holiday gift and party guide
a blank slate media / litmor publications special section • december 11, 2015
30 holiday gift & party guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, December 11, 2015
Give the gift of indulgence this holiday season
T
he holiday season is rife with tradition. Families have their own unique traditions, whether it’s gathering at Grandma’s to enjoy a holiday meal or singing carols together around the neighborhood with friends who live nearby. One tradition that seems to have made it into many families’ holiday celebrations is indulging in delicious baked goods. Desserts are a big part of the holiday season, when many people relax restrictions on their diets to enjoy some of their favorite cookies and cakes. While such delicacies are often served at dinnertime, homemade baked goods also make great gifts come the holiday season. Whether a friend or family member is a fully devoted foodie or simply a person who loves a decadent dessert, gifting homecooked baked goods is a great way to show your loved ones just how much you appreciate them. This holiday season,
give the gift of decadence by cooking up the following recipe for “Sticky Chocolate Gingerbread” courtesy of Maxine Clark’s “Chocolate: Deliciously Indulgent Recipes for Chocolate Lovers” (Ryland, Peters & Small). Sticky Chocolate Gingerbread Makes an 8-inch cake 21⁄3 cups dark molasses 6 ounces dark chocolate (60 to 70 percent cocoa solids), grated 13⁄4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons ground ginger 5 ounces whole pieces preserved stem ginger, drained and roughly chopped 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened 1 ⁄2 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, sifted (to remove lumps) 2 medium eggs, beaten 1 ⁄2 teaspoon baking soda 2 tablespoons milk, warmed A pinch of salt Extra-large crystallized ginger pieces, to scatter (optional)
A deep 8-inch square cake pan or 8 x 6 x 3-inch oval cake pan
Preheat the oven to 325 F. Grease and line the base and sides of the cake pan with nonstick parchment paper. Put the molasses in a pan and heat
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gently until hot, but do not allow it to boil. Remove the pan from the heat and add the chocolate. Stir until melted. Sift the flour, ground ginger and salt together in a bowl. Add the stem ginger and toss it around in the flour until every piece is coated. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs, then the molasses and chocolate mixture and finally the flour mixture. Dissolve the baking soda in the milk and gradually beat this into the batter. Pour into the prepared cake pan, scatter with the crystallized ginger, if using, and bake for 45 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 F and bake for another 30 minutes. (If using the oval pan, cook for about 45 minutes at the higher temperature, then about 1 hour at the lower temperature, as it will be deeper.) A metal skewer inserted into the center should come out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack and let cool completely. When cold, store in an airtight container for at least a couple of days to mature and become sticky. Don’t worry if it sinks a bit in the middle — this is normal.
News Times Newspapers, Friday, December 11, 2015 • holiday gift & party guide
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32 holiday gift & party guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, December 11, 2015
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News Times Newspapers, Friday, December 11, 2015 • holiday gift & party guide
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34 holiday gift & party guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, December 11, 2015
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News Times Newspapers, Friday, December 11, 2015 • holiday gift & party guide
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Gifts to promote physical activity
M
aking New Year’s resolutions is a popular tradition once the holiday season has come and gone. Such resolutions often serve as catalysts for something positive,whether it’s saving more money in the year ahead or spending more time with family. Resolving to lose weight is one of the more popular resolutions men and women make each year. But you don’t need to wait until the calendar turns to January to start helping a loved one achieve his or her goal of losing weight in the new year. If a friend or family member has expressed a desire to slim down in the new year, the following items can make great holiday gifts that help your loved ones get a head start on their weight loss goals. Yoga mat and DVD: Yoga has grown increasingly popular in recent years. According to a survey from the National Institutes of Health, nearly 10 percent of adults in the United States participated in yoga in 2012, up from 5 percent in 2002. Yoga is a great way to relieve stress and get in shape, and it can help men and women feel more flexible. That increased flexibility can help men and women looking to lose
