charter.net/lorilady/Maine.html

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.

Name That Tuna!

We have a couple of new friends here at the magazine. This summer, our Creative Director decided we needed some more office excitement (like there wasn’t enough already). So what did he do? He went to the Knox County Humane Society and adopted not one, but two cats!

So, now that we are dodging chirping cat toys, playing with laser mice, sweeping up fur balls, doing cat food brand taste tests and refereeing wrestling matches as part of our daily routines.

We need some help from you, the reader. (No, we’re not asking you to come in and clean the litter box!) We’d just like your suggestions.

You see, one of the cats we’ve renamed Wolfgang (Wolfie). He's an adorable, gray 4 month old bundle of energy. The other, well...she needs a new name. She came to us as 2-year old dainty calico miss, having been named "Tuna Platter" by the Shelter folks. And we think she is far too pretty and sweet for such a lame name. Please help us give her an appropriate new one!

Here is her photo...send us your ideas for her new designation. Make it cool, make it original, and above all, help us make it more fitting!

She’s entitled to a new title...

Our lovely female cat, currently known as "Tuna Platter"

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.

Maine Labor Day Thoughts

Maine Labor Day

The traditional holiday signaling the end of summer is upon us. And though we have many more warm days ahead to look forward to this fall (I hope!), Labor Day heralds us into an inevitable transition of the seasons.

I am not looking forward to what the Farmer’s Almanac foretells...

Here we are, the beginning of September, which means what? To everyone, regardless whether they just graduated last spring, or like my Nana, nearly 70 years ago, it means school starts. The nostalgia hits us with nearly tangible anxiety. Like a quick, swift kick to the stomach, comes the nervous sting of loss flying in on the last butterfly wings of summer which alight and flutter in the pit of our stomach.

Something new is about to begin...

Back to school sale flyers have been kicking around since the the end of June. I’ve become annoyed with the Halloween masks and fake Christmas trees which never really seem to leave the store shelves anymore.  We are definitely on the move toward fall and it is closer now to us than the lingering, lazy days of summer. And yet with strength, and great irony, we attempt desperately to live in the moment.

Life moves far too fast...

I was just waiting to smell those lilacs, it seemed like forever before my delicate daffodils and tulips made their brief appearance before being drowned out in torrential spring winds and rains, and now hardy mums are staring my squarely in the face. The mornings and evenings are undeniably cooler, and the shadows of fall are already haunting the russet-hinted landscape. I found one bright orange leaf on my front lawn last weekend as testament.

Foreshadowing has begun...

So, before we all think of hunkering down for what’s ahead, bringing wool sweaters out of storage and watching for the first frost, let’s remember to indulge in the season at hand. Labor Day means BBQs, lobster and clam bakes, blueberry pies, country fairs, enjoyment, celebration, relaxation, time with family, the historic last good beach day, the last hurrah... and the pang of regret for all those undone summer plans.

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.

Return of the Yoga Goddess

Ok, so one of my great intentions as the weather got nicer this spring had been to exercise again regularly after my grueling winter stint as a couch potato. You see, I have an excuse for everything. In the winter, naturally it was too cold and too icy to take walks, and an indoor gym membership was just too expensive and impractical, as it would ha€™ve involved driving at least 15 miles to get there... and in all the snowstorms we had, forget that. So, I waited it out and wintered well like a good Mainer.

As soon as the coast was clear, I laced up my Asics and started pounding the pavement. I walked gung-ho, 3 miles a day, for a surprising 2 weeks straight. It felt good, it was a natural high, and I was addicted once again to feeling positive about myself. Then the excuses came. Too much housework was being neglected, the fridge was empty, I was so tired, I had work to do and that 1/2 hr. I was walking would just have to wait... until tomorrow.

Desperate Alewives

It’s that time again, time for Alosa pseudoharengus. No, she’s not a glamorous evening soap opera movie star, but she does do her spawning at night. And she prefers to be called by her common name: alewife. Now, coming from a native Mainer, you know I’m not dissin' on my homegirls when I say she’s been compared in looks to a “corpulent female tavern keeper” (blame Wikipedia). So what if this herring has curves and isn’t afraid to use them? I think she’s one hot fish. (Especially “smokin’”).

