Twice Baked Potatoes

We have a huge bag of potatoes from a friend's garden. Mashed, baked, grilled, cubed for salad...potatoes are comfort food at its best.

For some reason, I had a hankering for twice baked potatoes. So easy to make  - especially when there are unused baked potatoes in the fridge.

I added a little onion, grated cheese, some broccoli, herbs, and salt and pepper to the potato mixture. Wish you could smell these. Yum!

If you are in the Bangor, ME area this coming weekend (November 16-17, 2013), we hope you will stop by the Maine Harvest Festival to say hello. We'd love to see you!

If not, you can always touch base with us by leaving us a comment (below), following us on facebook or checking out our Etsy shop.

Hope your week's a good one!

Seagulls and Seashells

Got a chance to visit the beach recently. Ah, those sea breezes! Thank you seagulls for flying into the camera frame just as I was snapping the picture.

And, these guys, hanging out on the beach...probably waiting for a snack even though it's "off-season."

We sent packages out to Minka in Kennebunkport, ME, Treats in Wiscasset, ME, The Well Tempered Kitchen in Waldoboro, ME, as well as Close Buy last week. Things are starting to pick up for the holiday season!

Don't forget the Maine Harvest Festival in Bangor, ME is coming up the third weekend in November (16th and 17th). We're looking forward to seeing everyone there!

We've got a few other things in the works, but those announcements will have to wait for a little longer!

In the meantime, you can also find us on Etsy or facebook. We'd love to hear from you!

Hope your week's a good one!

Salty and Sweet

Sunday nights growing up were fudge and popcorn nights. I never lost that craving for the salty and sweet. I am, however, not that great at making fudge, so brownies make a pretty good substitution.

I think the desire for comfort food increases and the temperature outside decreases...or when it gets closer to Sunday evenings! (Not quite ready for those cold winter winds).

But, it is definitely fun to be thinking about the upcoming holiday season, with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas right around the corner. We will be doing the Maine Harvest Festival in Bangor, ME on November 16th and 17th. We hope you will be able to stop by our booth and say hello!

We sent packages out to Lisa Marie's Made in Maine (Bath and Portland, ME) and the Maine Grain Alliance (Skowhegan, ME). Someone also sent us a note saying our items are included in a display by the Rock and Art Shop (Bangor, ME) at the Bangor International Airport. We're always grateful to our vendors for their support.

Anyway, off to find some coffee and start the day. You can find out more about us on facebook or at our Etsy Shop.

Hope your week's a good one!

Ah, Fall!

Ah, fall! Love this time of year. It seems warmer than usual, but the leaves are turning colors and there is a crispness in the air - especially at night or in the early mornings.

There will be lots to rake, but I love the rustling sound of walking through the fallen leaves in the back yard.

The burning bush is completely red, now. Just ignore the shrubs in the front that still need trimming.

We heard from the good people at Close Buy. They had a good result with their school fundraiser. We will be filling that order soon. We also sent packages to Window Panes in Bar Harbor, Conklin's Maine Mercantile in Belfast, ME, and LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls in Camden, ME last week. Please say "hi" for us if you're in those areas or visit their websites.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for the Maine Harvest Festival in Bangor, ME November 16 and 17. Should be a really fun event!

Anyway--if you'd like to leave us a comment below, that would be great. Otherwise, you can find us on facebook or at our Etsy shop.

Hope your week's a good one!

Soup's on!

Many things to love about fall...including breaking out the soup recipes. This weekend's star ingredient: fennel.

Yotam Ottolenghi's Chickpea, Tomato, and Bread Soup recipe from his book "Plenty" worked perfectly. Wish it was possible to share the yummy smells that came from the cutting board as I chopped up fennel, carrots, celery, onions, parsley, oregano, and thyme to toss into the soup.

After a morning of digging around the gardens and raking the mounds of pine needles and leaves in the back yard, it was great coming in to a lovely warming meal.

We don't have any shows this month, but want to let you know about the Maine Harvest Festival in Bangor, ME November 16-17, 2013. Not too early to mark your calendars for this fun, foody, crafty event.

Also, wanted to give a shout out to Archipelago in Rockland, ME. We sent them a package of towels the end of last week, including our new chickadee tea towel design. If you're in that area, please stop by and say hello for us!

Feel free to share your favorite soup recipe below. You can also find us on facebook or at our Etsy shop.

Hope your week's a good one!

Brunch

Brunch, my favorite! I just love that breakfast-y, lunch-y time of day! Table's set with fresh fruit, some donut bites, mini bagels, banana bread, and pumpkin bread.

 Coffee's on and the quiche is in the oven.

