Day 031 LocalrootZ Project (January 31, 2010)

Breakfast

 Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes

w/ Maple Syrup

Glass of Apple Cider

Lunch/Dinner

Whole Wheat Pizza 

w/ Tomatoes, Basil & Herbs

Coastal White Wine

Dessert

Maple Ice Cream

Topped w/ Crumbled Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

No pictures today... it was the close of our first 100% Local Eating month !  February will be here tomorrow and I am ready to add an other element to the project.  That element will be exercise.  I know I already ride my bike about 15 miles a day and I also get another 3+ miles of walking in just about everyday but I have concluded that after doing this for the last 3 years my body has simply grown accustom to the day to day commuting and Im going to need to supplement it with other forms of exercise such as sit ups & push ups.  Im not looking to turn into a muscleman, I just want to trim down and firm up a little more so when the warmer months arrive I will be in prime shape for some extended bicycle trips and mountain climbing. It seems every year I wait until June to start getting into the shape I wish I was in and then all of a sudden fall comes roaring back with hibernation mode resetting in.  Not this year !

Support MOO Milk !

So MooMilk (Maine's Own Organic Milk) has hit the shelves !  I encountered it for the first time when i stopped by Whole Foods.   Considering they dropped all "Raw" milk from their shelves a couple months ago... i was very happy to see a Maine produced organic milk on their shelf, creating another locavore option besides the standard Oakhurst & Smiling Hill varieties.  Hopefully there will be a 1/2 & 1/2, heavy cream and butter available soon as well ! Anyhow Cassi and I decided to give it a try... most of our milk consumption comes from ice cream making so here is what we decided to do with it....

Here is our 100% Maine Ice Cream Recipe

2 cups Whole MOO Milk

1 cup Smiling Hill Farm Heavy Cream

1/2 cup Maple Syrup

1 tsp sea salt

The consistency was thick and creamy with no icy residue that tends to happen when the milk truly isn't whole.  Overall we give MOO Milk 2 big thumbs up and salute Maine's dairy farmers for getting this wonderful product onto the shelf and hopefully into the fridge of every true Mainer !

Day 030 LocalrootZ Project (January 30, 2010)

Breakfast

Arugula & Eleanor Buttercup Cheese Omelet

w/ Shepody Homefries

side of Spelt Toast & Fresh Tomato

 

Lunch

Roasted Chiogga Beets 

w/ Sunflower Shoots & Arugula

tossed in cider vinegar

Dessert

Blueberry Cake

topped w/ Blueberry Butter

& Maple Ice Cream

Another crazy Saturday in the painting studio... started with a nice big breakfast and then a quick organizing of the studio.  A quick salad for lunch before walking Cassi to work and then it was back to the studio for a night of painting. 

I worked on two new pieces one of which is a commissioned design for IPK.  T-Shirts will be available soon come... stay tuned !

Here's a quick glimpse....

Transportation Today

Errands: 4 miles walking

Local Food Resources....

Ok so I've been having a few people ask where I get certain things and some people are not convinced that all the foods are 100% Maine Grown.  Well Cassi and I are pretty good detectives as well as foragers.  We tend to find things in nooks and crannies that some people may overlook. We are also pretty adamant about calling the "producers" of the products, to confirm the source of any ingredients that we may question the "local" qualities of.  That usually results in us only buying food at its most basic and preparing things ourselves as you can see in the previous days of this project.  However Maine is a wonderful food state and that is a big part of what this project is about so here are some resources that Cassi and I use quite frequently and what we are currently sourcing from them....

I get alot of my stuff at Lois' Natural in Scarborough

Olivias Garden

(a hydroponic greenhouse located @ Pineland Farms New Gloucester)

Scott Howard is the owner and a downright nice fella.  You can find him at the Portlands Farmer Market every Saturday and Wednesday as well as in many grocers around Maine.

Tomotoes (cocktail & geronimo)

Fresh Basil

Pea Shoots

Sunflower Shoots

Crown of Maine Co-Op

(Farm coordinator and delivery resource) 

Founded by Jim Cook and carried on by his hardworking family and friends, Crown of Maine creates a vital link between Southern Maine and the counties up North.   

