ICE CREAM

I LOVE LOVE LOVE ice cream!!!!! Would eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if my genes would allow me to. I think when I discovered that the great state of Maine could accommodate my love of ice cream at every corner, that's when I knew I was infatuated.

I later realized that most of the little ice cream shops we stopped at all had Gifford's ice cream. What was it with Gifford's ice cream?!

Gifford's ice cream is the main ice cream in Maine.  It's made in Skowhegan, Maine. They start with fresh milk and cream from local farm in Maine then they mix all the ingredients in antique freezers.  It really is the best ice cream I've ever tasted.  The flavors I got to taste were "Mt. Katahdin Crunch" and "Main Wild Blueberry".  Both were delish!!!

Another neat thing about the ice cream is that it's sold in shops along with something else.  So each individual ice cream place has it's own style.  It doesn't seem like a chain.  Here is the original one that started in 1980.

It's also a family owned business that goes back 5 generations.  Man this post is making me hungry for some ice cream.  Wish I had a Gifford's stand close by.  Make sure and find one if you're ever in Maine! Here is a link for locations http://giffordsicecream.com/.

LOBSTERS

One of the things people think of when they think of Maine is Lobsters!

There are two different lobsters found in Maine, hard shell and soft shell. Hard shell lobsters are lobsters that have not shed their shell. You can tell if they are hard shell by looking under their claws.  If there are black spots then it's hard shell lobster.  Hard shell lobsters also have more meat.

Soft shell lobsters are lobsters that have recently shed their shell. There is not a lot of meat in a soft shell lobster but the meat is sweeter than a hard shell lobster.

Interesting, huh?!

One of the popular ways to eat lobster in Maine is in a lobster roll. On my recent trip to Maine, one of the locals told me about the best place to eat a lobster roll, The Clam Shack in Kennebunkport, Maine.  That was my first experience with a lobster roll but after having more at other places in Maine, I think the local was right.....THE BEST PLACE FOR LOBSTER ROLLS!!!

I will never try and make a lobster roll myself.  I would totally ruin it.  When I think of cooking lobster, I remember the scene in "Julie & Julia" where she puts the live lobster in the pot and it keeps trying to get out. Will forever keep me from ever trying to cook a lobster. But if you are the daring sort, then here is a recipe for Lobster Bisque from Down East Magazine that looks delish! Bon Appetit!!

Lobster Bisque

2 medium lobsters, undercooked

2 cups water

1 quart milk

6 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

2 cups oyster crackers rolled to a dust

1 teaspoon salt

few grains cayenne

Remove meat from shell and large claws and pass through fine grinder. Break body and small claws, cover with water, bring slowly to boiling point, and cook 20 minutes. Drain and add liquor to milk and scald. Melt butter; stir in flour and cracker crumbs; gradually stir in hot liquid and cook 5 minutes, stirring till smooth and thickened. Add seasonings and lobster meat, and heat thoroughly. Add remaining butter and serve. Serves 6.

**Sources: maine-lobster.com, deathandtaxing.com (images), down-east.com