All Entries in the "Community and Arts Life" Category
A pie worth breaking your New Year’s resolutions
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com Reminiscent of pecan pie, this recipe is far and away better flavored and filled with chocolate. One look at the crispy, toasted, and decadent topping that literally crackles as you cut it, it will soon become a household favorite. There really isn’t anything one can do about the sweetness of this […]
An ice sculpture grows in Popple Dungeon
The recent low temperatures have given Peter Delaney’s annual free form ice sculpture a great start on the winter. Each year, Delaney, who lives in the 2000-block of Popple Dungeon, constructs a frame to support a garden hose that gets water – gravity fed – from up the hill. This year, he say, he built […]
Henry Homeyer: A view to improve your white winterscape
By Henry Homeyer © 2018 Telegraph Publishing LLC During hard winters like this, when we tend to be somewhat housebound, it’s important to have a landscape that we can enjoy from indoors. When I first gardened, I only grew vegetables and flowers, which disappear from view in winter. But now I delight in growing trees […]
Rescue squad seeks fund-raising help;
Snow Riders donate funds, food to Family Center
Londonderry Volunteer Rescue Squad seeks volunteers for fund-raising The Londonderry Rescue Squad is seeking volunteers for a one-day fund-raising project to take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Feb. 4. Volunteers are needed to help label and stuff 6,000 letters for the rescue squad’s annual benefit and fund-raiser. The funds raised will cover […]
Chester Chatter: Ice skating a family affair
By Ruthie Douglas © 2018 Telegraph Publishing LLC When it comes to winter sports, I always lacked the skills but for two things, sledding and ice skating. A neighbor gave me a pair of ice skates and I learned to skate on a frozen patch on my aunt’s lawn. I would put on the skates […]
An eggless and butterless cake? It’s a date
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com Although there are very few dates that can live up to Medjool’s reputation, using the cheaper, bagged variety is perfect for this recipe. Not only will it allow you to taste the orange-flavored tea, but you will find this a perfect recipe for your collection. Enjoy! 1 cup boiling orange pekoe […]
Henry Homeyer: Can you protect plants against the deep freeze?
By Henry Homeyer ©2017 Telegraph Publishing LLC We’ve had some very cold weather recently. And although I hear gardeners at the post office or country store complaining about the cold, the weather has been normal for this time of year. It’s January, after all, and it’s supposed to be cold. It’s even good to have […]
Henry Homeyer: A year in plants, tried and now true
By Henry Homeyer ©2017 Telegraph Publishing LLC 2017 was a good gardening year for me. Although we had some rainy times, some hot and some dry times, overall the weather was conducive to good plant growth. As usual, I tried a number of new things, and here they are: In the vegetable garden I grew […]
Anadam Fantans: Fit for your feast and your cookie jar
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com Simple to make and simply the best way to savor the old New England flavor of original Anadama. Grace your table with these little gems, but they are perfect to keep around for that sweet tooth. 3/4 cup warm milk 1/2 cup molasses 1 (.25-ounce)envelope active dry yeast 6 tablespoons butter […]
Chester Chatter: Holiday memories in old traditions, new ones
Ruthie Douglas © 2017 Telegraph Publishing, LLC I have been enjoying a merry little Christmas during the month of December. Daughter Jeanie every year gives me a wrapped gift for each day. They consist of small items that she knows I would like. Each morning with my second cup of coffee, I chose one to […]
Henry Homeyer: Paperwhites & amaryllis make for easy indoor blossoms
By Henry Homeyer ©2017 Telegraph Publishing LLC The winter months can be a bit depressing for me. As a gardener there is very little to do, and my supply of colorful flowers indoors is limited. I combat this by buying cut flowers and getting flowers to bloom in pots or dishes. Two of my favorites are […]
Chester Chatter: Friends brighten Christmas after terrible loss
By Ruthie Douglas © 2017 Telegraph Publishing LLC Soon after Christmas one year our farmhouse burned down, mostly to the ground. We lost everything along with our new Christmas gifts. We decided to rebuild and slowly began to start work. Come spring and summer, we worked hard and by fall began to replace belongings inside. […]
Boozy cannolis to ring in the New Year
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com These intensely flavored cannolis are not only satisfying for cold weather nights, but they’re especially pleasing to share with family and friends. If you desire to leave out any liqueur (in the way of Calvados seen below), simply boil 1/2 cup apple cider or juice until it reduces to 1/4-cup. Cool […]
Chester Chatter: The Christmas tree-filled living room
By Ruthie Douglas ©2017 Telegraph Publishing LLC Finding the Christmas tree for my family was the job of my father. His, only. For he wanted to make the selection. It was OK for the rest of us, mostly because we knew it was going to be best: 6-feet-tall, full branches and it had to be […]
Embellish your Brussels sprouts with an Italian accent
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com Amaro a Dolce simply means bitter to sweet in Italian. These Brussels sprouts are absolutely the perfect accompaniment to any turkey, pork or prime rib you will be having on the table this holiday season. Truly, this dish makes for a beautifully arranged taste of New England with Italian accents. 1 […]
Henry Homeyer: pruning and pollarding, techniques to keep you busy
By Henry Homeyer ©2017 Telegraph Publishing LLC This is a time of year when little is happening in the garden. Weeds either have been pulled, or won’t be – until next spring. I’ve cut back most flowers, both perennial and annual. The ground is starting to freeze and we’ve had some snow. It’s a good […]
Chester Chatter: Christmas shopping by Sears catalog
By Ruthie Douglas ©2017 Telegraph Publishing LLC Christmas shopping was not easy when my two daughters were young. Because my husband Don traveled for his company, I was unable to take the girls shopping. Once they were in bed, I spread out the catalogs — Sears and Montgomery Ward — on the kitchen table. I […]
How to use that last can of pumpkin
By Jim Bailey theyankeechef.blogspot.com Here is a pastry you won’t soon forget. With four flavors that are quintessential Yankee, they are super easy to make, yet uniquely in a class all their own. One taste of these sweet swirls, and you will forever forget about cinnamon rolls for breakfast. 1 cup flour, plus more for […]
Henry Homeyer: Build your own cold cellar
By Henry Homeyer ©2017 Telegraph Publishing LLC Ihad a banner year for root crops this year, and storage is a problem. For the past few years I had been storing root crops in a spare fridge, or in an old 25-gallon crock with a plywood lid in my cold basement. This year, I went back […]
Towns welcome Christmas with carols, Santa and cookies
©2017 Telegraph Publishing LLC With Thanksgiving under our belts, the holidays begin and so do the many events to celebrate the season. Last weekend Chester, Weston and Grafton donned their garlands and switched on their lights to mark the occasion. In Chester, the Overture to Christmas celebrated its 32nd edition with the traditional tree lighting […]
