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HOLIDAY decorating | entertaining
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7 Cleaning Hacks to Prep Your Home for the Holidays
Welcome guests and host parties with flair and ease by keeping your home in top shape throughout the season.
Embrace life’s messes with these cleaning hacks that’ll save you time and have you hitting the slopes or shops that much sooner: 1.
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Make cleaning up after a muddy pup easier by waiting until the paw prints dry. Sweep up the clumps, mop the rest, and give Fido a good ear scratch. Put an old sock over the handle of a broom to clean up spider webs. Once the spider webs are on the sock instead of the walls, put the sock in your next load of laundry.
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Don’t forget that even sponges need to be cleaned. Once a week, pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds to zap bacteria. If you’re finding pet hair everywhere, use a window squeegee to quickly pull up pet fur from carpet, rugs, and upholstered furniture.
3. Make cleaning up after-school craft and holiday projects
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Find more tips online at libman.com. www.newscanada.com
a breeze. Use a lint roller to quickly clean up glitter, tiny paper pieces, and any other of those little craft supplies that seem to get stuck everywhere.
Let in that seasonal sunshine by using a Libman sponge mop with your favourite cleaning solution to wash windows outside.
5. Easily keep your shower sparkling clean by using a dish
wand in the shower to give the walls and door a quick wipe down every morning.
Caldrea Aromatherapeutic Home Keeping AVAILABLE AT DECKED OUT
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Delight with a Peppermint Candy Cane Dessert Peppermint candy cane could be the official taste of Christmas. For added whimsy, add a sprig of holly and a bow to make this dessert look like a festive wreath.
Serves: 8
Candy Cane Pavlova
Ingredients: • • • • • • • • •
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6 egg whites 1 3/4 cups (425 mL) granulated sugar 1 tsp (5 mL) white vinegar 1 tsp (5 mL) cornstarch 2 cups (500 mL) whipping cream 3 tbsp (45 mL) granulated sugar 1/4 tsp (1mL) peppermint extract (optional) 12 to 15 mini candy canes (about 100 g) Dark chocolate curls
Whisk egg whites using an electric mixer until foamy. With mixer running, gradually add sugar. Increase speed to high and whisk until egg whites are glossy, thick, and hold stiff peaks; about 4 to 7 minutes. Stir vinegar with cornstarch until smooth. Whisk into egg whites.
3. Spoon mixture onto prepared sheet following the marker
lines to create a wreath. Use the back of a large spoon to create indentations for the whipped cream.
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Place pan in the oven and reduce temperature to 250°F (120°C). Bake 90 minutes or until meringue is golden and cooked through. Let cool completely.
Directions: 5. Using an electric mixer on high, whip cream with sugar and peppermint until it forms soft peaks. Spoon into 1. Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a baking sheet with
indentations in meringue. Roughly crack 4 candy canes into large pieces and sprinkle over whipped cream, then place 8 whole ones evenly apart so each serving gets a candy cane.
parchment paper. Trace a 10 inch (25 cm) circle with a marker on the parchment, then add a 4 inch (10 cm) inner circle. When marker dries, flip it over so that the marked side is facing down.
Find more delicious holiday recipes at www.walmart.ca/recipecentre. www.newscanada.com
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Get Holiday-Ready in 5 Simple Steps
With so many items on your to-do and to-buy lists, the season of cheer can quickly become the season of overwhelming stress.
Use these easy steps to enjoyably and efficiently check everything off your lists in no time. 1. Reduce clutter. On your tables — when guests visit, 4. Take a little time for yourself. Use it to destress
you’ll have much more room for glasses and plates of sweet treats. In your fridge — purge the old food and condiments to make room for the incoming platters of party trays and leftovers. In the front closet — make room for the impending influx of shoes and coats.
2. Ready your music system.
Make sure your CD collection is good to go and your iPod or laptop has adequate playlists that can get you through any type of holiday get-together, from spontaneous drinks to all-night dinner parties.
and prepare for upcoming party plans. Pick up a Denver Hayes ugly Christmas sweater kit available at Mark’s and blow all of your friends away with your awesome DIY skills. This means your sweater is custom made, so you won’t be caught in a who-wore-it-best (or worst) competition.
