When you think of Maine, what is the first thing you think of?
If you said "lobster" you'd be in good company. When most people think of Maine, before they think of our bucolic coastline dotted with antiquated lighthouses, shipbuilding, moose, or even the Maine blueberry, they think of lobster. Often, they not only think of it, they start to salivate when they picture a fat juicy crustacean on their plate, accompanied by drawn butter, corn on the cob and maybe even a side of clam chowder, or "chowdah" as we like to say 'round these parts.
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But before you start drooling all over yourself just thinking about a twin lobster feast, I'd like to point out some other interesting things about Maine that I think make it stand out. There's a lot more to eat up here besides lobster, a'yup!
Personally, I think the blueberry gets the short end of the stick when it comes to popular Maine culinary treats. There are myriad things you can do with that roly poly, juicy blue ball that's chock full of antioxidants. You can even pick these babies yourself whereas with lobster, you have to wait for a salty old seaman to dredge one of those things up from the depths of the ocean.
Blueberry pie, muffins, scones and tea are just a few things that this versatile berry can do. Who ever heard of lobster muffins or lobster pancakes, or heaven forbid, lobster tea? And certainly not lobster pie! If you love ice cream, why not take a crack at making some homemade blueberry ice cream? Again, I don't think you're going to find any of our local dairy bars touting a cool, creamy lobster cone sprinkled with jimmies.
Of course, blueberries are wicked awful when it comes to getting that drippy purply-blue juice off your clothing or fingers. I reckon I've tried just about everything to get blueberry stains out of my three year old daughter's clothing. After canning several jars of blueberry preserves, my fingers and nail beds have been so stained that I've had people ask me if I was getting enough oxygen. There's nothing worse than taking your toddler out to run errands and have people stare at you because her lips, cheeks, and fingers are stained blue. It's lovely having people think your offspring is part smurf, or suffering from several oxygen deprivation.
Don't even get me started on what happens when one of those round little suckers rolls off the counters and the kittens come scampering after it, drag it into the living room and then somehow manage to smear it all over the white suede furniture. Yeah, lets not even go there!
Maybe, just maybe the blueberry is getting the short end of the stick for a reason.
How about those moose?
What can I say about moose?
Well, they are big. There's no doubt about that. Oh and get this, if you visit Maine you can even check out our very own 1500lb solid chocolate moose. That's right, Linny is all chocolate.
Personally, I think the blueberry gets the short end of the stick when it comes to popular Maine culinary treats. There are myriad things you can do with that roly poly, juicy blue ball that's chock full of antioxidants. You can even pick these babies yourself whereas with lobster, you have to wait for a salty old seaman to dredge one of those things up from the depths of the ocean.
Of course, blueberries are wicked awful when it comes to getting that drippy purply-blue juice off your clothing or fingers. I reckon I've tried just about everything to get blueberry stains out of my three year old daughter's clothing. After canning several jars of blueberry preserves, my fingers and nail beds have been so stained that I've had people ask me if I was getting enough oxygen. There's nothing worse than taking your toddler out to run errands and have people stare at you because her lips, cheeks, and fingers are stained blue. It's lovely having people think your offspring is part smurf, or suffering from several oxygen deprivation.
Don't even get me started on what happens when one of those round little suckers rolls off the counters and the kittens come scampering after it, drag it into the living room and then somehow manage to smear it all over the white suede furniture. Yeah, lets not even go there!
Maybe, just maybe the blueberry is getting the short end of the stick for a reason.
How about those moose?
What can I say about moose?
Well, they are big. There's no doubt about that. Oh and get this, if you visit Maine you can even check out our very own 1500lb solid chocolate moose. That's right, Linny is all chocolate.
I bet if Linny were to come careening into your SUV out of nowhere, he'd do some pretty major damage. Well, if he didn't melt first. If you do happen to come across a real non-chocolate moose on the road and just happen to run into one (although I'm of the personal opinion that they launch themselves at passing automobiles), make sure you repeatedly tell your toddler that Linny is just fine and no, all that chocolate is not going to go to waste. Your car has just been totaled but it's important that your kid knows they can just melt Linny back into the moose he was and all will be well. Of course, you're probably going to be picking pieces of windshield out of your mouth and hair for a while, and having a heart attack when you realize you opted for a larger deductible on your auto insurance so that you'd get lower premiums, but so long as the little ones know Linny is OK, then it's all good. Not that I'd know anything at all about that.
Now that I've thought about it, I suppose the case for the lobster could be made after all. They don't stain your fingers or mouth, causing people to wonder if you're part fictional cartoon character or dying from a severe lack of oxygen. Maybe you can't make lobster pie, but you can make a killer lobster bisque.
I can't recall the last time I saw anyone out driving and then suddenly swerve to avoid hitting a lobster. I seriouly doubt that a lobster sent bouncing off your windshield will do any harm to anyone but itself. They aren't likely to total your car either. Bonus! Besides, in my relativly short aquaintance with the bottom-dwelling crustacean, they've been much easier to introduce to my three year old, than a moose.
Now that I've thought about it, I suppose the case for the lobster could be made after all. They don't stain your fingers or mouth, causing people to wonder if you're part fictional cartoon character or dying from a severe lack of oxygen. Maybe you can't make lobster pie, but you can make a killer lobster bisque.
I can't recall the last time I saw anyone out driving and then suddenly swerve to avoid hitting a lobster. I seriouly doubt that a lobster sent bouncing off your windshield will do any harm to anyone but itself. They aren't likely to total your car either. Bonus! Besides, in my relativly short aquaintance with the bottom-dwelling crustacean, they've been much easier to introduce to my three year old, than a moose.
The ironic thing about this? I can't stand lobster. Hate it. Can't even stomach the smell. I know, I know...I live in Maine and don't like lobster. Or blueberries and certainly not moose.
If you're visiting Maine, perhaps it really is all about the lobster.
More unsual obsurdities from Audrey can be found at Barking Mad!
If you're visiting Maine, perhaps it really is all about the lobster.
More unsual obsurdities from Audrey can be found at Barking Mad!
I am with you - the blueberries far outshine the lobster!
Posted by: Meg | July 16, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Dude... WILD blueberries. Much as I love moose and regular blueberries and using the term "wicked good" - and much as I feel a strange affinity toward our pal the crustacean - it all comes down to wild blueberries.
Mmm...
(drooling on keyboard)
Posted by: TwoBusy | July 16, 2009 at 08:30 PM