2019 Last Minute Gift Guide

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C2 Friday, December 20, 2019

Last Minute Gift Guide

Roswell Daily Record

Last-minute gifts can be found downtown

By Alison Penn Roswell Daily Record

Finding those last-minute gifts can be tricky, but local business owners are ready to help.

Kathy Lay, executive director of MainStreet Roswell, said shoppers can find the assistance they need in both new and more established downtown businesses, since small businesses are often more service-focused than other shopping options. “... They will be surprised if they are willing to look inside the doors and see what’s in the downtown district because we do have some real unique, handmade things you can’t just get off the rack,” Lay said.

“You’ve got business owners that are willing to look for what you need, help you ... and it’s just extraordinary. There’s some really nice, warm and wonderful people that are in the downtown district — and those small business owners that are so friendly and so helpful.”

Lay encourages shoppers to interact with owners and ask about specials, or free gift wrapping.

Aliens and more

An abundance of aliens and Roswell specific souvenirs can be found in several of the downtown shops from T-shirts to little grey men figurines wearing Santa hats. Alien Invasion at 105 N. Main St., Alien Zone at 216 N. Main St., Gus & Lucy’s Place at 110 W. First St., Invasion Station at 600 N. Main St., Lava2Shop at 313 N. Main St. and Third Rock From the Sun at 204 N. Main St. are some of the places to go with

Alison Penn Photo

Roswell native Betty Young is window shopping at She’s a Dandy at 302 N. Main St. Young, who dressed for the occasion in a festive vest, said downtown has lots of options for potential gifts. these souvenirs.

Alien Jerky — at 209 N. Main St. — is a hybrid store that offers edible gifts like jerky, local and novelty coffee and stuffed olives and also items like winter slippers and shirts. Rachel Robey and Dominic Batista said they are offering “his and her gift baskets” — “his” made from ammo cans and “hers” made of decorative metal baskets — that shoppers can choose to fill with a wide variety from the store.

At 426 N. Main St.,

Roswell Visitors Center offers a free and festive alien photo opportunity as well as Roswell merchandise including pins, mugs, shirts, hats and more. Riley Weichmann, information specialist at the visitors center, said she also sends tourists to the gift shop in the International UFO & Museum Center at 114 N. Main St. if they ask for more aliens.

Weichmann’s personal recommendation for last-minute gifts is the gift shop inside the Ros-

well Museum and Art Center at 1011 N. Richardson Ave. She said this gift shop offers Christmas ideas, stocking stuffers and more.

Other gifts

Southwest regional gifts can be found at She’s a Dandy at 302 N. Main St., which offers custom shirts and other wearables, and Aztec Imports at 104 S. Main St. has food items and home decor. At Dulceria Alegria, Karena Mendoza, one of the owners, said their

Mexican imports and candy could be used for stocking stuffers.

Jake Thompson, barista at Stellar Coffee at 315 N. Main St., listed off gift cards, T-shirts, stickers, mugs and thermoses, art and pottery as some possible gift options from the coffeeshop. He also said the shop sells whole bean and ground coffee, tea in bulk and baked goods.

If you need to find a gift for your boss, co-workers or employees, Tascosa Office Supplies at 321 N. Main St. has things for

your desk or office. Business Notions, 304 N. Main St., also offers custom printed shirts.

Gifts for pets can also be found at the stores such as treats, collars, soaps and more if you ask.

Home decor, fresh flowers, arrangements and items unique to each store can be found at Apple Blossom Shop at 309 N. Main St. and Barringer’s Blossom Shop at 314 N. Main St.

See GIFTS, Page C6

2019 Last Minute Gift Guide

Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barbara Beck General Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SaraLei Fajardo Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Dilmore Advertising Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manny Gonzalez Sales Representatives. . . . . Melanie Page, Melissa Page Ad Designers . . . . . . . Sandra Martinez, Mary Morgan Composing Director/Cover Design . . . . . . Aric Loomis Circulation Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Dishman Managing Editor/Pagination. . . . . . . . . . . . Misty Choy Contributing writers. . . . . . Alison Penn, John Dilmore Photographers . . . . . . . . Alison Penn, Christina Stock

Alison Penn Photo

At the Visitors Center at 426 N. Main St., Riley Weichmann, information specialist, stands near the festive alien photo-op area and holds the special “campfire” mug.

