Friday, Dec. 25
Everyone knows the line "Oh my God, I shot my eye out!," but how much more do you know about "A Christmas Story?"
1. How many times does Ralphie say he wants a "Red Ryder BB Gun?"
A: 28 times
B: 32 times
C: 75 times
D: 48 times
2. What kind of soap did Ralphie get for his punishment?
A: Lux
B: Palmolive
C: Life Buoy
D: Dove
3. What's the last name of the neighbors next door who have all the dogs?
A. Rumpus
B: Bumpus
C: Meeley
D: Mumpus
4. How long does it take Ralphie's dad to change a tire?
A. 6 minutes
B: 10 minutes
C: 4 minutes
D: 8 minutes
5. When Ralphie finally gets to see Santa and chokes when asked what he wants for Christmas, what does Santa suggest?
A. Baseball
B: Sled
C: Football
D: Fire truck
6. Which restaurant do the Parkers visit for Christmas dinner?
A. Chop Suey Palace
B: Teriyaki House
C: House of Chop Suey
D: Mandarin House
7. What did Ralphie's father do with the leg lamp after it was broken?
A. Threw it away
B: Hung it on the wall
C: Buried it
D: Put it in a closet
8. Which "Wizard of Oz" character comes up to Ralphie while he's standing in line to see Santa?
A. Dorothy
B: Tin Man
C: Scarecrow
D: Wicked witch of the West
9. What is the name of the boy who stuck his tongue to the flagpole?
A. Flick
B: Schwarz
C: Randy
D: Eric
10. What does Ralphie really want for Christmas?
A. An official Red Ryder carbine-action model air rifle
B: An official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle
C: A Red Ryder carbine-action model air rifle
D: An official Red Ryder model air rifle
ANSWERS:
1. A
2. C
3. B
4. D
5. C
6. A
7. C
8. D
9. A
10. B
SOURCES: TBS,
funtrivia.com
Thursday, Dec. 24
Five questions with one of Santa's helper elves, Zippy Bubba-Louie:
Q: Thanks for talking to us, Zippy -- we know you're busy. What's going on at the North Pole this Christmas Eve?
A: Well, as you can imagine, it's pretty hectic. Lots of wrapping. Sleigh-loading. Last-minute list checking. Run, run, run. Hardly any cookie breaks.
Q: What are Santa and Mrs. Claus doing?
A: Right now, I think Mrs. Claus is refitting The Suit. Taking it in. She's been after Santa to cut down on the cookies and switch to low-fat milk and it's been working. She's also fussing at him to wear a helmet instead of that silly red hat, but he says he'd look outrageous.
Q: Are the reindeer ready to go? Same ones as every year?
A: They've been eating magical corn and oats for weeks to prepare for the trip. It's not your usual eight every year, though. We've got lots of reindeer up here. One of the veterans always goes - this year it's Blitzen - and Rudolph, of course.
Q: How many toys do you make in a year?
A: That's a hard question to answer - the best I can say is exactly enough. Somehow it just works out that way.
Q: How do you get to be an elf?
A: Helps if you're born to it. We go through lots of training and an elf boot camp if we want to help on the sleigh. We have to be able to move really fast because we can't let the children see us when we're helping Santa make deliveries.
Gotta go! Wacky Tum-Tums is tangled in the Scotch tape. Hang on, dude! [click]
* BRENDA PINNELL
Wednesday, Dec. 23
A little nog'll do you
What would the holidays be without some rich, creamy eggnog? Here are a couple of recipes:
Sandra Lee's Eggnog
2 (1-quart) containers store bought eggnog
2 cups dark rum
2 cups white chocolate liqueur
Pumpkin pie spice, garnish
COMBINE eggnog, dark rum and white chocolate liqueur in a punchbowl. Stir and dust with pumpkin pie spice.
Source: foodnetwork.com
Amazingly Good Eggnog
4 cups milk
5 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups light rum
4 cups light cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
COMBINE milk, cloves, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and cinnamon in a saucepan, and heat over lowest setting for 5 minutes.
SLOWLY bring milk mixture to a boil.
IN A LARGE BOWL, combine egg yolks and sugar.
WHISK together until fluffy. Whisk hot milk mixture slowly into the eggs. Pour mixture into saucepan.
COOK over medium heat, stirring constantly for 3 minutes, or until thick. Do not allow mixture to boil.
STRAIN to remove cloves, and let cool for about an hour.
STIR in rum, cream, 2-teaspoon vanilla and nutmeg.
REFRIGERATE overnight before serving.
Source: allrecipes.com
Tuesday, Dec. 22
A very proper table
Here's how to set the table for a formal dinner. It'll also help you figure out what fork to use and when:
For flatware, the general rule is that whichever piece is used first is placed furthest from the center. Work inward with each course.
Forks go on the left side, and spoons and knives on the right with the cutting edge facing in.
Align silverware one inch from table edge, or two inches if there's a place mat.
