A Headache, Stonewall Kitchen, Duke and a Give Away

 

 I'm sure your wondering how all these tie together.  Let me explain. 

Headache


As we were driving down the Maine turnpike today I mentioned that I was getting a headache, my husband thought it was because I hadn't had lunch so he suggested that we stop for lunch at Stonewall Kitchen (twist my arm).

Lobster Ruben on the left, Pulled Pork on the right.

Stonewall Kitchen

Hubby stayed outside with Duke and sat under the awning at one of the lovely picnic tables.  When I asked him what he wanted he said "surprise me" . . . OK . . .  I went inside and ordered lunch for us.  I ordered a pulled pork sandwich for my husband with a side of bow-tie pasta salad, for myself I ordered, are you sitting down . . . a melt in your mouth lobster ruben, with a side of potato salad!  OMG, talk about to die for, actually both sandwiches were amazing and delicious. 

Jim Stott & Duke

Smile everyone!

Duke

While my husband was waiting outside, this really nice man came over and said hello and asked if our dog Duke would like any water.   I mean, the people in Maine don't get any nicer.  So, out I come and my husband is chatting with a guy that I assumed he knew from college or work, then he introduces me to Jim Stott - now the wheels in my brain are turning, because while I know that name, the face and the name weren't connecting for me . . . 

My husband has a grin from ear to ear waiting for me to put the name and face together.  Finally it clicked as my husband said, Jim is one of the founders and co-owners of Stonewall Kitchen! Then Jim went and got Duke a bowl of water!  When he returned we chatted a bit.  The ladies who were lunching next to us were very impressed that one of the founders of Stonewall Kitchen got our dog a bowl of water.  I was too! Click here to enter the Stonewall Kitchen Monthly Give Away!

Ocean Breezes & Country Sneezes Give Away!

As some of you may know, it's my one year Blogversary, and in honor of my Blogversary I'm having a Give Away!  I've met so many wonderful people from around the globe who have become friends it boggles the mind!

I've decided to give away a Stonewall Kitchen Grilling cookbook, mainly because Jim Stott was so nice to my dog Duke.  I also have a few other goodies that will be a surprise!  All I'll tell you is that you can use it in the kitchen and it came from a farmers market and it's not food!  

(I purchased and paid for this cookbook myself, there are no endorsements from Stonewall Kitchen for this give away).

photo from Stonewall Kitchen website.

All you have to do is enter Ocean Breezes & Country Sneezes Give Away is,

• Leave a comment telling me you are a follower for one chance to enter.
• For a 2nd chance post this Give Away link and mention my blog on your blog and come back and let me know you did by leaving another comment.
• For a 3rd chance have one of your Followers follow me back and let me know by leaving a third comment.

Good Luck, you have through August 6th to enter this give away!

Pies, glorious, glorious, pies!

Blueberry and Strawberry Rhubarb pies!  

I made these pies for a BBQ that we went to earlier this month.  They were a huge hit and the pie plates were wiped clean when I picked them up to take home!

Matching blueberry hot-pads!

Matching strawberry hot-pads!
The rhubarb used in this pie is a cutting from my husband great grandfathers rhubarb plant, so I guess you could call it heirloom rhubarb!  Well, it's our heirloom and special to us!  Several branches of the family now have some of this plant!

I used a fluted pastry wheel to give the lattice some character.

Each pie was given an egg wash to make it shine!

I used the same recipe for both pies except I changed the fruit.

6 cups of fruit (I like a lot of fruit in my pies)
1/2 cup of sugar (you can add up to a cup, but I don't like super sweet pies)
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pat of butter

To an uncooked pie crust add the fruit, the sugar, sprinkle the flour, cinnamon, break up the pat of butter and sprinkle around the top.  Add the top crust, I like lattice because it looks so pretty!

Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour.

Ready, Set, Can . . . or Dream

Not that I want to rush the summer season, but I was sitting on the porch in Maine and  began imagining all the summer bounty that I'd like to preserve.  

There will be certain things for sure, tomatoes and tomato sauce, and black bean corn salsa.Then there are the pickles, and sweet peppers.  

I was wondering about radishes, has anyone ever canned radishes?  I have a garden full of beets that will also get processed.  

Those are some of my summer dreams, what are yours? I'd love to hear them!  

It's almost time for my 1st year Blogversary giveaway!!!  Details to follow soon!

In Memory

Our beloved former First Lady, Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren Ford, better known as Betty Ford passed away this week at age 93. While some may not realize it, this quiet woman was a pioneer for her time.

She was the first to publicly admit to having breast cancer. Here's what she said, "When other women have this same operation, it doesn't make any headlines," she told Time magazine. "But the fact that I was the wife of the President put it in headlines and brought before the public this particular experience I was going through. It made a lot of women realize that it could happen to them. I'm sure I've saved at least one person—maybe more."

Women all over the world who have battled this disease have her to thank for bringing a "private" issue to the fore front, it is estimated that in 1974 she saved hundreds of lives after she spoke openly about her breast cancer.

Betty Ford through the years.

She also admitted to being an alcoholic and was responsible for creating the world renowned Betty Ford Center that bears her name. This clinic helps people from all walks of life battle drug, alcohol abuse. She was very proud of her sobriety.

She was also the first First Lady to speak openly about a woman's right to choose, she believed in equal rights for woman and equal pay for women. Needless to say she wasn't popular with conservative Republicans, but she was adored by most Americans and especially women!

******

P.S.  Sorry for being out of touch this week, I was really sick, I was only able to manage to look at a few posts and then had to crawl back to bed . . . 

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness . . . plus a Recipe!

Cape Porpoise, Maine

This has been call the greatest sentence in the English language.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are

 Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

Please enjoy the recipe below!

* * *

4th of July Cocktail

Ingredients

• 1 ounce watermelon schnapps
• 1 big splash cranberry juice
• 1 very thin slice jalapeno or serrano pepper
• 1 slice lemon
• 1 slice lime
• 1 1/2 ounces tequila
• 1/4 ounce blue curacao
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• Watermelon wedge, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Mix the schnapps and cranberry juice in a shaker; pour into an ice-filled glass.

Muddle the jalapeno pepper, lemon and lime slices, tequila, blue curacao and simple syrup (to make a batch, dissolve sugar in equal parts hot water and chill) in the shaker. Slowly strain into the glass over the red layer. Garnish with watermelon, if desired.