Thursday, December 29, 2011

Freeport, Maine Kid Things to Do

Freeport Maine Lobster petting zoo.

Always looking for things to do with kids in Freeport. Although the lobster petting zoo is no longer, kids can still get to see and touch lobsters at a variety of places. (And not just on their plates at a restaurant!)

This is a fairly rare, 2-toned lobster. It was 2-toned on the underside as well, even the 'meat' not just the shell. There were also blue lobsters and calico lobsters in the tank. (The squiggly white lines are a reflection of the overhead lights on the water, not some weird life form!)The lobsters here are fed haddock. In the wild they'll go after any kind of bait fish.

Other ideas for things to do with kids while you're on vacation in Freeport:

  1. Help catch the lobsters on a lobster boat cruise.
  2. Check out the migration of the alewives in May & June.
  3. Make sand castles, play in the waves, head to the beach.
  4. Deliver the mail to the Casco Bay Islands on the mail boat.
  5. Find animal tracks in the snow, learn to snowshoe.
  6. Check out the old time cars, planes, motorcycles and more.
  7. Build a fairy house out in the woods.
  8. Sweat it out in the desert.
  9. Lots of kid-tested things to do around Freeport! Just ask.

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!


Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Friday, December 16, 2011

Chocolate Cheesecake

chocolate cheesecake at White Cedar Inn

Tell me you don't want to just take a bite out of the computer monitor right now! This is a completely yum cheesecake, relatively easy to make and just the ticket for a special dessert.

Ingredients:

18 Oreo-style cookies, crushed (I use a plastic freezer bag and the flat end of a wooden mallet)
2 tbsp melted butter
4- 8 oz pkgs of cream cheese (not the whipped kind)
1 c sugar
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp vanilla
8 oz semi sweet chocolate, melted
4 eggs
powdered sugar
whipped cream

How to:

Preheat oven to 325.

Mix crushed cookies with melted butter, press into bottom of springform pan. Bake crust for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, beat cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla in a large bowl until well mixed. Add melted chocolate and beat until mixed, scrap bottom of bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, mix well on low. 

Pour over crust, return to oven for 55-60 minutes. You can test doneness by wiggling the pan slightly. If the middle is still like jello, return to oven for an additional 3-5 minutes at a time. The center will be a little jiggly when done. You may also notice the cheesecake is pulling away from the sides of the pan.

Overcooking will cause the cheesecake to burn on the edges and crack.

Cool cake before removing ring. Refrigerate for 4 hours to cool completely and set up properly.

Makes 16-18 slices (or fewer if you're really a chocoholic!)

Slice cheesecake, top with powdered sugar and whipped cream. Serve immediately. 

Options: raspberry sauce, sliced strawberries.

White Cedar Inn bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Westport, Maine

Westport, Maine, Sasanoa River
Took a drive today to Westport, Maine. Found this gorgeous view along the Sasanoa River. It seems like every side road off Rt 1 has another wonderful bit of nature to discover.

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Christmastime in Freeport, Maine

Horse and wagon in front of White Cedar Inn

Take a ride through town in a horse-drawn wagon! Courtesy of LL Bean. The wagon stops right in front of Coffee by Design on the ground floor of LL Bean. (This is really fun at night when all the lights in town are lit up. Fri, Sat & Sun until 7 PM.)

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032

Wednesday, December 07, 2011