Friday, December 31, 2010
Here are some child-friendly ways to ring in the new year.
Just like the old saying "it must be 5 o'clock somewhere," ever since we had our first child seven years ago, our New Year's Eve call has been "it must be midnight somewhere." And it always is! Typically in Paris. Why wait for the ball to drop at midnight in Times Square when it most likely means everything else will drop? First you, then the kids! Years ago, we wondered, why not celebrate with any other city east of us at a more reasonable hour? We choose France because their midnight is our 6 p.m. How civil! We do all the same countdowns, horn blowing and clinking of glasses (our champagne to our kids' sparkling cider) as everyone else, just six hours earlier than the rest of our time zone. Heck, it works and no one wakes up with a …
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Go beyond the classic wine-and-beer routine.
Now that the guest list is finalized and the appetizers are sitting comfortably in their platters, it's time to answer any good cocktail party's most important question—what's on the drink menu? Spice up the classic wine-and-beer routine by getting a little more creative this season. But be prepared to hear your guests beg, "Can you please mail me that recipe?" We won't tell, promise. Here are a few cocktail recipes that'll definitely give you guest an extra dose of the holiday spirit. Peppermint Pattie Thanks to this concoction by the Bartender's Black Book, you'll think you're sipping on the liquid version of its peppermind namesake. 1 oz peppermint schnapps 1 oz dark crème de cacao 2 oz cream Preparation: Pour the peppermint schnapps, …
Check out our advice on what to get the nerds in your life.
Christmas is upon us, and if you haven't gotten a gift for that special nerd on your holiday shopping list yet, well, it's probably too late. Still, if you'd like to know what you should have gotten them, we can help. When picking a gift for someone (nerd or otherwise) there are two good rules of thumb to follow: first, pick something that suits their interests; and second, get them something they wouldn't have gotten themselves. With those rules in mind, let's do some hypothetical holiday shopping. If the nerd on your shopping list has even a passing interest in computer games, chances are they played the classic game, Oregon Trail, and they'll remember receiving that iconic message "You have died of dysentery" when they lost a character …
Some tips on how to make your holiday dinner an all-around hit.
Every gracious host or hostess knows that food and planning go hand in hand. If you leave everything for the day-of, you are setting yourself up for lots of anxiety and a potential party meltdown. I'll never forget the first Christmas dinner hosted for my new in-laws. I was so nervous and stressed that I didn't actually get a chance to sit down and enjoy. I was so in the zone that I appeared angry and upset which is just the opposite of how "gracious" I wanted to be. I found that in preparing for the big day or really any dinner party, the secret to success is also about the journey, and not just the destination. Here is a most-effective checklist to keep for any special occasion dinner party: 1) Tidy up! Do a deep cleaning of your home …
Monday, December 20, 2010
Share your 2011 goals with Galloway.patch.com.
Galloway.patch.com wants to know what your resolutions are for 2011. Trying to lose weight? Trying to be more patient? Or are you training to eat more and lose your temper a little more often? Whatever it is, we want to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments section, or feel free to e-mail Local Editor Anthony Bellano at Anthony.Bellano@galloway.patch.com, and your resolutions will turn up in our End of the Year Article on Dec. 31.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian tradition almost as old the family argument.
In my family, we celebrate Christmas Eve in the Italian tradition of The Feast of Seven Fishes. No one can be sure as to why fish dishes served on Christmas Eve numbers seven, but like any good Italian debate, all theories are feasible. One theory is that each dish represents the seven virtues; another is that the number three represents the holy trinity and the number four represents the Earth; yet another is that it represents the seven holy sacraments. Perhaps, my favorite reasoning for The Feast is the fact that it represents Italian logic so beautifully. The dinner, consisting of only seafood dishes and cooked in oil rather than butter, is a tradition dating back to medieval times when Roman Catholics abstained from any meat or …
Sunday, December 12, 2010
A chef shares her favorite cookie recipes.
The weather outside is frightful, but the kitchen is so delightful! Especially when its counters are covered in flour, and the oven is full of cookies baking. The cookie baking season has officially begun, and whether you are baking up a batch for your aunt out west, for a neighborhood cookie exchange or just for yourself, here are some of my favorite classic cookie standbys. But first, a few tips on shipping cookies: Every gift you ship should have two basic lines of defense: It should be well packed in an inner gift box, then well packed in a second, outer gift box. Choose a box that is appropriate in size to the cookie tin within. This will help keep the tins from shifting and the cookies from breaking. The ideal cushion is 2 to 3 …
Jenni Chasteen
7:46 pm on Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Yeah, I kinda hate how the iPad gets ALL the attention just because it's Apple. It's basically an oversized iPod touch. It's cool, but personally I'd rather carry something a bit more robust. more ›