The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

The Ultimate

Holiday A publication of the Billings Area News Group

Gift Guide

Master the holidays:

Host great parties Lots of perfect gift ideas inside

A publication of the Billings Area News Group - 1

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2 - Holiday Gift Guide #2 - 2017

Warm up with a classic hot toddy this holiday season Come the holiday season, hot toddies are ideal for entertaining, providing spirited fun and a means to chasing away the winter chill.

Hot toddies have been around for centuries. Usually a mix of a spirit — either whiskey, rum or brandy — hot water, honey and spices, some believe the word “toddy” comes from an Indian drink of the same name that is produced by fermenting the sap of palm trees. Other sources say the hot toddy was created

by Dr. Robert Bentley Todd, an Irish physician who prescribed a drink made of brandy, white cinnamon, sugar syrup, and water. The drink was dubbed the “hot toddy.”

Hot drinks embellished with alcohol were long used for medicinal purposes.

While alcoholic beverages are no longer used as medicine, hot toddies can still

chase away a chill. “Grog” is another name given to hot alcoholic drinks, or any drink in which unmeasured amounts of spirits are mixed with other ingredients. Grog may also refer to a water-and-rum mixture that sea merchants once drank. The water kept the merchants hydrated, while the rum prevented the water from spoiling during voyages.

The classic hot toddy can be a versatile drink used to keep guests comfortable and cheerful. This warm libation is soothing and savory, mixing citrus, honey and spices, which each have their various health benefits.

Although hot toddy recipes vary, the following is the recipe for a classic hot toddy, as culled by recipes from Wine Enthusiast, Imbibe and PBS Food.

Did you know?

Mouthwatering turkeys are the centerpieces of many holiday dinner tables. Golden roasted turkey pairs well with many side dishes, and flavors can be customized depending on the guest list. Holiday hosts might want to serve wine with their turkey but may not be sure just which wines will complement the meal. Sommeliers may suggest a variety of options, including wines that provide undertones of plum, spices or berry. Wines that focus primarily on red fruit flavors typically pair well with harvest foods and poultry. Consider a Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah or Beaujolais.

For those who prefer white wine, the German Gewurztraiminer can be highly aromatic with floral touches and spice notes.

Classic Hot Toddy 1½

ounces bourbon, whiskey or another brown liquor

1

tablespoon honey

½

ounce fresh lemon juice

1

cup boiling water

cinnamon stick

lemon wedge

cloves or star anise

Combine liquor, lemon juice, honey, and boiling water together in a mug or Irish coffee glass. Push cloves or star anise into the lemon wedge. Add the cinnamon stick and lemon wedge to the mug. Allow lemon and cinnamon stick to steep in the beverage for a few minutes. Stir and enjoy.

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How to handle holiday hosting Holiday revelers tend to be busy with social engagements — from corporate parties to cocktails with close friends — between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Chances are, many people will be attending a party and/or hosting their own this holiday season.

invite loved ones, hire some professional help. Hire wait staff to tend to guests during the party, and book a cleaning service to clean your home in the days before the party. Don’t hesitate to have the party catered if you prefer your gathering not be potluck.

While attending a party requires little of celebrants other than a willingness to have a good time, hosting a holiday gettogether can be hard work. But hosts can heed a few time-tested strategies to ensure they and their guests make the most of their time together this holiday season.

Holiday hosting can be a big time commitment, but there are ways to make hosting easier regardless of how busy you are.

Forget perfection Television, movies and advertisements paint an unrealistic picture of what the holidays should be. Don’t get down if a holiday party that would make Norman Rockwell proud is beyond your capabilities. Rather than trying to plan a pictureperfect holiday party, channel your energy into what you do best. Cook up a holiday feast if you love being in the kitchen, or decorate till you drop if you love to deck the halls. The point of the party is to gather with family and friends, so no need to worry about throwing a perfect party.

Hiring a bartender or wait staff for a holiday party frees up more time to socialize with your friends and family members.

