The Times 2014 Holiday Special Section. Vol 4

December 10, 2014

ROMANTIC GIFTS UNDER THE MISTLETOE

‘TIS THE SEASON FOR

Santa OUTDOOR WINTER FUN

HOLIDAYS NISO’s Holiday Pops concert preview

SHOP THE REGION &

WIN BIG BILL TAYLOR, of Rossi and Taylor Real Estate

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GUS BOCK’S A Part of Your Neighborhood & Family Owned Since 1935

2 | Holiday Four | December 10, 2014

3 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

3455 Ridge Rd. Lansing, IL

708-474-5940

1150 Sheffield Ave. / Dyer, IN Next to Walt’s

219-865-6060

1820 - 45th Ave. Munster, IN

219-934-9500

A Special publication of the Times Media Co.

Brighten up your loved one’s at Albert’s wedding bands Find your perfect wedding bands at Albert’s.

engagement rings View the latest styles from the top designers of engagements rings.

wa t c h e s Find the perfect watch that suits you.

711 Main Street • Schererville, in • 219-322-2700 Southlake Mall • Merrillville, in • 219-769-1976

w w w. A l b e r t s J e w e l e r s . c o m A Special publication of the Times Media Co.

Holiday Four | December 10, 2014 | 3

AND WIN BIG ADVERTISING RESOURCE GUIDE

Flower Cart.................................. 36

Northwest Indiana Symphony.... 15

Gil Drugs...................................... 28

Oil Express................................... 57

Giovanni’s Restaurant................. 28

One Love ..................................... 27

Glenwood Oaks Rib and Chop House................... 24

Phaze I Day Spa........................... 64

Good to Go by Lucrezia............... 37

Popa Heating and Cooling......... 61

Green Garage/Chele’s.................. 37

Port Washington Tourism........... 64

Gus Bock Ace Hardware............... 2

Portage Commons Merchant..... 43

Harley Davidson of Michigan City and Valparaiso............................. 33

Riah Salon.................................... 61

Hearts In Motion......................... 62 Henry Company........................... 45 Heritage Lutheran....................... 20

7e Fit Spa..................................... 57 A Time to Remember When...... 62 Albert’s Diamond Jewelers........... 3 Alice’s Garden Toys..................... 36 Align Chiropractic....................... 62

Center for Visual and Performing Arts................... 53 Chesterton Bicycle Station.......... 36 Ciao Bella Ristorante.................. 13 City of Hobart............................. 51

Higgins Overhead Door.............. 35 Jake’s Feed and Garden.............. 22 Jak’s Warehouse.......................... 42

Philips Ace Hardware.................. 27

Ross Hearing Center................... 19 Second Time’s a Charm............... 64 Senior Care Insurance................. 69 Shelter Insurance.......................... 37 Shorewood Home and Auto...... 52 Skillets .......................................... 64

Jeffery’s Belush Jewelers ............ 62

South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority................ 32

John Hodson................................ 63

Sports and Collecti-balls............. 64

John’s Pizzeria............................. 35

St. Anthony of Lansing............... 41

Allen Landscape Centre.............. 21

Community Hospital Fitness Pointe .............................. 44

Anrex Home Care Inc.................. 48

Concept Art................................. 11

Kauffman Chiropractic............... 63

Success Schools............................ 34

Barney’s Hub Bootery................. 20

Cover-Rite Carpeting.................. 62

Kenwood Tap.............................. 63

Sweetville...................................... 36

Berey Brothers............................. 45

Crescent Jewelers........................ 25

The Key to Estate Treasures....... 16

Ted’s Feed Store.......................... 51

Big N Little Shoes........................ 62

Culver’s Restaurant..................... 15

Kwik Dry...................................... 63

Teibel’s Restaurant...................... 17

Brad’s Design and Jewelry.......... 14

Dekker Lighting.......................... 49

LOAF.............................................. 37

Theatre at the Center................. 29

Branya’s Bakery........................... 14

Don Quijote Restaurant............. 68

Lucrezia......................................... 37

TLC Plumbing.............................. 55

Butler Winery.............................. 36

Donna Brum Dancers.................. 25

Malinich Jewelers........................ 71

Tri Corp Wireless......................... 31

Butterfingers................................. 4

The Door Store............................ 29

Mane Image................................ 63

Valpo Car Wash........................... 68

CBC Properties............................... 5

Eco Chic Boutique....................... 22

Merrillville Jewelers.................... 21

Vision Point................................... 7

Centennial Park........................... 47

Edible Arrangements.................. 34

Mobile Specialists........................ 64

Walt’s Food Center..................... 72

The Center for Implants, Sedation and Cosmetic Dentistry................. 9

Edwardo’s Pizza........................... 48

Nason’s Appliances...................... 23

Welch’s Stop and Shop............... 49

Engstrom Jewelers...................... 46

New Balance................................ 26

Westforth Sports......................... 59

Watch for our next

Delight Your Guests With Our Gourmet Baked Goods, Salads, Breads, Party Trays & More.

Gift Certificates Make a Sweet Gift.

TAB

www.butterfingersbakery.com

publishing December 17 for more

Voted #1 Bakery

great gift ideas from local advertisers!

Photo: Ann Latinovich

4 | HOLIDAY FOUR | December 10, 2014

Highland, IN | 2552 45th Avenue Munster, IN | 921 D Ridge Road

219.924.6464 219.836.4202

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

o H l i d y p a p y a s H from

PLAZA 142 - 316 W. U.S. Hwy. 30, Schererville, IN.

Jerusalem Restaurant

Calumet Emergency Veterinary Clinic

Gyros Express

219-865-0970 Calumetemergencyvetclinic.com

Italian & Greek Restaurant 322-0888

ARROW CLEANERS Arrow Cleaners

Laundry, Leather, Suede, Expert Alterations. Look Great Feel Great.

219-515-6158

Edward Jones

219-322-5812 www.edwardjones.com

Cost Cutters

Authentic Middle Eastern Food, Fresh Meat & Bakery 219-865-3890

Edible Arrangements

Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Fruit Arrangements Schererville 219-864-1400 EdibleArrangements.com

Insure One

219-865-8639

Lover’s Lane

Low Cost Auto-Home-Commercial 219-322-9091 Ext. 613831

Sexy Lingerie & Adult Toys

219-865-9692 www.loverslane.com

Lavante Café

El Amigo Mexican Restaurant

Merle Norman Cosmetics

Make Up, Skin Care, Fragrance 219-865-3223

Authentic Mexican Cuisine Restaurant 219-865-3022

European Gourmet met Coffee & Pastry

Coming soon..

Nails Pro

219-322-9220 www.nailspro.net

Lowery Vision Center Lowery Vision Center Dr. Douglas Lowery, Optometrist 219-322-2155

The UPS Store

Print, Pack, Ship & Mail Box Rentals 219-322-6968 theupsstorelocal.com/1060

The Tenth Planet Comics And Games 219-322-2902 tenthplanetschererville.com

Skinny Britches

Ye’s Mongolian Grill All You Can Eat Stir Fry & BBQ 219-864-5888

Meal Replacement Plan, Nutrition Clinic 219-515-2015

Wonderful Leasing Opportunities for New Business Available.

Please call Ms.Valsa George at 1-800-477-8913 or 773-991-9360 A Special publication of the Times Media Co.

Holiday Four | December 10, 2014 | 5

Local

kids

share their When you’re a kid, you don’t feel the cold. You just know there’s snow, it’s fun to play in the snow, and nothing is more fun than building a snow fort. We talked to a few kids in the region to get their tips for building the best snow fort, so forget about the cold, put on your snow pants, and get outside and build!

HEATHER AUGUSTYN

M

Aidan Chism, 12, of Munster

ake sure the snow is able to stick and make sure there’s enough snow and you have trouble building things you might want to get a block maker. You can probably have more than one entrance so if you’re having a big snowball fight you can have a way to get out. Usually if we get a big snowfall you can see if there’s a big pile of snow at your corner. You can use your hands, the block builder, and probably a couple of shovels. Last year I didn’t build any snow forts because it was too bitterly cold but I plan to this year.”

PROVIDED

Aidan Chism, 12 of Munster

continued on page 8 6 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

Over 500 Sunglasses Sun & Sport Ready-to-Wear or RX Suns 25 Brands in Stock Gift Certificates Sunglasses Make The Perfect Gift!

Sunglasses For Every Lifestyle!

CHeSteRtON VAlPARAISO PORtAGe CH 219.250.2470

219.763.1538

2199.464.8200

End of the Y Year

TTo Do List Use Annual Vision Benefits

Empty Flex Spending Accounts

Call to Schedule Eye Exam

Utilize Health Savings Account

Buy Glasses for the Holidays

Glasses Same or Next Day Glasses and Contacts Eye Exams Walk-ins and Outside Rx Welcome Gift Certificates Available!

valParaiSo 219.464.8200

laPorte 219.325.0404

A Special publication of the Times Media Co.

cheSterton 219.250.2470

Schererville 219.322.5205

Request an Appointment Online at

VisionPointNWI.com

crown Point 219.226.9571

Portage 219.763.1538

Holiday Four | December 10, 2014 | 7

continued from page 6

One good idea to make a sturdy fort is to build the fort out of solid snow with a mold. You scoop snow into it, pack it in, and you build a snow block. I like to have a front entrance to the fort and put up little walls to go around it. I build them in the backyard with my brothers.

Borg Richardson, 10 of Valparaiso

You have to build blocks out of snow. You can gather up snow that sticks together. You can hide in it for a snowball fight and sit in the corner. You can build a window for looking out and spying on the people trying to fight me in the snowball fight.

Gregory Ramos, 7 of Munster

8 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

“I like to build snowmen better, but to build a fort you get a lot of snowballs and make them blocks. Put them on there and go in there and scream!”

Ja’Vae Williams, 7 of Chesterton

“Find a mold that is big, enough to make rectangles and make probably 14 of them. Put water between then so they’ll stay and where you want a window, don’t put water so you can make a hole.”

Hayden Matthys, 8 of Westville

“You want to build a fort when the snow can be compacted or the fort will fall apart. You want a big, open, flat place to do it. Make the walls thick. It doesn’t have to be too tall, but the walls should be thick if you want to have a snowball fight.”

Rhett Lubeck, 11 of Valparaiso

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

No One Should Die With Their Teeth In A Glass!® Before

Before Before

After

Get Your New Teeth For The Holidays

After

After

Pictures shown are Dr. Atcha’s actual patients.

Dental Implants

Dr. Irfan (Ivan) Atcha, DICOI Licensed Dentist in IN, IL and FL

the Best thIng that happeneD to DentIstry anD a reason to smIle agaIn.

I

f you are missing any of your teeth, you have some big decisions to make and important questions that need to be answered: What are various ways to replace missing teeth?

Why are dental implants considered the gold standard of tooth replacement? What can happen to your health when you live without teeth for a prolonged period? Starting with Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark’s serpenditous discovery of osseointegration (implants fusing to bone), dental implants have revolutionized dentistry. Today in our offices we can regenerate patients’ form, function and esthetics. We are truly changing lives to the highest level with the miracle of dental implants.

lower teeth. With this procedure, you can come as close to having a new set of permanent teeth as is currently possible. Those who replace their dentures with All-on-FourTM dental implants will never have to remove their replacement teeth again for cleaning because their new teeth can be cleaned and maintained just like a natural set of teeth. If you are looking at the possibility of wearing dentures but choose All-on-FourTM dental implants, you will never have to experience the crippling effects of loose dentures, being unable to eat the foods you enjoy, messy adhesives, removing teeth at night, the embarrassment of dentures slipping during speech or smiling or the bad breath associated with wearing dentures.

Here are some facts and trends to consider. More than 20 million people in the US are missing all of their natural teeth. More than 100 million people are missing from 11-15 teeth. Maintaining good, healthy teeth is certainly a worthy goal but keeping teeth for a lifetime is not always possible, despite the impressive achievement of preventative dentistry and the best efforts of our patients. Trauma, systemic disease, dental decay, periodontal disease, poor genetics, dental phobia, and normal wear and tear are just few of the reasons for tooth loss. Almost 80 percent of consumers with missing teeth are now aware of dental implants and realize the advantage of a permanent solution that mimics nature in function and fit and looks even better than nature may have originally provided. It is now possible to treat virtually every edentulous patient with aesthetic and functionally fixed no dentures solutions. We work with patients missing as few as one tooth or as many as all of their teeth.

