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A look inside...
Christmas Decor
Tech Gifts 2020
Sweet Treats
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Christmas Traditions Around the World
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Non-Traditional Recipes
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New Year’s Resolutions
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Editor Alex Zapetis
Contributors Dave Marshall Joyce Ann Acosta onecreativemommy.com Krystin Kelly Jenelle Grewell Deanna Jones Crystal Veilette Brittany Reyes Erica Smith
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Publisher
We also have some great Christmas experiences such as local tree farms and a phenomenal light show in the area. Be sure to check them all out and have the ultimate holiday season!
Creative ink
Creative Director Sears Hallett
Advertising
Kristi Williams 270-484-0463 kristi@creativeinktn.com
Photography
mixthatdrink.com Deposit Photo pg: Cover, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16, 19, 23, 24, 34 3
To celebrate, we wanted to bring you a magazine full of Christmas joy! We have you covered in every single Christmas corner. If you need decorating tips, we got them! Do you need Christmas treats? We got ‘em! How about gift ideas? We have those too. It is the ultimate Christmas issue.
Cheers!
Alex Zapetis, Editor alex@creativeinktn.com
Like us and share on Facebook facebook.com/fortcampbelllife
Christmas dĂŠcor is beautiful and like none other. It can truly bring such cheer and joy to hearts everywhere. Many people agree that there is just something about it that makes you feel all warm and cozy inside. Therefore, we wanted to see your Christmas dĂŠcor and see how you decorate for the holidays. Not only could it bring some inspiration to homes across the area, but it may also bring a smile to a few faces.
Rebecca Marie
s Kaylie Rae Hutchin
Stacy Peters Jenna Chen
Rashawna Schumacher
Gabi Guitierrez 5
Laine Hall
Be na vid esTr ieu
Kerri Stapleton
Gr aci ela
Alexis Brown
Tonya Schurr
Kaelah Beauregarde Flynn
Sparks t r a w e t S r Hunte
arris G y n a t Brit
Jerica Daniels 6
Decorating for Christmas is a family tradition that everybody looks forward to. It brings so much cheer to all the homes across the nation. Unfortunately, some families find it difficult to decorate rental homes, as well as homes with small children or pets. This year, we want to make decorating a little easier for you. Try out these awesome tips and tricks and make hanging those Christmas lights a breeze. Placing Bells on Your Tree There is nothing worse than pets and toddlers constantly pulling off your Christmas tree ornaments. It is even worse when they pull the entire tree over. To help you hear when their little hands or paws are near, place bells along your tree. Not only do the bells look festive, but you will be able to hear them being touched from across the house.
Assign Special Gift Wrap Do you have a child that likes to peak at their presents before the big day? Christmas tags are always a dead giveaway on which gift is theirs. This year assign everyone in your family a special wrapping paper pattern, but do not tell anyone else which one is theirs. No tags needed, and your sneaky gift peeker will not know which one is theirs.
Store Your Ornaments in an Egg Carton Christmas ornaments are incredibly special, but also very fragile. To help prevent them from breaking between moves and seasons, store them away in an egg carton container. 7
Wrap Your Lights Around a Clothes Hanger Raise your hand if you spend hours every Christmas season untangling your big ball of Christmas lights. It is a hassle. This year try and wrap your Christmas lights around an old clothes hanger. You will thank yourself next holiday season.
Use Hot Glue to Hang on Brick Is the exterior of your home mainly brick or stone? If so, you will not be getting a nail in there easily when it comes time to hang your lights outside. Instead, grab your hot glue gun. The glue will peel right off when it comes time to take everything down.
Use Different Sized Lights Having the same light bulb size throughout your Christmas tree can cause your tree to look a little flat and boring. Instead, grab two different sized bulbs to help make your tree really pop. Command Hooks to the Rescue Are you wanting to hang a wreath on your door, but not wanting to damage it with a nail? Just place an upside-down command strip on the inside of your door, and use a long ribbon to hang it. Easy, quick, and damage free.
Hang Ornaments from your Chandelier Do you have a light fixture in your home that could use some Christmas spirit? Just grab a few ornaments and some ribbon and tie them to your lights. It is an instant Christmas makeover.
