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Community News for Lyme and Old Lyme, CT

Nibbles

Nibbles: Savor Seasonal Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

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I am not sure when chocolate began to disappear as my drug of choice or, in truth, never was. Even as a child, when given a dime for penny candy (yes, I am that old!), I chose those Mary Janes and “watermelon” slices and those wax bottles filled with juice. On the other hand, my go-to birthday cake was chocolate layer cake, filled between layers with strawberry jam, topped with … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Savor Seasonal Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

A la Carte: Weeknight Red Curry

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It was a nice quiet birthday, beginning with my daughter-in-law and three of my granddaughters and ending with pineapple rice with chicken at Spice Club in Niantic and a terrific movie at the Niantic Theater. With some trepidation, I drove from home to Newbury, Massachusetts, Friday of Memorial Day weekend. The traffic began on I-95 in East Lyme to 290 in Worcester, … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Weeknight Red Curry

A la Carte: Lamb Stew

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Braised Lamb with Spinach – Gourmet magazine Last Saturday, I took a bunch of hamburgers along with some hamburger rolls out of the freezer. It had been a nice week, and I thought I might fire up the grill and pretend it was almost summer. After all, not only were my crocuses up and gorgeous, but so were my little daffodils. I hadn't seen my lilies of the valley, but it is my … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Lamb Stew

Nibbles: Ricotta Cheese Pie

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This was an odd Easter weekend for me. On Good Friday, I picked up my daughter-in-law Nancy and second-youngest granddaughter Casey in Newbury, Massachusetts, then drove up to Kennebunkport Inn. It all began with an e-mail from the beautiful hotel in Maine. It is less expensive to spend a day or two there in the late fall, winter and early spring, but the advertisement said … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Ricotta Cheese Pie

Nibbles: Enjoy Gluten-Free Apple Crisp, Try Tiano Smokehouse

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I love social media, but before I tell you why I do, here is what I do not love. I never, ever have a meal, at my house, someone else's house or in a restaurant with my cell phone next to my plate. If I forget to turn my phone off at a movie, I turn it off as soon as the note on the screen asks. If I am in a meeting and forget to turn it off and someone calls me, I turn it off … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Enjoy Gluten-Free Apple Crisp, Try Tiano Smokehouse

A la Carte: Chicken Salad from Poached Chicken Tenders

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In early February, the members of Groton's Board of Education met for its retreat. Since I am a new member, I was truly excited to sit with my fellow members along with the superintendent and assistant superintendent. I didn't actually realize that many of us are new members, since some are two-year members and some four-year members. Each is elected and, in many cases … [Read more...] about A la Carte: Chicken Salad from Poached Chicken Tenders

Nibbles: Curried Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie – Terrific Winter Comfort Food

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I bought a 10-pound bag of russet potatoes, planning to make scalloped potatoes for Super Bowl Sunday. Then I didn't. I looked at the amount of food I made, which included pink beans (because I love pink beans), kidney beans and black beans for chili; lots of tortilla chips for guacamole; cheeseburger pie; and Velveeta and Rotel tomatoes; plus a pie for dessert. We didn't need … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Curried Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie – Terrific Winter Comfort Food

Nibbles: Pork Roast with Maple and Rum Glaze

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Just before I went to bed on a Sunday or two ago, I watched Lady Edith call Lady Mary a “bitch” more than once. (That's “Downton Abbey,” for those of you not hooked on this Masterpiece Theatre show, which will end maybe by the time you read this. Sob.) My reading matter was “Five Days at Memorial,” a nonfiction book about Memorial Hospital in New Orleans, before, during and … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Pork Roast with Maple and Rum Glaze

Nibbles: Two Culinary Memoirs, Two Delicious Recipes – Enjoy Both!

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Over the past month, I have been reading interesting recipes. That’s not a big deal, since I pore over recipes daily from newspapers, cookbooks and, especially, food magazines. These days I tear recipes from magazines and newspapers, then chuck them out. Many of my 500 cookbooks are gone, too, living at the  Book Barn. But two food memoirs I bought recently, and which I … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Two Culinary Memoirs, Two Delicious Recipes – Enjoy Both!

Nibbles: Super Summer Salmon

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Why don’t I like salmon? Maybe because the few times I order it in restaurants it is overcooked. Maybe because I only want fresh salmon, preferably wild caught. It’s funny: every time I have had salmon at someone’s house, it is glorious. James O’Shea roasted a huge piece of salmon on my grill in Old Lyme, chopping only the herbs in my herb garden plus a few tablespoons of … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Super Summer Salmon

Nibbles: Summer Just Isn’t Summer Without Ratatouille (and a Five-Bean Bake!)

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I am so enjoying this summer. I do love my CSA baskets (Hanukkah or Christmas every Tuesday afternoon), but I still delight in visiting my local farm and farm markets twice a week to get more tomatoes and sweet corn, either at Whittle’s in Mystic or Becky’s in Waterford. If that were not enough, a neighbor, who is a scientist at Pfizer, asked if I liked tuna. “Fresh … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Summer Just Isn’t Summer Without Ratatouille (and a Five-Bean Bake!)

A Number of Nibbles: Strawberry Recipes Galore and Corn Chowder

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#1 It has been a pretty wonderful seven-day period. My daughter had given me tickets to see Bette Midler at the TD Center in Boston, along with a lovely room at the Onyx, right next to the arena. I took my daughter-in-law, Nancy, with me. We had a wonderful dinner at Bricco, walking distance to both hotel and Bette, loved the show, and had cocktails at 11 pm in the hotel … [Read more...] about A Number of Nibbles: Strawberry Recipes Galore and Corn Chowder

A Number of Nibbles: Places to Go – Chester Farm Market, St. Sophia’s Greek Festival & JAMMS

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#1 Chester Farm Market Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 2 through October 2 I know summer is here when the Chester Farm Market opens, I missed the first, but I will be there every Sunday ‘til fall. This year they have closed Main Street, there is music and the tents are full of gorgeous food and incredibly nice people. Friends and I spent almost an hour there (my … [Read more...] about A Number of Nibbles: Places to Go – Chester Farm Market, St. Sophia’s Greek Festival & JAMMS

Nibbles: Now is the Time to Bake a Spice Cake

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On Sunday, March 1, I decided that winter was done. That afternoon, though, I drove to the Ward’s home in Madison to celebrate Zimmy’s 90th birthday. There would be around 40 of us and the food promised to be yummy. I had bought my Coca-Cola Cake and a slow-cooker full of Cincinnati four-way chili. Both were good but Eugenia’s baked rigatoni along with chopped liver, potatoes … [Read more...] about Nibbles: Now is the Time to Bake a Spice Cake