 Whole Corn

Spelt Flour

Buckwheat Flour

Cornmeal

Whole Wheat Flour

Wheat Berries

Cabbage

Daikon

Sea Salt

Carrots

(Chantenay, Purple Haze, Mokum, Yellowstone)

Red and Chiogga Beets

 Blueberries

 Heiwa Tofu

Nezinscot Raw Butter

Mustard Oil

Canola Oil

Potatoes

(butterball, yukon, goldrush russett, red norland, purple sun, shepody)

Burdock

Popcorn 

Rutabaga

Thirty Acre Kimchi & Sauerkraut

Ricker Hill Orchards

Apples

(Gala, Macintosh, Golden Delicious, Liberty, Enterprise, Braeburn, Fuji, Cortland etc.)

 Apple Cider Vinegar

Applesauce

Sparrow Farm

Eggs

Cranberries

and here are some local shops in Portland and what I get there...

.... in the Public Markethouse

JK Horton's

Laughingstock Farm Mesculin & Arugula

Various Cheeses

(Eleanor Buttercup, Romano, Chevre, Smiling Hill Farm Cheeses etc)

Maine Beer & Beverage Company

Sweetgrass Wines

Bartlett's Wines

Honeymaker & Napoli Meads

Poverty Hill Cider

Aurora's Provisions
Sunrise Farm Eggs
Nezinscott Butter
Various Cheeses
Various Wines


Whole Foods
Smiling Hill Farm Cream

Other great resources include...
 

EAT MAINE FOOD website

Brunswick Winter Farmer Market

Portland Winter Farmer Market (coming soon)

Rosemont Market (Portland & Yarmouth)

Royal River Natural Foods

EAT Local All Year

 (also email this address to get a weekly email of winter veggies that periodically get delivered to Deering Oaks & Monument Square !)

Day 029 LocalrootZ Project (January 29, 2010)

Breakfast

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie

Braeburn Apple

Enterprise Apple

Lunch

Townhouse Farm Plain MooGurt

w/ Raw Honey

Dinner

Seaweed Shittake Tofu Stir Fry

w/ Arugula

Grilled Spelt Cheese

A very chilly, windy day on the bicycle commute left me craving energy....a couple of apples got me through the afternoon and I was able to keep it sustained with a quick meal of leftover soup strained, stirfried and served longside a grilled cheese.  A wonderfully warming meal that brought me to a content week ending night of hibernating while Cassi was hard at work !

Todays Conditions

Low -2˚ Hi 11˚

Wind Gust up to 35mph

Transportation Today  
Work Commute : 15 miles Bicycle

Day 028 LocalrootZ Project (January 28, 2010)

Breakfast

 2 Eggs Over Easy

w/ Corn & Bean Dip

side of Spelt Bread

Lunch

Townhouse Farm Plain MooGurt

w/ Raw Honey

Dinner

Shitake Seaweed Soup

w/ Tofu

Grilled Aroostook Cheese

 

Transportation Today
Work Commute : 15 miles Bicycle
Errands : 3 miles Walking 

 

Day 027 LocalrootZ Project (January 27, 2010)

Breakfast

Sunflower Sprout Omelet

Slice of Spelt Bread  

Lunch

Townhouse Farm Plain MooGurt

w/ Raw Honey

Macintosh Apple

Dinner

Stewed Tomatoes w/ Basil

over Fresh Day Boat Scallops

Garlic Spelt Bread

Here's how it went down...

Start with mashing up some tomatoes and simmering for about 1hour... slowly adding in basil, garlic and onions ( I always roast them first)

then its over to the scallops.... real quick 1-3 minutes over oil and shallots....

 

Sauce is getting close...

Okay now add them together... with a little fresh basil on top

 

  

  

Cassi is ready to EAT !

A great light and refreshing meal.

Transportation Today
Work Commute : 18 miles Bicycle

Day 026 LocalrootZ Project (January 26, 2010)

Breakfast

Slice of Leftover Pizza from Sunday

Lunch

Townhouse Farm Plain MooGurt

w/ Raw Honey

Gala Apple

Dinner

Exotic Casco Tempeh Stir Fry

w/ shrimp

 We decided on giving the recipe I came up with on the 15th day of the project another go round, seeing as we enjoyed it so much the first time.  With the addition of some shrimp for extra protein it was yet another meal that struck our taste buds of something from another place.  A nice little vacation for our palate.  Anyhow the bicycle commute today was one of Spring thoughts... as temps reached up into the 40's for my return home commute !

