Author: admin
Trail mix bar cookies
For many, the highlight of a hike is when snacks are distributed. A mix of nuts, dried fruit and chocolate is probably one of the most common snacks people bring to enjoy while hiking a long trail or when they reach the peak of a mountain.
Of course, you don’t have to hike to eat trail mix, nor do you have to use those particular ingredients for trail mix.
Let me introduce you to trail mix bar cookies. Filled with dried cranberries, pecans and white chocolate chips, they offer a fine mix of sweet, tart and crunchy. Plus, all of those sensations are delivered in a moist and sturdy bar cookie.
Although I am a fan of almost all varieties of cookies, I love the simplicity of a bar cookie. All the dough goes into one pan for one round of baking. Not that it’s difficult to bake two or three batches of cookies, but these cookies reward a little bit of laziness.
Even better than the easy baking is the fact that these treats are great for whatever cookout or barbecue you will be attending or hosting. Once they’re cooled, just cover the pan with some plastic wrap and you’re ready to go.
We’re in the midst of summer. You probably have gatherings to attend. The next time you’re asked to bring a dessert, give these bar cookies a try.
Michele Pesula Kuegler has been thinking about food her entire life. Since 2007, the New Hampshire native has been sharing these food thoughts and recipes at her blog, Think Tasty. Visit thinktasty.com to find more of her recipes.
Trail mix bar cookies
Makes 24
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup white chocolate chips
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar on speed 2 for 4 minutes.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating to incorporate each.
Add vanilla, and mix.
Add baking powder, baking soda, salt and flour, and mix until incorporated.
Add oatmeal, stirring until combined.
Add white chocolate chips, dried cranberries and pecans, stirring until incorporated.
Grease the sides and bottoms of a 13×9 pan with butter.
Transfer batter to pan, using the back of a spoon or spatula to spread it evenly in the pan.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Cool in the baking pan on a wire baking rack before serving.
Photo: Trail Mix Bar cookies. Courtesy photo.
Just Fore Fun – 07/08/2021
This Week 21/07/08
Big Events July 8, 2021, and beyond
Thursday, July 8
Hillsboro Summerfest starts today and runs through Sunday at Grimes Field, 29 Preston St. in Hillsborough. Admission is free but bring money for parking ($10), the midway and carnival rides, beer tent, food vendors and more. The hours are 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Catch live music (Decatur Creek on Thursday, Lonesome Train on Friday and Mosey Down on Saturday), fireworks on Saturday, a tractor pull on Friday, a women’s skillet toss on Saturday and a parade and a car and truck show on Sunday. Also on Sunday, children ages 10 and under can take part in a cupcake eating contest at 1 p.m. and there will be a pie eating contest at 1:30 p.m. Work up an appetite on Friday evening at the 5K race. See hillsborosummerfest.com.
Friday, July 9
Find more fair fun at the Raymond Town Fair on the town common, which starts today and will run through Sunday, July 11. Find them on Facebook @raymondtownfair, where you can see pictures of the bouncy jousting and climbing equipment and get updated on the scheduled live music (Carbon 14 will perform tonight at 6 p.m.). Tonight’s entertainment also includes a fire truck parade, a library book sale, a silent auction and bingo. The Saturday lineup includes a pancake breakfast, a town-wide yard sale, kid activities, a motorcycle show and fireworks. On Sunday, there will be more pancake breakfast, a fun run and a dog parade.
Friday, July 9
The Prescott Park Art Festival’s annual summer musical opens today. You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown will run at the park through Sunday, Aug. 15, with shows at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays and at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Go to prescottpark.org to reserve a table or blanket space.
Friday, July 9
Friday nights are Comedy at the Rex. This week, Corey Rodrigues is performing at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25.
Saturday, July 10
Get your entertainment outside when Liz & Dan Faiella play Fletcher-Murphy Park (28 Fayette St. in Concord) as part of the Capitol Center for the Arts’ Music in the Park Series. The show starts at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.). Tickets cost $12 plus a $3 fee (for $10, you can also livestream the event). See ccanh.com.
Sunday, July 11
Taste some wines and take a walk through the vines at LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101 in Amherst) at today’s event in the Walks in the Vineyard series. The program runs from 11 a.m. to noon and features wine educator Marie King and vineyard manager Josh Boisvert discussing the grapes and the wines (four LaBelle wines will be available for tasting). Tickets cost $27.25 per person (including taxes). See labellewinery.com.
Save the date! Sat, July 17
Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks in Henniker; colbyhillinn.com) has a special dinner featuring the wines of McPrice Myers of Paso Robles on Saturday, July 17. At 6 p.m. there will be a Spanish tapas garden party with rose wines and a three-course dinner featuring a summer dessert buffet and live music from Kimayo. The cost is $130 per person. Call 428-3281 to reserve a spot, which is required.
