Home and Garden 12/23/17

HOME & GARDEN • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2017

Holiday hosting MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SPACE

Last-minute treats KEN MOON:

A crafty memory of Christmas past

Look inside for these specials and many others.

9

ways to maximize entertaining space METRO SERVICES

People who live in compact homes or apartments may find space is at a premium during regular times of the year. When the holidays arrive, decorations, trees and presents can make homes seem even more cluttered. This can make it especially challenging for holiday hosts who want to open up their homes for festive gatherings.

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For a limited time Even if space is at a premium, all it takes is a little ingenuity to entertain successfully.

1.

Put nonessential furniture and other decor away.

It’s impossible for would-be holiday hosts to move all of their belongings out of their homes to create entertaining space. But hosts can certainly cut down on clutter. Check out the flow of a room and then move pieces around as needed to open up floor space. Push tables or large pieces of furniture up against walls. Swap out armchairs for folding chairs. Stow knickknacks in bedrooms or in closets.

2.

Put benches and wide ledges to use. Narrow benches, such as those common to picnic tables, can seat three or four comfortably. Do not discount deep window ledges as potential seats, as these areas can be made more comfortable with pillows or cushions.

3.

4.

Collapse tables after meals. If a sit-down dinner is the goal, set up tables accordingly. Then break down the tables afterward to free up more space. Serve small desserts that can be easily transported from room to room.

Use islands and countertops. Tables can take up valuable space. When entertaining a lot of guests, set up an all-purpose counter island and add barstools.

This can be an area for food prep, eating and entertaining.

5.

Create conversation areas. Encourage guests to spread out by setting up intimate spots in various rooms. This way guests won’t feel the need to congregate in the same space. Bistro tables in a den, a few floor pillows in front of the fireplace and stools by a kitchen island will create conversation areas.

6.

7.

8.

Expand outside, if possible. Rent a tent that can be warmed with a space heater. If your home has a closed-in porch or patio space, cover screens with insulating plastic to create a comfortable added room.

Skip a sit-down meal. Large tables take up a lot of space, so serve a buffet, tapas or passed hors d’oeuvres so guests mix and mingle rather than sit down at one large table.

Use all available surfaces. Invest in some sturdy serving trays that can be placed on television stands, upright speakers, ottomans, or even wooden crates.

This will increase the amount of room you have to serve and store items.

9.

Spread out refreshments. Avoid bottlenecks in common areas by putting food, beverages and other items in various locations. Fill up the kitchen sink with ice and make it an oversized beverage cooler.

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These last-minute treats are sure to impress guests 17-CSU-02070_Residential_PRINT_4.64x5.43_4C_FNL.pdf

1

9/12/17

12:38 PM

T

BY HOLLY GRAHAM, TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

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Take the pledge and win prizes at changethecurrent.com.

his year, the holidays arrived in a whirl of wrapping paper and mile-long gift lists. Between navigating the mall crowds and snagging the last Hatchimal at Target, your contribution to the office potluck may have slipped your mind. Now there’s no time to bake your signature fruit cake, and store-bought is boring. Sure, there are plenty of recipes available to impress your friends and family this holiday season, but how many of them won’t take an entire afternoon to make? Here are three easy, lastminute candy recipes that taste great, look professional and take less than an hour to make — even if you’re an amateur in the kitchen.

OREO TRUFFLES

Makes about 35 pieces Source: Denver residents Luke Byars and Magdalena Michel Ingredients • 14 ounces original Oreos (1 package) • 8 ounces cream cheese • 6 ounces white chocolate chips DIRECTIONS 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or tin foil. Set it aside.

2. Crumble the Oreos. A food processor works best for this, but a plastic bag and a mallet will do the trick.

3. Blend the cookie crumbs and cream cheese in a medium bowl until well incorporated.

4. Shape the dough into about 35 small, nickel-sized balls. Place them on the lined baking sheet, and put them in the freezer for about 15 or 20 minutes, or until firm. If you’re running behind, feel free to freeze them for a shorter period.

