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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.

A Fourth full of fireworks

Communities plan Independence Day celebrations

Fourth of July fireworks are looking more promising this year. Concord, Manchester and Nashua are all planning fireworks events, and so are several other communities in southern New Hampshire. All events take place on Sunday, July 4, unless otherwise noted. All events are subject to change or cancellation, so check with the town before heading out.

Bristol

Where: Over Newfound Lake

When: July 3 at dusk; rain date July 4

Canterbury

Where: Canterbury Elementary School (15 Baptist Road)

When: Saturday, July 3, at 9 p.m.

Concord

Where: Memorial Field (70 S. Fruit St.)

When: Approximately 9:15 p.m. The Nevers Band will perform starting at 7:45 p.m. Rain date is July 5.

Derry

Where: Suggested viewing along Tsienneto Road, Hood Commons, Folsom Road and Crystal Avenue

When: Dusk (approximately 9 p.m.)

Dover

Where: Set off at Garrison Hill Park, viewable from around the city

When: 9:15 p.m.

Exeter

Where: Swasey Park (316 Water St.)

When: July 10, after 8 p.m.

Hampton

Where: Hampton Beach (Ocean Boulevard)

When: 9:30 p.m.

Hillsboro

Where: Hillsboro fairgrounds (17 Hilldale Lane)

When: July 10, 10 p.m.

Laconia

Where: Weirs Beach and Opechee Park (915 N. Main St.)

When: July 3 at 11:59 p.m. at Weirs and July 4 at 10 p.m. at Opechee

The second annual Independence Day Boat Parade on Lake Winnipesaukee will take place at Weirs Beach from 1 to 4 p.m.

Manchester

Where: Arms Park (10 Arms St.) and Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive)

When: At 9:30 p.m. on July 3 at Arms Park and after the Fisher Cats game on July 4

Merrimack

Where: Merrimack High School (38 McElwain St.)

When: 9 p.m.

The town is also hosting its annual Fourth of July Parade, which will feature bands, militia units, clowns, community organizations and more. This year the town is celebrating its 275th anniversary, so the theme for the parade is Celebrate Merrimack’s History – Past, Present and Future. The parade begins at the Commons Shopping Plaza (515 Daniel Webster Hwy.), then travels south down Daniel Webster Highway, onto Baboosic Lake Road, then O’Gara Drive, ending in front of Merrimack High School.

Milford

Where: Keyes Memorial Field (45 Elm St.)

When: July 2, dusk

Nashua

Where: Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St.)

When: 9 p.m.

New Boston

Where: Hillsboro fairgrounds (17 Hilldale Lane)

When: 9:15 p.m.

Portsmouth

Where: Leary Field (Parrott Avenue)

When: July 3, 9 p.m.

Raymond

Where: Town Common

When: July 10, 9:30 p.m.

Salem

Where: Tuscan Village (72 Rockingham Park Boulevard)

When: July 3, 9 p.m.

Sunapee

Where: Sunapee Harbor

When: July 3 at dusk

Weare

Where: Town center

When: July 17 at dusk

Windham

Where: Windham High School (64 London Bridge Road)

When: June 30 at 9:30 p.m.; rain date July 1

In lieu of fireworks…
There won’t be any fireworks in Amherst this year, but the town is hosting a “reverse parade” at Souhegan High School (412 Boston Post Road) from 9 to 10 a.m. Clowns, cheerleaders, bands and more will be standing on the sides of a looped route, allowing people in cars to drive through the loop and wave.

This story was possible with the generous financial support of Hippo readers. Hippo is very grateful to have the support of its readers. If you haven’t contributed yet, please consider a small contribution. Your contributions allow Hippo to write more stories and gets you access to additional stories and columns.

The Music Roundup 21/07/01

Local music news & events

• Folk romance: Named after a Cape Cod salt marsh, Crowes Pasture, the banjo/guitar duo of Monique Byrne and Andy Rogovin perform. Their most recent album, Slow It Down, was released in 2019 at Cafe Passim. Recently, they paid tribute to Bob Dylan with a gorgeous cover of his song “Forever Young.” They’ve also done elegant versions of Mary Gauthier’s “Mercy Now” and “Is This Love” by Bob Marley. Thursday, July 1, 8 p.m., Whipple Free Library, 67 Mont Vernon Road, New Boston. More at crowepastureduo.com.