5. Cook up a storm (preferably during a storm). Dedicate a Sunday to baking your favourite
holiday treats and freeze them once you’re done. This way, you’ll be prepared for the upcoming school parties, office cookie exchanges, and potlucks. You’ll also keep any impulsive snacking at bay because they’re not sitting on the counter. www.newscanada.com
3. Hang the decorations and lights.
There’s nothing like hanging holiday lights to get you in the spirit. This small afternoon task makes a big visual impact on guests. Consider lighting up the inside of your house, too — lights on garlands and in flower vases add a nice touch to any room.
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Three Gifts Every Canadian Deserves We’re Canadian and we’re proud! We talk about the weather a lot, we drink Caesars and we pronounce ‘about’ correctly, no matter what our southern neighbours say. That’s why this holiday season, we’ve put together the top three gifts to bestow upon your fellow Canadian…or even yourself!
An Endless Summer
Our winters are cold, but there’s no need to hibernate! Give the gift of light and warmth with an outdoor fireplace that encourages everyone to gather together. And it’s perfect for cottage lovers too.
Chic Winter Wear
As Canadians, we like the simple things, but we also love to splurge, especially during the holidays! Our recommended splurge item is a double-faced superfine alpaca wrap coat made by Canadian designer Bojana Sentaler. Best yet, the coat was worn by Princess Kate on her latest trip to Canada.
Happy Holidays Canada! www.newscanada.com
Canada’s Vodka
Any good Canadian knows holiday cocktails have to be made with Canada’s vodka! Gift the Caesar lover on your list Canada’s own Iceberg Vodka, made in Newfoundland with water from 20,000-year-old icebergs.
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Top Holiday Décor Trends for a Designer Look Holiday decorating should be more than something to scratch off your to-do list. Inspire your creativity before you deck your halls with these tips for a stylish home this season. Embrace nature. Just because you want a more
At the window. You’ll want to let in lots of natural light
Colour theory. Make an elegant statement by sticking
On the table. For a Pinterest-worthy table setting, keep
polished aesthetic doesn’t mean the kids can’t be involved. Recruit them to help you gather acorns, pine branches, or twigs to create a rustic DIY vibe that even the littlest ones can easily help achieve. Place earthy touches in mason jars, hurricane vases, or lanterns for effortless style. For extra oomph, tie twigs with festive ribbon or add a cloves for subtle holiday fragrance.
to a reduced palette of colours that won’t overwhelm, combining with neutrals to suit your style. Try mixing a deep, rich red with industrial metals or cool winter blues with cozy cream fabrics.
Marvelous mixes. Perfect matching is a recipe for a
dated look, so be sure to complement hard with soft, vintage with modern, and classic with contemporary. For example, set cutesy old fashioned ornaments in unconventional spots, like on top of a stack of books on a shelf. Wrap scraps of traditional seasonal fabrics like plaids around block candles, or draw or screen print holiday designs on wood slices.
during the precious few hours you can at this time of year, so opt for a window treatment that emphasizes brightness, like Hunter Douglas’ Luminette Privacy Sheers. Transform harsh exterior light by diffusing it with these stylish sheer fabrics, spreading it evenly throughout your room so you can maximize daylight hours and reduce your need for artificial light.
lines clean and simple and subtly incorporate your seasonal décor and colour scheme throughout. Use existing fabrics to create custom-made napkin holders or placemats. For a gorgeous centrepiece, mix one-part silver and three-parts white glitter to give pine cones or glass ornaments a sparkly frost-kissed look. Show them off in in a vase, cake stand, or favourite dish at the centre of the table.
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Unique Christmas Décor AVAILABLE AT RK FURNITURE GALLERY
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Impress Guests with the Latest Cocktail Trends ‘Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry, and yet so many hosts forget the cocktails! There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit than serving spirited signature cocktails at your next soirée, and this season’s cocktail trends will not disappoint.
And who said cocktails had to be chilled? The finest mixologists regularly serve winter warmers showcasing hot coffee and notes of butterscotch.
First, support local! Learn from Canada’s top bartenders and choose Canadian spirits and local ingredients whenever possible.
But don’t overload your bar cart! Using the same spirit in all your cocktails will save you time and money at the liquor store. Canada’s vodka, Iceberg Vodka, is the recommended spirit by Canadian bartenders. Crafted in Newfoundland, it’s made with water from 20,000 year-old icebergs making it the purest choice available.
