ChristmasChristmasChristmasInspirationsInspirations2013

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Christmas craft ideas

Fun to make and use, this advent calendar transforms your mini muffin pan into a treasured holiday countdown. Use a pan with 24 wells—they should be about 2 inches wide. 1. Cut twenty-four 2 1/4-inch circles from a 12x24-inch adhesive magnet sheet. 2. Adhere them to patterned paper and cut out. Use a 1-inch circular punch for the inner circles. 3. Number and glue them to the magnetic circles. 4. Fill the wells with fun trinkets, notes, and candies.

You’ll need:• a clean, dry glass jar• aluminum foil• foam tray for work surface• pen or toothpick• tape• tea light

1. Clean and dry the glass jar. 2. Measure and cut a piece of aluminum foil to fit around it with a bit of overlap.

Muffin Pan Calendar

Jar Luminarias

1. On a flat work surface, arrange a variety of cookie cutters in a circle. Make sure all of the cutters have contact points.2. Secure the contact points with tacky wax, small paper clips, twist ties, or pipe cleaners. This allows you to disassemble the wreath and keep your cutters for cookie making. Turn the wreath shape over.3. Tie a ribbon bow. Paper-clip it to the wreath top. Trim the ribbon ends.

Cookie Cutter Wreath

3. Lay the foil on a meat tray or other foam tray, then use a pen or toothpick to pierce holes through the foil to create a design or letter. (If desired, you can use a toothpick to lightly score the design or letter on

the foil first, then pierce holes along the guidelines.)4. Carefully wrap the foil around the jar and tape it. Place a tea light inside.

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History of the holidaysMany people prepare for the arrival of Christmas months in advance. The first traces of wrapping paper and decorations arrive in stores as early as September, transforming the holiday into a much more secular celebration than its modest Christian beginnings.Despite Christmas being an important date in the lives of today’s Christians, the holiday failed to gain prominent status until relatively recently. Research indicates that as

late as the 19th century, Christmas was not even a legal holiday requiring a day off from work. That’s why 19th century readers of the classic Christmas tale, “A Christmas Carol,” were not shocked at Bob Cratchit having to work on Christmas Day. The United States Congress used to meet on Christmas Day because it was not a national holiday. In 1836, Alabama became the first state to officially recognize Christmas, but it didn’t become a legal holiday across the country until June 26, 1970.Today’s Christmas celebrations include traditions from around the world. Some ascertain that it was the Church’s doing to schedule Christmas at a similar time to the pagan festivals, such as Saturnalia, that took place during the winter months. But many biblical scholars argue that this was not the case. Some pagan influences, such as holly and mistletoe as well as the burning of a yule log, have long been

a part of Christmas traditions.Santa Claus is one of the more recognizable symbols of Christmas. He is based on St. Nikolas of Myrna, an area that is part of modern-day Turkey. St. Nikolas is the world’s most popular non-Biblical saint and is one of the saints most portrayed by artists. Early depictions of St. Nikolas show him as a stern man who delivered his share of discipline. Eventually, those depictions changed to show a figure more associated

with generosity. Throughout history, there have been characters from around the globe who were precursors to Santa Claus, such as the Viking deity Odin. Myth states that Odin rode his eight-legged flying horse in the winter. Odin gave out gifts to well-behaved children and punishments to those who misbehaved. Children would fill boots or stockings

with treats for the flying horse.Regardless of the origins of Christmas, today it is hard to deny that Christmas is a commercialized success. It is a national holiday not only in the United States and Canada, but also in other areas of the world, and it is best known for the tradition of giving presents to others. In fact, many people head to the stores well in advance of the Christmas holiday to purchase all of the presents on their shopping lists. The shopping season tradition may be traced back to the time of World War II, when it was necessary to mail gifts early to the troops serving in Europe so that they would be able to open them in time. Merchants realized that this concept could be used when gifting troops as well as private citizens, reminding shoppers to make their holiday purchases early so they could mail them to relatives near or far. As a result, the advanced shopping season was born.