5. After the pieces are firm, remove them from the freezer.

6. Pour the white chocolate chips in a small, microwave-safe bowl. Heat the chips for 20 seconds in the microwave, mix, then heat for another 15 seconds, or until the chips are melted.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

HG 4 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, DEC 23, 2017

HOLIDAY TREATS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

7. Work quickly. Use a fork to drizzle the white chocolate across the tops of the pieces.

8. The chocolate will dry fast, so you can immediately put the truffles in a Tupperware and head out the door. Store the truffles in the refrigerator.

REINDEER BUCKEYES

Makes about 30 pieces Source: California-based chef Michael Purtell.

Ingredients • 16 ounces peanut butter • 2 pounds powdered sugar (You won’t use all of it.)

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract • Spices, including cinnamon, ginger powder, chili powder and nutmeg (optional) • Pretzels (optional) • Sprinkles (optional) • 12 ounces choice chocolate (milk, dark, semisweet, etc.)

DIRECTIONS 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set it aside.

2. Put the peanut butter into a medium-sized bowl, and add half a teaspoon of vanilla extract.

3. Optional: If you have cinnamon, ginger powder, chili powder or nutmeg in your spice cabinet, add a pinch of each to the peanut butter. The spices add flavor to the buckeyes, but they won’t make or break the recipe if they’re unavailable.

4. Gradually blend the powdered sugar with the peanut butter until the mixture creates a dough you can handle without your fingers sticking to it.

5. Shape the dough into about 30, 1-inch balls and place them on the lined baking sheet. Customize the buckeyes with pretzels and sprinkles for any occasion. (We used cinnamon drops.)

6. Freeze the balls for 15-20 minutes, or until firm.

7. Remove the balls from the freezer.

8. Melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl for 20 seconds. Stir the chips, then heat them for another 15-20 second, or until they’re melted.

9. Dip the bottoms of the buckeyes in the chocolate, and allow them to cool.

10. Keep refrigerated.

Sure, there are plenty of recipes available to impress your friends and family this holiday season, but how many of them won’t take an entire afternoon to make?

MICROWAVE PEANUT BRITTLE

Makes about 10 servings Source: a decades-old family recipe Ingredients • 1 ¼ cup raw peanuts (or Spanish peanuts for a crunchier texture) • ½ cup light corn syrup • 1 tablespoon butter • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 1 cup sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • ½ teaspoon salt (do not use if you use salted peanuts)

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DIRECTIONS 1. If you’re using Spanish peanuts, bake them at 350 degrees for five minutes to remove some of the husks.

2. Prepare a well-greased baking sheet. Set it aside.

3. Combine peanuts, sugar, corn syrup and salt in a medium-sized bowl — glass works well — and microwave for four minutes. Careful, the bowl will be very hot, so use an oven mitt to grasp it.

4. Stir, then microwave again for another 4 minutes.

5. Add butter and vanilla. Stir well, then microwave for 2 minutes.

6. Stir in baking soda, then pour the mixture onto the baking sheet.

7. Allow the pan to cool, then break the brittle into pieces.

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SATURDAY, DEC 23, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 5

31

31

DENVER

DON’ T RI S K IT . .

A crafty memory LET US FIX IT! of Christmas past AROUND THE HOUSE

DENVER

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BY KEN MOON, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

Dear Readers: This is a reprise of a column I first published in 1996.

I hope it will help remind you of your favorite Christmas past.

Allow me to reminisce KEN MOON a little. This a story of my seventh Christmas — way back in the fifties. If you remember those days, you surely recall how little money most families had. Many presents were homemade, and toys weren’t nearly as complex, high-tech and expensive as they are now. We probably would be considered poor by today’s standards — we just didn’t know it, because everyone else was in the same boat.

I was quite a little train guy back then — still am, actually, and never miss a chance to stop at a crossing as one of those big coal trains rumbles by. I still have a black and

white picture of little-me sitting on a rock and holding up a late 40’s (and well-thumbed) Lionel train catalog. Those gorgeous train sets were perhaps $40 or so, and therefore were achingly out of our family’s price range (or so I thought).