According to Dr. Atcha “My patients appreciate being able to extend our relationship to a wide variety of treatment procedures instead of being referred out to a different office”, As a leader in the field of implant dentistry, Dr. Atcha has the experience that matters, the credentials that count. He has surgically placed and restored 1000s of dental implant procedures and has published several articles on dental implants in the field. “The key elements that allow patients to seek our office out are communication, relationship building & education” says Dr. Atcha. I like to personally build relationships with each and every patient and educate them about their options and spend time with them one on one by giving them a comprehensive snapshot of their clinical situation and discussing short-and long term objective. “Educated patients make the best healthcare decisions for themselves”, according to Atcha. With a hard-working and a dedicated staff that treats our patients with so much care and service, we have many people who want to be our patients. A huge part of my role in my practice is educating patients about tooth loss and its impact on quality of life, says Dr. Atcha. We have before and after pictures of hundreds of patients we have treated and success stories of our patients we can share with our new patients to build trust and confidence that there are others like them. Our happy patients are very open and would love to share their experience as to how satisfied they are with the care and the service we .y have provided them. They can also be found on www.youtube.com/drirfanatchadds

In our office Dr. Atcha focuses on giving his patients options with either a few implants or a full fixed restorations as a cost-effective way to treat patients with failing or missing teeth. With the revolutionary All-On-4™ dental implants Dr. Atcha uses 4 specially placed implants per jaw to secure dental implant teeth without bone grafting even when failing teeth have to be removed. the All-on-FourTM dental implant technique is a clinically proven solution for those who have lost or are about to lose all of their upper and/or

The Center For Implants, Sedation and Cosmetic Dentistry 890 Richard Rd., Suite A, Dyer, IN

(219) 227-5084

www.youtube.com/DrIrfanAtchaDDS • www.newteethindiana.com

FREE

3D scan

($695 value) that determines if you are a dental implant candidate.

Call for a complimentary dental implant consultation. *Not valid for single tooth implant.

A Special publication of the Times Media Co.

Holiday Four | December 10, 2014 | 9

thoughtful

Delicious cakes from Butterfingers, clockwise from top left: marble Cheesecake; Double Chocolate Mousse; Sour Cream Fudge.

RECIPES

WORK BEST FOR HOLIDAY FEASTS

A

STATEPOINT

holiday feast is one meal you’ll want to ensure includes flavorful, thoughtful dishes.

Unfortunately, it’s one of the busiest times of year, and sorting through recipes, especially for dessert, may get pushed down the to-do list.

“There are a gazillion recipes in the world, but the lifesaving recipe for when times are crazy, that’s priceless,” says Anne Byrn, food writer and author of the new, “Anne Byrn Saves the Day! Cookbook.”

A collection of crowd-pleasing recipes from her network of friends and family, Byrn’s book features this recipe for Kentucky Brown Sugar Pie, perfect for a feast, as it takes only about 20 minutes to pull together:

KENTUCKY BROWN SUGAR PIE 1

store-bought 9-inch pie crust, thawed if frozen 1 cup packed dark brown sugar 1⁄3 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups whole milk 3 large eggs, at room temperature 1 tablespoon salted or unsalted butter 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

10 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar 4 tablespoons granulated sugar Let eggs come to room temperature, taking them out of the refrigerator half an hour before making the pie.

Transfer crust to glass pie pan if leaving it in aluminum foil pie pan. If it’s not a preformed crust, fit it into a glass pie plate.

Bake pie crust following package directions until light brown. Let crust cool on rack while making filling. Leave oven on, adjusting temperature if necessary to 400 degrees F. Place brown sugar, flour, and salt in medium-size saucepan and stir to combine. Slowly whisk in milk.

Place pan over medium heat, stirring constantly until filling thickens and is bubbly, four to five minutes. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking filling until completely thickened, two minutes longer.

Remove from heat.

Separate eggs, placing yolks in White a small bowl Chocolate and whites Raspberry in a medium cake

stainless steel or glass bowl. Set egg whites aside. Beat egg yolks with fork to combine. Add 3 tablespoons of the hot filling to egg yolks and stir well to combine. Whisk the egg mixture into the saucepan of filling. Place pan over low heat and whisk until yolks are well combined and filling is thick, creamy, and smooth, about two minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in butter and vanilla. Pour filling into baked crust.

Make the meringue: Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites on high speed until frothy, one to two minutes.

Add cream of tartar and continue beating on high. Gradually add granulated sugar. Beat egg whites until stiff and glossy and sugar is dissolved, four to five minutes.

Pile spoonfuls of meringue on top of filling. Using a spatula, push meringue to the edge of crust to seal in filling. Smooth the top of the pie.

Bake until meringue is lightly browned, eight to ten minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool about three hours before serving.

More information about the book can be found at Workman.com.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION “Simple desserts are just as sweet,” says Kristin Swanson, manager at Butterfingers, a bakery and delicatessen with two locations, one in Highland and the other in Munster.

With options like chocolate dipped strawberries, freshly baked shortbread cookies and an assortment of minicupcakes such as red velvet, lemon, chocolate cream filled and caramel among their many offerings, Butterfingers knows how to keep things simple. That isn’t to say they don’t have elaborate—and fabulous— desserts. For those going with less is more this holiday season, chocolate chip, M&M chocolate, peanut butter and oatmeal raisin cookies, cheesecakes in an assortment of flavors—key lime, white chocolate raspberry and lemon blueberry—along with brownies and bars are just right for dessert.

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

A Special publication of the Times Media Co.

Holiday Four | December 10, 2014 | 11

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

Trish Caruso and Diane Gross, co-owners of Eco Chic Boutique

Rob and Gwen Shaver are the owners of Riah Salon in Schererville.

WE’RE A FULLSERVICE HAIR SALON IN AN ATMOSPHERE THAT IS MODERN AND RUSTIC IN DESIGN. IT’S VERY COMFORTING AND RELAXING HERE BECAUSE WE WANT OUR GUESTS TO FEEL AN EXPERIENCE.

celebrations Looking your best this holiday

Gwen Shaver, co-owner of Riah Salon

HEATHER AUGUSTYN

Maybe you’re seeing some friends you haven’t seen for years, maybe you’re gathering together with the boss and your co-workers, or maybe you’re just spending some quality time with the same family you see every day—you want to look your best.

12 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

A

new haircut or color can transform a look. Gwen Shaver, co-owner of Riah Salon, says that they focus only on hair for expert service.

“We’re a full-service hair salon in an atmosphere that is modern and rustic in design. It’s very comforting and relaxing here because we want our guests to feel an experience. From our salon coordinators at the reservation area, to our stylists, we make people feel pampered and cared for,” says Shaver.

For the holidays, Shaver says they have products that make wonderful gifts. “We have gift ideas and gift packs

for the holidays, and we have a special.

When you come in for a service and you book another appointment in January or February, you are entered into a drawing for a free haircut, free haircut and color, and a $200 gift card. In addition, we are doing a food drive through the month of December to benefit the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana,” Shaver says.

Trish Caruso and Diane Gross co-owners of Eco Chic Boutique, have a shop full of garments—from designer jeans to formal dresses, to make you look your best during the holidays.

Eco Chic offers new and nearly new clothing, jewelry and accessories for the ecology conscious and the economically savvy shopper. They also invite local artisans and jewelry crafters to display

their works with us on a consignment basis. They are a boutique and so much more and they put the fabulous and affordable back in fashion. Caruso says, “We have a wide variety of items that people bring to us. We carry everything from Gap to Gucci and we carry items for that season, so people bring in holiday items, gorgeous items, fabulous things, and this is a great way to get something nice that they maybe can’t normally afford.”

If you’re not sure what to wear to that holiday party, Caruso says they are there to help. “I like to dress people, put outfits together, because sometimes people struggle to dress for their body type and we are honest, we’re not going to just try to sell you

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

something. We know our inventory very well and can pull things out.

We also can help to accessorize outfits and have jewelry, scarves, handbags, and hats. We just introduced a jewelry line called Snapdragons, and these charms snap into a piece and they are interchangeable so they are really fun for the holidays,” she says.

At 7e Fit Spa in Highland, Esthetician Melanie Hilliard says there are two treatments that help her clients’ skin look its best for the holidays. “Our two most popular facials is a microcurrent facial, and a microderm abrasion.

The microcurrent facial educates the muscle to stay lifted. It’s like a nonsurgical facelift and tones and tightens the skin using very low levels of electricity. It’s a progressive treatment. The other treatment is a microderm abrasion using a diamond tip wand that exfoliates the top layer of skin and it has a pressure vacuum that removes the cells, leaving you with a fresh healthy glow,” Hilliard says.

Other services at 7e Fit Spa include body contouring, infrared sauna, and torcing by licensed estheticians who are not just experts in their field but they are Esthetician Melanie Hilliard of 7e Fit Spa also trained and certified of Highland, applies a microcurrent facial to Torc Technicians. 7e Torc a client.

Treatment is a device that mimics the body’s natural bio-electricity to groomed and pampered. Along with work out muscles more effectively acupressure and massage of the hands than a traditional workout. It and forearms, you will experience a utilizes waveforms for a strong stress-relieving neck and shoulder yet comfortable contraction and Ritual of Renewal. A Spa Manicure relaxation of the muscles producing intensified results in a short period of uses gentle exfoliation and a relaxing massage of the hands and forearms time. along with grooming of the nails and Spa Pointe in Munster offers a cuticles to reveal softer, youngervariety of natural nail care so when looking skin. Because the holidays you toast with your glass of wine are a busy time, a Classic Manicure or reach for a sugar cookie, your or an Express Manicure may be an hands look elegant and glamorous. option for those who need a little The Stress-Relieving Manicure uses “maintenance” of the hands, nails aromatherapy to calm and rejuveand cuticles. nate while your hands and nails are A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

C ome

To Italy... y

No Passport Required.

Stop in for the finest & freshest Italian flavors and an extensive wine list which is sure to please.

Holiday Parties Holida Book y your holiday party today!

A Accommodations up to 100. Or let us cater the per perfect holiday gathering.

Lunch parties of 10 or more receive a 10% discount.

Gift Cards Give the gift of good taste ...

Ciao Bella Gift Cards Purchase a $100 Gift Card and Receive a $20 Gift Card FREE Valid Nov 26 - Dec 31

Celebrate New Year’s Eve Now accepting reservations.

n ly Din k e e W

er & Drink S

pec ial

s

Fabulous Signature Cocktails

Craft Beers

Express Lunch 11am-2:30pm - $9.95 All you can eat buffet - Mon, Wed & Fri Create your own pasta - Tues & Thurs Scan for our Complete Menu

1514 U.S. 41, Schererville, IN 219.322.6800 M-Th 11am-10pm | F-Sat 11am-11pm | Sun 11am-10pm www.ciaobellaonline.com • visit www.opentable.com to make your reservations HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014 | 13

Fresh greens and root veggies at LOAF in Chesterton are perfect accompaniments for a holiday feast.

dishes

W

HEATHER AUGUSTYN

e likely all remember those holiday sweet potatoes, gooey with miniature marshmallows floating in a puddle of brown sugar syrup. Or mashed potatoes,

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

heavy and pasty with a lake of gravy that made us want to fall asleep two minutes after consumption. This year, show your vegetables some respect!

And show your guests some respect in the process, by preparing your traditional holiday vegetables in new ways so their flavors are accentuated and complemented, rather than buried under spoonfuls of sauce.

All That Sparkles for the Holidays is at

$

5 OFF

PRE-PACKAGED

COOKIE TRAYS Expires 12/25/14

Brad’s will create a Custom Design Br for you and also carries: Watches & Ring Sets

Watches

146 N. Main Street, Crown Point, IN

219-663-5801

www.bradsdesignsandjewelry.com

20% OFF Offer Expires 12/31/14

14 | HOLIDAY FOUR | December 10, 2014

In – Stock Merchandise With this coupon.

Delicious Made Without Gluten Options Available!

9159 Wicker Avenue, St. John, IN (US 41 in the St. John Mall)

219-558-8712 bakeryinstjohn.com Tues. to Fri. 6am to 6pm, Sat. & Sun. 7am to 3pm, Mon. CLOSED

OPEN DEC. 22, 23 & 24 7am tO 3Pm OPEN CHRIStmaS DaY 7am tO 11am A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

SAUTEED BRUSSEL SPROUTS 1 1 1 1/2

package of Brussel sprouts T. toasted sesame oil t. minced ginger t. cracked black peppercorn

Wash and cut Brussel sprouts in half. Pour oil into a fry pan and infuse with ginger. Heat slightly and place Brussel sprouts cut face down into pan on medium heat. Cover with lid. After five minutes, remove lid and flip sprouts to sauté on reverse side.

After five minutes, flip to cut face and sauté until seared brown. Remove, garnish with cracked pepper and serve hot.

TERIYAKI ASPARAGUS

1 1 1 1 1

BALSAMIC GLAZED GREEN BEANS

bunch asparagus T. soy sauce T. brown sugar t. minced ginger clove chopped garlic

1 T. plus 2 t. balsamic vinegar 1/2 t. granulated sugar 2 T. olive oil 10 oz. fresh green beans, trimmed 2 cloves chopped garlic 1 chopped shallot Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/4 c. water 1 T. unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces 1 T. sliced almonds

together soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic. Pour mixture into fry pan on medium heat. Place cut asparagus in pan and toss to coat in mixture. Stir fry for 10 minutes and serve hot.

SPICY SWEET POTATOES

Wash thoroughly and cut asparagus into thirds, slicing on a bias, discard bottoms of stems. In a small bowl, whisk

5 1 3 2 1/4

sweet potatoes T. chili pepper flakes T. olive oil t. kosher salt c. honey

Heat oven to 400º. Place two baking sheets on separate racks in oven to heat. Peel and slice sweet potatoes into ½ inch-thick slices. In a large bowl, mix together chili pepper flakes, salt, olive oil, and honey and toss with potatoes.

