Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Thursday, December 16, 2010
Gifts of safety, convenience and luxury By Cyndi Woodworth Feature Writer
these last-minute gift ideas.
Gifts of safety
Gift ideas are all around so don’t let a time crunch make you panic.
Few things matter more to people than the safety and security of loved ones, so consider giving this feeling as a gift. Fox said, “I’ve always liked to give something safe to families around the holidays.”
Judith Fox, a grandmother from Lewiston, adores the Christmas season. Year-round, the glass cabinet in the corner of her living room is lined with caroling and Saint Nicholas figurines. Fox starts buying holiday presents months before the season begins, but usually finds herself scurrying out for last-minute gifts. When shopping last-minute, Fox turns to simple gifts.
Gifts of safety can be effortless to get, but the comfort they create can be priceless. Items like smoke or carbon monoxide detectors allow families to be safe at home. Other gift ideas that offer protection are home security systems, escape ladders, and emergency kits.
Gifts of convenience
“When I was little, I used to get a big orange, so I do that now for my grandchildren,” Fox said. Like Fox during a typical holiday season, most of us will be out in the stores looking for that final gift to end our shopping. Perhaps we have someone difficult to buy
for, or maybe we just waited until December 23rd to get our presents.
CHRISTMAS IN THE NOTCHES
Regardless of the reason, head out to the stores with a plan by checking
Everyone loves to receive gifts that make their lives easier, but sometimes putting your finger on a gift that will be beneficial is hard to find. A quick and simple way to find a helpful present is to allow recipients to pick their own gift with a gift card.
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Joe McShane, of Auburn, always appreciates receiving a gift card. “Gift cards give me the chance to get what I want, and the freedom to get it when I need it.” People can purchase gifts cards for Facebook credits, popular restaurants, iTunes music, movie theater tickets, Playstation network cards, or American Express gift cards.
Gifts of luxury Another quick and simple holiday present is the gift of relaxation. Sally Smith, a teacher from Lewiston, suggests giving luxury to people. “It’s easy to make a wine and cheese basket, or pick up a spa gift certificate for a massage,” Smith said. The best thing about gifts that give luxury is that they are good gifts for nearly everyone. Men and women alike enjoy being given time to enjoy, relax, and smile.
Gifts of time If you’re running a low-budget h o l i d ay t h i s y e a r, co n s i d e r making personalized coupons to give for gifts this season. These coupons can be easily made using a computer and printer, or a decorative pen and paper. Create individual coupons, or make a coupon book for the many dif ferent ways you can give the gift of time. Some ideas include babysitting, chores, a trip out to lunch, or an afternoon at the cinema.
Last-minute gift shopping can be stressful, but with these simple ideas, you can save yourself the hassle and worry that lastminute shopping can bring.
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 16, 2010
Local bookseller lists top 10 holiday book picks By Kenny Brechner
Fiction:
Unique Title:
Layover in Dubai by Dan Fesperman
Snook Alone by Marilyn Nelson, illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering Snook Alone is the tale of a beloved rat terrier, the companion of a gentle monk living in a faraway sea, who has been asked to catalog the plant and animal species of their small part of the Indian Ocean. Snook, marooned by rough weather, must wait out the storm alone. The warmth of affection, the beauty of the Indian Ocean, the wonder of exploration, the tension of waiting, are all captured superbly in this marvel of a picture book for all ages.
Coffee Table Book:
illustrator, Chris Van Dusen, will be worn threadbare by Mr. Magee fans on couches and at bedtimes across Maine.
Interactive Book:
Dan Fesperman is a writer who delivers thrillers with a plus. His book are thrilling, so that’s covered, but his careful research, his eye for historical detail and interesting social and cultural divisions, have always left his readers with a richer understanding of the settings of his books. All of Fesperman’s strengths are on display in his latest novel, Layover in Dubai.
Non Fiction: The Wave by Susan Casey Not only are the oceans rising, but so are the size and frequency of giant, rogue, and freakish waves. This riveting account of the
Dogs by Tim Flach
“We Buy and Sell”
scientists who seek to understand them, the salvage specialists who deal with its larger victims, and the big wave surfers who travel the globe to attempt to ride them, has something for ever yone. Fascinating science, fascinating sociology, and larger than life exploits under outsized conditions.