Anyway, my dad had a self-contained workshop — a shed, really — detached from the house. And for weeks starting before Thanksgiving, I was discouraged from visiting him when he went in there after work, even to notify him that supper was ready, as I usually had done. When you’re 7, Christmas always seems so far away so I missed the connection between the coming holiday and the secret taking shape behind those locked doors.

And then came Christmas morning. We stumbled down the stairs before the sun came up — and there, just barely visible in the glow of the tree lights, was a four-by-eight-

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foot piece of plywood covered with artificial grass, trees, dirt, streets and small buildings and — you guessed it — a TRAIN SET! It was the same three-rail, Lionel, .027 gauge set I had been drooling over for a couple of years — with an engine that really smoked (you had to add a little pill to the smoke stack); plus a station with a whistle inside; and a real log car that actually dumped its load; and other wonderful features that escape me now.

At any rate, it was the first time I realized how really clever my dad was. To think, he’d actually done the framing, wiring, track-laying, scenery and painting all by himself, without any prior indication that he knew anything about model trains. And I’m stunned now to think that the whole project might have cost around $50 or so, which was about a week’s pay in those days.

This one event, more than any other, led me to an early and lifelong appreciation that

GOREN BRIDGE

using tools and making and repairing things is decidedly satisfying. I went on to learn how to solder a pipe and wire a switch by the time I was about 10 years old. It’s easy when you’ve got a good teacher, and you could be just that person in your family.

It’s also a great way to soak up idle hours and to peel the kids away from those wretched electronic gadgets. Plus, I defy you to find elsewhere the kind of fulfillment you get from standing back and admiring your latest workbench project or repair, no matter how small. So parents, do you need one more gift? Buy an age-appropriate tool box set, and use it, along with some of your time, to show the dear children in your life — both boys and girls — how to become little DIY’ers.

And, by the way, my holiday wish for you is that one day the little ones in your life may have at least one Christmas memory as precious as mine.

WITH BOB JONES ©2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

weekly bridge quiz q 1 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠kq4♥k2♦Aq8♣k8532 With the opponents passing, you open one no trump and partner bids two hearts, transfer. What call would you make? q 2 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠AJ♥Akq9♦kJ8752♣9 Partner opens five clubs and right-hand opponent passes. What call would you make? q 3 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠A965♥J93♦k95♣875 weST NOrTH eAST SOuTH 1♥ 2♣ Pass ?

What call would you make? q 4 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ k J 7 5 ♥ q 9 7 4 ♦ k q 2 ♣ 10 3

NOrTH eAST SOuTH weST Pass 1♣ Pass 1♥ Pass ?

2♥ What call would you make? q 5 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ 7 4 ♥ A k 2 ♦ k J 5 2 ♣ k 10 3 2 With the opponents passing, you open one diamond and partner responds one heart. What call would you make? q 6 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠k93♥AkJ97♦A76♣AJ Right-hand opponent opens one club.

What call would you make?

Look for answers on Monday.

(Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001.

E-mail: tcaeditors@tribpub.com)

denniS The menaCe

The Family CirCuS

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Sherman’S lagoon

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SATURDAY, DEC 23, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 7

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luann

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loS angeleS TimeS CroSSword

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edited by rich norris and Joyce lewis

lola

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BeeTle Bailey 9 Mediterranean land across 1 With 1-Down, “Gadzooks!”

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30 Unreliable, in a way 31 Law enforcement support 35 Shopping mecca org.