For the apple cider fan in your family, kick it up a notch by creating a spin on a Moscow Mule with ginger beer and lime juice. The traditional copper mugs also make great gifts Is serving the same old egg nog feeling tired? This year, try it with vodka and a nutty splash of amaretto.
Enjoy one, or all three, of these cocktail recipes at your next festive soiree. Your guests, and your taste buds, will thank you.
Apple Cider Moscow Mule • • • • •
2 oz. Iceberg Vodka 2 oz. apple cider Juice of one small lime wedge 1/2 cup ginger beer Cinnamon
Pour Iceberg Vodka, apple cider and lime juice into a copper mug. Add ice and sprinkle cinnamon over the ice. Top with ginger beer. Stir well and garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick.
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Buttered Coffee • • •
1 1/2 Iceberg Vodka 1 oz. butterscotch schnapps 5 oz. freshly brewed coffee
Brew a fresh pot of coffee. Pour into a mug and add Iceberg Vodka and butterscotch schnapps. Stir gently with a cinnamon stick.
Iceberg Holiday Eggnog • • •
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2 1/2 oz. eggnog 1 oz. Iceberg Vodka 3/4 oz. amaretto
Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a mason jar and dust with nutmeg. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
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Holiday Décor to Suit Any Style
The holidays present an opportunity to showcase your personal style through festive décor. While you may go for a more subdued design and colour palette the rest of the year, this is the season to add some flair to your space. From picking the right tree to adding merry touches, Cindy Jardim, style and trends director for Lowe’s Canada, has curated four looks to help you get started.
Deck the Halls: A classic Christmas theme never goes
Cold Spell: For a modern look, frosty hues along with
Comfort and Joy: Rustic charm will make you feel
Find more inspiration online at lowes.ca.
out of style. For a fresh holiday combination this colour palette combines a rich, classic red with touches of black and blues paired against green. Add elegant gold finishes in chandeliers, plaids in linens, and traditional icons to make your space look chic and sophisticated.
warm and cozy while watching the falling snow while sitting inside on your favourite comfy chair. Cream, red, and green accents in handmade crafts and plush knits invite you to curl up by the fire. This look will add warmth long after the holidays have ended.
metallic finishes complement today’s sleek interior designs. An icy palette of pale blue, grey, and white provides an elegant yet contemporary look. Complete the look by adding sparkles through silver accents in lamps and tables, faceted crystals, and reflective elements.
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Sweet Noel: Bring memories of cheerful gatherings from holidays past with old-fashioned details that add a nostalgic and whimsical feel. Retro inspired colours like aqua sky, poinsettia red, and vivid green pop against a non-traditional tree in white. Dig up those ornaments and décor pieces from your childhood and add them to the mix for a vintage feel.
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Welcome Holiday Houseguests with the Right Home Décor
The key to successfully hosting visitors during the holidays — or any other time of year — is to prepare your home for them the way you’d want to be received. Pamper them with basic creature comforts and keep them in mind when decorating the rest of your space.
Create the perfect guest experience with these tips. 1. Cozy comfort. Welcome guests with a look that says 5. Energy efficient window treatments.
cozy comfort and encourages relaxation. Think earthy tones, creams, and greys for foundational elements like furniture, walls, and bedding and create visual interest with pops of colour in accents.
Between hosting guests and holiday shopping, it makes sense to save energy and money where you can. But did you know that up to 50 per cent of a home’s heating energy can be lost through its windows? Stylish Hunter Douglas Duette Honeycomb Shades feature insulating air pockets to help keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. And while the honeycomb design is praised for its efficiency, its shape and overall aesthetic are nothing short of beautiful.
2. Seasonal flair. Add a few holiday decorations in
the guest bedroom to create some holiday cheer. For an inexpensive touch, try putting candy canes, ornaments, or bows in a wide vase. You can also make some DIY frostkissed pine cones and display them on a dish or beside some candles on a bookcase.
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3. Gift the essentials. Prep a gift basket filled with all
the basics they may need, like a toothbrush, shampoo minis, ibuprofen, and a spare cell phone charger. You’ll be a thoughtful hostess and stave off anyone waking you up in the middle of the night for some toothpaste.
