Typical Maine Winter Comfort Foods (Van Buren: homes, restaurant, store)

[Elcarim]

There are things you folks are able to grow there that we just don't have here. Try and find a store within 50 miles of me that carries celery root! Trust me, I have. Most produce guys don't even know what I'm talking about. I have seen parsnips on occasion, but I've never tried them, because they just aren't very commonly used in our dishes.

Now that the fall harvests have been gathered, I'm seeing all these wonderful recipes that include some very yummy sounding veggies. I'm starting to add my own handwritten recipe cards to Grandma's recipe box that I've been given this year. I'd love some traditional Maine winter dishes to add to my "wish list" so I can learn to cook like a true Mainah next year!

[RHB]

Anything that goes with wine works for me

MW makes a mean chicken soup....
Peachie makes a mean pasta salad....

The both work well with wine

[msina]

Beef Stew
Barley soup

[CoastalMaine]

Typical NE comfort foods would include these:

Shepard's Pie
American Chop Suey
Tuna Casserole
NE Boiled Dinner
Lasagna
Beans and Hotdogs with Brown Bread
Chicken Noodle Soup
Pot Roast
Pork and Sauerkraut w/ Mashed Potatoes
Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
Spaghetti and Meatballs

A lot of potatoes El. Baked, au gratined, boiled, mashed, cheese au gratined, lyonnaise (onioned), etc. We're a meat and potato kinda place in New England. We burn a lot of calories keeping warm in the winter (at least that's the story I'm stickin' to! lol), so we need our carbs.
............

[Elcarim]

I'm going to HAVE to take advantage of all the outdoor sports to burn off those kinds of calories! Here in the heat, we seem to eat a little lighter than you'd think when you think of Southern homestyle cooking. I'll have to see what I can do to lighten up some recipes so I don't get hugely fat again. I DON'T miss those days!!

[Elcarim]

Fennel is another veggie I can't find around here. I'd bet I can grow it!

[CoastalMaine]

We do eat light as well, but those that I listed are our more regionalized comfort foods. Where people would equate bbq and tex-mex with your area, the foods above would be attributed to us.

There's always a spaghetti supper going someplace near ya. lol. Church sponsored, or the Elks, Masons, etc.

[lrfox]

I love Shepard's Pie

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by lrfox

I love Shepard's Pie

Pâté chinois a bit further up the State. Pop into a restaurant in the Van Buren area or further North and it may show up as this on the menu. LOVE IT! Easy to make as well. If you are a bit pushed for time I make it with tater tots instead of the mashed potatoes on top.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Hot cider with a dash of cinnamon; almost like liquid apple pie.

Beef stew with biscuits

Baked apples with maple sugar where the core was removed

Oatmeal with blueberries cooked in