Remove baking sheets from oven and quickly arrange potatoes on pans in a single layer. Return pans to oven and bake for 30 minutes, until golden and soft, turning potatoes over halfway through. Before serving, brush each potato with extra honey and serve.

Give the Gift of Music this Holiday!

Gift Certificates, Single Tickets, and Subscriptions available for these upcoming concerts.

HOLIDAY POPS

with the Symphony Chorus Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 7:30pm Star Plaza Theatre

G

Combine 1 T. of balsamic vinegar with the sugar in a small bowl and whisk, set aside. In a fry pan or wok, heat oil on high and add green beans, garlic, and shallot. Sprinkle in salt and pepper and cook, stirring often, until they brown and shrivel slightly, three to four minutes.

Reduce heat to medium-low, carefully add water to steam, then add vinegar mixture. Stir and cook until beans are tender but still have a slight crunch, about four minutes. Stir in the remaining two teaspoons balsamic vinegar. Add butter and almond, season to taste with salt and pepper and serve hot.

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his holiday season, keep in mind the notion that what your children play with can have a large impact on their interests and brain development.

So when it comes to a walk down the toy aisle, parents are becoming more discerning, leading smart toymakers to design toys with a learning component that’s equally as important as the fun.

VTech, a world leader in ageappropriate and developmental stage-based electronic learning products for children, works with a team of child development Educational experts to books and assess toys games from Tiger and provide Lily Café make feedback before reachlearning fun. ing store shelves.

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shopping hints to parents looking to foster their child’s love of learning: • Add it up: “Mathematical foundations provide the building blocks for future mathematical success, both in school and beyond,” says Dr. Francis (Skip) Fennell, mathematics educator.

“Toys that emphasize numbers, counting and beginning concepts with whole number operations will develop, support and encourage these crucial concepts and skills.”

The Count & Chomp Dino, for example, introduces children to numbers, colors, shapes and foods.

• Ageappropriate: “Children’s brains are developing at a remarkable speed,” says Dr. Lise Eliot, an early childhood development expert.

“Their toys should keep up with that growth.”

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A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

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Tiger Lily Café stocks hundreds of toys and games to help kids have fun while learning.

DEVELOPMENTAL TOYS AT TIGER LILY CAFE continued from page 17 age-appropriate, so they are never bored or frustrated. Consider childsized, kid-friendly tablets, such as the InnoTab MAX, that are packed with educational, stage-based learning content.

• Full STEAM ahead: Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (collectively known as STEM) have gained more visibility in schools, along with the addition of arts to form STEAM. However, says Dr. Carla C. Johnson, science and STEM expert, “It is still crucial to cultivate skills in these subjects and implement them in everyday learning. Educational toys can help kids develop self-confidence in the use and application of these important 18 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

Toys can be both fun and educational says Toni Fugate of Tiger Lily Café in Chesterton which also has a bakery and gift area with an entire section devoted to wooden toys including games. More than those made of plastic, which also can be developmentally encouraging for every step of learning, toys made of wood, a sustainable material, invite children to touch and explore. After all play is essential, enhancing social, cognitive, physical and emotional development.

Tiger Lily Café also features a nice selection of bath toys, puzzles, holiday books and even the once popular, but now more rare childhood playthings—sets of marbles.

disciplines.”

• Build vocabulary: “Children absorb new information like sponges. Take advantage of their blossoming interests with interactive toys that highlight letters of the alphabet, the sounds letters make and vocabulary,” says Dr. Deborah Sharp Libby, early childhood language and reading expert. “Above

says Dr. Eric Klopfer, platform learning expert.

Remember, each child grows at his or her own pace, and there are few hard and fast deadlines when it comes to a child’s milestones. For a detailed all, don’t forget the importance of guideline, sorted by age group and area reading to and with your children of development, along with other free often!” parenting resources, visit vtechkids.

• Choose wisely: “Don’t get carried com/milestones. away with the bells and whistles. You With toys as tools for learning, and your kids will quickly look past those. Instead, look for toys that actively you can help children as they reach engage your kids through technology, by their educational and developmental deeply integrating games and learning,” milestones.

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

Be a part of the conversation this holiday season.

Holiday meals and get-togethers are special because of time spent with family and friends. Take delight in the sounds of the holiday season!

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Using Skype to video chat with faraway relatives makes the holidays even more special.

continued from page 21 stress for one season. Not to mention addressing dozens of envelops and waiting in line at the post office.

Instead, simply put together a beautiful digital letter and send it via email. Microsoft’s People app makes it easy to keep your contacts up-to-date and in one location, so you won’t have to search your phone and multiple email lists.

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Microsoft Outlook is available across many devices, allowing you to take your important messages with you wherever you go.

TRACK DISCOUNTS AND REMOVE CLUTTER

One of the biggest projects of the holiday season is shopping for gifts, and it can be one of the most expensive projects as well. The good news, your email inbox will likely be flooded with discounts, online coupons and in-store specials from your favorite brands. In fact, email volume from retailers is up by 26 percent season this season, according to Experian Marketing

Services’ shopping analysis. These promotional emails are great, but can quickly turn to clutter if not looked after. Outlook.com has a Sweep feature that allows you to keep just the latest emails from senders, automatically sweeping older — and probably outdated — messages into your trash, or a designated folder of your choice. You’ll no longer have to search

TECH GIFTS ABOUND AT TRI-CORP WIRELESS Tech gifts are perfect for holiday surprises! Whether mom needs a new phone or the kids want their own tablet, Tri-Corp Wireless has everything you need. With locations in Valparaiso and Schererville, they are convenient for last minute purchases as well.

Audiophiles will love the HTC One M8 Harman/Kardon by Sprint exclusive edition mobile phone using Clari-Fi—a technology that restores all types of compressed digital music, providing a more life-like headphone listening experience for total music immersion.

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through your email to find those deals when you need them.

and ensure that you won’t be up at midnight baking cookies for your kids to take to school the next day. Plus, you can review your schedule to see if SCHEDULE YOUR TIME you might need to add a little time for APPROPRIATELY yourself, so you can recharge and enjoy From baking cookies to company parties, your holiday schedule can fill up the events you want to attend.

With these chaos-cutting tech tools, fast. Keep your digital calendar updated this holiday season can be an enjoyable and with you at all times so you can confirm — or decline — commitments in time for you and your family. So put real time. This will allow you to prevent your technology to good use and ring in your family from double-booking events the new year stress-free!

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TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

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Good things come in small packages. And there is perhaps no greater excitement than peering beneath the Christmas tree to see that tiny little box, knowing that what lies inside will glisten and sparkle.

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ewelry is a coveted gift and a reflection of both the giver and the wearer, capturing spirit and personality. So tell Santa what you really want this year comes in a box that he can easily fit onto his sleigh!

MALINICH JEWELERS

Doreen Peterson, manager at Malinich Jewelers says that diamonds are popular every holiday season. “Men love to buy diamond studs for their wives and they never go out of style.

We have a large selection of them.

Diamond bracelets and colored stones

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

Malinich Jewelers has a “Downton Abbey” style evening bags that are encrusted with Swarovski crystals, along with jewelry inspired by the TV show. bracelets are also popular and they appeal to younger women and all ages. Eternity bands are popular too, to put on each side of your wedding ring. Big this year is our ‘Downton Abbey’ collection we have evening bags that are encrusted with Swarovski crystals. They are perfect to carry to holiday parties when you want a little extra zing,” Peterson says.

“We have jewelry at all price points. We can custom design anything and have thousands of loose stones so people can walk in and pick out a real blue topaz, citrine, pink tourmaline, color opals with a lot of fire, and set it in any selection they like. As always the diamond bracelets and diamond earrings are huge at Christmas and they come in every size. We have even have blue diamonds, but we have everything here—onyx, jade, green amethyst, rainbow sapphire necklaces. We just carry things a lot of people don’t,” says Peterson.

And don’t forget the men, says Peterson. “For men, bracelets are popular too. We carry titanium, platinum, stainless steel, tungsten, and black titanium. We have other items for men too, like dog tags and crosses, cufflinks, money clips, pocket watches, and rings set with garnet, tiger eye and carved tiger eye, star sapphire, and signet rings,” says Peterson.

CRESCENT JEWELERS

At Crescent Jewelers in Lansing, Manager Barb O’Donnell, says, “Pandora will be big this year. They

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People can personalize bracelets to tell their story.”

MARTIN BINDER JEWELER

Helen Flude, marketing manager at Martin Binder Jeweler says they expect Alex and Ani to be big this

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

continued on page 26

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HOLIDAY FOUR | December 10, 2014 | 25

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

There is a large selection of gifts for your special someone at Merrillville Jewelers. Clockwise from top: Dancing Diamonds by Dinaro; Dizeo, Bentelli.

MERRILLVILLE JEWELERS

continued from page 25

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holiday season. “Alex and Ani bracelets are amazing. They cross all generations and are perfect for teenagers because they start at only $24. They are a great gift for grandmothers to give to their granddaughters. Teenagers love them and they’re affordable and fun. You stack them, they come in all different metals, and every bracelet tells a story and makes you mindful of your spirit and energy. They’re really fun.

They’re the next big thing. People will buy seven or eight of them at a time at Christmas and they get all of their shopping done for all of the ladies on their list,” Flude says.

Paul Groleau, owner of Merrillville Jewelers says, “We have Dancing Diamonds which are set in white or yellow gold. They are a cluster of diamonds and hinged so when the person breathes or their heart beats it moves and dances around. The other item that will be popular this year is from a line called Dizeo. These pendants, earrings, and rings come in sterling silver and have an overlay of white, yellow, or rose gold and feature simulated diamonds. They retail for under $100. Bentelli is a line of sterling silver with genuine diamond and they retail from $100 to $200. These are well made pendants, earrings, bracelets, and rings and they are tarnish proof since they are rhodium plated.”

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

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Brad’s Design & Jewelry has an array of sparkly presents. Clockwise from top: Bering watch with matching ring; Chrysalis stacking charm bracelets; an engagement ring. bottom to accent this sterling silver pendant. All items one of a kind, made

by Stephanie Swanson herself.

STEPHANIE SWANSON

JEWELRY DESIGN

Stephanie Swanson Jewelry Design has recently teamed up with the Flower Cart and their two locations in Chesterton and Valparaiso. “It is so exciting to be working with them,” said Swanson. “We have unique finds for Christmas gifts and great deals,” she says. These unique finds include sterling and beach glass pendants.

Each piece of beach glass is exclusive and unaltered and they are available in seafoam, cobalt or cornflower blue, dark green, white, and brown and they truly celebrate the character of Lake Michigan and the dunes. Other pieces include a gemstone and clustered fresh water pearl necklace available in white, pink or dark pearls, with matching gemstone briolette at the

BRAD’S DESIGN & JEWELRY

Owner Brad Belush says, “This is always a good season to get engaged and we have many people coming in to buy engagement rings. Good quality silver jewelry is going to also be popular this year along with alternative metals like steel. We carry a line called Steel X and the price point is good. We have charm bangles that make good stocking stuffers and they are excellent quality and a good price. We have a line of gold jewelry for birthstones and pendants for little girls, and watches are always popular.

We carry Bulova and the new Bering line which are really nice. Bering also has a line of ladies jewelry that matches the watches.”

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

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holiday menu Karen Maravilla’s family cooks up spicy dishes for the holidays, including these traditional tamales with peppers and beans.

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he holiday season tends to overflow with traditions – recipes passed down through generations, annual family gatherings, tree trimming parties and gift exchanges, to name a few.

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bold, exciting flavor to your homecooked holiday favorites using a versatile ingredient like juicy, tender pork.

Start with the traditional – tart, sweet cranberries and pork tenderloin – and add a twist, like jalapenos, to create robust, complex flavor. With seven total ingredients and less than an hour of total cook time, Spicy Cranberry Pork Tenderloin is a celebration-worthy meal that will delight your taste buds and your guests with the perfect combination of classic meets new inspiration.

For a garnish, sprinkle freshly chopped sage on top of the finished product. Serve the pork and spicy cranberry sauce with roasted sweet potatoes, skinned and mashed with butter and honey.

Find modern and mouthwatering ways to add great flavor to your holidays at PorkBeinspired.com and Pinterest. com/PorkBeinspired.

SPICY CRANBERRY PORK TENDERLOIN SERVINGS: 6-8

2 pork tenderloins, about 1 pound each 2 limes Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

KAREN MARAVILLA’S SPICY HOLIDAY FEASTS Adding spice to a holiday meal is a family tradition for Karen Maravilla, owner of It’s Serendipity, a store in downtown Hammond selling a variety of goods that was voted #1 Antique store in The Time Best of the Region four years in a row.

“While often people might have mashed potatoes and corn out of a can to go with their turkey dinners,” says Maravilla who remembers coming home from school to find her mother making tortillas by hand—the perfect afternoon snack. “At our house, we had turkey but my mom always made chili with pork, Spanish rice and beans with chorizo to go with it.”

Maravilla, who with her husband Raymundo Garcia Jr. is a member of the Downtown Hammond Council, continues these family traditions of heating up holiday meals.

