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© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

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PARADE

SUNDAY

Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby in White Christmas

—Linda Whitley, Smithfield, Va.

A: Bing Crosby’s “White

Q: Has Patrick Stewart held on to any memorabilia from Star Trek: The Next Generation? —S. L., Virginia Beach, Va.

A: “I tried to buy one of my uniforms from the studio, but they refused to sell it to me,” says Stewart, t, 72, who played Captain in Jean-Luc Picard on the hit series, which ch ran from 1987 to 1994. “I was on a talk show years later and the host discovered that I didn’t have Patrick Stewart

Chicago’s Ultimate Christmas Collection at

Parade.com/win

Q: What ever happened to the actress who played Zuzu Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life? —Carrie

Q: What is the bestselling Christmas song?

Christmas” has sold at least 50 million singles, making it not only the best-selling Christmas song but the top-selling single of all time. The song was written by Irving Berlin and recorded by Crosby for the 1942 musical Holiday Inn. It won the Oscar for best original song and inspired the movie White Christmas, which topped the box office in 1954. What’s your favorite holiday tune? Vote at Parade.com/song.

F∏EEBIE

Enter for your chance to win a signed copy of

Jones, Essex, Vt.

READERS ASK...

BETTE MIDLER

The star, 67, returns to the big screen opposite Billy Crystal in Parental Guidance, Dec. 25.

Q: How did you feel about playing a grandmother?

—Brian Heck, New York City

A: Initially, I was suicidal.

First you’re the ingenue, next you’re the mom, later you’re the grandmother, and then you’re the corpse. But when I heard that I would be playing opposite Billy Crystal, I leapt in.

Q: Was he a good onscreen husband? —Janet H., Augusta, Ga. A: He made me laugh till I fell on the floor. It was as though we had been married for years! We have been, though not to each other. I think marriage makes us all the same after a long enough time!

Q: What would the Bette of today tell Bette from the ’70s?

—Alexandra L., Logan, Utah

A: Red hair is aging! Go blond!

Q: Does your family ever ask you to sing for them at home?

Q —Chris Merriman, Houston —

A: Never. More likely, they tell me to shut up, and not that nicely.

A Q: Who is one celebrity you were nervous to meet?

—Tasha Riggins, Concordia, Kan.

A: Bob Dylan. I broke into a nervous sweat and ruined my new blouse.

Send questions to personality@parade.com or P.O. Box 5001, Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10163-5001.

A: Karolyn Grimes, who famously uttered the line “Teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings” at the end of the 1946 Frank Capra classic, calls herself an “unofficial ambassador” for the movie.

“I’ve managed to turn six minutes of film footage into a second career, doing appearances year-round at festivals and gift shows,” says Grimes, 72. She appeared in 15 other films, including Rio Grande, but still receives fan mail for her role as Zuzu (a name she has said writer Clifford Odets borrowed from Zu Zu Ginger Snaps). Grimes shares her favorite memory of costar Jimmy Stewart at Parade.com/life.

Karolyn Grimes with Jimmy Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life

Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher

Q: Having read all of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels, I was surprised Tom Cruise was chosen to play the part in the film.

What does Child think of the casting? —Adrienne R., Auburn, Wash.

A: Although Tom Cruise has proved himself a bona fide action star, he doesn’t quite fit the image of Jack Reacher, described in the novels as 6-foot-5 and weighing between 210 and 250 pounds, with a 50inch chest, ice-blue eyes, and dirty blond hair. But author Lee Child couldn’t be happier with the star’s portrayal in the film, now in theaters. “Fans of the books are going to come out of the movie thinking, ‘What was I worried about?’ He nails it,” says Child, 58, who cameos as the cop who returns Reacher’s travel toothbrush after a night spent in jail.