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Last Minute Gift Guide

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C4 Friday, December 20, 2019

Last Minute Gift Guide

Roswell Daily Record

CASA offers safe, happy holidays for children, families

By Alison Penn Roswell Daily Record

W

ishing others “safe and happy holidays” is a common practice during this season and throughout the year for Chaves County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), which provides opportunities for safety and services for families and children in need.

Carrie-Leigh Cloutier, CASA chief executive officer, a CASA team of 38 people and six CASA dogs work year-round in their mission to be a voice for children and families experiencing hardship who are involved in foster care or the judicial system.

“The holidays are always an incredibly difficult time for our CASA families,” Cloutier said. “Throughout a year we serve thousands and thousands of people, but at Christmas, we are particularly dealing with about 400 super high-risk kids that are in danger of going into foster care, that are in foster care — teenagers that are just living from couch to couch, homeless families — and trying to create opportunities for them where they’re safe.

“But this time of year, the stresses, the weather, the lack of money, the pressures on families — they place kids at higher risk of abuse and so we’re dealing with many more kids and we’re doing everything we can to relieve trauma in the families. Part of that is helping to make Christmas a special time and this community is always really good at delivering ...”

CASA recently comp l e t e d i t s a n n u a l h o liday toy drive — and physical donations, that are brand-new and unwrapped, can be given to CASA year-round, and can be dropped off on the first floor, or the offices on the third floor, at 500 N. Main St. in the Sunwest Centre. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Fridays.

For donation ideas, CASA is registered on Amazon and at Target.

Cloutier said diapers for all ages and wipes are always needed, since families may have to “choose between food and dia pers.”

Coziness and warmth are synonymous with the winter holidays, and donations to CASA can also include space heaters, bedding and blankets, pajamas or coats.

“When the community gives to us, it bottom-line helps keep children safe, children who would otherwise be abused, or raped, or live on the streets, or

Zia, Chaves County CASA dog, sits by the fire at the CASA office at 500 N. Main St. go hungry,” she said. “We have all these services to make sure these kids are safe and it works.”

Already, this season, Cloutier said the local community has been “incredibly generous” and has “blessed” CASA — from involvement with the annual Winter Wonderland event on Nov. 22, to the recent donation for the “CASA Store.”

On Dec. 4, Sam’s Club, represented by Carroll Caudill, outgoing club manager Wendell Cockrell, and new club manager Araceli Rodriguez

presented a $25,000 check to Chaves County CASA staff. Attendees of the event sipped hot chocolate and munched on treats before walking into the new store, which is decorated with vibrant chalk art by Karen Sifuentes, CASA client service representative.

Out of 600 Sam’s stores nationwide, Roswell’s Sam’s Club was awarded the Helen R. Walton Award Community Leadership Award, named after Walmart founder Sam Walton’s wife, for their associates’ commu-

nity service and charitable works. Carroll Caudill, a retired employee and actively involved community volunteer, selected CASA to be the recipient of the funds.

Fulfilling a dream throughout the program’s 32-year history, Cloutier said these funds will be used for the CASA Store, which will provide free clothing, food, toys and more for CASA clients in need. She said the store will offer “emergency clothes” for children in foster care or even rape victims when their clothes

cast-offs ... our CASA kids deserve new things.

People forget that.”

Monetary donations are also accepted, Cloutier said, for CASA to cover “emergency needs” and services for CASA kids and families. Donations can be made online at casakids.org/donate.

Checks and cash are also accepted and can be mailed to P.O. Box 2131 Roswell, NM 88202.

“Every penny donated stays in this community and goes directly to services, so that can mean advocacy in court. It can mean helping a suicidal teenager. It can mean helping a teenager that’s homeless find a home. It can mean anything, but my incredible staff really makes this happen.”

Final numbers were not available yet for the WinAlison Penn Photo ter Wonderland auction, but Cloutier said there was a large donation — a need to be taken for evi- bid for a tree to support dence. the CASA dog program.

“The beauty of this She estimates that covstore is that it’s gonna ering the cost of the six allow us to have things dogs, paying their hanprepared so that kids who have literally not even d l e r s , i s m o r e t h a n clothes on their backs $100,000 annually.