Enlist helpers Ask others to contribute to the party so all of the work is not on your shoulders. A potluck party is a great way to encourage participation. When everyone brings something along and helps, it frees up time to spend together rather than worrying about what needs cooking in the kitchen or whether a lastminute trip to the store is in order.

Downsize Festive feelings may inspire you to expand your guest list.

Social people understandably want to invite all of their circles of friends, but an overwhelming guest list can make hosting more difficult. If you have trouble paring down the guest list, consider hosting separate parties, designating one for family and another for friends.

You can even downsize your offerings to lessen some of your load. Rather than spending days in the kitchen making unique appetizers, stock up on chips, snacks and premade appetizers so you have enough food. If you want to make one or two appetizers from scratch, stick to a handful of tried-and-true recipes and convenience items so you’re not worrying about kitchen-testing new things.

Hire professionals If you’re simply too busy to handle hosting but still want to

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Festive tree-trimming tips and techniques People have visited forests to select their Christmas trees for centuries. While tree sellers conveniently stationed in store parking lots and artificial trees displayed in various retailers have led fewer people to venture into the wilderness, the Christmas tree is still an important component of holiday celebrations.

Long before the spread of Christianity, evergreen plants and trees held special meaning for people during the winter. Boughs and garlands were hung in homes and over doors and windows to repel evil spirits and illnesses. On the winter solstice, the greenery would represent that spring would once again arrive and banish winter’s dreariness.

Germans who decorated trees inside of their homes are credited with starting Christian Christmas tree traditions during the 16th century. Early Americans were late to adopt Christmas trees because early Puritan settlers thought the tradition — as well as carols and other concepts — were Pagan influences. It took the popularity of England’s Queen Victoria and her German Prince Albert appearing around a decorated Christmas tree to eventually win over much of Europe, Canada and the United States.

Trees are very popular today. According to StatisticsBrain, 10 million artificial trees are sold in the United States each year, while 34.5 million real trees are sold annually. Such trees require decorating, and the following secrets and tips can help celebrants do just that.

• Prune the tree first. Be sure to shape the tree as desired, since natural trees will have branches sticking out. Wear gardening gloves to avoid being covered in sap.

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• Position trees away from heat sources, such as fireplaces, vents or radiators, which can cause the tree to dry out prematurely and become a fire risk.

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• In homage of the first German Christmas trees, decorate with natural ingredients, such as berries and pinecones. Also, use apples, nuts and marzipan candies.

• To free up more space for presents, place a narrow tree stand inside of a waterproof planting container.

Place the tree inside. This will provide a more streamlined look that’s neater than a tree skirt.

• The more lights the better, especially on dense trees.

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• For a whimsical approach, match the tree decor to home decor and the color of furniture.

• Make handcrafted ornaments with the whole family.

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• Hang the most delicate pieces toward the top where they won’t be disturbed.

• Step back and enjoy your handiwork, which will also give you a chance to find any blank spots that need filling in.

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6 - Holiday Gift Guide #2 - 2017

How to manage cooking for a crowd

Hosting family and friends for special occasions requires a lot of hosts, who must prepare their homes for guests or find establishments capable of catering to large parties. For hosts inviting people into their homes, the task of preparing homemade meals adds to their list of responsibilities.

Cooking for a crowd can be rewarding. Hosts can see the fruits of their labors on the faces of their satisfied guests, and few things make guests feel more welcome than a homecooked meal. Managing such a large undertaking can be difficult, but there are ways to simplify cooking for a crowd.

Do the math beforehand. Hosts who are preparing a favorite recipe but on a much grander scale than they’re accustomed to should take some time in advance of the big day to determine the equivalent amounts of each ingredient they will need. Write the recipe down and mark it as “serves 25” or however many guests you’re inviting, storing it away so you won’t have to break out the calculator the next time you host. Once you have figured out the equivalent volumes, check the cupboard to ensure you have enough of each ingredient to prepare the meal.