Snowman DĂŠcor If you are turning to online shopping for your Christmas gifts, chances are you will have boxes of all shapes and sizes piling up. Grab some white wrapping paper, buttons, and some construction paper in order to turn those plain brown boxes into magical snowmen.
Christmas could look a little different this year for your family if you are used to traveling for the holidays. Due to Covid, many states are discouraging the gathering of large groups or out of state travel. The virus is still hitting our country hard, and Christmas plans could be disturbed. If you are opting to stay home this year, there are still ways for you to feel close to your relatives that are states away. Bake Together Box up your favorite cookie recipe and mail it to your loved one. There are a ton of fun and unique mason jar dry mixes for you to try. Many families make it a tradition to bake together every Christmas, and you can still do this from separate locations. Set a time to facetime and bake those cookies together.
Decorate the Same Do you enjoy decorating your Christmas tree together every year? This season, switch things up and mail each other fun ornaments and decorations. When you both have received your packages, pull up Facetime and decorate at the same time. Even when you are miles away, your trees will still glow the same.
Broadcast on the Big Screen Did you know that many SmartTVs allow you to cast your video call onto it? So, while you are gathered around your tree on Christmas morning, toss Grandma and Grandpa onto your big screen. It will feel like they are truly in the room with you.
Read Christmas Stories Together If you have a young child that loves to hear Christmas stories, call up your loved ones, grab a good Christmas book, and take turns reading the pages. It will be a fun and memorable bonding moment for all.
Gift Cards for Later An exciting gift idea for you and your distant family members is to buy gift cards for restaurants and events that can be dedicated to being used the next time they are in town. It will give your family something to look forward to down the road. 9
Tech gifts are a great Christmas present. They are always so exciting and useful to the user. They can truly make you feel as though you are stepping into the future. The top tech gifts change every year, and 2020 is no exception. So, what are the top tech gifts this year? It is time to find out. Will any of them be on your Christmas list this year?
Nintendo Switch Lite Handheld Gaming Console Everyone has heard about the Nintendo Switch, and for good reason. It is a great gaming console that the entire family can and will enjoy. The Nintendo Switch offers so many family-friendly games that all ages can enjoy.
Ekster Parliament Smart Wallet This amazing smart wallet has a unique coating to protect its owner from identity theft. It also has an incredible feature that allows it to eject cards from its storage pocket by pressing a button. It can hold at least 10 cards, as well as a strap for cash.
mophie Dual Wireless Charging Pad If you come from a techy household, this is the perfect gift for you. This wireless charging pad can wirelessly charge two smartphones or a phone and earbuds with a wireless charging case. It can charge your devices incredibly fast too.
Philips Somneo Sleep and Wake-Up Light Does one of your loved ones have trouble sleeping at night? If so, this is the perfect gift for them. This light has been clinically proven to improve sleep and help users feel more refreshed when they wake up.
JBL Flip 5 For all outdoor-loving music fanatics, check out the JBL Flip 5. It is a portable, waterproof Bluetooth speaker that has been praised for its amazing sound quality. Did we mention it is also waterproof? How cool. 11
Google Nest Mesh System Good Wifi can be hard to find in some locations, but it has become essential in so many households. A mesh WiFi system helps cover your entire home or apartment with high-speed WiFi. This is the perfect gift for gamers as well.
Crosstour CR300 Dashcam Dash cams are great gifts for cautious drivers or drivers that love to tell about their recent traffic encounters. Dashcams always allow you to have an extra set of eyes on the road.
Prynt Pocket Living in a smartphone world often means we lose precious photos when we forget to print them out. This is the perfect solution for that. This device prints photos straight from your phone. What a great gift for parents wishing to save those irreplaceable baby photos.
Bose Frames These are really sunglasses that double as wireless earphones. Yes, this really exists. How awesome is that? You can now stroll around outside while you listen to music without the fear of your earphones constantly falling out of your ears.
Smart Garden 3 This planter is self-watering, which makes killing the plants growing inside of it almost impossible. It is perfect for growing herbs inside your home.