“My mother made mole sauce for the leftover turkey,” she says.

“That’s a great way of making dinner more flavorful and spicier.”

1 teaspoon vegetable oil 1 (12-ounce) bag fresh cranberries 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed 1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped Preheat oven to 400°F. Finely grate zest from limes. Juice limes (about 4 tablespoons). In small bowl, mix half lime zest (about 2 tablespoons) with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

and juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until berries have burst and juices thickened, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Transfer pork to carving board and let stand for 3-5 minutes. Meanwhile, in roasting pan, bring cranberry sauce to a boil over medium heat, scraping up any browned bits in pan with wooden spoon.

Carve pork and serve with sauce.

Brush tenderloins with oil.

Place tenderloins in nonstick roasting pan, fat side up. Roast, flipping them over after 8 minutes. Add lime zest mixture to top, and continue roasting until digital meat thermometer reads between 145°F. (medium rare) and 160°F. (medium), about 35-40 minutes.

Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, mix 1 cup water with cranberries, brown sugar, jalapeno and remaining lime zest

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gifts HEATHER AUGUSTYN

30 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

Moms, dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles love getting a handmade gift for the holidays. This gift from the heart will last throughout the years. From ornaments to magnets, holidays crafts are fun to make with children, and fun to receive.

A

framed piece of children’s art might include their upsidedown handprint decorated into a reindeer, or a footprint decorated into a snowman or Santa Claus.

Claus. Colorful thumbprints can be turned into a strand of old-fashioned large bulb lights with a marker to detail a Christmas card or a piece of art to be framed. Years from now when the family looks back at that sweet tiny handprint it will be a meaningful memory and keepsake for the family. Make sure to add dates to the craft for preservation purposes.

Turning any photo into an heirloom is easy by having children paint and embellish popsicle sticks used to construct a glued frame for the photo. Affix a magnet to the back and the item is sure to make an appearance on the gift recipient’s refrigerator.

Another idea for a refrigerator magnet is to use a bottle cap as a tiny picture frame. Fill it with a circular piece of art—a tiny winter scene, a snowflake, a Christmas tree—and glue a magnet on the back for beautiful accent pieces. If you prefer to purchase a frame, Concept Art in Merrillville sells a large selection of frames so you can present that masterpiece as a gift.

There are endless options for making ornaments out of household items. For example, a golf-loving grandfather will cherish a golf ball decorated by his grandchild as a snowman’s head, painted black charcoal eyes, a thin orange triangle nose, and a felt hat on top with a loop for hanging on the family tree. Fimo Clay can be shaped into any ornament so children can sculpt away. You can also roll the clay about ¾ inch thick and

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

Concept Art stocks a large selection of felt, frames and Sculpy modeling clay that bakes hard in the oven.

use a holiday cookie cutter to make an easy and colorful ornament. Simply bake the clay until it is hard and then embellish with paints and glue beads, sequins, and scraps of fabric or ribbons to finish.

If your children would like to try their hand at sewing, cut two identical pieces of felt into a winter shape, like a star, a crescent moon, or a partridge or cardinal.

With color contrasting embroidery thread, hem the edges either parallel to the edge, or a chain stitch, and then before closing up, stuff lightly with cotton balls for a 3D look.

Embellish with beads or sequins. If you prefer a more retro look, instead of felt, choose some vintage fabrics that can be obtained at a resale shop.

If you prefer to purchase a kit or supplies, Mark Musich, manager of Concept Art, says they have art supplies, bead and jewelrymaking supplies, creative activities, crafting supplies and frames and they are Northwest Indiana’s largest art and jewelry making supply store. “We have paint-by-number kits and other kits for children from a company called Creativity for Kids. They can make a sock puppet or a piggy bank. We also sell basic art sets for painters or aspiring artists, including acrylics, water-colors, and oils,” says Musich.

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Holiday Four | December 10, 2014 | 31

gift ideas

gift wrapping brings extra HEATHER AUGUSTYN

A piece of art looks better when it is displayed in a beautiful frame. Food looks better when it is presented elegantly on a plate with garnishes. And a gift looks better when it is given in wrapping that shows creativity and style. Take your gift giving to the next level this holiday season by thinking outside of the box, quite literally.

R TM & © Turner Entertainment Co. WB SHIELD: TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s14)

32 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

aymond Brickner, co-owner of the Flower Cart in Chesterton and Valparaiso offers a few suggestions for creative gift wrapping.

“A lot of times doing something special will show you put extra thought into the gift, like taking a plain brown paper wrap for an ecofriendly theme and tying with raffia or burlap and adding an ornament or a cluster of silk flowers. This is a really pretty look and they can keep

the flowers or ornament to display each year. You can also use fabric, like a placemat or tablecloth or scarf, and fold it so that the wrapping becomes a gift itself also. We’ve also taken natural products like large leaves and done a cluster of fresh flowers and bear grass to totally cover a wine bottle,” says Brickner.

Mark Musich, manager of Concept Art in Merrillville says that wrapping a

Festive wrapping gets an extra boost with a tasteful floral arrangement by the Flower Cart in Chesterton.

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Raymond Brickner, co-owner of The Flower Cart small gift in an origami shape is a creative way to give a gift. “We sell some origami paper sets, about a half dozen different kinds, and we also have basic art papers that are 19 X 25 inches in individual colors, or we have an assortment of fine printing papers for print makers. We have empty wood boxes that are like small tackle boxes and you can decorate them and customize them to place a gift inside. Or to decorate your own wrapping paper, we have a very large selection of craft paints and rub-ons to transfer onto paper or glass.

We also sell an assortment of cards and envelopes and you can watercolor your own cards.

We have a woman who comes in and teaches classes on this,” says Musich.

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

A LOT OF TIMES DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL WILL SHOW YOU PUT EXTRA THOUGHT INTO THE GIFT, LIKE TAKING A PLAIN BROWN PAPER WRAP FOR AN ECO-FRIENDLY THEME AND TYING WITH RAFFIA OR BURLAP AND ADDING AN ORNAMENT OR A CLUSTER OF SILK FLOWERS.

Here are a few more ideas for creative gift wrapping: •N ewspaper stamped with red or green ink and festive holiday stampers • Vintage fabric • Vintage Christmas sheet music • Road maps •P lain paper decorated by children with paints or crayons •A luminum foil tied with colorful satin ribbons •P lain red or green paper with cutout snowflakes glued to surface •A single jingle bell tied into package ribbon •A sprig of pine or birch branch tied into ribbon •A single candy cane tied into ribbon •A single cinnamon stick tied into ribbon •A small picture frame with a photo tied into ribbon

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Jewelry boxes disguised as ornaments can be used to wrap that extra-special gift.

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inter holidays conjure up cravings for our favorite comfort foods — from the aroma aroma of fresh-baked apple pie to the taste of tender roast turkey. This year, give holiday recipes a delectable new twist by incorporating the flavors of imported gourmet cheeses.

“Creatively crafted cheeses add flavor and pizazz to traditional holiday dishes,” says Chef Michael Symon, co-host of “The Chew,” author of numerous

best-selling cookbooks and owner of several restaurants.

BLUE CHEESE STUFFED TURKEY BREAST

It’s easy to transform the time-honored turkey into a feast of flavors, according to Symon.

“For a tasty twist on the holiday bird, butterfly-cut a boneless turkey breast and fill it with a mixture of Castello(R) crumbled Danish Blue Cheese, seasoned with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper and minced shallots. Roll it up in jellyroll fashion, tie with twine and drizzle with olive oil. It’s simple to prepare and will be a festive hit.”

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

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The key to this recipe’s tastiness is Castello Danish Blue Cheese. Its sharp and slightly salty flavor, referred to as the blue “bite,” adds epicurean excitement to turkey, along with a dash of selfindulgence. To bring out the cheese’s flavor, serve with accompaniments such as pears, olives, cranberries or rye bread.

ADD FLAVOR WITH OLD WORLD MARKET “It’s always nice platter. Marolf then to have a cheese recommends adding plate for holiday jams and preserved entertaining,” fruits as well as port says Megan soaked figs and Marolf, who with bourbon soaked her husband mixed dried fruits.

Chris, owns Old “We also have World Market fruit and nut in downtown presses by Grace Valparaiso. & I,” says Marolf According to Old World market stocks Sage Derby Truffle Brie Port Derby Award about the mixed Marolf, there dried fruits pressed winning Obanan goat cheese from Indiana. Other crowd-pleasers are several along with such are the Grace and I fruit and nut presses. components nuts as roasted to making a great cheese plate including having a almonds, pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts. variety of milks—goat, cow and sheep— used in Beyond cheeses, Chris Marolf adding flavors to making cheeses. what we serve by sautéing foods in either Dolin Rouge You also want different textures like crumbly, Blanc or Dry vermouths. semi-soft and hard,” she says. “For instance we have “Vermouth has a lot of herbs and spices in it and it a 5-year aged Gouda which is very hard, a delice gives food another layer of subtle flavor,” he says. d’bourgogne which is a triple cream French cow’s Cooking with beer has a similar impact. milk cheese from the Burgundy region of France and “For a nice undertone use a light Belgium beer and a goat bucheron which ages from the outside in—the for braising and stews, strong beers such as a stout or outside is creamy and the inside is like fresh chèvre.” porter are good,” says Marolf whose store features a Old World also carries Manchego, a sheep’s curated selection of some 200 wines many priced $20 milk cheese to complete the cheese portion of the and under as well as artisan beers.

APPLE PIE WITH HAVARTI CRUST

Apples and cheese have long been friends, so why not marry the two flavors in an amazing pie recipe? Simply add shredded Aged Havarti to the crust. Pulse traditional crust ingredients in a food processor until small crumbs form, then pulse in the shredded cheese. According to Symon, “Castello(R) Aged Havarti’s rich, creamy texture and crunchy flecks of salt crystals are the perfect partner for an apple pie crust.”

For the filling, Granny Smith apples complement the Aged Havarti flavor and blend beautifully with traditional ingredients like granulated and dark brown sugar, cinnamon and fresh nutmeg.

Real butter and heavy cream add even more richness to the recipe.

The result, according to Symon, is a decidedly decadent apple pie with Aged Harvarti’s buttery flavor: “This pie is the ultimate holiday comfort food — no matter how you slice it,” Symon says.

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Cookie 2014

CONTEST FIRST PLACE

OLD WORLD SUGAR COOKIES

BY LYNN ALDRICH

2 1 1 1

cup butter cups sugar eggs tsp. vanilla cup half and half cups all-purpose flour tsp. baking powder tsp. baking soda tsp. salt tbs. nutmeg

Mix the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and half and half together in a bowl.

In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Add the mixed dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture slowly until fully blended.

Divide the dough in half and press each half between two pieces of wax paper. Place the wax papered dough into a large freezer bag and chill for 6-8 hours.

38 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll out the dough to your desired thickness — about 1/4 inch is recommended — with a dusting of flour to keep the dough from sticking.

Use cookie cutters to cut into shapes, place on a cookie sheet and bake for 3-4 minutes, then turn the cookie sheet and bake for another 3-4 minutes to ensure even baking.

Frosting: 3 egg whites 2 tbs. half and half 1 tsp. vanilla Confectioner’s sugar Mix the ingredients with a hand mixer, blending in confectioner’s sugar slowly until the frosting does not drip off the beaters. Add food coloring and decorate as desired.

ELOISE VALADEZ PHOTOS

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A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

THIRD PLACE

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES

BY MEGAN MARTIN

SECOND PLACE

CHERRY ALMOND SHORTBREAD COOKIES

BY SHANNON BRUMFIELD

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup cold butter 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained and finely chopped 12 oz. white chocolate baking squared, finely chopped, or white chocolate chips 1 tsp. almond extract 1 tsp. maraschino cherry juice 2 tsp. shortening Colored sugar or edible glitter for decoration Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in drained cherries and 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of the chopped white chocolate.

Stir in almond extract and cherry juice. Mixture will be

crumbly at first, but knead in the bowl until it forms a smooth ball.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Shape dough into 1” balls.

Place balls 2” apart on parchment liners. Using the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar, flatten balls to 1 1/2” to 2” rounds.

Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until centers are set. Cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet and transfer to wire rack to cool.

In a double boiler, combine the remaining white chocolate with the shortening and melt over low heat, stirring often. Dip half of each cookie into melted white chocolate, allowing excess to drip off.

Roll edges in edible glitter or colored sugar. Place cookies back on wire rack or parchment sheets until chocolate is set, or set chocolate faster by placing the cookie sheets in the refrigerator.

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. allspice 1 tsp. nutmeg 2 cups butter, softened 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar 1-1/2 cups light brown sugar 2 tsp. vanilla extract 4 eggs 1 cup Hershey’s Semi-Sweet chocolate chips 1 cup Hershey’s Mini Kisses 1/2 of Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Giant Bar, chopped Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In one bowl stir together all the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking

powder, salt, allspice, nutmeg).

In a stand mixer or by hand, mix together the butter, sugars and vanilla until creamy. Add in the eggs.

Then slowly add in the flour mixture a little at a time until it is all incorporated and a dough forms. Mix in the chocolates.