Almost like Santa’s can have not just basics, reindeer, the dogs help but they can have a dufdeliver gifts and attend fel bag,” Cloutier said.

“They can have a blanket, events. Cloutier said the they can have a few pairs dogs are ready and availof clothes, and hygiene able to support kids in products — things they case of crisis at all times.

“This community is need in order to survive, but also to survive with good,” Cloutier said. “This dignity so it’s not cast- community loves to give offs. and people love to give at “These kids have had Christmas ...”

Pictured is the CASA store after Sam’s Club representatives presented a $25,000 check to Chaves County CASA staff.

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Last Minute Gift Guide

Roswell Daily Record

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Crunch time: Shop local, and keep charities in mind

ime’s running out.

Now, there’s an awful thought.

Hearing that statement out of context, one could assume all sorts of ominous things, some of them downright frightening.

It certainly doesn’t sound Christmas-y in the way most of us think of Christmas. But here we are.

And within the proper context — right now: the last week or so before Christmas, the real stretch run — that phrase, “Time’s running out,” is as much a part of the holidays as “Tis the season,” “Deck the halls” and “The most wonderful time of the year.” Ho, ho, ho.

This time of year, many of us begin to feel the pressure.

If the details of that holiday get-together have yet to be finalized, time’s running out. The oldest generations of our families, veterans of decades of Christmases past — even some of them begin to sweat it, and who can blame them?

By the same token, if you have holiday shopping left undone, well ... time’s really running out.

We can’t help with your family get-together, but the Daily Record has compiled this Last-Minute Gift Guide to help with your down-tothe-wire shopping.

John Dilmore Editor’s Notes It focuses on what our local Roswell merchants have to offer. No surprise there.

As we wrote last month, when there was a little more time left on the clock: “The holidays are among the most important times of year for many (local businesses), and their success can have a trickle-down effect throughout the community year-round. ...

“It’s the local business, not the online mega-retailer, that will sponsor a community’s youth sports teams, participate in a toy drive or a canned food drive, perhaps even help build a ramp so an elderly or disabled person can access their home more easily.

“Local businesses and their employees contribute to their communities in ways both large and small.

It’s their community, after all — not just some ZIP code from which purchases are being made.

“Big picture — a stronger, more vibrant community, jobs — the support we

give local businesses comes back to all of us, making the place we call home a better place to live.”

Local merchants are also, well, local: right around the corner — so no need to factor in shipping times, and possible delays. If you want a gift delivered right, take a cue from Santa: deliver it yourself.

The last-minute aspect can sap some of the enjoyment from the process if you let it. But don’t let it.

Take a friend. Make a day of it.

Out shopping in Roswell, you’ll see people you know — including those manning the counters of local retailers. Shopping local supports the local economy, which benefits us all. On a personal level, you’re supporting friends, neighbors, perhaps even family.

Money spent locally helps secure and create local jobs.

Armed with this guide, a little hard work, maybe some ingenuity, we think readers will have all they need to check the final names off their shopping lists — with a sense that they’ve helped support the community along the way.

And on that note, once you’ve taken care of you and yours, think of people whose concerns this time of year are more pressing.

This time of year, the giving season, is important for charities.

Just as time is running out on the shopping season, the giving season is nearing an end as well.

And just as the typical holiday shopping season was shortened this year by about a week — because of the later-than-usual Thanksgiving — the giving season, too, was compressed.

It’s led to a potential shortfall many charities are scrambling to address.

Again, keep them in mind.

Giving of any kind feels good. That’s why we do it.

But spending locally — with local merchants who help keep our economy humming, or local charities that help the needy in our town — has an added benefit.

Sure, every holiday season, the clock does eventually tick down to zero.

But when we focus on local spending, giving, we can see the benefits in the world around us every day, year-round. Time never runs out on that.

——— John Dilmore is editor of the Roswell Daily Record.

He can be reached at editor@rdrnews.com. The views expressed in this column are those of the author.

Gonzales family giving to continue

Friday, December 20, 2019

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30 ways to spread holiday cheer

Metro Creative Services

The holidays are marked by various gatherings of friends and family, decadent foods, cocktails, traveling and gift exchanges.

The National Retail Federation says consumers will spend an average of $967 during the holiday season.