Serve something familiar. One of the joys of cooking is experimenting with new cuisine. However, when cooking for a crowd, hosts might want to stick to a dish they have prepared in the past. That familiarity can make cooks feel more comfortable

and relaxed when the cooking commences. In addition, cooks may rest easier knowing they’re about to serve a dish they have perfected as opposed to something they have never before tried.

Start prep work early. Begin prep work as early as possible.

Depending on the dish being prepared, it might be hard to get too much done more than a day in advance of the festivities. But even removing small tasks from the docket can save cooks time come the big day. If possible, pour out ingredients in the adjusted increments in advance of the big day. Though it seems like a simple task, stopping to pour out each individual ingredient come the big day can take a substantial amount of time.

Share the responsibilities. Hosts can make their tasks more manageable by sharing the responsibilities of hosting. For example, hosts who are handling the cooking should not also feel responsible to clean their homes. Enlist a spouse, child or even a loved one attending the festivities to handle the chores you don’t have time for. By sharing the responsibilities, hosts will ensure no one person is overwhelmed and party prep will go that much faster.

Cooking for a crowd can be exhausting. But hosts can employ several strategies to simplify the process of preparing a large meal for many people.

A publication of the Billings Area News Group - 7

How to host a successful holiday business dinner Throughout the history of commerce, many a deal has been made at the dinner table. Business dinners are a great opportunity to lay a foundation for long, potentially lucrative professional relationships.

of sitting there while their hosts eat an appetizer and/or large entrée. If guests choose to abstain from alcohol, follow suit. If guests want to have a drink, hosts can limit their consumption to a single beverage.

Etiquette is important when hosting business dinners, as a breach of decorum can derail a relationship before it even begins. Professionals tasked with hosting business dinners can take the following tips to heart before sitting down to break bread with their colleagues.

Don’t eat too quickly or too slowly. Hosts should try to keep pace with their guests in regard to how quickly or slowly they eat. Guests might feel uncomfortable if they finish first or feel pressured to eat quickly if their hosts finish first.

Choose a restaurant that can cater to various diets.

Hosting a business dinner can be similar to hosting family during the holiday season, when hosts must cater to guests with various food allergies and dietary restrictions. Asking for such information in advance of a business dinner may seem intrusive to guests, so try to find a restaurant that offers a flexible menu capable of accommodating vegetarians, vegans and guests who might be gluten-free. Avoid restaurants that specialize in styles of cuisine that might be unhealthy or so extraordinary that guests might be hesitant to order anything from the menu.

Confirm the reservation. Make the reservation well in advance of the date of the dinner, and don’t forget to confirm the reservation a week beforehand. Confirming a week beforehand gives hosts time to book another reservation should theirs have been canceled by mistake.

Arrive at the restaurant before your guests. Hosts should arrive at the restaurant before their guests so they can address any potential issues in advance of the beginning of the dinner.

Arriving early gives hosts time to ensure the table set aside for their party is not in a heavily trafficked area of the restaurant, such as adjacent to the kitchen or restroom. Hosts who arrive later than their guests may also give guests the mistaken impression that they are unimportant.

Let guests order first. Once everyone has sat down at the table, hosts should allow guests to order first. Doing so saves guests who don’t want to eat that much the potential discomfort

Pay in advance. Business dinner guests do not expect to pay for their meals. While it’s widely accepted that hosts will pay, it can feel awkward to have the bill brought to the table. Upon arriving early, hosts can give their credit cards to the wait staff and ask that they be charged without having the bill brought to the table. If necessary, step away from the table during the meal to sign the bill and address any discrepancies.

Business dinners have sparked many successful professional relationships, oftentimes thanks to hosts who took the time to ensure the dinners went off without a hitch.

8 - Holiday Gift Guide #2 - 2017

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10 - Holiday Gift Guide #2 - 2017

Gifting ideas for budget-conscious families The holiday season is a magical time of year when many people celebrate their faith and express their love and appreciation for their families. Such expressions are often made through the exchange of gifts, which can stretch families budgets.

