local eats

so...we are unexpeectedly spending new year's eve alone as a family...baby has been sick for a couple of days and we don't want to push him. it's sad, in a way, because we have dear friends with children that we looked forward spending the holiday with...but alas, better to be safe and keep everyone healthy.

to lift my spirits a little i am cooking a glorious feast of local yumminess for the children, jay and i this evening at home. i'll be shucking some local oysters and serving them with a mignonette as a starter. the recipe is a few entries below. you can find it here.  so. damn. sexy. and so good. and yep, my kids do eat oysters, at least the older two boys.

winter vegetables are delicious...some of the hardiest greens come in the fall and winter and are still available at good super markets in maine...i'm making some kale salad and some broccolini tonight...both of which are still available locally. my kale salad is to die for. it's amazing to think it is so good for you and so yummy. i am making a big batch tonight which will stretch through the week. jay and i like to eat it everyday. again, the recipe is available here...

for the broccolini, i am just going to sear it in a cast iron skillet with some bragg's, extra virgin olive oil and a touch of white balsamic vinegar. i won't cook it too long...just couple of minutes until it turns a deeper green. i like it to still be crunchy and it retains most of its vitamins that way, too.

of course, maine is the land of potatoes...so we've got some maine potatoes that i will peel, boil and then mash with toffuti cream cheese and kate's butter and perhaps a sprinkle of sea salt. i discovered the tofutti in mashed potatoes secret while working a catering gig this past fall...it has been a family favorite ever since and will probably be forever more.

for the main course tonight we are having good ol' maine lobster. they are crawling all over each other in a big paper bag in my fridge as i type. i will boil them later and serve them up with slices of lemon and some melted butter...Kate's butter which is made locally with sea salt (it is out of this world and will be the only thing in this lifetime that makes me fat. i swear. i look for excuses to eat it.).

i bought a yummy light prossecco to celebrate with. it isn't local, but it sure will be good. and for dessert i am preparing a flourless chocolate orange torte. again...it isn't local, but it's made from scratch and we all love it.

so...from my family to your, we wish you the happiest of years yet...<3