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: PARAMOUNT/GETTY IMAGES; JONATHAN PUSHNIK; KAREN BALLARD/PARAMOUNT PICTURES; EVERETT COLLECTION; GEORGE ROSE/GETTY IMAGES

anything from the series; they called Paramount, which gave me one of my uniforms. Now I have it hanging in mothballs in my closet!” Season two of Star Trek: The Next Generation is now available on Blu-ray.

Which of her past roles is most like the real Bette?

Find out at Parade.com /midler

2 • DECEMBER 23, 2012

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

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A DAZZLING TALL TALE

Parade

PIC OF THE YEAR This photo

4.4

of President Obama embracing the first lady was posted to his Facebook profile around 11:15 p.m. on election night. Within hours, the image made social media history as the most “liked” Facebook photo of all time.

To see 10 of the most popular shots from 2012, visit Parade .com/pics.

“ L IM I L L K I C O E S” ON UN AN TI NG D

33%

OF KIDS AGES 9 TO 11 HAVE MANAGED TO FIND A HIDDEN CHRISTMAS GIFT BEFORE THE HOLIDAY,

“AFestivus FOR THE REST OF US ”

In 1997, Dan O’Keefe cowrote a Seinfeld episode introducing the world to a holiday called Festivus, observed Dec. 23. “My dad, who died Aug. 29, actually invented

Festivus,” says O’Keefe. “He took a Latin adjective that roughly means ‘rambunctious’ and created a weird holiday we alarmed the neighbors with for years.”

How did his father’s Festivus compare with

the one celebrated by Frank Costanza (Jerry Stiller, left)?

Below, O’Keefe recalls the joy.

1

As in the Costanza household, we started with the Airing of Grievances: telling our family all the ways they’d disappointed us over the past year.

2

We did not put up an aluminum pole instead of a tree. We had a tree, though it got knocked over a lot.

3

Nor did we insist on father-son wrestling. Our recipe was simpler: Taperecord grievances, sing, drink. Then, maybe wrestle.

Repeat until police arrive.

according to a 2012 Walmart survey. Parents, be warned!

A GYMNAST’S TRUE GRIT

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WANT TO APPEAR PEAR IN THE PAGES OF PARADE ?

Go to Parade.com/work om/work to enter for a chance to be featured in our annual jobs issue.

Gabrielle Douglas (“Gabby” to her fans, “Brie” to her family) captured hearts and two gold medals at the London Olympics. Now the 16-year-old tells her story in Grace, Gold & Glory (written with Michelle Burford)— including the day last January when homesickness almost drove her to hang up her leotards for good. The first African-American to win the individual all-around gold, she describes the strength and sacrifice her achievements required, as well as the faith and love that pulled her through. Read an excerpt at Parade.com/douglas.

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF FACEBOOK; HOMAS COEX/AFP/GETTY /GETTY IMAGES; MICHAEL YARISH/NBC/NBCU PHOTO BANK VIA GETTY IMAGES; GREGOR SCHUSTER/GETTY IMAGES

SixSix-foot-eight and hugely talented, high school quarterback David “Lizard” Hochmeyer sees qua shattered when his parents his suburban life sh proare e killed in what looks disturbingly like a p fessional fess sional hit. Could his enigmatic neighbors, the rock star and his ballerina wife, be involved?

By tturns hilarious and heartbreaking, wild and wise, wis se, Bill Roorbach’s Life Among Giants, which is e earning comparisons to The World According is a vivid chronicle of a life lived large. to Garp, G

4 • DECEMBER 23, 2012

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

celebrity Ta Take your favorite pop culture coverage from P PARADE with you everywhere. That’s celebrity n news, interviews, photo galleries and more.

D Don’t forget Walter Scott’s Personality PARADE p plus our addictive pop culture quiz.

GET IT FREE TODAY

on iTunes, or click to download. itunes.apple.com/us/app/celebrity-parade/id492739663?mt=8 © PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

m

Hugh Jackman on tackling his epic role in Les Misérables, what he has to give up to look like Wolverine, and why he’s thankful this holiday season • BY JEANNE WOLF

“Real life is a breeze!” says Hugh Jackman with a laugh. He’s more than ready for some fun after two back-to-back challenging roles.