weight, making a yoga mat and DVD an ideal holiday gift. Such gifts are even better for men and women who may feel intimidated by exercising after a long layoff, as they can dust off the cobwebs from the comforts of their own homes. Offer to come over and show them some basic moves and help them in their first few sessions if you’re already familiar with yoga. Swimming lessons: Many people learn to swim as children, but a refresher course can help loved ones who have not dipped their toes in any water in recent years. Such lessons also may ignite (or reignite) a passion for swimming, which is a wonderful exercise that can promote weight loss and cardiovascular health while helping men and women develop toned muscles. Find a local swim club or gym that offers lessons, and go along for the first few lessons to help calm any nerves your loved one might have. Healthy cookbook: Effective, long-term weight loss requires both diet and exercise. A cookbook full of healthy recipes can prove an invaluable resource for men and women who recognize the role healthy foods play in losing weight and keeping the weight off. Many adults cite a lack of
time as the primary reason they eat unhealthy foods, so look for a cookbook that offers healthy recipes that can be cooked up quick. Fitness tracker: Fitness trackers come in many shapes and sizes, but many allow users to count their steps and track the distances they travel in a typical day. More advanced models may even help men and women track the amount of calories they’ve consumed, both on a daily basis and over time. Such devices can prove motivational to men and women looking to lose weight, providing detailed daily information they can use to track and see their progress. Holiday gifts that aim to help men and women looking to lose weight can pay dividends long after the holiday season has come and gone.
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36 holiday gift & party guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, December 11, 2015
spiritual collections
How to gift the people who aren’t family
C
ome the holiday season, many people find it’s not just family and friends on their shopping lists. Coworkers and acquaintances often land on such lists as well, and it’s not always easy deciding what to get those people who aren’t close friends or family members.
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Gifting the boss is a sensitive subject and should be dictated by company protocol. If you are the only employee to buy your boss a gift, it may seem like you are trying to curry favor. However, if everyone else is gifting and you fail to offer a gift, you may be caught off guard. Some business etiquette experts say that it is customary for bosses to give gifts to employees but not the reverse. However, employees who are especially close with their bosses or who work closely with them each day may want to offer a small token of appreciation. When selecting gifts for bosses, do not give anything too personal, such as clothing, perfume or jewelry. Food or gift cards are a safer bet. Experts say a gift in the range of $10 to $25 is adequate. Chipping in for a gift with other employees may be the best course of action so you don’t inspire resentment among coworkers.
Babysitter or nanny
Caregivers play important roles in the lives of children. Once you have found a sitter or nanny who you trust, you want to ensure you keep that person content. If you regularly use a nanny or sitter, money is always a great gift. For a full-time nanny, one week to one month’s pay is adequate. For a regular sitter, consider a gift equal to two nights’ pay.
Coach or club leader
Children today are involved in many different activities, and chances are parents’ schedules are filled with sports games and practices. A small gift of $10 to $20 can show your appreciation to a coach or club leader. This is another instance when it might be nice to pool your resources with fellow parents to purchase one large gift.
Mail carrier
If your mail is delivered by the same mail carrier week after week, you may want to spread some holiday joy. Mail carriers have an extra workload during the holidays, when they are tasked with delivering packages and greeting cards in addition to more routine mail. Civil servants may be forbidden from receiving cash. In such instances, a gift card makes a great gift.
Trash collector
Hauling garbage is neither an easy nor glamorous job. Many garbage collectors appreciate a tip for their hard work. Take notice of who collects the trash from your home. If it is the same people each week, take the time to personally deliver an envelope with a small tip of around $20.
Hairstylist
If you are a regular for frequent treatments and color in a salon, show the stylist you appreciate his or her work with a cash gift. If you want to give a wrapped present, avoid tools of the trade or anything that is too personal. Stylists are on their feet much of the day, so a gift for a massage appointment or pedicure may be just what they need.