Maine Interest:
When a book declares itself to be too amazing to be stuck on a shelf it had better have the jawdropping photos to back up that attitude. Dogs is more than up to the task as Tim Flach’s incredible photographs seem to just expand as the pages are flipped. This is a book to warm any dog lover’s heart.
Johnny Millionaire
My Little Pink Princess Purse by Stephen Johnson
For Adults: The Poacher’s Son by Paul Doiron This is a terrific thriller about a young Maine game warden whose woodsman father becomes a murder suspect on the run. The warden, at risk of his career, helps
track down his father deep in the north woods. The Poacher’s Son captures a Maine rarely seen in popular fiction, and, for a first-time novel, garnered a rare number of rave reviews from some of America’s most prominent writers: John Lescroat, Andre Dubus III, Nelson De Mille, Tess Gerritsen, and C.J. Box, to name a few. For Children: Learning to Ski With Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen Mr. Magee is back! The beloved character has gone camping, has been down to the sea, and now, at long last, he learns to ski. This delightful book of warmth and humor from Maine author and
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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 16, 2010
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Gift ideas when you’re pressed for time The Christmas countdown has begun, and the days will no doubt fly off the calendar like they do every year. Before you know, it’s only a few days until the holiday is here. Those who haven’t yet started shopping may feel pressed for time and worry that they will not be able to find gifts for everyone on their lists – at least gifts that don’t look like they were afterthoughts. But good gifts can be found in the eleventh hour.
Adults * Visit the local liquor store for a bottle of wine in the price range desired. Wrap it in a wine bag or leave it as is with a nice bow. * Pick up passes to a local attraction, such as an amusement park or a museum. Put together tickets for a play paired with a
an art package with a bunch of supplies packed into a gift bag. * Choose an educational gift that is still fun, like alphabet flash cards or puzzles. A subscription to a children’s magazine would also work, seeing as children love getting mail. * Few kids will turn down a DVD of their favorite television characters. The DVDs should feature an ageappropriateness rating to make choosing one even easier.
Christmas is right around the corner. If you have to purchase last-minute gifts, be sure they don’t look like an afterthought. soundtrack of the production. * Food is often appreciated. A box of fine chocolates or one of those edible fruit arrangements will be a tasteful, and tasty, gift. * Fill a large bowl with a scooper, sprinkles, cherries, and other toppings for making ice cream sundaes. * Pick a gift that embraces the
holiday spirit. Holiday music, ornaments or table decorations can be used this year or next.
Teenagers * Teenagers can be finicky, so a monetary gift will be one-size-fitsall. * Teenage girls may appreciate a gift basket of delicious scented lotions.
Children * Pop into a toy store or a department store and pick up a cuddly stuffed animal.
* Passes for movies can make date night less expensive.
* Buy an art set for older children, full of paints and markers. If a complete set can’t be found, make
* Consider a gif t c ard or e-gift coupon for digital music downloads.
Bookseller from page 3
evocative drawings convey the emotional range of being quiet in a manner which will make for a truly thoughtful, read-aloud experience for reader and child.
Holiday: Christmas in the Time of Billy Lee by Jerdine Nolen, Illustrated by Barry Moser This is a truly moving story of a young girl whose grandmother encourages her to feel that “there is magic in believing in something good with all your heart.” Ellie makes a Christmas tree outdoors in the woods at the highest point in the town an d w ish es f o r s o m e thin g wonderful to come and bring happiness to her troub le d family and troubled town. The ending is a lovely affirmation of the power of small gestures and thoughtfulness to grant a simple, but important wish.
Young Adult and Middle Grade: Crunch by Leslie Connor
* Give a subscription to a teen magazine so that everyone can keep abreast of their favorite celebrities.
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Crunch is a wonder of an oldfashioned read-aloud story for the whole family. As our own Amy Graham writes of it, “All my favorite elements are here: siblings who stick together, a strong sense of community and place, innovative problem solving, and an appreciation for the good things in life (a bike ride, dinner with friends, satisfaction taken in an honest day ’s work , self- expression through art). And that’s not to mention the deftly imagined gasoline shor tage that has turned highways into bike paths.” Whatever gifts you choose to share with your loved ones, make sure to purchase them from the stores in your community. Kenny Brechner is the owner of Devaney Doak & Garrett Booksellers, in downtown Farmington. He can be reached at kenny@ddgbooks.com or online at www.ddgbooks.com
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 16, 2010
Shopping for an expert in sound: Gifts for the music maven
E
very family has at least one, and every one has several family members who simply don’t know what to get them come the holiday season.
regardless of where they are, be it on the train, listening at home while the baby’s asleep or simply going for an evening stroll. Thanks to a rigid metal faceplate and sealed-leather ear pads, listeners are af forded an enveloping listening experience without completely removing the user’s sense of place.