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Although poinsettias are most often associated with the holiday season, they are actually tropical plants. In spite of their origins, poinsettias can thrive during the holiday season and even last long after the holidays have come and gone.Poinsettias are native to Mexico and Central America. Aztecs called the plant ‘cuetlaxochitl.’ The flowering plant was first introduced to the United States by Joel Poinsett, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, and was subsequently renamed the poinsettia. The flowers of the poinsettia are actually the yellow blooms at the middle of the bright red or white bracts that form on the plant. Perhaps due to the bright red of the bracts, the plant quickly became a popular Christmas plant.It’s important to note that poinsettias grow in a warm climate and therefore must be kept in tropical conditions to ensure the plant’s health. Furthermore, poinsettias bloom in response to shortening daylight hours. That means they will need ample darkness each night in order to simulate the dark nights of short, winter days. To achieve this, you may need to put the plant into a dark closet for 12 to 14 hours each night.During the day, the plant should be in a sunny window where it will

have access to bright light, with the more light the better. Keep the soil evenly moist. Misting the plant will help it to retain some humidity. Also,

fill the overflow saucer on your flower pot with gravel

to allow water seeping through the pot to

evaporate from the gravel. Hot

temperatures indoors combined with high humidity will help the plant to thrive. Even one

day without adequate moisture can cause the leaves to drop. Furthermore, decreasing temperatures can cause leaves to fall off. The goal is to keep the indoor temperature consistent.While many poinsettia plants are discarded after the holiday season, these plants can actually be cut back and saved for next season. Trimming back any remaining leaves and continuing to care for the plant by keeping it moist can help. To force the blooms next season, start reducing the plant’s exposure to sunlight in mid-September to October. Again, this will mean removing the plant to an area that is shrouded in complete darkness. Even streetlights or indoor lighting can affect blooming. If the plant does not begin to turn colour before the holiday season, you may need to purchase a new plant and try again next year.

Caring for poinsettias

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Holiday shoppers spend billions of dollars each year on gifts for friends, family and coworkers. But holiday shoppers also spend substantial amounts of money dressing up those gifts with bows and wrapping paper. With a little creative thinking, however, it’s possible to find cheaper alternatives to store-bought wrapping. Read on to find some frugal, yet flashy, ways to wrap presents this holiday season.C h i l d r e n ’ s artwork: Over the course of a school year parents can accumulate dozens of original pieces of art from their children’s time in the classroom. Instead of relegating those pictures to a memory box or temporary glory on the refrigerator, turn them into unique gift wrap. Pair these pieces of art with colored ribbon, and everyone who gets a unique masterpiece will feel special.Newspaper: Recycle newsprint and comics into wrapping paper. Encourage everyone to wrap in newspaper for a cohesive look come Christmas morning.Cloth: Leftover cloth from

Halloween or cloth purchased to create homemade curtains can be turned into giftwrap for awkward-shaped gifts. Use decorative ribbon to seal the bundle shut.Brown paper: Brown paper tied with twine or ribbon is inexpensive and can easily be recycled after use.

U s e a marker to put the names of gift

recipients on each package to save on gift tags

as well.Glass jars: Use mason jars when wrapping smaller gifts, including gift cards, to give them an arts-and-crafts

feel.Fabric gift bags: If

you’re handy with a needle and thread, sew sacks out of leftover fabric to make

gift bags of various sizes.Cookie tins: Find unique cookie tins from yard sales or leftover tins from holidays past and use them as gift boxes.Recipes: If you will be giving a cookbook or food-themed gifts, print recipes that can be used as gift wrap and then later used to make certain dishes.Baby linens: From blankets to wash cloths, use baby linens to wrap infant-themed gifts for new parents.

Baskets: Wicker baskets are available in various shapes and sizes. They can be used to make a gift collection and then reused over and over again.There are many creative and inexpensive ways to wrap gifts this year instead of relying on preprinted and often expensive wrapping paper.

Creative, cost-effective gift wrapping ideas

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Makes 2 dozenIngredients1 cup butter, softened1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar1/4 cup cornstarch1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

PreparationPreheat the oven to 375ºF (190ºC).Whip butter with an electric mixer until fluffy. Stir in the confectioners’ sugar, cornstarch, and flour. Beat on low for 1 minute, then on high for 3 to 4 minutes. Drop cookies by spoonfuls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Watch that the edges don’t brown too much. Cool on wire racks.