Oblio Wireless Charging Station with UV Sanitizer Fun fact, most phones are dirtier than your toilet seat. Gross. This wireless charger not only charges your phone, but it sanitizes it with UV rays daily.
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The Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club is back to hosting their amazing monthly luncheons. This month, they will host their luncheon at Belle Hollow at Miss Lucille’s on December 9. It is the perfect opportunity to find last minute Christmas gifts. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their best holiday gear. Attending a FCSC luncheon is a perfect way to get out of the house and meet new friends. You also get to support a local charity at the same time. The charity spotlight this month is the Montgomery County Department of Children Services. They are looking for food donations to contribute to the growth of their food bank. All donations truly make a difference, no matter the size. The Montgomery County Department of Children Services is dedicated to keeping all local children safe and healthy. Donations to this food bank can ensure that one less child goes to bed hungry.
For more information on the Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club, please visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fortcampbellspousesclub/ or their website https://www.fortcampbellspousesclub.org/. 14
Live Christmas trees bring an unforgettable magic to Christmas. Not only do they smell and look amazing but picking the perfect one is full of memories. It is a thrilling feeling finding the tree that is going to hold all of the gorgeous decorations you have planned. If you wish to cut down a tree this year, the Fort Campbell area is home to many Christmas tree farms so that you can find the tree of your dreams. Are you ready to find the right one? Lazy Spread Christmas Tree Farm 3682 Dailey Rd, Clarksville 931-648-2921
Kandi Kane Christmas Tree Farm 2950 N Hinton Rd, Clarksville, 760-220-3259
Santa's Place Christmas Tree Farm 2169 Dunbar Rd, Woodlawn 931-338-6076
Kirkwood Tree Farm 3792 Buck Road, Clarksville 931-624-8392
Erin’s Farm 7000 Hodges Rd, Cunningham 931-980-3985 Tips for the perfect tree this year: Always call before you go to ensure they still have trees available The average live Christmas tree lasts around 3-4 weeks after being cut, so plan accordingly. Bring blankets and protective items to cover your tree to prevent vehicle scratches. Make sure to water your tree regularly to keep it nice and green.
SWEET TREATS
Baking holiday treats that are not only delicious, but create a great Christmas bonding experience as well. They are what make up some of the most memorable moments. Do not worry, you don’t have to be an experienced baker to make great holiday treats. Some are super quick and easy. Give these mouthwatering desserts a try this December, and have a blast doing so.
Peppermint Brownies by Joyce Ann Acosta 1 1⁄2 cup white sugar ⁄4 cup all purpose flour 2 ⁄3 cup cocoa powder 1 ⁄2 cup chocolate chips 3 ⁄4 teaspoons salt 2 large eggs 1 ⁄2 cup vegetable oil 2 tablespoons water 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp peppermint extract Peppermint candy canes 3
1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly spray an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper. 2. In a medium bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and salt. 3. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, water, peppermint extract and vanilla extract. 4. Combine the dry mix over the wet mix and stir together. 5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes. 6. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy canes. Cool completely. 7. Remove the brownies from the pan and cut into triangles. 8. Unwrap a few candy canes and use a sharp knife to gently cut the candy canes into 1 inch long pieces. Attach it into the bottom of the brownie pieces.
Chocolate Peppermint Trifle
by OneCreativeMommy.com
1 Recipe of your favorite chocolate cake–baked and cooled 1 large box of chocolate pudding (+milk)–prepared according to package directions (wait for cake to cool before you prepare the pudding) 1 large tub of whipped topping 1 ⁄2 – 1 pkg Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips 5 peppermint Candy Canes–crushed
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1. Cut cooled cake into cubes. 2. Cover the bottom of your bowl with cake pieces. 3. Top with 1/2 of the pudding. 4. Top with up to 1/2 of the whipped topping. 5. Sprinkle with candy cane and Andes peppermint bits (up to 1/2 of the mix–depending on how minty you like it). 6. Repeat the layers. Enjoy!
