All Entries in the "Community and Arts Life" Category

Gobbling up turkey sausages, the missing link between low calorie and taste
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com These little tasty treats are called sausages because we use traditional sausage spices to liven up ground chicken or turkey. Believe it or not, you will have cut the fat in half by using ground turkey instead of pork. Turkey also has even less fat and calories than ground chicken. If […]

Upcoming Events: Crafts classes in Saxtons River; new VTica exhibit; ‘Little Lit’ program at Rock Library; bee talk at NewsBank; tracking animals; theater classes for youths and adults; and FOLA Follies 2014
For more upcoming events, click here for The Chester Telegraph calendar. To be included in our Upcoming events briefs, email Susan Lampe-Wilson at calendar@www.chestertelegraph.org. Photos welcome. No PDFs, please. Jan. 26: Winter crafts classes at River Artisans The River Artisans Cooperative in Saxtons River will hold a series of Sunday afternoon workshops beginning the last […]

Chili doesn’t need meat to be tasty and hearty
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com Many people nowadays are concerned with the fat associated with meat. While vegetarian diets are frequently ridiculed, they are more often than not misunderstood. A hearty entree can be enjoyable even without a certain taste of animal protein. If cooked properly, Textured Vegetable Protein can offer a satisfying alternative to meats. […]

Spicy sausage and sweet tater breakfast hardy enough to hold off winter’s chill
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com H ere’s a simple, savory and filling breakfast fit for whatever Mother Nature throws at us this winter. The scent of sausage cooking in the kitchen reminds me of the fairgrounds in the summer. With a minimal amount of spices, the flavor of the sweet potatoes and sausage shines through easily. […]

Fight the January cold by curling up with a blanket and a novel
By John Hoover January is a great month to get outside and enjoy all the recreational opportunities that Vermont has to offer. But since daylight lasts for well less than half the day what are you doing the rest of the time? You could, of course, sleep for 14 hours but I suspect you […]

A wintry treat just for the kids: Peanut butter and jelly snowballs
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com What a great little “homecoming” treat for the children after school. Many of you have tried a recipe such as this before, using crushed graham crackers, both powdered sugar and grahams and adding butter or margarine. But I must say, this is not only the easiest preparation, but cuts […]

Vegetables elevate chipped beef on toast
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com Growing up under the wings of a Navy man for a father, I enjoyed chipped beef on toast without vegetables. But now as a chef, I realize that even though this old-time Navy breakfast is great as is, the Army had its own rendition that included a variety of vegetables. Peas, […]

A Yankee solution to those leftover whipped sweet potatoes
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com H ere is a recipe that has its roots in “the county.” Aroostook County, Maine, has long been the hub of potato growing in Maine, and much of New England. Potato bread was first made in this cold climate of Maine, so it is fitting that sweet potatoes find their way […]

Annual Christmas dinner serves up good food, cheer to more than 100 seniors
Photo gallery is below the article More than 100 senior citizens from Chester and the surrounding towns sat down to a festive and hot Christmas meal on Saturday, Dec. 14 in the Chester Andover Elementary School cafeteria. Tables were set with bright green and red tablecloths, bowls of cranberry sauce, baskets of rolls and gift-basket […]

German stollen for a traditional Christmas treat
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com Originally called Dresden stollen in the 15th century, this bread was made to immortalize the infant Jesus, wrapped in swaddling clothing. Made during the advent, the beginning recipes used only flour, a leaven, olive oil and water, pretty tasteless but true to form for the fasting time held by […]

St. Luke’s welcomes new musician; new art space opens in Chester
Jacob S. McLaughlin joins St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 313 Main St. in Chester, as its liturgical musician. He will play the organ and keyboard as well as lead the choir. McLaughlin, who grew up in Chester, began his music training at age 8 with the late Helen Donnis at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Chester. […]
2014 Rockingham Library calendars now available
Rockingham Free Public Library’s 2014 calendar features historical Bellows Falls postcards from the Rockingham Library’s postcard collection. The calendar highlights the bustling vibrancy of the town as well as its beautiful bucolic setting on the Connecticut River. Calendars are available at the library at 65 Westminster St., Bellows Falls for $12 each. All proceeds will […]

A holly, jolly Overture to Christmas
Photos and text by Cynthia Prairie Saturday’s Parade of Packages, part of Chester’s annual Overture to Christmas events, was interrupted when emergency vehicles had to pull out of the procession to respond to a single-car accident in Andover. (There were no injuries reported.) But that didn’t dampen the day as more than 20 kids […]

Friends, family rally to keep artist’s memory alive with GMUHS scholarship
By Cynthia Prairie Friends and family of the late Heath Gordon are establishing a memorial scholarship fund for Green Mountain Union High School seniors who are pursuing higher education in either art or music. Gordon, who grew up in Chester with his older sister Wendy and younger brother Sam, was a musician and artist […]

Weston Playhouse expansion site plan gets OK with conditions
By Cynthia Prairie Site plans for the new cultural arts facility of the Weston Playhouse Theatre Co. have been given the go-ahead by the Weston Planning Commission with seven minor conditions for use and one conclusion of law that could force the playhouse to speed up its capital fund-raising campaign. The decision was sent […]

Crunchy crust, timeless taste in a Christmas pie
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com I couldn’t fit any more comfort flavor in this inviting dessert if I tried. I have incorporated the timeless taste of rum-raisin with the forgotten taste of seasonal fruit cake and combined it with feel-good warm apples. One taste of this comfort-food pie and you won’t care what kind of […]

Time to Shop: It’s the 2nd annual Shop Local holiday gift guide (Part 1)
By Cynthia Prairie For the second year in a row, The Chester Telegraph has traveled around the region to window shop for you, looking for interesting and beautiful gifts to give this holiday season. We’ve tried to cover everyone on your list. This week, in Part 1, we concentrate on housewares, stocking stuffers and […]

A chestnut of a recipe for a Christmas oyster stew
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com Oysters have been part of our Yankee holiday custom for centuries. Oysters were plentiful here on our shores and have been used in stuffing since the Puritan era. Did you know that oyster stuffing (as well as other types) was originally stuffed between the skin and meat of the turkey? For […]

For sharing and giving: Christmas traditions, joy abound in holiday books
By John Hoover As Christmas rolls around, we at Misty Valley Books tend to revert to our much younger selves and experience again the excitement of the approaching holiday. This month’s recommendations will not only make great gifts, but they will add to the joys of the season and your holiday traditions. Lynne recommends […]

Using their noodles: Spaghetti dinner helps Keewaydin camp effort
The 70 or so 5th and 6th graders from Chester-Andover Elementary School are deliciously closer to going to Keewaydin Environmental Education camp in May 2014 thanks to the volunteer parents, teachers and pupils who served up a spaghetti dinner to more than 100 hungry folks last Thursday night, Nov. 21, 2013. The dinner — […]