Shortbread is a classic Scottish dessert that consists of the three basic ingredients which are still commonly used today: flour, sugar, and butter. This dessert evolved from medieval biscuit bread, which was a twice-baked, enriched bread roll dusted with sugar and spices and hardened into a hard, dry, sweetened biscuit called a rusk. Eventually, yeast from the original rusk recipe was replaced by butter, which was becoming more of a staple in Britain and Ireland.Although shortbread was prepared during much of the 12th century, the refinement of shortbread is credited

to Mary, Queen of Scots in the 16th century. The name of one of the most famous and most traditional forms of shortbread, petticoat tails, may have been named by Queen Mary. This type of shortbread was baked, cut into triangular wedges, and flavored with caraway seeds.Shortbread was expensive and reserved as a luxury for special occasions such as Christmas, Hogmanay (Scottish New Year’s Eve), and weddings. In Shetland, it is traditional to break a decorated shortbread cake over the head of a new bride on the entrance of her new house.

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The thick, spiced drink we know as eggnog has become synonymous with the holidays. It is so linked with the Christmas season that a person may be hard-pressed to find it sold in the supermarket any other time of the year. But eggnog wasn’t always the holiday beverage it has become.Eggnog is believed to have originated in 17th century Europe, primarily as a drink for the elite, since the ingredients in the beverage were hard to come by and thusly relegated to the very rich.There are different theories on the origins of the word eggnog itself. Some believe it has gotten its name from the Old English word “nog,” which meant “strong beer.” The “egg” refers to one of the ingredients in the beverage, fresh eggs. Others surmise that it comes from the word “noggin,” which was a vessel for serving drinks in taverns. The drink was called “egg in a noggin,” which was shortened to “eggnog.” Still, there are others who say its name is derived from the term “grog,” which was another term for booze. “Egg n’ grog” was eventually abbreviated to “eggnog.”Although there is little certainty to the origins of the name, the recipe

for eggnog has essentially remained unchanged throughout the centuries. It consists of beaten eggs, cream or milk and sugar mixed with some sort of alcoholic spirit. The Old English were believed to mix it with wine, though once the drink was brought to the New World; colonists substituted rum for the wine. Rum was readily available through tradesman running between the Americas and the Caribbean and therefore less expensive than another spirit. As America grew and eggnog was enjoyed in different parts of the country, the rum was replaced with regional spirits, including bourbon or grain alcohol. Other ingredients were also added to give it a customized flavour. However, the use of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves has become traditional flavours for the holiday brew.Love it or hate it, eggnog is a drink that can evoke strong feelings of the holidays within minutes. There are variations of eggnog sold commercially, but many people swear by homemade versions for their taste and authenticity. Try your own homemade eggnog with this recipe, courtesy of Cooks.com.

Eggnog - a holiday staple

Holiday Eggnog (spirited)Ingredients1 dozen eggs1 pound powdered sugar1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 cup vanilla8 cups evaporated milk3 cups water1 quart spiced rumNutmeg, to garnish

PreparationBeat eggs until light in colour, then gradually add sugar, salt and vanilla. Add milk and water. Stir in rum (brandy, bourbon or rye may also be used). Cover the nog and ripen for 24 hours in the refrigerator. Stir again and serve sprinkled with nutmeg.

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Christmas Greetings

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Joy to the WorldJoy to the world, the Lord is come!Let earth receive her King;Let every heart prepare Him room,And Heaven and nature sing,And Heaven and nature sing,And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!Let men their songs employ;While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plainsRepeat the sounding joy,Repeat the sounding joy,Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,Nor thorns infest the ground;He comes to make His blessings flowFar as the curse is found,Far as the curse is found,Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,And makes the nations proveThe glories of His righteousness,And wonders of His love,And wonders of His love,And wonders, wonders, of His love.

White ChristmasI’m dreaming of a white ChristmasJust like the ones I used to know,When the tree tops glisten,And children listenTo hear sleigh bells in the snow.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas,With every Christmas card I write.May your days be merry and bright,And may all your Christmases be white.

