What to Eat when Irene Comes Calling

By Lori Powell

While on vacation in Maine this year we had an unexpected and uninvited guest, “Irene.”

I have rented a house on the coast of Maine for many years now and just love it there for so many reasons – the food, the people, the gorgeous landscape, the lobsters and how peaceful it is…well every year but this one!

Irene arrived with bluster and some rain. But really, I can’t complain since the rain was minimal and considering what happened up at my house in the Hudson Valley (third worst flooding in the area’s history), this was just a lot of cool wet wind in my part of Maine.

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Too Many Tomatoes

By Lori Powell

Tomatoes are dropping in my garden…literally. My garden includes everything from heirloom varieties to the humble cherry. So, when burdened (gifted) with the luxury of gorgeous home-grown tomatoes, I say, let the salsas begin!

With infinite salsa variations possible, I change it up, given the offerings at the farmers’ market or what’s in my fridge. You could add beans, corn or grilled veggies, to name a few tasty options.

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Breakfast After a Morning of Antiquing

By Lori Powell

Oh yes, another weekend… except this is the first time I ventured out to have some fun which did not include a stop at a Home Depot, Lowe’s or the hardware store.

Ohhh, the lovely search and find of special objects and lure of antique shops and garage sales! Unfortunately Pennsylvania has plenty of them to satisfy my obsession of finding treasures amongst other people’s castaways. And yes, find I did…some old copper pots….old silverware and some pictures for the walls.

I am a huge fan of “Antiques Road Show,” except I am never home when the darned program is airing. Like the other folks clasping their treasures on the show, I am convinced I have a Picasso amongst my finds, except I still haven’t figured out which one has disguised itself as just an ordinary Joe!

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Pasta – My Mood-Altering Meal

By Lori Powell

Oscar night! So excited, especially since I have been without a TV for weeks now. Soooo thought I would splurge and buy a new one. Big mistake.

After listening to the techie guys for about 1 ½ hours I thought I had made a wise choice…no go! The picture was horrible, no matter what I tried to do to correct the color, tint and sharpness. It had all of the latest stuff of what makes a great picture nowadays, or so I was told.

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Breakfast Tomatoes – a Winter Indulgence

By Lori Powell

I love roasted tomatoes and think that they are a great accompaniment to most dishes, not only for flavor, but for color. Ever since I had the traditional Irish breakfast in Dublin, I crave a hit of the roasted red.

My dad is a die-hard ketchup lover with eggs, burgers, sandwiches and most things. So as his good daughter, and the only one, I must add, I have followed suit. A little odd to have such gorgeous scrambled free-range chicken eggs (I have my own heirloom chickens) to then enrobe them in the saucy red. Most people would consider that criminal.

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