There’s a lot you don’t know about her, I’ll bet. Aren’t you just a little bit curious?

Every spring, she makes a spectacularly long trip with all her girlfriends up the river. She travels from the Gulf of Maine some 120 miles out to Maine’s rivers, lakes, and streams to spawn, and she doesn’t even need to stop and ask for directions! She also provides great cover for all the weak juveniles moving down river, so predators are attracted to her instead of all the cute young things.

Everything wants a piece of her: other fish, birds, foxes, raccoons, you name it. Bird watchers love her for the lure she pulls for them and their binoculars. Lobstermen want her (for bait). Ecologists sing her praises for the wake of healthy water she leaves behind wherever she travels.

So, 60-100,000 dropped eggs later, with only about an average of 3 surviving to adulthood, her trip is over. And she hasn’t even gotten anything out of the deal except plenty of hardship along the way. How does she conclude her life’s journey, you ask? It ain’t pretty, boys.

She’ll turn up again eventually when you least expect her, completely smoked, in the back of some guy’s pickup truck by the side of the road.

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.

Maine Shrimp and Fiddlehead Pasta Recipe

Food lovers: Take note! Here is another one of Brian Beckett’s simply scrumptious, springtime recipes. This pasta dish melds a delightful pairing of two popular Maine ingredients: Maine shrimp with fresh, fiddlehead greens. The flavorful combination of herbs in Brian’s lemon butter delicately enhance these uniquely blended tastes of the Maine ocean and land. If you’ve yet to try fiddleheads, what are you waiting for? Your taste buds will stand up and applaud wildly for this one, cheering “Go Maine!” Be advised: Go get your fiddlehead fix now while the season is ripe!

Shrimp & Fiddlehead Pasta with Lemon Herb Butter & White Wine
Chef Brian Beckett
Thomaston Cafe

Repeat cleaning and cooking steps found in last fiddlehead post ("Fiddlehead and Feta Omelette").
Ingredients:
6 ounces Maine shrimp
2 Tablespoons of olive oil
4 ounces fresh fiddlehead greens
2 Tablespoons of herb butter (see recipe below)
Cooked pasta of your choice
⅓ cup white wine
Parmesan cheese

Herb butter recipe:
1 pound of softened butter, blended with:
1 teaspoon of salt
2 Tablespoons of Italian seasoning
2 Tablespoons of fresh parsley
1 teaspoon of garlic
2 Tablespoons of lemon juice

Saute  shrimp in olive oil. Add cooked fiddleheads when shrimp is ¾ done. Add herb butter. Let it melt and add the cooked pasta of your choice. Add white wine. Wine will cook off. Serve and top with parmesan cheese.

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.

Fiddlehead and Feta Cheese Omelette Recipe

When I was growing up, Saturday nights at our house meant Mom making homemade pizzas. On Sunday mornings we would often have leftover chopped peppers, onion, meats, and cheeses in the fridge, and I would use those to create special omelettes for my little brother, Brian. He’d gobble them up and I’d feel like Julia Child.

Brian is now the chef at the Thomaston Cafe and has become the cooking inspiration of the family! Here is one of his most popular recipes for spring:

Fiddlehead & Feta Omelette
Brian Beckett, Thomaston Cafe

4 ounces. fresh fiddlehead greens
¼ cup of milk
3 eggs, beaten lightly
Butter
1 ounce feta cheese

Clean fiddleheads by rinsing them. Snap off the ends of the stems. Then, blanch in seasoned boiling water. Cool immediately in ice water. Mix ¼ cup of milk with 3 eggs. Heat skillet with butter, add eggs and the fiddleheads. When almost done, add the feta cheese.

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine .

A Mainer's Guide to Happiness, Part II

More thoughts to ponder as you consider what matters to you, how you might have lost sight of it all, and how you may attempt to get it back. Let your mind retrace the steps of sustaining memories of your past. Build a sandcastle again. Take a walk in the rain with an umbrella, splashing in all the puddles. Smile and let the world wonder what you've been up to. Whatever you do, just don't lose sight of what matters.