White Chocolate Sea Salt Popcorn by OneCreativeMommy.com Popcorn Colored Candy melts Sea Salt 1. Pop your desired amount of popcorn and remove any unpopped kernels. 2. Spread the popcorn in a thin layer on a cookie sheet and sprinkle it lightly with sea salt. 3. Place 12-15 candy melts of one color in a small ziplock bag. Microwave the chocolate 30 seconds at a time on defrost or low power until the chocolate is mostly melted. Carefully knead the chocolate inside the bag to finish the melting process. 4. Snip off one of the bottom corners of the bag. (The smaller the snip, the narrower your stream of chocolate will be.) Gently squeeze the chocolate from the bag and coat the popcorn in swirls. 5. Pause periodically to sprinkle sea salt onto the wet chocolate. Once the chocolate dries, the salt will have nothing to stick to. 6. Repeat the process with a second color of chocolate and more salt. The salt accents the sweet taste, so don’t skip it!
Trees for Troops is an amazing foundation that gives military troops and their families freshly cut trees for the holidays. Trees for Troops has provided more than 243,000 fresh, farm-grown Christmas Trees to all branches of the military. More than 70 military bases are involved in this wonderful annual event. The 2020 Trees for Troops event at Fort Campbell will be on December 4th and 5th at the Division Parade Field parking lot. This year, they will also have a very special guest! Santa will be on-site to help distribute trees from 8am to 12pm on Dec. 4th. Distribution Schedule Friday, December 4, 2020: First Come / First Served 8am to 1pm - For Junior Enlisted (IDs will be checked) 1pm to 3pm - to any Active Duty Saturday, December 5, 2020: 8am to 12pm First Come / First Served until all trees have been distributed. Please bring blankets or padding for your vehicle to help prevent scratches.
Drive Thru Christmas Lights Are you on the hunt for some breathtaking Christmas lights this season? Then look no further! The Drive Thru Christmas Lights show at Clarksville Speedway is underway. Beginning November 25 until Saturday January 2nd, the Clarksville Speedway lights up the Christmas season! At this light show you can enjoy over one mile, and over three million lights, from the comfort of your car. The hours of operation are as follows: Sunday – Thursday 5:30pm till 9:00pm • Fridays & Saturdays 5:30pm till 10:00pm Admission for the event is $25 per carload, $100 for Tour Bus, $50 for Cargo Vans or more than 8 Persons in a vehicle. The Clarksville Speedway will also have some special admission nights this year: Military Nights – Everyday discount. $23.00 per car with Military ID. Not valid for Tour Buses and Cargo Vans. Church Nights - Sunday November 29th, December 6th, 13th, and 20th. $20 per car with your church bulletin. School Personnel & Teacher Night - Monday Nov 30th, $20 per car with School ID. Senior Citizens Night - Tuesday Dec 1st,8th. $20 per car for ages 65 and over. Scout Night Boys and Girls- Wednesday Dec. 2nd, and 9th. $20 per car for scouts in uniform. First Responders, EMS & Healthcare Professionals Thursday Dec. 3rd, 10th, and 17th. $20 per car. City & County Employees Night TN & KY- Wednesday, Dec. 16th, and 20th, 2020. $20 With City or County ID card. APSU Night - Tuesday, Dec. 15th, $20 per car with APSU ID card. Other Coupons are not valid on special price nights. 21
Eggnog 6 egg yolks ⁄ cup of sugar 1 ⁄4 teaspoon salt 3 ⁄4 cup brandy 1 ⁄4 cup dark rum (or bourbon) 1 ⁄2 teaspoon of vanilla extract 1 ⁄4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg 1 cup heavy whipping cream 2 cups whole milk 1 Cinnamon Stick 1 4
Beat the yolks at medium speed until they’re frothy. If you’re not cooking it, gradually add the milk, cream, sugar, vanilla and nutmeg as you continue beating. If you're cooking it, warm the milk and cream in a saucepan over medium heat until it starts to bubble. Add the vanilla extract, sugar, and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks together. Slowly whisk the warm milk into the eggs. Put the mixture back on medium heat and cook, stirring gently, until it reaches 160 degrees. Stir in the brandy and rum. Chill it until you’re ready to serve. It’s best to keep it chilled at all times. Garnish each individual serving with the nutmeg sprinkled on top and a Cinnamon Stick . Kahlua Hot Chocolate Drink recipes and photos courtesy Hot Chocolate of mixthatdrink.com Kahlua Make some cocoa however you like it. Pour it in an Irish coffee mug. Add some Kahlua. If desired, put whipped cream and chocolate shavings or cocoa powder on top.
