The 51st Annual Mystic Outdoor Art Festival Jury and the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce this years winning artists. The 51st Annual Mystic Outdoor Art Festival took place on Saturday and Sunday, August 9th and 10th, 2008 along the streets of downtown historic Mystic. 285 international artists and craftspeople participate in this annual event showcasing over 100,000 pieces of artwork.

For more information about the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival contact the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce at 860.572.9578.

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It’s time for Labor Day cook-outs and Chef Aiman Saad of The Longhouse at Mohegan Sun shares his top five grilling tips. Learn how to grill like a pro and test out Chef Saad’s tips with his exclusive Chimichurri Steak Recipe.

1. Choose The Right Steak: First, choose a steak that is well-marbled. Try to pick out one that has thin strands of fat that run through the meat. The strands will increase the steak’s flavor and tenderness. Second, look for a bright red color. The bright red color will ensure the steak’s freshness. Finally, find the right cut of meat. The best cuts for grilling are: Ribeyes, NY Strip Steaks, Porterhouse and Filets. These cuts are naturally tender and can be cooked quickly.

2. Season The Steak Properly: To season the steak properly, utilize kosher salts and avoid finer salts. Also, use fresh ground pepper and season the steak adequately by taking more time on seasoning thick cuts.

3. Place Steak Out At Room Temperature Before Cooking: After seasoning the steaks, let them sit out at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. This will allow the seasonings to absorb into the steak. The seasoned steaks can also be refrigerated overnight.

4. Cook Steak At The Proper Temperature: Use medium high heat; test your grill by placing your hand 2 inches over the cooking surface. You should be able to keep your hand there for 3-4 seconds. This high temperature will ensure that a proper crust will be formed on the steak.

5. Rest Your Steak After Cooking: Allowing your steak to “rest” or cool down for a couple of minutes will allow the hot liquids inside the steak to evenly redistribute.

Test out these tips with Chef Saad’s Tomato and Olive Oil-Rubbed Bone-in Ribeye with Chimichurri, one of his exclusive recipes often on the menu at The Longhouse.

Tomato & Olive Oil Rubbed Ribeye with Chimichurri Recipe

Steak Ingredients:

1 Bone-in Rib Chop
1/2 Tbsp Kosher Salt
1/2 Tbsp Fresh Ground Black Pepper
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Ripe Tomato (Beefsteak or Hot House)

Prepare the grill. Then, squeeze the juice and seeds out of an over-ripened tomato. Mix juice and seeds with Salt, Pepper, and Olive Oil. Next, rub the steak with the mixture and leave on for 20 minutes at room temperature. Remove from mixture and grill the steak to desired doneness. Lastly, top with Chimichurri.

Chimichurri Ingredients:

3/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Red Onions, Minced
1 Clove Garlic, Smashed and Minced
1/4 Cup Scallions, Minced
1 Tsp Habanaro, Minced
4 Tbsps Fresh Cilantro, Chopped
2 Tbsps Fresh Basil, Chopped
2 Tbsps Fresh Oregano, Chopped
2 Tbsps Fresh Parsley, Chopped
1 Tbsp Paprika, Smoked
3 Tbsps White Vinegar
3 Tbsps Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Tbsp Salt
1 Tbsp Black Pepper

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story & photos
by Christopher Aninno

On Friday, August 1 at Washington Park, Groton, residents gathered to celebrate Groton Day. Gabriel’s Karate, Groton Utilities, and the City of Groton Fire and Police Departments gave special demonstrations. There were games for the kids and free food and miniature golf for everyone, but the highlight of the event was the presentation of the Jacqueline Nixon Community Service Award.

Out of 25 applicants, Sarah Stanley was honored with the prestigious award. Sarah’s love for helping people shows in her work. When she isn’t volunteering at Fairview Odd Fellows Home, she is a Girl Scout leader, and she assists any way she can with the Groton Parks and Recreation Department. “I am very thankful for getting this award. It really means a lot to me and my family,” said Sarah.

Originally, the honor was called the Community Service Award, but was renamed posthumously  to commemorate the spirit of first recipient, Jacqueline Nixon. Jackie passed away in 2004 after a long fight with cancer. The award helps remind Groton residents that you should always try to help your neighbors. Jackie made many contributions to the Groton community, but she is best known for operating the Groton Food Pantry for over 20 years. “Jackie Nixon set the bar for future recipients based on the good work she did for our community,” said Deb Patrick, City Clerk, Groton.

Past recipients of the award are Earle A. Williams, Robert Leeney, E. Marion Orkney, and Lillian Hansen.

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ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Impatience with those who don’t keep up with you can cause resistance, which, in turn, can lead to more delays. Best to be helpful and supportive if you want results.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) A surprise announcement from a colleague could put you on the defensive. Gather your facts and respond. You’ll soon find the situation shifting in your favor.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Time spent away from a project pays off with a new awareness of options you hadn’t considered before. Weigh them carefully before deciding which to choose.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Consider confronting that personal conflict while there’s still time to work things out. A delay can cause more problems. A longtime colleague might offer to mediate.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) Some emerging matters could impede the Lion’s progress in completing an important project. Best advice: Deal with them now, before they can create costly delays.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) Your aspect continues to favor an expanding vista. This could be a good time to make a career move, and taking an out-of-town job could be a good way to do it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) Disruptive family disputes need to be settled so that everyone can move on. Avoid assuming this burden alone, though. Ask for — no, demand — help with this problem.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) Patience is called for as you await word on an important workplace situation. A personal circumstance, however, could benefit by your taking immediate action.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec.21) Don’t lose confidence in yourself. Those doubters are likely to back off if you demand they show solid proof why they think your ideas won’t work.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan.19) A temporary setback might cause the usually sure-footed Goat some unsettling moments. But keep going. The path ahead gets easier as you move forward.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) There’s welcome news from the workplace. There also could be good news involving a relationship that has long held a special meaning for you.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) You might still need to cut some lingering ties to a situation that no longer has the appeal it once held. In the meantime, you can start to explore other opportunities.

BORN THIS WEEK: Your sense of what’s right can inspire others if you remember not to push too hard to make your case. Moderation works best for you.

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