If you can’t get to Maine this year at least you can still enjoy some yummy cod fish cakes. Here is a recipe that is sure to become a family favorite!

Mom’s Cod Fish Cakes
(I grew up on these)

Ingredients
1 lb of cod fillets
2 medium-sized potatoes
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 eggs, lightly beaten
Oil for frying (Try one of the healthier choices)

Preparation
Boil and then mash the potatoes in large bowl (add just a tablespoon of real butter if you like. You can also add a little garlic powder if you don’t have fresh. But these are not part of the original recipe.)

Boil the codfish until it flakes nice and easy with a fork. Drain and flake it being very careful to remove all the bones.

Mix the fish, potatoes and remaining ingredients together well. Get your hands right in there. If the mixture is too crumbly, add another egg. If it’s a bit sticky, add some more bread crumbs. Form into cakes and fry over medium high heat in oil coated skillet.

Approximately 12 cakes

Maine’s beautiful rocky coastline is dotted with stretches of soft sandy beaches. Every summer people come from all over the US and Canada to enjoy the beauty of Maine’s beaches, coastline and famous seafood.  Small Maine towns and villages have wonderful local restaurants that unleash glorious smells of cooking seafood into the air. Makes your mouth water to think about it.

Be sure you have planned and packed your bag for your fun day in the sun. Sun screen should provide both UVA and UVB protection and is most effective when applied every 2 to 3 hours. It does not last all day! Click to check out the best sunscreens and their ratings.  And don’t forget protection for your lips! Most lip balms offer suncreen protection but READ the label to be sure! I sunburned my lips once while on a whale watching adventure and it was AWFUL! So take care of those lips!

Be sure to bring plenty of water (avoid sugary drinks) to prevent dehydration and some healthy snacks for both kids and adults. Raisins, apples (provide potassium), whole grain crackers and trailmix (not the kind dotted with colorful candies) will provide nutrients and boost energy especially when meals may be spaced further apart than normal.

T-shirts, hats, sandals and sweatshirts are other items you should carry in your bag

Starting in York and moving north I have listed some of the most popular and some more secluded beaches.

-YORK-

YORK HARBOR BEACH - This pretty beach is a bit secluded and often called the “locals” beach, but everyone is welcome! It’s a great place for tidepooling and ideal for the photobug. 

LONG SANDS BEACH – This is about a 2 mile long sandy beach popular for it’s designated surfing area. Metered parking is available all along the beach. There is also beach volleyball tournies going on quite often. A really nice beach. Restrooms and bathhouse available.

SHORT SANDS BEACH – We Mainer’s sure know how to name our beaches! Showers, restrooms and changing area. Shops and amusements are close by.

CAPE NEDDICK BEACH - Another secluded beach great for tide pools.

-OGUNQUIT-

OGUNQUIT BEACH – A beautiful soft white sandy beach, popular for its surf.  Parking is available or you can hop the trolley. Restrooms and snack bars.  3.5 miles of  stunningly beautiful beach.

FOOTBRIDGE BEACH – Easy walk over a footbridge to get to a quieter section of  beach. Restroom, snackbar

 -WELLS-

DRAKES ISLAND BEACH – Limited Parking, restrooms, lifeguards.

WELLS BEACH – Beautiful long sandy beach. Parking stickers are available at the Town Hall. Restrooms and lifeguards.

CRESCENT BEACH – Lesser-known section of beach located between Wells and Moody. Parking at Gold Ribbon Avenue lot, from Webhannet Drive. Lifeguards.

-KENNEBUNK and KENNEBUNKPORT-

KENNEBUNK BEACH – Fine sandy beach, popular for both swimming and surfing.  Roadside parking

MOTHER’S BEACH – Soft sandy small beach with playground. No restrooms. Parking stickers available at the town hall. Lifeguard.

GOOCHE’S BEACH - Long beach with and as soft as talcum powder. Portable toilets, lifeguards, required parking sticker is avaibale at the town hall.

MIDDLE BEACH – Rocky section of Kennebunk Beach between Mother’s and Gooch’s with pretty black stones. Parking sticker available at town hall.

COLONY BEACH – This short beach lies at mouth of the Kennebunk River. Limited parking. No lifeguard.

CLEAVES COVE BEACH – Secluded and scenic beach off Ocean Avenue. No parking. No facilities. No lifeguards.