Christmas Cookie Cocktail 1 ounce peppermint schnapps 1 ounce Kahlua 1 ounce Irish Cream Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in all three ingredients. Shake thoroughly until chilled. Strain the mixture into the glassware of your choice.
Marshmallow Shooter Vanilla Liqueur Carolans Irish Cream Heavy or double cream Optional: mini marshmallows Pour equal parts of each ingredient into a shooter. Stir gently. Optional: top with a few mini marshmallows.
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For many of us, the area surrounding Fort Campbell is not what we think of when we think of the word "home". Though home will always be where our Soldier is, our hearts will always long for the land where remnants of our roots still linger. As military spouses, we are accustomed to packing up our belongings and starting all over again, every couple of years. A new city, a new state, and even new countries rich with culture and tradition. This ever-changing aspect of our lives makes holidays that much more bittersweet. Though our Soldiers may be present for the holidays, sometimes their military obligations make traveling home very difficult. We press on and make the best of the time we have together, while sharing our family traditions with one another and creating brand new ones along the way. Mariell Johnson, San Cristóbal, Venezuela Mariel reflects on Christmas in Venezuela as she explains some of the rich culture behind her family's holiday traditions: “In Venezuela, we celebrate Christmas on the 24th. We cook traditional meals such as chicken salad, ham bread, hallacas, and asado negro. We go to church at 9pm, and come home to eat. The night is filled with good food, loved ones, and lots of dancing. We open our gifts at exactly midnight, and spend the 25th sleeping and eating leftovers. Our unique household tradition is buying fancy new outfits to show off each year!” Caroline Dantas Lauvao, Osnabrück, Germany Caroline gives us great detail about the German inspired traditions she grew up with, and how she continues those traditions here in the US: “We traveled to Weihnachtsmärkten (Christmas Market)! They have rides, glühwein (mulled wine), geröstete nüssen (roasted nuts)--like the gentleman in the PX sells, but 100% better!--and you cancollect the glühwein mugs. One of the coolest things, I think, is the Adventskalenders (advent calendar). Traditionally, we would always light the Adventskränze , which is a table ornament with 4 candles. Each Sunday before Christmas, one candle would be lit. Food wise, I love eating the delicious Spekulatius cookies (traditional German spice cookies). We also celebrate St. Nikolaus Day on December 6th, which is when children put their boots outside for St. Nikolaus to bring them small gifts like chocolate, fruit, and sometimes even money! My mom always did that for me, despite my age. I loved it. We get our presents on the 24th, so my stepfather would play Santa. He would ‘go to the bathroom’ while we all went to one room and turned off the lights. He put white gloves on and knocked on the windows as someone else would place the gifts under the tree.” Caroline plans on continuing these wonderful traditions here at Fort Campbell. “I ordered the Adventsklander on Amazon, and we also continue the St. Nikolaus tradition for the kids. I made my own Adventskränze. The local Aldi has German food, so we purchase the cookies from there. If I can't find what I'm looking for, I have my mom send it to me!” 23
By Krystin Kelley Karren Wilson, Johannesburg, South Africa Karren explains how she upholds her family's Christmas traditions in a very unique way, despite the weather difference: “We celebrate here in the US on Christmas day, by making Christmas pudding, turkey, and gammon (cured leg of pork), before opening our Christmas crackers (decorated cardboard tubes containing a tissue crown (paper party hat), a motto (joke, riddle or trivia question) and a small gift) around the table--it's a lot of fun! It is always cold here in the US, so we don’t do as much as we would in South Africa, but we still celebrate Boxing Day (the 26th) by having a huge BBQ with friends and family! It's a little difficult, as it is cold here in the US versus the hot weather in South Africa during December, but we make it happen!” Whether you were born right here in the US or found love with a service member in another country, we've all got a few key things in common. One being, that just because we may be thousands of miles away from home, it doesn't mean we can't continue bringing joy to our families during Christmas by instilling the love and rich tradition of our homeland in their hearts and minds, hoping they continue the joy for many generations to come. Merry Christmas and have a safe and wonderful New Year!