Transportation Today
Work Commute : 18 miles Bicycle

Day 025 LocalrootZ Project (January 25, 2010)

Breakfast

Blueberry Pancake

Lunch

Plain Smiling Hill Yogurt

w/ Raw Honey

Raw Chantennay Carrot

Dinner

Baked Cusk w/ curry powder

w/ Herb Smashed Shepody Potatoes & Chantenay Carrots

 

Dessert

Cranberry Apple Crisp

w/ Maple Ice Cream

Today was a wild and windy day with gust reaching 60mph heading over the Casco Bay Bridge.  That made for an eventful commute home with the bicycle zigging and zagging a little more than I was use too !  I also had a opening @ the Old Port Sea Grill where I was showcasing a handful of my new "Portscape Series".  Therefore it was dinner on the quick and cheap, making cusk @ 3.99/# an obvious choice.  Paired with a heap of mashed carrots and potatoes and it was a belly filling spirit warming meal. 

* As part of our Social Amendment, Cassi and I did enjoy a couple alcoholic beverages at my art opening this evening.  However I did choose to drink a wonderful Allagash Black brewed right here in Portland !

Below is a glimpse of my new pieces entitled...

"Port's Bounty" 

(a homage to winter eating in Portland) 

 24" x 24"

acrylic & enamel on canvas

"Wind Maine"

24" x 24"

acrylic & enamel on canvas

Better pics to soon come @ Lukaduke.com !

Transportation Today
Work Commute : 15 miles Bicycle

Errands : 3 miles Walking 

Day 024 LocalrootZ Project (January 24, 2010)

Breakfast

Corn Bean Patties w/ Pan Seared Tomatoes

side of Roasted Potatoes, Carrots & Kombu Seaweed

2 Eggs Sunnyside Up

Lunch/Dinner

Buckwheat Pizza

w/ Goat Mozzerella & Herbs

Farmhouse Cider

Dessert
Blueberry Cake
w/ Blueberry Butter
topped with Maple Ice Cream

Check it out...

as the ice cream churnes
1 cup Heavy Cream (Smiling Hill Farm)
2 cups Raw Milk (Straw Farm)
1/2 cup Maple Syrup
1 tsp sea salt

the blueberry cake with blueberry butter !

the lovely marriage takes place...

MmmmmmmmM

Transportation

Errands: 3 Miles Walk

Day 023 LocalrootZ Project (January 23, 2010)

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes

w/ Maple Syrup

Dessert

Blueberry Crumble

w/ Maple Ice Cream

So the weekend has arrived and it was back to the studio for me.  Yet another Saturday where  painting took precedent over the days menu.   However the late morning stack of cakes was plenty to keep the belly satisfied until late night dessert when Cassi arrived home from work ! 

Transportation Today

  Errands : 4.5 miles walking

1.5 miles bicycle 

Day 022 LocalrootZ Project (January 22,2010)

Breakfast

Sunflower Sprout Omelet

w/ slice of Garlic Spelt Bread

Lunch

Plain Smiling Hill Farm Yogurt

w/ Raw Honey

Raw Chantennay Carrots

Dinner

Tex Mex Tempeh

w/ cabbage and tomatoes

Side of Corn Bean Dip

Transportation Today

Work Commute : 15 miles Bicycle

Errands : 3 miles Walking 

Day 021 LocalrootZ Project (January 21,2010)

Breakfast

Sunflower Sprout Omelet 

w/ side of Rutabaga & Shredded Carrot

Lunch

Plain Smiling Hill Farm Yogurt

w/ Raw Honey

Dinner

Whole Wheat Fettuccine

w/ Fresh Tomatoes & Basil

topped with Cream Sauce

Spelt Garlic Bread

Glass of Coastal White

The final day of pasta... used up the rest of the tomatoes and basil from the first night as well as a little bit of the left over cream sauce.  All together it made for a wonderfully refreshing meal.  More pasta to come.... 

