Photographs by Ted Axelrod. In Christian cultures around the world, seafood is the culinary centerpiece of the Christmas Eve table. Fasting or meatless meals prior to a feast day was proscribed by the Catholic Church, and yet the practice of eating fish the night before Christmas has also been widely embraced by Protestants. My own
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Ah, pumpkins, one of autumn’s most charming and versatile fruits (yes—they really are fruits, not vegetables). We picture them demurely decorating porch railings or tucked cleverly into fall displays. The small, sweet pie pumpkins conjure up images of tasty creations decked with whipped cream. But there is another side to pumpkins—a monster side! We’re talking
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“He was a bold man that first ate an oyster.” — Jonathan Swift M. F. K. Fisher noted in The Art of Eating that “There are three kinds of oyster eaters: those loose-minded sports who will eat anything, hot, cold, thin, thick, dead or alive, as long as it is an oyster; those who will
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Ask almost any family to name the author who does the best job of capturing life on the coast of Maine, and without hesitation, most will say Robert McCloskey. Bob McCloskey wrote eight children’s  books, among the most famous of which are Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine, and Time of Wonder, all set
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Potted Shrimp This is an updated New England adaptation of a popular British dish of the 1800s that was served as either an appetizer or a “savoury,” which came after the main dish. Northern shrimp lend themselves well to this because they are so tender. 4 tablespoons softened butter, divided 3 shallots, finely chopped 1/2
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Let’s not forget about celebrating the New Year!  There are more than 100 communities celebrating First Night in the United States, plus a celebration in Canada and one in New Zealand. New Year’s Eve is a time for renewal and new beginnings.  There are First Night events held in cities all over the Northeast and
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Old Fashioned Oyster Stuffing We think of oyster stuffing as a Thanksgiving dish traditionally served with turkey. But in the Boston Cooking School Cookbook by Fannie Farmer, there are two recipes for fish with oyster stuffing. Oysters were so popular in the 1800’s they made their way into all kinds of dishes and menus. This
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I was thrilled when I was asked to review Haunted Pubs of New England: Raising Spirits of the Past by Roxie J. Zwicker (published by Haunted America, a division of The History Press, 2007). Not only do I love Halloween the way some people love Christmas, but I love a good ghost story. The title
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Back in the early eighties, my husband and I began a tradition of celebrating the summer by having a picnic with friends. It began with two couples, both unmarried in those days, and continues today with the same two couples, two “kids” (now in their twenties) some 25 years later. With only two exceptions due
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Sample the harvests of our local waters at an abundance of seafood festivals throughout the New England region. These festivals celebrate our fishing culture in ways both fun and unusual. Join the festivities and experience true local flavor! Maine The Maine Lobster Festival, celebrating 63 years this summer. Held August 4th–8th in Rockland, Maine, this
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