Shrimp Bisque
Non-Traditional Recipes
By Jenelle Grewell In my Family, we never celebrated the holidays with a feast of turkey and all the trimmings. Instead, my mother always prepared a banquet of seafood. My favorite dish has always been her shrimp bisque. This soup is filling, delicious and very easy to make. ⁄4 cup butter • 1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled, deveined and coarsely chopped • 2 large green onions, sliced • 1⁄4 cup flour 1 cup fish stock or canned chicken broth • 3 cups of half and half 1 ⁄2 teaspoon salt • 2 cloves of garlic • Dash of ground red pepper 2 Tablespoons white wine (optional) • Whole shrimp to garnish 1
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Melt butter in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Cook and stir shrimp, onion and garlic in butter until shrimp turns pink and opaque. Remove from heat. Remove shrimp from sauce pan. Blend in flour. Add pan back to heat and stir until just bubbly. Add shrimp back in sauce pan. Stir in fish stock or chicken stock and cook until bubbly. Cook 2 more minutes, after getting bubbly, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Process soup in small batches in food processor or blender until smooth. Return to saucepan. Stir in half and half, salt, red pepper and white wine. Heat through. Garnish with whole shrimp
Flan By Deanna Jones My Cuban grandmother passed this dessert recipe down to me. A Cuban version of crème brûlée, flan is a delicious and fairly easy dessert alternative to the traditional apple pie and sugar cookies of the holiday season. It takes patience to make this dish, but my Abuela’s recipe is well worth the wait. 1 can of condensed milk 1 can of evaporated milk 1 tsp of vanilla extract 3 egg yolks 1 ⁄2 cup of sugar
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Caramelize your sugar in a frying pan. Once sugar is melted into a liquid, pour it evenly on the bottom of a glass or ceramic bread pan. Allow it to harden. Beat eggs in a large bowl and then add both kinds of milk and vanilla extract. Pour egg mixture into pan over hardened sugar. Take a cake pan and fill half way with water. Place flan pan into water bath and let bake for 45 minutes or until top is golden. Be sure the water pan does not go dry! Remove from water bath and place in freezer for about 15 minutes. Put flan in fridge for three to four hours or until completely cool. Take a plate and place it over flan. Flip to remove flan from baking dish. *If the flan is completely cool, it will hold shape when flipped. If you are worried about the flan being completely cool, you can keep it in the freezer or fridge longer.
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Cherry Yum Yum By Crystal Veillette Cherry pie is something that might be expected at the holiday table but what about cherry pie with a refreshing twist? Cherry Yum Yum offers a different take on the classic cherry pie recipe. 1 carton of Cool Whip • 1 ½ cup of graham cracker crumbs 1 can cherry pie filling • 1⁄2 cup of melted butter 3 ⁄8 cup of sugar • 1 8oz. package of cream cheese
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Mix cracker crumbs, butter and 1/8 cup of sugar in 8x8 inch pan to make the crust. Beat cream cheese and ¼ cup of sugar. Add Cool Whip to cream cheese mixture and mix well. Spread mixture over crumb crust. Pour cherries over cream cheese layer. Sprinkle with a few remaining graham cracker crumbs. Chill before serving.
Fruit Pizza By Brittany Reyes If you aren’t a baker but you want to bring a dessert to a holiday party that is unique and will “wow” the taste buds, then this recipe is for you. This recipe is simple, easy to make and also great for those on a budget. 1 package sugar cookies • 1 package 8 oz Philadelphia cream cheese ¼ cup sugar • ½ tsp vanilla • Assorted fresh fruit (kiwi, strawberries, and bananas are my favorite but any fruit will do)
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Preheat oven according to directions on cookie dough package. Roll dough onto a cookie sheet or pizza pan for a true fruit pizza or keep the cookies individual for personal small pizzas. Bake cookie(s) for 14 minutes or until lightly brown. Mix the cream cheese vanilla and sugar together. Spread cream cheese mixture over the sugar cookie. Cut your fruit into small pieces and top your cookies.
