Fire and ice

Amherst chili cook-off and ice cream social returns

Although initially postponed a month due to pandemic concerns, last year’s Amherst Fire & Ice was able to return in person to resounding success, drawing more than 200 attendees to taste scratch-cooked chilis from local restaurateurs and home cooks. Now the friendly chili cook-off and tasting — which also features live entertainment, a kids’ coloring contest and a table of make-your-own ice cream sundaes — is back for a seventh year, returning to Amherst Middle School on Friday, March 10.

The Amherst Lions Club organizes the competition as a fundraiser for local charity organizations. Following a pre-recorded “virtual” cook-off that took place in 2021, in which viewers could purchase chili recipes from each entrant, last year’s event marked the return to its traditional format.

“You get to taste a lot of different varieties of chilis, and then you also get to make your own ice cream sundae if you want one,” Amherst Lion and cook-off publicity coordinator Shirley Flowers said. “All of that is included in one entry price.”

Chili makers compete in three categories: individuals, restaurants and Lions Club members. Winners of the individuals category will be determined by cook-off attendees, while a panel of judges deliberates on those in the restaurant and Lions Club categories. They’ll rate each entry on a scale of 1 to 5 on criteria such as taste, smell and heat. Dan DeCourcey, pitmaster of the Merrimack-based Up In Your Grill barbecue food truck, is returning as a judge, as is David Mielke of Smokehaus Barbecue, himself a 2019 Amherst Fire & Ice champion.

This year’s restaurant contenders include Moulton’s Kitchen & Market of Amherst as well as Union Street Grill and Cafe On the Oval, both of Milford. Flowers noted that there is a greater than normal number of participants in the individuals category.

“When we first started Fire & Ice, it was just [Lions] Club members, and then we started inviting community members to come in,” she said. “So that’s one thing that’s different this year.”

While it’s usually a surprise to see what types of chilis the entrants come up with, Flowers said attendees can expect a diverse showing of traditional and non-traditional options. Moulton’s, for instance, took home last year’s restaurant award for its tri-tip steak and portobello mushroom chili, while Bill Swift, a multi-year champion in the individuals category, made a Cincinnati-style chili, with spaghetti as an added option. Flowers said at least one meatless chili is also available, one that she usually makes herself, in addition to hot dogs for non-chili eaters.

Judging will be completed by 6:30 p.m., with the winners announced around 6:45 p.m. Entrants with the most points in each of the three categories receive bragging rights for a year, in addition to a special traveling trophy.

After sampling chilis, attendees can head to the make-your-own ice cream sundae table, choosing from vanilla, chocolate or cookies and cream-flavored ice creams. Additional toppings like strawberries, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, cherries and sprinkles will also be available.

Other ongoing happenings during the evening will include live performances from members of Amherst Middle School’s music department, animal balloon demonstrations from Amherst’s Krickey the Clown, and free eye screenings offered by the Amherst Lions Club. A kids’ coloring contest is also returning, with prizes awarded to winners in three brackets: ages 11 to 15, 6 to 10 and 5 and under. Flowers said the coloring pages can be downloaded in advance online and entered into the contest on the night of the event, or kids can color them onsite.

Seventh annual Amherst Fire & Ice
When: Friday, March 10, 5 to 7 p.m.
Where: Amherst Middle School, 14 Cross Road, Amherst
Cost: $8 per person or $25 per family of four. Children under 5 receive free admission. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. Cash, credit or debit payments are accepted.
Visit: e-clubhouse.org/sites/amherstnh

Featured photo: Contestants from last year’s Amherst Fire & Ice. Courtesy photo.

The Weekly Dish 23/03/09

News from the local food scene

• Mixing it up: Join Tuscan Market (9 Via Toscana, Salem) as it debuts a new four-week mixology and food pairing series, starting on Thursday, March 9, from 6 to 8 p.m., and continuing with class installments on March 23, March 30 and April 6. The first class will cover the world of syrups and how to create them from scratch, as well as which flavors and herbs pair well together. Participants will make their own cocktails using their syrups and have the opportunity to taste them with Tuscan Market’s chef-inspired artisan Italian food. The second class, on March 23, will cover how to infuse and smoke different ingredients from fruits to juices in your drinks, while classes on March 30 and April 6, respectively, will go over how to mix their cocktails and put the final touches on them with garnishes. The cost is $280 per person and includes access to all four classes in addition to food pairings, a bartender’s kit and a technique manual. Visit tuscanbrands.com.