Dessert and salad forks have short tines and dinner forks have long tines.
The butter knife goes across the bread plate.
Cocktail or oyster forks go on the right of the dinner spoon.
The water glass is above the knife. Wine glasses go to the right of the water glass.
Coffee cup and saucer are on the right of the knife and spoon.
SOURCE: www.wholesale-table-linens.com
Monday, Dec. 21
Standing-still-sun
The Winter Solstice will occur today at 12:47 p.m. EST. It has been celebrated by various religions and cultures for centuries.
"No one's really sure how long ago humans recognized the winter solstice and began heralding it as a turning point -- the day that marks the return of the sun. One delightful little book written in 1948, '4,000 Years of Christmas,' puts its theory right up in the title. The Mesopotamians were first, it claims, with a 12-day festival of renewal, designed to help the god Marduk tame the monsters of chaos for one more year," according to candlegrove.com.
A solstice candle, lit at sundown and allowed to burn in a safe place through the night, is a simple tradition deeply connected to ancient ways.
The Earth is actually nearer to the sun in January than it is in June -- by 3 million miles. What causes the seasons is something completely different. The Earth leans slightly on its axis like a spinning top frozen in one off-kilter position. Astronomers have even pinpointed the precise angle of the tilt. It's 23 degrees and 27 minutes off the perpendicular to the plane of orbit. This planetary pose is what causes all the variety of seasons.
Solstice means "standing-still-sun," and winter solstice is when, because of the earth's tilt, your hemisphere is leaning farthest away from the sun, and therefore, the daylight is shortest. The sun has its lowest arc in the sky.
* SARA BUSSE
Saturday, Dec. 19
Call them reindeer or call them caribou, one thing is certain: they are physically well-suited to pull a sleigh full of toys and a right jolly old elf.
These large deer live in northerly climes, in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Arctic. In Eurasia (and the North Pole) they are called reindeer and in North America more commonly caribou, but they are all the same species.
Reindeer and caribou are unique among deer in that the females grow antlers, too. The females retain their antlers from one spring till the next, while mature males shed their antlers in the fall -- and are unadorned on Christmas Eve. So the creatures that pull Santa's sleigh must be females or youngsters.
The caribou has an "all-terrain foot." The animal's remarkable hoof actually adapts itself to the season -- becoming a sort of ice skate in the winter and sneaker in spring. The caribou of North America can run at speeds of almost 50 miles per hour and may travel 3,000 miles in a year.
In the summer, when the tundra is soft and wet, the footpads become spongy like the soles of tennis shoes and provide extra traction. In the winter, when snow and ice coat the North, the pads shrink and firm up, while the rim of the hoof, like an ice skate's blade, bites into the ice and crusted snow to keep the animal from slipping. Sounds like the perfect footwear for an animal that needs to come to a flying stop on an ice-encrusted rooftop in the dark of the night!
-- SARA BUSSE
Friday, Dec. 18
Starry nights add a touch of excitement to the holiday season.
The Winter Circle is out at a great time for viewing this month. Take advantage of the longer nights and have a look in the southeast sky in the early evening.
The Winter Circle, sometimes called the Winter Hexagon, is a formation of bright stars. It is a pattern of stars, but not a constellation. The brightest and southernmost star is Sirius, and Betelgeuse is in the middle of the circle.
In time for the New Year, we will have a blue moon (a second full moon in a one-month period). This blue moon will make it in just as the year ends on Dec. 31.
The phases of the moon realign near the same calendar dates in cycles of 19 years. Another blue moon won't bring in the New Year again until 2028. There will be eight blue moons in the next 19-year cycle.
A blue moon doesn't really look blue, though dust particles in the atmosphere can cause the moon to look bluish in color.
Large volcanic eruptions can blast fine dust particles into the Earth's atmosphere. When the Krakatoa volcano erupted in 1883, the dust particles in the upper atmosphere caused the moon to appear green and blue.
If you want to know more, drop by the ElectricSky Theater at the Clay Center for a planetarium show. Show times are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and noon and 2 p.m. on Sundays.
SOURCES: Bill Rouse, manager of the Clay Center's ElectricSky Theater; www.idialstars.com; www.nasa.gov; www.earthsky.org
Thursday, Dec. 17
If you'd like to have a tree that hasn't been cut down and don't want an artificial one made of PVC or other harmful plastic, here are some ideas for other trees.
Instead of a cut Christmas tree:
1.Try a living, potted tree.
A local nursery or garden store is a good place to look.
2. Use a tree you already have growing outside as your Christmas tree.
Put on energy-efficient lights and some sturdy ornaments. A popcorn garland will attract birds.
3. Try an inflatable tree
Easy to inflate with a pump, then collapse after Christmas. No watering, no needles. Some are even decorated. This one comes from www.thefind.com.
4. Make your own tree of recyclables
Use your imagination. Used plastic water or soda bottles, scrap lumber, anything in your recycling bin. It will be uniquely yours.
