Sunday, January 16, 2011

Maine Winter Weekend & Shrimp Chowdah!

Spring Point Light
This morning the hubby and I took a ride to The Scratch Bakery a wonderful little bakery in So. Portland, ME for the freshest bagels around - if they were any fresher they'd talk back!  It's truly amazing how busy this bakery is!  Along with our bagels and cream cheese we had their delicious blend of Rebel coffee.

Bug Light
From the bakery we took a ride to Spring Point Light then Bug Light, where we enjoyed our delicious baked goods, we stayed in the car as it was a brisk 25 degrees outside - burrrr!

Portland Head Light
We couldn't believe how much snow there was along the coast, so we decided to and visit a few of our favorite lighthouses.  It's amazing what a few months will make!  Normally these lighthouses are crawling with people!  Would you believe Portland Head Light was commissioned by President George Washington!  From it you can see the two lighthouses below.

Two Lights
These lighthouses, Two Lights and Portland Head Light are special to us. When we were married almost 17 years ago we named the tables at our reception, we sat at Portland Head Light with some of our bridal party and the rest of the bridal party sat at Two Lights!


Two Lights
Here's the Chowdah recipe, it's delicious.  It came from a 1970 cookbook that was a gift to me from my good friend Anne.  The cookbook had belonged to her late aunt, I hope you enjoy it, we did!

Shrimp Chowder
Ingredients
3 medium onions, sliced
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup boiling water
6 medium potatoes
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 pound of fresh shrimp, peeled and de-vained
1 quart milk, heated
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley

Directions
Saute onions in hot butter in deep kettle until tender.  Add boiling water, then sliced potatoes, salt and pepper.  Simmer covered 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.  Then add shrimp, and hot milk in which the cheese has been melted, simmer until shrimp are cooked, finish with parsley and serve immediately!

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If you have a moment, check out my friend Cathy's blog at Acorn Hollow, you'll love it!

46 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures of the coast. I miss the ocean.
    I haven't made a shrimp chowder in a long time. Thanks for the reminder.

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  2. yum, that recipe looks really good. thanks so much for sharing. your lighthouse pics are superb! it is so much fun to see maine's coastal areas. loved the two lights lighthouse. so pretty!

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  3. I love the light houses. the portland head is beautiful. For christmas eve I made shimp chowda from good old maine shrimp. I love maine shrimp it is so sweet it is almost as good as maine lobsta mmmmmmm And I do believe that is how I pronouce that as I am a mainah
    cathy

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  4. mmmmmmm, that sounds yummified. Susan

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  5. These photos are beautiful. There is just something so special about viewing these wonderful light houses even in the winter. It would be impossible for me to choose a favorite. The shrimp chowdah, well whats not to love about shrimp chowdah. Delicious!!!! Great post!!!

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  6. Wonderful pictures! They look like straight out of a calendar or coffee table book, beautiful!

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  7. Lighthouses in the snow - so stunning against that blue sky. Sounds like a wonderful place for enjoying a winters day.

    Like the sound of the chowder too!

    Celia

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  8. Fantastic post ... stunning photos!

    Sounds like you had a lovely weekend ... I ended up cooking and baking for a gang of lads for most of mine!! (not that I mind :-})

    I'd love a bowl of that delicious chowdah (Love the accent!) for my lunch.

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  9. Beautiful photos - I have always loved Lighthouses. Great recipe too!

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  10. You are lucky to live so close to so many beautiful lighthouses.
    We are coastal dwellers and live not far from the Jupiter, Fl. lighthouse. We enjoy seeing it every time we go the the inlet.. which is quite often.

    I'm a soup lover, thanks for the recipe.

    be well, be happy :)
    Pam

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  11. I love your photos of your road trips! Sounds like the perfect Sunday drive! Stay safe in this next storm! We're expecting snow and ice ... sounds like chowder weather!

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  12. Although the sky is a stunning blue, you can tell that the air is very crisp and cold. beautiful light houses. One of my favorite type of grab n' go breakfasts are a good fresh bagel and cream cheese with strong coffee.

    Sounds like an awesome outing.