For Les Misérables, in theaters Christmas day, Jackman plays Victor Hugo’s long-suffering hero, Jean Valjean, singing his way through the movie version of the much-loved musical.

And he recently finished filming The Wolverine, due next summer, in which his sharpclawed, angry mutant sinks into depression and doubt. (For a change of pace, he also voiced an Australian-accented Easter Bunny in the current animated film Rise of the Guardians.)

Now Jackman, 44, is on the

short list of Oscar favorites for his wrenching portrayal of Valjean, a despairing ex-convict who turns his life around and risks everything to protect a young girl.

“That part of the story is particularly close to me as a parent,” says the father of two, 12-year-old Oscar and 7-year-old Ava, both Weighty Concerns Jackman (with director Tom Hooper) lost 30 pounds for the film.

“Before we shot the first scene, I didn’t drink any liquids for 30 hours to get sunken cheeks and eyes,” the actor recalls. “Tom said, ‘I want your friends to worry about whether you’re sick.’ ”

Father Figure With Isabelle Allen as the young Cosette, the child Jean Valjean raises as his own, in Les Mis.

of whom he adopted with his wife, actress Deborra-Lee Furness. Raised in Australia largely by his accountant father (his

mother left for England when he was 8), Jackman was urged by his dad to find his passion; a drama course at university pointed him to performing. The actor opens up to PARADE about taking risks, cherishing fatherhood, and what makes his 16-year marriage work.

“I’m blessed,” he says. “I really am.”

PARADE: The man you play in Les Misérables, Jean Valjean, is haunted—a loner by necessity. That seems the opposite of you.

Absolutely. I’m not a loner at all.

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

off more than I can chew here.

Maybe I’m not the right person.”

She just cut me off and said, “Hugh, if you didn’t feel like that you wouldn’t be right for the part.

You should be daunted by this challenge.” And she’s so smart; she added, “Use the fear. Work harder. Get in there.”

How would you describe your partnership with your wife?

I am the pragmatic, steady, sensible one. Deb is the hilarious, fun, sexy, crazy, impractical one.

When it comes to the kids, I’m strict and she’s lenient.

But deep down, we’re very similar. We get each other completely without ever having to speak, and we have pretty much since day one. We also have that uncanny ability where if one is grumpy, the other one is not.

Jackman Family Values With his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, at the Tony Awards in June, and strolling in New York last Father’s Day with his kids, whom he calls “the greatest blessing of my life.”

day just melts away.

Your father has been a huge influence on you. You’ve called him your hero.

COVER PHOTO: © TIM BAUER/HEADPRESSPHOTO.COM

You make it sound easy.

The one thing I relate to about Jean is that I’m probably a little hard on myself. Jean lives with this constant striving to be a better man, but he never feels he attains it, and I, too, strive all the time. I understand that feeling of “There’s a mountain to climb”— or maybe I put mountains in my way where they don’t need to be.

When you take on an iconic character like that, do you have doubts?

I remember after a particularly bad day at rehearsals, I told my wife, Deb, “I might have bitten

People always say, “You’ve got to work at your relationship.” I know what they mean, but it’s never felt like that for me. I mean, seriously, we’re kind of annoying to other people. We’re on the phone to each other 10 to 12 times a day.

We do everything together.

We’re madly in love and it gets more so as it goes on. Most of it is finding the right person. I am ridiculously indecisive. If you ask me, “Do you want the crème brûlée or the chocolate cake?” I can spend 10 minutes debating it.

It drives her crazy. And yet when I met my wife, the realization was like a lightning bolt—I knew she was the one for me for the rest of my life. She didn’t realize it then.

I had to do a bit of convincing.

You obviously love being a father.