However, the joy of the holidays also is about all of the memorable experiences that tend to make the season so beloved.

With that in mind, here are 30 ways to make the holiday season that much more merry.

1. Visit with an elderly or housebound neighbor and share conversation.

2. Donate gently used or new toys to a charity.

3. Research the history of the holiday and share it with people you care about.

4. Make handmade Christmas tree ornaments.

5. Donate money to a charity or other good cause.

6. Encourage “pay it forward” movements in your community. Start by doing something simple like buying a coffee for a complete stranger.

7. Feed birds facing the cold, winter weather.

8. Ride or walk around the neighborhood to look at decorated houses.

9. Make a fire in a fire pit in the yard and toast marshmallows while sipping hot chocolate.

10. Binge watch holiday movies with a friend.

11. Attend the concert of a children’s choir.

12. Help a friend decorate his or her home.

13. Host a tree-trimming party.

14. Schedule a day for baking cookies.

15. Sing Christmas carols at a nursing home.

16. Put together care packages of items and send them to troops overseas.

17. Share the holidays with a military family whose spouse is in service and can’t make it home.

18. Offer to shop for someone who is homebound due to age, a chronic illness or injury.

19. Visit a large city to look at Christmas window displays.

20. Buy and hang real mistletoe — and use it.

21. Make a new friend and invite him or her to a holiday party for the first time.

22. Babysit a newborn so his or her parents can get errands done or just catch up on rest.

23. Volunteer at a soup kitchen.

24. Share the religious traditions of your holiday with someone of a different faith.

25. If weather permits, go sledding, build a snowman or have a snowball fight.

26. Share favorite memories at family holiday dinners.

27. Remember a deceased loved one with a special tribute.

28. Construct a gingerbread house.

29. Teach someone how to make a cherished family recipe.

30. Surprise a distant relative with an impromptu visit.

Paying it forward

Alison Penn Photo

Mary Gonzales, second from right, has announced that her family will be having a Christmas toy drive. Details on the time and place were still being determined. For more information, or donations needed, Gonzales can be reached at 575-6247559. Pictured, from left, are Nathaniel Paredes, Monique Sanchez, Gonzales and Issac Dominguez at Roswell High School when students collected canned goods for the annual Thanksgiving dinner.

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C6 Friday, December 20, 2019

Last Minute Gift Guide

Roswell Daily Record

Gifts Continued from Page C2

Clothing and more

Alison Penn Photo

Dominic Batista and Rachel Robey show off their “naughty” chocolate coal and “nice” soft peppermint sticks as they unpack their holiday inventory at Alien Jerky at 209 N. Main St.

For gifts to wear, Once Again Consignment at 207 N. Main St. has a selection of Christmas sweaters, which can be purchased for the trendy sweater parties for work or even holiday photos, in addition to their handbags, jackets and other accessories. Paris Bridal at 106 S. Main St., Casa Bella Boutique at 303 N. Main St., and Downtown Chic Boutique at 116 S. Main St. offer other wearable gifts — from formal gowns to accessories.

Mawaika McDaniel works at Once Again and said the store has “a little bit of something for everybody” like blankets that look like burritos to wooden jewelry. In her own life, gift cards from local businesses are McDaniel’s favorite things to give as gifts to introduce fellow Roswellites to options they may be unaware of.

A variety of jewelry can be found from Bullock’s Jewelry at 215 N. Main St. to Daddy-Daughter Shell Art’s handmade offerings at 118 S. Main St., as well as other shops.

Crystals and gem jewelry can be found at Ancient of Days at 127 N. Main St. and True Presence, a new store next to Stellar Coffee.

Rafael Alvarez, owner of True Presence, said his store offers New Age and spiritual gifts like incense, tapestries and other items. His store is co-owned and inhabited with his mother who sells alien memorabilia, toys, blankets and more. Alvarez said he likes to give Stellar gift cards and also enjoys receiving gift cards.

Entertainment and health

Alison Penn Photo

Mawaika McDaniel holds one of the many holiday-themed sweaters that could be potential last-minute gifts at Once Again Consignment, 207 N. Main St.

Baristas Rosie Reniewicki, left, and Jake Thompson list some potential gift ideas at Stellar Coffee, 315 N. Main St.