The National Retail Federation reports that retail sales in November and December of 2016 reached $658.3 billion, marking a 4 percent increase over the same period a year prior. For budget-conscious families, entering the holiday spending fray can have lasting effects that cast a pall over their finances for months to come.

Homemade items, such as those created by amateur woodworkers, often make for un ique, thoughtful and inexpensive ho liday gifts.

Staying within budget is not impossible during the holiday season. It might take a little creativity and discussion among family members, but there are ways to exchange gifts and avoid debt this holiday season.

Embrace a “Secret Santa” exchange. Large families can save money by engaging in a Secret Santa exchange. Rather than asking each member of the family to buy gifts for one another, a Secret Santa exchange asks each participant to pick a name out of a hat and then only buy gifts for that person. This is a great way to save both money and time, and it saves participants from the potential hassle of returning gifts after the season.

Establish spending limits. Whether families embrace a Secret Santa exchange or not, they can save money by agreeing on a spending limit for each gift. Families participating in a Secret Santa exchange can set their spending limits a little higher than those families who will be buying gifts for multiple people.

Share experiences in lieu of exchanging gifts. Adults tend to be more difficult to shop for than children, as many adults can simply buy their own gadgets, clothing and other items commonly given during the holiday season.

To save money, adults can forgo gifting traditional gifts to one another, instead resolving to provide an experience for a loved one. Invite a loved one over for a homecooked meal or offer to take a family member out to dinner once the holiday season has come and gone and there’s more room in the budget.

Connect with your creative side. In lieu of purchasing a gift made by someone else, make your own gift. Skilled crafters can create a one-of-a-kind gift out of supplies they already have on hand, while woodworkers can follow suit. Such gifts are thoughtful and inexpensive, and they will likely prove more memorable than another video game or sweater.

Budget-conscious families don’t have to sit out of holiday gift exchanges, as there are plenty of creative ways to express your love and appreciation for family without breaking the bank.

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Delight guests with dessert Baked goods are staples at many family gatherings. Whether hosting family for the holidays, reunions or weekly Sunday night dinners, hosts can make dessert that much better by serving this “Blackberry-Ripple Lime Cheesecake” courtesy of Lori Longbotham’s “Luscious Creamy Desserts” (Chronicle Books).

Blackberry-Ripple Lime Cheesecake Serves 10

Crust 11⁄2 cups pecans 2 tablespoons sugar ⁄4 cup (1⁄2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1

Filling 2

6-ounce packages ripe blackberries

2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar

for 1 minute. Pour the purée through a coarse strainer set over a small bowl, pressing hard on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Refrigerate, tightly covered, until thoroughly chilled.

4

With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl for about 2 minutes, until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the condensed milk, zest, lime juice, and vanilla, scraping down the side of the bowl as necessary. Reduce the speed to medium and add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour the batter into the pan.

5

Transfer the blackberry purée to a small glass measure.

Drizzle it in a spiral pattern over the batter, then swirl a table knife through the batter to marbleize it. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until the cheesecake is puffed on the sides and still slightly jiggly in the center. Let cool on a wire rack.

6 7

Refrigerate the cheesecake, tightly covered, for at least 8 hours, until thoroughly chilled and set, or for up to 2 days.

To serve, run a sharp knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the cake and remove the side of the pan. Cut the cheesecake into thin wedges with a sharp knife dipped into hot water and wiped dry after each cut.

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12 - Holiday Gift Guide #2 - 2017

Stay safe while shopping this holiday season The holiday shopping season is the busiest, and most profitable, time of year for many retailers. According to the National Retail Federation, holiday retail sales during November and December of 2016 totaled $658.3 billion, exceeding industry projections by $2.5 billion.