We Wish You a Merry ChristmasWe wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas,We wish you a Merry Christmas, And a Happy New Year!We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas,We wish you a Merry Christmas, And a Happy New Year!Good tidings to you, wherever you are;Good tidings for Christmas, And a Happy New Year!We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas,We wish you a Merry Christmas, And a Happy New Year!

Winter WonderlandSleigh-bells ring, are you list’nin?In the lane, snow is glist’nin,A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight,Walkin’ in a winter wonderland!Gone away is the bluebird,Here to stay is a new bird,He sings a love song, as we go alongWalkin’ in a winter wonderland!In the meadow we can build a snowman,Then pretend that he is Parson Brown; He’ll say, “Are you married?”We’ll say, “No man! But you can do the job when you’re in town.”Later on, we’ll conspire,As we dream by the fire,To face unafraid, the plans that we made,Walkin’ in a winter wonderland!

We Wish You a

Songs of the SeasonThe First NoelThe first Noel the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay: In fields where they lay a keeping their sheep On a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel Noel Noel Noel Born is the King of Israel. They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far: And to the earth it gave great light And so it continued both day and night. Noel Noel Noel Noel Born is the King of Israel. And by the light of that same star Three wise men came from the country far; To seek for a King was their intent, And to follow the star wherever it went. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. This star drew nigh to the north-west; O’er Bethlehem it took its rest, And there it did both stop and stay, Right over the place where Jesus lay. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.

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Hark the Herald Angels SingHark the herald angels sing“Glory to the newborn King!Peace on earth and mercy mildGod and sinners reconciled”Joyful, all ye nations riseJoin the triumph of the skiesWith the angelic host proclaim:“Christ is born in Bethlehem”Hark! The herald angels sing“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ by highest heav’n adoredChrist the everlasting Lord!Late in time behold Him comeOffspring of a Virgin’s wombVeiled in flesh the Godhead seeHail the incarnate DeityPleased as man with man to dwellJesus, our EmmanuelHark! The herald angels sing“Glory to the newborn King!”

Good KingWenceslasGood King Wenceslas looked outOn the feast of Stephen,When the snow lay round aboutDeep and crisp and even.Brightly shone the moon that night,Though the frost was cruel.When a poor man came in sightGath’ring winter fuel.

“Hither, page, and stand by meIf thou know’st it, tellingYonder peasant, who is he?Where and what his dwelling?”“Sire, he lives a good league hence,Underneath the mountain.Right against the forest fence,By Saint Agnes’ fountain.”

“Bring me flesh and bring me wine,Bring me pine logs hither.Thou and I will see him dine,When we bear him thither.”Page and monarch forth they went,Forth they went togetherThrough the rude wind’s wild lamentAnd the bitter weather.

“Sire, the night is darker nowAnd the wind blows strongerFails my heart, I know not how,I can go no longer.”“Mark my footsteps, my good pageTread thou in them boldlyThou shalt find the winter’s rageFreeze thy blood less coldly.”

We Three KingsWe three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star.Chorus:O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect Light.Born a king on Bethlehem’s plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign.(Chorus)Frankincense to offer have I. Incense owns a Deity nigh. Prayer and praising all men raising, Worship Him, God on high.(Chorus)Myrrh is mine: Its bitter perfume Breaths a life of gathering gloom. Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying, Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.(Chorus)

Frosty the SnowmanFrosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul,With a corncob pipe and a button nose,and two eyes made out of coal.Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale they say,He was made of snow but the children know how he came to life one day.There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found,For when they placed it on his head he began to dance around.O Frosty the snowman was alive as he could be,And the children say he could laugh and play just the same as you and me.Thumpetty thump thump thumpety thump thumpLook at Frosty go.Thumpetty thump thump thumpety thump thumpOver the hills of snow.

