Author Archives: mainebelle

Winter Coats & My Spiewak Secret

Posted on November 2, 2011 by mainebelle

One fateful day last Spring, I just *happened* to be at the Dover, NH Goodwill store. While there on *business* I mindlessly flipped through the winter coats, not really looking, but feeling like since I was in a thrift store, … Continue reading →

Posted in Thrifting | Tagged Goodwill, Isaac Spiewak, Spiewak, thrift, Thrifting, Winter, winter coat | 3 Comments

SWAPmaine: Fall Edition 2011

Posted on October 24, 2011 by mainebelle

This coming Saturday, October 29, is the Fall edition of SWAPmaine. SWAPmaine is a project I have been involved with in the past year through my work with Goodwill. In early 2011, a group of Portland fashion bloggers got together … Continue reading →

Posted in Thrifting | Tagged clothing swap, Goodwill, how to swap, Maine, Portland, swap, SWAPmaine, thrift | 5 Comments

Meatballs for when you don’t want pasta!

Posted on October 7, 2011 by mainebelle

It’s true! I’m not a huge fan of pasta – I like it now and then, but it’s so heavy and it’s just empty carbs. But I like meatballs – dilemma. What to do when you want a good protein … Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Cooking | Tagged everybody likes sandwiches, fennel seeds, local food, meatball recipe, meatballs, meatballs without pasta, portland food co-op, tide mill farm | 4 Comments

CSA Haul: Perfecting the Roast Chicken

Posted on September 27, 2011 by mainebelle

The end of September and October is always a busy time at work, so there is little wiggle room to write about food ideas, clothing projects and other inspiration. I did, however, have some time last weekend to take on … Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Cooking | Tagged bread salad, Buttermilk Hill Farm, CSAs, Maine CSAs, roast chicken, Smitten Kitchen, zuni cafe | 3 Comments

Stocking Up: Maine Specialty CSAs

Posted on September 18, 2011 by mainebelle

Many small farms support themselves through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Most offer full and half shares of the farm’s products from May-October. In exchange for an up front payment, consumers receive fresh produce, flowers, meat, dairy and other products each … Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Cooking | Tagged Alewive's Brook Farm, apples, Broadturn Farm, Buttermilk Hill Farm, Chicken CSA, CSAs, local food, Maine, Maine CSAs, Super Chilly Farm, Webb Family Farm | 1 Comment

Lunch Review: Schulte & Herr, Portland, Maine

Posted on September 17, 2011 by mainebelle

Roasted beets. Yes. Fresh cucumber salad with dill. Yes Sauteed spaetzle with caramelized onions and Emmental cheese. Yes, please! And to entice you inside: While Portland has an eclectic and vibrant local food and restaurant scene, something that has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Cooking | Tagged beets, Central European Food, Cumberland Avenue, German Food, golden beets, Karl Ratzch's, Maine, Portland, Portland Restaurants, Schulte & Herr, Schulte and Herr, Spaetzle | 10 Comments

Harvest Haul: Golden Beets with Red Quinoa & Garlic Yogurt

Posted on September 5, 2011 by mainebelle

After a great weekend of camping and hiking (we camped in Errol, NH and hiked at Grafton Notch (Newry, ME) in the White Mountains), I came home to a mess of beets from the garden that needed to be turned into … Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Cooking | Tagged beet recipe, beets, easy beet recipe, garden, garlic, golden beets, harvest, harvest haul, quinoa, red quinoa, sweet and savory beet recipe, yogurt | 1 Comment

Harvest Haul: Hurricane Pickles

Posted on August 30, 2011 by mainebelle

We were fortunate enough not to lose power during Hurricane Irene, so I proceeded with my original plan for the day – making pickles. We had picked about fifteen cucumbers from the garden a few days earlier and I needed … Continue reading →

Posted in Food & Cooking | Tagged Blonde Boothby, cheese cloth, cucumbers, Easy pickle recipe, fermentation, fermenting, Hurricane Irene, Johnny's Selected Seeds, pickles | 2 Comments

Repurposing Designing Women: The Two-Piece Outfit

Posted on August 21, 2011 by mainebelle

I’ve recently made a discovery that I’m very giddy about. I almost feel like I should not share this new knowledge, though part of me thinks that most thrifters out there already know this little secret. It is the secret … Continue reading →

Posted in Thrifting | Tagged 1980s, fashion, Goodwill, repurposing, shoulder pads, Thrifting, two piece outfits | 2 Comments

Harvest Haul: Basil Whiskey Sour

Posted on August 8, 2011 by mainebelle

Last week’s post about pesto asked for ideas on how else to use basil. Nellie answered the call on Twitter and sent out the request to her cocktail making friends and I got some great ideas. Thanks to Tristan and … Continue reading →