• Adventure time: Amidst the zip lines, water slides and axe throwing, Sunday Ave will play an afternoon set of rock tunes. The southern New Hampshire trio debuted with the no-nonsense EP White Noise in 2019. They recently released a new single, “Friday Night Massacre,” which begins with a Peter Gabriel “In Your Eyes” vibe, then takes off into prog rock overdrive — Katatonia meets Metallica. Saturday, July 3, 1 p.m., Candia Springs Adventure Park, 446 Raymond Road, Candia, tickets $8 for music only.

• Spy music: Band From U.N.C.L.E. is led by vocalist Gretchen Bostrom with her Silvertone & Ms. G partner Steve Coveney on guitar, with Brian Cutler and Warren Mannell on drums and bass. Expect to hear a healthy helping of ’60s rock, soul and R&B, from Stones and Beatles to Janis and Motown, along with selections from Phil Spector’s Brill Building hymn book. Wednesday, July 7, 7 p.m., Emerson Park, 6 Mont Vernon St., Milford, facebook.com/bandfromuncle.

• Winery tunes: Slurp a Seyval Blanc slushie and enjoy music from singer-songwriter Joel Cage to kick off the weekend. A veteran performer, Cage is an accomplished guitar player who won the Kerrville New Folk Competition’s top prize and played for a while in Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes. Playing solo, he brings the intensity of Pete Townshend on acoustic guitar, with Chris Smither’s lyrical sensibility. Friday, July 2, 6 p.m., Winnipesaukee Winery, 458 Center St., Wolfeboro, winniwinery.com.

Day on the Green

Regional acts gather for Fourth fest

Necessity breeds solutions, and last summer Justin Uhlig needed one in a big way. The founder of Barnstormers Music and Art, he presented his first show in 2015. It starred the pirate punk Jonee Earthquake Band and a bunch of local acts, including Uhlig’s own Yelloyüth.

He’s been at it ever since, often teaming up with Seacoast arts collective Wrong Brain to throw colorful all-day festivals at venues in New Hampshire and Maine. The semi-constant home is Stone Church in Newmarket, but Barnstormers shows have also happened in Manchester, at the now closed Bungalow Bar, and Penuche’s, when it was located on Hanover Street.

Barnstormers Music and Art was created with a goal of organizing a frequently disparate regional scene into something more distinct, Uhlig explained in a recent phone interview — and giving it a stamp.

“Local bands, a lot of them, come and go, change members and names, and have a hard time establishing a brand,” he said. “I incorporate music and art, and when people see the name Barnstormers, they know it’s going to be a good time.”

When the pandemic threatened to derail an outdoor event on a 70-acre lawn close to his home in Epping, Uhlig devised a clever workaround. He built an FM transmitter, then wired it through the soundboard, and staged a drive-in show. Unlike similar offerings at Tupelo Music Hall and Swanzey’s Drive-In Live, patrons listened to the music in their cars, through the vehicle sound system.

“I wanted to put on a show with a live feel where people felt safe, and if they chose to, they could commingle,” Uhlig said. “It went really well, with about 150 people spread out. Some of them camped, there were a bunch of bands, fireworks and a barbecue. We had a good time celebrating Independence Day.”

Though distancing restrictions are gone this year, the throwback technology remains — along with the name. Live at the Drive-In will feature a number of performers from the Concord/Manchester area, along with some Seacoast bands.

Strange Language is a progressive rock band based in Merrimack.

“Two guitarists, really fantastic,” Uhlig said, noting that they’re currently recording a new album at Blackheart Sound in Manchester. “Really fun band to watch, this is their first gig since before Covid.”

Odd Fellow’s Way has a new name, Saint Mary’s Vandals, but the same raucous sound.

“They’re a band of street punks,” Uhlig said, “that make you want to drink a beer and dance around, maybe bump into each other a little bit while you’re dancing.”

Sauce on the Side has a throwback punk vibe going.

“They’re young, but with a real Misfits style,” Uhlig said. “Definitely an up and comer, the next generation in my opinion, along with Take One; the guitarist in Sauce on the Side is their bass player. I had the pleasure of singing a cover of Fugazi’s ‘Waiting Room’ with them last year.”

