The Week in Preview: November 30

Friday

Sing a new song

You had been looking forward to the return of holiday music, but the novelty of “Jingle Bell Rock” wore off pretty quickly. Refresh your musical palate at “Welcome Yule,” a free concert by Lachrimae, Franklin Pierce University’s Renaissance singers, at 7 p.m. at the Mariposa Museum at 26 Main St. in Peterborough.

Attired in period costume, Lachrimae performs medieval and Renaissance pieces to the accompaniment of traditional instruments. This evening’s program includes holiday songs that are familiar but haven’t lost their luster due to excessive radio play, such as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “In dulci jubilo,” and “The Gloucestershire Wassail.” Lachrimae’s performance is part of the museum’s First Friday program. Arrive at 5 p.m. for a special craft workshop for the kids, where they’ll learn how to make poinsettias, and enjoy a reception for the new exhibit of Huichol art from 6-7 p.m.

Although admission is free, donations to the museum are welcome. Call 924-4555 or e-mail info@mariposamuseum.org for details.

Saturday

Sweet success

As we plunge headlong into the season of parties, pot lucks and bake sales, a culinary disaster or two seems inevitable. Today’s holiday, National Sachertorte Day, is a timely reminder that the best remedy for a kitchen crisis is a cool head and a dab of creativity.

In 1832, Prince Metternich, Austria’s minister of foreign affairs, ordered his kitchen staff to prepare a unique dessert for an important dinner he was hosting. Whipped cream tortes were all the rage in Viennese pastry at the time, and Metternich wanted something different that would truly impress his guests.

The prince’s chief cook was ill, so the challenge fell to his apprentice, 16-year-old Franz Sacher. Rising to the occasion, Sacher took the dessert in a completely unexpected direction.

His concoction, a slightly bitter double-layer chocolate cake connected by a thin layer of apricot jam and coated with a chocolate glaze, was a smashing success. Named in honor of its creator, the sachertorte enjoys world-wide renown and has been the signature dessert at Vienna’s Hotel Sacher, (founded by Sacher’s son Eduard) since 1876.

We hope Sacher will be an inspiration to you should the bake sale committee ask you to make something other than chocolate chip cookies. Take a deep breath and remember: a little creativity and a jar of apricot jam can go a long way.

Saturday

Charitable shopping

It may seem counterintuitive but spending money can be a very generous act. See your purchases benefit local families in need at SHARE’s 16th annual Christmas fair from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the SHARE Center at 1 Columbus Ave. in Milford.

Let the kids entertain themselves at the craft table while you peruse an assortment of fine handmade jewelry, Christmas decorations and more. Have no fear about shoddy workmanship – everything is made by professional craftspeople.

Once you’ve finished shopping, gather up the kids and have their picture taken with Santa Claus. There will be refreshments for sale as well as a baked goods table where you can buy plenty of goodies to take home.

SHARE provides assistance to people in need in the towns of Milford, Amherst, Brookline and Mont Vernon. For more information on the fair or SHARE, call 673-9898.

SHARE’s Christmas fair is part of Milford’s Jingle Downtown Holiday Stroll, which features a variety of craft fairs (with shuttle buses to take you back and forth), live music and all kinds of fun family activities. For details, visit www.milforddoit.org or call 672-4567.

Saturday-Sunday

Glassy wonders

Although it’s been years, you’re still a bit heartbroken over that lovely catseye glassie you lost in a game of marbles on the school playground. Discover handmade glass marbles that far outshine your old catseye and much more at the sixth annual Winter Glass Expo this weekend at Aaron Slater Glass at 21 W. Auburn St. in Manchester.

The expo features local glass artists Kevin Engelmann, Jason Herring, Jeff Lamy, Scott Porter and Aaron Slater, all of whom will be demonstrating their craft and offering their creations for sale. See how glass is blown and beads are lampworked while you browse a wide selection of glass jewelry, ornaments, paperweights, sculptures, and of course, marbles. Please remember not to play for keepsies with your newfound treasures – you won’t want to risk losing these beauties.

The expo is open from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and from noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served. Contact Slater at 380-3004 or AaronKSlater@hotmail.com for details.

The Week in Preview (also known as a santoskitorte) is a dessert consisting of two layers of cake connected by a layer of local events and coated with a holiday glaze by Teresa Santoski. Know of an event worthy of filling this space? Call 594-6467 or e-mail tsantoski@nashuatelegraph.com. Information should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event. Follow Teresa’s writings at www.twitter.com/TeresaInPreview.