VIDEO: Sudbury Children Enjoy Holiday Cheer at Goodnow Library

Local kids learned how to make gingerbread houses.

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VIDEO: Old-Fashion Christmas at the Hosmer House

Sudbury's historic dwelling is decorated this year with visions of past Christmases.

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Weekend Happenings

Things You Need to Know This Weekend: Dec. 25-26

Christmas church services Saturday; poetry on Sunday.

1. RELIGIOUS: Christmas Day church services Below are a list of churches in the area that may be holding Christmas Day services. Click on the links below for service details. 2. RELIGIOUS: Poetry First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington invites you to bring a poem that speaks to your soul at this boundary time between the holidays and the New Year. Readings begin at 10 a.m. 3. ART & ENTERTAINMENT: Country mix dance From 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Longfellow Club in Wayland, beginner and intermediate dance lessons will be taught, followed by an open Country Mix dance.

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Culinary Capers

The 12 Sensational Sweets of Christmas: Rolled Sugar Cookies

Recipes to enjoy during the holiday season.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the final of 12 recipes to enjoy during the Christmas season.) Well, we have arrived at our destination, the 12th sensational sweet. And although there were many to choose from, I went with the traditional sugar cookie. There are a variety of sugar cookie recipes out there for baking.  I have come to use the one below, since childhood in fact, because the proportions are just right. Resist the temptation to "over flour" the dough by adding handfuls as you roll to prevent it from sticking. Work with small portions at a time and keep the rest in the refrigerator to keep it cool for rolling. In the end, you have a better tasting product. With sugar cookies, the possibilities are endless and up to you, which is …

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Culinary Capers

The 12 Sensational Sweets of Christmas: Turtle Cheesecake

Recipes to enjoy during the holiday season.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the 11th of 12 recipes to enjoy during the Christmas season.) For the hard core sweet lover, this one's for you! The turtle cheesecake is where candy meets cake in a most successful union. Chocolate turtles are candies made from chocolate, pecans, and caramel. The name "turtle" was coined because the arrangement of the nuts sticking out from under the chocolate makes one think of a turtle. The four legs are the nuts, while the head and tail are formed by extra chocolate runoff. This cheesecake involves some time to prepare but is well worth the effort.  Aim to prepare it a day in advance of when it will be served to ensure it sets and chills appropriately. Turtle Cheesecake Ingredients    Directions For a look at …

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Culinary Capers

The 12 Sensational Sweets of Christmas: Gingerbread Cake

Recipes to enjoy during the holiday season.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the 10th of 12 recipes to enjoy during the Christmas season.) If there is one flavor synonymous with holiday taste treats, it is gingerbread.  Its tell-tale scent fills a home with hints of ginger, cinnamon, cloves and molasses.  Today, the flavor of gingerbread is featured in countless items from cookies to muffins to cocktails. Gingerbread generally refers to one of two desserts: Or The cake below is a nice idea for a holiday buffet. It can be cooked in phases and frozen, and then assembled the day of your event. Its flavor is sure to connote holiday memories for you and your guests. Gingerbread Cake Ingredients Cream Cheese Frosting Directions For a look at the finished product, click here.

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Culinary Capers

The 12 Sensational Sweets of Christmas: Chocolate Snowballs

Sweets to enjoy during the Christmas season.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the sixth of 12 recipes to enjoy during the holiday season.) Lovers of coconut, today's recipe is right up your alley.  Chocolate snowballs are easy to prepare and absolutely delectable.  If you have never made candy before, they are a nice way to start without requiring advanced techniques.  For first-time chocolate dippers, I would offer the following advice: These are great for gift giving or for satisfying your own sweet tooth. Enjoy! Chocolate Snowballs Ingredients Directions Blend condensed milk and vanilla. Slowly add powdered sugar, stirring until smooth. Stir in coconut. The mixture should be stiff. Pat mixture firmly into a greased 9- by 13- by 2-inch pan. Refrigerate until firm. In a microwave or a …

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Culinary Capers

The 12 Sensational Sweets of Christmas: Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars

Sweets for the holiday season.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the fifth of 12 recipes to enjoy during the holiday season.) Bars are a nice way to accomplish the task of a home-baked offering without having to monitor multiple trays at this very bust time of year.  This is the second bar recipe in this series.  I've decided to include because it became a staple in my recipe box about 10 years ago when I hosted a "cookie swap" in my home. My cousin Linda brought these bars and I am often asked to bring a tray to various occasions.  They are addictive.  The notion behind the cookie swap is to bake a larger than average batch, (usually about 4 to 6 dozen) of the cookie of your choosing.  They are brought to the host's home, along with multiple recipe copies and placed in a …

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