CURIOSITIES

HOROSCOPES

Happy birthday to every child eclipsed by Jesus this month. You are not forgotten.

ARIES (mar. 20 - apr. 18):

Do you feel wronged by the stars? Are you in the type of mood that makes you want to cause everyone to cry tears of lead? Your emotions are valid, Aries. Do what it takes to feel better about the way your life has aligned recently. No one will blame you.

TAURUS (apr. 19 - may 20):

This December, try something new. Go to a dance class, become a bird-watching specialist, ask someone out, commit tax fraud. It could help you feel something in the midst of this intense seasonal-depression-end-of-semester-sadness cocktail. Thrills and chills, Taurus—make this month your own.

GEMINI (may 21 - june 20):

You’re trying to make the right decision, but the wrong choice is still calling at you. This month will be an exercise in willpower and restraint. You know what is best for you, fight the urge to choose the self-destructive option— no matter how fun it may be.

CANCER (june 21 - july 22):

The hurt from these past few weeks might be hard to keep underneath the surface this December: time with family, friends, and lovers may remind you of what you’ve lost. Seek comfort above all else. Eat mashed potatoes on a ceramic tile floor at 2AM, lurk in alleyways with your dog, wrap yourself in 17 layers of blankets. Whatever works for you.

LEO (july 23 - aug. 22):

Trust only your own instincts this month. Your friends have the best intentions, but they might be too wrapped up in the frantic energy of December to properly give counsel to you. Whatever you do, do not trust your horoscopes

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VIRGO (aug. 23 - sept. 22):

December will be incredibly happy for you. You’ve been waiting for this break from school with many goals for the break and your ambitions will pay off. It’s a good moment to forge new connections, take care of old ones, and steal some from your next-door neighbors.

LIBRA (sept.23 - oct. 22):

Let yourself dream. You’ve had an incredibly realistic mindset this year, and though it has gotten you through, it has also kept your moral incredibly neutral. You deserve to be the optimistic dreamer, to be the ambitious believer. Anything is possible if you can just think of it.

SCORPIO (oct. 23 - nov. 21):

Change is going to come whether you like it or not, Scorpio, but you choose how you deal with it, and the yearning to unsettle everyone by making changes about yourself as drastic as the ones about your situation is good. Go goth, sing opera in a misty swamp. Do you. If the people in your life cannot deal with it, change their status in your life, too.

SAGITTARIUS (nov. 22 - dec. 21) :

Family might tend to get under your skin this holiday season. They might ask questions they shouldn’t ask or make snide comments. Remember: you do not have to maintain peace for the sake of other people at your own expense. Stand up for yourself and most importantly, do not feel bad for it.

CAPRICORN (dec.22 - jan. 19):

If it feels like life might open its mouth and swallow you up, don’t despair. It means you are taking on many things at once and moving quickly towards bigger, better things. You will not be digested, I promise—though you might get chewed a little bit. Forgive life for it.

AQUARIUS (jan. 20 - feb. 18):

If your emotions have been jumbling your mind lately and you’ve found yourself in desperate need of your logical side, it might be time to set aside your emotions. I give you permission to press pause on them until the end of the semester. I find the best way to do this is to sink into the cold ocean for several minutes—but do as you will. I believe in you.

PISCES (feb. 19 - mar. 19) :

You can achieve that goal you’ve set for yourself—if only you start giving that goal the same amount of importance as you give other people’s goals. It is not your job to help everyone carry through their own plans, and you’re allowed to focus on yourself. Keep this in mind as the holiday season approaches.

QUIZ: WHICH TYPE OF CHRISTMAS COOKIE ARE YOU?

1 Where do you like to study?

a) The library, in complete silence, with a warm homemade cup of coffee. b) At home, alone with some instrumental music and a reward system when you get through one of your study goals for the day. c) At a coffee house with two friends and a steady stream of conversation to keep up morale.

2 What is your ideal drink at a bar?

a) Straight whiskey—none of that fruity nonsense and chasers. Those are for the weak. b) A lemonade—drinking isn’t your thing. But hey, you’re happy to be here. c) An elaborate mixed cocktail with so much sugar you could get diabetes on the spot.

3 What is the best midnight snack?

a) A couple of crackers and cheese eaten in the low light of your computer screen b) A bag of classic Lay’s chips in bed with your favourite show playing in the background. c) Anything. Last night’s leftover pizza, a slice of cake, 3 granola bars—whatever you have in the house.

4 How would you rather spend your summer?

a) At a summer lake house, spending your time swimming, reading, and cooking. Maybe you’ll work a few hours at the golf course, but only to break routine. b) Working a summer camp job, spending many hours in the sun and filling up your bank account again after the long job-break you took during your studies. c) Having a part-time job and plenty of time to party in the woods with strangers—memories and money, that’s your ideal summer.

5 What is your ideal winter drink

a) Black coffee, absolutely no modification. b) A fancy tea steeped in hot milk. c) Hot chocolate, so long as you get marshmallows and sprinkles on top.

them. This statement cookie, with bold flavours and colours, is the best way to represent you. and living out loud. Parties and crowds are where you shine—the extrovert in you is powerful and you like feeding If you have mostly “c” answers, you are a strawberry jam-chocolate thumbprint cookie. You like people, surprises,

people who eat them best represent you. people, you come out of your shell in an instant. The subtle flavours of the butter cookie and its polarizing effect on the with your little habits and the people you love is enough for you. You’re a bit of an introvert but if you’re with the right , you are a classic butter cookie. You don’t need excess to be happy, and a quiet life

If you have mostly “b” answers

man as well as the classic flavour suit you best. and know what you like. You enjoy doing things right and you love a routine, and the recurrence of the gingerbread , you are the gingerbread man cookie. A classic, rooted in tradition. You are certain

If you have mostly “a” answers

RECIPE: CHOCOLATE SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Hello dear reader. This issue, I share with you a personal favourite of mine in the cookie department. Now, I must admit, this recipe is not an original—I found it on Ricardo’s website a few years ago—but it is simply too good not to share it here so you, your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your cat can enjoy it too.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened • ¾ cup (160 g) sugar • 1 egg yolk • ½ tsp vanilla • 1 ¼ cups (190 g) unbleached all-purpose flour • 1/3 cup (35 g) cocoa powder • ¼ tsp salt

Instructions

1 With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line two baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper. 2 In a bowl, using a wooden spoon, combine the butter with ½ cup (105 g) of the sugar. Add the egg yolk and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Add the flour, cocoa powder and salt. 3 Using a 1-tbsp (15 ml) ice cream scoop, form the mixture into balls. Finish rolling the cookies with your hands, then roll in the remaining sugar. Place on the baking sheets, evenly spacing them out. 4 Bake one sheet at a time for 14 minutes (see note). Let cool completely on the baking sheets.

Photo VIA COOKIES&CUPS

PUZZLES

COME BACK NEXT ISSUE FOR THE ANSWERS!

Hints

Across

1 - The number of days for Hanukkah 3 - Jewish holiday happening around December 4 - A type of sock in which small gifts are left 8 - A type of bird eaten at Christmas, usually accompanied by gravy

Down

2 - General word for the originally religious festivities that occur around December 5 - A treat left on a chimney for Santa Claus to find 6 - Typically chocolate coins exchanged during Hanukkah celebrations 7 - An offering made to another person, typically wrapped in decoration paper

Curiosities by

LAURY CHARLAND Curiosities Editor