Pick from spinach, feta, onion, and fresh tomatoes from the garden or broccoli, onion, tomatoes and cheddar. They're all ready to dig in!

A quick shout-out to Conklin's Maine Mercantile, Belfast, ME, Window Panes, Bar Harbor, ME, Lisa-Marie's Made in Maine, Bath and Portland, ME, and The Lamp Shade, Columbus, Ohio. If you're in any of those areas, please stop by and say hello for us!

Have a favorite brunch recipe to share? Comment below or join our facebook page or at our Etsy Shop.

Gratitude

There are just some times when words fail to convey the gratitude we have for our family, friends, and customers who support us throughout the year. This is one of those times.

As many of you know, we were at the Common Ground Fair in Unity, ME this past weekend. We had a steady stream of people in our tent all three days (including Sunday, which had a rainy, windy, thunder-booming start). Your kind comments about our products and the stories shared about fabrics, art, the fair, and many other topics were heart-warming. This is what keeps us going and reminds us why we're doing what we do. Thank you.

We'll be jumping right back into our usual production schedule this week. I'll share more about our fall/winter events in next week's post.

In the meantime, you can leave comments below, check out our facebook page, or visit our Etsy shop.

Off to find some coffee...hope your week's a good one!

Getting Ready for the Fair

Common Ground's this coming weekend: September 20-22, 2013. We'll be spending the week finishing up towels, napkins, and produce bags, checking our tent, display tables, and getting excited for the fair to begin!

There is a lot to see at the fair: animals, gardens, arts and crafts, speakers, music, and more. One of my favorites is the sheep dog demonstration. I could watch those dogs work all day!

 If you're thinking of coming to the fair for the first time, here is a schedule of events for this year.

We sent packages to LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls in Camden, ME, Kennebec River Artisans in Hallowell, ME, Archipelago in Rockland, ME, and Conklin's Maine Mercantile in Belfast, ME last week, so if you're in any of those areas, please stop by and say hello!

 You can find out more about us by checking out our facebook page, our Etsy shop, or stopping by our booth at the fair!

Hope your week's a good one!

Easing into the Day

Just easing into this chilly September morning by watching the sunrise.

The color's already starting to fade a bit. Glad I stepped out on the porch when I did.

Lots on the horizon as we look forward to Common Ground Fair (less than two weeks away!), Close Buy, University of Maine Alumni's Black Bear Auction (more about that later), and the Maine Harvest Festival.

A quick shout-out to Conklin's Maine Mercantile in Belfast, ME, Northern Tides in Lubec, ME, and Window Panes in Bar Harbor, ME who received packages last week. If you are in any of those areas, please stop by and say hello for us!

We would love to hear from you in the comments (below), on facebook, or through our Etsy shop.

Hope your week's a good one!

The Maine Woods

Love this time of year to walk in the woods! Really peaceful. No mosquitoes. Nice to get a little breather before gearing up for the Common Ground Fair.

I am drooling over this old stone wall. It gives me ideas for my own yard. (Who has got a strong back and likes to lug rocks?).

Here is a shout out to our wholesalers this past week who received packages in the mail: Conklin's Maine Mercantile in Belfast, ME, Treats in Wiscasset, ME, Kennebec River Artisans in Hallowell, ME, and Attentif Design in Amesbury, MA. If you are in any of those areas, please stop by and say hello for us.

Off to find some coffee and get ready for the day. If you would like to leave a comment below, we would love to hear from you. You can also find us on facebook and at our Etsy shop.

Hope your week's a good one!

Nice Day for a Hike

It's always a great day when we can escape for a few hours and enjoy Acadia National Park. I didn't actually go on this particular hike, but considering I totally spaced off "Madder Root Monday" yesterday, I thought I'd share some of BF's photos of a recent hike of Pemetic.

We've been super busy (in a good way). We got out tea towels, napkins, and produce bags last week to Lisa Marie's Made in Maine in Bath and Portland, ME, Conklin's Maine Mercantile in Belfast, ME, and Minka in Kennebunkport, ME. If you're in those areas, please stop by and say hello for us!

As August comes to a close, we're getting excited for the Common Ground Fair. It's September 20-22, 2013, so save the date and keep your fingers crossed for glorious fall weather! We've got a new chickadee tea towel design that will be ready to go by then.

Anyway, off to find some coffee and get the day started. If you'd like to leave a comment below, we'd love to hear from you. We're also on facebook and can be found at our Etsy shop.

Hope your week's a good one!

Gilsland Farm

We had such a great time at Gilsland Farm this past weekend! Our booth was tucked under a sweet, old apple tree and we couldn't have asked for better weather for the show. Perfect August days!