* Let them document it all in a diary. Music mavens are the family music expert, the one family member who can tell you all you need to know about the Beatles and all you don’t want to know about Vanilla Ice. But all that expertise can make it very difficult to find the right gift for the music maven come the holiday season. Shopping for an expert often requires seeking advice from an expert. Bowers & Wilkins, Britain’s leading exporter of loudspeakers and the number one imported brand in North America, offers the following tips to shoppers puzzled about what to buy the family music maven this holiday season.
* Send them to the show. Most music aficionados would admit there’s no experience quite like a live concert. Put a smile on your favorite music fan’s face this holiday season with tickets to see his or her favorite band in person. If possible, shop early to find the best seats and the best deals, just make sure the concert hall isn’t too far away from your loved one’s home. And if the tickets prove ultra-affordable, include a few extra dollars for dinner or a commemorative T-shirt.
* Give the gift of a concert for one. If concert tickets are a bit over budget, holiday shoppers can still give music lovers the concert experience. With noise isolating design tailor made for use on the move, Bowers & Wilkins P5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphone allows listeners to hear concert-sound quality
Saving ticket stubs is a popular hobby among music fans, allowing them to look back on, and sometimes laugh at, all the shows they have attended over the years. A ticket stub diary makes storing all these cherished memories that much easier. In addition, a ticket stub diary makes for great conversation, as friends and guests can’t help themselves when it comes to looking through another’s diary, even if that diary is loaded with old concert tickets.
* Enhance their favorite products. These days it’s hard to walk 10 feet without seeing someone rocking out on their Apple iPod or iPhone(R). Holiday shoppers puzzled as to what to get the music fan in their life can use the iPod and iPhone’s popularity to their advantage by looking for items that can enhance these must-have mobile devices.
allowing for speech and device control while improving sound quality. What’s more, the P5 also comes with a highquality
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Few music fans can resist a book by or about a favorite artist. Anecdotes often abound when musicians write book s, and such anecdotes make the perfect fodder for devoted fans. Such behind-thescenes look s at the life and times of successful musicians often proves too tempting to resist, and the slew of titles by musicians from Anthony Kiedis to Anne Murray is proof positive that when it comes to holiday gifts, books on bands and artists are a can’t-miss.
For example, an iTunes gift card is the same as giving fans their favorite music, but allows them to choose which album or even which individual songs they prefer. For those who feel a gift card is too impersonal, the P5 Mobile HiFi Headphone comes supplied with a “Made for iPod” approved cable,
* Book it!
standard audio cable with goldplated plugs, and switching between the two cables takes only a matter of seconds.
M I T T E N S
For more information on Bowers & Wilkins, visit www.bowers-wilkins. com. Bowers & Wilkins P5 Headphones can be found online at www. apple.com, www.jr.com and w w w.crutchfield. com. (MS)
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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 16, 2010
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Last-minute gift ideas: Quick and thoughtful
shopping time.
By Christina LeBlanc Feature Writer / Photographer
Baked goods are a safe gift as well. Why? Everyone loves food, and the holidays are a time when many take a vacation from dieting.
So it’s down to the wire and you’ve still got shopping left to do. You want to give nice, thoughtful gifts but you’ve got no time. What do you do? Here are a few gift ideas for last-minute shoppers:
If you’re a good cook, whip up some treats from scratch; otherwise, hit up a local bakery or cafe and stock up on some tasty treats. Arrange them in festive packaging and hand out to recipients with a handwritten holiday card.
If you’re a good cook, whip up some treats from scratch. Gift certificates are a go-to classic, but sometimes feel impersonal. Some stores make them fun; Bull Moose offers traditional gift cards and a funkier option of gift certificates on blank CDs, given in a blank CD case.
certificates that add up to a night on the town: one for a favorite clothing store, one for a favorite restaurant, and passes to a movie, bowling alley, or other activitybased venue.