Place spoonfuls of the dough onto to parchment lined baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on a baking rack before placing into a storage container.

Separate rows of cookies in the container with wax or parchment paper to keep them from sticking together. Keep a piece of bread in the container to help prevent cookies for going stale and to keep them soft and chewy.

HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014 | 39

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

MAKEOVERS

bacon WITH FAMILY FEATURES

Experts agree that breakfast is the most important mealtime of the day, especially at the holidays. Days full of cooking and preparing make breakfast a perfect time to enjoy a meal with family and friends.

S

pice up the start of your day with a breakfast that’s full of flavor. Delight your taste buds with an instant boost by adding bacon, America’s favorite breakfast meat, to your morning meal.

Packing the perfect savory punch, bacon complements all breakfast staples, from pancakes and eggs to biscuits. But even these triedand-true breakfast classics can grow lackluster over time.

Treat yourself to a better morning and a delicious breakfast by taking traditional cinnamon roll-ups and breakfast sandwiches to the next level with Farmland bacon — available in multiple varieties, including thick cut, classic cut and low sodium. Farmland bacon is slow-smoked over real hardwoods for maximum flavor intensity, which means these recipes are guaranteed to be anything but boring and are soon to become your new go-to classics.

STICKY CINNAMON BACON ROLL-UPS

PREP TIME: 30 MINUTES SERVINGS: 8 12 slices Farmland Applewood Smoked or Honey and Maple Bacon 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 cup sugar 40 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

Skillets owner Mike Kirinic with his wife Carol.

EVERYTHING’S BETTER WITH BACON

1/4 cup melted butter 4 8-inch flour tortillas 2 tablespoons applesauce Heat oven to 375°F. Spray baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

Cook bacon according to package directions; drain. Combine cinnamon and sugar; mix well.

Brush melted butter on both sides of tortilla; coat with cinnamon sugar on both sides.

Place 3 slices bacon and 2 teaspoons applesauce on one edge of tortilla. Roll up and place seam-side down in prepared pan. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

Bake at 375°F for 12 to 16 minutes, until sugar mixture is bubbly. Cut tortilla roll-ups in half before serving. Serve warm.

BACON ’N EGG STUFFED BISCUITS

PREP TIME: 45 MINUTES SERVES: 8 1

can (16.3-oz.) refrigerated flaky layer biscuit dough 3 eggs, beaten 3 ounces softened cream cheese, cut into 8 small pieces 8 slices Farmland Honey and Maple Flavored Bacon 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese Heat oven to 350°F. Spray eight muffin cups in 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick

cooking spray.

Cut bacon into 1/2-inch pieces. Cook in large skillet over medium-heat until crisp; drain.

Meanwhile, peel four biscuits in half along layers. Place each piece in greased muffin cup, pressing onto bottom and up sides.

Carefully drain all but 1 tablespoon of grease from skillet. Add eggs, cook and stir over medium heat until eggs are set.

Add cream cheese and gently stir until melted. Remove from heat; stir in bacon and cheese.

Spoon heaping 2 tablespoons of egg mixture onto each biscuit in muffin pan.

Peel remaining four biscuits in half along layers. Place each piece over top of egg mixture, pushing edges down into muffin cups.

Bake at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool five minutes before serving.

“Bacon is good with anything,” says Mike Kirinic, owner of Skillets, a family friendly restaurant open for breakfast and lunch at Port de Leau Plaza in Highland. “And the bacon we serve has bigger, thicker slices.”

The Kirinics add these wonderful slabs of smoked pork to their fried egg sandwiches, in their BLT wrap and char-grilled chicken wrap, on their bacon cheeseburgers and as a breakfast side.

They also created a bacon skillet—sauteed veggies with crumbled crisp bacon mixed with hash browns and topped with two eggs.

“I just can’t think of anything bad to say about bacon,” says Mike. “It just takes food up a notch.”

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

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A Special publication of the Times Media Co.

Holiday Four | December 10, 2014 | 41

gift ideas

Albert’s Diamond Jewelers carries a the large selection from ch Ea e. lin ve Lo of Rhythm e th piece glistens at of slightest movement r. are we the

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

42 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

mistletoe

M

HEATHER AUGUSTYN

istletoe has an ancient tradition of mysticism and love which originates with the Druids who thought that the beautiful

white berry with dark green leaves was the soul of the oak since it frequently grew on the tree. In the Middle Ages in Europe it was used to decorate homes because people believed a sprig of mistletoe warded off evil spirits. But kissing under the mistletoe comes from the Roman festival of Saturnalia,

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

Christine rti Ma nez, social media specialist for Albert’s Diamond e Jewelers displays th ve Lo of hm yt Rh collection.

which took place surrounding the winter solstice, because the plant was associated with fertility and life. Today we continue this tradition, believing that it is good luck to kiss the one we love beneath a bough of mistletoe.

Christine Martinez, social media specialist for Albert’s Diamond Jewelers, says that they have 30,000 square feet of romantic gifts to choose from, to present to the one you love

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beneath that magical mistletoe, with brands like Cartier, Chopard, David Yurman, Tacori, Ippolita, Simon G, Breitling, Tag Heuer and Mikimoto. But Martinez says that one gift that is sure to make her heart beat a little faster this year is a piece of diamond jewelry from the Rhythm of Love collection. These

continued on page 44

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HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014 | 43

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

9950 Calumet Avenue, Munster 219-924-5FIT

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continued from page 43

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IT’S THE ONLY JEWELRY THAT IS POWERED BY HER HEARTBEAT. IT’S THE WAY THAT THEY ARE SET, THEY FLUTTER IN THE CENTER WITH ANY MOVEMENT. THEY NEVER STOP MOVING AND THE LIGHT THAT HITS THE DIAMOND FROM EVERY ANGLE MAKES THEM REALLY SPARKLE. Christine Martinez, social media specialist for Albert’s Diamond Jewelers

44 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

stunning diamond pendants and earrings are designed to shimmer and sparkle with every move. Just the slightest emotion that sets her heart beating is all that’s needed to set off the scintillating display of light. “It’s the only jewelry that is powered by her heartbeat. It’s the way that they are set, they flutter in the center with any movement.

They never stop moving and the light that hits the diamond from every angle makes them really sparkle. For the holidays we offer colored diamonds and they are set in 10 kt. gold, 14 kt. gold, and sterling silver, so the prices range from a very affordable $79 to $10,000,” Martinez says.

The holidays are also a popular season for romantic wedding engagements, and Albert’s Diamond Jewelers specialize in custom jewelry work to translate client ideas into beautiful works of art.

They can take existing family heirlooms and turn them into meaningful engagement rings.

Their jewelry designers spend hours making sure that their custom work is flawless when delivered, and they have a rigorous quality control process to ensure that each piece will last for generations to come.

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

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A romantic dinner is a gift that every woman, or man, desires! Not having to cook from scratch while enjoying the company of the one you love is bliss. For a main course, pick up rigatoni boscaiola with mushrooms, Calabrese sausage, and peas sautéed in a tomato cream sauce or pesce bianco with white wine in a lemon caper sauce with bed of spinach garlic from Ciao Bella in Schererville.

Here are a few more romantic holiday gift ideas: • Weekend getaway to a cottage or bed and breakfast • Wine and chocolates • A bath package with bubble bath, bath salts, and bath oils • Perfume or cologne • A beautiful bath robe • Certificate for a spa • Digital frame loaded with photos of the couple • Wine tour getaway A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

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visit us online @ henrycompany.com HOLIDAY FOUR | December 10, 2014 | 45

gift ideas

Holiday GIFT IDEAS FOR of all levels

T

STATEPOINT

he holiday season is a great time to shower the gardeners in your life with the tools they need to grow beautiful and delicious things. Whether your recipient already has a green thumb or is just thinking about starting a new hobby, there are some great gift ideas out there for every level of gardening interest and skill.

HERB AND VEGETABLE COOKBOOK

Everyone gets stumped from time-totime when planning meals or figuring out how best to incorporate a fresh harvest into tonight’s dinner. *Jewelryy purchased between 11/01/14-12/24/14 at a our Valparaiso V location will have the purchase price refunded (excluding sales tax), if 4” of new snow falls in Valparaiso (as determined by Weather Command) in the 24 hours of 1/1/15.

Jewelry purchased between 11/01/14-12/24/14 at our LaPorte location will have the purchase price refunded (excluding sales tax), if 4” new snow falls in Laporte (as determined by Weather Command) in the 24 hours of 1/1/15.

Insured by Commerce and Industry Insurance Company. See store for futher details. *Purchase from Valparaiso location qualify in Valparaiso only. *Purchase from LaPorte location qualify for snowfall in LaPorte only.

46 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

Consider gifting a little inspiration.

Any vegetable gardener will appreciate a great cookbook that focuses on cooking with fresh herbs and vegetables.

There are many options — from cookbooks that focus on vegetable side dishes to vegetarian ones where veggie main dishes take center stage.

INDOOR GARDENING

Why only grow tasty vegetables and beautiful flowers part of the year? For the year-round enthusiast, consider an indoor garden. For example, The Miracle-Gro AeroGarden is a soil-free garden that grows herbs, vegetables, salad greens and flowers five times faster than plants grown in soil. Because it uses advanced hydroponics to create an ideal environment for healthy growth, your gift recipient won’t need expertise for a successful garden to thrive.

Plants grown in an Aerogarden receive an ideal balance of water, This metal air and re tu pig sculp liquid from Ted’s Feed nutrients Store brings packed whimsy to the with garden. calcium,

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

LOCAL STORES STOCK PERFECT GIFTS FOR GARDEN LOVERS

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

Wind chimes bring a little audible beauty to any garden.

iron, magnesium and other key minerals. It also features a control panel to tell you when to add water, eliminating some of the trickier guesswork.

Foodies and health enthusiasts will also be pleased to know that many of the seeds provided are heirloom varieties, and the company sources organic seeds when possible. More information about indoor soil-free vegetable and flower gardening can be found at AeroGarden.com.

For those in our lives who enjoy the beauty of a garden, Ted’s Feed Store in Lansing, Illinois, carries a wide assortment of gift ideas for this holiday season.

“We have all different types of wind chimes,” says Lynn Murdoch, assistant manager at Ted’s, noting those include copper church sounding chimes as well as metal and bamboo chimes. “We also have a large assortment of bird feeders for different types of birds as well as bird food.”

Currently they have a new selection of bird and wildlife feeders by Audubon.

Murdoch says that brightly colored flags are also a nice addition to the garden. These too come in a large assortment including holiday or Christmas themed flags and also, for a pet-loving gardener, animal flags.

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BIRD FEEDER

Help your favorite gardener attract pollinators and add a touch of beauty to the garden with a unique bird feeder.

The birds attracted by the feeder will do more than bring beauty to the recipient’s garden – they can help cross pollinate plants and flowers, as well.

If you’re crafty, consider making it yourself, or use an online marketplace to find a unique, hand-crafted or vintage treasure. And if your recipient is crafty, consider giving him or her a do-it-yourself feeder or birdhouse kit.

This holiday season, skip the generic presents and be a bit more thoughtful. For friends and family, there are plenty of ways you can support a new or lifelong, year-round gardening habit.

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

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1005 S. CENTENNIAL DR. • MUNSTER, IN 46321 www.munster.org • 219-836-6930 HOLIDAY FOUR | December 10, 2014 | 47

Chef Toni Fugate of Tiger Lily in Chesterton says fruit is a perfect sweet ending to a e holiday meal for thos y sta who want to away from the calories.

diet

Keep calories in check while enjoying the season FAMILY FEATURES

A

s the seasons change we’re all tempted to indulge, but consuming all the extra calories added from sugar in those decadent sweets and savories can quickly add up to pounds on the scale!

The good news is that there are options

for swapping higher-calorie foods for lighter choices that can help you save calories from sugar and prevent holiday weight gain. And the best part — you don’t have to skimp on flavor to enjoy all the festivities!

Set realistic expectations. When it comes to holiday diet tips, use the 80/20 rule, in which 80 percent of your choices are healthful and with the

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

5

• • • • • •

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Please mention coupon when ordering. Not good with Family Night Meal or with any other offer. Good only at participating Edwardo’s. Expires 1/25/15

219-836-2010 • 7920 Calumet Ave. • Munster 48 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

Lift Chairs Wheelchairs Walkers/Rollators Canes/Crutches Bathroom Safety Compression Stockings • Diabetic Footwear • Incontinent Supplies • CPAP Machines

• Orthotics (braces & shoe inserts) • Services by Certified Orthotic Fitters • Women’s Boutique for post mastectomy needs provided by RN & Certified Fitters • Licensed Pedorthic services provided for shoes & foot assessment

(708) 418-0008 A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

HOMEMADE FOODS ARE THE SOLUTION TO A LOW-CAL HOLIDAY Keep those holiday calories away but still enjoy all the great foods available this Christmas. “The more fresh fruits you put into what you’re eating, the better,� says Toni Fugate, chef at Tiger Lily in Chesterton. “Fruit has fiber and fills you up and its natural sweetness help fight your desire for sugar.�

Other easy fixes, says Fugate, are serving home-style foods made from scratch. “That’s what we do here,� she says. “We make the food in our restaurant and our bakery from scratch. I don’t like to use shortening and by making things ourselves we avoid additives and hidden calories. These are all fixes that are easy to do and make for a healthy, non-fattening holiday.�

other 20 percent you splurge a little.