• Bunny campaign: The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary is selling chocolate Easter bunnies made by Granite State Candy Shoppe now through March 31 as part of its Bite Out of Hunger Campaign. The cost is $8.50 for an eight-ounce solid milk, white or dark chocolate bunny. Proceeds benefit The Salvation Army’s Kids’ Café program, which offers evening meals and recreation activities to local children and teens four days a week. Call Sylvia Crete at 490-4107 to order a bunny, or visit nne.salvationarmy.org/manchester to download the bunny order form. Bunnies may be picked up at The Salvation Army’s Manchester Corps (121 Cedar St.) during their business hours, any Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

• Cheers to 100 years: Due to inclement weather on Feb. 23, Gibson’s Bookstore’s (45 S. Main St., Concord) author event featuring longtime New Hampshire radio personality Mike Morin has been postponed to Tuesday, March 14, at 6:30 p.m. Morin will present his newest book, If These Walls Could Talk: Celebrating 100 Years of the Red Arrow, America’s Most Beloved Diner, which details various stories and anecdotes that contribute to the original Red Arrow’s lasting legacy in Manchester’s culinary scene, from connections to celebrities like Adam Sandler and Kevin Costner to its reputation as a spot for presidential hopefuls over the past four decades. No admission to the event is required, and for those who can’t make it, signed copies of If These Walls Could Talk may be ordered online at gibsonsbookstore.com. For additional details on the Red Arrow’s 100th anniversary, check out our cover story that appeared in the Sept. 29, 2022, issue — go to issuu.com/hippopress.com to find the e-edition. The story starts on page 10.

• When life gives you lemons: Salem limoncello producer Fabrizia Spirits has established its own lemon grove in Sicily, Italy, according to a press release. “Considering our humble beginnings, peeling lemons in the garage of our parents’ home, this is a monumental achievement for the company,” Fabrizia Spirits co-owner and co-founder Phil Mastroianni said in a statement. “These lemons are grown in a perfect microclimate in southeastern Sicily near Europe’s largest active volcano, Mt. Etna. … We now control the fruit from orchard to bottle, and can ensure the highest-quality finished product.” According to the release, the lemons are hand-picked, cleaned and shipped directly to Fabrizia’s Salem facility before they are processed. The zest from the lemons are then infused in pure alcohol, while the remainder of the fruit is juiced to form the foundation of Fabrizia’s canned cocktails. Launched in 2008, Fabrizia Spirits has grown to become a leading purveyor of limoncello in the United States. Visit fabriziaspirits.com.

On The Job – Katelyn Ryan

Tractor dealer

Katelyn Ryan works as a managing partner at Concord Tractor (164 Dover Road, Chichester, 798-0101, concordtractornh.com), a family-owned tractor dealership that sells KIOTI tractors and tractor attachments and implements.

Explain your job and what it entails.

I am a managing partner at Concord Tractor. I oversee the daily operations of all the departments of the dealership, including parts, sales and service, as well as finances and marketing.

How long have you had this job?

Around five years.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

I am a second-generation tractor dealer; I came by it honestly.

What kind of education or training did you need?

I have been around the tractor industry for my entire life. There is no better education for this field than growing up in it. I learned all of it from my dad.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

I wear jeans and a Concord Tractor or KIOTI Tractor logoed top. We are very casual, yet always ready for the dirty work.

What is the most challenging thing about your work, and how do you deal with it?

The most challenging thing is having the right equipment at the right time [to make a sale]. You can’t sell a customer what you have; you have to sell a customer what they need. That is why ensuring that you have the best possible selection of equipment to match a variety of applications is key. Having a good working relationship with the manufacturers is what makes that possible.

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your career?

That it is OK to be the only one in the room with a different idea.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

I wish folks knew that they do not have to be intimidated. Tractors are for everyone. With the right training and support, anyone can successfully operate and enjoy farm machinery.

What was the first job you ever had?

I was a hostess at Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant in Meredith, New Hampshire.

What is the best piece of work-related advice you have ever received?

Listen. And listen to understand, not to reply.

Five favorites

Favorite book: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Favorite movie: Tombstone
Favorite music: Old-school hip-hop
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite thing about NH: Our beautiful land

Featured photo: Katelyn Ryan. Courtesy photo.