If you’re not on a tight budget, you can also give someone several gift
Not only will the recipient get a practically free night out, but the
gift will also help create memories (especially if the night out is made for two). Using multiple gift certificates helps to personalize the gift by tailoring it to the recipient. And now you can purchase gift cards for both retailers and restaurants at stores like Wal-Mart and Rite Aid, cutting down on your
This coupon entitles you to dinner and a movie.
Voila! Tasty treats with a personal touch, and easily done in one night. (Just make sure you’re sensitive to friends and coworkers with allergies – try to have some peanutfree and gluten-free goods on hand if necessary.) Get photographic. Find a favorite photo of you and the recipient and enlarge it to 5x7 or 8x10 (use black and white or sepia tones for a more artsy look) and frame it. Enlargements print out instantly at photo kiosks at stores like Wal-
This coupon entitles you to dinner and a movie.
To: ___________________________________ From: __________________________
Mart, Rite Aid, and CVS, where you can also buy frames and cards. Get tickets for concerts, sporting events, plays, etc. Sites like Ticketmaster let you print tickets immediately following your purchase. Choose the event, select the seats, pay with a credit card, and print the tickets. The whole process takes about 10 minutes, you’ll get immediate results, and the gift recipient will be super excited to get such a great gift. IOUs work if you’re really in a jam and can’t get a gift, buy or make a card for the recipient. In it, let the recipients know you’re thinking of them at the holidays, and let them know you’d like to take them to dinner – your treat – once the holiday craziness dies down.
The most important thing is for the recipient to know you care about them and are thinking about them; your dinner offer will give them something to look forward to beyond the holidays.
To: ___________________________________ From: __________________________
Use the coupons (left) or make similar ones that entitle the recipient to an event that you can participate in together. Supply the movie tickets and gift certificate to a restaurant for the “dinner and a movie” coupons.
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S
ure she smiles politely every time you give her flowers or a new bracelet, but instead of offering her the same old gifts this year, score big with a present that will really knock her socks off. Forget flowers, scented candles or even trendy fashion accessories – this year’s high-impact gifts blend technology’s fun and practical sides. Give the woman in your life a gadget that will make her life easier or inject some entertainment into her day. Whether that lady is your mom, wife, sister or girlfriend, brighten her holiday with a present she is sure to enjoy and appreciate for years to come. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a bundle to snag her a great piece of technology. From MP3 music players to solar device-chargers, here are four items you can typically find for less than $100:
MP3 player Everyone wants to take their music, videos and photos with them wherever they go, and MP3 players are perfect for on-the-fly multimedia enjoyment. New players like the Sansa Fuze+ from SanDisk are easy to use and come loaded with great features such as large, bright LCD screens, touchpads for easy content navigation, microphones and recordable FM radios. The Fuze+ comes equipped with a microSDHC slot, perfect for playing preloaded slotRadio cards or microSD cards loaded with your own music library. The slotRadio cards come preloaded with up to 1,000 songs in genres including
Solar chargers Who hasn’t been caught with a dead battery and no charger? Virtually all our favorite gadgets, from smart phones to GPS devices, have their own charger. And all those chargers need a wall outlet to plug into. A solar charger offers a greener, easier solution to the lost charger dilemma.
Give the woman in your life a gadget that will make her life easier or inject some entertainment into her day.
‘80s and ‘90s, classical, health and fitness, rock and more. The Sansa Fuze+ is compatible with most major media formats including AAC/M4A (DRM-free iTunes songs) as well as Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems; so your special lady can enjoy virtually any type of content. Available in red, white, black, blue and purple, the 4 and 8 gigabyte versions sell for $79 and $89, respectively (a 16GB version goes for $119). Visit www.sandisk.com to learn more.
Fitness tracker
She works hard, plays hard and gives every workout 100 percent. She would probably love to know exactly how much benefit she’s getting from her workout. An array of palm-sized devices is available to help her track her personal fitness level. Some measure and record calories burned or miles walked. Others check and record heart rate, blood pressure, body mass index and other health indicators. Look for one that will monitor the fitness measure most important to her.
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These devices are designed to use the power of the sun to power up a variety of different kinds of devices. Before you buy any charger, however, be sure it’s compatible with the device she’ll need to charge. Some work with just one or two type of devices from a few manufacturers, while others are more versatile.