Consider it a win and pat yourself on the back if you maintain your weight during the holidays. Enjoy the fun of the season and feel good about the choices you make. Remember, everything in moderation!

Budgeting your calories. Your bank

account isn’t the only thing to keep in balance this holiday season. When you’re on the run with holiday shopping, be mindful when stopping in your favorite coffee shop.

Try these simple swaps to enjoy the sweetness of the season without all the added calories:

order your holiday turkey or ham today

• Instead of a cheesy or heavy dip, try salsa, a low-fat yogurt-based dip or hummus. • Instead of fried hors d’oeuvres, go for a fresher approach with steamed shrimp or cruditÊs. • Instead of cakes and pies, opt for something like a fruit crisp that has fewer calories than a traditional pie.

For handy tips and tasty recipes to help you save calories every day, visit www.365SweetSwaps.com.

Spice up your substitutions.

Traditional holiday beverages like egg nog, hot chocolate and mulled cider can contain a lot of calories. But there’s no need to skimp on the spice. Ingredients like nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon sticks help add a little kick. For something with sweet and spice and everything nice this season, try these reduced-sugar beverage recipes from the SPLENDAŽ Brand.

MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE SERVINGS PER RECIPE: 6

1/4 cup water 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 cup SPLENDAÂŽ No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon grated orange peel 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 5-1/2 cups skim milk 2 cinnamon sticks 1/8 teaspoon salt Whisk water, cocoa powder and sweetener in sauce pan. Slowly bring to simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook until mixture thickens and resembles syrup.

Mix in remaining ingredients and heat.

Do not boil. Serve hot.

CINNAMON LATTE

SERVINGS PER RECIPE: 1 2 tablespoons fat-free half-and-half 1 teaspoon SPLENDAÂŽ No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated Dash ground cinnamon 3/4 cup hot brewed strong hazelnutflavored coffee 2 tablespoons thawed sugar-free whipped topping Microwave half-and-half, sweetener and cinnamon in microwave-safe mug on high for 15 seconds or until heated through.

Stir in coffee. Top with whipped topping and serve.

at Welch’s, we have all the fixin’s to make the holiday perfect - see us.

s e r v i n g f o r o v e r 6 0 ye a rs We Invite You to Experience the Welch’s Difference

219-365-8190 11333 W. 95th Street • St. John visit us at: www.welchsmeats.com A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

Voted Best Place for Meat & Poultry and Best Customer Service

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Celebrate

salads W with

HEATHER AUGUSTYN

hen we think of the winter holidays, we tend to think of heavy foods like meats and gravies and starches. Even though many fresh foods may be out of season, we can still find almost any fruit or vegetable at local grocery stores, or we can use local produce that is grown in season. Salads are a delicious way to prepare the palate for the main course, or they may be hearty enough to sustain as a lighter meal on the eve of the holiday. Here are a few sweet, savory, and definitely celebratory salads for the holidays.

RED CUP CAFÉ MINTED CITRUS SALAD 3 grapefruits 3 oranges 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped 1/4 c. granulated sugar 1/4 c. dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

Laura Verheaghe of the Red Cup CafĂŠ holds a fresh Minted Citrus Salad.

50 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

CRANBERRY CHICKEN SALAD 4 c. cooked and cubed chicken 1 c. mayonnaise 1 t. paprika 1-1/2 c. dried cranberries

Peel and segment grapefruit and oranges, skin segments and cut in half. Place sugar and mint in food processor and quickly blend. Sprinkle mint and sugar mixture with cranberries over fruit and serve on bed of mixed organic greens.

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

Hobart

Gifts

Sweet Treats

HOLIDAY M A R K E T

Holiday Decor

1/2 1 2 1/2 1 1 1/2

c. halved red grapes c. chopped celery chopped green onions c. chopped green bell pepper c. chopped pecans t. salt t. ground black pepper

In a medium bowl, mix mayonnaise, paprika, pepper, and salt. Stir in dried cranberries, grapes, celery, bell pepper, onion, and nuts. Add chopped chicken, and mix well. Chill 1 hour and serve.

PEAR PANCETTA SALAD 1/4 2 1/4 2 2

c. olive oil T balsamic vinegar t. salt oz. chopped pancetta medium firm, ripe pears, cored and thinly sliced 1 package fresh baby spinach 6 slices red onion, separated into rings 1/4 c. toasted pine nuts 1 oz. crumbled Gorgonzola cheese Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and set aside.

In a large skillet, cook pancetta until crisp.

Remove, drain, and chop. Set aside. Add pear slices to drippings

in skillet and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly browned and tender, stirring occasionally. In a salad bowl, combine baby spinach, onion slices, and dressing and toss gently to coat.

Divide spinach mixture onto six salad plates and arrange pears on top.

Sprinkle with pancetta, pine nuts, and Gorgonzola cheese and serve.

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WINTER BERRIES SALAD 1/3 c. freshly squeezed orange juice 1/3 c. dried cranberries 3 c. cooked wheat berries 1 large Fuji apple, unpeeled, diced 1/2 c. chopped pecans 3 T raspberry vinegar 3 T extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 t. salt 1/4 t. ground pepper Mix orange juice and cranberries in a small bowl and let stand for 15 minutes. Mix wheat berries, apple, and pecans in a large bowl. Drain the cranberries, reserving the juice, and stir cranberries into the wheat berry mixture. Whisk together the reserved orange juice, vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.

Pour over the salad and stir gently to coat.

Refrigerate and serve cold.

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HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014 | 51

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gift ideas

BOW Experiential and motivational gifting trends for 2015

D

BRANDPOINT

o you want to give more than a present that gets a smile and then ends-up stored in a closet? This year, people have a new mindset for holiday giving and it embraces the idea that gifts can help motivate people to do the things they have always wanted to do. From tools that help someone complete their first marathon to activities that bring the family together, consider these gift ideas with greater meaning for the jolliest holiday yet.

Give a membership: Memberships are a fantastic gift idea because they provide enjoyment all year long. For families, memberships to a science museum or zoo let them make loads of memories. For the golf guru, gift a membership to the nearest golf club.

For the health nut, pay for a membership at the hot new health club she’s been talking about. For the foodie, gift a CSA share — Community Supported Agriculture programs

that provide fresh local produce weekly or monthly.

Give a goal: A gift that helps someone complete a goal has a lot of meaning. For the keen runner who has always wanted to complete a 10K, the TomTom Runner Cardio GPS watch is perfect. It features a built-in Heart Rate Monitor to accurately measure your heart rate, eliminating the need for a separate chest strap.

The watch also has a built-in A nice bottle GPS receiver of wine from that Butler Winery in provides Chesterton is a real-time perfect gift for those running who enjoy the finer information things in life. at a glance, so your favorite runner can track their distance, time, pace, speed and calories burnt as they run.

Learn more at TomTom.com.

Give a good time: Everyone loves to look forward to doing something special. This year, gift an experience that will have loved ones counting down the days until it happens. Tickets to a special theater performance or awesome concert are sure to be appreciated. Other experiential gift ideas include vouchers for a hot air balloon ride or special

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

tasting at the city’s hottest new restaurant.

LOCAL EXPERIENTIAL Give girl time: Do you have a resolution to GIFT IDEAS spend more time with the For the local touch for experiential girls next year? Then give gifts, gift certificates from Butler a gift so all the ladies cans Winery in Chesterton, the fourth get together. For example, oldest winery in the state, has help start a book a burgeoning club by oenophile gifting the expand their same novel tastes and their to all your wine cellars or friends, and even become include an home vintners. invitation “Our two meet up and shops in discuss the Bloomington book over appetizers carry wine after the making holidays. kits,” says Perhaps join Joe Butler, a a wine of member of the the month family owned club and business which have your started in 1983. friends over “If people are for sampling interested after every we can have delivery. them up here Finally, hire quickly.” an instructor To help for a private friends and class at your family take it to house just for Running shoes the next level, your ladies — are available at Barney’s Hub from yoga to painting to Barney’s Hub Bootery sells massage, it’s a fun way to Bootery for the such brands of bond and experience new fitness-conscious. men’s athletic things together.

Give guy time: Life shoes as New gets busy, which means Balance and guy time seems to fall by Asics and for women who want to hit the wayside. Give a gift the trail hiking shoes include those to your guy friends that made by Columbia and Merrell. means more man time in the new year. For example, plan a golf outing at an awesome local course. the best approach to the green. It also Another fun idea is to rent a cabin for contains key golf course data from a weekend escape. Know a good brew more than 34,000 golf courses across house in the city? Get all your buds the globe on its extra-large screen. together and schedule a private tour Give a getaway: Whether for a complete with tastings. full week or just a day, a getaway is a Give a golf edge: Know someone wonderful way to bond and decompress who loves to golf? Give their game after the holidays. Go big with a fullan edge by gifting a few professional fledged vacation for the entire family, lessons to tune up that swing. In or keep it simple with a romantic addition, your favorite golfer will be weekend with your sweetie at a bed and the envy of the clubhouse when you gift a TomTom Golfer GPS watch. Sleek breakfast. For a quick escape before the kids head back to school, simply get and sophisticated, this GPS watch a hotel for an evening and let the kids uses graphics to clearly show accurate splash as much as they desire. distances to hazards and layups and

    

New Year’s Eve Buffet 4 & 8 pm Seatings Enjoy a sensational buffet from the Center for Visual and Performing Arts.

Double your enjoyment with “The Complete Beatles Tribute” concert by American English, 6 & 10 pm performances.

All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet • Beef & Turkey Carving Stations

• Italian Blend Vegetables

• Pork Loin with Rosemary and Lemon Sauce

• Roasted Potatoes

• Roasted Cod with Cherry Tomatoes in an Herb Sauce

• Dessert Bar

• Eggplant Parmesan • Garden Salad/ Cheese Trays

$28 Buffet Dinner; $14 Children under 11 $63 Buffet & Theatre Ticket BAR SERVICE AVAILABLE Call the Catering Office, 219-836-1930, ext. 2 to make your buffet reservations.

Call the Box Office, 219-836-3255 to make your buffet & theatre reservations.

1040 Ridge Road Munster, IN 219-836-1930 | www.cvpa.org HOLIDAY FOUR | December 10, 2014 | 53

PROVIDED

holiday activities

The Northwest Indiana Symphony’s Holiday Pops performance takes place on Thursday, December 11th at 7:30 p.m. at the Star Plaza Theatre. Get in the holiday spirit with this cherished South Shore tradition featuring a holiday singalong and musical surprises.

Children from Protsman Elementary School in Dyer will perform.

A

s always, keep an eye out for visitors from the North Pole and bring a donation of any non-perishable food item to the concert to support the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. Join them the following night, Friday, December 12th at 8 p.m. in Crystal Lake, Ill. at the Raue Center.

Maestro Kirk Muspratt says the performance has become a rich holiday tradition in the region.

“We have done this program long before I came here, so probably for about 30 years or so. Last year we had 3,000 people attend our performance and so we have really grown over the years and it’s astonishing. We see grandparents bring their grandchildren and they walk out holding hands, and families come together and it’s very sweet.

We see companies who will take their employees out to dinner and

54 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

holidays

and they have a nice visit together,” says Muspratt.

He says that the performance appeals to all ages, especially because the performance involves children from Protsman Elementary School. Muspratt says, “I always try to involve many children in the performance and I told them that HEATHER AUGUSTYN Santa will be there and they’re very excited about that. It’s a serious performance with some serious pieces of music, but there are fun pieces too, like ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,’ and we just want people to enjoy each other and laugh and have fun.”

The Holiday Pops program this year will feature “Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas” from Home Alone

by John Williams; “Prelude to The Ten Commandments” by Elmer Bernstein; “Awake the Harp” from The Creation by Joseph Haydn; “Children of Light” by Valerie Webdell; “Protsman Elementary School” arranged by Martin Ellis; “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”

by Tommie Connor; Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus arranged

by Richard Allain; “Let There Be Peace on Earth” by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson; “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” by Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram; “Christmas Sing-Along” by Gordon Munford; “The Lord’s Prayer” by Albert Hay Malotte; “Ave Maria” by J.S. Bach; The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will present its “What Sweeter Music “ by John Holiday Pops concert Dec. 11 at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville.

Rutter; “Make Our Garden Grow” from Candide by Leonard Bernstein; and it’s not over a busy weekend. then attend the performance as a “Sleigh Ride” by Frederick Delius; There’s something about the region way to thank their staff and it has where there is a feeling of community Selections from The Nutcracker by become a destination for people. I Peter Tchaikovsky; “Prayer of the at this performance. I’m not sure have people come up to me all the Children” by Kurt Bestor; Northwest it would be the same in another time to tell me that their holiday Indiana Symphony Chorus arranged town or city. Backstage before the doesn’t start without this concert. performance I can hear people in the by Andrea Klouse; “Exodus” from The fact that the performance takes audience greeting each other, asking The Ten Commandments by Elmer place on a Thursday night is good Bernstein. how they’ve been through the year for families because they can come

NISO’s Holiday Pops concert an annual tradition

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

Home & Family

W

inter is just around the corner, and that cold weather can wreak havoc on the pipes in your home – making the season even more miserable.