5. Decorate a bonsai or miniature evergreen tree.
Tiny ornaments are available at many crafts stores.
6. Make a Christmas tree wall hanging.
Easy to put up and easy to store. Instructions for this one are at www.emblibrary.com/EL/elprojects/pdf/pr1198.pdf
7. Sponsor planting some trees.
The nonprofit organization American Forests plants trees in damaged ecosystems for $1 per tree, 15 trees minimum. www.americanforests.org/planttrees/holidays.php
8. Drive (or better, walk!) around and enjoy other trees -- at the mall, around your neighborhood or in a friend's house.
9. Decorate a different plant around the house.
Make that ficus festive with some lights and a few ornaments.
10. Try a nonplastic artificial tree.
Feather trees have been around a long time. A used aluminum tree is retro-chic. This wooden tree is from www.burotree.com/trees/.
SOURCE: www.christmasallaround.com/Ten-Alternatives-To-Cutting-Down-A-Tree-For-Christmas.asp
Wednesday, Dec. 16
Fried food is traditional during the Hanukkah festival. The oil to cook the potato pancakes is reminiscent of the oil that miraculously burned for eight days from the Hanukkah story.
Latkes
5 potatoes
2 onions
3 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 to 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
Oil for frying (canola is recommended)
PEEL potatoes. Place in a bowl of cold water so they won't turn brown.
WHEN READY to prepare the latkes, drain the potatoes. Place potatoes and onions in a food processor fitted with a knife blade. Pulse until smooth. Drain mixture well.
POUR potato mixture into a large bowl. Add beaten eggs, salt and pepper. Add enough flour so that the mixture holds together.
POUR 1 inch of oil into a large, deep frying pan. Heat the oil over medium-high heat.
CAREFULLY DROP 1/4 cup of the potato mixture into the hot oil.
FLATTEN the pancake slightly so the center will cook.
FRY for several minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through.
DRAIN on paper towels.
Serving suggestion: Serve the latkes with applesauce and/or sour cream.
Source: kosherfood.about.com
Tuesday, Dec. 15
Thinking of regifting? Here are some things to consider:
Make sure the gift is in good condition. If you have to dust it off, you've probably owned it too long.
Keep track of who gave the gift to you. Don't regift items to someone who will likely see the person who gave it to you, or - even worse - back to the person who gave it to you.
Don't announce that it's a regift ("here's something I didn't want"), unless there's a good reason.
Don't regift in the same wrapping. Make sure there's a new gift tag and no evidence that it was gifted to you.
What makes a good regift:
Good (unopened) bottles of wine
New household items (with original packaging)
Inexpensive jewelry
What not to regift:
Handmade or one-of-a kind items.
Partially used giftcards (duh.)
Free promotional items
Hand-me-downs
Fruitcake
Random books, weird CDs or videos, extinct software
Boxed sets of cheesy bath products
SOURCES: moneycentral.msn.com; Regiftable.com/Regifting101
Monday, Dec. 14
Postal-it notes
More than 3 billion -- that's how many cards and letters the postal service expects to deliver over the holidays. Get your domestic mail and packages delivered on time with these guidelines:
Friday, Dec. 25
Everyone knows the line "Oh my God, I shot my eye out!," but how much more do you know about "A Christmas Story?"
1. How many times does Ralphie say he wants a "Red Ryder BB Gun?"
A: 28 times
B: 32 times
C: 75 times
D: 48 times
2. What kind of soap did Ralphie get for his punishment?
A: Lux
B: Palmolive
C: Life Buoy
D: Dove
3. What's the last name of the neighbors next door who have all the dogs?
A. Rumpus
B: Bumpus
C: Meeley
D: Mumpus
4. How long does it take Ralphie's dad to change a tire?
A. 6 minutes
B: 10 minutes
C: 4 minutes
D: 8 minutes
5. When Ralphie finally gets to see Santa and chokes when asked what he wants for Christmas, what does Santa suggest?
A. Baseball
B: Sled
C: Football
D: Fire truck
6. Which restaurant do the Parkers visit for Christmas dinner?
A. Chop Suey Palace
B: Teriyaki House
C: House of Chop Suey
D: Mandarin House
7. What did Ralphie's father do with the leg lamp after it was broken?
A. Threw it away
B: Hung it on the wall
C: Buried it
D: Put it in a closet
8. Which "Wizard of Oz" character comes up to Ralphie while he's standing in line to see Santa?
A. Dorothy
B: Tin Man
C: Scarecrow
D: Wicked witch of the West
9. What is the name of the boy who stuck his tongue to the flagpole?
A. Flick
B: Schwarz
C: Randy
D: Eric
10. What does Ralphie really want for Christmas?
A. An official Red Ryder carbine-action model air rifle
B: An official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle
C: A Red Ryder carbine-action model air rifle
D: An official Red Ryder model air rifle
ANSWERS:
1. A
2. C
3. B
4. D
5. C
6. A
7. C
8. D
9. A
10. B
SOURCES: TBS,
funtrivia.com
Thursday, Dec. 24
Five questions with one of Santa's helper elves, Zippy Bubba-Louie:
Q: Thanks for talking to us, Zippy -- we know you're busy. What's going on at the North Pole this Christmas Eve?