36 Auction action starter 32 “Livin’ La Vida __” 37 Bonny one 33 Like grapefruit 38 Logician’s “E” 34 Seeks a better deal 40 Flowering plant in 36 Usain Bolt, vis-à-vis the legume family virtually everyone 43 Improv staples 39 Where to hear 25-Across 44 Examples of bad driving 40 One might be convincing 50 Hurdles, for one 41 Back again 51 “I am __ / More sinn’d 42 Eco-friendly wheels against than sinning”: 45 __ Major King Lear 46 Hockey legend 52 School division 47 Blood test letters 53 Rapper with the albums 48 Subtle “Listen up” “Harlem World” and 49 Stylish jeans feature “Welcome Back” 50 Data restriction 56 Aussie college on Twitter usage 57 __ Schwarz 54 Camera initials 58 TV monitor 55 Mamet play featuring a rare nickel Friday’s Puzzle Solved 59 Piranhas, in Venezuela 60 Part of the family group 61 As a group 62 Bishop’s purview down 1 See 1-Across 2 Fort Benning, e.g.

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moTher gooSe

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SATURDAY, DEC 23, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 9

Bizarro

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argyle SweaTer

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CeleBriTy CiPher by luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

B.C.

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JumP STarT

Frazz

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HG 10 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, DEC 23, 2017

dilBerT

by Scott adams

Sally ForTh

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BaBy BlueS

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PearlS BeFore Swine by Stephan Pastis

PooCh CaFe

by Paul gilligan

SATURDAY, DEC 23, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 11

TAKE OUR ADVICE ADVICE

Dear Amy: My mother is a very

hard-working and dedicated mother, but she has some very problematic views of the world.

She assumes that refugees are going to terrorize our country and that women only gossip and tear AMY each other down (for instance).

DICKINSON The thing is, she is an immigrant herself from a Latin country.

When I explain to her how problematic her thinking is, she tells me one story about something she saw that backs up her claims.

I was privileged enough to graduate from a private liberal arts school (through scholarships).

That experience opened my eyes to racism, sexism and other problems in our country and around the world.

I visit my mother once a week and we read the newspaper together. We start a dialogue about the never-ending stories about sexual assault and police brutality, and it always ends in a fight.

How can I spend time with my mom and talk about these important issues without arguing? — Frustrated Daughter Dear Daughter: You should table your impulse to educate your mother, for now, and spend your time together getting to know her as an adult.

Your mother is more than the sum of her opinions regarding current events. She is a person with a story of her own.

I love it that you read the newspaper together, but you two might need a new routine that promotes togetherness. This might sound hokey, but working on a giant jigsaw puzzle together comes to mind. As you hunch over the image, you can talk and catch up. Try asking open-ended questions and listening without correcting.

Your mother’s view of the world might never come around to your standard. But she might be offering you insights that you are too offended to recognize.

Instead of leaping in to correct her, you might say, “I know what you think, but I don’t know why you think the way you do. Can you explain?”

—

Send questions to askamy@tribune.com or to Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 434 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL

ADVICE

Question: I’m thinking about getting a vasectomy. We have two kids, and that’s perfect for us. This seems like the best DR. OZ AND DR. ROIZEN method of birth control.

Are there any downsides? — Glen H., Cincinnati Answer: Any operation increases your risk of infection, but a vasectomy is a relatively safe and simple procedure: The vas deferens (sperm canal) is detached from each testicle. You’ll need an ice pack to control swelling and will experience slight discomfort, but you should be up and running in seven to 10 days.

The process is 99.9 percent effective as birth control and as a bonus, there’s some new, good news about an unexpected benefit for men who’ve undergone the procedure: The conventional thinking has always been the only change after a vasectomy is loss of sperm in the ejaculate (it makes up only about 5 percent of the fluid). A man’s sex drive, erections and orgasms were thought to be unaffected. But apparently that’s not so. When a guy wants to and does eliminate the possibility of pregnancy, his enjoyment of sex increases.

According to a study from Germany’s Frankfurt University of 279 heterosexual men who had vasectomies, guys develop a stronger sex drive, have sex more frequently and experience better orgasms post-vasectomy — and a woman’s satisfaction isn’t reduced. Proving, once again, the strongest sex organ is between your ears!