Universal remote
You might remember when these units first appeared on the scene – it was around the time that we started connecting multiple devices to our TVs. Suddenly, we had a remote control not just for the television or the VCR, but for the DVD player, surround sound system, Internet device and more. Even someone with multiple college degrees could be forgiven for having a hard time keeping track of all those remotes, or knowing which remote controls which device. Universal remotes used to be somewhat less than universal, but advances in the technology have made it easy to find remotes that will work with multiple types of devices from a variety of manufacturers. With a little online research and some creativity, you’ll be able to give her a technology gift that she’ll appreciate and use all year long. (ARA)
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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 16, 2010
7
Shopping crunch: Across the counter with jobs, family, and household chores.
By Sharon Bouchard Feature Writer / Photographer
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” or so the song goes. It’s also the busiest time of the year for most of us.
Then, when Christmas comes around, the juggling gets a little more difficult by adding shopping, wrapping, decorating, school programs, and holiday baking.
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proprietors and clerks get to do their shopping and other Christmas chores? “We try to get it done before T hank s gi v in g,” s ai d D e nnis Creaser, of Creaser Jewelers in South Paris. “We really try to shop locally as much as we can, but we sometimes end up doing some shopping online,” added wife Julie. The store is open seven days a week and custom design jewelry is the specialty. A piece that Dennis is currently working on will have about 40 hours of time in it when it’s completed and there is a lot more to do. In spite of the hours in the store, the Creasers still get plenty of family time because 10-year-old daughter Annie is in the store when she’s not in school. “We’re not open on Sunday so I get some things done then,” said Anne Mallory, of Creative Media in Norway. The print shop will be filling orders right up until Christmas Eve and hosts Tucker’s Pub on Friday and Saturday nights with Mallory not getting out of the building until 1 a.m. “My family is here with me on pub nights so we’re together a lot,” said Mallory. “As for Christmas baking and everything else, I fit it in whenever I can. “I spend a lot of very late nights doing the baking , cleaning, and wrapping,” said Lesley Dean, of L.F. Pike’s Clothing Store in Norway.
“This is the first year that we’re not open on Sunday so I can at least do things then. If my daughter-inUnique and Affordable Gift Ideas law, Liz, stops by the store, I sneak out and do as much local shopping as I can. Unfortunately, since I’m stuck here in the store when all the Open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. other stores are open, I usually end
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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 16, 2010
Across the counter from page 8 up doing some mail order and online shopping,” said Dean. Ben Tucker, helping out at The Village Gift Barn in Norway, said, “Owner Terri Linnell, who is working another job as well as running the store, will have precious little time to do much of anything.” So, shop locally, be patient, and have a smile for the clerks. That will go a long way in helping them to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year too.
DIY: Holiday photo greetings Turn ho-hum holiday greetings into ho, ho, hot stuff
Holiday greetings are an annual tradition. The average person will mail out 28 cards to family and friends. Setting greetings apart from others with a personalized photo can make the holidays that much more unique. Instead of sending the same, mass-produced boxed greeting card to everyone on a mailing list, individuals looking for a personalized way to say, “Happy Holidays” can keep in touch with a photo greeting. Not only does it spread holiday cheer, it shows outof-town recipients just how much the family has grown during the past year.
Lesley Dean of L.F. Pike Clothing Store
To make the holiday greeting special, don’t simply point and shoot the camera any which way. Follow these pointers for flawless photos to ensure the holiday card is displayed on everyone’s mantel.
Hiring a Professional One of the easiest ways to receive a top-notch photograph is to use a professional photographer. He or she will have years of experience posing individuals to garner the best shot. Because photographers have backdrops and lighting at their disposal, this can make the photo even better. Many photographers offer holiday photo packages that pair greeting cards with the purchase of a portrait. Holiday portraits mean an easy gift idea for parents or grandparents, too. Have the photographer suggest some locations for the photo and what the family should wear. Oftentimes, it’s best to avoid holiday colored clothing so the photo will be timeless and viewable year-round.
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For those considering hiring one, price around and book the appointment well in advance of the holiday season to ensure the photos will be available with enough time to mail or gift loved ones.
Do-It-Yourself Photo Greetings Those who do not want to spend the money hiring a professional photographer can take very good pictures on their own. Here are some things to consider. * First set the theme of the photo. Perhaps it’s a candid shot of the children playing or a posed portrait. Having a plan means it can be put into motion. * Set up the shot in a well-lit area and try to have light from all directions so there are no
apparent shadows in the picture. Don’t pose subjects in front of a window, though. * Avoid posing in front of a fireplace cover or near mirrors. This will cause light to bounce back to the lens and create glare, red eye and shadows. * Consider taking the photo outdoors. Kids frolicking in the snow or a more candid picture can make for an interesting composition. * Regardless of where the photo is taken, be sure the background is relatively simple and will not detract from the image in the foreground. * Zoom in tight on the subjects of the photo to keep the photo focused on the family and not the amazing backdrop.