I feel so lucky to have both a son

rom the day I started working,” Jackman says, “I’ve felt lucky.” and a daughter, because there’s a different relationship with each of them. I mean, instinctively as a man, you know what your son has to go through. So I think you’re a little tougher [with a boy]. With a daughter, this protective side comes out. When I come home, my daughter will run to the door and give me a big hug, and everything that’s happened that

Yeah, he is. There are many qualities about my dad, actually, that echo Jean Valjean more than me.

My father has never said a bad word about anybody. Of course, when my mother left, when I was 8, he would have been forgiven those days where he wanted to let loose a bit. But he never did.

He’s a hard worker, very humble, and deeply religious, though he doesn’t talk about it a lot. Everything about him is admirable.

He’s been my rock, and if there are any good qualities about me, I give [credit] largely to my father.

Sadly, you’ve said he’s not well.

My dad is fairly well into Alzheimer’s now. His short-term memory is pretty much gone.

He still recognizes me and can talk about the past, and weirdly, he’s as happy as I’ve ever known him, which is wonderful. One of the joys of doing The Wolverine was being in Sydney and spending time with him.

DECEMBER 23, 2012 • 7

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

More movies lighting up the holiday season

FAMILY FARE Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away A 3-D spectacular featuring the renowned acrobatic troupe, with a story line about young lovers in fantastical realms.

(PG)

❉

✺

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Too intense for little kids, this 3-D prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy should thrill teens—and their parents. (PG-13)

Rise of the Guardians Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Sandman, and Jack Frost unite to save the world. (PG)

BACK IN ACTION Clawing His Way to the Top In The Wolverine, due next July.

Playing the mutant’s rage, Jackman says, “is the best therapy I know.”

Give us a little scoop on the film.

You want to get me into trouble, don’t you? [laughs] Okay, the movie takes place after X-Men: The Last Stand. My character is at his lowest. He is supposed to be able to heal himself, but he may encounter someone who has worked out a way to really hurt him. And there is a cameo from one of the past X-Men in it.

▲

Django Unchained Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio star in a story of slavery, directed spaghettiwestern style by Quentin Tarantino. (R)

COMIC RELIEF

Because of your extreme discipline, people don’t realize you’re a foodie.

The Guilt Trip Barbra Streisand as Seth Rogen’s lovingly annoying mom, sharing tight quarters on a cross-country journey? It’s like buttah! (PG-13)

My gosh, I love food. If I wasn’t an actor, I could be a completely different body shape right now.

But I finished filming four days ago, so I’m eating pretty much anything that comes my way!

This Is 40 A tale of midlife married angst from writer-director Judd Apatow (Knocked Up), starring Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Megan Fox, and Albert Brooks. (R)

Jack Reacher Tom Cruise breaks heads and solves crimes in this first adaptation of Lee Child’s popular thrillers. (PG-13) Skyfall Daniel Craig’s third outing as 007 is the highest-grossing Bond movie ever, and one of the best. (PG-13)

OSCAR HOPEFULS Argo Ben Affleck’s drama about the 1980 rescue of U.S. embassy workers in Iran. (R) Flight A harrowing look at an alcoholic pilot, starring Denzel Washington. (R) The Impossible The inspirational true story of a family caught in the 2004 tsunami; with Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts. (PG-13) Life of Pi The 3-D tale of an Indian boy trapped in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. (PG) Lincoln Daniel Day-Lewis channels our 16th president. ’Nuff said. (PG-13) Silver Linings Playbook Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence as misfits who find common ground. (R) Zero Dark Thirty The hunt for and killing of Osama bin Laden, starring Jessica Chastain. (R)

THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: TODD EYRE/WARNER BROS.; SAM EMERSON/PARAMOUNT PICTURES; ANDREW COOPER/THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY; JAMES FISHER/ TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM

I wish! I keep thinking, “Come on, you spend millions on CGI, can’t you throw a quarter million my way for visual effects so I can eat pizza and drink beer and still look great?” No, I had to do it the hard way. Let me tell you, at 44 it’s not getting easier.