    Stay warm.
    Velva

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  13. Beautiful photos from your outing! And that fresh bagel doesn't sound too shabby either! :)
    I also copied the recipe for the "chowda" -- thanks for sharing it!
    Best,
    Gloria

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  14. That recipe sounds so perfect for a foggy day like we're having today in northern California!

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  15. LOVE.....LOVE....LOVE this mary. portland maine is one of my MOST FAVORITE places...when i was there we stayed at the Pomegranite Inn...what a treat...and we ate at Fore Street before we headed up into Maine. Fore Street had some of the BEST food i have ever had. and the dessert...darling...a jumbleberry crisp served in a baby cast iron skillet...so good !!!!!

    i LOVE the sarabeth valentine idea. sounds like FUN !!!! i am on board. would we post on valentines day or valentines eve? i guess it is valentine weekend...since valentines is on monday.... let's get Susan on board...actually, anybody who is interested could post a special valentine dessert. how could we get the word out? i guess we could do a post about it and invite anybody who wants to to post a recipe. let's pick the day !!!!

    :-)

    kary and teddy
    xxx

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  16. Thank you Thank you for posting these! I am a lighthouse fanatic! I have seen the light houses there in Portland and have a few photos ! I am a New England girl myself,from CT, but living in SC now. My hubby is a published photographer of a couple of his lighthouse photos. Yours are beautiful! I saw that you came to Love of The Sea and saw my vases. You were so sweet to say something nice about them. I thought I would come over and introduce myself.Hi! I love your blog, please stop by, as I am now to blogging.

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  17. Those photos are all so pretty. It sounds like you had a fabulous time.

    -Rene

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  18. There is something so enchanting about lighthouses! I love them. Throw in some shrimp chowdah and I'd love them even more ;) I'm saving this recipe!

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  19. Now THIS is a chowder I could love! I'm not a big fan of clams, but shrimp I eat. How fun to take a little excursion w/the hubs. I've never been to this part of the country and it is on the bucket list. It is so utterly different than the west coast. So is Rebel coffee a regional brand? I'm always looking for new brands. Thanks for your visit today. I have been so busy that I owe a lot of e-mails and comments. Plus that long list of 900+ posts in my Reader. AAAAGGGHHHH...... That delete button will be getting a workout tonight! I'm overwhelmed! ~ Sue

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  20. I love the photo's of all those lighthouses, they are so evocative of the East Coast and all I remember about it's beauty... and then to be covered in snow... how fabulous!

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  21. I love the pictures of the lighthouses! I have always wanted to spend more time on the east coast, and after seeing your pictures, I want to even more! Until I can,I guess I will have to settle for your delicious chowder recipe!

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  22. Wonderful photos of the lighthouses ~ they look more charming than ever with the snow on them!! Thank you so much for sharing them with us West Coaster's. I'll be trying your recipe too :O)

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  23. I love chowder so thank you for this great recipe. The lighthouses, oh the lighthouses. What a great way to share a fresh bagel and coffee. It’s just gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing these gorgeous places with us :)

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  24. So refreshing. I live in Florida but was born in Maine...my son is named after a lighthouse...great to find you!

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  25. Hi Mary!
    It's nice to "meet" you! I hope you read my blog posts about Arthur Ave in the Bronx in case you do visit your niece, as I think it may be nearby her college.

    We love Maine and lighthouses! We've visited Maine a few times over the years, and the the Portland Head lighthouse is among my favorites.

    I made crab chowder recently and I know I'd love your shrimp chowder as I love shrimp!

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  26. I'm a sucker for lighthouses and these are gorgeous, beautiful pictures!

    Kat :)

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  27. Wow, your photos are gorgeous. I never think about the lighthouses in the winter, but they are very pretty with the snow around them and the ocean in the background.

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  28. I loved this post. Your photos are wonderful and that recipe sounds delicious. I really am going to give it a try. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  29. The pics are beautiful and the Chowdah sounds wonderful for a cold winters night!

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  30. I had no idea of the connection of George Washington to the Portland lighthouse. I adore chowder and New England is the perfect place to enjoy a bowl (or two or three).
    Sam

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  31. Thanks so much for stopping by this morning! I do hope you'll give the bread a try. Your day sounded perfect. I'm wanting to get to the East Coast so bad! I'm allergic to shellfish, so I'll have to skip the recipe, but I sure enjoyed my visit East!

