Upper Valley Holidays 2022

UPPER VALLEY Holidays

4 THINGS we really want for Christmas

Mary Hunt Creators.com

Do you remember the TV show “Supermarket Sweep”? Contestants had several minutes to fill grocery carts with as much stuff as possible. But the winner wasn’t determined by the quantity of stuff jammed into the cart but by the total monetary value at checkout. The contestant with the biggest tab won the game.

The strategy is simple: Pass up the low-value stuff and load up on what’s going to pay off big at the checkout. Smart contestants had a plan of action and knew exactly where to head the minute that clock started ticking.

Christmas is like that. Once the season begins, we start filling our “shopping carts.” We have lots of choices. What we choose will either pay off in terms of happiness, satisfaction and pleasant holiday memories, or we’ll get negative results of dissatisfaction and disappointment fueled by guilt, obligation and trying to meet others’ expectations.

What we end up with when it’s all put away for another year will depend on the choices we make between now and then.

In their book “Unplug the Christmas Machine,” authors Jo Robinson and Jean C. Staeheli tell us that, while children may be quick to tell their parents they want designer clothes, the latest electronic gear and brand-name toys for Christmas, here’s what they really want:

• Relaxed and loving time with family.

• Realistic expectations about gifts.

• An evenly paced holiday season.

• Reliable family traditions.

Underneath, I think that’s what adults want, too.

Just imagine how the holidays might look this year if we have the courage to hold each of our choices and holiday decisions against the measuring stick of the four things we really do want for Christmas.

• Relaxed And Loving Time With Family

If you’re looking for a big payoff in terms of happiness this holiday season, this is where you want to concentrate your efforts. That’s because experts tell us that happiness is the process of enjoying what you’re doing. Happiness is found in our relationships, our free time, our family and our lives.

The secret here is to schedule those blocks of family time in the same way you would an important meeting with a client or lunch with a friend. Write it on the calendar. Find at least four places on your December calendar to enter something like “Family Time” or whatever makes sense to you. Do it now and do it in ink. It’s that important.

• Realistic Gift Expectations

No one can determine what this means for your specific situation. But it’s safe to say if your gift plans require you to go into debt, it’s not realistic. If it means 60 gifts per child, that’s not realistic. If it means feeling obligated to exchange gifts with all of your extended family, that too may be unrealistic for you this year.

Now is the right time to decide what is right for you and your family. Set boundaries when it comes to both giving and receiving gifts. Realistic gifts for you might be simple handmade gifts from your kitchen.

If you have very young children, arrange with other families to swap toys instead of everyone buying new ones this year. Clean them up and wrap them up, and the kids will be none the wiser.

Some families include service to others as part of their holiday gift-giving. Make coupon books that family members can redeem for services such as car washing, making a favorite meal or cleaning the garage.

Continued from page 4

Physical labor never goes out of style.

• Evenly Paced Holiday Season

I know this is probably the last thing you want to hear right now, but it’s true: You’ve got to get organized. No matter how simple or complex your holidays, organization is the only way to keep things evenly paced.

Make meals ahead and freeze them. On those very busy days in mid-December, you’ll stay relaxed and stress-free knowing that dinner will be on the table just like usual. Your family is used to that, right?

You’re going to laugh because this idea is going to sound way too simple but so useful that it bears repeating: Get one envelope for each person on your gift list. Write that person’s name and the amount you plan to spend on the front. Put the cash in the envelope (or, if shopping online, purchase gift cards then treat them as cash to make online purchases). When an envelope empties, stop shopping.

• Reliable Family Traditions

Traditions give families assurance that even in an uncertain and changing world, there are some things they can count on

to be the same. Anything you do in the same way at the same time, year after year, counts as a tradition. Whatever it is, even if you’ve done it once but plan to do it again, it counts as a tradition.

Make a list of your family’s best traditions. Talk about them, treat them with a sense of respect and joy, and add to them. Repeat often and, in time, they will become trusted anchors in your lives.

Here’s the bottom line: What we really want for Christmas — kids and adults — can’t be bought in a store. Sure, the gifts are fun and exciting, but they will soon fade. It’s the memories of times together and the family traditions we experience that will last a lifetime.

Mary Hunt’s column, “Everyday Cheapskate,” can be found at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM

Bake & Make

quick and easy takes on classics bring cheer to your cookie jar, delighting friends and family.

Chelle Cordero Creators.com

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and the scent of homemade cookies always conjures nostalgia and spreads holiday cheer. Whether you are filling your own cookie jars in preparation for family and guests or bringing a thoughtful gift to a host, everyone will love these classic and new versions of holiday favorites.