Sticky Rice By Erica Smith Who says you can’t play with your food? You can build a snowman by shaping sticky rice into different sized snowballs. This side dish can help create a festive holiday dinner plate. Grab the kids and give them a fun opportunity to help in the kitchen. Allow your kids to garnish the riceball snowman with their favorite veggies and toppings like peas or carrots 4 cups of short-grained or medium-grained rice (can be found in the grocery store in the Asian food section)
This recipe is good for those who may not have a good rice cooker available. A non-stick medium saucepan is a good substitute. 1. Rinse and drain the rice several times. 2. Drain water thoroughly and then add 4 cups of fresh water to the rice. 3. Cover pot with lid and place on stove top on high heat. In 5-10 minutes when the water is boiling, turn down to medium heat and remove the lid to prevent water from boiling over. 4. When there is no more liquid, replace the lid and turn to low heat to steam the rice for 10 more minutes. 5. Turn off heat and using a wooden spoon or rice paddle, fold the rice several times. If you want to make rice ahead of time or store leftover rice, place rice in freezer bags immediately after cooking to preserve freshness.
Many crazy traditions surround New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Do you know what they all are? Do you know what they all mean or why they exist? Let’s break a few of them down and discuss. New Year’s Kiss At midnight, be sure to grab someone you love and give them a big kiss. This tradition is believed to keep the loneliness away for the upcoming year. Eating Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens If you are from the south, you may have been served black eyed peas and collard greens on New Year’s Day a few times. This is said to symbolize coins and cash and will bring you money in the new year. Colored Underwear What colored undies will you be wearing on New Year’s Day? It is said that wearing red underwear will bring you love and romance, yellow is prosperity and success, green is health and well-being, and white will bring peace and harmony. Fireworks Popping off fireworks when the clock strikes 12 is said to help scare off evil spirits and misfortune from following you into the New Year.
Let the Laundry Pile on Up If you need to do laundry, wait until January 2nd. Myth has it that washing your clothing on January 1st can actually lead to ‘washing a loved one away'. New Year’s Eve Ball Drop This tradition started back in 1907, and now 2 million people gather in New York every year for this big event. It is an extravagant showing that people watch from across the country. Pack up Your Christmas Decorations You better have all those decorations put up before the new year rings in. Many believe that having your decorations still up will bring the old year into the new one. We do not want to bring any of 2020 into 2021! Open Up Your Windows and Doors It is time to open your doors and windows to let the new year come in and send the old one right on out. Let that fresh air in and enjoy the nice breeze.
The USO has a ton of holiday events up their sleeve this year, and trust us, you do not want to miss it. They are sure to get you into the holly jolly Christmas spirit! The USO Fort Campbell’s annual Holiday Week runs from December 14 through December 19. The phenomenal programs include:
Storytime with Santa Join the USO on December 14 for a Virtual Reading with the Big Man himself!
Santa’s Workshop The little elf workshop will be coming to you via a parking lot pick up of crafts that can be assembled at home! Stop by on December 15 and don’t miss it.
The Great Gift Give Away Our largest gift give away of the year will take place on December 16 and it provides families with games, books and more to help celebrate their holiday season.
Holiday Family Meal The Gary Sinise Foundation Serving Heroes Meal will bring a holiday meal for the whole family. Meals will be served “to-go” and family style on December 17.
Movie Night Holiday family movie night kits will be distributed on December 18 to families to enjoy a full evening of cozy cocoa, popcorn and more!
