A Maritime Summer

We've been taking jaunts out and about the past month, enjoying the tastes and flavours of our Maritime provinces. We've managed to hit all three, and found wonderful treasures in each place. At the Moncton, New Brunswick Farmer's Market I purchased some lilac scented soap made by The Soap Shack. It smells just like our backyard in the spring - I love it.
A trip to the all-you-can-eat lobster buffet at Fisherman's Wharf in North Rustico, Prince Edward Island had us waddling out the door. Was it tasty!

After watching The Week The Women Went on CBC T.V. this winter, a trip to visit Jimmy Lefresne's Train Station Inn, Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia was in order:

What an interesting spot, with beautiful gardens and unique guestrooms.

The food was delicious. (These are mussels.)

And of course we had to make a trip "back home" to Five Islands, Nova Scotia where I grew up. This rock formation is called The Old Wife.

In order, the islands are Moose, Diamond, Long, Egg and Pinnacle. At the end is Pinnacle Rock. Possibly there are more beautiful spots in the world but I sure haven't seen them :)

Last year our lighthouse was moved to a new location, and it looks grand on Broderick's Beach.

Another Maritime food tradition is homemade doughnuts; they are a fun, family activity where everyone can get into the act - rolling, frying, sugaring...and eating! I use my Gram's recipe, but my doughnuts never look as good as hers did. If anyone would like the recipe, let me know.

Dangerous Chocolate Cake in a Mug

Oh My...every so often something so clever and good comes along that you just have to share. Thanks to Kathi from Kuwait for posting this on an online quilting list. This is just too much fun!

1 coffee mug
4 Tbsp. cake flour (plain, not self-rising)
4 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1 egg
3 Tbsp. milk
3 Tbsp. oil
Small splash of vanilla
3 Tbsp. chocolate chips, optional
Add dry ingredients to mug, mix well with a fork. Add egg,mix thoroughly. Pour in milk and oil and vanilla, mix well. Add chips, if using.Put mug in microwave, and cook for three minutes on 1000watts. Cake will rise over top of mug--do not be alarmed! Allow to cool a little; tip onto a plate if desired.Eat!
And WHY is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only five minutes away from chocolate cake any time of the day or night!

Perfect for the quilter who has worked all day stitching on the latest masterpiece and has no time to bake. Now we can have our cake and quilt it too! :)

A Tasty Topic

These pizza pinwheels are a favourite in our house: the boys love them! Basically you make them like (biscuit) cinnamon rolls but filled with pizza ingredients. I use my Gram's biscuit recipe which never fails:

• 2 cups flour (I like the new Nutri Blend from Robin Hood)
• 4 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup Crisco shortening

Mix the dry ingredients together, then cut in the shortening till it's about the size of peas.

• 1 egg
• 2/3 cup milk

Break the egg in the measuring cup and beat it. When you add the milk, you should have 1 cup of liquid, if not add to the 1 cup line (your egg may have been a bit small). Add the liquid to the dry ingredients and stir until just moistened. Turn out on a floured board and knead exactly 20 times (not 19, not 21: this is the key to good biscuits!) Roll not too thin for biscuits, but in a fairly thin rectangle for the pizza rolls. For the pizza filling, a small can of Gattuso pizza sauce is a good size (we like the "Spicy"). Mix it in a bowl with a cup of shredded cheese and various chopped pizza items: pepperoni, green peppers, mushrooms, onions - whatever you like. Approximately a cup total of pizza ingredients is about right for rolling - too much and it all falls out. When you have the sauce, cheese and vegetables combined spread it on the biscuit dough and roll up like a jellyroll from one short end. Cut into slices about 3/4 - 1" thick and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You will have enough for two pans. Bake at 400 degrees; my turbo-charged oven takes 8 minutes. Delicious! These are good cold also, and travel great in a lunch box to school.