22 Comments
User's avatar
Rebecca Blackwell's avatar

I also would clip any recipe named Danish Dream Cake. Making that Fettuccini with sausage fennel sauce asap. And just added The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne to my reading list. Thank you for all of it!

Expand full comment
Amie McGraham's avatar

Glad to contribute to your summer to-do list!

Expand full comment
Julie B. Hughes's avatar

I love this report. :) Yay, messy first draft by end of year....GO!GO!GO!

Expand full comment
Amie McGraham's avatar

Messy is an understatement at the rate I’m going but at least it’s something!

Expand full comment
Julie B. Hughes's avatar

YES! Keep going, Amie. I’m in the thick of editing…requires LOTS of treats. :)

Expand full comment
Erica McPhee's avatar

Life-long Southport “summer jerk” on Cameron’s Point (married an Ocean Point guy though which almost makes me a native - haha). I enjoyed your mom’s newsletter for all of my teen & young adult years until she retired. I still have them all! As an artist and designer now, I am still so completely enamored and blown away by her talent and what she did without Photoshop or digital design software back in the day. I am so enjoying your substack and this one made me so homesick for Southport. I clicked through to read the article about the baked goodies and seeing the General Store now has craft classes I am brainstorming how I can spend my summers there again right quick! But probably won’t make it up until September this year. Maybe next year will be the one!

Expand full comment
Amie McGraham's avatar

I’m delighted to inspire your return to the island and to hear from a long-time fan and artist. We definitely need to connect!

Expand full comment
Kate McDermott's avatar

Love this and am looking forward to reading about the five pie crusts!

Expand full comment
Amie McGraham's avatar

Naturally you’re on that list. Might you be visiting Chebeague this summer? If so, I need pie help!!

Expand full comment
Kate McDermott's avatar

More than likely in later fall but no date yet. My SIL on Chebeague who makes the AOTP dough might be able to help if I'm not there when you are.

Expand full comment
Kerry Faber's avatar

Love Danish dream cakes!

Expand full comment
Vicki Smith's avatar

I don't believe I've ever cooked with fennel. Thank you friend, Jim, for the inspiration. Congrats on continued sobriety and progress with your book!

Expand full comment
sarah e webb's avatar

did someone say 🥧????

Expand full comment
Ruth Stroud's avatar

The cake sounds divine, especially that coconut topping that I imagine pinching off in sneaky little bits. … Lucky you returning to that glorious Maine island. The pie project sounds great—I know you’ll nail it, Amie, as well as that book! I could use just a smidge of your singleminded dedication. Brava and thanks for another engaging newsletter!

Expand full comment
Amie McGraham's avatar

I suck at pie crusts—facing the demon head on!

Expand full comment
Ruth Stroud's avatar

Brave woman!😘

Expand full comment
Mary B's avatar

I'm going to be dreaming about that dream cake, Amie. Yum-mee! And how I would love to pop in for pie! Wish Austin was just a tiny bit closer. :-)

Expand full comment
MaudOfSilence's avatar

A fun book and recipe packed post! How I wish I could vacation to Maine in the summer!

I will try Danish dream cake.

Enjoy all that pie making. It’s my favorite dessert and dinner base to use. I made quiche, cheeseburger pie, spinach riccota pie and a peanut butter pie this spring. When I say favorite, I mean it. And your blog often gives me new recipe ideas!

Expand full comment
Amie McGraham's avatar

I’m happy to inspire your cooking, and to know you’re a pie fan. I am the WORST pie crust maker ever and hoping to change that come summer!

Expand full comment
Sharon Cortelyou's avatar

Looks like an interesting book!

Expand full comment
Leu2500's avatar

Pie. Rev Stinson or such (I don’t have the name right) was regularly featured for his pies iirc.

And pie & Maine makes me think of blueberry pie. And I don’t even like it. But at church potlucks (UP of MI, not Maine) everybody else looked for my mom’s wild blueberry pie.

Expand full comment
Amie McGraham's avatar

Are UP wild blueberries anything like the little wild Maine berries? I feel like I should have a pie sale on my front lawn…

Expand full comment