A: Well, as you can imagine, it's pretty hectic. Lots of wrapping. Sleigh-loading. Last-minute list checking. Run, run, run. Hardly any cookie breaks.
Q: What are Santa and Mrs. Claus doing?
A: Right now, I think Mrs. Claus is refitting The Suit. Taking it in. She's been after Santa to cut down on the cookies and switch to low-fat milk and it's been working. She's also fussing at him to wear a helmet instead of that silly red hat, but he says he'd look outrageous.
Q: Are the reindeer ready to go? Same ones as every year?
A: They've been eating magical corn and oats for weeks to prepare for the trip. It's not your usual eight every year, though. We've got lots of reindeer up here. One of the veterans always goes - this year it's Blitzen - and Rudolph, of course.
Q: How many toys do you make in a year?
A: That's a hard question to answer - the best I can say is exactly enough. Somehow it just works out that way.
Q: How do you get to be an elf?
A: Helps if you're born to it. We go through lots of training and an elf boot camp if we want to help on the sleigh. We have to be able to move really fast because we can't let the children see us when we're helping Santa make deliveries.
Gotta go! Wacky Tum-Tums is tangled in the Scotch tape. Hang on, dude! [click]
* BRENDA PINNELL
Wednesday, Dec. 23
A little nog'll do you
What would the holidays be without some rich, creamy eggnog? Here are a couple of recipes:
Sandra Lee's Eggnog
2 (1-quart) containers store bought eggnog
2 cups dark rum
2 cups white chocolate liqueur
Pumpkin pie spice, garnish
COMBINE eggnog, dark rum and white chocolate liqueur in a punchbowl. Stir and dust with pumpkin pie spice.
Source: foodnetwork.com
Amazingly Good Eggnog
4 cups milk
5 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups light rum
4 cups light cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
COMBINE milk, cloves, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and cinnamon in a saucepan, and heat over lowest setting for 5 minutes.
SLOWLY bring milk mixture to a boil.
IN A LARGE BOWL, combine egg yolks and sugar.
WHISK together until fluffy. Whisk hot milk mixture slowly into the eggs. Pour mixture into saucepan.
COOK over medium heat, stirring constantly for 3 minutes, or until thick. Do not allow mixture to boil.
STRAIN to remove cloves, and let cool for about an hour.
STIR in rum, cream, 2-teaspoon vanilla and nutmeg.
REFRIGERATE overnight before serving.
Source: allrecipes.com
Tuesday, Dec. 22
A very proper table
Here's how to set the table for a formal dinner. It'll also help you figure out what fork to use and when:
For flatware, the general rule is that whichever piece is used first is placed furthest from the center. Work inward with each course.
Forks go on the left side, and spoons and knives on the right with the cutting edge facing in.
Align silverware one inch from table edge, or two inches if there's a place mat.
Dessert and salad forks have short tines and dinner forks have long tines.
The butter knife goes across the bread plate.
Cocktail or oyster forks go on the right of the dinner spoon.
The water glass is above the knife. Wine glasses go to the right of the water glass.
Coffee cup and saucer are on the right of the knife and spoon.
SOURCE: www.wholesale-table-linens.com
Monday, Dec. 21
Standing-still-sun
The Winter Solstice will occur today at 12:47 p.m. EST. It has been celebrated by various religions and cultures for centuries.
"No one's really sure how long ago humans recognized the winter solstice and began heralding it as a turning point -- the day that marks the return of the sun. One delightful little book written in 1948, '4,000 Years of Christmas,' puts its theory right up in the title. The Mesopotamians were first, it claims, with a 12-day festival of renewal, designed to help the god Marduk tame the monsters of chaos for one more year," according to candlegrove.com.
A solstice candle, lit at sundown and allowed to burn in a safe place through the night, is a simple tradition deeply connected to ancient ways.
The Earth is actually nearer to the sun in January than it is in June -- by 3 million miles. What causes the seasons is something completely different. The Earth leans slightly on its axis like a spinning top frozen in one off-kilter position. Astronomers have even pinpointed the precise angle of the tilt. It's 23 degrees and 27 minutes off the perpendicular to the plane of orbit. This planetary pose is what causes all the variety of seasons.
Solstice means "standing-still-sun," and winter solstice is when, because of the earth's tilt, your hemisphere is leaning farthest away from the sun, and therefore, the daylight is shortest. The sun has its lowest arc in the sky.
* SARA BUSSE
Saturday, Dec. 19
Call them reindeer or call them caribou, one thing is certain: they are physically well-suited to pull a sleigh full of toys and a right jolly old elf.