Breakfast With Santa Santa will be in town serving up to-go breakfast meals. Come and chow down with Santa on December 19. Please note: registration is required for all programs through Eventbrite. You can find additional details on each program at the USO Fort Campbell website (fortcampbell.uso.org) or USO Fort Campbell Facebook page (USO Fort Campbell) 32
F&M Bank Recognized For Support of Military F&M Bank was nationally recognized by the American Bankers Association Foundation for its Operation: Partners Serve program with a 2020 ABA Foundation Community Commitment Award. The award was given to F&M Bank for its efforts in the supporting military families category and was presented during ABA’s Unconventional Convention on Oct. 20. Entries were divided into seven categories including affordable housing, community and economic development, financial education, economic inclusion, protecting older Americans, supporting military families and volunteerism. Award winners were chosen by a field of nationally-recognized experts. The selection committee chose the winning banks based on the creativity and thoughtfulness of programs — traditional or innovative in nature and structure — that embody the ideals of corporate social responsibility and demonstrate success in measurable terms. “F&M Bank saw an opportunity to improve the lives of those in their communities and took action,” said Corey Carlisle, executive director, ABA Foundation. “The Operation: Partners Serve program made a meaningful difference on the Fort Campbell, Kentucky military base and throughout middle Tennessee. We hope their work serves as a blueprint for others throughout the industry.”
“Through a variety of independent and collaborative programs, F&M Bank’s OPERATION: Partners Serve provides resources and opportunities for active duty and retired military and their families.” “We are always working to find new and innovative ways to positively impact the communities we serve,” said Sammy Stuard, Pres/CEO. “Through a variety of independent and collaborative programs, F&M Bank’s OPERATION: Partners Serve provides resources and opportunities for active duty and retired military and their families. OPERATION: Partners Serve initiatives include Brunch for the Brave, Campbell Combat Ceremonies, Spouses Tour of Downtown Clarksville, Run for the Wall, and Turkeys for Troops. We are humbled and honored to accept this award for our efforts.”
To learn more about the ABA Foundation Community Commitment Awards, visit aba.com/awards. F&M Bank is headquartered in Clarksville.
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2021 is right around the corner, and it is time for a fresh new start. After the year we have all had, the thought of starting fresh is truly amazing. Our curiosity was stricken when we thought about New Year’s Resolutions. What will yours be in 2021? What has the crazy year of 2020 made you desire? “I want to use 2021 to be kinder. I hope to make people smile every single day and let them know the world is not all bad. I plan on paying it forward a lot this year.” Stacy from Florida “Mine isn’t incredibly unique, but I want to lose some weight. I gained a few quarantine pounds when all the gyms shut down, and I haven’t been able to find the motivation to get back into them like I need to.” Jesse from Texas “My family will be looking into more natural remedies to treat everyday illnesses like elderberry syrup and essential oils. It isn’t for everyone but having a fear of going to the doctor for simple illnesses in 2020 made me discover some pretty amazing natural remedies. I hope to expand that knowledge for the rest of our lives.” Heather from Wisconsin “My husband and I will be using 2021 to build up our savings account. I lost my job in 2020, and it taught me that things financially can change in a split second, and you need a few months of savings that can assist you in paying your bills.” Kayla from Oklahoma “I will be eating healthier and exercising so that my body will be prepared for pregnancy. My little family has decided to expand in 2021, and I want to be in the best shape possible for that big event.” Valerie from New York “I want to try and become a Vegan in 2021. It has been something I have been wanting to try for a while now, so I am excited to give it a go.” Lara from Nevada “For Christmas, I am asking for a ton of eco-friendly reusable items so we can start cutting down on our landfill contribution. Just trying to do my part in saving the planet!” Joy from Rhode Island “I am going back to school in 2021, so my New Year’s Resolution is to become a kick-butt college student while I juggle being a mom. I’m excited but also nervous.” Bella from Maine “2021 is the year of a total makeover for me. Throughout the year I am going to dye my hair, change up my wardrobe, and get a tattoo or two. I’ve looked the same my entire life and I am getting a little bored.” Abigail from Kentucky “My goal is to get outside more. The area has such beautiful hiking trails and scenery. I’ve spent way too much time sucked into my phone and Netflix.” Penny from Texas “I want to become a better cook. I tend to make the same 5 dishes repeatedly because I can’t cook much else. It is time for me to break out some Youtube videos and find some local cooking classes.” Gwen from New Jersey “I am going to teach myself to play the guitar. I found one at a local yard sale, and I think it would be a lot of fun. Especially when my husband is gone for extended amounts of time.” Bonnie from Alabama “In 2021, I am going to start making time for myself. I’ve lost myself in the last few months, and I never allow myself to breathe. It is time to change that because my mental health is important too.” Liza from California 34