Read Eat then Repeat Travels: Mainely Adventures

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I'm so excited to share a new series of posts with you! As I go places, I'll take you with me via Read Eat then Repeat Travels posts. I hope to share stories of unique eats and book lovers' destinations and round out these posts with a few travel tips. First in the series: Mainely Adventures! 

I recently went wheels up to Maine on a mostly-vaction-but-also-some-work trip. And while I could go on and on about the fun time I had, I'd rather tell you about the wonderful places I found and the fantastic people I met. See below my favorite Maine destinations and why they now hold a special place in my heart!

Coastal Route One is the New England road trip of your dreams. If you love small towns with lots of history and wonderful shops, this is the route for you. Coastal Route One travels the entire length of Maine, North to South. During the summer months especially, the stretch between Portland and Bucksport offers frequent views of the Atlantic Ocean and various tributaries, bays, and harbors. I traveled through charming Brunswick, Wiscasset, and Rockland to name a few. Each small town along C. Route One boasts its own unique downtown, often dotted with a mixture of local art galleries, historical buildings and museums, small shops of every kind, and of course eateries. 

Eat dinner at Frontier, a business which describes itself as "part restaurant, part art gallery, part movie theatre" in the historic Fort Andross in Brunswick:

Or shop a fun selection of paper goods and home decor at Rock Paper Scissors in Wiscasset:

Must-Do Foodie Stop Along Coastal Route One: 

Red's Eats

What: Roadside Food Stand

Where: Wiscasset, Maine

Why: Award Winning Lobster Rolls

Just A Heads Up: Lobster Rolls are a traditional dish in New England, and while the recipe varies by restaurant, the basic ingredients are cold lobster meat soaked in butter and served on a hotdog-bun-esque roll. Some versions include mayonnaise, celery, or scallions.

While Belfast, Maine certainly falls into the category of adorable small town on Coastal Route On between Portland and Bucksport, it earned a special place in my heart and, therefore, a special spotlight in this post. This quirky harbor town is home to a beautiful library, a scenic waterfront, and endless shops selling everything from homemade candy to yarn. 

The best way to explore is by foot. Take a stroll down Main Street or High Street and enjoy what Belfast has to offer!

Must-Do Book Lover Stops in Belfast, ME:

Bellabooks

What: New & Used Bookstore That Also Sells Antiques That Also Sells Coffee Omg

Where: High Street, Belfast, ME

Why: If you love books you have to stop in this store. Owners Gary and Kim love books and people and will gladly talk books with you if you strike up a conversation. With their charming cafe tables, small courtyard, and fresh brewed Yirgacheffe, Bellabooks feels like home to a book lover.

Belfast Free Public Library

Where: Just up High Street from Bellabooks

Why: If you have kiddos or you're looking for a place to get some work done, consider stopping in Belfast's Public Library. The building in and of itself is astounding. All KidLit is housed its very own floor of the library, meaning kids and teens have a space to enjoy themselves and crack open a good book without disturbing older library patrons. If you'd consider yourself an "older library patron" or you need a quiet space to work, stop in and set up shop in the Gammans Room.

And last, but certainly not least on my adventure, was Bangor, Maine. Bangor has big city feel but is half the size of Portland. Take a walk down any of the main streets and shops will catch your eye left and right. If you find yourself in Bangor near lunch time, stop in to coffee shop & cafe Giacomo's on the corner of Central St. & Hammond St. or bakery and lunch spot Bagel Central on Central St. 

Shop small and support women makers and entrepreneurs at Willie Wags. A trip to Willie Wags is like stepping in to a real life Etsy shop. WW features a large variety of products crafted or designed by women. Products range from quirky gifts and home decor to books and everything in between. If you won't be making it to Bangor anytime soon, you can shop WW online at www.thewilliewags.com or keep up with them on social media @thewilliewags!

Um, who does't need one of these Willie Wags pillows in their house right now?

The real gem in Bangor is KidLit Wonderland: The Briar Patch. The Briar Patch is an independent bookstore devoted to stocking quality products and staying on top of literature trends. Stop in at the minimum to take a look around, but if books float your boat you may find yourself walking out with more than you can carry. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful and would love to point you in the direction of a great read. Find titles new and old, and if you're lucky, the occasional signed copy. The Briar Patch also hosts book signings and events often, so keep up with them on social media @briarpatchbooks and plan your visit accordingly! (Cough, cough, there's a Harry Potter Celebration planned for July 31st, see you there.)

As my time in Maine came to a close I reflected on the sights, smells, tastes, and stories I'd experienced, and I know in my heart, this is only the beginning. I'll be back in Maine someday (someday soon if I'm lucky). 