Gingerbread man cookies need not be men nor ginger flavored. Snowmen sugar cookies or candy caneshaped cookies with a hint of peppermint are both delightful variations. Whether

you are using a homemade cookie dough or saving time with a pre-made mix or log, use holiday cookie cutters and let the kids do the decorating with colorful frostings, M&M’s and sprinkles.

Don’t forget to find out if there are any family favorites you can update. “Every family has a recipe, and every family has a story. We have always felt that one should do a gentle interrogation of the elders at holiday gatherings,” says Marilynn Brass, half of the Brass Sisters duo, “Heirloom Cooking” ($19, Black Dog & Leventhal) authors and TV personalities. “We love the holiday season with the scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves coming from home kitchens. The crunch of a crisp holiday cookie ... means the holidays are finally here.”

One such holiday staple you can put a new twist on is the Christmas fruitcake. Mix up a batter of butter cookies (from scratch or a box), and then mix in the sweet morsels of candied fruit. Roll the dough and fruit into a log, slice and bake as soft, chewy cookies. If you don’t care for the prepared fruit bits, try using raisins and apple pieces. For extra dazzle, sprinkle a bit of powdered sugar over the warm cookies after they come out of the oven.

Old family recipes that once took hours can be made more convenient with some trusted shortcuts. For example, trying using rolled cookie dough to make wonderful thumbprint or

These

chocolate kiss cookies. Even the Yule log cake is easy with a packaged chocolate cake mix. Line a rimmed baking sheet with buttered parchment and pour the batter in. Be careful not to overbake it; it’s done when the surface feels springy. Spread a cream cheese or vanilla frosting and carefully roll the cake batter into a log. Let cool completely and then frost with a dark chocolate frosting. Score the frosting with the tines of a fork to look like bark; if you would like, add sprigs of peppermint to look like leaves.

If you are really in a pinch for time, there are a few appetizing nobake options available.

If you want something classic and colorful, buy sweet and plain store cookies (such as soft madeleines or vanilla wafers) and dip them into melted chocolate or frostings. Add colorful sprinkles, let them dry and then arrange them on your best cookie platter. On a similar note, youngsters can easily make rice crispy treats holiday-ready by throwing red and green

sprinkles or colored marshmallows in the mix.

Finally, try your hand at making a panful of Rocky Road. Start by melting 4 cups chocolate (not baking chocolate! Use dark, sweet, white or a combination); use your microwave for 20 seconds if the mix gets too stiff. Mix in 1/2 cup nut pieces or substitute another filling for a no-nut recipe; add 2 1/2 cups of a combination of other fillings. Popular choices for additional fillings include mini marshmallows, dried fruit, such as cranberries or cherry pieces; coconut flakes; crushed candy canes or chocolate chips. Stir this mixture thoroughly in a heat-resistant bowl. Pour the batter into a parchment-lined 8-inch pan. Top with peppermint pieces, cracked nuts or coconut shreds if desired. Put into the fridge for approximately 1 hour. Use a sharp knife to cut into squares and serve.

Whether you try some new treats this season or stick with ones that have stood the test of time, have a very merry Christmas!

COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM

AN AMERICAN Christmas

Regional traditions highlight the many cultures of the United States

Castillo Creators.com

From holiday boat parades to decorated lifeguard chairs to seasonal foods and cultural versions of Santa, there are many festive regional Christmas traditions across the country. Here’s a look at some of these joyous Christmas customs.

Bethlehem

Get in the Christmas spirit year-round in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, known nationally as “the Christmas City” since 1937. The area, settled by a small group of Moravian missionaries who gave Bethlehem its name, has been celebrating Christmas there since it was founded in 1741. Soak in the spirit of the season with the holiday lights and horse-drawn carriage rides.

Get your holiday shopping done in Bethlehem at the Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem. The holiday market, named one of the top holiday markets by Travel + Leisure, has been going on for 30 years. Stock up on handmade gifts from 60 artisans. Then enjoy local holiday foods including strudel, German bratwurst and hot toddies. The

indoor/outdoor market is open Friday through Sunday in November and December.

Tumbleweed Tree

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas in Chandler, Arizona, without the Tumbleweed Tree. Legend has it that after a fire in 1956 or 1957 destroyed the city’s Christmas decorations, the city of Chandler replaced the decorations with a tree of tumbleweeds. Every year, the city collects 1,000 tumbleweeds starting in October and then sprays them with fire retardant, 45 gallons of white paint and 80 pounds of glitter. The 35-foot tree, which has over 1,200 LED lights, is now a beacon of holiday fun in the desert city.