Featured photo, Kimayo. Courtesy photo.
Pavlovas with (or without) berries
Just under a year ago I shared a recipe for double strawberry pavlovas. Today’s recipe is its more simplistic sibling. Sometimes I want a pavlova that is bursting with strawberry flavor, and other times I want a pavlova as plain as can be.
When I was first working on this recipe, everything seemed to shout, “Since they’re vanilla, you’ll need to top them with berries.” So I made my first batch of pavlovas, macerated some berries, and served them together. The result was quite delectable.
Looking at the leftover pavlovas, I decided to eat one just as it was. I fell in love. Sure, it was just a simple vanilla pavlova, but there’s a lot of deliciousness in that. There are the great pavlova textures — crispy and chewy — plus all of the sweetness.
Make these pavlovas whichever way you prefer. You can’t go wrong no matter what you decide.
Michele Pesula Kuegler has been thinking about food her entire life. Since 2007, the New Hampshire native has been sharing these food thoughts and recipes at her blog, Think Tasty. Visit thinktasty.com to find more of her recipes.
Pavlovas with (or without) berries
Makes 8
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
4 large egg whites, room temperature
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup blueberries
1 cup diced strawberries
1 Tablespoon sugar
Heat the oven to 250 degrees.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Blend sugar on high in a food processor for 15 seconds.
Measure sugar again. (You need 1 cup)
In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of the processed sugar.
Place egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer, and whisk on medium-high speed until foamy peaks form, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Gradually add plain, processed sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, to the egg whites, whisking until incorporated, about 1-2 minutes.
Add cornstarch and sugar mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking until whites are stiff and glossy, about 1-2 minutes.
Add vinegar and vanilla; whisk for 1 minute.
Using a spatula, spoon meringue into 8 mounds on the prepared baking sheet.
Using a butter knife, spread each into 3-1/2″ disks.
After that, using the back of a spoon, make an indent in the center of each.
Bake for 40 minutes.
Turn off the oven, and prop the door open, placing a wooden spoon in the opening.
Let pavlovas cool in the oven for an hour.
Meanwhile, combine blueberries and strawberries in a small bowl; sprinkle with sugar.
Stir well; allow to sit for at least an hour
Transfer the pavlovas from the baking tray to a cooling rack.
To serve, top with berries, if desired.
Photo: Pavlovas with (or without) berries. Courtesy photo.
This Week 21/07/01
Big Events July 1, 2021, and beyond
Thursday, July 1
It’s a weekend of baseball! The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are in the middle of a run of home games at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive in downtown Manchester; nhfishercats.com) against the Portland Sea Dogs through Sunday, July 4. The games start at 7:05 p.m. Games Friday through Sunday will feature fireworks, including a “4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza” on Sunday.
The Nashua Silver Knights also have a game this weekend; they’ll play the Pittsfield Suns on Saturday, July 3, with the game starting at 6 p.m. See nashuasilverknights.com.
Thursday, July 1
Kick off the weekend with some arts and music: the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; 669-6144, currier.org) holds its weekly “Art After Work: Free Thursday Nights” tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. when admission is free but bring money for food and drinks at the Winter Garden Cafe. Catch live music tonight from Paul Nelson. Advance registration online is recommended.
Thursday, July 1
Hear some live music in the fresh air. Rebel Collective, who describe themselves as a “New England based Irish/American pub, Celtic folk/folk-punk band” (according to their Facebook page), will perform tonight from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Eagle Square in downtown Concord.
Saturday, July 3
Get some laughs this holiday weekend with comedian Mark Scalia performing tonight at 8:30 p.m. at Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Manchester (707 Huse Road; chunkys.com). Tickets cost $20.
Sunday, July 4
Nashua will once again hold a Fourth of July fireworks, tonight at 9 p.m.-ish, according to the Nashua Public Works Facebook page. Holman Stadium will open its doors at 5 p.m. and there will be a Holman Stadium Hall of Fame presentation at 8 p.m., the post said. Food will be sold at the concession stand and from food trucks. Find more firework listings in our story on page 16.
Save the Date! Sunday, Sept. 26
Add the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; 225-1111, ccanh.com) to the list of venues filling up their fall schedules with indoor shows. Get tickets now to shows such as John Hiatt and the Jerry Douglas Band on Sunday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. (tickets start at $49 plus fees), Eaglemania on Friday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m. (tickets start at $35 plus fees) and An Evening with David Sedaris on Sunday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. (tickets are $49 plus fees).
David Sedraris. Photo by Ingrid Christie.