These large deer live in northerly climes, in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Arctic. In Eurasia (and the North Pole) they are called reindeer and in North America more commonly caribou, but they are all the same species.
Reindeer and caribou are unique among deer in that the females grow antlers, too. The females retain their antlers from one spring till the next, while mature males shed their antlers in the fall -- and are unadorned on Christmas Eve. So the creatures that pull Santa's sleigh must be females or youngsters.
The caribou has an "all-terrain foot." The animal's remarkable hoof actually adapts itself to the season -- becoming a sort of ice skate in the winter and sneaker in spring. The caribou of North America can run at speeds of almost 50 miles per hour and may travel 3,000 miles in a year.
In the summer, when the tundra is soft and wet, the footpads become spongy like the soles of tennis shoes and provide extra traction. In the winter, when snow and ice coat the North, the pads shrink and firm up, while the rim of the hoof, like an ice skate's blade, bites into the ice and crusted snow to keep the animal from slipping. Sounds like the perfect footwear for an animal that needs to come to a flying stop on an ice-encrusted rooftop in the dark of the night!
-- SARA BUSSE
Friday, Dec. 18
Starry nights add a touch of excitement to the holiday season.
The Winter Circle is out at a great time for viewing this month. Take advantage of the longer nights and have a look in the southeast sky in the early evening.
The Winter Circle, sometimes called the Winter Hexagon, is a formation of bright stars. It is a pattern of stars, but not a constellation. The brightest and southernmost star is Sirius, and Betelgeuse is in the middle of the circle.
In time for the New Year, we will have a blue moon (a second full moon in a one-month period). This blue moon will make it in just as the year ends on Dec. 31.
The phases of the moon realign near the same calendar dates in cycles of 19 years. Another blue moon won't bring in the New Year again until 2028. There will be eight blue moons in the next 19-year cycle.
A blue moon doesn't really look blue, though dust particles in the atmosphere can cause the moon to look bluish in color.
Large volcanic eruptions can blast fine dust particles into the Earth's atmosphere. When the Krakatoa volcano erupted in 1883, the dust particles in the upper atmosphere caused the moon to appear green and blue.
If you want to know more, drop by the ElectricSky Theater at the Clay Center for a planetarium show. Show times are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and noon and 2 p.m. on Sundays.
SOURCES: Bill Rouse, manager of the Clay Center's ElectricSky Theater; www.idialstars.com; www.nasa.gov; www.earthsky.org
Thursday, Dec. 17
If you'd like to have a tree that hasn't been cut down and don't want an artificial one made of PVC or other harmful plastic, here are some ideas for other trees.
Instead of a cut Christmas tree:
1.Try a living, potted tree.
A local nursery or garden store is a good place to look.
2. Use a tree you already have growing outside as your Christmas tree.
Put on energy-efficient lights and some sturdy ornaments. A popcorn garland will attract birds.
3. Try an inflatable tree
Easy to inflate with a pump, then collapse after Christmas. No watering, no needles. Some are even decorated. This one comes from www.thefind.com.
4. Make your own tree of recyclables
Use your imagination. Used plastic water or soda bottles, scrap lumber, anything in your recycling bin. It will be uniquely yours.
5. Decorate a bonsai or miniature evergreen tree.
Tiny ornaments are available at many crafts stores.
6. Make a Christmas tree wall hanging.
Easy to put up and easy to store. Instructions for this one are at www.emblibrary.com/EL/elprojects/pdf/pr1198.pdf
7. Sponsor planting some trees.
The nonprofit organization American Forests plants trees in damaged ecosystems for $1 per tree, 15 trees minimum. www.americanforests.org/planttrees/holidays.php
8. Drive (or better, walk!) around and enjoy other trees -- at the mall, around your neighborhood or in a friend's house.
9. Decorate a different plant around the house.
Make that ficus festive with some lights and a few ornaments.
10. Try a nonplastic artificial tree.
Feather trees have been around a long time. A used aluminum tree is retro-chic. This wooden tree is from www.burotree.com/trees/.
SOURCE: www.christmasallaround.com/Ten-Alternatives-To-Cutting-Down-A-Tree-For-Christmas.asp
Wednesday, Dec. 16
Fried food is traditional during the Hanukkah festival. The oil to cook the potato pancakes is reminiscent of the oil that miraculously burned for eight days from the Hanukkah story.
Latkes
5 potatoes
2 onions
3 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 to 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
Oil for frying (canola is recommended)
PEEL potatoes. Place in a bowl of cold water so they won't turn brown.
WHEN READY to prepare the latkes, drain the potatoes. Place potatoes and onions in a food processor fitted with a knife blade. Pulse until smooth. Drain mixture well.
POUR potato mixture into a large bowl. Add beaten eggs, salt and pepper. Add enough flour so that the mixture holds together.
POUR 1 inch of oil into a large, deep frying pan. Heat the oil over medium-high heat.