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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 16, 2010
WESTERN MAINE HOLIDAY
9
Time-saving tips: Fuss-free holiday meals By Tresa Erickson
You spend every Christmas slaving away in the kitchen. From sunup to sundown, you’re chopping, dicing, frying, baking, broiling, cleaning and putting things away. You eat and rest little until night falls and your family is off and about, leaving you to
your own devices. Not this year. You’re taking it easy this Christmas and spending less time in the kitchen and more time in the living room with your family and friends. To ensure you reach your goals, you need to start the planning early. Sit down now and decide what you want to serve. When possible, select less time-consuming dishes or ones you can buy or make days before. If you can stand the thought of it, you might want to have a potluck. You provide the main entree and
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beverages and leave the rest to your guests. This will save you considerable time in the kitchen, especially if you use disposable dinnerware. Shop for ingredients a week before and don’t be afraid to take some shortcuts. Instead of making six pies by scratch, make three and buy the rest. If you absolutely must make all six pies, use some readymade ingredients, like canned fruit or frozen piecrusts. Your family and friends won’t throw a fit just because there aren’t six pies completely made from scratch sitting on the dessert table. They might actually enjoy the change of pace and additional time with you. Prepare as much of the food as you can in the days before. Make casseroles and freeze them. Peel, slice, dice, chop and refrigerate vegetables and fruit. Bake all of the desserts on Christmas Eve and anything else that can be warmed up and served. Accept all offers of help. Should
anyone offer to bring something, let them. That’s one less dish you’ll
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have to worry about making. Should anyone offer to help you out in the kitchen, let them. You’ll get more done in less time. If you need help, enlist it. Grab a friend and have them help you finish preparing the meal. They won’t mind, and you’ll get in some good one-on-one time. Serve food buffet style. Forget setting the table. Line the buffet with plates, silverware, food and beverages, and let your family and friends dig in. Use disposable dinnerware and save time cleaning up afterwards. Your guests won’t mind, and again, they might even like the change of pace.
Fuss-free holiday meals are possible. Work to keep things simple this year, and you will be all smiles and spend more of Christmas Day enjoying time with your family and friends.
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 16, 2010
Get creative: Herbs and spices make easy, quick holiday gifts If you’re looking for easy but thoughtful gifts for holiday giving, herb, spice and tea baskets offer a solution for just about anybody on your list. Ordering online the supplies to make them will save you shopping time. And by buying your ingredients from the bulk section of your local food store, you can craft lovely gifts that are easy on the holiday budget, too. With just a little thought about the person the gift is for and a few supplies, you’ll be able to design a personalized presentation. Some tips: * C hoose containers to define your theme. Baskets are lovely, but a mixing bowl, cake pan, serving dish and colander are more surprising and fun. Your gift may be as small as a delicate teacup or as large as a hefty soup pot. * R epackage bulk herbs and spices in small jars or sacks tied with a festive ribbon. Label each with a gift tag or sticker. Frontier Natural Products offers hundreds of herbs and spices in bulk - as well as in small containers - on their website at www.frontiercoop.com.
And some specific gift basket ideas: * T u ck l o os e - l e a f te as like chamomile and peppermint (or your favorite spice blend) in a teacup, along with a tea strainer. Tie a ribbon on the handle. * Combine a pizza cutter, a wedge of Parmesan, some baking yeast and an array of pizza seasonings
that’s full of spice). Place it in a salad bowl along with wooden serving utensils and the needed spices and other ingredients. Add some homemade croutons and pretty napkins. * Fill an earthy mug with a hot cocoa mix – it’s even available Fair Trade Certified – or all of the ingredients for a hot drink, like this Cocoa Con Chile. Add the recipe, along with some marshmallows.
over low heat, stirring constantly until heated through. Whisk in the milk and half and half and continue cooking over low heat until hot. Pour into cups and top with whipped cream and another pinch of cayenne, if you like. Makes about two servings. Frontier Natural Products Coop offers many more tips and suggestions for specif ic gif t baskets made with herbs, spices, seasonings, mixes, tea and cooking accessories at www.frontiercoop. com/giftbaskets. (ARA)
Cocoa Con Chile
Fill an earthy mug with a hot cocoa mix.