Busy malls and retail centers can make it easy for shoppers to overlook safety and security. Thieves and other criminals recognize that and often prey on unsuspecting victims during the holiday season. For example, the Better Business Bureau notes that thieves can easily commit identity theft at malls, where shoppers preoccupied with shopping bags and looking after their children in crowded stores may be less likely to conceal their credit cards or PIN numbers at checkout counters.

In addition to safeguarding their financial information when checking out, shoppers can take the following steps to stay safe while shopping.

Prioritize parking in well-lit areas. Mall parking lots can try shoppers’ patience during the holiday season. But shoppers should resist any urges to park in faraway spaces or areas that are poorly lit. Criminals may be lurking in less traveled areas of city or mall parking lots, recognizing that they can quickly strike and abscond with stolen items.

Shoppers should even be mindful of dark parking garages, only parking in such areas when accompanied by friends or family members.

Keep a watchful eye on smartphones. Unlike the flip phones that came before them, today’s smartphones are essentially mini computers that can store substantial amounts of data, including users’ credit card numbers.

Many people have even linked their smartphones directly to their bank accounts in an effort to make shopping simpler.

Lost or stolen phones can be expensive to replace, and savvy thieves can gain access to their victims’ personal information, including financial and personal data.

Shop using plastic instead of cash. Fraudulent purchases made with a credit card are protected by the credit card company. Stolen cash, however, is likely lost for good. While shopping with credit may encourage some to overspend, shoppers must recognize that shopping with cash makes them vulnerable to thieves.

Periodically take packages out to your vehicle.

Shoppers walking around the mall with multiple bags may be targeted by thieves and other criminals. Defending oneself against criminals with many shopping bags in hand can be difficult, and criminals can prey on that vulnerability while recognizing that people with multiple shopping bags are likely carrying many valuable items. Periodically take packages out to your vehicle to make shopping easier and to deter criminals.

Millions of people will visit malls and other retail centers to do their holiday shopping this year. Safeguarding personal safety and security should be foremost on the minds of shoppers throughout the holiday season.

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How to avoid the holiday shopping rush The holiday shopping rush hits full swing in the weeks before Christmas Day, but there are many ways shoppers can get their shopping done and avoid the crowds at the same time.

Holiday shopping can be both fun and hectic. While it’s fun to scour stores looking for can’t-miss gifts for your loved ones, shopping amongst the crowds also can prove hectic.

While online shopping has made department stores somewhat less crowded come the holiday season, the National Retail Federation notes that online shopping during the 2014 holiday season accounted for just one-sixth of all holiday shopping. The opportunity to see and feel potential gifts in person compels many people to do the majority of their holiday shopping instore, and there are ways for such shoppers to avoid the holiday shopping rush as they begin their quests for the perfect gifts.

S

hop during off-peak hours. Weekends and weeknight evenings tend to be the busiest times to go holiday shopping. Professionals who have weekends off may put off their shopping during the week, choosing to do so on Saturday and Sunday afternoons when they have extra time to browse and comparison shop. Shopping off-peak hours, such as during weekday mornings or even early mornings on weekends, is a great way to avoid crowds. Parents of young children might want to take a morning or even a full day off of work to get their holiday shopping done so they can avoid shopping with their kids in tow. You can probably move around more quickly if you choose to shop while the kids are in school, and this also affords you time to find gifts for the kids.

M

ake a list. Knowing what you want to buy online can decrease the amount of time you spend wandering around malls and stores. The longer you linger without an idea of what to buy, the greater the chance you will be joined by fellow shoppers. If possible, call stores before you leave the house to confirm if they have certain items in stock, or buy items online from retailers who offer an in-store pickup option. Checkout lines for in-store pickup items are often separated from more traditional checkout lines, further reducing your risk of waiting in long lines.

S

hop local businesses. Small local businesses may not boast the inventory of larger retailers you’re liable to encounter at the mall, but local small businesses tend to deal with thinner crowds than national stores during the holiday season. Items in such businesses may be more unique than items sold at nationwide retailers, and when you shop at smaller businesses, you likely won’t be forced to hunt for parking spots or wait on long checkout lines.