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For those that love to read or watch movies, Books Again, 200 W. Second St., offers used and like-new books, CDs, DVDs and more. Many of the alien shops have UFO-related books and other subjects can be found at some of the antique stores, which sometimes have games or movies, too.

Stardust Antiques, Arts, & Artifacts at 208 N. Main St., and Roswell Resale Emporium at 314 N. Richardson Ave. are places to look for collectibles, nostalgic items, antiques and more.

Arts and crafts-related gifts can be found at Calico Cow at 311 N. Main St., Imagine That! at 317 N. Main St. and Main Street Arts / The Gallery at 233 N. Main St., which offer everything from quilts to art classes, depending on the store.

Health-oriented gifts like supplements can be found at Downtown Nutrition at 113 E. Third St. and Sol Juice & Supplements at 305 N. Main St., which also offers gift cards.

Several of the stores are offering gifts and food baskets that owners and employees can tell you about. Some stores have greeting and holiday cards that can go along with gifts if one is needed at the last minute.

As of today, there is less than a week until Christmas to find those gifts. The stores and suggested gift ideas in this story are only some of the options that downtown Roswell has to offer.

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Last Minute Gift Guide

Friday, December 20, 2019

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Winter gifts and holiday cheer

Christina Stock Photos Winter gifts and holiday cheer At the 37th annual Christmas Fantasy Arts & Crafts Fair at the Roswell Convention & Civic Center, the public was able to purchase a variety of arts and crafts — from winged snowmen to Santo Domingo tribe jewelry and candy.

Mary Benevidez and Joeba Benevidez, of the Santo Domingo tribe, were back in Roswell after several years’ absence.

Flamingos on a wreath A wide variety of gifts and even flamingo wreaths were on sale at the craft fair. The best service the fair offers — next to the arts and crafts — is a gift wrapping service. The annual fair lasted only two days.

The history of Christmas stockings Metro Creative Services

on Christmas Day.

Just when the excitement of opening presents abates after the last of the packages under the Christmas tree have been torn open, children and adults alike may discover that there are more treats to be had nestled inside of stockings hung on the mantle. The hanging of Christmas stockings is a tradition with an extensive history. Several legends attribute the hanging of stockings to different people or events.

Here is a look at some of the stories that have made Christmas stockings so popular.

Dutch heritage

St. Nicholas Day

Rather than hanging stockings on Christmas, many countries celebrate Saint Nicholas Day on December 6, and this is when stockings are proudly left out for treats. The small, inexpensive trinkets are later unwrapped and enjoyed

One tradition says that, in 16th century Holland, children kept their clogs filled with straw in front of the hearth for Santa’s reindeer to find.

They also left treats for Santa Claus. In return, Santa would leave gifts in the clogs. Over time, stockings were swapped out for clogs.

Merchant’s family story

A popular tale tells the story of a merchant, his wife and three daughters.

After the wife falls ill and dies, the man becomes devastated and squanders all of his wealth on frivolous things to mask his sadness.

When it comes time for the daughters to marry, the man does not have money for a dowry. St. Nicholas hears of the plight and knows the man would be too proud to accept charity. There-

Santa leads the way

fore, St. Nicholas anonymously tosses three bags of gold coins down the chimney. The man’s daughters had done the laundry prior and left their stockings hanging by the fireplace to dry.

The gold landed in the stockings, thus starting the Christmas stocking tradition.

Italian good witch

One stocking story does not attribute the tradition to Santa, but to a kind-hearted Italian witch named “La Befana.” La Befana arrives on a broomstick the night of Jan. 5 and fills the stockings of good children with sweet treats and toys.

Bad children are awarded lumps of coal.

La Befana is also credited with being the old woman who the wise men ask for directions to Christ’s manger in the Christ child’s story.

After turning down an offer to accompany them, La Befana later carried gifts in search of Christ.

Christina Stock Photo

The Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico’s annual Christmas Open House Extravaganza is a favorite tradition in town. Roswell families and friends of the event came to see the decorations, meet Santa and explore the museum and archive buildings on Dec. 8.

