Shirley’s Pepper Cheese Dip

Made with cream cheese and a relish-like assortment of green peppers, sweet pickles, stuffed olives, garlic, and onion, this retro pepper cheese dip is enormously flavorful, and extremely popular.

I’m sharing a family recipe today in honor of my late grandmother, Shirley Russell Seavey.

A zippy cheese spread (known simply as “Nana’s Cheese”), this was one of her trademarks, served at family parties and given out at Christmas. Made with cream cheese and a relish-like assortment of green peppers, sweet pickles, stuffed olives, garlic, and onion, it’s enormously flavorful, yet somewhat hard to describe.

Crispy Oatmeal Jonnycake Cookies

Buttery and rich, these crispy oatmeal jonnycake cookies (so named for their inclusion of Rhode Island-grown whitecap flint cornmeal) are perfect served with morning coffee, or shared with someone special.

10 Photos | Late Summer Love

It’s September, my friends, and that means the end of summer is very close at hand. My late July and August were exceptional this year. Here are 10 photos to sum everything up. Spoiler alert — the last one is the best!

Summer Blueberry Buckle

I spent a week with my family at the beach this summer, and one of the many dishes I made during that sunny, seafood-infused time was this cinnamon-and-sugar topped blueberry buckle.

Castine, Maine

One of the best things about my job is the way it lets me see new places in New England with not just ease, but encouragement. Earlier this summer, I journeyed the Maine mid-coast for some story research and blogging opportunities, and was lucky enough to spend the night in lovely, historic Castine, Maine.

Brimfield Antiques Show | Massachusetts Treasure Hunting

Did you know that New England (specifically Brimfield, Massachusetts) is home to the largest outdoor antiques and collectibles show in the world? Known simply as “Brimfield,” the show takes place 3 times each year, in May, July, and September, and let me tell you — IT HAS EVERYTHING.

Easy Fisherman’s Stew

For the most part, summer in New England is hot and muggy, but that doesn’t mean we’re immune from the occasional cold and raw day. Right now, for example, I’m warm and dry inside of a Starbucks, but outside in New Hampshire it’s cold, windy, and raining sideways.

It’s not a day for outdoor summer fun, but it’s perfect soup weather.

New York City 2015 | 10 Photos

Early last Friday, John and I packed up the car and headed to New York City for the weekend. Normally when I say that, what I really mean is Brooklyn, because that’s where a good chunk of our best friends and John’s brother relocated to (what felt like) en-masse five years ago, but this time our destination was truly Manhattan proper.

Vegan Blueberry Banana Nut Muffins

My kitchen smelled so good recently, and it was all thanks to these beautiful little blueberry banana nut muffins. I honestly can’t remember the last time I baked just for me — not for work or with the intention of bringing it to a party or as a gift — but these muffins looked so delicious when I saw them online that I told myself “but they’re good for you!” and went for it.

Chunky Guacamole | Memorial Day Fun

For Memorial Day this year, John and I spent the day on the southern coast of Maine with family. My sister and her husband had rented a house for a few days, and kindly invited us over to enjoy the ocean views and salty breezes, plus share in some delicious food and quality time together.