Traditional Maine food? (sale, to buy, restaurant)

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by peachie_in_maine

Well, here in Maine, we grew up on fried bologna, boiled dinner, hotdogs, beans, and macaroni scallop, steamers in the summer that we dug. Honestly I am not sure what would be all maine in my house, but I remember making a mean PBJ for all the neighbor kids on Saturday's and a container of "oh yeah koolaid".

Tami~peachie

Macaroni Scallop? is that like mac and cheese the real way (box not included?)

[dmyankee]

Originally Posted by boonskyler

must be thing for colder climate, to keep the house warm. living close to equator most of my life, we tend to keep the cooking with heat as quick as posible to minimize heat up the house. will have to learn how to do boiled dinner when move to Maine.

Nice try!

I think that the early New England cooking came from the old country, with adaptations to the New World. Early settling was labor intensive and diets relied heavily on carb loading and energy from protein and fats.

Sugar was scarce. Preserved meats (corned beef, salted cod, etc,) and hearty root vegetables that would survive the long periods between growing seasons, were the staples.

The tradition of Beans and Brown Bread on Saturdays carries over from the Puritans. It was a dish that could be eaten as left overs, with minimal preparation on the Sabbath, as most labor was discouraged on that day.

The paintings you see of settlers in their Pilgrim garb, heading to the Meeting House with musket in hand, was just that. A solemn Day, devoted to prayer . All other activities were outlawed. The muskets were for surprise attacks by the Indians.

[ME-Evergreen]

This thread is full of great ideas! I am sure we will be trying some new dishes. The brown bread sounds interesting.

[lovemaine]

Originally Posted by mainesnowflake

Every Saturday for dinner we had red hot dogs and beans with brown bread. Italian sandwiches are a Maine food, a foot long roll with cheese, ham, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, pickles, olives, salt, pepper and olive oil. If you asked for it outside the state you would ask for something like a submarine sandwich. New England boiled dinner was a Sunday favorite. I remember picking blueberries for yummy blueberry muffins.

Are red hot dogs a brand or are they actually the color red? I've seen red hot dogs in stores here. I believe they're skinless?!?

[dmyankee]

Red Dye #40 baby...!!!

Mmm...Mmm...Good!!!

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by lovemaine

Are red hot dogs a brand or are they actually the color red? I've seen red hot dogs in stores here. I believe they're skinless?!?

They're red! They're not skinless they have a case that snaps when you bite into them. Locals sometimes refer to them as "Red Snappers." which is a take off on a type of fish. It helps confuse unsuspecting tourists. Nothing like a few "red snappers" and some baked beans and brown bread ,,,a traditional Saturday night Maine meal. Just make sure you're down wind from anyone you like an hour or so after finishing dinner as methane can be a problem.

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by lovemaine

Are red hot dogs a brand or are they actually the color red? I've seen red hot dogs in stores here. I believe they're skinless?!?

many brands(companies) make "natural casing" franks

the two most popular in maine (traditionally) was kirschner, and jordans
(rice's around bangor area) old neighborhood, makes a good natural casing hot dog also.
schultz was a popular brand around southern maine (made with some veal)

kirshner,(from augusta) and jordans (from bangor) were the two powerhouse brands in maine, kirschner bought jordans out,quite a few years back, and tyson bought kirschners, a few yrs back. now, neither is made in maine,,,but i do believe w.a. bean (bangor) is now making the rice's hot dog..

[L-88]

Finnan haddy, smelts, fiddleheads, bubble and squeak, salt cod, coffee ice cream, tongue and cheeks, lobster pie, spruce gum, roast woodchuck.

[elston]

I thought I tasted cardoman or some other unusual hot dog spice in the red doggies?????

[elston]

Originally Posted by starwalker

Macaroni Scallop? is that like mac and cheese the real way (box not included?)

when I hear a new englander say scallop as in scalloped potatoes or summer squash I think of a casserole thickened with crushed saltines and having butter and cream or milk and black pepper. Scalloped tomatoes had bread croutons instead of crackers and no milk.....scallopped macaroni....????? maybe macaroni with cracker crumbs and milk???????

I hope someone will fill us in.