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Last Minute Gift Guide

Roswell Daily Record

Give a shelter pet a new home for Christmas

Submitted Photos

The Home for the Holidays adoption event held recently at Roswell Ford with Roswell Animal Services and Friends of Roswell Animals (FORA) went well, with one puppy and one kitty finding new homes. Pictured above right is one of the animals adopted at the event, here she is at home with her new sibling. Give a loved one the gift of a four-legged companion. Also, FORA is always in need of foster homes to hold the animals until they are transported for rescue. For more information, call Paula Marshall-Riese at 575-317-3103.

Even Santa walks dogs

Gifts to instill a love of reading

Alison Penn Photo

Volunteers Betty Hanson, left, and Judy Glenn go through their holiday section at Books Again, run by the Friends of the Roswell Public Library, at 200 W. Second St. They said the used-book store has holiday-related books and a surplus of children’s books that could be potential gifts.

Submitted Photo

Santa walked dogs when not having his pic taken during the Home for the Holidays adoption event.

Roswell Daily Record

Last Minute Gift Guide

Friday, December 20, 2019

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Christmas Railway

Cheery with a chance of snow in Elf Town Attendees can get their hands on some ‘snow’ near the mountains in Elf Town at the Roswell Christmas Railway at Spring River Zoo, 1306 E. College Blvd. The seasonal event occurs through Dec. 28, and more information on scheduling and tickets can be found at RoswellChristmasRailway.com.

Staying warm in Elf Town

Cartoon drawn by Eddie Macias

Alison Penn Photos

Pictured is Azulay Alicia Vargas, who is two months old, as family members make sure she’s cozy while visiting the mountains in Elf Town at the Roswell Christmas Railway.

On track to the Christmas Village

The train pulls into St. Nicholas Station to drop off and pick up passengers at the Roswell Christmas Railway at Spring River Zoo, 1306 E. College Blvd.

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Roswell Daily Record

Christmas Railway...

So much more than a train ...

Top left, a lifesize nutcracker guards the door to Santa Claus’ house at the Roswell Christmas Railway, occurring now through Dec. 28 at the Spring River Zoo, 1306 E. College Blvd.

Continuing clockwise, lights from the Christmas Maze; and a Roswell Christmas Railway conductor, wearing a red coat, gives instructions to passengers at “St. Nicholas Station.”

Below the conductor photo, ‘Plaza de Navidad’ is a new addition to the Roswell Christmas Railway and is decorated for a traditional New Mexican Christmas with papel picado, the colorful paper banners, and luminarias, brown paper bags folded down that usually hold a candle and are weighed down with sand. Tacos and tamales can be bought and performances by local schools and other groups — music, dance and more — can be found at the stage near the plaza.

Above, kids can meet polar bears and even a penguin at the Roswell Christmas Railway.

Roswell Daily Record

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Friday, December 20, 2019

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Above, Berkeley Moseler, 3, and Collins Moseler, 2, tell Santa Claus what they want for Christmas at the Roswell Christmas Railway during its fourth season at Spring River Zoo at 1306 E. College Blvd. The seasonal event occurs through Dec. 28, and more information on scheduling and tickets can be found at RoswellChristmasRailway.com.

Left, a penguin meets Jennifer and Jake Mitchell, who are from Artesia.

Right, A display of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus can be seen in the Nativity Virtual Reality tent at the Christmas Railway.

Left, the snow play area and mountain light show in Elf Town at the Roswell Christmas Railway.

Behind the mountains, another new addition called ‘The Christmas Light Maze,’ made of more than 100,000 lights, can be seen.

Alison Penn Photos

Thank you for allowing LaGrone Funeral Chapel to serve your families for Generations

2601 W. BERRENDO RD., ROSWELL, NM PHONE: (575) 622-2242 FAX (575) 622-2008 Open 7am-6pm M-F email: generationsoflearning@yahoo.com

900 S. Main St. • Roswell, NM 575-623-2323 www.lagronefuneralchapels.com

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Chickpeas, the unknown legume

By Christina Stock Roswell Daily Record Chances are, you have encountered chickpeas — which are also known as chick pea or garbanzo beans. This high protein legume is the base of humus. The mediterranean dip that has become popular throughout the world.

While the legume itself has been popular in the mediterranean area since Biblical times, in the U.S. it is only lately becoming more and more popular. Thanks to the new fad diets that are based on high protein consumption.

