Loading...
The Citizen, 2006-12-21, Page 41kristmas your flock during this May faith guide you and holy season, and may For You peace and joy follow wherever you go. Noel! 10 Huron St., Clinton 519-482-9414 www.grovestv.com /TV & APPLIANCE CENT kl4 ."2-= 4-17. trsA Winter Wonderland! Huron Feeding Systems Joe and Debbie Seili and family Brussels 519-887-6289 4 As a layer of white blankets the ground, We'd like to thank you for just comin' round Seeing you daily has brought us much cheer... So Merry Christmas to all and to all a good yearl MDL Doors' manufacturing facility in Brussels and sales office in Waterloo, would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our valued dealers and their families for their support over the past year. May your homes be filled with peace and joy this Holiday Season. DOORS 42918-B Cranbrook Brussels, Ontario Phone: 519-887-6974 "Building Excellence into Entrance Systems" PAGE B8 THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2006. • Spread cheer with everlasting decorat ions Wreath-making is an ancient art which originated about 1,000 years before the birth of Christ. Oak leaves _were fashioned into crowns for • warriors, ivy into crowns for poets and the laurel was the traditional crown for statesmen. Wreaths add a festive look wherever they hang — on the front door or on windows of the home, or even on the front of car bumpers. One of the best things about decorating the home for the holiday season actually is making the decorations from scratch. A small wreath can be covered with natural materials gathered on walks in woods or fields. Gold- sprayed artificial ivy on the heart- shaped grapevine wreath makes an elegant and unusual front door wreath — and looks fresh for many holiday season. For all projects: 1 spool florist's wire Hot-glue gun and glue sticks For small wreath: 6 inch straw wreath 1 package each dried rose hips, tiny pine cones, dried star anise and assorted dried pods 9 inch length picot-edged satin ribbon, 5/8-inch wide For heart-shaped wreath: Heart-shaped grapevine wreath base 1 package each artificial ivy and berries 3 yards green-and-gold wire- edged ribbon, 1 1/2 inches wide Gold spray paint newspapers, rubber gloves and plastic wrap. For birdhouse wreath: 2 bunches fragrant evergreen boughs 1 bunch each cedar berries, pepper berries and grapevines 5 small toy wooden birdhouses Acrylic paints in assorted colours and small paint brushes Small wreath: Wrap florist's wire around straw wreath base for holding hanging loop. Fold a 9-inch' length of ribbon in half and knot around florist's wire for hanging loop. Position and glue assorted rose hips, pine cones, star anise and pods onto wreath, covering as desired. Heart-shaped wreath: Cover work surface with newspapers and plastic wrap. Wear rubber gloves when working with spray paint. Work in a well-ventilated area. Lightly spray-paint artificial ivy with gold. Let dry completely. Arrange ivy and, using florist's wire, secure in place around wreath. Position berries and, using florist's wire, secure in place. Wrap ribbon around wreath and tie into a bow. Trim ends of ribbon. Birdhouse wreath: Twist florist's wire together, forming a 15-inch ring base. Secure evergreen boughs to wire base with florist's wire, wrapping around entire ring to cover. Fill in spaces with grapevines, pepper berries and cedar berries, securing with wire. Paint small birdhouse in desired colours and glue on as desired. Size: Small wreath is 7 inches in diameter; heart-shaped wreath is 14 inches wide; and birdhouse wreath is 15 inches in diameter. Enjoy the sweetness of holidays with sugar coolies According to Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker, authors of Joy of Cooking; Christmas Cookies (Scribner), "Christmas wouldn't be Christmas' without an assortment of delicious sugar cookies. "This is the dough just waiting for that collection of cookie cutters you've squirrelled away. Have fun decorating the different shapes with coloured sprinkles of sugar." Making and baking these cookies is a great way to spend a cold winter afternoon with your children or other loved ones, bonding in the warmth of a kitchen filled with the mouth watering aroma of holiday cooking RICH ROLLED SUGAR COOKIES Makes 21/2 - 31/2 dozen, 2 1/2" - 3 1/2" cookies Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease cookies sheets. Using an electric mixer, beat until very fluffy and well blended: 1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened 213 cup sugar Add and beat in until evenly incorporated: (MS) — Kwanzaa is an African holiday that is celebrated each year between Dec. 26 and Jan. I. It was created by Maulana Ron Karenga in 1966. The term Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili words meaning, "fruits of the harvest." Celebrants of Kwanzaa are encourated to decorate their homes in the colours of 1 large egg 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla Stir in until well blended and smooth: 2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour Divide the dough in half and shape into circles. Place each circle between large sheets of wax paper. Roll out a scant 1/4 inch thick, checking the underside frequently and smoothing out any creases. Keeping the wax paper in place, layer the rolled dough on a tray and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes, or until cold and slightly firm but not hard. Working with one portion of the dough (leave the other refrigerated), gently peel away and replace one sheet of the wax paper. (This will make it easier to lift the cookes from the paper later). Peel off and discard the second layer. Using 2- inch or 3-inch cutters, cut out cookies. With a wide spatula, carefully transfer them from the wax paper to the cookie sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Roll any dough scraps between wax paper and continue cutting out cookies Kwanzaa, which are black, red and green. Traditional African decorations, such as baskets and harvest items, can also add to the festivities. During Kwanzaa, gifts are mainly given only to children. What must be included iin these gifts are books, which foster the Kwanzaa tradition of education, and until all the dough is used. If the dough becomes too warm to handle at any point, refrigerate it again briefly. If desired, very lightly sprinkle the cookies with coloured sprinkles or coloured decorating sugar. Bake, one sheet at a time, in the upper third of the oven for six to nine minutes, or until cookies are justly slightly coloured on top and slightly darker at the edges. Rotate sheets halfway through baking for even browning. Transfer sheets to wire racks and let the cookies firm up, to one to two minutes. Then, transfer the cookies to wire racks and let stand until thoroughly cool. If desired, decorate with Royal icing. Store, airtight, for one or two weeks, or freeze for up to one month. ROYAL ICING In a microwave-proof bowl, stir until thoroughly combined: 2 large egg whites 1-1/3 cups powdered sugar Microwave on high until the mixture reaches 160°F but does not exceed 175°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 1 1/2 to 2 a heritage gift, which denotes the connection to African history and culture. minutes. Check every • 30 to 45 seconds, remember to remove the thermometer before restarting the microwave. If the first temperature readings do not reach 160°F, wash the thermometer thoroughly before taking additional readings. Add: 1-1/3 cups powdered sugar Using an electric mixer, beat the high speed until the icing is cool and holds stiff peaks when beaters are lifted. Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 the time to celebrate Kwanzaa in Africa