Close Buy Catalog

Do you remember I mentioned I would be part of school fundraising catalog? A fundraising catalog for Maine schools?  Do you remember?  I was very excited about it several months back.  Okay, here's the deal.  Instead of the usually wrapping paper made in China, these kids are selling several dozen local products.  All handmade and handcrafted by local businesses and super talented folks from the great state of Maine.  I blogged a bit about it here:  http://cascobaysoap.blogspot.com/search?q=fundraising

Well, here we go.  The catalogs are in the students backpacks and on their way home!

 

Link to the online catalog (it's a PDF and I'm on page 7):  http://www.closebuycatalog.com/downloads/cbc_catalog.pdf

What a fantastic opportunity!   I would like to thank Masey Kaplan for creating  and organizing such a great catalog and program and for including me.  Thank you Masey!

Homemade Basil Pesto

I bought a pot of Basil at the Farmers Market the other day. A whole pot.  I mean, they were selling fresh, Maine grown, vibrantly green, on the stalk, in the pot Basil for only $3.00.  You can't beat that with a stick.  I had to get it.  Dreams of eating pasta with fresh bail pesto danced in my head.  But first, for dinner that night, I plucked a few leaves and stacked it up with heirloom tomatoes (from another vendor) in red, yellow and orange, some fresh mozzarella and a drizzle of olive oil.  Oh, how so very wonderful!  I took the time (really only like 15 minutes start to finish) and made up fresh Basil Pesto on Sunday.   I was wonderful, I mean it is wonderful!  Bright green and fresh, garlicky and cheesy.  I ate some, just a big ole spoon of it and then put the rest into a container for future meals.  Here is the recipe I used, make it if you can!

Fresh Basil Pesto

Ingredients

3 medium sized garlic cloves
2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese
1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Special equipment needed: A food processor

Prep Work:

Pluck basil leaves off of stem/plant, set aside.

Peel garlic cloves, set aside.

Instrucions:

Add garlic to food processor and process until chopped fine.  Add basil leaves, process until chopped fine.  Add olive oil, parmesan cheese, pine nuts or walnuts, salt and pepper to taste.  Process entire mixture until combined.

Makes 1 cup.

Serve with pasta, or over baked potatoes, on top of cooked salmon, or spread over toasted baguette slice.

Unscented soap? Who wants that!?

I do have some customers at the Farmers Markets that smell and sniff the my soap for about 20 minutes before decided on just the right bar for them.  When they see the Unscented soap I often hear the phrase.  "Who would want unscented soap?!"  I gently tell them that I sell a good amount of unscented soap to some regular customers and an occasional bar or two to someone new.   Sounds a bit boring, right?  Well maybe to you, but there are a good deal of people out there that are fragrance sensitive.  Whether it is their skin or their nose, the want to enjoy homemade soap without the added fragrances.  I am happy to report that I sell a good deal of unscented soaps.  I offer Unscented, Unscented With Oats and Calendula.  All these soaps are still  my 100% vegetable recipe just sans fragrance.

Find my unscented soaps here, listed with my "Classic Soaps":

http://cascobaysoap.com/soaps.html

Jacqueline's Tea Room

Fresh soaps have been delivered to Jacqueline's Tea Room!  Jacqueline's Tea Room was a new customer just at the end of July.  I am soo happy to report that she is selling a good deal of my soaps.  Check out her lovely tea room pictures:

http://www.jacquelinestearoom.com/

Fresh Guest Soaps Delivered

The James Place Inn B&B in Freeport is one of my longest wholesale customers.  I met innkeeper Tori at a one of my first Farmers Markets a few summers back.  She was sniffing my soaps and simply asked "do you make guest size soaps".  I thought quick, "well, I do now"!  She and I worked on the signature fragrance for their B&B and they have been ordering soaps ever since.

Here is the James Place Inn B&B in the fall...

And from the side in the winter!  The decorations Tori did just perfect!

If you are in Freeport and stay at The James Place Inn B&B, you will be treated with your very own, little guest size bar of Peppermint Oatmeal soap made by Casco Bay Soap Co.

Today I delivered a fresh batch of soap as the Inn gears up for the fall rush of guests.

http://www.jamesplaceinn.com/

Homemade Granola Recipe

I LOVE yogurt and granola for breakfast or a snack.  I really think that I can make a better granola than any out there that I have ever bought.  With just a few ingredients, you can make your own tasty crunchy granola.  Add whatever fruits and nuts you like.