Shaka Santa

Christmas in Hawaii features regional versions of traditional holiday elements. According to HawaiiTravelWithKids.com, Santa is called “Shaka Santa” because he uses the popular island “hang loose” hand gesture. Meanwhile, Mrs. Claus is called “Tutu Mele,” since Tutu is Hawaiian for grandmother, and mele is a Hawaiian song. A traditional holiday dinner in the Aloha state is a kalua pig, which is typically roasted in an underground oven.

Kristen

Deck the Chairs

In Jacksonville Beach, Florida, residents and visitors celebrate the season with a free, six-week holiday event, known as Deck the Chairs. The lifeguard chair decorating event – featuring 60 lifeguard chairs decorated by schools, small businesses and nonprofits – features nightly music and lights and promotes art in the public space and creates opportunity for children’s arts education and outreach.

Sinterklaas

The Dutch community in Holland, Michigan, kicks off the Christmas season with the folk celebration, Sinterklaas. The star of the event is Sinterklaas, aka Saint Nicholas. Dressed in a red cape and a bishop’s hat, he makes his entrance to the Kerstmarkt, a Europeanstyle market, riding on a white horse. The event also features a parade, a tree lighting, holiday shopping and food.

Boat Parades

Up and down the California coast, Christmas is celebrated with boat parades.

According to SeeCalifornia. com, California is the capital of Christmas boat parades. They say decorating vessels with holiday lights is a 100year tradition with Newport Beach, having launched its boat parades in the early 1900s.

Boat parades are held

annually in Marina Del Rey, Newport Beach, Dana Point, Long Beach, Oceanside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and many other golden state cities.

Regional Foods

Throughout the country, cultural foods are on the menu during Christmas.

For example, in Polish communities, there’s a traditional meatless Christmas Eve dinner called Wigilia with foods like mushroom soup, pierogi, fried fish, pastries and babka. Filipinos celebrate “Noche Buena,” a Christmas Eve feast complete with roasted pork, called lechon. In Louisiana, locals savor a Cajun Christmas, featuring seafood gumbo, turducken and bread pudding.

The Mexican American community celebrates the holiday by making tamales, a seasoned meat wrapped in cornmeal and steamed in a corn husk. According to the Los Angeles Times, in Mesoamerica, corn was seen as the substance of life and that gods made humans from corn. Wrapped tamales were a ritual of sacrifice. These days, tamale making and eating are seasonal treats.

While regional Christmas traditions can vary, the joyful spirit of the season is always on display.

Tamales are a traditional Christmas dish for Mexican Americans

HEALTHY HOLIDAYS

F. Grossman • Markell J. Ripps Cara E. Albert • J. Christopher Burgess

Some would argue that the words “healthy” and “holidays” don’t belong in the same sentence. I disagree. While the holidays may offer more temptation to overeat, they don’t have to sabotage our efforts to eat healthy foods. Turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and green beans all fit into a healthy eating plan. The key is to eat all holiday foods in moderation.

It’s true the average holiday meal can pack a calorie punch – upwards of 1,750 calories per plate – but it doesn’t have to be that way. It adds up quickly: a serving of pumpkin pie is 350 calories; a 1-cup serving of mashed potatoes is 257 calories; a half-cup of cranberry sauce is 220 calories; a 1-cup serving of stuffing, 350 calories; an 8-ounce serving of turkey is

480 calories and a 6-ounce glass of wine, 120 calories.

Here are some strategies to keep overeating at bay:

No. 1: When you arrive, don’t immediately head for the food. Constant nibbling and grazing can lead you to consume many calories before you even get to the meal.

No. 2: Just take one plate – forget going back for seconds. On any other day, a full plate satisfies, and it will on Christmas, too.

No. 3: How to cut calories? Remove the skin on the turkey and eat the white meat. Whip your mashed potatoes with skim milk and roasted garlic. Instead of the traditional green bean casserole, enjoy fresh, steamed green beans topped with slivered

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Charlyn Fargo Creators.com

Daniel

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE LAW IN VT & NH

from page 10

almonds. Oven-bake your stuffing with sauteed onions and celery. Use whole cranberry sauce rather than jellied. Choose whole-wheat, high-fiber rolls, and slice that pumpkin pie into 10 pieces instead of eight.

No. 4: Look for lower calorie recipes – bring a veggie or fruit tray if you can and flavor your sweet potatoes with apple juice and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

No. 5: Take a walk after you eat; it helps with digestion.

No. 6: Drink plenty of water.

RECIPE

The holidays are just around the corner. If you’re hosting a big event, you may be scrambling for just one more recipe to make it complete. Here’s one I recommend – a twist on the usual sweet potatoes that you can do in the slow cooker. It’s from Eating Well magazine.

