The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

The Ultimate

Holiday A publication of the Billings Area News Group

Gift Guide

Santa’s list inside: Holiday season tips Many gift card options

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Easy ‘green’ Thanksgiving ideas Thanksgiving can be less wasteful without detracting from the enjoyment and true meaning of the holiday Thanksgiving is a holiday to give thanks and share special moments with family and friends. While the original Thanksgiving might have taken place during a time when food was sparse, nowadays Thanksgiving often involves excessive amounts of food, with more food ending up in the garbage than in celebrants’ bellies.

The United States Department of Agriculture projects that Americans will throw away more than 200 million pounds of edible turkey meat this Thanksgiving holiday. And Thanksgiving typically ushers in a period of wastefulness, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says American households produce roughly 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day than during the rest of the year.

Reducing waste is a worthy goal year-round, but especially so during the holiday season. And accomplishing that goal can be done without sacrificing holiday traditions.

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se fine china when serving meals. Thanksgiving provides an opportunity to serve meals on fine china and use the silverware that has gone unused instead of disposable plates and utensils. In addition to adding a touch of elegance to meals, reusable china and silverware is less wasteful than paper plates and plastic utensils. Cloth napkins and other table linens are also more eco-friendly than paper napkins.

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ecorate using natural items. Scour the great outdoors for all-natural centerpiece materials or other items that can be turned into wreaths and garlands. Vases filled with pine cones and acorns make for beautiful, inexpensive and festive decorations.

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hop locally and organically. When shopping for Thanksgiving dinner, choose local produce, poultry and grains whenever possible. Resist the urge to buy more than you need as well. Skip some of the less-popular dishes that are used only to make the table seem full. Buy a small turkey or think about only serving turkey breasts, which tend to be the most popular cuts of the bird. Use reusable shopping bags to carry items home and reduce waste even further.

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ight candles and reduce energy consumption. During the meal, eat by candlelight and turn off lights in other areas of the home that are not in use. Rather than turning on the television, take the party outdoors and play a game of football on the front lawn.

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ave a local Thanksgiving. Start a new tradition and invite nearby friends and family over for the holiday instead of traveling long distances. According to Use Less Stuff, a resource for eco-conscious men and women, if each family reduced gasoline consumption by one gallon (roughly 20 miles), they could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one million tons.

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end home the leftovers. Send each guest home with some leftovers if you have any. This way the refrigerator isn’t left full of items that will end up uneaten. Otherwise, donate uncooked food to a local food bank. Use any scraps of vegetables in a compost pile.

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on’t let recycling fall by the wayside. Remember to recycle all applicable items. Just because it’s a holiday doesn’t mean recycling habits should be forgotten. Encourage guests to pitch in by clearly marking recycling bins.

A publication of the Billings Area News Group - 3

The origins of some beloved holiday traditions Mistletoe

Christmastime is here. The presents are being purchased and wrapped. The stockings will soon be hung on the fireplace mantle. Mistletoe is pinned above the front entryway, and poinsettias add rich color to home decor.

Tradition is integral come the holiday season. Throughout the month of December, traditions fill people’s days and comprise the many reasons why individuals decorate, celebrate and dine they way the do this time of year. But few may know the origins of some of the more beloved holiday traditions.

Christmas stockings The Christmas stockings of today may be a byproduct of various traditions. One such tradition dates back to a Dutch custom in which children would leave shoes full of food to feed St. Nicholas’ donkeys, and then St. Nicholas would leave small gifts in return.

Another origin story of Christmas stockings can be traced to the twelfth century, when nuns would leave socks full of nuts, fruit and tangerines for the poor. This is why some people still put tangerines in Christmas stockings.

Mistletoe is hung in doorways and couples who stand beneath are encouraged to share a kiss. The tradition of hanging it in the house goes back to the times of the ancient Druids. Mistletoe was thought to bring good luck to a household and ward off evil spirits. The custom of kissing under mistletoe can be traced to England. Originally, a berry was picked from the sprig of mistletoe before the person could be kissed. When all the berries had gone, there could be no more kissing.

Christmas bells Church bells ring for many special services, including Christmas mass. During Christmas midnight mass in the Catholic church, the altar bells may be rung while the priest says the “Gloria.”

Bells are part of caroling, and jingling bells are associated with sleighs and Santa’s reindeer.

Christmas is rife with traditions that date back ages.