GOOSE ROCKS BEACH - Nice soft sand. Very beautiful stretch of beach. Parking sticker available at town hall or ride the trolley. No restrooms or lifeguard.

BIDDEFORD/SACO HILL’S BEACH - Pretty beach, nice soft sand, popular spot for birdwatching. No restrooms, no lifeguard, limited parking.

BIDDEFORD POOL BEACH - Two mile sandy beach with gentle surf. Parking sticker available at town hall. Lifeguard and bathhouse.

FORTUNE’S  ROCK BEACH – Small sandy beach. Paid parking, lifeguard.

FERRY BEACH STATE PARK - Nicely sheltered from wind, beautiful natural sand dunes. Restrooms, picnic area and nature trails.

-OLD ORCHARD-

OLD ORCHARD BEACH -  Old Orchard Beach is one of Maine’s most popular vacation destinations. It features seven miles of beautiful sand, lots of shops, the famous pier, an amusement park, restaurants and numerous cottage rentals and motels along the beach. Campgrounds are near by. Metered street parking as well as several parking lots are available. Lifeguards.

-SCARBOROUGH-

PINE POINT BEACH  – This is the northern portion of Old Orchard Beach, which lies along the town of Scarborough. A beautiful wide beach , quiet and offers plenty of parking at a reasonable price. Food nearby.

SCARBOROUGH BEACH STATE PARK – A large stretch of sand on Prouts Neck.

CRESCENT BEACH STATE PARK – 8 miles south of Portland. 1-mile of beautiful soft sand.

HIGGINS BEACH - So.Portland off Rt 77  A large stretch of sand with little parking.

Naples, Maine is home to the annual Maine Blues Festival. This year’s 5th annual festival will be held Saturday June 19th. There will be a Friday night warm up on the 18th and a Sunday cool down on the 20th.

Friday Night Warm Up Venues

The Maine Blues Festival Saturday June 2oth

Sunday Father’s Day Cool Down

This is one of the best musical events in Maine and you won’t want to miss it. Check out these Photos of Past Festivals

For lodging and other information, check out the Maine Blues Festival website.

The largest one-day business show in the state, this annual business extravaganza features nearly 200 exhibitors and draws close to 2,500 attendees. The show, held in June, serves as an ideal way for businesses to promote their products and services.

When: Thursday, June 10, 2010

Where: Androscoggin Bank Colisee,  Lewiston

Time: 9:30am

Be sure to stop by and visit Core Zero Creative  in booth 519. They will be giving short 10 minute social media talks for as many people that can fit into their booth. Their talks will be given on the half hour.

This is a shot of Boothbay Harbor, Maine in July 2008. We vacationed there and loved it. My step-father had been there before, but this was the first trip for the rest of the family. His description was perfect.

Boothbay Harbor is a quaint town with so many unique shops that it would be impossible to name them all. It is almost like a town that time has forgotten. People walk from shop to shop through the small town. To get into town, you have to take the footbridge which you just need to stop at several locations to view the bay. While visiting Boothbay Harbor, you have plenty to do..or do nothing. Either way – definitely a place to add to your list of places to visit!

Then there is the bay…beautiful and so much to take in. There are many fishing boats—the very tiny to the just amazingly large. There are lobster traps, nets, people getting ready to set up on a fishing trip and the most beautiful water. And, the fog in the morning is breathtaking. Of course, waking up to the sound of the fog horn is just something everyone should experience. Wish we had fog horns in Pennsylvania!

Our current photo feature is provided to us by Alec McCorkle, a 17 year old high school senior from Summerdale, Pennsylvania. We want to congratulate him on his graduation which is next week!

Alex will be heading off to college in the fall where he plans to study Business Marketing and plans to continue to pursue his love of photography as well. According to Alex, the ideal career will allow him to combine his business education with his photography passion.

Alex has been taking photos for about six years, but the last 2 to 3 years he has become a serious photographer. He loves to photograph nature and trys for a “different” look on the usual. His goal is to help people see what they miss when they just casually walk by things. He says he really got started photographing butterflies while he was doing volunteer work at the Butterfly House at the Hershey Rose Garden. Alex shoots his art with a Nikon D5000.

Since he was 3 years old he has participated in Early American Living History Encampments. These are not battle re-enactments but encampments in which people live in the primitive style of the 1800’s.

Alex has two websites where you can view and purchase his work in prints, cards and canvas prints.

http://www.redbubble.com/people/corkle

http://alexmccorklesphotography.webs.com/