Others on the bill include Felix Holt, Blind Drive, Dead Time, Andrew Polakow, Hansen Barlow Band, Slow Coyote, Brian Munger and ex-Catastrophic OK singer Madison West performing with a yet to be named group.

“Definitely something that people are going to want to check out,” Uhlig said of West’s band. He described their sound as “progressive rock mixed with some classic influences, but really an Alice in Chains kind of vibe. They definitely are some top-notch performers and instrumentalists.”

The event begins at noon and ends when the last note is played.

“We’re going to go till about midnight,” Uhlig said. “There’s a huge field and we’re going to have a big bonfire going all night and we’ll have some food, nice clean porta potties. It should be a really nice night to check out the stars and have a good time.”

Live at the Drive-In – An Independence Day Soiree
When: Saturday, July 3, 7:30 p.m.
Where: 25 Hedding Road, Epping
Tickets: $20 per carload at eventbrite.com

Featured photo: Sauce on the Side. Courtesy photo.

At the Sofaplex 21/07/01

Good On Paper (R)

Iliza Shlesinger, Ryan Hansen.

Also Margaret Cho, who is absolute perfection here. Andrea (Shlesinger, who also wrote this movie based on a story from her real life) is a comedian trying to break into acting and, while appearing to kill it on stage every night, seems to be floundering a bit in moving her career where she wants it to go. After what she calls one of the worst auditions of her life, Andrea boards a New York-to-L.A. flight and finds herself sitting next to Dennis (Hansen), a charming, funny and smart man who manages to be all of those things while also mentioning that he went to Yale, works for a hedge fund and has a model girlfriend.

Andrea and Dennis hit it off, in a friend-y kind of way, and she invites him to her comedy show. He comes and they hang out even more, drinking at the bar owned by Margot (Cho), Andrea’s close friend. As Andrea explains in a (remarkably not annoying) voiceover, she never particularly finds Dennis attractive but she enjoys his company and they become friends, though the look on Dennis’ face always suggests he wants more.

This movie doesn’t go where you think it will go but I like how this story comes together and I like how it treats its female characters, Andrea and Margot but also Serrena (Rebecca Rittenhouse), an actress Andrea resents and compares herself to. While there is some movie wackiness, there is the sheen of real human beings in crazy situations here and I like that one of the themes of this movie is “trust yourself and your own abilities and instincts,” which makes the movie work for me even when it’s not uproariously funny. Shlesinger, whom I know mostly from her Netflix standup specials, is solid here giving us a character who is likeable but believable. Hansen, whom I still mostly think of from his Veronica Mars role, is exquisitely well-cast. B Available on Netflix.

Fatherhood (PG-13)

Kevin Hart, Lil Rel Howery.

Also Alfre Woodard, Deborah Ayorinde, Paul Reiser, DaWanda Wise, Anthony Carrigan and Melody Hurd playing Maddie, the young daughter of Hart’s Matt.

Matt and Liz (Ayorinde) are sent to the hospital for an emergency Cesarean, which is how Maddy comes into the world. But just a short time after her birth, Liz has a pulmonary embolism and dies and a grief-stricken Matt suddenly finds himself as a single father. He appreciates the help of his mother, Anna (Thedra Porter), and his mother-in-law, Marion (Woodard), and is even happier when they leave, even if he’s not sure how to fold and unfold the stroller or what to do when his infant daughter won’t ever stop crying.

After watching Matt adjust to those tough first months, the movie jumps forward to when Maddy is 5 and chafing at the rules of her strict Catholic school and Matt is just beginning to consider dating. How does he balance his own needs with hers? How does he know what’s best for her?

Though Hart is still funny here and there are still moments of humor in even some of the saddest scenes, this feels like the most stripped down I’ve seen him. He gives a good performance, perfectly capturing that parental blend of dizzying love, bone-deep exhaustion and the constant sense that you’re probably failing at something. It’s a more nuanced kind of performance than Hart gives in his broader comedies and he is able to make his character a recognizable real person. The same is true for the supporting cast, particularly Woodard, whose Marion turns her grief about her daughter into a ferocity about Maddy that even she seems to realize isn’t always about Maddy’s best interest.

Fatherhood is an engaging dramady with performances that make it enjoyable despite the movie’s sadder elements. B Available on Netflix

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