Christmas tree Christmas Trees are everywhere this time of year. The use of evergreen trees predates Christmas and is associated with the pagan festival of Saturnalia, which celebrated the agricultural god Saturn with partying and gift-giving. During the winter solstice, green branches served as a reminder that spring would arrive anew. Germans are credited with first bringing evergreens into their homes and decorating them.

Santa Claus Santa Claus’ origin story can be traced to St. Nicholas, a Christian bishop who lived during the fourth century. St. Nicholas was very generous and gave away his fortune to help the needy. He also did various other good deeds. St. Nicholas became infamous and began to be known by various names around the world. The Dutch called him Sinter Klaas, which was eventually transformed to Santa Claus. The jolly persona came later when 20th century advertisers — especially the artists responsible for Coca-Cola ads — portrayed Santa in a red suit with a big smile.

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How to get Black Friday deals As Thanksgiving draws near, retailers begin dropping hints about their Black Friday promotions. Some stores have begun to open their doors on Thanksgiving evening, after many people have filled up on turkey and trimmings.

Smart shoppers recognize that Black Friday is a great time to find deals on holiday gifts, and following these tips can help shoppers save even more.

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egin researching early. Since many retailers begin posting information online or send out advertisements about sale items far in advance of Black Friday, shoppers should pay attention to each retailer’s offerings so they can better coordinate their shopping efforts. Cross-reference prices against other stores, including both online retailers and traditional brick-andmortar stores.

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stablish a shopping budget. It’s tempting to go out shopping with credit cards blazing, but that may lead to overspending.

Determine what you can afford and set a budget for Black Friday shopping. Establishing a budget can help you avoid impulse purchases as well.

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ook for extra discounts. The early bird often gets the worm, but late shoppers also may benefit on Black Friday. Determine which times of the day stores are offering their biggest discounts.

Doorbuster sales tend to start very early, but such sales might be irrelevant if only items you do not need are being discounted.

Determine if there are any additional sales that extend throughout the day.

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ivide and conquer. Split up the shopping responsibilities so you and your family can get your shopping done quickly.

The divide and conquer approach allows you to cover more ground and ensures someone will be there to claim the best deals from various retailers.

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ress comfortably for shopping. Malls and department stores may be crowded and can be warm, so dress in layers so you can remove clothing if you get hot. You’ll probably do a good deal of walking on Black Friday, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

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ave discount codes at the ready. Many retailers now use digital apps or emails to keep in touch with customers. These same apps may enable smartphone users to search for discount codes and other coupons. Keep digital coupons handy so they can be presented quickly at checkout.

Black Friday is one of the best days of the year to land steep discounts on a variety of merchandise and services. Make the shopping trip even more successful this time around.

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The benefits to buying local this holiday season Holiday shopping dominates many people’s free time between the day after Thanksgiving and the final days before Christmas. While many people may shop ‘til they drop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, those days still account for a relatively small amount of the hundreds of billions of dollars that are spent each holiday season.

Shoppers now have a bevy of options at their disposal as they embark on holiday shopping season. Traditional in-store retailers are still around, and online shopping continues to grow in popularity with each holiday season.

But many holiday shoppers are looking to buy local this holiday season, and such a decision can pay a host of dividends for both shoppers and the communities they call home.

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uying local benefits your local economy. Studies from Civic Economics, an economics and strategics planning firm, found that independent, locally-owned retailers return a far greater percentage of their revenue into their local economies than national chain stores. One such study examined the disparity between revenue recirculation among independent, locally-owned businesses in Raleigh, North Carolina, versus four major national chains in the city. The former recirculated 51.1 percent of revenue into the local economy, while the latter recirculated less than 14 percent. Similar results were discovered in many cities, indicating that buying local not only benefits local business owners, but also the communities those owners and their customers call home.

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uying local creates jobs in your community. One of the biggest ways local business owners in Raleigh recirculated their revenue in the local economy was job creation. While national chains also create jobs, such jobs only benefit your community if the chains are located within your community. If your local mall is a considerable drive away, chances are the chains within that mall are not employing many of your fellow community members. Local businesses in your community are more likely to employ residents of your town.

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hopping local may provide access to more unique gifts. In addition to the economic benefits of buying local, shoppers

may find merchandise made by local craftsmen is more unique than mass-produced items found on the shelves of national retailers. Recipients may cherish more unique items that they cannot find on their own, and that appreciation may even spur them to visit more local retailers after the holiday season has come and gone, benefiting their own communities in so doing.

