Must Love Dogs!

There is one thing you will notice in Maine. People LOVE dogs! Everywhere you visit, walk, shop and eat, there will be either a single person, married couple or family enjoying the outdoors and sharing the day with their four-legged companion. I love snapping pictures of these various breeds running, jumping or walking obediently by their owners, just happy to be out in the world. So happy together! So while the days of August dwindle down, these are some happy pictures to look at and easy simple summer meals for your family! 

A Maine House Mosaic

I love trying various versions of a similar recipe. We love shredded pork sandwiches after a day of sightseeing. Not only is your dinner ready when you arrive home, the house smells delicious and inviting!

Pulled Pork

1 pork shoulder roast

1 (12-ounce) bottle chili sauce

1 (14.5-ounce) can beef broth

2 to 3 packages McCormick’s Sloppy Joe mix

1 teaspoon lemon pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper, to taste

In a skillet, brown pork roast on all sides in a small amount of oil. Place in a Dutch oven or Crock-Pot. Add remaining ingredients. Cook on low 6 to 8 hours. Remove roast and shred, then return to pot. Serve on regular or slider sandwich buns!

Pickled Cucumbers

2 to 4 cucumbers, peeled and sliced

1 medium onion, sliced and separated into rings

1 cup half and half

1 cup sugar

1 cup white vinegar

Place cucumbers and onions in a glass or plastic container. Whisk together remaining ingredients and pour over cucumbers. Refrigerate overnight before serving. Keeps up to a week

Estelle's Strawberry Pie

1 C. water

1 C. sugar

3 Tbsp. cornstarch

6 Tbsp. strawberry Jell-O

 fresh whole cleaned strawberries to fill a baked 9-inch deep-dish piecrust

Blend sugar, cornstarch and water together and cook to almost pudding stage. Add Strawberry Jell-O. Place drained whole fresh strawberries into baked deep-dish 9-inch pie shell. Pour cooked mixture over berries. Chill 2 hours at least. Top with Cool Whip or real whipped cream! Darling's favorite pie!

This is Cooper Bufis....a pampered Texas pooch trying his homemade doggie muffins!