But beware! It can take up to three months to clear the sperm out of your ejaculate, so stick with your current birth control method during those three months. And if, down the road, you have a change of heart or circumstances and want to hook the boys back up again, you can have a vasectomy reversal. After a reversal, pregnancy rates range from 30 to 70 percent; however. patency rates — the return of sperm in the ejaculate — can reach 95 percent.

—

Email your health and wellness questions to youdocsdaily@ sharecare.com.

ADVICE

Dear Readers: Brushing your dog’s teeth is a good idea. Here are some hints from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (www.aspca. org): The dog will need to become comfortable with brushing. MasHINTS saging the gums gently for a FROM HELOISE short period for a week or two is a good start. Get a toothpaste and toothbrush specifically for dogs. “People paste” can make a dog ill. There are brushes that fit over your finger — these work well.

Small, circular strokes are gentle and effective.

The side teeth collect the most tartar and yucky stuff. Use short downward strokes here.

Watch for swelling and infection during these sessions, and report it to your veterinarian. The doctor also can professionally clean teeth. Ask about this, too. — Heloise Dear Heloise: I’ve adopted a vegan lifestyle, and here are some things to know: Vegans believe that animals are not here to serve people; therefore, we don’t eat, wear or use animals or products derived from animals.

I understand that not everyone agrees with me.

Here’s what I wear: faux leather, microfiber and cotton are fine, as are all synthetic fibers. Absolutely no leather, suede, snakeskin, fur or wool.

Silk is out, as is cashmere.

There are good resources online to find manufacturers that don’t exploit animals. Again, I know, people may find this extreme, but it has made me more at peace. Thank you! — Heather P. in Philadelphia Dear Heloise: It’s not too late to deliver warmth this time of year. Each Christmastime, I take blankets, shawls, slippers, zip-up sweaters and sweatshirts and, of course, new socks to folks at my neighborhood long-term care facility.

I don’t have a family of my own, so sharing makes me feel good, and the residents appreciate it. — Jennifer Ann in Michigan —

Send hints via email to heloise@heloise.com or via post to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio TX 78279-5001.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPES BY JERALDINE SAUNDERS ARIES (March 21-April 19) Apply energy to your imagery. Your artistic nature might find an avenue of expression. Even if you are only arranging cookies on a plate or spraying fake snow on a window you can demonstrate flair.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Be as realistic as possible. If someone does not seem romantic, it does not mean that your special someone doesn’t love you with all his or her heart.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) It will be difficult to puncture the balloon of your happy mood on this holiday weekend. Nevertheless, there could be some ruffled feathers requiring your help. Practice patience especially with older people.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Imagine what the future holds. Home and family play a big part in your happiness during the weekend and are a motivating factor for your ambitions.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) You may not have or want a cat, but consider from T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats”: “The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter; it isn’t just one of your holiday games.”

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Buy something of lasting value, but keep costs down by searching the sales tables. Under these cosmic conditions an established relationship can achieve harmony by accepting duties with a smile.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) If you put your head together with someone else, you might be able to create something that is both fun and useful.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You won’t need to go to “Inspiration Point” to gather creative ideas. Get involved in art or spend some time finger painting with your children.

HG 12 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, DEC 23, 2017

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Don’t kid yourself into thinking that the rules can be ignored. Just because the holidays have arrived doesn’t give you an excuse to ignore a bill.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Appreciate everyone’s good points. When you are too strict and set high standards that are hard to meet, you leave yourself open for disappointment.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Fostering a holiday spirit might need some assistance. You might think your feelings are being overlooked. Your special someone might have little time to devote to expressions of affection.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Glamorous escapades may be just what you need to escape harsh reality. It is a good night for a movie, theater, or a concert. Be entertained by intoxicating music, surroundings, or the person you are with.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Dec. 23

Don’t shirk responsibilities that land in your lap between now and the end of February. At the same time, don’t voluntarily take on extra obligations or you might find that your resources are stretched thin.

Remain organized and adhere to the rules. March is a great time for a vacation. Loyalties and commitment may be tested in May or early June. Good relationships will withstand a few doubts, but those on shaky ground may break.