Schooner Doughnuts

Wow didn’t that wind whistle yesterday. Sawyer and I made our Saturday Camden run to the dump, the library (yes, we paid our fine for that overdue book), and rowed out to the schooner just to check the lines for chafe and see that the cover was intact. Right there at the head of Camden those gusty NW winds buffet the schooner right about amidships. There is no swell but that wind....take the butter right off a biscuit. I spent the afternoon hours splitting wood in the North facing wood yard. Brrrr...

So today is a day of rest (not really with the wood pile still waiting but I like the concept). I was inspired by Mary’s doughnut recipe to try my own hand at it. Mary Barney is famous up and down the coast for her baking. Used to be when she lived out on Monhegan Island she would make doughnuts for the fisher men and women on trap day, the first day of their fishing season. She worked 25 summers at the Trailing Ewe and made doughnuts everyday. That’s alot of doughnuts. I work with a fella down at our local volunteer ambulance service that lived on Monhegan for a time while Mary was there. Luke still asks for Mary’s doughnuts. I am trying the chocolate version. Mary learned this recipe from Dint Day, hence Dint’s Doughnuts.

Here is the recipe:
2 Eggs well beaten
1 cup sugared
1 1/2 cups buttermilk or sour milk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 T oil
nutmeg and ginger
flour, about 4 1/2 cups to make a fairly stiff dough

Mix in order. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Roll out about 1/3rd inch thick.
Cut and fry in deep fat, melted vegetable shortening.

For chocolate doughnuts, omit spices and put in 1/2 cup bakers cocoa
and a splash of vanilla.

Have a great day. And if you happen to see Mary wish her a happy birthday!

Photo of Mary by Jim Dugan

Hail Mary

My heart is heavy with sadness as I write this particular blog. Since the beginning of August our dear friend and cook for the last 12 years, Mary Barney, had been struggling with cancer. I have intentionally respected Mary’s privacy and I apologize to you for not sharing any news about Mary’s health sooner. On Monday afternoon Mary passed away very peacefully at home, surrounded by friends and “family”. Her departure was as graceful as the rest of her life. Many people, including Jen, have been doing heroic work to support Mary these last few weeks. Oddly enough Mary was never very excited about transitions though this was about the fastest transition she ever made. And as I struggle to let go of Mary I realize I am terrible with transitions as well. We used to joke about how we liked things just the way they are, thank you very much, so why change what is working already even if it might be less labor intensive. Hard works is its own reward. I used to joke about getting Mary a Cui...

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