Transportation Today

Work Commute : 15 miles Bicycle

Errands : 3 miles Walking 

Day 020 LocalrootZ Project (January 20,2010)

Breakfast

2 Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

Lunch

Plain Sheep's Milk Yogurt

w/ Raw Honey

Dinner

Seafood Fettuccine Alfredo

w/ Spelt Garlic Bread

Glass of Coastal White

Dessert

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

Today was another snowy morning commute and I woke up a little later than my usual 5am alarm do to a slight cold thats been lingering in my sinuses.  Very uncommon for me to feel under the weather but Im sure its on the way out as quick as it rolled in !  Anyhow that was my excuse for having cookies for breakfast.  But essentially they are a quick bowl of oatmeal because eating 100% local foods means these wonderful cookies that got baked the night before are made using only honey and maple syrup as sweetners as well as a bit of butter alot of oats, fresh cranberries, milk and a tad bit of wheat flour. Therefore i don't feel all that guilty for chowing a quick cookie for breakfast in order to get me through my 18˚ morning bicycle commute ! Anyhow enough explaining on breakfast choices.... What was really on my mind all day was all that fresh pasta in the fridge.  On my commute home from work i had to stop by the printer to view proofs of my website handbills and business cards.  The printer is down in the old port, on commercial street, which brings me right by our favorite fish market... soooo I decided to get some treats to snaz up the leftover fettuccine.  A handful of day boat scallops, a bit of Gulf of Maine shrimp and a touch of lobster meat combine that with with a nice Alfredo sauce I whipped up using some goat cheese, cheddar and cream created a dish that I absolutely demolished one bite at a time !

Oh yeah that's our girl Irie perched on the fridge always wondering whats on the stove...

her sister Merrimac (not pictured) is probably at the food dish !

Transportation Today

Work Commute : 18 miles Bicycle

Errands : 3 miles Walking 

Day 019 LocalrootZ Project (January 19,2010)

Breakfast

Two Eggs Sunnyside Up

w/ side of Rutabaga & Shredded Carrot

Lunch

Plain Sheep's Milk Yogurt

w/ Raw Honey

Dinner

Whole Wheat Fettuccine

w/ Red Sauce & Romano Cheese

Spelt Garlic Bread  

Glass of Oyster Red

Dessert

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

 

A wonderful snowy day once again... started snowing on Sunday Evening and didn't really stop ! After pedaling 15 miles through 6 inches of ice,slush and snow blinding winds whipping across the Casco Bay I arrived at home with a enormous appetite so Cassi and I decided it was time to get in our comfy clothes from early on and make some pasta together !

The recipe for homemade pasta is simple :

6 cups Maine Red Spring Wheat Flour

8 Medium Fresh Eggs from Sparrow Farm

Create a well within the flour, crack in the eggs and slowly combine the mixture till it reaches become consistent in texture.  Knead for a minute or two and let rest 15 minutes under a damp towel.

Then its all about teamwork and patients... you pull it through the rollers of the pasta machine.  We have a nice stainless steel "Al Dente" that I bought off a co-worker.

Setting the rollers as far apart as possible you begin flattening the dough... fold over pass through again and again and again slowly reducing the the space between the roller until you reach the desired thickness for the pasta style your making !  Cassi's favorite is fettuccine and I am a sucker for any type, so fettuccine it was.  The reason for passing it through the rollers so many times is to create a more durable and consistent noodle... apparently the less time you spend smoothing and compressing the pasta, the more likely it will break apart while cooking. After the slabs of pasta are ready the fun begins... choose teh attachment for the desired shaped pasta and run the slabs one at a time through the cutters and presto.... PASTA !

As for the tomato sauce... Simple.  Add a little of Maine Canola Oil a whole bunch of basil and tomatoes from Olivia's Garden Hydroponics in New Gloucester, a bit of garlic and onion and simmer simmer simmer....

We have alot of fun and made a good amount of pasta for the next few days, as you will see in the photos below !

 

Transportation Today

Work Commute : 15 miles Bicycle

Errands : 3 miles Walking