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ocal business may provide a more personal touch. Buying from national chains has its advantages, but customer service is not always one of them. Should your loved ones encounter problems with their gift that requires assistance, they might be forced to wait on the phone for extended periods of time as they and thousands of others wait for customer service representatives to answer their calls. Local businesses do not deal with nearly the volume of customers as national retailers and, therefore, are capable of addressing concerns more quickly and personally than large chains.

Buying local not only benefits small business owners, but it also pays dividends for their customers and the communities they call home.

A publication of the Billings Area News Group - 7

A quick and delicious holiday dessert The holiday season is synonymous with many things, including delicious foods. While Thanksgiving turkeys or Christmas geese will be found on many a table this holiday season, baked goods and desserts are what many people look forward to this time of year.

Holiday hosts with a lot on their plates might not have the time to prepare homemade baked goods for their guests.

Thankfully, the following recipe for “Chocolate-Strawberry Pie” from Addie Gundry’s “No-Bake Desserts” (St. Martin’s Press) can be prepared in just 15 minutes, all without turning on the oven.

Chocolate-Strawberry Pie Yields 1 pie

1 1 2 ⁄3 1 ⁄4 2

pint fresh strawberries, washed, trimmed and halved store-bought (or homemade) chocolate cookie pie crust cup sugar cup cornstarch tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1 ⁄4 teaspoon minced crystallized ginger 1 ⁄8 teaspoon ground nutmeg Pinch of kosher or sea salt 6 large egg yolks 21⁄2 cups half-and-half 6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped 1 ⁄2 tablespoon rum extract 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Additional strawberries for garnish (optional) 1. Place the strawberry halves in a single layer in the bottom of the pie crust.

2. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder, ginger, nutmeg, and salt over medium heat.

3. Whisk in the egg yolks to create a thick paste. Gradually whisk in the half-and-half until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat.

4. Add the chocolate and whisk until combined. Add the rum and vanilla extracts. Cool the mixture for 4 minutes.

5. Pour the filling over the strawberries and up to the top of the crust.

Chill the pie for 2 hours or until set.

6. Garnish with additional strawberries, if desired.

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Keep the holiday season healthy, safe and secure Ensure a happier holiday season by making safety and health a priority During the holiday season, many people do not want their thoughts to stray to anything unpleasant. Although celebrating may be the primary goal come the holiday season, individuals and families also should devote some attention to keeping the holidays safe.

Just because it’s Chanukah, Christmas or New Year’s doesn’t mean safety and security should not remain a top priority. The following guidelines can help families enjoy a holiday season that is healthy, safe and secure.

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xercise caution when decorating. Decorations can be beautiful, but they also can be hazardous if not used properly.

Overloading outlets is commonplace during the holiday season, but that can lead to home fires. Exercise caution around candles and other open flames. Pets may become tangled in wires or knock over glass ornaments. Keep delicate decorations away from harm.

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ash hands to prevent germs. As the cold weather arrives, people may spend greater periods of time indoors or in close proximity to other people. The holidays also are about greeting friends and relatives, and embracing or kissing. Do not ruin the festivities by spreading germs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the holiday season is also flu season.

The CDC recommends celebrants wash their hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds to remove germs.

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eep track of curious children. Children are enamored with the sights and sounds of the holidays and may be more curious than ever during this time of year. Things adults take for granted can be hazards to youngsters. The needles of holiday trees can cause painful cuts in the mouth and throat of a child who swallows them. Snow sprays may be harmful if the aerosol propellants are used improperly. Peanuts and popcorn used for decorating can pose potential choking hazards to young children.

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e a smart host or hostess. Alcoholic beverages and holiday revelry sometimes go hand in hand. Responsible party hosts know when a guest has had too much and will arrange safe transportation home. Because kids imitate adults, many may drink the beverages they see adults drinking. Alcohol poisoning is a real risk for children, so pay attention to youngsters no matter how young they may be.

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rotect the home. Deter home burglars when traveling for the holidays by having neighbors keep a watchful eye on your house. Use motion-sensor lights, keep up the appearance that someone is home by having mail collected, and do not advertise any travel plans on social media. Investment in a home security system if need be.

A publication of the Billings Area News Group - 11

Random facts about books that are weirdly interesting There’s nothing better than cuddling up with a good book. Books inherently offer solitude and a temporary escape from your own story. They’re basically magic. Avid readers usually have a long history with books that often either started in the womb or shortly after — thanks to parents and their incessant desire to enrich your brain. So it’s no surprise that you (and so many others) are at your happiest when you’re reading.