SLOW COOKER SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE WITH BOURBON PECANS

4 pounds sweet potatoes

Zest and juice of 1 orange

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided 3 tablespoons brown sugar, divided

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper, divided 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1 cup chopped pecans

1 tablespoon bourbon

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

Peel sweet potatoes and slice 1/4-inch thick. Place in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add orange zest and orange juice; 2 tablespoons each butter and brown sugar; vanilla, cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and nutmeg. Stir to combine. Cover and cook until the sweet potatoes are tender, about 3 hours on high or 6 1/2 hours on low. Mash with a potato masher until smooth. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a medium nonstick

skillet over medium heat until foaming. Add pecans, bourbon, cayenne and the remaining 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Transfer the sweet potatoes to a serving dish, if desired, and sprinkle with the pecans. Makes 14 1/2-cup servings.

Per serving: 175 calories; 2 grams protein; 24 grams carbohydrate; 8 grams fat (2 grams saturated), 7 milligrams cholesterol; 8 grams total sugars (3 grams added); 4 grams fiber; 177 milligrams sodium.

Charlyn Fargo’s column, “Nutrition News,” can be found at www.creators. com.

COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM

Jingle Bell Brunch

Creators.com

The holidays are a time of tried-and-true traditions, the rituals that your family and friends look forward to as a constant, a deeply enjoyable time together. For many people, they wouldn’t dream of changing a thing. Their holiday events will stay the same as they’ve been for generations.

But if you feel inspired to do something new as well,

hosting a brunch can be the perfect event for your group.

Here’s why brunches are so popular right now: Since brunches take place during late morning to early

afternoon, your guests can enjoy your event and also make it to all of the evening events on their social calendars. Some guests find an earlier event time to work better for them, and thus they may be more likely to show up.

Brunch menus feature a wide variety of dishes, especially when they take place at a restaurant’s

buffet that features more selections than you’d likely make on your own. You’ll find carving stations, omelet stations, endless salads, smoked salmon – and then we get to more luncheon-style stations and displays. Plus, brunch menus will often feature specialty diet foods like vegan and gluten-free items that again might be

beyond what you’d prepare personally.

Brunches held at a restaurant can often be more budget-friendly than a brunch held at home, where your grocery shopping list can run into the hundreds of dollars for all food and supplies.

Some really enjoy, during this season of doing for others, the treat of having waitstaff bring them a glass of champagne, a soda or a bloody mary. “When I host, I barely get to eat anything ... and definitely not hot things!” says mother of four Sally Branch of New Hope, Pennsylvania.

If you’ll host at home, a daytime event shows off your home and yard in sparkling sunlight, a refreshing view. If you live in a temperate climate, you might even hold at least some of your event outside on a terrace or allow guests to mill about after brunch occurs.

A catered brunch can let you incorporate your family’s own brunch dishes with the collection of items in a catered menu. So you might choose to fire up the waffle maker and serve hot, fresh waffles with customized additions.

What’s New in Brunch Offerings

For today’s brunch, variety is the spice of it. From charcuterie and cheese platters filled with an assortment of meats and cheeses to more detailed platters and long tables covered with pick-your-own bites, slices and spreads, this brunch feature pleases the masses. Add in fresh, warm breads and a variety of breadsticks, plus creatively-cut fruits and vegetables, and you reach every dietary need. “Consider arranging multiple boards,

Sharon Naylor Toris

so that vegan guests can hang around the vegan plate and non-vegans have assortments suited to them as well,’ says Jenny Weinstock of Just Jenny’s Boards in New Jersey.

Drinks and Desserts

Everyone thinks of the classic bloody mary, which meets your festive red color scheme design, and a red, green and white cake might be on the menu. Or, you could veer away from traditional colors and opt for a menu that has virtually no red or green in it -- fresh greens aside. Some top trends for drinks include:

• Champagne with bits of pomegranates and pomegranate juice

• Island rum punch: half orange juice, half pineapple juice and a pour of rum over ice

• Pink squirrels for a vintage feel

• Your favorite craft beers and spiked ciders

• Apple cider with cinnamon sticks and rumsoaked apples

Desserts might include:

• Snowball cupcakes

• Trifles with different layers of pudding, poundcake and berries

• Brownies with snowflake sprinkles

• Theme-cut fresh fruit

Decor

Pennylyn Kaine of Blossom and Bee Designs suggests working with bamboo that can be cut to hold votives or used as bud vases. Some

families love including the kids and having them make paper chains, but the chosen paper for this craft is mostly pastel or iridescent white for a more modern look.

“We display our collection of ornaments on our bookshelves and on various tables so that the tree doesn’t get too busy or weighed down,” says Branch. “Our ornaments then become conversation pieces for our brunch guests.”