PHOTOS, OPENING SPREAD, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: LAURIE SPARHAM/UNIVERSAL PICTURES; KEVIN MAZUR/WIREIMAGE FOR TONY AWARD PRODUCTIONS; KRIEGER/BAUER-GRIFFIN; LAURIE SPARHAM/UNIVERSAL PICTURES

❄

Speaking of The Wolverine, you look ripped in those first pictures we’ve seen. I gather that’s not painted on?

8 • DECEMBER 23, 2012

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

See video of Hugh’s Les Mis costars dishing about him at Parade.com/jackman

What’s been the big splurge?

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I was just in Japan, having beer, sake, and the best sushi of my life. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. And on the plane, when they came by with the trolley, I said, “Yes, please,� to everything.

In a way, it’s been a hard year; I was shooting in London for four or ďŹ ve months. We have a family rule that I’m never away for more than two weeks, so I did about nine trips back [to New York].

And they did three trips to me. But for me it was quite a lonely time, and difďŹ cult.

But a fulďŹ lling time as well?

From the day I started working, I’ve felt lucky. My career has been way more exciting than I could have ever written a script for. And I have a wonderful family life.

Does your family say you were optimistic and hungry for adventure as a kid?

PHOTO: JAMES FISHER/UNIVERSAL PICTURES

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My mum will say I was very much like that as a baby, quite optimistic and full of life.

There was also one point when I was up in my chair yelling and screaming. She said, “Hugh, you don’t have to stand on the chair to get noticed.� Now she says all the time, “What do I know? I’m glad he didn’t listen to me.�

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Š PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

By Connie Schultz

Christmas in July—and August and September …

At the end of last holiday season, I couldn’t bear to take down my tree. So I didn’t.

I

t began as an act of laziness.

By early January, I had already packed away two of our Christmas trees. Yes, two. And you’re about to learn about the third. Don’t judge.

One of our trees is an ancient nine-and-a-half-foottall fake fir, which goes in our family room every year. It’s almost animated—you might even say scary—the way it sways under the weight of all those handmade ornaments stitched, glued, painted, stapled, and baked over the past 30 years.

The other tree, a mere seven feet tall, fills our front window.

My husband and I call it the White House Christmas Tree because it is decorated with ornaments issued annually by the White House Historical Association. Sometimes I call it the Rosie Tree, named for my hair colorist, who puts up nine Christmas trees, which she once told me after covering me in foils. Anyone who loves her hair colorist understands how easily we can fall under their spell.

By the way, this year’s White House Historical Association ornament depicts President William Howard Taft riding in the back of the White Steamer, which was the first

The little tree that keeps on giving—all year long.

I REACHED FOR ITS RED BOW, RUBBED THE FELT BETWEEN MY FINGERS, AND PULLED BACK MY HAND. TOO TIRED, I TOLD MYSELF. TOMORROW.

automobile introduced to the White House. See? A history lesson on every branch.

Last Christmas season, I decided to add a third tree.

A wee one, barely four feet tall, to keep me company in the kitchen. Along with the “Ho-Ho-Ho” wall hanging I

needlepointed in 1998, I mean.

And my son’s three-tiered Christmas tree mobile, circa 1982, which dangles upside down over the table. We almost lost that thing in the unfortunate candle caper of ’94. Goodness, the memories.

I decorated the little tree with white lights and a single red bow at the top, then set it on a child-size chair and wedged it into a corner.

“Really?” my husband said the first he time he saw it. “We needed this?”

One look at my face and his punctuation changed. “We needed this!” he said, patting

my back. “Makes the whole room come alive.”

I married a good one, I tell ya.

One month later, there I was, at the end of a long day of packing away another holiday, staring at the kitchen Christmas tree. I reached for its red bow, rubbed the felt between my fingers, and pulled back my hand. Too tired, I told myself as I unplugged the lights.