Songs of the Season

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SKYY Candy CaneThe glass is rimmed with crushed candy canes or other peppermint candy, using the Schnapps or Crème de Cacao to wet the rim.3/4 oz SKYY Berry vodka3/4 oz peppermint schnapps3/4 oz white crème de cacao1/4 oz grenadinehalf and halfSoda waterPour the vodka, peppermint schnapps, white creme de cacao and grenadine into a cocktail shaker with ice.Shake well.Pour into a cocktail glass rimmed with crushed peppermint candy.Fill with half and half.Top with a splash of soda water.

Coco Snowball2 ounces Stolichnaya Vanilla2 ounces Malibu rum2 ounces Coco Lopez¼ ounce Blue CuracaoShake well and pour into a martini glass. Rim glass with honey and fresh shredded coconut.

Warhol Crush12 fresh rosemary sprigs6 fresh raspberries3/4 oz. simple syrup1 1/2 oz. red vermouth2 oz. cranberry juiceMuddle rosemary, raspberries, and simple syrup in a mixing glass. Fill halfway with ice and add vermouth and cranberry juice. Shake 8-10 times. Double-strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with raspberries speared by a rosemary sprig.

Makes 34 oz1 2/3 cups Irish whiskey1 cup half & half or heavy cream1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk2 tablespoons chocolate syrup2 teaspoons vanilla extract1 teaspoon instant coffee4 eggs* optional – to add frothCombine all ingredients in a blender and puree on high speed for 30 seconds.Transfer mixture to an airtight container or glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. Shake well before using.*contains raw eggs (if used)

Holiday cocktail and drink ideasHere are some ideas for holiday get-togethers or something to try at home while you’re curled up by the fire.

Homemade Irish Cream

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Crystal Candy TreeThese rock candy-embellished cones are a fun and easy holiday crafts project. Pour horizontal rows of candy crystals in three or more colours on a baking sheet with the rows flush together. Wrap solid light-colour cardstock around foam cones, slightly overlapping the paper at the back of the cone and securing it with hot glue. Do not apply the glue directly to the cone, which will melt. Larger cones may need two sheets of paper to be completely covered. Spread crafts glue on the cones and roll them in crystals; let

dry. Repeat process, if needed, to cover cones completely with crystals. Use hot glue to fill in small gaps with hand-placed crystals.

The first Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center was erected in 1931, two years before the opening of Rockefeller Plaza, where the tree now draws thousands of tourists each year. The tradition began when construction workers hard at work on bui lding Rockefeller Center decorated a roughly 20-foot tall balsam fir tree on Christmas Eve in 1931. Strings of cranberries and tin cans were among the items used to decorate the tree. While there was no tree in 1932, the first official tree was unveiled in 1933 in Rockefeller Plaza, and the lighting ceremony was broadcast over NBC

Radio. The 1933 tree, at 50 feet tall, dwarfed the 1931 tree. However, the 1933 tree paled in comparison to the 10-ton Norway Spruce

erected in 1999, which measured 100-feet tall and remains the tallest tree ever erected at Rockefeller Center. The tradition of the Rockefeller Center tree continues to evolve to this day,

and the evergreen is now lit with LED light bulbs. In 2007, Rockefeller Center partnered with Habitat for Humanity, who used the tree after it was taken down to furnish lumber for home construction.

The Rockefeller tree

Make a kid-friendly Christmas tree from a container of Tinkertoys. Create the tree by placing eight equal-size rods in a wheel and assembling the rows of branches in graduating sizes. Put the tree together by placing a center rod between each horizontal layer of branches. Build the tree from the bottom to the top, starting with the wheels of larger rods and ending with the wheels of smaller rods. Place the tree in a small pot or mug.

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“Oh, by gosh, by golly it’s time for mistletoe and holly. Tasty pheasants, Christmas presents, countrysides covered in snow.”As exemplified by this holiday hit by Henry Sanicola, Frank Sinatra and Dok Stanford, holly and mistletoe are an integral part of holiday imagery and tradition. Holly is used to adorn a home in green and red finery alongside evergreen boughs and wreaths. In addition, it has become customary to hang a bouquet of mistletoe under which people are encouraged to share a holiday kiss. While these elements of celebrations are now incorporated into many of the secular and religious components of Christmas, they have very different origins.HollyHolly has been used since the days of the early Pagans as a decoration for midwinter festivities, when it was brought into homes to keep evil spirits away. The ancient Romans also believed that holly prickles drove away evil spirits, and it held a place of honor at December festivals dedicated to the god Saturn. To avoid persecution during the Roman pagan Saturnalia festival, early Christians would participate in the tradition of hanging evil-repelling holly on their homes to appear like the masses. Eventually as the number of Christians grew, the tradition became less of a pagan one and more associated with Christians and Christmas. Some people have inferred that holly and its prickly edges is symbolic of the crown of thorns Jesus wore at his