Terry Cheek of TLC Plumbing Inc. in Griffith says not to worry – there are steps you can take right now to make sure your home’s plumbing survives even the harshest of winters.

Cold weather months can not only cause pipes to freeze, but can also freeze partially plugged sewers. Sump pump discharge lines can freeze, and a home’s hot water tank must work harder in the cold weather months because the incoming water temperature is colder, Cheek said. And don’t forget about your home’s outside hose bibb – that can freeze, too.

Before temperatures start to dip, Cheek recommends insulating pipes in the crawl space or on outside walls, and removing the garden hose from the hose bibb.

“Drain your hose to store in a shed, garage or basement, then make sure the interior shut off valve is closed,” he said.

Flush the hot water tank to remove sediment so that the hot water tank can

PaId adVertISement

work more efficiently, and always know where your main shut off valve is by your water meter – making sure it works properly before an emergency happens.

“Your home’s foundation vents for a crawl space should be closed for the winter to stop cold air from freezing pipes, and any lawn sprinkler systems need to be drained and blown out with compressed air,” Cheek says. “Drain Tony V. MarTin, The TiMes the backflow valve and close the The TLC Plumbing team brings expertise to any interior shut off valve for this line.” homeowner’s repair needs.

Make sure your main sewer is open causing water damage. and flowing, especially if you have an “If your sump pump discharge line, for overhead sewer or septic system, and it’s example, isn’t maintained and kept flowing, recommended every three to five years to it can freeze – causing your line to blow have a septic tank serviced – which will help apart inside the house, spewing water prevent the incoming line from freezing or everywhere, ” he says. backing up, he said.

Good news for customers in the region “Pour RV anti-freeze into floor drains in – TLC Plumbing is offering a $50 discount unheated garages to help keep traps from freezing, and always check to see if the sump option on any complete installation of a State Hot water tank or Little Giant sump pump discharge line is free of debris and pump. So get ahead of the winter season flowing,” Cheek said. and help your home fight this year’s harsh If you don’t take these steps, you’re at risk of seeing your pipes freeze – and worse, Midwest winter.

TLC Plumbing Voted #1 in the Region!

•Sewers

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Before temperatures 1. dip below freezing, check your pipes’ insulation to prevent cracking.

Bring any hoses or 2. sprinklers inside, disconnected from the house and turn off any exterior water lines.

Make sure your 3. hot water tank is clean, inside and out, to run efficiently.

Make sure all drainage 4. systems are clear to prevent blockage.

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We are there for you, from simple home repairs to installing plumbing in new grocery stores, apartment buildings and other commercial properties When you are ready to assess your plumbing issues, please contact TLC Plumbing at 219.922.6214 or e-mail us your questions about our plumbing repair and installation services at tlcplumbing@sbcglobal.net.

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FREE consultation.

219.922.6214 • Griffith, IN

IN License #CO 19700117 IL License #055-015754

A Special publication of the Times Media Co.

Visit us online at www.tlcplumbingonline.com Holiday Four | December 10, 2014 | 55

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

Donnee Smith, owner of The Secret Shed shows their high grade shelled sunflower seeds.

According to folklore, the cardinal is called the “Christmas Bird” because of its beautiful red color, one of the traditional colors of the holiday. Christians also associate the red of the cardinal with the blood of Christ and legend says that seeing a cardinal during the holiday season is good luck.

WHAT A

Making your backyard wildlife friendly HEATHER AUGUSTYN

56 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

T

he cardinal is a symbol of beauty and warmth of the holiday season and the colorful plumage brings hope and inspiration during the long dark wintery days. Attracting cardinals and creatures of all shapes and sizes to your backyard is more than good luck—it’s kindhearted and entertaining as well. Watching a squirrel nibble on some tidbits of corn or a red-headed woodpecker totter up the trunk of a tree can be fun to witness, especially for children. Get ready to welcome wildlife this winter season with the help of a few regional suppliers of food and feeders.

At The Secret Shed in Schererville, Owner Donnee Smith offers a few tips for attracting birds and squirrels to your back yard. “Cardinals are loved by everybody and they are good luck—I’ve heard a lot of different stories about them.

They mate for life, then they get tired of each other and go away for a while, but then they come back. And they will call to each other. They are the state bird of seven different states, including Indiana and Illinois. Cardinals love sunflowers and they are one of the few birds that will like the bigger seed from the actual sunflower, the stripped seeds. They are a big sunflower seed,” says Smith.

Sunflower seeds attract cardinals and

The Secret Shed carries this unique hat bird house, as well as the large selection of other bird houses as shown above. all types of birds. She explains, “The main feed you want to use this time of year, and almost any time of year, is sunflower seed which is high in protein and high in fat. 90 percent of our birds need to eat their weight in food a day to keep going.

Sunflower seeds, shelled or unshelled, are probably one of the best foods for birds.

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A shelled oiler seed has 45 percent fat their corn. They’re entertainment. We also have the three corn twirler farm content and the birds really need the tractor feeder and a few others,” she fat, but they don’t need a lot of fiber says. so you don’t want that in your mix, At Ted’s Feed Store in Lansing, nor millet or milo. If you just want one Assistant Manager feeder, that’s all you have Nikki Sirois, says they room for and one type have items to attract of seed and little mess, birds and squirrels you want the shelled too, but food for other sunflower seed, the wildlife as well. “To heart of the sunflower. I attract deer, we have 50 also stock meal and wax WE CARRY A blocks of salt, worms that are canned FEW DIFFERENT pound or a 20 pound block or freeze dried which WILDLIFE of premium lick with birds want also because they don’t have a lot of FORMULAS WITH molasses and corn mixed in so it’s a little insects this time of year.

CORN AND healthier. We also have You can supplement SUNFLOWERS a 50 pound bag of sweet your feed with this deer corn which is corn protein. Our robins don’t AND PEANUTS with molasses mixed migrate anymore, they TO ATTRACT in and the deer love it. stick around, so they ALL KIND OF We carry a few different love the meal worms wildlife formulas with or fruit—blueberries, CRITTERS LIKE corn and sunflowers chunks of apples, pears, RACCOONS and peanuts to attract peaches.”

AND SQUIRRELS. all kind of critters like “Squirrels this time raccoons and squirrels of year are in semiand we also carry ears of hibernation so they too Nikki Sirois, corn for the squirrels. are trying to stock up on Assistant Manager We carry wild bird as much fat as they can Ted’s Feed Store seed including a top so they raid the feeders. of the line seed with We have a telescoping fruits and nuts, or pole that squirrels and economy blends. raccoons can’t climb.

We also have a These poles up nine blend that has feet or 12 feet so that no corn in it the birds can eat. But so it doesn’t squirrels need to eat too, attract squirrels so ear corn is great for as much and we squirrels. We have a feeder have all kinds of called a Squngee and the feeders for birds squirrels can jump on it and squirrels,” and bound around Sirois says. like mad eating A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

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HOLIDAY FOUR | December 10, 2014 | 57

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

decor Steve Govert in the wreath workshop at Leo’s Feed and Garden Center.

HEATHER AUGUSTYN

IN

The beauty of the season is the natural landscape—snow, pine trees, pine cones, birch branches—so why not use these items to decorate inside your home? You don’t have to replace your artificial tree or your artificial centerpieces, but you can accent them with a few items from outside to take your decorations to the next level.

A

t the Gibson Woods Wildlife Holiday event on December 13th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., make your own natural holiday decorations. Gibson Woods Nature Preserve is located at 6201 Parrish Ave. in Hammond and they invite the public to join in the fun by making edible ornaments and decorating the trees and shrubs with them outside the wildlife viewing area windows. Afterwards, stay a while to watch the birds, squirrels and other wildlife discover the treats you’ve made for them. Don’t forget to make one to take home for the wildlife in your own backyard.

Julie Severa, assistant manager of Allen’s Landscape in Highland, says there are many ways to use natural items from the outdoors to decorate the home. “Wreaths are one of the primary holiday decorations people use. They 58 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

can be used on doors, chimneys, light poles, walls or any other space. We offer a variety of choices in styles balsam fir, Fraser fir, boxwood, and noble fir and a variety of sizes. We also offer decorating services with pine cones and a hand-tied bow, and additional decorations like birch or dogwood sticks, holly berries, ornaments and such, transforming an everyday wreath into a work of art.

Balsam wreaths are the most popular because they have the best evergreen fragrance and are quite budget friendly,” she says.

Using natural elements to decorate the front porch is also important because this is the first place that guests will see when they come to visit. Severa says, “Holiday planters on the front porch or near the front door are a great touch, too. Use pots that had flowers planted in them all summer, remove the old plants and fill with greens for easy, festive holiday decorations. We also create custom planters with your own

pots if you choose, or we have pre-made planters that are ready to grab and go.

We use a variety of greens to create a mixture of colors and textures. We also add pine cones, tall sticks, and a bow for a complete look. If you’re a DIY kind of person, we can provide all the materials to take home and create on your own.”

Steve Govert, owner of Leo’s Feed & Garden Center in Cedar Lake offers a few tips. “At home, I will take an artificial centerpiece and add fresh to it to dress it up. We have many types of garland, like cedar, fir, and pine, and we also sell them as boughs so you can make your own arrangements. The scent fills the home so this is a good reason to use fresh. You can use all of our garlands or boughs indoors or outdoors. If you bring them in you may want to spray them with a product called Wilt Proof that will keep them from drying out and it has a flame retardant, but you still get the natural pine scent,” says Govert.

He says that there are also other

PINE CONES CAN BE WIRED INTO WREATHS OR CENTERPIECES AND WE SELL THEM ON PICKS SO THEY ARE REALLY EASY TO DECORATE WITH. SOME ARE PAINTED GOLD AND DEEP RED SO THEY CAN ADD COLOR TO ARRANGEMENTS. Steve Govert, owner of Leo’s Feed & Garden Center ways to dress up a fresh arrangement.

He says, “We have winterberry that has red berries on it and it doesn’t offer you any smell, but it’s a really classy look and you can add that to your pine or artificial arrangement. Pine cones can be wired into wreaths or centerpieces and we sell them on picks so they are really easy to decorate with. Some are painted gold and deep red so they can add color to arrangements. We also have a lot of other dried items like birch branches, plumes, and snowberry and some are sprayed and glittered so they sparkle but are still natural.”

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

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Family Owned Since 1957 A Special publication of the Times Media Co.

Holiday Four | December 10, 2014 | 59

gift ideas

Perfect gifts for the • Whole quiche made with local farm fresh eggs from Red Cup Café & Deli in Chesterton

S

HEATHER AUGUSTYN

ure it’s easy to remember gifts for mom, dad, kids, even teachers, but don’t forget that group of people who help you all year long. Remember those who cut our hair, deliver our mail and newspapers, clean our homes, groom or walk

our dogs, baby sit, our personal trainer, and others who make life a little easier.

“It’s a chance to show appreciation for the people who participate in your life, even if you don’t see them every day, such as the mail or newspaper carrier,” says Anna Post, etiquette expert with the Emily Post Institute. Here are a few ideas for ways to honor those who assist us throughout the year.

A quiche made with artisan cheeses from Red Cup Café is a perfect gift for the appreciated helpers in your life.

• A Chocolate Reindeer Wishes Gift Package from Edible Arrangements, a Reindeer Daisy™ fruit bouquet featuring reindeer-shaped pineapple dipped in semisweet chocolate and a variety of fresh fruit favorites, as well as a cute Cinnamon the Reindeer™ plush and a Christmas balloon • Gift card for an Ultimate Wash Soft Cloth from Valpo Car Wash which includes a full service wash plus sealer wax Tri-Foam wax, wheel cleaner, wheel bright underbody wash, underbody rust inhibitor, mats cleaned, tire shine, backed by rain check • Popcorn Tin with 18 cups of Cheddar Popcorn, 18 cups of Caramel Popcorn, and 18 cups of Chicago Style Popcorn from Simply Amazing Market in Valparaiso

Simply Amazing Market at Opportunity Enterprises offers many different varieties of delicious popcorn, perfect for holiday gifts.

60 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

Visit us @ www.riahsalon.com An AwArd-winning ExpEriEncE AwAits You At RIAH

Natural soaps and flavorful ’s teas from Nature Remedies are for interesting gifts ur yo in s the helper life.