Thanks for reading and "going" on this adventure with me. As always, happy reading and happy eating!

Mags

*Photos courtesy of 

New England Today

Frontier Cafe

Bangor Daily News

Bellabooks

The Briar Patch 

Michelle Houts

3 Great Summer Recipes That Will Be The Star Of The Cookout

Are you tired of bringing deviled eggs or baked beans to summer parties? With the 4th of July just around the corner, branch out and try these fun and beautiful recipes!

What's a summer barbecue without potato salad? This recipe is fresh take on the original by omitting mustard and opting instead for cucumber ranch. The result is a light and crisp flavor that perfectly complements good barbecue.

Dill Cucumber Potato Salad

5 lb. bag red potatoes
5 stalks celery, chopped
4 green onion stalks, sliced
2 T. fresh dill weed, chopped
1 c. mayonnaise
16 oz. cucumber ranch salad dressing

Place whole potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring pot to a boil then cover and reduce heat to a simmer for 25 minutes. Drain potatoes and cool them completely. This method cooks the potatoes completely but maintains some degree of firmness so that your potato salad doesn't turn into cold mashed potatoes. After cooling, potatoes can be cubed to the size of your liking.

I prefer medium to large cubes, slightly larger than a game die.

In a large bowl, combine potatoes, chopped celery, sliced green onions, and dill weed. 

In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise and cucumber ranch until fully incorporated. Pour sauce over potato mixture and fold mixture gently to coat completely. It's just that simple! This recipe is best after a few hours in the fridge to allow the flavors to blend achieve a thicker consistency. This yields a pretty large bowl, but it can be reduced proportionally for a small gathering. 

Up next: Spinach Strawberry Salad

10 oz. bagged spinach

1 quart strawberries

Walnut halves or pieces

4 green onion stalks, sliced

Strawberry or Raspberry vinaigrette 

18 Pint Jars (optional)

Balance out a grilled, juicy cheeseburger with this summery spinach salad! This is a quick, adorable, and kids-in-the-kitchen friendly recipe for your next cookout. 

In each jar, layer 1/2 cup of washed spinach, sliced strawberries, walnuts, and onions. If serving within an hour dressing can be added at the time of assembaly. If not, bring your vinaigrette to the party and let guests dress their own jar salads. Seal the lids tight and shake to coat the entire salad with dressing.

To jar or not to jar? Of course this salad can be put together and served in large bowl with less prep time and zero chance of broken jars. I love serving this salad in jars for these few reasons:

Jars travel very well so you don't have to worry about bruised spinach or smooshed strawberries.

Individual jars are convenient for party guests and keep salad separate from other foods.

Individual servings mean the leftover salad is not dressed and salad without dressing will stay crisp and edible longer than dressed salad.

Jars can be reused again and again!

Lastly, OMG they're just cute. Okay? Don't fight me on this.

Looking to take something sweet to your next summer gathering? Look no further. Fruit Pizza Bites are simple to make and look like something from a bakery window.

Fruit Pizza Bites

Preportioned Sugar Cookie Dough (24 cookies)

16 oz. Neufchatel Cream Cheese

2/3 c. granulated sugar

Assorted fruit, washed, and sliced

Start by baking the cookies in a well greased miniature cupcake pan for the length directed on the box. Side Note: I love making things from scratch. Especially baked goods. But the amount of time you'd have to put in to mix, chill, and portion sugar cookie dough just isn't worth it for me in this recipe. On the 8th day, God said "Let there be proportioned cookie dough," and it was good. When they come out of the oven your cookies should look something like this:

To make room for the cream cheese filling and fruit, the cookies need to be compressed into more of a cup shape. Look around your kitchen for a rounded tool about the size of the mini cupcake wells. My tablespoon measuring spoon was perfect for the job, but a melon baller or coffee scoop would do the trick as well.

Press straight down into the center of each cookie to create a well. After you've compressed the whole pan, pop them back in the oven for an additional two to three minutes or until they're golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool a while then pinch the "rim" of the cookie cup and rotate to release the cookie from the pan instead of pulling straight up to keep the cookies from breaking. 

While the cookies cool completely, you can mix the cream cheese filling. Beat 16 oz. of cream cheese with 2/3 c. of sugar until it's smooth and creamy. 

Spoon or pipe the cream cheese filling into the cookie cups. Chill for at least 30 minutes to let the filling firm up.

Top with washed, sliced fruit just before serving. Bonus points for patriotic colored fruits!

Put these recipes to the test in your kitchen today and tell me what you think! As always, thanks for reading and happy eating!