Travel Treats

A couple of years ago, my mom and I took a trip up north to Maine and discovered that we totally LOVE Maine.  Now - if I thought that I could survive the winters in Maine, I would quite possibly quit my job and just move up there.  Unfotrunately I am a bit of a winter wuss.  So I just have to settle on visiting there during the summer.

In terms of momentos from my trips, what I've realized is that I really like getting local specialty food items.  On this trip I bought 5 items specifically for myself, so I thought I would share them with you.

1) Maple Pepper Seasoning - My mom had gotten my sister a bottle of maple pepper on her trip last year, and during a few Sister Sunday Suppers we used it and it was unbelievable.  So I made it my goal on this trip to find it.  Well I did manage to find some, but not the same brand (my sister has the one made by Highland Foods where mine is by Maison Madelon (I got it on our little side jaunt to Montreal Canada).   If I had to compare it toanything - I would say that it is similar to a steak seasoning, but sweeter since it contains crystalized bits of maple syrup.  yum!

2) Also from Montreal - Maple Vinegar from Vinaigre PicBois (Another prodcut from Canada).  Maple vinegar sweet and sour - like if someone mated a bottle of apple cider vinegar with a bottle of rice wine vinegar.  I was surprised by how much I liked its flavor, and am bummed that I only bought a small bottle.  The brand of vinegar I got is really only available in Canada, but I googled maple vinegar and apparently Dean & Delucca sell one online for $7.

3) Herbed Maine Sea Salt from Maine Sea Salt Co.  I think one of the latest food trends I have noticed is the availability of buying sea salt from different geographical areas.  At my local whole foods, they have 5 or 6 options that you can choose from and buy by mass at the cheese counter (the Hawaiin salt is pinky).  Anyways this Maine sea salt is brown and is flavored with Thyme, Majoram, Sage, Fennel, & Lavendar.  It leaves quite a kick.  I think this will be a good salt to use on fall/winter foods. 

4) & 5) Stonewall Kitchen Maine Blueberry Honey and Wild Maine Blueberry Syrup.  I fell in love with blueberries after my last trip to Maine, so I thought these would be fun to have.  I will confess that I haven't tried either one, but can't wait to make something that is worthy of opening them.

So last week I decided to celebrate my travel treasures by making something that would feature their flavors.  I chose to make a wilted Spinach salad with bacon and mushrooms.  To do this, I made a couple slices of bacon.  Once done, I removed them and saved about 2 Tablespoons of the warm grease in a prep bowl so I could use it for a vineagrette.  Then I drained the excess Greece so they pan only had a thin coat.  Next I sauteed red onions and then sauteed mushrooms.  At the end of their sautee, I seasoned them with the maple pepper and the Maine Sea Salt.   While I had been doing that, I hard-boiled an egg so that I could peel it and slice it for my salad.  Next I added poured the reserved bacon grease back into the pan along with 2 teaspoons of sugar, and 2 Tablespoons of the Maple Vinegar, and a sprinkling of the Maine Sea Salt, and Maple Pepper.     Anyways, whisk this mixture in the pan so that you scrape up all the yummy bits on the bottom of the pan.  After a minute or so, you can take it off the heat.  Then in a bowl combine spinach, mushrooms, onions, crumbled pieces of bacon, egg slices, and the salad dressing.  Toss and enjoy. 

I am not exaggerating when I say that this could be the best spinach salad I have ever had and I think that is because of the Maple Vinegar.  This meal just naturally went with these travel treats I bought.