Even though you might be a full-fledged reading pro and know everything about all the books you’ve ever read, chances are you don’t know all the things about actual books.

• 1) There are over 129 million books in existence.

• 3) There’s a word for loving the smell of old books.

According to Google, 129,864,880 million books had been published as of 2010. That number is obviously a lot higher now.

So when you say out loud “Ugh, can’t find a good book to read,” know that you have a lot to choose from.

You guys, you know you love the smell of old books. They have the aroma of dust and a whole lot of history. Well now you can call it something. “Bibliosmia” is the word you’ve probably been searching for your whole life.

• 2) The most expensive book ever purchased was sold for $30.8 million.

Keep a lookout in the next Holiday Guide for more facts about books.

It was Codex Leicester by Leonardo Da Vinci, and it was purchased by Bill Gates, according to Business Insider. Don’t worry though, he probably made the money back within the hour.

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In its 2016 National Dining Trends Survey, Zagat found that the average reported tip across the United States is 18.9 percent. The best tippers in the country are in Boston, where the average tip is 20 percent. Next up was Philadelphia (19.9 percent) and Chicago (19.6 percent). The city where waiters and waitresses receive the lowest gratuities is San Antonio, where diners tipped an average of 17.1 percent. While Boston might be home to the best tippers, that does not mean their waiters and waitresses earn the most lucrative tips. That’s because New York City is the priciest city in which to dine out, with diners spending an average of $48.44 for each dinner out. That’s more than $12 more than the national average. So waiters and waitresses in the Big Apple likely take home more in tips than their counterparts in Beantown, even if Boston diners are percentage-wise more generous when tipping the people who take their meal orders and deliver their dinners.

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12 - Holiday Gift Guide #1 - 2017

The history of Christmas stockings 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 familiar 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.

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 on Christmas Day.

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 January 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.

Christmas stockings have become part of holiday traditions, and this beloved tradition has its own unique history.

Dutch heritage 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.

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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. Therefore, 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.

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Bring-your-own-beverage restaurants expand customer possibilities

Dining out is a luxury that many people enjoy one or more times a week. In addition to enjoying the cuisine, many patrons are lifting their glasses in a costsaving trend.

The BYOB movement, which can refer to “bring your own bottle,” “bring your own booze,” “bring your own beer,” or “bring your own beverage,” used to be limited to dining establishments without permits to sell liquor. Nowadays, many restaurants promote BYOB so their customers can feel more comfortable and customize their experiences even further.

BYOB traces its origins to strict liquor laws and high taxation that can make acquiring liquor licences prohibitive for some establishments. In New Jersey, for example, municipalities generally are allotted one liquor license per every 3,000 restaurants, although loosening those restrictions is under consideration.

Liquor licenses in New Jersey can be expensive. In the town of Montclair,

NJ, for example, such licenses may cost business owners more than $1 million.

Price tags can be similar elsewhere, like nearby Philadelphia. In the mid-1990s, BYOB operations were few and far between in the City of Brotherly Love.

Now, according to a report from the Independent Hotel, BYOB restaurants are far more common. Restaurants in cities that are close to areas with vineyards, such as San Francisco, which is a stone’s throw from the famed Napa Valley region, have long encouraged diners to bring their own bottles of wine.

BYOB stipulations also vary from restaurant to restaurant. While toting in a favorite bottle or cocktail may be free at various establishments, Food & Wine notes that some restaurants have corkage policies. This breaks down to a charge per check or even per bottle to allow patrons to enjoy their own wines.

Corkage can run anywhere from a few dollars to several hundred, depending on

the restaurant and its existing wine list.

Corkage fees may be high to discourage the consumption of less expensive bottles of wine, which can affect restaurants’ profits and create potentially uncomfortable situations for customers.

Since the markup of wine and other spirited beverages can be as high as 400 percent, BYOB is cost-effective, even when corkage fees are considered. Plus, in an ever-changing economy, BYOB offers restaurateurs yet another way to entice budget-conscious customers.

And the BYOB phenomenon has served as a catalyst for innovation. There are web-based guides to finding BYOB restaurants nearby. Plus, wine purse and bag designers are increasingly creating stylish ways to tote beverages to tables.

Bring your own beverages remains a popular trend in dining out, helping diners save money and helping restaurant owners drum up business.