crucifixion, with the red berries representing blood.MistletoeMistletoe was once held sacred by the Norse, Celtic Druids and North American Indians. It is actually a

parasitic plant that grows on a wide range of host trees. Heavy infestation can dwarf the growth and kill these trees. In cultures across pre-Christian Europe, mistletoe was seen as a representation of divine male essence (and thus romance, fertility and vitality). The plant also was thought to be a symbol of peace, and

anyone standing below it should receive tokens of affection. When enemies met beneath mistletoe, they had to lay down their weapons and observe a truce until the next day. This is how the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe likely began, and why a ball of mistletoe is now hung in homes during Christmas, a season of peace and

affection.Homeowners who hang

mistletoe and holly around their homes during the holiday season should be mindful of pets and

youngsters around the plants. Mistletoe and

holly are considered to be moderately to severely toxic, and ingesting the leaves could be dangerous. Therefore, keep these plants away from curious hands. Mistletoe is commonly hung up high, which should make it less problematic, but holly should be hung high as well.Now largely associated with Christmas celebrations, holly and mistletoe were once part of pagan rituals and ancient superstitions.

Holly and mistletoe

Having a gathering for Christmas or New Year... we have what you need

Ingredients for life™

Centenoka Park Mall 250-832-8086

• Fresh Produce • Quality Meats • Signature Deli• In-store Bakery • Floral • Pharmacy • Gift Cards • Organics

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Like all good legends, the story of the Christmas stocking has many versions. The original story has evolved to allow for differences in culture, time period, and good old fashioned story telling. So it’s hard to pin down exactly how the Christmas stocking tradition started, but too much exactness isn’t any fun, anyway. And certainly not in the spirit of Christmas. So here’s our favorite version of the story:Once there was a father with three beautiful daughters. Although the daughters were kind and strong, the father despaired of them ever making good marriages, because he didn’t have enough money to pay their dowries. One day, St. Nicholas of Myra was passing through their village and heard the locals discussing the plight of these poor girls. St Nicholas knew the father would be too proud to accept an outright gift. So he

waited till dark, snuck to the man’s house, and dropped three bags of gold coins down the chimney.The daughters had spent the evening washing clothes, and had hung their stockings by the fireplace to dry. The gold coins dropped into the stockings, one bag for each daughter. In the morning, they awoke to find enough money to make them each a generous dowry, and all married well and happily.As word of St. Nicholas’ generosity spread, others began to hang their stockings by the fireplace, hoping for a similar gift.There is plenty of debate about when American kids started hanging their stockings by the fire on Christmas Eve. Some give credit for the idea to Thomas Nast, who drew stockings on the mantelpiece in his 1886 illustrations for a George Webster story called “Santa Claus and His Works.” But while Nast did

create the popular modern image of Santa Claus as a white-bearded, red-suited, boot-wearing jolly man, he cannot be responsible for the stocking tradition. That’s because Clement Clark Moore’s famous poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” was written 64 years earlier. And as every Christmas buff knows, that poem includes the following immortal lines:The stockings were hung by the chimney with care; in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.Like most American customs, the Christmas stocking probably came across the ocean with generations of immigrants. Perhaps some Catholics knew the legend of St. Nicholas. Perhaps some Dutch transformed their tradition of putting out clogs full of straw for Santa’s reindeer. Italian children brought the idea of putting out their shoes for La Bufana, the good witch. And in classic

American tradition, all these legends and customs mixed together (along with a few home-grown ideas) and before long the Christmas Stocking became an essential part of how we celebrate Christmas.