Kiddie Pool 23/03/09

Family fun for the weekend

Indoor adventures

• Learn all about Japan at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) with this month’s World Traveler Thursday: Cherry Blossom Festival. The first day will be Thursday, March 9. The activity will be included in the regular playtime sessions at 10:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. Admission to the museum is $12.50 per visitor, $10.50 for guests older than 65, and free for children under a year old.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is also continuing its Science Friday program with more hands-on education with its STEAM lab on Friday, March 10, with activities at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (to accommodate both morning and afternoon play sessions). Science Friday programs are included with regular session admission.

• This week’s storytime and craft at Bookery (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com) will feature a reading of Celia Planted a Garden with a floral-themed craft to go along with it on Saturday, March 11, at 11:30 a.m. The event is free; advance registration online is recommended.

• Join the Canvas Roadshow (25 S. River Road, Bedford) for a family resin workshop on Sunday, March 12, at 2 p.m. Families will choose what shape to make their poured resin artwork out of and decorate it together. Each shape costs $35 and registration can be done at thecanvasroadshow.com.

Showtime!

• The Palace Theatre’s production of Little Women continues this weekend with shows Friday, March 10, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 11, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 12, at 2 p.m. The show continues through next Sunday, March 19. Tickets cost $39 to $46, depending on location ($25 for children ages 6 to 12). On March 7, the website said the purchase of an BOGO Special – Purchase 1 Adult ticket and bring your Young Adult (age 12-18) for FREE! Use code: B1G1LW at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). The show follows the March sisters (Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy) as they follow their dreams and learn to become strong, independent women. The show will run Friday, March 10, through Sunday, March 12, and Friday, March 17, through Sunday, March 19, with times at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25 and can be bought at palacetheatre.org.

• Mr. Aaron is having an album release party at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord) to celebrate the release of his new children’s music album. The show starts at 10 a.m. and tickets cost $13.75 each. Visit ccanh.com for more information.

• Get “jellicle” with Cats for Young Actorsat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) on Tuesday, March 14, and Wednesday, March 15, at 7 p.m. The Tony award-winning musical features classic hit songs like “Memory” and fun dance sequences. Tickets are $12 to $15 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org.

Take a break

• The Peacock Players (14 Court St., Nashua) is offering a parents’ night out on Friday, March 10, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Kids ages 6 to 13 will be entertained by the Players staff of performing artists and educators and will play different games and have a movie night or karaoke contest. Registration for each child is $25 and can be done at peacockplayears.org.

Outdoor adventures

• Head to the McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Court, Manchester) for the Little Macs jamboree on Saturday, March 11, at 10 a.m. The competition is open to kids ages 4 to 6 and of all levels. Prizes will be awarded to kids with the best costume and the best-decorated helmet. Registration costs $40 and day-of registration ends a half hour before the competition begins. Visit mcintyreskiarea.com for more information.

• Beaver Brook will have Forest Tales on Monday, March 13, at 10 a.m. at Maple Hill Farm (117 Ridge Road, Hollis). The hour-long story time is for kids and their caregivers alike to spend time in nature and learn more about the great outdoors. Visit beaverbrook.org to register.

Save the date

• Join the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover) for a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on Friday, March 17, from 9 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 4 p.m. Kids will participate in a leprechaun-themed scavenger hunt, an Irish-themed craft and a special science experiment. The party is included in registration for playtime. Visit childrens-museum.org for more information or to register.

• Calling all kids who love comic books: Kids Con New England is coming to the Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord) on May 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The con promotes literacy through the use of comic books, graphic novels and children’s stories. There will be workshops, family-friendly comics, artwork and more. Tickets cost $12. For more information visit kidsconne.com.

Treasure Hunt 23/03/09

Hi, Donna,

I’m trying to find out anything I can about this lamp. It’s been in my parents’ home for years.

It’s still an oil lamp. I have another one that was converted with an electric cord, but this one was never changed. It’s glass, not plastic. Have you ever seen one? Any information you can give me and a price would be great! Thank you.

Terri

Dear Terri,

What you have is a Victorian “Gone with the Wind” lamp. It’s just the name for the style of oil lamp.

The value depends on whether it’s in original condition, sometimes the maker, and whether it’s a hand-painted design rather than transfer.

Look on the base or the wick turner for a maker or company name.