• Natural teas or organic soaps and lotions from Nature’s Remedies in Valparaiso

• Fudge Tin with ½ lb. of Chocolate Fudge, ½ lb. of Peanut Butter Fudge, and ½ lb. of Mint Chocolate Fudge from Simply Amazing Market in Valparaiso • A panettone, house-made sourdough boule, or bottle of Primitivo from Old World Market in Valparaiso, or an entire gift basket

New Guest special Enjoy

• A bottle of Yellowwood White from Butler Winery in Chesterton, a semisweet blend of Cayuga and Vignoles with a nice hint of sweetness on the tip of the tongue, light peachy character, and a slightly tart finish

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8025 Wicker Avenue, St. John, IN • Located in Tri-Town Commons • 219 365 6123 Hours: Tuesday 10-8 Wednesday-Thursday 12-8 Friday 9-5 Saturday 8-4

• A gift basket from Good to Go

by Lucrezia in Chesterton or Valparaiso with olive oil, vinegars, and other delicious, artisan items • A gift card for a cinnamon toast latte or a s’more latte at Third Coast Spice Café in Chesterton

• A 12-inch cookie and brownie tray which includes four brownies (cut into quarters) surrounded by an assortment of three dozen cookies from Butterfingers Bakery in Highland and Munster • A gift certificate for a pint of chocolate almond salted caramel or Kit Kat swirl frozen custard from Culver’s

PHOTO PROVIDED

• Irresistible large or mini cupcakes in flavors like lemon, cherry, coconut, chocolate, banana, red velvet, vanilla, chocolate cream-filled, and caramel from Butterfingers Bakery in Highland and Munster

Enjoy our signature Riah Retreat eat Scalp Massage as a part of your visit!

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HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014 | 61

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62 | Holiday Four | December 10, 2014

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Donations of furniture, household items, clothes, shoes, toys and electronics are accepted. All donations are tax-deductible

1834 45th St • Munster • 219-924-3668

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1951 W. Glen Park Ave., Griffith, IN • (219) 924-5100 Dr Darrell Beauvais Office Mgr: Jessica Koartge

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Don’t forget...

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By bringing a toy for a child we will give you...

From December 10 Until December 31, 2014 We will provide your friends and family members who have not been in our office before with a COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION AND EXAMINATION (a $167 Value) These services will be available to anyone who brings in a NEW, unwrapped children’s toy, (minimum value $20). The toys will be donated to a local charity, and distributed to families in need.

MERRILLVILLE 100 W. 84th Drive (219) 736-7363

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DR. DARCY CROWDER Chiropractic Physician

DR. KELSI DIMITT Chiropractic Physician

*To avoid needless health hazards associated with ionizing radiation, no such free x-rays will be given unless there is prior observable clinical need for it. Does not apply to medicare or medicaid.

Holiday Four | December 10, 2014 | 63

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Some great ways to spend your winter: Warm up over a great meal, enjoy a glass of wine at our winery, sample yummy chocolates or browse our quaint shops!

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www.visitportwashington.com Download your free mobile app 64 | Holiday Four | December 10, 2014

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holiday activities

HEATHER AUGUSTYN

Although Saint Nicholas can be traced back to the third century near Turkey, the Santa Claus as we know him today is a modern incarnation of poet Clement Moore in his classic poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” and cartoonist Thomas Nast’s Santa Claus portraits. According to scholar Russell W. Bel, “Moore introduced the idea of an eight reindeer-drawn flying sleigh . . . and Nast, who published his work in Harper’s Weekly between 1863 and 1886, showed Santa as obese, Caucasian, white-bearded, jolly, dressed in rich furs, and as the bearer of abundant gifts of toys.”

If you want to see Santa this year and get your kids’ pictures with jolly old St. Nick before he heads back to the North Pole, here are a few places around Northwest Indiana where Santa will be making a stop.

CROWN POINT

Santa and Mrs. Claus appear in Crown Point at the Courthouse on Saturday, December 13th, and 20th from noon to 4 p.m.

HAMMOND

Santa comes to Cabela’s on Saturday & Sunday December 13th and 14th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Deer Country Museum.

Saturdays and Sundays, have your picture taken with Santa at the Indiana Welcome Center on top of Santa’s Mountain, a replica of the one featured in the movie A Christmas Story. Photos with Santa on Santa’s Mountain are $5

continued on page 66

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014 | 65

JOHN LUKE, THE TIMES

continued from page 65 each, plus children have the opportunity to slide down the big red slide into a pillow of snow. Special dates other than Saturday and Sunday are Monday, Dec. 22 10 a.m.

— 4 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 23 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.; Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 10 a.m. — 2 p.m. On Wag Your Tail Wednesday, bring your dogs and cats on by for photos with Santa, December 10th and 17th. Photos are $5 each and donations will be accepted for local animal shelters during the event.

Santa Claus rides atop a Crown Point Fire truck in a parade through e town. Children will be abl the in to visit with Santa Courthouse on Saturday, December 13th, and 20th from noon to 4 p.m.

WHITING

On December 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., enjoy breakfast with Mrs. Claus at the Winey Beach Café, 1350 119th Street.

Reservations required: Call 219-6591466. Then have your photo taken with Santa from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Whiting Chamber of Commerce, 1417 119th Street.

VALPARAISO

The Taltree Holiday Express brings Santa on December 13, and 20th at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Taltree Arboretum & Gardens Railway Garden Depot & Visitors Center.

Get into the holiday spirit Saturdays in December with the Christmas classic story time. Visit with Santa. Enjoy cookies and cocoa.

See the Railway Garden’s model trains in action. Each Friday and Saturday night now through December 20th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., see Santa at the Visitor Center and then head outside for the Winter Wonderland solar light displays.

A Good Old Fashioned Christmas brings Santa to the Memorial Opera House on December 17th. Adults $13, Seniors (55+) $11, Military/ Students (with Valid ID) $11.

Enjoy this annual Christmas party and join the radio show group as they welcome the holiday spirit and take a trip down memory lane. Santa stops in with cookies and candy canes.

Have your photo taken with Santa on top of Santa’s Mountain at the Indiana Welcome Center.

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

23rd from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., visit Bellaboo’s Play and Discovery Center at Three Rivers County Park and climb aboard Bellaboo’s Santa Express for FAIR OAKS plenty of Train-Themed and Holiday On December 20th from 10 a.m. to 4 play, including “Polar Express” Story p.m., the Holiday Farm Frenzy comes to Time with Hot Chocolate, Letters Fair Oaks Farms Café. Enjoy shopping, to Santa, All Aboard! Santa Visits & food, twinkling lights, and family time, all while giving to a good cause—the Riley Professional Portraits, Bellaboo Bakers: Children’s Hospital. Enjoy Breakfast with Cookies with Mrs. Claus, and a holiday parade.

Santa and Baking with Santa, an indoor craft show, kids’ activities and a winter wonderland.

MERRILLVILLE Through December 24th, Santa comes to the Southlake Mall in Sears Court.

LAKE STATION Santa will be available for photos during On December 19th through December 66 | HOLIDAY FOUR | December 10, 2014

all mall hours. On December 7th from 6 to 8 p.m., dogs, cats and other wellmannered pets (and their families, of course!) are invited to participate in a special photo opportunity with Santa.

All participating pet owners are asked to please use the mall entrance by Sears and proceed directly to Santa’s Sleigh in Sears Court.

LAPORTE

Santa comes into town on December 13,

and 14 from noon to 5 p.m. on Santa’s Candy Cane Express at the Hesston Steam Museum, 1201 E. County Road 1000 North in LaPorte. He arrives in a vintage Model T Ford car and will visit with children in a real railroad caboose. Admission is free and train tickets are $5 per adult ride, $3 per children ride, children 3 and under are free. Donate a new unwrapped toy to the Toys for Tots drive to receive a free train ride.

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

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N I W o t r Ente

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err tisers, our participating adve of e on it vis u yo e tim Each ificate up to $200 Gift Certtifi you can enter to win a urr ou at yo ok for the entry forms Lo s. s es sin bu t tha m fro res. favorite participating sto ficates from Winners of the gift certi tered in our our retailers, will be en a $1000 Grand Prize Drawing for from the in Gift Certificates tailers participating Holiday re of your choice!

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print :: digital :: social Holiday Four | December 10, 2014 | 67

This holiday give the gift of dining!

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Watch for our next

TAB publishing December 17 for more

great gift ideas from local advertisers!

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tep outside the box but not the region with a wide range of holiday gifts, with new ideas for holiday giving.

“We offer ongoing sales year round,” says Julie Albers, marketing representative for Ross Hearing Center with locations in Merrillville and Valparaiso.

“Right now we’re offering $600 off a pair of Oticon Alta Pro Digital Aids,” says Albers of Ross Hearing Center about this high quality line designed to help wearers make sense of their surroundings and be able to focus on what they choose by supporting the natural ability to organize sounds. This special offer expires December 31st. Appointments are necessary.

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2454 Morthland Drive Dr | Valparaiso IN 46385 68 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

TONY V. MARTIN PHOTOS

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

Until the end of December, The Door Store in Munster is hosting a renovati on sale on many of their glass pieces such as those for entry doors says Amy Hicks.

Turning 65 or older?

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Prescription Drug Plans Until the end of December, The Door Store in Munster is hosting a renovation sale on many of their glass pieces such as those for entry doors says Amy Hicks. “We’re getting rid of a lot while we redo our show room,” says Hicks, noting they also sell gift certificates. “Besides that we always have $100 coupons for installed steel doors and $50 off for storm doors which are available on our Website.”

Shorewood Home and Auto is the place for some serious toys, selling John Deere equipment including their Commercial Worksite Products, Stihl Hand Held and Echo Hand Held equipment, Honda Power Equipment and Polaris ATV’s, Rangers and Snowmobiles. Take advantage of the Holiday Sales Event with rebates up to $1,000 and financing as low as 2.99% on select Polaris models. Available at both the Crete and Shorewood locations.

Shop the Region this holiday season to win your share of $5,000!

• Medicare Disability Plans • Medicare Advantage Plans

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VALPARAISO

MUNSTER

2505 LaPorte Ave., Suite 161 (Near Chipotle)

8213 Calumet Ave. (Next to Chipotle)

219-736-7800 800-821-0604

See page 67 of this section for more details.

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014 | 69

PROVIDED

Participants run through tires during lay the “Oh Fuuudge! Re is Th 13.

Race” in 20 year’s race will take place on Dec. 13.

IN NWI ASHLEY BOYER

WEDNESDAY DEC. 10 Holiday Fun DIY Hot Cocoa, 6-6:45 p.m., Portage Public Library 2665 Irving St., Portage.

219.763.6546. pcpls.org. Children in grades kindergarten through 5th grade can make their own hot cocoa mix and reindeer gift bag at this free holiday craft event.

THURSDAY DEC. 11 Holiday Pops, 7:30pm, Star Plaza Theatre, 8001 Delaware Pl., Merrillville. 219.836.0525. nwisymphony.org. Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra gets in the spirit of the season with holiday classics that the audience is encouraged to sing along with and children should keep an eye out for Santa.

70 | HOLIDAY FOUR | DECEMBER 10, 2014

FRIDAY DEC. 12 Christmas with Aaron Neville, 8 p.m., Horseshoe Casino Hammond, 777 Casino Center Drive, Hammond. horseshoehammond.com. Aaron Neville brings a unique, jam-packed Christmas show to Chicagoland.

SATURDAY DEC. 13 ‘A Christmas Story’ Comes Home—Oh Fuuudge! Tire Relay Race, 10 a.m. registration begins, Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corinne Drive, Hammond.

219.989.7979. southshorecva.com.

Parent/child teams are invited to participate in this relay competition that depicts the tire changing scene in “A Christmas Story” when Ralphie spills lug nuts into the street.

SUNDAY DEC. 13-14 Santa in the Caboose, Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. Noon-4 p.m., Griffith Historical Park & Museum, 201 S. Broad St., Griffith. Families enjoy a private visit with Santa in a real caboose, with complimentary hot chocolate and cookies in the Park’s Depot Museum afterward where a Holiday Bake Sale is being held.

Low cost photo packages available for purchase.

MONDAY DEC. 15 Drop in Craft— Christmas Tree Cupcakes, 4-7 p.m., Lansing Public Library, 2750 Indiana Ave., Lansing.

708.474.2447. lansingpl.org.

Attendees can decorate and eat a Christmas tree cupcake at this all-ages family activity. No sign-up required.

TUESDAY DEC. 16-17 A Good Old Fashioned Christmas, 7-8 p.m., Memorial Opera House, 104 Indiana St., Valparaiso. 219.548.9137. mohlive.com. Radio show group W-MOH takes a trip down memory lane and Santa stops in for cookies and candy canes.

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

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after Thanksgiving, SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOURS, Monday thru Friday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

We buy Gold/Jewelry & Old Clocks/Watches/Pocket Watches • Layaway/Available Approval Required. Some restrictions apply on ad.

A Special publication of the Times Media Co.

Holiday Four | December 10, 2014 | 71

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Fresh & delicious selection of Party Platters available in a variety of sizes

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HOMEWOOD, IL (708) 957-1890 2345 W. 183rd St.

DYEr, IN (219) 322-6428 1218 Sheffield Ave.

TINLEY PArK, IL (708) 532-5550 16039 So. Harlem

BEEcHEr, IL (708) 946-2543 1111 Dixie Highway

SOUTH HOLLAND, IL (708) 333-5500 16145 So. State St.

FrANKFOrT, IL (815) 469-2111 685 N. LaGrange Rd.

72 | Holiday Four | December 10, 2014

crETE, IL (708) 672-3270 1100 E. Exchange Ave.

A Special publication of the Times Media Co.