Tomorrow.

Only tomorrow never came.

A week before Valentine’s Day, I looked across the breakfast table at Sherrod and confessed: “I can’t explain why, but I don’t want to take down the kitchen Christmas tree.”

He returned my smile, acknowledging my gift for stating the obvious. “Then don’t, honey,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “I like it, too.”

With that, it was decided.

The kitchen Christmas tree would twinkle its way through the year. Only one person ever asked why.

“Grandma,” Clayton said, fingering the branches one hot, humid day in July, “why is this tree still here?”

I looked at our 4-year-old grandson and, just like that, I finally had my answer.

“Because we should act like it’s Christmas all year round,” I said. “We should feel it every day, in our hearts.”

He tilted his head and gave me a long look.

“You’re a little weird,” he said, smiling. “I like that.”

“I love you, too, buddy,” I said. “Merry Christmas.”

PHOTO: COURTESY OF CONNIE SCHULTZ

Views

10 • DECEMBER 23, 2012

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Š PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Š PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Look Who’s Coming To Town!

Project SUNDAY

Join Chef Jon Ashton, from PARADE and dash, at a brand new live cooking event. Enjoy a fun-filled day of cooking tips, great food, and a chance to win fabulous prizes!

DECK THE HALLS

Surely there’s room on the tree for one of these . . .

Download

a personal message from Chef Jon

By Jodi Kahn

TWINKLE, TWINKLE

string through the holes. Tie a knot at the end, hang up your ornament, and enjoy!

Part snowflake, part star, these multitaskers make sweet tree decorations, window dressings, present toppers—or, strung together, a pretty garland.

SWIRLS OF WONDER

These marbleized ornaments only look hard to make—that’s the beauty of them!

(about five inches square), stapler, Scotch tape, glue, barbecue skewer, string or twine

Check out dashrecipes.com/tour today for the tour schedule and to purchase tickets.

NATIONAL SPONSORS:

1. Unfold the napkin into a large square. Fold into accordion pleats.

The more pleats, the more points on the star (the ones shown here have 20 points).

2. Fold in half to find the middle, then unfold and staple at the center.

3. Trim both ends into points, either sharp or curved. ut so they meet, 4. Fan the sides out tach. If need be, and use tape to attach. add a dab of glue to hold the star ace. more tightly in place.

5. Use the skewer to poke a hole through two adjacent points.

Thread a 24inch piece of

SUPPLIES: Clear glass or plastic

ornaments (like those at save-oncrafts.com), 12-inch marbleized balloons (sometimes called Tie Dye balloons; found at places like Party City), scissors 1. Remove the ornament’s metallic top.

2. Blow up a balloon to stretch le it deflate. Cut it out, then let tw inches of the off two ba balloon’s neck.

3. Carefully slip the balloon onto the ornament, covering it all the way to the top; re replace the cap.

(Note Glass ornaments (Note: are fine for adults; kids pl should use plastic ones.)

PHOTOS: JODI KAHN

SUPPLIES: Paper cocktail napkins

12 • DECEMBER 23, 2012 012

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Kennections

By Ken Jennings HOW TO PLAY

All five correct answers have something in common.

Can you figure out what it is?

1. In Roman myth, what god of desire fell in love with a mortal girl named Psyche?

✎ 2. A male fox is called a dog, a tod, or a reynard. What’s a female fox called?

✎ 3. Kohoutek, which made a much publicized but disappointing appearance in the night skies of 1973, was what kind of celestial object?

✎ 4. This Sierra Nevada mountain pass near the town of Truckee, Calif., shares what name with a “party” tragically trapped there in the winter of 1846?

✎ 5. What does the R in President Gerald R. Ford’s name stand for?

✎ WHAT’S THE “KENNECTION” BETWEEN ALL FIVE ANSWERS?