Making it Special

Choose a playlist that blends classic and modern holiday songs. Ask relatives from every generation to make some suggestions, and of course a child or teen of the family might wish to make the playlist itself. If you’re bringing a dish with a recipe to share, bring multiple copies for guests to take.

COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM

Poinsettias

This next tradition has Mexican roots. Almanac.com reports that American statesman and the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, also an amateur botanist, saw the red-flowered plant when he was visiting the Mexican town of Taxco.

He sent cuttings of the plant back to his plantation in South Carolina and called it the “Mexican Fire Plant.” The plant became popular and was renamed in his honor.

But poinsettias didn’t become mainstream until Californian Paul Ecke started growing the plants at his ranch. He discovered a technique that resulted in a fuller plant. Soon he was growing tens of thousands of poinsettias for the Christmas season. He promoted them by sending them to TV studios across the country. The plants became a seasonal success and are nationally recognized on Dec. 12, National Poinsettia Day.

These days, poinsettias are the most popular Christmas plant, and they’re the best-selling potted plant in the U.S. and Canada.

The Elf on the Shelf

Here’s the story behind a modern tradition: the Elf on the Shelf.

The Huffington Post spent time with the elf’s creators and got the backstory. Carol Aebersold grew up with an elf, Fisbee, when she was a kid, but he was an ornament on the tree and didn’t move.

She continued the tradition for her twin daughters, Chanda Bell and Christa Pitts, in the 1970s. But the tradition changed. The girls believed Fisbee flew around the house at night and reported back to Santa Claus about their respective behavior. Aebersold told the girls not to touch the elf because it would lose its magic.

Fast forward to 2004, when one of Aebersold’s daughters decided to write a story about the Elf on the Shelf. It was just a fun project at first but it become a huge business over time. These days, over 11 million elves have been sold across the world.

COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM

COVID-19 UPDATE

Poinsettias have Mexican roots and are the bestselling potted plant in

Holiday Events

Musical: “The Railway Children” in White River Junction

Nov. 23 – Jan. 1.

Faced with a family emergency, three siblings are forced to move from their fancy city home to a small rural cottage where they explore the railroad and befriend the people in their new town. Tickets: northernstage.org. Northern Stage, 802-2967000. boxoffice@northernstage.org.

Pods for the Pulpit Craft Fair in Norwich

Nov. 25 & 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Purchase high-quality crafts from around 25 vendors. Proceeds from booth fees, commissions and raffle tickets benefit the Upper Valley Haven. Free. Tracy Hall, 300 Main St, Norwich.

Christmas Show and Sale in West Lebanon

Nov. 23 through Dec. 24

Shop a variety of handmade gifts created by members of the Lebanon Art & Crafts Association. Saturday-Wednesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.8 p.m. More information: lebanonartandcrafts.org. Free. Upper Valley Plaza, 250 Plainfield Road, West Lebanon.

Gallery of Gifts

Handmade for the Holidays in Newport: Includes pottery, woodworking, gorgeous jewelry, handmade soaps and local maple syrup created by 100+ regional artisans and artists. Nov. 23 -Dec. 23: Tues.-Fri., 11 a.m.4 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Library Arts Center, 58 N. Main St, Newport.

Lighting Ceremony at the Joseph Smith Birthplace in South Royalton Nov. 25, 7 p.m.

Includes light refreshments, Christmas music and Nativity displays. Donate twin bedding items to benefit Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Free. Joseph Smith Birthplace, 357 LDS Lane, South Royalton.

Thanksgiving Weekend in Woodstock

Nov. 26 through Nov. 28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

An experience for the whole family with 19th-century Thanksgiving traditions, crafts, and food. $8-$17. Children under 3 free. Billings Farm & Museum, 69 Old River Road, Woodstock.

Christmas Lights at the Joseph Smith Birthplace in South Royalton

Daily Nov. 26 through Jan. 1, 4 p.m.-9 p.m.

On Saturday and Sunday nights, there will be light refreshments, Christmas music and Nativity displays. Donate twin bedding items to benefit Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Free. Joseph Smith Birthplace , 357 LDS Lane, South Royalton.

The Family Place’s 20th Annual Gingerbread Festival in Norwich Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

A family friendly event with a gingerbread house display; a silent auction; a Gingerbread Country Store; and children’s activities. All proceeds benefit The Family Place. $5-$10. $10 per family; $5 per individual. Tracy Hall, 300 Main St, Norwich.

Christmas at the Farm in Woodstock

December Weekends & December 17 –January 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

See the site transformed to a Victorianera Christmas with lights and natural décor. Includes holiday crafts, candle dipping and farm recipes. $8-$17. Children under 3 free. Billings Farm & Museum, 69 Old River Road, Woodstock.