Next look at it closely for brush strokes to see if the floral design was hand-painted. You should be able to clearly tell. It looks like a transfer pattern from the photo.

The value of them used to be in the $200+ range. The tough part now is to find the market for them, if you’re looking to sell it. It just doesn’t seem to fit into this generation’s decor.

I hope the information was helpful, Terri. Thanks for sharing with us.

Donna

Little green shoots of spring

Time to start those seedlings indoors

Starting seeds indoors under lights is a good treatment for the winter blues. It connects me to my upcoming garden and all its benefits. Early March is when I start onions and peppers, though April is the month for most everything else.

My wife, Cindy Heath, and I are making a commitment to reduce or eliminate the use of plastics in our life, so we are transitioning away from those handy, dandy flimsy plastic six-packs for starting seeds. You can, too.

Gardener’s Supply Co. has been offering ways of reducing single-use plastics like those six-packs sold everywhere. They have sturdy reusable plastic trays for seed starting that have been available for a few years. This year they came out with metal seed-starting trays.

These galvanized steel growing cells are pricey but should last a lifetime. For about $50 you get 24 individual tapered cells and a leak-proof tray to hold them. The cells are a nice big size. The kit is self-watering: It comes with a wire grid and moisture-retaining mat that keeps seedlings hydrated from the bottom of the tray, which you fill with water once a week or so. I got one of these kits and looks like a winner.

Renee’s Garden is now selling seed-starting cell trays made of silicone that are sturdy and reusable, and dishwasher-safe. They do not get brittle, they say. I am ordering some to try them.

metal press with a row of 4 soil blocks that just came out of the press, sitting in plastic gardening tray
Making soil blocks with a simple press. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

If you don’t mind extra work and lots of mess, you can make soil blocks using a little metal press that produces 2-inch soil blocks. The mixture includes peat humus, compost, soil, blood meal and minerals. E-mail me for more info about the process.

So what else do you need? Lights, growing medium and seeds. Let’s start with lights. To keep your light bill low, I recommend using LED lights. I have some old-fashioned 4-foot fluorescent lights but have been replacing them with the LED equivalent. These look about the same, but have no ballast (transformer) inside the fixture and use much less electricity.

If you replace your old fixtures, don’t just throw the old tubes into the trash as they contain mercury, which is toxic waste. Some recycling centers will accept them, or bring them to an electrical supply company for proper disposal. And if you want to use an LED tube in an old fluorescent fixture, you should remove the ballast. Unless it says “No PCBs” on it, it needs to be sent to a hazardous waste collection site also.

Hang your fixture about 6 inches over the planting trays. Use “jack chain,” a small-link chain sold at hardware stores. It allows you to raise the lights as your plants grow. Give your seedlings 12 to 14 hours of light per day — they need a good night’s sleep as much as you do.

Most seeds will wake up and grow more readily if you place them on a warm base. Electrical seed-starting mats are great for that, but not really necessary. I use them for things that specify warmer temperatures, like the flower lisianthus, and for hot peppers.

I recommend buying “seed starting mix” instead of “potting soil” to put in your planting cells. Why? Seed starting mix is a finer blend and works better. It is made from peat moss, vermiculite, perlite and fertilizer. You can make your own, of course, and I often do — I start 10 flats (trays) or more each year. I also mix in some high-quality compost — about 50 percent of the final product. I also add a little Pro-Gro, a slow-release organic bagged fertilizer.

Peat moss is coming under criticism now by the eco-minded community. It is harvested from bogs and is centuries in the making. Coir, a palm fiber, is becoming more available, but I haven’t found it yet in big bags like peat moss.

Moisture is key for starting seeds. If the soil mix dries out before they get well-established, they can quickly perish. That’s OK with me — I need a reason to get out of bed on gray days in mud season. Gotta check my seedlings and give ’em a drink after I have my coffee!

You can contain moisture by buying and using clear plastic covers for your flats of seedlings. They are inexpensive and reusable. Take them off after everything has germinated, or most things.

A biodynamic calendar called Stella Natura is available for gardeners who want to plant seeds by the phase of the moon, stars and planets. I consult it when planting, and although it’s not foolproof, I think it helps. Available at www.stellanatura.com.

So if you want another hobby, grow your own plants from seed. It takes a little practice, but it may make you happy — it works for me!

Featured photo: Metal planting cells from Gardener’s Supply. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

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