✎

Play trivia puzzles by Ken Jennings and readers at Parade.com/ken

ANSWERS: 1. CUPID; 2. VIXEN; 3. COMET; 4. DONNER; 5. RUDOLPH ALL ARE NAMES OF SANTA CLAUS’S REINDEER

PHOTO: ANDY REYNOLDS

MAKE MORE KENNECTIONS!

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Table

bake in a preheated oven at 400°F for 15 minutes. Turn over and bake for 20 minutes more or until golden brown. Pop under broiler to brown, if desired. Dust with confectioners’ sugar. Serve with fresh fruit or maple syrup. Serves 6.

Around the

2. VEGETABLE BRIE STRATA

HT N IG THE FORE . .

E S. B MA e IST appl CHR pine

es, orange grap , Toss nks, and the a.m. d u n n I a ch . s y t e en on segmle with h eezed u drizz eshly sq ice. fr me ju li

Breakfast Bites

XMAS MORNING

OVER EASY Our gift to you: make-ahead dishes that will help you start the big day off on a holly-jolly note

1. OVERNIGHT FRENCH TOAST

(Above) Arrange 12 (¾-inch-thick) slices French or challah bread in a buttered 9-by-13-inch baking dish. In a large bowl, beat 6 eggs, 1¼ cups milk,

¼ cup half-and-half, ¼ cup sugar, 2 Tbsp maple syrup, 1½ tsp vanilla extract, and ¼ tsp salt. Pour over bread.

Refrigerate, covered, overnight. Turn slices over once or twice to be sure they’re evenly coated with egg mixture. In the morning,

3. CINNAMON PECAN COFFEE CAKE

Cream ¾ cup softened butter and 1 cup sugar.

Beat in 2 eggs and 1 cup sour cream. Beat in 2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, and ½ tsp salt.

Spoon into a buttered 9-by13-inch baking pan. Combine ¾ cup brown sugar, ¹∕³ cup chopped pecans, and 1 tsp cinnamon. Sprinkle over batter. Cover; refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350°F for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Serves 12.

FOR NUTRITIONAL INFO AND 10 MORE BREAKFASTS, GO TO PARADE.COM/BRUNCH

PHOTO: FRANCES JANISCH; FOOD STYLING, HEATHER MELDROM; PROPS, MARINA MALCHIN

Sauté 1 sliced onion, 1 diced red bell pepper, and 1 diced green bell pepper in 2 Tbsp oil until soft. Add ¹∕8 tsp salt.

Remove rind from 1 (8-oz) round of Brie; cut into small cubes. In a greased 9-by-13-inch baking pan, layer 5 cups cubed sourdough bread, vegetable mixture, and Brie. In a large bowl, whisk 8 eggs, 3 cups milk, 1½ Tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp black pepper.

Pour over bread mixture.

Chill overnight. Bake at 350°F for 45 to 50 minutes.

Serves 6.

14 • DECEMBER 23, 2012

© PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

ILLUSTRATION: GRAFILU. CARTOONS, FROM TOP: ANDREW ARMSTRONG; RINA PICCOLO

Ask Marilyn

By Marilyn vos Savant

My friend and I disagree about whether it’s okay to use fabric shears to cut wrapping paper.

One of us says the practice will dull the blades. The other says this is true only because more cutting in general means more dulling. Can you settle this for us? —B. B., Fairfax, Va.

Paper typically

contains hard minerals that aren’t found in fabric, so cutting even ordinary paper will dull blades more than cutting fabric.

Wrapping paper is worse, and holiday wrap with all its foil and sparkly accents may be the most damaging of all. Fabric shears are quickly dulled by using them for household purposes, so hide those shears from the rest of the family!

Cutting fabric (and hair, etc.) requires very sharp scissors because the

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ďŹ bers bend and slip away from the blades so easily.

(Ever tried cutting a lock of hair?) But scissors used mainly for cutting paper don’t need to be sharp. Even kiddie scissors work on just about everything.

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Š PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.

Š PARADE Publications 2012. All rights reserved.