Merry

Bright celebration in Hartford Village

Dec. 3, 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m.

Get pictures with Santa, enter the raffles and ugly sweater contest, and make crafts. Baked goods available for purchase. Visit cccvt.org for more information. Free. Cornerstone Community Center, 14 Elk St, Hartford Village.

Open Mic in South Royalton Dec. 8, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Weekly open mic hosted by George Nostrand. Bring talent, friends, instruments and mics if available. Free. 802 Pizza SoRo, 192 Chelsea St., South Royalton.

Wassail Weekend in Woodstock Dec. 9 – Dec. 11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Includes Wassail punch, cider donuts and festive décor. $8-$17. Children under 3 free. Billings Farm & Museum, 69 Old River Road, Woodstock.

Lake Morey Holiday Market in Fairlee Dec. 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Vendors from the Upper Valley and beyond will gather at the Resort, paired with family friendly activities, Santa and seasonal drink specials. Free. Pay $10 for one cocktail/mocktail and a wagon ride. Lake Morey Resort, 82 Clubhouse Road, Fairlee.

Christmas in Canaan Dec. 10, 4 p.m.-7 p.m.

Includes gingerbread house contest, chili cookoff, horse and wagon rides, coloring contest and visit with Santa. Visit Downtown businesses for kids crafts and activities for the whole family. Free. Downtown Canaan NH, 7 On The Common Lane, Canaan.

“One Starry Night” in West Lebanon Dec. 10, 4 p.m.-7 p.m.

Includes live music, Christmas cookies, hot cocoa, free family photos, a live Christmas Nativity complete with kids crafts and activities to experience the sights and sounds of Bethlehem Village. Free. Wellspring Worship Center, 407 N. Main St, West Lebanon.

Pictures with Santa in Claremont Dec. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Kids, families and pets welcome to visit with Santa and get their picture taken. Photos will only be available digitally and e-mailed for $5 an image. Proceeds benefit Sullivan County Humane Society. $5. $5

per image . Runnings, 403 Washington St, Claremont.

Open Mic in Enfield Dec. 16, 8 p.m.-11 p.m. Open mic with music, poetry and comedy. Family friendly. Coordinated by members of the band Of Conscious Mind and hosted at Whaleback Mountain. Free. Whaleback Mountain, 160 Whaleback Mountain Road, Enfield. Shop Grafton! Market: Dec. 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Handcrafters, yard sale and flea market. Includes handmade jewelry, knit/crochet items, handmade cutting boards, ornaments, baked goods and customizable gifts, clothing. Vendor space is by donation. Free. Grafton Town Hall, 35 Turnpike Road, Grafton.

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Excluding breakfast, I consider a meal without a glass of wine to be a missed opportunity.

I think of wine as an enhancement of food and a simple way to improve almost all victuals.

Not every wine has to be great. Sometimes, a simple glass of simple wine is just fine. And though making the proper food and wine pairing is fun, it’s by no means necessary.

In fact, I don’t believe in rigid rules when it comes to wine and food pairing. For me, there is one rigid rule I live by: wine with food

Wine & Food

Complement the flavors at your holiday table with these perfect pairings.

beats the alternative, which is food without any wine.

The old food/wine rules were designed with simplicity in mind. Sure, “white wine with fish, red wine with meat” can work, but not always. Like baked halibut with lemon butter. But what about halibut in a dark red-wine reduction sauce seasoned with tarragon and thyme? A medium-weight red would be better.

Want rules? Let’s start with some basics:

• Either a complement or a contrast should be considered. A complementing wine should have flavors that are not incompatible with the main dish; a contrasting wine could well be a tart wine with a rich creamy dish.

• The dominant flavors in the main dish are usually matched to the wine, so roasted lamb leg with rosemary traditionally would

be matched with older red Bordeaux and its slightly gamey or earthy complexity. But the rosemary is in play, so a very ripe, youthful zinfandel could also work.

• Beef isn’t always

prepared the same. A medium pinot noir best complements rare prime rib, but if you’re having a rump roast covered in herbs and garlic, a shiraz might be better. The roast’s exterior will have a load of flavors including pepper.

• Keep in mind the other dishes on the table. When preparing a turkey with sage dressing, herbal wines may do best, such as cabernet or pinot noir. But at Thanksgiving, remember the other dishes typically on the table: cranberry sauce (sweet), yams (sweet) and even raisins in the dressing.

Since the sweetness in the dishes will make some reds taste sour, try Beaujolais or zinfandel. Also, consider an Extra Dry sparkling wine, with its slight sweetness.

• In doubt? California sparkling wine and quality dry rose wines are all-purpose matches for a wide variety of cuisines. Rose really is an all-purpose wine, especially when one person at the table is eating seafood, another is having steak and others are vegetarians. Grenache and sangiovese are popular grapes making stylish rose wines these days.