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  32. Oh to be able to take photos of those lighthouses!!!
    I had some Conch chowder once in Miami's airport...wow it was so good! I'll bet this is alot like it.

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  33. oh YES !!!! teddy is my sous chef...he sits right on the back of the couch...and watches every move. mary, this was good timing...just as i came to sit here on the couch and pick out a dessert to make...guess what book i have in my lap? YEP. Sarabeth. thinking about baking something today...and today is my first attempt at sourdough bread...this has gone on for days...seed culture...making that into a starter...rising...holding over in the fridge...i have a blog buddy walking me through it...i would have given up without her....

    what day do you guys want to post our Sarabeth recipe? how about anytime over the Valentines weekend?
    let me know what you think. i have the gate locked and am home all day today...

    stay warm and cozy and hugs to little Duke...

    kary and teddy
    xxxx

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  34. Mmm, I love shrimp. The recipe looks so yummy! Love the photos with the snow too.

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  35. Mary- The recipe looks delicious!

    The lighthouses look so beautiful and serene in the snow. Thank you for sharing your pictures!

    Loretta

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  36. Great pictures of the lighthouses! Sounds like a fun trip :) :)

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  37. Recipe sounds wonderful. I lived in the Portland area for years and love finding your blog with pictures of places I love. I am following your blog and have joined New England Bloggers as we still spend summers in Maine at the lake.

    Beautiful blog.

    Carol

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  38. I love your snowy photos and your chowder recipe. I'm thinking about traveling to Mass. next month to visit my son and daughter-in-law. Most of my traveling friends are heading south but I think I'd like to experience New England in winter.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  39. Wow, that looks like fun. You two are hardy and brave to see lighthouses in those cold temperatures.

    That shrimp chowder sounds wonderful.

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  40. hi mary and duke....thanks for the kind words at Farmhouse...you are so sweet :-)

    Teddy just came back from The Golden Paw
    ( don't you just LOVE the name?) he looks so handsome....john and i can't take our eyes off of him...we are IN LOVE WITH TEDDY !!!!!

    i have been reading through Sarabeth today ..i have my eye on a couple of things too. Do you want to post it on Valentines weekend...i am flexible and open to anything as well...and we have to get Susan on board

    :-)

    this will be so much FUN !!!! so happy to have you and Susan in my world...you guys are THE BEST !!!!

    sending cozy love and a hug to little Duke

    kary and teddy
    xxx

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  41. Just a quick note to let you know I have passed on a stylish blogger award to your lovely self. x

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  42. hi mary and duke...wow...the charlotte..it is beautiful....are you making the ladyfingers too???
    i am on the fence...the lemon tarts....or the cream puffs...

    cream puffs are my favorite...john and i made them for christmas dinner...

    february 12th is perfect...that will be our day.do you know susan as a friend that you call and know in person or a blog friend? just wondering.

    looking forward to the 12th :-)

    love,
    kary and teddy
    xxx

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  43. The photos are beautiful. Snowy, yet sunny. Do agree that chowder is great food for such a chilly season :D

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  44. Really wonderfull, these photos are marvellous.
    (I´ve just find your blog and I like it)
    Sorry for my bad english.
    Kisses from Spain-Europe

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  45. hey mary and the dukester....how cute...the dukester...love that...

    i never made anything yesterday out of Sarabeth...we had a TEDDY DAY...we took him to Petsmart and he got some new balls and treats...then we went out to john's mom's for a bbq ( i know...it is 80 degrees here ) and Teddy played fetch on the lawn...he LOVED it...he looked like he was smiling....

    we have been loving him all morning...and feeding him some bbqed chicken.... :-)
    this morning i was reading the brownie recipe out of Sarabeth...i might make them this afternoon...i'll let you know....

    have a HAPPY day !!!

    sending love,
    kary and little Teddy
    a.k.a. Mr. Theodore Edward Bear :-)

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I'm thrilled you've stopped by and I always enjoy your comments! Thank you!