4. Leave a finishing touch.
Guests should feel welcome beyond the spare bedroom, so leave some finishing touches around the house that they can help out with. Trim the tree together, set aside the tree topper for them to place, or go for a walk to gather nature’s best decorative pieces like twigs and pine branches.
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Why You Should Support Local Businesses This Season With fierce competition and online shopping platforms gaining popularity, many small businesses have experienced hard times over the last few years and a few have been forced to close up shop. But these closures are not without consequences, as local shops help create a neighbourhood’s culture and atmosphere. According to a recent survey, approximately nine-in-ten Canadians agree that local businesses play an important role in their neighbourhood and 71 percent agree that they would rather live close to local businesses, rather than large retail establishments. Supporting small local businesses directly contributes to the vitality of neighbourhoods and the sustainability of communities. It’s therefore essential for everyone to make an
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effort to ensure their longevity. This is why Shop The Neighbourhood, a great social accountability program developed by Yellow Pages, is highlighting the importance of local commerce. It aims to contribute to neighbourhood development and promote behavioural change in consumers. “Local businesses are at the heart of Canadian neighbourhoods and communities,” declares François Ramsay, Senior VicePresident, Corporate Affairs at Yellow Pages. “We believe in this program as it provides the opportunity for all of us to contribute to the vitality of the neighbourhoods in which we live, work, and play.”
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Around this time of year, eating and drinking a little too much seems like a holiday tradition, but going too wild can make it difficult to get back on track in January.
Here, Jessica Wang, registered dietitian at Loblaws, shares her top four tips to survive your next holiday party without falling off the food wagon. 1. Try to go easy on the high-fat foods. Pastries, pies,
sausages, and cream-based soups or sides are delicious, but they’re often high in calories or fat. Given the choice, leaner meats like turkey or chicken are good alternatives to red meat. If you’re doing the cooking, you can also make some simple ingredient swaps like egg whites instead of eggs, low-fat yogurt instead of sour cream, and flour combined with skim milk instead of cream.
2. Make smart beverage choices. Try to alternate
3. Stick to your eating routine and don’t skip meals. Planning your meals, getting a balanced breakfast and lunch, and snacking before you leave will help keep your appetite in check at the party. Registered dietitians at grocery stores like Loblaws and Zehrs are a great free resource to help you plan nutritious meals and snacks that will leave you feeling satisfied.
4. Everything in moderation. It’s okay to eat seasonal sweets and indulge now and again. Whether it’s those chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies or a candy cane, remember to take a responsible portion and get the most out of your favourite seasonal treats by slowing down and really savouring the taste.
between one alcoholic drink and one glass of water. Just two cups of traditional eggnog may have as many as 500 calories. Stick to dry wine, low-cal beer, or spirits with calorie-free mixers like diet or club sodas. “I typically recommend having one glass of a higher-calorie beverage and then switching to something low calorie for the rest of the evening,” says Wang.
www.newscanada.com
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Display Cabinet AVAILABLE AT BELLISSIMA
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Prepare A Timeless Holiday Classic Everyone Loves An old-fashioned family favourite, this peanut brittle is bound to become a tradition in your household. This recipe makes homemade candy simple and delicious. Just be sure to watch the pot and keep organized, as brittle can go from perfect to burnt quickly.
Classic Peanut Brittle Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Makes: 12 servings
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Ingredients:
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3/4 tsp (4 mL) baking soda 1/2 tsp (2 mL) water 1/2 tsp (2 mL) vanilla 3/4 cup (175 mL) granulated sugar 1/2 cup (125 mL) water 1/2 cup (125 mL) light corn syrup 2 cups (500 mL) peanuts 2 tbsp (30 mL) butter
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Tip: If you don’t have a candy thermometer, you can use a small bowl of very cold water to test as you go. Before starting your peanut brittle, fill a small bowl with very cold water and add an ice cube. Refrigerate until ready to use. To test if temperature has reached 240°F (120°C), spoon about 1/2 tsp (2 mL) of brittle mixture into your bowl of cold water. Using your fingers, gather mixture. It should squish together to form a soft ball. If not, cook a bit longer while watching carefully, then test again. To test if temperature has reached 300°F (140°C), spoon about 1/2 tsp (2 mL) of brittle mixture into the ice water. It will crack into hard threads.