CAREFULLY DROP 1/4 cup of the potato mixture into the hot oil.
FLATTEN the pancake slightly so the center will cook.
FRY for several minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through.
DRAIN on paper towels.
Serving suggestion: Serve the latkes with applesauce and/or sour cream.
Source: kosherfood.about.com
Tuesday, Dec. 15
Thinking of regifting? Here are some things to consider:
Make sure the gift is in good condition. If you have to dust it off, you've probably owned it too long.
Keep track of who gave the gift to you. Don't regift items to someone who will likely see the person who gave it to you, or - even worse - back to the person who gave it to you.
Don't announce that it's a regift ("here's something I didn't want"), unless there's a good reason.
Don't regift in the same wrapping. Make sure there's a new gift tag and no evidence that it was gifted to you.
What makes a good regift:
Good (unopened) bottles of wine
New household items (with original packaging)
Inexpensive jewelry
What not to regift:
Handmade or one-of-a kind items.
Partially used giftcards (duh.)
Free promotional items
Hand-me-downs
Fruitcake
Random books, weird CDs or videos, extinct software
Boxed sets of cheesy bath products
SOURCES: moneycentral.msn.com; Regiftable.com/Regifting101
Monday, Dec. 14
Postal-it notes
More than 3 billion -- that's how many cards and letters the postal service expects to deliver over the holidays. Get your domestic mail and packages delivered on time with these guidelines:
Domestic mail
class/product
Mail by
First Class Mail: December 21
Priority Mail: December 21
Express Mail: * December 23
Parcel Post: December 16
* Some Express Mail destinations may have extended service commitments
The postal service is going to be busy:
2.11 billion holiday stamps will be printed
97 million customers are expected to visit the Post Office during the holidays
30 million pounds of mail will be delivered to overseas military installations, including war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan
Today is set to be the busiest mailing day, with more than 830 million cards, letters and packages expected to be mailed. A typical day is 583 million.
Wednesday is expected to be the busiest delivery.
SOURCE: USPS
Sunday, Dec. 13
Christmas tipping
Child care
Baby sitter: From one night's to one week's pay, with a token gift from the kids
Full-time nanny: One week's to one month's pay, with a token gift from the kids
Au pair: One week's pay, plus a token gift from the kids
Day care: $25 to $75, plus a token gift from the kids
Teacher: Small gift from you or your child (check with the school principal for guidelines)
Around the house
Garbage collector: $15 to $30 each
Gardener: $20 up to a week's pay, depending on your relationship
Maid/janitor: A week's pay if you have a good relationship
Personal care
Hair stylist: Cost of one session
Manicurist: Cost of one session
Massage therapist: Cost of one session
Dog walker: One to two weeks' pay
Mail and deliveries
USPS carrier: Small gifts (no cash by law) no greater than $20 in value (such as hand warmers or a travel mug)
Newspaper carrier: $25 to $50 for daily delivery, $10 if weekends only
How should you tip?
Don't feel obligated to go beyond your personal budget.
Include a short note of thanks with any gift.
Cash is probably the best option in these economic times, but a small noncash gift may fit your budget better. Gift cards aren't as flexible as cash and often come with fees.
Saturday, Dec. 12
Hanukkah started at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Dec. 19. Here are some reminders for non-Jews during the holiday season.
Say "Chag Sameach" (KHAHG sah-MEHY-ahkh), which means literally, in Hebrew, joyous festival. This is an appropriate greeting for just about any holiday, but it's especially appropriate for Sukkot, Shavu'ot and Pesach (Passover), which are technically the only festivals on the Jewish calendar.
Hanukkah is pronounced with a guttural "ch" that comes from the back of your throat. It celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Seleucid Greeks defiled it. The villain of the story is Antiochus, a Greek ruler in control of Judea who prohibited practice of Judaism.
According to the Talmud, at the time of the rededication, there was very little oil left that had not been defiled by the Greeks. Oil was needed for the menorah in the Temple, which was supposed to burn throughout the night every night. There was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the menorah. An eight-day festival was declared to commemorate this miracle.
The most important thing to remember about Hanukkah is that it is not Jewish Christmas, no matter what the card shops and toy stores want you to believe, according to jewfaq.com. Hanukkah is a minor holiday. It's not about joy to the world and peace on Earth and presents galore for everyone you've ever met; it's about lighting candles and playing games for chocolate coins and eating potato pancakes. Many Jewish parents give their children gifts during Hanukkah because they don't want their children to feel left out of Christmas, but Hanukkah gift-giving rarely extends much beyond one's own children.
-- Sara Busse
Friday, Dec. 11
Burning a Yule log is a European tradition that predates Christianity. Originally part of winter solstice celebrations, it became associated with Christmas. You can create your own Yule log, or just watch one on TV.