News Times Newspapers, Friday, December 11, 2015 • holiday gift & party guide
Don’t forget to gift your holiday hosts
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exclusively at Glenn Bradford Fine Jewelry
illions of people will travel this
holiday season, and many of them will lay their heads to rest in the homes of family and friends. Hosting guests come the holiday season can make this time of year that much more special, but hosting also is a significant undertaking that asks a lot of the men and women who open their homes to loved ones. Guests who want to express their gratitude for their holiday hosts can do so in any number of ways, and the following are a handful of ideas that would surely please your hosts this holiday season.
Night out on the town
Holiday hosts have a lot on their plates. Before guests arrive, hosts clean their homes top to bottom and may even rearrange rooms in their homes to accommodate overnight guests. Once the guests arrive, hosts work to cater to their guests’ needs. Guests can show their hosts how much they appreciate them by paying for a night out on the town. Babysit hosts’ kids so mom and dad can enjoy a night out together, or take the whole family out and foot the bill. A night out can be enjoyable for all involved, and it gives hosts the night off from cooking dinner.
Cater a meal
If your family is too big to take out or if the family simply prefers to stay in and enjoy one another’s company, pay for a catered meal to be delivered to your hosts’ home. This can be a great way to catch up, and hosts can join in the fun because they won’t be busy preparing dinner in the kitchen.
Wine rack
Men and women who offer to host for the holidays likely don’t mind hosting at other times of the year as well. A brand
new wine rack can make for a great gift for your friend or relative who loves to host dinner parties throughout the year. Stock the rack with a couple of bottles of wine and crack one open to celebrate your loved one’s new toy.
Linens
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If you want to give your holiday hosts something practical, then some linens they can use right away make great gifts. Quality bed sheets, some warm blankets and some soft, high-quality towels can help hosts replenish their linen closets, and they might appreciate using these new items once the holiday season has come and gone.
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Cook breakfast
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Another great way to show your appreciation to your holiday hosts is to make breakfast for everyone each morning during your stay. Let your hosts relax with a cup of coffee while you prepare breakfast each morning for everyone staying at the house. Hosts will no doubt appreciate the hassle-free mornings, and a fresh, home-cooked meal is a great way to express your own appreciation for their hospitality.
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38 holiday gift & party guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, December 11, 2015
What to get the movie buff in your life
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any movie buffs can instantly rattle off extensive lists of their favorite films, sharing information such as when the movies were released, who directed them and, of course, who played the leads. Holiday shoppers on the hunt for the perfect gift for the film buffs in their lives might be a little intimidated by their loved ones’ encyclopedic knowledge of movies. Such knowledge can make it difficult to find gifts that friends or family members will truly appreciate, but the following are a handful of ideas to consider gifting to the movie lover in your life. Box set: Box sets make great gifts for film fans, whether those fans prefer a particular genre of film or appreciate the work of a certain director. Fans of horror movies may appreciate the “Horror Classics 50 Movie Pack Collection,” a comprehensive collection of classic horror films that includes the likes of “The Indestructible Man,” starring Lon Chaney, Sr., and “Night of the Living Dead,” starring Judith O’Dea. Fans of director Quentin Tarantino may enjoy the “Tarantino XX 8-Film Collection,” which includes some of the director’s most beloved films, including “Reservoir Dogs” and “Pulp Fiction.” If you can’t find a box set to your loved one’s liking, consider making your own by buying several individual DVD’s and wrapping them together. Streaming membership: Streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime are growing more popular by the day, and film fans would no doubt appreciate having instant access to the hundreds of films available to subscribers of these services. A 12-month subscription to Netflix or Amazon Prime, which offers
additional benefits when shopping on Amazon.com, won’t break shoppers’ budgets but will provide lots of bang for their gift-giving buck. Gift certificate: Gift certificates to the movie theater are another great gift for the old school film fan who still prefers seeing all the new releases in the theater. Movie tickets can stretch film fans’ budgets, especially for those film lovers who need to see every big-budget blockbuster or Oscar® candidate in the theater. A gift certificate may be just what your favorite film fan wants to see in his or her stocking this holiday season. Sound system: For those holiday shoppers working with big budgets, a sound system that enhances the experience of watching movies at home might be just the thing to light up your favorite film fan’s smile this season. Surround sound systems give movie watchers at home an experience similar to that enjoyed by moviegoers in the theater. Such systems can vary considerably with regard to price, with smaller systems costing far less than larger, more advanced systems that can cost several thousand dollars. If you think a sound system is all your loved one needs to make the most of his or her movie watching experience, speak to him or her before buying the system, footing the full bill if you can or offering to contribute a certain amount of dollars toward the sound system of his or her dreams. Film fans can be fun to shop for come the holiday season, and shoppers have a host of options at their disposal to make their favorite film buffs happy.