We missed the peonies in bloom, but the farm was a great setting for the craft show. We loved catching sight of the ground hog family and the turkeys during set-up and take-down. And, as always, were inspired by the talented artisans and crafters who shared the show with us. 

Before we left for the show, we sent out packages to Bowerbird and Friends in Peterborough, NH and Conklin's Maine Mercantile in Belfast, ME. We do hope, if you're in either of those areas, you'll stop by and say hello for us!

Our next show will be at the Common Ground Fair in Unity, ME. Always such a fun event. This year, it's September 20-22. So, don't forget to mark your calendars!

If you'd like to leave a comment (below), touch base with us on facebook, or send a convo through our Etsy shop, we'd love to hear from you!

Hope your week's a good one!

The Pickling Project

Even though I hold out no hope of matching the puckeringly good tastiness of Morse's pickles in North Waldoboro, ME, I still wanted to try my hand at canning dill pickles again this year.

The cucumbers came from the Orono Farmers' Market.

 The garlic and dill are from my little veggie garden in the back yard.

I did learn to keep the jars in a simmering water bath as I pack them. Lost two jars when they cooled off too much. They broke when I put them back in the boiling water. I was glad I only lost two.

The weather was nice enough to set up the water bath outside on the porch. I like not having to heat up the house.

Done! I think BF and I canned 26 pints altogether. We got into a nice rhythm by the third batch. The hardest part of pickling cucumbers is waiting until they're ready to eat.

OK, off to do some work. We are getting ready for the Gilsland Farms Arts and Fine Crafts Show this coming Saturday and Sunday (August 17-18). The farm is a sanctuary maintained by the Maine Audubon, so we are really looking forward to checking it out. We hope that, if you are in the area, you will stop by our booth and say hello!

Have questions or want to tell us about your tips to getting that perfect pickle? Leave a comment below, check out our facebook page, or leave us a convo at our Etsy shop. 

A Beet Convert.

I felt compelled to pick up some beets at the farmers' market. Look at these in their richly colored glory! How could anyone possibly pass by the booth without getting some? Thing is, up until this weekend, I had never met a beet I liked.

I thought, maybe I would grill them. Everything tastes better on the grill, right? But, just about dinner time, the skies opened up with rain, lightening, and thunder. Very dramatic, but not very good for cooking beets outside on the grill. So I improvised.

I grated one beet to leave raw and cut the rest up thin. These I tossed in a skillet with some olive oil, shallots, orange zest, juice from said orange, some scallions, poppy seeds, and some white balsamic vinegar. I pan fried these just for a few minutes, then put the skillet in the oven to roast the veggies. The recipe I used is based loosely on this one.

Roasting the veggies in the oven reduced the liquids into a lovely sauce, sweetened the beets, and turned everything red. Some mozzarella sprinkled over the top and a side salad of greens and cucumbers with a mustard dressing rounded out the dish.

Definitely a beet fan, now that I know how to cook them right. Even BF said he'd have them again.

Anyway, last week was another busy one for Madder Root. We sent out tea towels, napkins, and produce bags to Archipelago in Rockland, ME, Conklin's Maine Mercantile in Belfast, ME, Rocky Acres Farm Stand in York, ME, Minka in Kennebunkport, ME, and Lisa Marie's Made in Maine, in Bath and Portland, ME, plus all our lovely Etsy customers. We do appreciate your support!

We've got our sights on August 17 and 18, 2013 when we'll be at the Gilsland Farm Art and Fine Craft Show in Falmouth, ME. Hope you'll stop by and say hi.

Want to share your favorite beet recipe? Just leave a comment below, check out our facebook page, or convo us through our Etsy shop.

Hope your week's a good one!

Artisan Bread Fair

We had so much fun at the Maine Grain Alliance's Artisan Bread Fair on Saturday. It is truly one of those little treasures that make Maine summers such a great thing!

These pictures are from just one of the booths: The Bread Shack from Auburn, ME.

There were about 60 vendors represented: bread makers, cheese, wine and beer tastings, milk shakes with locally produced milk and ice cream, wood-fired pizza, music, crafts people and artisans selling their wares.

Yup, we pretty much ate our way through the day...

Along with getting ready for the fair last week, we shipped out orders to Under the Dogwood Tree in Southwest Harbor, ME and Attentif Design in Amesbury, MA. If you are in those areas, please stop by and say hello for us!

We also heard from Cindy of LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls about a giveaway she is hosting that includes one of our produce bags and a six-pack of her dryer balls. The offer is good until July 31, 2013. For more information, please check out her website.

We're also happy to hear from you on our facebook page or through our Etsy shop.

Hope your week's a good one!