Anticipating Organic Goodness

This weekend - Friday, Saturday and Sunday -- is THE best fair around. Honestly, I don't think there is anything else like it anywhere. I'm told it is the longest running and largest organic fair in the country.

Sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association, the Common Ground Fair is 3 days of organic goodness. You can gather information, watch demonstrations, eating amazing food, march in the vegetable parade, dance to terrific music, shop for local artistic wonders and bask in the happiness that surrounds you.

I know, it sounds a little too good to be true. Trust me, it's not. You even take a short hike through the woods (or alternatively ride a horse drawn wagon) to get to the fairgrounds -- how charming is that? The only bummer in my book is that there is no chocolate or coffee there (a little pick-me-up would be helpful mid-day!)...not Maine grown, after all.

Anyhow, our little family looks forward to this all year long -- and, each year that we attend we buy one of the posters to add to our collection on our kitchen walls. And, I'm in love with this year's--what a happy rooster!

Will I see you at the fair? If not, stay tuned on Monday for posts on all the organic goodness.

Moxie on Tap

I bet you didn't know that this nation's first mass-marketed soft drink originated from Maine.

It's true.

And, while it wasn't originally called this, it is known as Moxie.

Never heard of it?

Well, there's no better time to come give it a shot -- this weekend is the Annual Moxie Festival in Lisbon Falls, Maine. They'll be fireworks, a parade, a river race, a carnival -- and, of course, plenty o Moxie to be drunk.

A Unique Drink
 One of the key ingredients of Moxie is "Gentian Root Extractive", making Moxie's flavor a bit more bitter than most. Unique, for certain. Curious about the taste? Watch this great YouTube clip.

The Scoop on Moxie
 Maine-r Dr. Augustin Thompson invented Moxie. The original form of Moxie was a patent medicine called "Moxie Nerve Food" (invented in 1876 by Dr. Thompson) which claimed to contain extracts from a rare plants that was supposed to be especially effective against "paralysis, softening of the brain, nervousness and insomnia". After a few years, Thompson added soda water to this concoction and changed the name to "Beverage Moxie Nerve Food." By 1884, Thompson was selling the soda in bottles -- and in bulk fountain soda and it was said to be favored by President Calvin Coolidge. At one point, Moxie's ad campaigns, including an endorsement by Boston Red Sox' Ted Williams, were said to be the driving force behind the soft drink's popularity.

In recent decades, Moxie fell out of favor due to competition from Coca Cola. But, demand still exists in New England -- and the company (now owned by Coca Cola) fields requests from Moxie die-hards across the country.
 
I have to admit, I've only tasted Moxie once, and, well, it wasn't for me. But, there are enough die-hards out there, that it's worth a shot, if you are so inclined. And, besides, the name is SO cool.

Have a happy and Moxie-filled weekend.

Whoopie! It's the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival

{photo via Like The Dew}

Start working up your appetite for the sweet goodness of Maine's favorite dessert -- whoopie pies! This Saturday is the 2010 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival.

What, you aren't familiar with a whoopie pie? Say it isn't so. Well, it is THE sweetest dessert on the planet, for certain. And, around Maine it's commonplace (and, you'll find them in all sorts of flavors) -- I think it safe to say that many households make their own (though I must admit I never have). 

I think Wikipedia describes it best...

A whoopie pie (alternatively called a gob, black-and-white, bob, or "BFO" for Big Fat Oreo) is a baked good made of two round mound-shaped pieces of chocolate cake, sometimes pumpkin cake, with a sweet, creamy frosting sandwiched between them.^[1] While considered a New England phenomenon and a Pennsylvania Amish tradition,^[2] they are increasingly sold throughout the United States.^[1] According to food historians, Amish women would bake these (known as hucklebucks at the time) and put them in farmers' lunchboxes. When farmers would find these treats in their lunch, they would shout "Whoopie!"^[1]


Intrigued to try this sweet treat? Or, already consider yourself a whoopie pie connoisseur and ready to cast your vote? Well, now's your chance. On June 26th (this Saturday), Dover-Foxcroft will become whoopie pie central with the arrival of the 2010 Whoopie Pie Festival. Professional and amateur bakers will let you sample (and vote!) their creations. And, of course, the festival will have a whole host of other activities too--including a performance by Dave Mallet.