PROSPECT – The Prospect Community Center hosted its first monthly benefit supper on Saturday, April 8, in the community center dining room. The suppers run every second Saturday of the month and will run April through October. And it was a lot more than beans on the menu — Baked Beans, Hot Dogs, Pulled Pork, Lasagna, American Chop Suey, Scalloped Potatoes, Broccoli, Clam, and Chicken Casseroles, Fresh Salads, Homemade Pies, Cakes, and Yeast Rolls.

Prospect is known for Fort Knox and is a gateway to the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory. The fort was built to defend the Penobscot River and the lumber port of Bangor during the Aroostook War. Although never fully completed — work on the huge defense stopped in 1869 — Fort Knox is impressive.

In the northeast part of Waldo County, Prospect boasts a population of 709 people, but we're not here to talk about the town. We're here to talk about the food.

Just plain, good, old fashioned, Maine-made comfort food is the best way to describe it. I tried almost everything on the menu and have to say it was every bit as good as I was promised it would be when I walked in the door. And every time I finished one plate, someone was there offering more.

Barbara Tilley, of the Community Center, explained what the dinners were all about.

"It's one of our biggest fundraisers that we have to take car of this building," she said. "We own the whole building. We rent out the store part, but we pay taxes and fire and liability insurance."

Tilley said they se the building for many purposes.

"We use it for the suppers and the hunter's breakfasts," she said. "We use it for bereavement purposes after a funeral. We use it for baby showers and weddings. Private parties, yard sales, food sales and just about anything to raise money."

Tilley said it's the hope of the community center to make enough money to be able to take the winter off. Tilley said they have a very good reputation for the food they serve.

"We ask different people in town to make pies, the rolls and salads," she said. "Plus, Linda and I do a lot of the cooking. We want to serve good food and plenty of it."

One menu item I spied immediately was clam casserole. I was reluctant to try it, but I ordered it first. It was amazing. It had perfect consistency with the right amount of clams and spices. It just melted in my mouth. The only thing that might have improved it would have been a dollop of Tabasco. Tilley gave me story on Clam Casserole.

"It was something that my mother started because years ago she was the president of the community club that owns this building," she said. "That was always one of the favorite things that people would always ask for. When she died that left a big void and we had another woman do it for a while then I took it over. I think of her every time I put it together."

Tilley said the secret is that you don't go strictly by the recipe. You always add a little bit extra here and there. A teaspoon doesn't always have to be a teaspoon.

The baked Penne also stood out as very good. I'm looking forward to the next dinner in Prospect at the Community Center, which will be May 13.