I encountered the delicious little beans in Normandy in a stew that called for poids chiche. The French name for chickpeas. I fell in love with the nutty flavor and the more I learned how to prepare it, the more I enjoyed the versatility of the chickpea. Grinding it down, you can use the cream as a healthy version to thicken sauces instead of using flour or cornstarch.

The chickpea works well for gluten-free cakes — just put the chickpeas with the eggs in a food processor and add the creamy sauce into your cake as base for the batter.

The chickpea by itself is not only rich in protein, but in fiber, potassium, B vitamins, iron, magnesium and selenium. A combination that the World Health Organization says supports heart health.

One of my favorite recipes is chickpea salad. I have a chickpea base and — depending on the season and what I have in the fridge — I add various cheeses, shrimp or meat to it.

Here is my chickpea salad base: Serves 4, or as a main course 2 Ingredients: 1/2 cup good, coldpressed olive oil

Roswell Daily Record

Tips for baking better Christmas cookies

Metro Creative Services

Cookies and other baked treats are everywhere come the holiday season. It’s not uncommon to give cookies as gifts or arrive at holiday gatherings with cakes and other decadent desserts.

Cookies are a classic holiday treat, and some families even build entire traditions around baking Christmas cookies.

Novice bakers making cookies for the first time may be a little overwhelmed when perusing recipes. Baking is a science, and sometimes it takes practice to get the results just right. However, there are some tips that can help yield better, buttery bounties.

Handle butter with care

Christina Stock Photo

Chickpea salad as a versatile base. In this photo marinated steak fingers and tomato feta are added to the salad. An easy dish — even for novices in the kitchen — that is healthy and delicious as an appetizer or as a full meal.

1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard Salt/pepper 2 cans of chickpeas (you can use dried chickpeas, but I prefer the fast method) 10 cherry tomatoes or cut up Roma tomatoes Preparation: In a large bowl, whisk the vinegar with the dijon mustard until it is smooth, add the olive oil slowly and continue to whisk.

Season with the salt and pepper.

Drain the chickpea cans and add the chickpeas into the sauce. With a wood-

en spoon carefully turn the chickpeas in the sauce until they all are coated — carefully because you don’t want to mush the legumes. Add the tomatoes and mix carefully.

Now to the fun part. Here are some ideas that you can add: • Steak fingers and goat cheese or feta cheese in chunks • Fresh basil and mozzarella cheese • Cooked shrimp and fresh tarragon leafs • Salami cut in strips, almond slices and broadleaf parsley

• Ham and Swiss cheese, cut in cubes or sliced • Avocado, red onions and eggs • Kalamata olives (without the pit), bell pepper and cucumbers • Green chile, piñon nuts, sweet onions (green chile makes everything better) • Spice it up with red chile flakes in the vinaigrette and add mint, paprika, garlic and cucumber For an elegant way to serve, add the salad portions in large brandy or red wine glasses and decorate with parsley or a slice of red bell pepper.

Butter can make or break a cookie recipe, as butter is often the glue that holds the cookie together. Therefore, it is key to follow the directions carefully regarding how to handle butter.

Smithsonian.com says to leave butter at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes to properly soften it. This takes patience, but fiddling with butter too much can damage its delectable integrity. While purists may say butter is best, margarine may be acceptable if it has a high fat content; otherwise, cookies may spread out and flatten.

When it comes time to cream the butter with sugar, be sure to do so

thoroughly to incorporate air into the butter and remove the grainy texture of the sugar.

Measure flour properly

Measuring flour the right way can ensure cookies come out right.

The Cooking Channel says to spoon the flour lightly into a dry measuring cup, then level it off with a knife. Do not dip the measuring cup into the flour or tap the knife against the cup. This will pack too much flour into the measuring cup and result in dry, tough cookies.

Slow down the eggs

Add eggs one at a time to make sure each will emulsify properly with the fat in the butter.

Adding eggs en masse may cause the emulsification to fail.

Chill out

Follow recipes that call for chilling cookie dough carefully. This process is important for making sliced and shaped cookies. By chilling, the dough becomes more malleable for rolling and even slicing.

Use a bottom rack

Too much heat may compromise cookie integrity. The food experts at Delish say to try moving cookies onto a lower rack in the oven if they aren’t retaining their shape when baked. Put an empty cookie sheet on the top rack. That will block the cookies from the most intense heat that rises to the top of the oven.