Let's Talk Fungus
It wasn’t until I decided to turn to a vegetarian diet that I discovered all the varieties, tastes, and opportunities that come from properly using mushrooms! When the location and weather allow, I will even forage to find some really tasty options for my mushroom recipes. If you are interested in foraging, you should definitely take a foraging class - never pick and eat something you don’t know what it is. I went with North Spore and have since been able to find chanterelles, chaga, and chicken of the woods right here in greater Portland!
Game Day Eats
While everyone shows up ready to root for one team or the other, there is no debate that the food is truly the highlight of every game day. The right snacks will put all rivalries aside - it's all about finding the perfect bite to grab between plays.
Introducing...Masala Chai!
Our latest ingredient, Masala Chai, is based on Cari Karonis’ at home recipe for chai. Cari is a founder of SKORDO and coffee enthusiast. She’s been making a version of this blend for years and the decision to add it to our collection was a long time coming.
Apple Season
Apple picking is a standalone season in Maine. It comes on fast, but you know it’s arrived when social feeds fill up with picking portraits featuring flannels and LL Bean boots. We flock to pick-your-own orchards promising this is the year we’re going to use every single apple!
Fermentation and Gut Health
One Thanksgiving break in college I went to San Miguel de Allende as a nanny. At home the kiddos were on a very strict diet and I was a college student eating quick simple meals, but on this trip we all indulged. We were away for three weeks and I came home with a changed gut biome.
How Does Your Garden Grow?
It turns out, my garden isn’t doing so well this year. The sugar snap pea harvest was great. The herbs are full-on and an entire bed has gone wild with self-seeded sunflowers, cosmos, and cilantro stealing the show. Sounds decent, but my tomatoes never grew beyond seedlings, the squash keeps throwing flowers but no fruit, and both the beets and carrots have given up – they’ve just stopped growing. So how does my garden grow? Let’s call it a work in progress.
Tips: Boat Food
I spent a few years living and working on sailboats full time. My job was to cook for the owners, their friends, and occasionally racing crew. Learning how to provision, meal plan and use every little bit of food onboard was a gift and it taught me how to thoughtfully blend fresh and preserved foods. Turns out, that skill comes in handy every time I open my fridge and feel like there’s nothing to eat.
Celebrate with Seafood
A few nights back I brought home two pounds of mussels and two pounds of tuna steaks for a celebratory dinner. My husband and I had just put a house under contract earlier that morning (fingers crossed!) and our good friends had just listed theirs in anticipation for a move up the coast. We figured a nice seafood spread was the perfect way to round out the day. Baked sweet potato fries, a hearty loaf of bread and a salad topped with citrus complimented the fish and we made sure the white wine was flowing.
Cookbook Review: Eventide
I adore this book. Eye catching and very “Maine”, this book has the ability to grab your attention, no matter who you are or where you are from. It’s a delightful look at small town Maine’s seafood shack culture for visitors looking to explore Maine cuisine outside of the Old Port.
June Moments
Funny how some months seem to last a lifetime and others fly by in a flash. This morning I woke up and looked through my photos from the last few weeks and was happy to see the little moments that were captured. June has been filled with milestones in and out of the shop. Oh, and there’s a recipe in here for homemade quick pickled beets!
Mixology for You and Me.
Sipping a made-just-for-you drink is the perfect punctuation to a busy week. These days many of us are missing the colorful creations of talented mixologists and settling for mediocre or downright boring end of day drinks. Well, just like the sourdough you’ve perfected over the last few weeks, now’s the time to master the art of handcrafted cocktails.
Pairings: Beer and Grilling
Are you even grilling if you don't have a beer in hand? We're big believers in the magical alchemy of smoky, charred meals and bright, hoppy drinks. SKOROD Team member Julia Bretz has been cooking with beer pairings in mind and has come up with the following tips and tricks!