S

tart shopping early. Crowds only grow bigger and more impatient between Black Friday and the final days before Christmas, so shoppers who can find the time to shop before the height of the shopping season might find parking lots and checkout lines more to their liking. In addition, shopping early affords shoppers more time to find the best deals.

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9

ways to maximize entertaining space

People who live in compact homes or apartments may find space is at a premium during regular times of the year. When the holidays arrive, decorations, trees and presents can make homes seem even more cluttered. This can make it especially challenging for holiday hosts who want to open up their homes for festive gatherings.

Even if space is at a premium, all it takes is a little ingenuity to entertain successfully.

1. Put nonessential furniture and other decor away.

It’s impossible for would-be holiday hosts to move all of their belongings out of their homets to create entertaining space. But hosts can certainly cut down on clutter. Check out the flow of a room and then move pieces around as needed to open up floor space. Push tables or large pieces of furniture up against walls.

Swap out armchairs for folding chairs. Stow knickknacks in bedrooms or in closets.

2. Put benches and wide ledges to use. Narrow benches, such as those common to picnic tables, can seat three or four comfortably. Do not discount deep window ledges as potential seats, as these areas can be made more comfortable with pillows or cushions.

3. Collapse tables after meals. If a sit-down dinner is the goal, set up tables accordingly. Then break down the tables afterward to free up more space. Serve small desserts that can be easily transported from room to room.

4. Use islands and countertops. Tables can take up valuable space. When entertaining a lot of guests, set up an all-purpose counter island and add barstools. This can be an area for food prep, eating and entertaining.

5. Create conversation areas. Encourage guests to spread out by setting up intimate spots in various rooms. This way guests won’t feel the need to congregate in the same space.

Bistro tables in a den, a few floor pillows in front of the fireplace and stools by a kitchen island will create conversation areas.

6. Expand outside, if possible. Rent a tent that can be warmed with a space heater. If your home has a closed-in porch or patio space, cover screens with insulating plastic to create a comfortable added room.

7. Skip a sit-down meal. Large tables take up a lot of space, so serve a buffet, tapas or passed hors d’oeuvres so guests mix and mingle rather than sit down at one large table.

8. Use all available surfaces. Invest in some sturdy serving trays that can be placed on television stands, upright speakers, ottomans, or even wooden crates. This will increase the amount of room you have to serve and store items.

9. Spread out refreshments. Avoid bottlenecks in common areas by putting food, beverages and other items in various locations. Fill up the kitchen sink with ice and make it an oversized beverage cooler.

Holiday entertaining requires some creativity when hosting in compact spaces.

A publication of the Billings Area News Group - 15

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.

Find the previous facts in the last Holiday Gift Guide online at www.issuu.com/b.a.n.g • 4) The longest sentence ever printed is 823 words.

We have a feeling it’s probably a run-on, but it’s a legit sentence that exists in Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, according to Barnes and Noble.

• 5) Author’s names didn’t used to be printed on the covers of their books.

The covers of the first printed books were considered artworks.

They were covered in drawings, leather and even gold — so there wasn’t a place for the author’s name.

Did You Know?

Consumers may readily recognize Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the holiday shopping lexicon. But what about Super Saturday? Super Saturday, sometimes called “Panic Saturday,” refers to the final Saturday before Christmas. This can be a big day for retailers. Super Saturday deals tend to target last-minute shoppers who wait until the very end to make the majority of their purchases or pick up those final gifts. Super Saturday 2017 occurs on December 23.

• 6) The first book ever written using a typewriter was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Mark Twain must have had a lot of ink and a lot of patience.

• 7) President Theodore Roosevelt read one book per day.

Now that’s dedication to reading.

• 8) The three most read books in the world are…

The Holy Bible, Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, and Harry Potter.

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

16 - Holiday Gift Guide #2 - 2017

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