Well known Maine cook and author, Marjorie Standish, spent years collecting and creating recipes that have been loved and enjoyed by many "Mainers." Marjorie Standish attended Farmington State College and, after graduating, she taught home economics to high school students.  When she moved on from teaching, Marjorie became a member of the Central Maine Power Company crew as a home service advisor. Perhaps her greatest accomplishments were writing a weekly column for the Maine Sunday Telegram  and completing her first cookbook, "Cooking Downeast." The cookbook, published in 1968, is a compilation of Marjorie's best New England recipes.

I grew up in midcoast Maine cooking and eating Marge's recipes. Just the words "American Chop Suey" or "Banana Bread" remind me of the little yellow book on the cookbook shelf. Practically everyone I know has a copy of the cookbook, as it is a standby of back to basics recipes that many people are sure to enjoy. 

In what I hope will be an exciting, new venture I've decided to cook my way through Marjorie Standish's Cooking DownEast cookbook. As I do so, I would like to invite the local community to join me in this tribute to Marjorie Standish by sampling some of her tried and true recipes, as I cook and serve them at The Blue Elephant Cafe in Saco. 

The Blue Elephant Cafe is located at 12 Pepperell Square in Saco, Maine and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cafe serves breakfast and lunch, daily specials, coffee, tea and soft drinks.

Beginning the first of December, I will introduce a new Marjorie Standish recipe each day as I work my way through her first cookbook, "Cooking Down East." Come in and try Marje's recipes at the Blue Elephant!