Decorate a good-sized log (traditionally oak, not purchased but found) with a few sprigs of evergreen tied in red ribbon and place it in your fireplace. For a ritual touch, write wishes for the new year on slips of paper and tuck them under the ribbon.
The full tradition requires that the log be lighted on Yule (winter solstice or Christmas Eve, or both) along with a piece of the previous year's Yule log, then extinguished before burning out fully, to save a portion to light with the following year's log, hence completing the cycle of the year. Another interpretation of the tradition demands that the fire be kept going for the 12 days of Yule.
For a different take on the tradition, you can create a candle version by taking a smallish log, sawing a flattened side as the base, then drilling holes fat enough to hold candles for a tabletop decoration.
For an even different take, there are usually several versions of a burning Yule log you can watch on TV on Christmas.
-- Sara Busse
Thursday, Dec. 10
Christmas caroling with family and friends is a delightful way to express your holiday spirit. Here are some tips for a successful caroling party:
Pick a date and invite friends. Not everyone has to have a good singing voice.
Make booklets of sheet music or lyrics so everyone has a copy.
Meet at your house about a half an hour before you plan to start caroling.
Plan a route in your neighborhood and only go to the homes of people you know. If the porch lights are out at the house or there's not enough light to see properly, move on.
Start caroling after most people have eaten dinner, but stop before 8 or 9 p.m.
Use sidewalks where possible. Don't trample through lawns and yard decorations. Be polite.
Get in the spirit by dressing festively (and warmly) and bring a flashlight.
Bring sleigh bells, candles or anything that adds a little something to the performance.
Plan to spend 5 minutes or less at each house. That's about enough time for two songs.
Make sure all the carolers have gotten to the house before starting to sing.
Children should have chaperones.
After caroling, meet back at your house for dessert and drinks.
Consider caroling at a nursing home or anywhere else you think would enjoy some Christmas cheer (but ask first.)
Wednesday, Dec. 10
These easy-to-make recipes would be good to take to a party or give as gifts.
The sweet
Caramel Candied Pretzels
24 mini pretzels (either the small twist or waffle variety)
24 chocolate covered caramels (Rolos work well)
24 pecan halves
Heat oven to 300 degrees.
Place pretzels on a parchment covered cookie sheet, then place one candy on each pretzels.
Heat in oven for 4 minutes.
Remove from oven and press pecan half in center of melted candy.
Cool on the counter or in the refrigerator.
The savory
Ranch Seasoned Pretzels
1 large bag pretzels
1 cup vegetable oil or butter (2 sticks)
1 packet of dry ranch salad dressing seasoning mix
Heat oven to 200 degrees.
If using butter, melt butter in pan.
Add packet of ranch seasoning to liquid.
Stir in pretzels and coat with liquid
Bake on a cookie sheet or sheet pan for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes.
Tuesday, Dec. 08
Everybody gets a little snoopy looking for a sneak preview of what gifts will be under the tree. Make it a little harder for the snoops in your house:
Wrap your gifts right away. That way, even if the presents are found, searchers won't be able to tell what they are.
Put the presents somewhere sneakers don't like to go. Hide the gifts near the cleaning supplies or perhaps the bottom of a laundry basket.
Forego the obvious: in the attic, under the bed and in your closet are the first places people are going to look.
Stuff gifts inside suitcases or duffel bags, storage bins. Small gifts can be tucked into purses.
Hide presents outside your house - at work or a friend's house.
Don't provide snooping opportunities. If you're hiding gifts from the kids, don't leave them home alone near the holidays.
Remember to hide your receipts.
If you want to be sneaky back, put sticky notes in obvious places that say things like: "Ha! Keep looking" or "Try again." Of course, this could encourage more searching.
Of course, don't hide presents so well that you forget when you hid them. Keep a note about what presents are where... but hide it.
Monday, Dec. 7
Curious pets can get into some serious trouble with decorations. Here are some tips to keep them safe:
Tree tips:
Don't let your pet eat pine needles -- they can get lodged in throats and make for painful swallowing.
Place your tree on a wide base, and secure to the wall or ceiling to avoid an eager pet knocking it down.
Don't let your pet drink the tree water. Even if you haven't put anything in the water to prolong the tree's freshness, it can still cause problems, including diarrhea, mouth sores and vomiting.
If you're hanging tinsel or plastic icicles on your tree, avoid putting them on the bottom part of the tree where pets can reach easily.
Tape exposed cords for electric lights to floors or walls to discourage chewing, tripping and getting tangled up.
Care and feeding:
Many popular holiday decorative plants -- including holly, mistletoe, poinsettia and especially yew -- are poisonous to dogs and cats.
Keep holiday sweets out of pets' reach. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs. And there is such a thing as too many sweets.... Just like with people.
For more pet Christmas safety tips, go to http://www.doggienews.com.
Sunday, Dec. 6
Everyone loves the glow of candlelight, especially during the holiday season. Here are some tips to make the glow a little brighter:
Burn large, multiple-wick candles at least four hours the first time you use them so they burn evenly.
