Eat Local: Belfast, Maine

Back again in the warm embrace of Belfast, Maine. H.'s brothers John and Mike both live on High Street, though a very long walk apart. Hobbled over on Christmas Eve to my favorite haunt, the Belfast Co-op. Here's the store's copy: All are welcome at the Belfast Co-op, Maine's oldest and largest community-owned food cooperative located in scenic downtown, coastal Belfast, since 1976. The Belfast Cooperative Store is a member-owned and controlled retail outlet for whole natural foods and other goods and provisions. 

A couple of my favorites from the Co-op this time around:

• Oatmeal bread from Daily Bread in Levant, Maine. Big, tall slices, delicious toasted and topped with Kate's Butter or a slice of Cheddar cheese. Ingredients: Unbleached wheat flour, filtered water, oats, organic evaporated cane juice, yeast and sea salt. Half loaf, $3.19; donnasdailybread@yahoo.com; 800.684.8224.
• Kate's Sea Salted Butter, from Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Yes, I can also buy it in New Jersey @ Whole Foods Montclair, but I love that it's Maine-made.
• Gingerbread Cake from Garnished, a local baker/bakery. Moist, warmly spiced layers flecked with candied ginger and iced with a fluffy blanket of cream-cheese frosting. I love gingerbread, especially around Christmastime. It's so old-fashioned and timeless, even wholesome, somehow. The sales clerk lifted a hefty slice out from under the cake dome on the counter; $4. [I did bring it back to John's house and stretch it out for a couple of days.]
• The espresso walnut brownie [just one] from Let Them Eat Cake; $2.69.
• Hamel's Hummus [named for farmers Ed and Molly Hamel], fresh from Aqua Terra Farm in Jackson, Maine. Roughly mashed, unlike those mass-produced supermarket smooth ones, and really good with whole-grain crackers. Ingredients: Garbanzo beans, sesame seeds, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, herbs, spices, salt. Pricey but memorable: 8 ounces, $6.79; 207.322.7288.
• Stone Fox Farm Creamery Ice Cream in Maple Walnut and Chocolate Peppermint. Made in Monroe, Maine; $4.79 per pint. Wish I tried the Eggnog flavor, too.

Feel bad because H., Fig, Sug, John, Leah, Dave and Mike just left for a hike by the water. I can't go because my ankle is recovering. But I will manage to do the short walk to the Co-op and back, because I need some ingredients to make chili for dinner. :)

TCOY

1. Good night's sleep.
2. Nice lather with John/Leah's Organix Hydrating Teatree Mint Shampoo. Smelled fresh, felt great.
3. Read my Christmas book.