6. Garden. I remember as a little girl wading through rows of vines, stalks, and climbing trellises in our back yard. My dad was an avid gardener. I remember one year he read a book on square-foot-gardening, which was all the rage at some point in the 80’s, and we had rows of neat little nailed together square foot boxes plotted out in our back yard. It was a pleasure growing our own pumpkins to carve for Halloween, eating fresh peas in the pod right off the vine, and enjoying our own grown salads fresh at the dinner table. Nothing tastes better than home grown. If you can, grow it. Yourself.
7. Spend more time with family and friends. Let’s face it, none of us is going to be around forever. Let the people you love know it. Don’t wait. Spend time with them doing things you both enjoy. The memories will be long cherished. Live now.
8. Haunt and revisit the places that inspire, sustain, and heal. One of my favorite places is the ocean. I love it there for the salty breeze, the feel of the gritty sand beneath my feet and between my toes on a hot afternoon, and the opportunity it provides to satisfy my collector’s heart. I go there for the shells and sea glass. I go there for the natural relaxation it provides, and I go there for the chance to get away from the hectic, overdone days of my life. And I am never disappointed or feel I’ve wasted my time for having gone there. Enjoy nature again.
9. Draw and paint. These are gifts I have been wasting by putting other “priorities” first. I guess re-prioritize my life would be a good addition to this list, too. I used to love losing myself at my art desk loaded with charcoals, pastels, watercolors, oils, different types of paper and canvases and brushes and...wow, I miss it. I spent teenage summers capturing flowers and fruit, seascapes, landscapes. I won awards at local fairs for my artwork. What happened? Who knows? Just get it back.
10. Just Breathe. Now I know this sounds like an odd statement to make, but there is a lot of stress in this world. I’ve done yoga, and one of the greatest benefits it teaches is how to live in the moment. We’re all too worried about tomorrow, what might happen, or the past and what has already happened. Take 10, deep-cleansing breaths twice daily. Sit in a quiet place when you do this, and close your eyes. Forget about having to do something, having to be somewhere, just sit there and focus on the breath. The world doesn’t teach us that it’s ok to be alone with ourselves, quietly.

How did I allow life to become so non-inclusive of all the things I love? I guess things that are big get lost in the background of our lives sometimes, replaced by the mundane, smaller necessities of living. In an effort to bring those sustaining backdrops back to life, take a few minutes to remember what you love, and why.

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine .

A Mainer's Guide to Happiness, Part I

Ah, Spring. Our thoughts should turn warm as our hearts are forecasting the rebirth of all things spring. Every year, I tend to use the equinox as a reminder of the conscious changes I can make to encourage my own mental and physical renewals. Bound your soul forward by listening to its whispers this year. Do some soul searching. Take notes. Then ask yourself a couple of very important questions: Just what am I passionate about? Now how do I make it happen?

I have generated a very partial list of what I need to rediscover, or at least revive. These are in no particular order because they are all important to me and have recently been so neglected.

1. Walk more. Walk everywhere I can. Use stairs instead of the elevator. Look for a parking space far away from the store I’ll be going into. Exercise.
2. Write. Everyday. Period. No excuses. Keep journaling, writing poetry, short stories, articles. This is essential to who I am. Write, all right.
3. Read more. Every writer needs to stimulate her/his brain with good reading. Check out the new, revisit the classics. Whatever, keep reading.
4. Buy less. Spend less. I am a shopaholic. I am a natural born shopper gone over the edge. I love shoes, and purses, and books, and jewelry, and...you get the idea. If you saw my apartment, you’d really get the idea. Stop with too much retail therapy already!
5. Clean out my closets, both physically and mentally. Do away with anything I’m not using or haven’t used recently. That includes bad old habits, grudges, disappointments, things from the past I cannot change. When I’m finished, I’ll dump my refuse in the proper receptacle. Recycle, dump, compost, or hit the mental delete button.

Melanie Hyatt is an editor at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine .