Enjoy the Simple Pleasures! Boothbay Harbor, Maine, is one of our favorite summer destinations! The weather is beautiful, the food is fantastic, and there are always fun activities to enjoy. Our time in Maine consists of simple pleasures like canoeing, kayaking, exploring by boat, fishing, hiking, clamming, stargazing, and always making great memories. Every day is an adventure in Maine. Maine’s summer style is Unlike many of our trips, where we have a specific itinerary, our time in Maine is very laid-back and unstructured. Our activities depend on the tides, the weather, and the interests of our guests. Depending on the tide, we might hop in the boat and go to a farmer’s market or take the boat out for a lobster roll at a local flip-flop friendly restaurant. We do have some favorite activities. Here are some of our recommendations: Jumping off the bridge at a local swimming hole in Damariscotta Mills Watching the lobster trap races at the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland Relaxing on the water in a kayak, canoe, or boat Hiking local mountains like Mt. Washington or Mt. Katahdin Sampling and finding the season’s best lobster roll Picking blueberries and making blueberry jam Enjoying homemade ice cream at the Down East Ice Cream Factory Taking the boat to Bath for the farmers market or shopping for basics at Reny’s Going clamming and making chowder Solo Pane Pasticceria in Bath is the best local bakery for bread with your chowder Checking out the local breweries and oyster farms such as Glidden Point Watching gorgeous sunsets from the dock on the Back River Browsing through nearby stores, like Nest in Brunswick or Reny’s in Bath One of our absolute favorite traditions is having a lobster-fest on the back deck with the whole gang. We hope you have an opportunity to host your own lobster-fest in Maine. Whether you are able to host one in Maine or in your own backyard, here are our recommendations (shown below) for a successful party. We suggest visiting Maine and creating your own memories! We’ve enjoyed exploring all over the state, from Acadia National Park to Moosehead Lake and all across the Downeast. It’s a beautiful part of the country, especially during the summer. If you have the opportunity and are looking for some cooler summer temps and relaxing fun, embrace Maine’s summer style and plan a visit! All Lobster bibs Heavy Duty Lobster Napkin Cloth Lobster Napkins Enamelware Lobster Plates Load More
If You Can’t Take The Heat…
Get Out Of The Kitchen… Beating the August Heat with a Classic Icebox Cake If you’re feeling the scorching summer heat like we are here in North Carolina, you might find yourself avoiding the kitchen as much as possible. The old saying, “if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen,” couldn’t be more fitting this first week of August. It’s been HOT outside – let’s make a classic icebox cake! Despite the high temperatures, we still want to make a special dessert for a birthday celebration without turning on the oven. Enter one of our favorite childhood treats: the icebox cake. This delightful, no-bake dessert is perfect for keeping cool while satisfying your sweet tooth. Now, for those who remember, the classic icebox cake traditionally used Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers. Sadly, these beloved wafers are no longer available. But don’t fret! We’ve found a fantastic substitute in Dewey’s Brownie Crisp Cookies. They bring a rich, chocolatey flavor that pairs beautifully with whipped cream. For a fun twist, we’re also testing out a second version using Biscoff cookies (fingers crossed). Graham crackers or other thin wafers will also work with this cake style. Here’s how to make your own refreshing icebox cake: Ingredients: Dewey’s Brownie Crisp Cookies (or other thin wafer cookie) 2 cups Heavy whipping cream 2 TBLS Caster sugar 1 TBLS Vanilla extract Instructions: Whip the cream with the sugar and vanilla until it forms stiff peaks. In a dish lined with plastic wrap (we used a silicone loaf pan), cover the bottom and sides of the pan with a generous layor of whipped cream (about 1/3 inch). Next layer the cookies with whipped cream and stack them in a row in the pan. Gently press the cookies to make sure they are tightly set in the cream. Repeat the layers until you’ve used all your ingredients, ending with a layer of whipped cream. Use the remaining whipped cream to cover the top so no cookie edges are showing. Use the excess plastic wrap to cover the top of the cake. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight if you can, to let the cookies soften and meld with the cream. Garnish with the leftover cookie crumbs, and be sure to slice the cake in the opposite direction of cookie stacks so you get the striped layer presentation. That’s it! A simple, delicious dessert that keeps you cool and out of the kitchen. Whether you’re using Dewey’s Brownie Crisp Cookies or experimenting with another thin wafer cookie, this throwback icebox cake is sure to be a hit at your next summer gathering.