– like oregano, basil and garlic powder, or a pizza seasoning blend – in a mixing bowl lined with a red-checkered cloth or potholder. * Create a basket of basic spices for newlyweds or kids heading off to college, or a selection of savor y spice blends for the seasoned cook. Include a cookbook for beginners or
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one by a favorite cooking show author. * Corral some grilling spices and utensils in a grilling basket. Include some long mitts and a gift certificate for grilling fare (“I’ll bring the burgers when you fire up the grill,” for example). * S h a r e y o u r s o u g h t- a f t e r dressing recipe (or look up one
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Ingredients: 2 tablespoons cocoa powder or carob powder 2 tablespoons sugar A pinch or two of cayenne or 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder A pinch of sea salt 1/4 cup water 1 cup milk 1 cup half and half Whipped cream or marshmallows for topping (optional)
Directions: Whisk together in a saucepan the cocoa or carob, sugar, cayenne or cinnamon, salt, and water. Cook
Create a basket of basic spices for newlyweds or kids heading off to college, or a selection of savory spice blends for the seasoned cook.
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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 16, 2010
*Ladies, come in and fill out your Christmas Wish Card!
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179 Broadway, Farmington • 778-6560 • Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Sat 10am-5pm Sun 10am-3pm Christmas Eve 10-2pm - Closed Dec 25 & 26
WESTERN MAINE HOLIDAY 11
Simple shortcuts for easy and elegant holiday entertaining
It’s
the most wonderful time of the year, and often the busiest time, too, as family gettogethers and holiday celebrations quickly fill the winter months. This holiday season, you can save time and avoid chaos in the kitchen by taking a few simple shortcuts. Whether you’re the go-to host for the holiday festivities year after year, or it’s your very first time to serve up the annual feast, take comfort knowing you have these six time-saving tricks up your sleeve.
Spice up store-bought. Adding an unexpected, tasteful touch to store-bought foods and beverages is one of the easiest
and least expensive ways to wow your friends and family. For example, just a dash of cinnamoncitrus Tastefully Simple Warm Up! Mulling Spice mixed with your favorite apple cider can turn an ordinary drink into a heartwarming holiday experience.
Seize the day (before). Many hors d’oeuvres can be prepared in advance and simply heated – or reheated – in the oven or microwave on the day of your holiday party. Try combining precooked crab meat, cream cheese and a packet of cheese dip mix the day before your party, and all you’ll have to do on the big day is bake it for 5-7 minutes until it’s golden, bubbly, and so good your guests will never guess your secret. Give chopping the axe. This year, there’s no need to wipe away tears as you chop and mince onions and garlic for recipe after recipe.
Garnish store-bought cider with a dash of spice and a cinnamon stick to impress your guests.
Instead, take help from dehydrated seasoning blends, like Onion Onion from Tastefully Simple, which can be substituted for fresh ingredients in your favorite recipes or mixed with sour cream for a delicious dip in seconds.
Make your ingredients multitask. When you’re stocking the pantry
Freshly baked bread is a holiday crowd pleaser, and no one has to know you took help from a mix.
prior to your holiday party, choose a lineup of flavorful products that offer more versatility than other one-note wonders. For instance, a jar of cranberry-pomegranate preserves can easily do double-
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duty. First, use it as a tasty glaze for beef or pork, and then serve up the remaining spread with toasted English muffins on Christmas morning.
Do homemade in a hurry. Nothing says “home” like the smell of bread baking in the oven … but who has time for mixing, kneading, rising and so on? It’s easier than you might think to have your homemade bread and enjoy it, too, with Tastefully Simple’s signature Bountiful Beer Bread Mix. This versatile bread mix can be prepared with any carbonated beverage and takes just 30 seconds to mix together before popping it in the oven.
Add life to leftovers.
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12 WESTERN MAINE HOLIDAY
Rather than reheating the entire holiday spread for an encore presentation, try using up leftovers in creative yet quick recipes. For example, beef roast can be shredded and added to your favorite just-add-water soup mix, while mashed potatoes are perfect in warm, cheesy casseroles. For more tips and easy recipes for real life, visit www. tastefullysimple.com. (ARA)
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 16, 2010