In a small bowl, stir baking soda with 1/2 tsp (2 mL) water and vanilla. Set aside. In a medium saucepan stir sugar with 1/2 cup (125 mL) water and corn syrup. Set over medium heat, stirring occasionally until mixture turns a light golden colour and reaches 240°F (120°C) on a candy thermometer, about 7 minutes once boiling.
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Remove from heat and immediately stir in baking soda mixture until light and foamy. Then quickly turn onto a lightly-buttered baking sheet, spreading as thinly as possible. Let stand until hardened, about 1 hour. Break into large pieces. Variation: For a sweet and spicy version, stir 1 tsp (5 mL) of either Chinese 5 spice, hot or sweet smoked paprika, or garam masala into baking soda mixture.
Directions:
Stir in peanuts and butter. Continue cooking, stirring continuously until mixture turns a deeper golden colour and reaches 300°F (140°C) on a candy thermometer, about 2 to 4 minutes once boiling.
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Find more recipes at www.peanutbureau.ca. www.newscanada.com WINTER2016
Bake With Heart, Gift With Love
Show your loved ones that you care and add some TLC to your holiday gifts with heartfelt baked goods. According to a recent survey, 76 per cent of Canadians agree that homemade gifts are more thoughtful than store bought gifts. This expert-tested recipe features an anything goes cookie dough, which produces soft and chewy cookies every time and can create endless custom cookie options using merry mix-ins. During the holiday season, whatever you bake, use Becel Buttery Taste margarine because it has 80 per cent less saturated fat than butter and contains no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives.
Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 8 minutes Makes: 60 cookies
Anything Goes Cookie Dough Chocolate Chunk Cookie Directions:
Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • •
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2 1/4 cups (550 mL) all-purpose flour 1 tsp (5 mL) baking soda 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt 1 cup (250 mL) Becel Buttery Taste margarine 1 cup (250 mL) firmly packed light brown sugar 1/4 cup (60 mL) granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1 1/2 cups (204 g) creamy milk chocolate chunks 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract 1/4 cup (60 mL) cocoa
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Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl; set aside. Mix margarine with sugars in large bowl. Mix in eggs and vanilla until blended. Gradually add in flour mixture; mix until blended. Stir in cocoa powder. Drop mixture by tablespoon on ungreased baking sheets 2 inches (5 cm) apart. Flatten slightly, then top with 3 chocolate chunks. Bake 7 minutes or until edges are set. Cool 2 minutes on wire rack; remove cookies from sheets and cool completely.
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Canada’s Cocktail A Canadian Holiday Tradition Ho Ho, Hail Caesar! Canada’s cocktail has become a holiday tradition for families from coast-to-coast. It makes hundreds of thousands of appearances on New Year’s Day, and many more throughout the entire holiday season. Whether you prefer your Caesar spicy, or with pickle brine, the options are endless! So how do you satisfy everyone this holiday season? Here are three tips for the Caesar lovers in your family: Create a DIY Caesar Bar: This is the best way to ensure everyone gets the Caesar they want. It also keeps you out of the kitchen! Display a variety of vegetables, pickles, hot sauces, onions, juices, spirits and more. Don’t forget the acids such as vinegars, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Ponzu and Mirin. Keep it Canadian: Swedish and Russian vodkas need not apply — Canada’s only national vodka is Iceberg Vodka. It’s also the vodka choice of bartenders across the country. Give the gift of personalized Caesar mason jars: engrave your family or friends’ names on the mason jar. It makes the perfect gift and avoids confusing Caesars in the future!
Classic Caesar • • • • • • • •
1 lemon or lime wedge 1 1/2 oz Iceberg Vodka 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce 3 dashes Tabasco sauce 1 1/2 tsp celery salt, plus more for rimming glass 5 oz tomato clam juice Salt and black pepper to taste Celery stalk
Preparation: Rub the rim of a highball glass with lemon or lime wedge and coat rim with celery salt; fill the glass with ice. Add Iceberg Vodka, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, and celery salt. Fill glass with clam juice and season with salt and pepper plus more celery salt, if desired. Garnish with the celery stick and lemon wedge. Serve immediately. For a spicier version, add more Tabasco sauce.
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