Ingredients:

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
3/4 cup sliced or slivered almonds or pecans or walnuts (really your favorite nuts)
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/2 tablespoon wheat germ (optional)
½ T. flax seed (optional)
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons canola oil or 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup pure maple syrup (preferably Grade A Dark Amber)
1 cup dried fruits (cranberries, cherries, apricots, dates, figs, and/or raisins) (optional)

Prep Work:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Instructions:

In a large bowl combine the rolled oats, all nuts, seeds, wheat germ, ground cinnamon, brown sugar and salt.

In a small bowl, stir together the oil (or melted butter), vanilla and maple syrup.

Pour this mixture over the dry ingredients and toss together, making sure all the dry is coated with the wet.


Spread onto a baking sheet and bake for about 30 - 45 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally so the mixture browns evenly. (The browner the granola gets (without burning) the crunchier the granola will be.)

Remove from the oven and cool. You will notice that the granola may still be sticky when it is removed from the oven but it will become crisp and dry as it cools. Make sure to break up any large clumps of granola while the mixture is still warm.   Add fruits at this point.  Stir to combine.  The reason why you don't bake the fruit is so it doesn't get dry and hard. 

Dried fruits, of your choice ~ cranberries, cherries, pineapple, currants, raisins, dates, figs, and apricots ~ or even chocolate chips can be stirred into the baked and cooled granola.

Try adding coconut, cocoa nibs or whatever you want for YOUR own granola.

I store my homemade granola in a Tupperware style container and it stays fresh for several weeks (maybe months, but it never has lasted that long)!

Operation Beautiful

Have you heard of Operation Beautiful?  It is a wonderful concept!  Here is a bit about it:

"The mission of Operation Beautiful is to post anonymous notes in public places for other women to find. The point is that WE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL. You are enough... just the way you are"!

Isnt' that wonderful?  While I personally have not found a note, yet, you can be sure that I know someone that is posting them!   Keep your eyes out and your heart open.  And remember, YOU are beautiful and amazing, just the way you are.

You can read more here: http://www.operationbeautiful.com/

Lemongrass & Lavender Soap

I made a wonderful batch of soap a couple weeks back and it is just about ready for you.  Lemongrass & Lavender.  What a delicious combination of 2 of my most popular fragrances!  This was a suggestion by a customer (hi there Michelle!) and I welcomed the blending of these two fragrances.  I had recently read on the web about some hot new fragrances and Lemongrass Lavender was one of them.   Ever the one to have my finger on the pulse (ha!) I agreed with Michelle to give it a try.  Wonderful!  A little more Lemon-y than Lavender, but both stand up great in my 100% vegetable soap.  Purchase a bar (or two) at market and try it for yourself.

Bessie's Farm Goods

Fresh soaps, laundry detergent and dryer sachets delivered to Bessie's Farm Goods, Freeport.

Located on Litchfield Road in Freeport, Bessie's is a great little shop offering fantastic, all local crafts.  From soap to pottery, yarn and hand knit items to turned wooden bowls.  Bessie's also offers fresh baked good (cookies, bread, granola), cut flowers and fresh picked vegetables.  They grow a garden right next to the store and have an abundance of wonderful veggies right now. 

Every time I visit them for a soap delivery, I try to resist the chocolate chip cookies.  I usually win that fight.  I did give in, once.

Sea Side Creations

Fresh soaps delivered to Sea Side Creations on Baily Island.  Should be a fun and busy weekend on the island...Hurricane Earl is threatening the East Coast and if he misses, it's nice weather.  If he hits, Baily Island is a great place to watch the surf.  This long weekend generally ends the summer tourist season here in Maine.  After this, we have leaf peepers coming through in the Fall.  Then, the Holidays!

If You Came To Market...

If you came to my market, you would find a feast.  A feast for your belly and a feast for your eyes.  The most beautiful produce is in season at the Farmers Markets.  Stop by a market near you!

Lisa Marie's Made In Maine

Fresh soaps delivered to Lisa Marie's Made In Maine! 

She has locations in Bath on Front St. and in Portland on Exchange St. 

http://www.lisamariesmadeinmaine.com/