• With Asian foods, keep in mind the heat (peppers and other spices) and the sweetness (especially if fruit is used in the preparation). If the main dish is either sweet or hot, choose an off-dry wine, preferably with lower alcohol, such as a German riesling.

• With salty foods, pick an off-dry wine with flowery character, such as a gewurztraminer.

Dan Berger Creators.com

WINE AND FOOD – Getting creative with wine pairings can prevent a dreary dinner.

from page 18

• Chilled dishes usually have less overt flavors, so a delicate wine would work well. Try a pinot gris or pinot blanc from Alsace or from the Alto Adige of Italy.

• Don’t try to match wine with foods containing noticeable amounts of vinegar, such as salads. For salads with cream dressings, try sauvignon blanc.

• Most soups gain added interest with a tiny splash of a dry or off-dry sherry. And serving sherry alongside soup is an elegant accompaniment.

Of all the systems pairing wines with foods, I still like my No. 1 rule best: dinner without wine is dreary.

Wine of the Week: Nonvintage Fre Red Blend, California “Alcohol Removed” ($6): Making any wine without any alcohol is an extremely difficult task, and it is far more difficult to make a red than a white. This zero-alcohol wine is relatively tasty, particularly if it is reasonably well chilled. The aroma is typical of an inexpensive red, and the residual sugar that was intentionally left in the wine helps with the texture that the alcohol would have provided had it been there. Chilling it helps the structural balance, allowing it to work nicely with various foods.

Dan Berger’s column, “Dan Berger on Wine,” can be found at www.creators.com COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM

CHRISTMAS Classics

From songs to movies, these pop-culture pieces shaped Christmas in America.

Kristen Castillo Creators.com

This time of year, it’s easy to fall into a familiar routine of listening to Christmas songs you listen to every year and watching Christmas movies you know so well that you can quote favorite lines.

Sure, there are new holiday songs and movies released every year, but these classics stand the test of time and they’ve shaped our pop culture. Here’s a look at some of those classics:

Songs

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey

Once you hear the bell chimes, you know what song is playing: “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

This song has been on the charts every year since its debut in 1994. It’s still a fan favorite: Last Christmas, the singer and her fan’s celebrated a big milestone when the song reached 1 billion streams on Spotify.

“Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano

Continued on page 22

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You don’t have to speak Spanish to love this festive holiday song.

Featuring two messages on repeat, the song captures the season’s well wishes:

“Feliz Navidad Feliz Navidad Feliz Navidad Prospero ano y felicidad.

I wanna wish you a merry Christmas

I wanna wish you a merry Christmas

I wanna wish you a merry Christmas

From the bottom of my heart.”

Singer-songwriter Jose Feliciano wrote this bilingual hit in 1970. He told NPR that when he penned the song, he was in Los Angeles and was missing his family in Puerto Rico, who were celebrating Christmas Eve.

He decided to write a song about Christmas joy, and over 50 years later, “Feliz Navidad” is still bringing Christmas joy to listeners.

“White Christmas” by

Irving Berlin, famously sung by Bing Crosby

This song is all about nostalgia and yearning for a simpler time. American Songwriter says “White Christmas” was written by Irving Berlin in 1938 or 1939 for a Broadway show that never happened.

It made its debut in December 1941, just days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Bing Crosby performed the song on the Kraft Music Hall radio show. It was an immediate hit and in 1942, Crosby rerecorded the song with an orchestra and backup singers.

“White Christmas” has been a holiday favorite for over 80 years. It was used in the 1942 musical “Holiday Inn” and earned Berlin his first Oscar for best original song in 1943.

With over 50 million copies sold, it’s the bestselling Christmas song of all time and according to Guinness World Records, the bestselling single ever.

Movies

“It’s a Wonderful Life”

While “It’s a Wonderful Life” came out in 1946, the black-and-white film wasn’t an instant success. It took decades before the film became a Christmas classic.

Ranked No. 11 on the “100 Greatest Movies of All Time” list by the American Film Institute, the film follows main character George Bailey, played by James Stewart, as he contemplates the value of his life. Facing financial problems and thinking everyone is better without him around, he considers suicide on Christmas Eve. But his guardian angel Clarence shows him the impact he really has on the world and how he really does have a wonderful life.

Even though it was released 75-plus years ago, the popular movie still airs on TV during the holiday

season and is available for streaming.

“The Grinch”

The Grinch character is one we love to hate because he steals Christmas. But he’s also relatable at times, because he feels awkward and is troubled by his solitary life. Whether you’re a fan of the live-action Grinch from the 2000 “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” the modern “The Grinch” from 2018 or the original 1966 animated TV movie, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” the character and the adaptations don’t disappoint.