Placing candles in the freezer prior to use will make them burn more evenly and last longer while not burning.
When pulling out holiday candles from last year, don't throw them away if they are nicked and scratched. Put the foot of an old pair of pantyhose over your hand and gently rub the candle up and down. It will look like new!
Don't have any extra-long matches for lighting several candles? Use a strand of spaghetti.
If a candle is smoking, it means the wick needs to be trimmed. Put the candle out and trim the wick to 1/4 inch.
Trim wicks when they are warm, not cold. Cold wicks can break off and make the candle difficult to relight.
Use votive holders to burn votive candles. Place 1/4 teaspoon of water in the cup to protect it from heat and make cleaning easier.
Saturday, Dec. 5
Here are some new games or updated versions of old favorites for a not-so-silent night of family fun during the holidays.
New spin on some classics
Hasbro offers Monopoly City, a 3-D version of the classic, recommended for ages 8 and up. They also have Clue: Secrets & Spies Edition, Jenga Max, Trivial Pursuit Team Edition and a new four-player version of Connect Four, called Connect 4 X 4.
Some stocking stuffers to consider
Pogo handheld games (Battleship, Yahtzee and Monopoly), Scrabble Apple (a quick-playing, compact version of the classic Scrabble game) and the ever-popular Rubik's Cube.
New game on the block
Learning Express stores' 2009 Best Toy of the Year Award went to Jishaku, a portable strategy game like chess or checkers that has the element of surprise added with pieces made of magnets -- a move can be dangerous as the magnets can cause a piece to jump across the board instead of into the intended spot.
-- SARA BUSSE
Friday, Dec. 4
Put these easy-to-make snacks in your back yard and see what kinds of birds show up to chow down.
Peanut butter pinecones: Take a pinecone and slather on peanut butter and suet with a spoon. Roll the cones in birdseed to coat. Tie them to a tree branch with a piece of string or yarn.
Bagel time: Spread a stale bagel with a mixture of peanut butter and lard. Coat the bagel with birdseed and tie to a branch.
Citrusy seeds: Take an empty grapefruit or orange half and make three holes spaced equally around the rim. Take pieces of yarn and thread through each hole, tying knots in the ends to keep them from slipping out. Fill with birdseed and hang in a tree.
Tips:
Keep feeders and the areas around them clean.
Provide water in large, shallow clay saucers on a stump or on the ground. Change the water every few days.
Hang feeders in places protected from the wind and with good cover nearby.
Put out enough food to last two to three days.
More bird feeder ideas at http://www.audubon.org/educate/educators/bird_feeders.html
Thursday, Dec. 3
Check out these five holiday CDs released this season:
"Christmas In The Heart"
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan, Christmas music. It's a curious thing.
"Winterbloom"
Winterbloom
Four songwriters with four takes on the season
"Christmsas From The Heart"
David Archuleta
Musical comfort food from an "American Idol" runner-up
"Comfort & Joy"
John Cowan
Quirky country Christmas album.
"Gold And Green"
Sugarland
Christmas album from one of the hottest tickets in country.
--Bill Lynch
Wed. Dec. 2
These broken cookie and chocolate barks are easy for kids to help make. They're great as gifts, but might not last that long.
Makes about 2 dozen pieces
You'll need:
20 creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (about half an 18-ounce bag.)
2 2/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips or 2 2/3 cups white chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for semisweet chips only)
Line a 9-inch-square baking pan with wax paper. Coat with nonstick spray. Set aside.
Pour the cookies into a large bowl or heavy-duty plastic bag and break them up into small pieces.
Melt the chocolate chips -- either the white or the semisweet -- in a large microwave-safe bowl according to package directions. Remove from the microwave.
Stir in the vanilla, if using semisweet chips.
Quickly fold in the cookie pieces.
Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread out to about 1/2-inch thick.
Refrigerate for about an hour, until solid.
Remove from the pan and carefully peel off the wax paper. With a sharp knife, cut into 12 bars, or into 24 triangles.
Store in an airtight container.
Source: Family Fun Magazine
Tues. Dec. 1
Some tips to keep your home and family safe:
Indoors or outdoors, use lights that have been approved by an acceptable testing laboratory. (This will be displayed on the package.)
Indoor lights should not be used outdoors.
Carefully inspect each strand of lights for damaged sockets or wires before hanging. Discard or repair any faulty strands.
Replace bulbs that have burned out, and don't leave any sockets empty.
Only connect together the amount of light strands recommended on the package (usually three.)
Don't overload sockets or extension cords: cords should not be warm to the touch.
Don't hang lights using nails, staples or anything that could damage the wires or plastic coating on the wires. Don't hang lights on anything sharp.
Never use electric lights on a metal tree.
Turn lights out when you go to sleep or leave the house.
Make a fire emergency plan and make sure every family knows what to do.
SOURCES: United States Fire Administration, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Post a comment