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Fresh, local foods are the hallmark of farm-totable restaurants

Farm-to-table is changing the restaurant business.

Farm-to-table is changing the restaurant business.

Farm-to-table is a movement that promotes serving local products, preferably food and beverages acquired directly from a producer.

Farm-to-table eateries source ingredients locally as much as possible, and diners are increasingly expressing a preference for these establishments. According to the National Restaurant Association’s “What’s Hot in 2015” survey, locally sourced meats and seafood, locally grown produce, environmental sustainability, and natural ingredients/minimally processed foods were among the most popular food trends.

Farm-to-table establishments reduce carbon footprints by cutting back on the amount of resources necessary to get food from the farm to the restaurant. The farmto-table movement began as a countermeasure to big agriculture and chemically controlled produce. Although there is no hard data on just how many restaurants can be considered farm-to-table, organic farming in general is big business. In its 2014 Organic Survey, the U.S Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Statistics Service reported that sales of organic products increased by 72 percent since 2008.

California, Washington, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Wisconsin were the top five states for organic farming, accounting for 78 percent of organic sales in the United States at the time of the survey.

Supporting farm-to-table establishments can benefit the planet, but consumers should know that there are additional advantages to patronizing such businesses.

Support for local businesses: Local restaurateurs who embrace farm-to-table can support and promote other local operations.

Restaurants can help farmers by purchasing excess crops or simply providing the demand for farmers’ products.

Greater control over ingredients: In some instances, chefs can travel to nearby farms during harvest to personally select items for their restaurants, ensuring excellent quality.

Better taste and quality: Fresh food is picked at its peak instead of being forced to ripen during a long journey. This typically translates to more flavorful foods.

Evolving and updated menus: Because farmto-table means sourcing in-season ingredients, restaurants must have fluid menus that change based on the availability of ingredients and fishing and harvesting quotas. This can lead to greater variety and prevent menus from becoming dated or overly familiar.

Hyper-local sourcing that fuels farm-to-table operations continues to be an in-demand restaurant trend. Diners can rest easy knowing that patronizing such establishments benefits both the environment and the local economy.

How hosts

A publication of the Billings Area News Group - 15

can avoid alcohol-related incidents Hosting a party for friends, family and/or professional colleagues can be a big responsibility. Many of the tasks associated with hosting are fun, and people who enjoy entertaining may even enjoy the less-thrilling tasks that must be tackled before welcoming guests into their homes.

Hosts who intend to serve alcohol at their parties must give ample attention to safety in advance of their guests’ arrival. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that more than 10,000 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in the United States in 2015, accounting for nearly one-third of all traffic-related deaths in the country that year. Hosts must avoid overserving alcohol, as that can put the lives of guests and people they share the road with in jeopardy. In addition, hosts might be found liable should anyone be injured or killed by guests who drank too much at their parties.

Transportation Hosts can make transportation arrangements for guests to reduce the risk of alcohol-related incidents after their parties.

When spreading news of the party, hosts can ask for guests to volunteer as designated drivers while also informing their guests they intend to serve as designated drivers as well. Make sure each group of people who arrives together has at least one designated driver among them. Hosts who want to go the extra mile can reward their designated drivers with a small gift to serve as a token of their appreciation for abstaining from alcohol during the party.

In addition to arranging for designated drivers, hosts can reserve taxis or ridesharing services to pick up guests after the party. Inform guests about this in advance so they do not drive to the party.

Many people enjoy hosting parties for friends, family and/ or colleagues at their homes. But hosts must make concerted efforts to ensure their guests do not overindulge in alcohol.

Curtailing consumption Hosts who intend to serve alcohol at their parties can curtail consumption in various ways. Choose to host a party in early afternoon, ending it by late in the afternoon or early in the evening. Adults are unlikely to consume substantial amounts of alcohol during the day, and many may avoid alcohol altogther.

Another way to reduce imbibing is to avoid buying too much alcohol. Overstocking a bar or refrigerator may encourage guests to overindulge or give them the mistaken impression that the alcohol will be free-flowing throughout the party. When purchasing alcohol for the party, hosts should keep in mind that some guests will likely bring alcohol as a gift, and that should affect how much alcohol hosts buy in advance of the party.

Preparing or ordering more food than might be necessary also can curtail alcohol consumption. Guests who have plenty to eat might spend more time eating than drinking, and eating one’s fill may discourage alcohol consumption because of feeling too full.

16 - Holiday Gift Guide #1 - 2017

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