The Christmas Stocking

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A few more recipes...Ingredients1 (12 oz) package fresh cranberries1 tbsp orange zest1 orange, peeled and chopped1 cup raw sugar2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped3 tbsp chopped crystallized ginger2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

PreparationIn a food processor or blender, pulse fresh cranberries until coarsely chopped and transfer to a bowl.

Then pulse orange zest, orange, sugar, jalapeno peppers, ginger and cilantro together until finely chopped.Stir mixture into cranberries and cover and chill for at least 2 hours. Enjoy!

Holiday Cranberry Salsa

Ingredients2 cups sugar1/2 cup butter3/4 cup eggnog12 ounces white baking chocolate1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme1 teaspoon vanilla

PreparationBring sugar, butter and eggnog to a full boil in a heavy medium-size saucepan. Continue boiling over medium heat until candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees, stir constantly to prevent scorching. Remove from heat and stir in the white chocolate and nutmeg, stirring until the chocolate is melted. Add marshmallow creme

and vanilla extract. Beat until well blended. Pour into a buttered 8 or 9-inch square pan. Cool, then cut into squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. May be frozen for up to three weeks.

Eggnog Fudge

Pretzel TurtlesPlace mini pretzels on cookie sheet. Top with chocolate-covered caramels. Put in 200ºF oven until chocolate just starts to melt. Immediately pull them out and top with Smarties (pictured) or pecans. These can be put in fridge to speed up cooling.

ChristmasThe season for compassion and sharing

Children laughing with family and friends

It’s the time of year to give thought to those less fortunate and to provide an opportunity for hope, healing and good

health in our community. Your donations to the Shuswap Hospital Foundation will

assist in the purchase of much needed equipment to continue the delivery of

excellent patient care.

A gift for our community.Have a joyful, healthy Christmas.

250-803-4546www.shuswaphospitalfoundation.org

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Fall colour bouquet tobrighten up your homeduring this Festive Season.

Please come in and see us at

Askew’s Uptown and we will

be pleased to create a unique

arrangement just for you.

To place your order, pleasecall 250-832-7622 ext. 318 and

ask for Monique van Lindert.

With Salmon Arm’s most experienced baker leading the bakery team, Askew’s provides customers with the tastiest selection of baked goods around.

Place your order and count on Bob and our team of experienced cake decorators to help make memories with an extra special cake for your next occasion.

We have the “Photocake” — cake decorating system.

Bring in your photo and we can transfer it to a cake of your choice (8” round, 8 x 12”, 12 x 16”, or a 16 x 24”). Cakes are available in white (Vanilla), Chocolate, Marble or Carrot.

Come in, relax, enjoy! Welcome to the Deli and cafe at Askew’s Uptown. The perfect place for an errand break.

Our beautifully appointed deli offers pizza, paninis and more.

Try a refreshing fruit smoothie, sip a cappuccino or compliment your meal with any great beverage from the cafe. Surprisingly intimate, our deli’s spacious indoor area and outdoor patio feature comfortable wicker, beautiful granite, and a spectacular lake view. We make it easy to settle in for some time to yourself, or to share with neighbours and friends.

Come and enjoy …✔ Soup made from scratch in-store

everyday.

✔ Sushi delivered fresh from Takezushi Restaurant on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

✔ Custom made Meat & Cheese Deli Trays

2701 11th Ave NE, Salmon Arm, BC • 250-832-7622uptown@askewsfoods.com

Daily 8 AM - 10 PM • Pharmacy 9 AM - 6 PM (Pharmacy closed Sunday)

Fall colour bouquet tobrighten up your homeduring this Festive Season.

Please come in and see us at

Askew’s Uptown and we will

be pleased to create a unique

arrangement just for you.

Floral Department

Bulk Foods

for all of your Christmas Entertaining

needs!

Bakery

Deli & Café

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330 Alexander Street, Salmon Arm • 250-832-2113

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ChristmasGift Ideas

Stop in and check out our weekly in-store specials throughout the month of December

ENTER TO WIN a pair of SOREL Winter Boots. Valued up to $200.

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Stanfields Superwash Wool Combinations

20% offMen’s and Ladies’ Jackets, Scarves,

Gloves, Socksand Wallets