by Bruce Hardina
Coastal Journal Editor & Publisher

I took a couple of days off during the holidays and in addition to catching up on some projects I’ve wanted to work on, I helped my wife around the house more than usual. Particularly I cooked a couple of dinners. This is one that I came up with off the cuff for my mother’s birthday on December 27. Mom likes flavorful food and this was certainly that.

A few Notes:

• This recipe serves five to seven people

• Use organic red bell peppers rather than the ones from Mexico. Mexico permits chemical pesticide use that the United States bans.

• Use a high quality sausage. You won’t be sorry. A good, quality sausage without gristle is necessary if you’re going to use sausage at all. Local markets with their own butchers tend to have better quality meats in general. Yellowfront Grocery in Damariscotta is one such store. I had heard that they had great meats, and since I have started shopping there, I can confirm that rumor. Although I haven’t purchased meat at Brackett’s Market in Bath, I have heard that it also carries higher quality meats than you would find in one of the large chain stores. I didn’t know what brands were better than others, so I asked the butcher. He was friendly, helpful and spot on. It was the best sausage I’d had in a long time. Primo was the brand, but there may be other really good ones.

Your $25 Pies on Parade ticket buys 15 meals for a hungry Maine family. Photo by PJ Walter.ROCKLAND — With less than two weeks left before the 9th Annual Pies on Parade Tour in Rockland, the innkeepers at Historic Inns of Rockland are busy getting ready. Each of the 15 or so businesses planning to participate, including the founding members Berry Manor Inn, LimeRock Inn, Captain Lindsey House, and Granite Inn, will be serving a sweet and a savory pie sampling. While you will still get your traditional favorites such as Mom's apple pie and good-old American Cherry and Blueberry Pies, you'll also get some other pies that may surprise you. Shepherd's Pie, Whoopie Pies, Pizza Pies, Meat, seafood and egg pies are all on the list. 

For example, last year, Fiore Artisan Olive Oils and Vinegars served up a beautiful pie made with some of their healthy olive oil, defying all preconceived notions about “pie-ling” on calories from these delicious desserts. 

But there's even more to this event than eating pie. It's an event with good causes in mind, so tour goers will not only enjoy fabulous pies, but will help others put food on their tables, in an event that's also sustainable.

This is no pie-in-the-sky event. Beyond celebrating National Pie Day, there's a larger reason for the annual Pies on Parade Event. One hundred percent of the proceeds from Pies on Parade go to helping hungry families put food on the table. All proceeds from ticket sales for Pies on Parade benefit the Area Interfaith Outreach (AIO) Food Pantry & Fuel Assistance Program. Over the past eight years, more than $50,000 has been donated to AIO's Food Pantry from this event to help provide food for Midcoast families. With this year's donation, Historic Inns of Rockland expect to make it to the $60,000 total donation mark over the tenure of this event. 

by Pam Wischkaemper
Coastal Journal contributor

I love giving dinner parties, especially when I can try new recipes and put interesting groups of people together. My New Year’s resolution is to bring back this almost-lost art. This column will give some helpful hints on how to give a successful dinner party and also a few simple three-course menus you can try.

People don’t give dinner parties mainly because they don’t know how. We have several generations now who never learned to cook, let alone know how to set a proper table or even use the utensils required. So here are the rules:

Rule 1: Don’t be afraid to try. Most people love to be invited out and there is no necessity for fine china, crystal and sterling silver. All you really need is some pretty washable place mats, a creative center piece, and candles. I love mismatched tableware . Use whatever you have.