The Grinch concept, originated from a Dr. Suess story, inspired these movies and they’re all successful. According to Screenrant, the 2000 film made over $345 million at the box office while the 2018 adaptation made $511 million.

“Elf”

A modern-day classic, “Elf” debuted in 2003, but has made quite a mark. Starring Will Ferrell as Buddy the elf who doesn’t fit in at the North Pole where he’s been raised, the film follows Buddy as he heads to New York City to find his biological father, cynical businessman Walter Hobbs, who’s played by James Caan.

The Film magazine says the movie is a Gen-Z classic because it has absurd moments that make it funny and memorable; lots of quotes, which are fun to share on social media; a 2000s aesthetic; a great cast; and it has purpose by offering commentary on holiday burnout and commercialism.

What’s your favorite classic Christmas song or movie?

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CHRISTMAS CLASSICS – The Grinch, as seen in the 2018 film, “The Grinch,” is the Christmas movie character we all love to hate. CREATORS.COM PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES

Thrifty Travel

Kristen Castillo Creators.com

Travel has been chaotic and expensive in recent months. Fodors Travel says travelers experienced “a surge in demand, a lack of staff, inflation and the rising cost of gas, and a massively unprepared industry.”

Experts say holiday travel will likely be much of the same. But with the right strategies, you can try to get good deals on your next getaway.

“Plan early and don’t wait to book your flights,” says Christina Bennett, head of communications at Priceline, part of Booking Holdings Inc., a leader in online travel deals, noting the company’s data shows that September and October are the ideal times to book the best deals on airfare.

Be Flexible

“While some holiday travelers have a set destination in mind because they want to visit family or friends, others may just want to get away and tour a new city or kick back and relax,” says money-saving expert Andrea Woroch, who specializes in budget travel.

She suggests setting flight price alerts using sites like ScottsCheapFlights.com to see where you can go from your home airport for the best price.

No matter where you’re headed, if possible, be flexible with travel dates -- traveling a few days earlier or later -- to avoid peak travel days and get better rates. Consider bundling airfare, hotel and rental cars, too, to save money.

“By packaging your bookings together, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars,” says Bennett, explaining Priceline customers who book their flight

and hotel together save an average of $240.

If you anticipate needing a rental car, book early for the best deals and selection. Still, you may have extra time for booking accommodations. Bennett says there are last-minute deals on hotels.

Woroch advises renting a home instead of staying at a hotel.

“If you’re traveling with family, going in on a condo or home rental could cost you far less than booking separate hotel rooms,” she says, noting you’ll likely get more amenities such as a fully stocked kitchen, and you’ll avoid additional fees like daily resort charges, parking, Wi-fi and more.

*Consider a Cruise Not sure where you’re headed but want to get away? Bennett suggests booking a cruise.

“Don’t forget that on a cruise, you only have to unpack once while you get to see multiple destinations, all meals are included, and cruise lines go all out with holiday decor and

activities,” she says, noting Priceline’s dedicated cruise page, cruises.priceline.com, has holiday cruise deals to Mexico, the Caribbean and other destinations starting at $50 a day.

Gift Savvy

While holiday travel often means you’ll be exchanging Christmas gifts at your destination, reconsider traveling with gifts. Here’s why: Woroch explains checked or overweight bag fees can range from $30 to $150 per bag.

She suggests shopping online and shipping gifts directly to the recipient or to your final destination to avoid delivery fees. Another option is to pick up gifts at a retailer located at your final destination.

Get Rewarded

Make your travel dollars work for you.

Woroch urges travelers to compare airlines’ credit card or travel reward programs and to sign up for offers at sites like CardRates. com. She says now’s a good

time to get a new credit card ahead of your desired holiday travel because you could earn a big bonus of extra cash back to help pay for your trip, or you could earn enough miles to cover your roundtrip flight or at least one leg of the trip.

For example, Capital One VentureOne Rewards card offers 20,000 miles for free after you spend $500 in the first three months from account opening, and the Capital One Venture Rewards credit cards offers 60,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months. She says the cards also offer free perks such as free checked bags and no

foreign exchange fees, and some offer travel credits or even complimentary hotel stays.

Another option is to use cash back portals to save more. Woroch says Sidekick from Coupon Cabin can automatically earn users cash back every time they book travel online, including 3% cash back at Hotels. com, 4% back at Holiday Inn Express, 4.25% back at Booking.com and 3.5% back for Hertz car rentals. No matter how you try to save on holiday travel, don’t forget to pack your patience, as this travel season is expected to be challenging.

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