BC-MCT-ENTERTAINING-BJT — wire, lifestyle (1200 words)
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Entertaining Budget for November 2008
Entertaining is a monthly premium package of stories and visuals about food, decorating and other elements of entertaining family and friends. Individual stories and art are available for a la carte purchase.
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EDITORS: Entertaining stories move in the lifestyle category.
HOLIDAYS: HANUKKAH AND CHRISTMAS
Packaged with love: Cookies send a sweet message to U.S. soldiers abroad
ENTG-CAREPACKAGES:FR—Like many avid bakers, Lyn Wade of Mariposa, Calif., is turning out holiday gifts. Loaves of white nut bread, pans of brownies and wire racks of persimmon cookies grace her kitchen. So do customs forms, names of soldiers in Iraq, flat-rate mailing boxes and lots of shredded paper.
It’s a scene playing out in kitchens across the nation. Friends and relatives of soldiers overseas are cooking up care packages—and trying to meet the priority mail deadline for Christmas. Some folks are putting together boxes for the first time, while others are seasoned pros.
1250 by Joan Obra. MOVED
ENTG-CAREPACKAGES-RECIPES:FR—White Nut Bread; Mary Lou’s Marvelous Cookies; Irresistible Brownies
750 . MOVED
Add a little pizzazz to your crackers at this year’s holiday party
ENTG-CRACKERS:KC—Crackers are a staple at holiday parties. But all too often they are served with slices of uninspired cheese and sausage. Bor-ing!
If you’re hosting a party this year, vow to jazz up your crackers. Think of them as a blank canvas for a world of spreads, jams, meats, cheeses and vegetables.
1150 by Gail Borelli. MOVED
Holiday dinner emergency kit: Tips to prevent and treat disasters in the kitchen
ENTG-DINNERDIASTERS:OC—Did you plan out the guest list and the potluck items? Did you practice your recipes a few weeks ahead? Did you drag out all the serving pieces you need?
OK, so you're not the first to have a few holiday dinner disasters. Don't panic. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Instead of starting to tipple before the guests get there—which usually leads to more disasters — take a deep breath and make a few spectacular saves.
Here are some recipe rescues you might want to print out and tape to the fridge on or before the big day.
1100 by Anne Valdespino. MOVED
Entertaining options: The do-it-yourself, do-it-ahead approach
ENTG-DOAHEADHOLIDAYS:SE—When I entertain, I like to make the food I serve, or at least most of it. Friends and family can pick up a Costco tray for their holiday bashes, and there's nothing wrong with that, but I have a reputation to uphold (or repair, depending on the circumstance), and a homemade spread is appreciated by guests, if not expected. Or perhaps this is just what I expect of myself.
My home kitchen is small, so I need to prepare as much of the food as possible in advance. And this is the key—I try not to wear myself out the day of the party. A tired host is a cranky host, and that's not much fun for anyone.
500 by CeCe Sullivan. MOVED
ENTG-DOAHEADHOLIDAYS-RECIPES:SE—Recipes for do-ahead entertaining
1700 . MOVED
Making holiday treats with family and friends is the ultimate bonding tradition
ENTG-HOLIDAYBAKING:OC—Holiday cooking used to be a big part of every family's celebration. But over the decades, as more parents have had to work and as their children take on heavy homework and after-school activities, it's almost become a lost art. That's a shame. It isn't just about sitting around eating sweets. It's the smell of spices that creates a powerful aromatherapy; it's the bonding experience of pitching in on a project; it's a chance to pass on or start family traditions; and it's a great lesson to teach your kids about how special handmade gifts can be.
So, are you ready? Break out the aprons and pop some mindless Christmas movies into the DVD. It's time to turn your kitchen into Mrs. Santa's workshop.
850 by Anne Valdespino. MOVED
Spread the cheer, but not too far and wide
ENTG-HOLIDAYHAPPYHOUR:OC—This time of year, I sit on the couch with the holiday videos. They make me want to party. The big party scene in "A Christmas Carol" at Fezziwig's ball; the kids dancing around the piano in "Charlie Brown Christmas"; the crazy drinkers in the bar in "It's a Wonderful Life" … they're all having such a great time that I want to jump right in and join in the party.
The problem is, you can't throw a big holiday party during the last few weeks of the year. What you can do is settle for a small group of really close friends and throw something really simple. Go out for drinks or have a really nice holiday happy hour for 10 or fewer.
850 by Anne Valdespino. MOVED
Set a show-stopping holiday table
ENTG-HOLIDAYTABLE:OC—Your table setting never holds so much meaning as during a big holiday dinner with family and friends gathered around. The meal is the center of the celebration, and the table has got to be a show stopper.
Whether it's a buffet or a sit-down dinner, you want diners to go "Wow!" Start thinking about creating fashionable settings for every holiday meal you're hosting.
850 by Anne Valdespino. MOVED
The season of (re-)giving?
ENTG-REGIFTING:OC—So, should you ever re-gift? I know the holidays are right around the corner and you're really busy this year. But consider this: If it's the thought that counts, what are you saying to your friends or loved ones when you re-gift? "Hey, friend! I took that warm fuzzy holiday thought forged from our decades-long friendship and handed it right out to some stranger!" Harsh!
If you must re-gift, only you can decide what's right and what's wrong. So, here are some of my guidelines for re-gifting to help you think through these tricky situations.
1650 by Anne Valdespino. MOVED
DECORATING, FOOD AND OTHER DETAILS
ENTG-PARTYPICKS:MCT—Party Picks is a monthly collection of fun stuff to make your celebrations sparkle.
300 by Becky Sher. MOVED
ENTG-PARTYBOOKS:MCT—Party books: New additions to your entertaining library
400 by Becky Sher. MOVED
DRINKS
ENTG-ONTHEROCKS:MCT—On the rocks: Stocking your winter bar
1300 by Mary Ann Anderson. MOVED
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Questions? Suggestions? Contact Entertaining editor Becky Sher at (202) 383-6022 or bsher@mctinfoservices.com.
WHAT IS ENTERTAINING?
Entertaining — a monthly package of stories and art about food, decorating and other elements of entertaining family and friends — features content from top MCT contributors, including The Kansas City Star, The Dallas Morning News and the Orange County Register.
Text moves on the first Wednesday of each month on AP and is posted to MCT Direct (http://www.mctdirect.com/entertaining/entertaininglive.htm). All photos and illustrations are available on MCT Direct (http://www.mctdirect.com/entertaining/entertainingphotos.htm).
FOR MORE INFORMATION
You can subscribe to the Entertaining package or purchase the items a la carte on MCT Direct at www.mctdirect.com.
To subscribe, please call Rick DeChantal at Tribune Media Services at (800) 245-6536 or rdechantal@tribune.com. Outside the United States, call Tribune Media Services International at +1-213-237-7987 or e-mail tmsi@tribune.com.
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© 2008, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Not for publication or retransmission without permission of MCT.
