Vibrant Limes and Wedgewood Blues! Favorite Maine Antiquing Sources!

The Maine House is going "Antiquing!"  After my visit to Atlanta and a day of antiquing with "the Divine Miss M", I was bitten by the bug to tour around these exquisite New England towns to scour shops for collectible treasures. I believe I inherited my grandmother's love and desire for beautiful things!

A Maine House Mosaic

Maine is well noted for its wonderful selection of Antique Shops, Rare Books and Collectibles. In fact, Maine is reputed for some of the finest Antiquing in the country. Maine Antique stores, boutiques and markets offer treasures of country pieces, fine period furniture, primitives and collectibles. A visit to a Maine Antique Shop is an exciting experience for the first time buyer or for a serious buying trip for the professional dealer. Try to plan your Antiquing time to include all the area highlights. Antiquing can be great fun for the entire family and some real finds at bargain prices and rare collectibles! We are going to begin in Wells and a visit back to my favorite discovery of Pine Tree Place Home and Garden.

I have read that Antiquing in Downeast Maine is as rewarding as the beautiful scenery the route provides. The roads here wind along fingers of land that have become legendary for the spectacular coves, inlets and beaches nestled along their shores.

The journey is best when traveled the "Maine way"—slowly, with frequent stops to catch glimpses of eagles and other seabirds. Begin in Ellsworth, where, in addition to browsing for antiques, you can tour the grand 19th-century Colonel Black Mansion. Head south on 172 through Surry, then south on 176 to Blue Hill, where shops boast handcrafted pottery, textiles and furniture as well as antiques. From here, head south on 172 to Sedgewick, then west on 175 to Seargentville, keeping an eye out for the small antique shops along the way. From here, head south on 15 through the charming communities of Little Deer Isle, Deer Isle and Stonington.

For those who can’t get enough of antique shopping in Downeast Maine, a nice addition to this loop can be made by taking Route 3 from Ellsworth to the lovely coves, villages and antique shops of Mt. Desert Island.

My hope is to pick up a few beautiful pieces of Wedgwood Blue Porcelain to add to my inherited pieces from Grandmother E! Estelle's menu has been prepare to spring ahead and welcome us home with these lovely, citrusy treats!

You can prepare this key lime cake with either a lime glaze or

a lime cream cheese frosting!

Estelle's Key Lime Spring Cake

1 box lemon cake mix

1 small box lemon instant pudding (approx. 3 oz)

1 cup water

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

2 tbsp. key lime juice

Key Lime Glaze

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/3 cup key lime juice

Beat eggs; add water, oil, lime juice, instant pudding and cake mix. Beat with electric mixer until well blended. Pour into well greased and lightly floured 9"x12" pan. Bake approximately 50 to 55 minutes at 325 degrees. Prick top surface with fork while still warm, about 5 to 10 minutes out of the oven. Pour glaze over cake. Leave cake in pan.

Estelle's Key Lime Cream Cheese Frosting

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter softened

8 ounces cream cheese softened

2 tablespoons key lime juice

1 teaspoon key lime zest or lemon zest

4-5 cups confectioners' sugar

In large bowl, cream butter, cream cheese, juice and zest with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add 4 cups confectioners' sugar, one cup at a time; continue beating until light and fluffy. If icing is too thin add additional confectioners' sugar 1 tablespoon at a time

Mother's Lime-Cottage Cheese Salad

with Banana-Nut Dressing

1 large can crushed pineapple

1/2 cup lemon juice

boiling water

2 (3 ounce) packages of lime jello

1 cup chopped pecans

2 T. grated lemon rind

2 cups cottage cheese

1 cup diced celery

2 t. prepared horseradish

1/2 t. salt

Drain syrup from pineapple into a 4-cup measuring cup. Add lemon juice and enough boiling water to make 3 cups of liquid. Add lime gelatin and stir until dissolved. Chill this mixture until syrupy. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of this chilled mixture into a medium sized bowl and fold in drained pineapple, pecans and grated lemon rind. Pour into a lightly greased loaf pan, 9"x5"x3". Chill just until firm and somewhat sticky on the top. Keep remaining syrupy gelatin at room temperature.Take the chilled syrupy mixture and beat with hand mixer until fluffy. Blend in the cottage cheese, celery, horseradish and salt. Spoon over firm gelatin layer in the loaf pan. Cover and refrigerate. When ready to serve, unmold on serving platter and serve with banana-nut dressing.

Banana-Nut Dressing

Blend 1/2 cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip salad dressing with 1 mashed banana.

 Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans, 3 T. heavy whipping cream, 1 T. lemon juice in small bowl. Keep chilled.

Estelle's Lime Punch

1 package lime gelatin

1 cup boiling water

2 cups cold water

1 (6-ounce) can frozen lemonade

1 cup pineapple juice

Combine all ingredients, mix well and serve from beautiful beverage decanter with fresh slices of limes and lemons!

A Few Favorite Antiques at The Maine House