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40 holiday gift & party guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, December 11, 2015
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Meet distinguished Art Conservator Alex Katlan at an informative art talk based on his book “The Palette Reveals the Artist: The Grumbacher Artist Palette Collection and the Salmagundi Club Palette Collection”. The palette collection of the historic Salmagundi Club represents a piece of art history. Many well-known artists of the past 140 years such as William Merrit Chase, Charles Henry Miller, and George Inness, Jr. have participated in the club tradition of leaving their palettes for display at the iconic brownstone in Greenwich Village. Hear how Katlan rescued the palette collection and restored it to its original glory, as well as interesting anecdotes on his experiences throughout this career as an art conservator.
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42 holiday gift & party guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, December 11, 2015
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As families spread out across the country and even across the globe, the holidays can become a little more difficult to navigate. According to AAA, a federation of motor clubs throughout the United States, roughly 90 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more for year-end holidays. Families that are spread out must decide where to spend the holidays together. But in some cases, families can’t all be together, so celebrations must be handled remotely and gifts shipped to waiting recipients. Shopping for gifts may have taken some time, but now you will have to figure out how to get those gifts where they need to go. The following are some pointers for holiday celebrants who are driving, flying, taking a bus, or shipping gifts.
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If the goal is to purchase and ship gifts near and far, starting early has its advantages. Thousands upon thousands of cards and packages are shipped each day during the holiday season. In 2013, shipping giant UPS projected 132 million deliveries during the last week before Christmas, and actual figures exceeded those expectations. Many shipping services will get packages to recipients on time, but customers can help them along by sending them several weeks before the holidays. Shipping later in the season may incur additional fees for priority shipping. Always check sellers’ “purchase by” dates to ensure items will arrive on time. Items that will be shipped internationally should include a detailed description as well as the value of the package. Presents under a certain value may be duty-free or tax-exempt. Check with customs to get a better idea of the shipping regulations.
Plane ride
Airlines have specific regulations in place regarding which items can and cannot be brought on planes, at least inside of the cabin. Thanks to increased security measures, restrictions are greater than they once were. Transportation Security Administration officers may have to inspect items for safety purposes. It may be better to leave gifts unwrapped and then wrap them after the flight to avoid hassles during the screening process. Liquids, including foods, may need to be put in a checked bag if they exceed 3.4 ounces. Consider shipping delicate items ahead of time if you are concerned about breakage.
Packing the car
If a holiday road trip is in your future, space constraints may require you to be a little creative when packing the car. Shop for smaller gifts, including gift cards, which are easier to transport. Advise family and friends that you will have limited space so they should not go overboard with regard to gifts given to you in return. Heed safety precautions and do not obscure driver visibility in the car by stacking presents too high. Also, secure boxes and packages in the car so they do not slide or move around. Anything that is not secured can become airborne in the event of a collision, increasing the risk for injury. Items placed on roof racks should be tightly secured so they don’t fall off and present a hazard.
News Times Newspapers, Friday, December 11, 2015 • holiday gift & party guide
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44 holiday Gift & party Guide • News Times Newspapers, Friday, December 11, 2015
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With coupon only. Not to be combined with any other offers. Exp.12/31/15
FREE DELIVERY Call for details
1032 Willis Avenue, Albertson 621.1164 www.AlbertsonMarket.com
Mon.-Sat. 8am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm
11/24/15 12:56 PM