Holiday Gift Guide

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Thanksgiving Day, 2012

Holiday Gift Guide Fairbanks, Alaska

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Thursday, November 22, 2012

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Thursday, November 22, 2012

Be creative to show you care By AMANDA BOHMAN For the News-Miner You don’t have to be a doit-yourself diva to make homemade gifts for the holidays. Inspiration can come from any number of places. Some people like to browse the aisles at Jo-Ann Fabrics, Michaels or Value Village, all in Fairbanks. Or you can find your creative spark online with websites such as pinterest.com. Melissa Stewart, the volunteer coordinator at the Fairbanks Rescue Mission, finds creative inspiration from objects around her house, such as bottle caps or a piece of wood. She also Dumpster dives. “It’s really about the resources you have on hand,” said Stewart, who sells her wares on Etsy, an online consignment store for art and crafts. Stewart and others offered some of their favorite DIY gift ideas.

Decorate a picture frame Buy a picture frame at Walmart, Value Village or one

of the craft stores. Using glue, attach any materials you may have on hand: pebbles, beans, felt balls. Have a print made of a photograph from a special day. Stewart said she once glued pea gravel on a frame.

Make a no-sew fleece blanket Use sharp scissors and two pieces of fleece. Lay one of the fleece pieces over the other. Clip strips around all four sides. Tie the blankets together. Jennifer Bonebrake, operational team leader at Jo-Ann Fabrics, said the blankets are a popular idea. The fabric store offers fleece in a variety of designs and motifs, including popular children’s characters.

a jar. Layer the dry ingredients in a jar, close it and tie a ribbon around it. Be sure to include directions for the wet ingredients and how long to bake the cookies. Taste of Home has a cookiemix-in-a-jar recipe on its website at www.tasteofhome. com/Recipes/Christmas-Cookies-in-a-Jar. The recipe includes cranberries, oats and white chocolate chips.

Make something for a beloved pet

Bonebrake, the Jo-Ann Fabrics employee, is making clothes for her sister’s Chihuahua mix as a Christmas gift this year. It’s easier than making clothes for a person because the items are smaller, she said. “It’s Velcro around their stomach or maybe some arm holes,” she said. Kristen Haddox, whose small Patterns are available in craft business is homemade dog stores or online. treats, said her favorite homemade gift idea is a special treat. Carmel corn is an easy-tomake treat involving six ingreUsing two candy canes as dients: popcorn, butter, salt, sled runners, pile them with baking soda, Karo syrup and chocolate bars and treats and brown sugar. tie it together with ribbon. Contact freelance writer Amanda Another idea for a DIY gift involving treats is cookie mix in Bohman at aknewsgirl@gmail.com.

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Think ahead when shipping your gifts By ROXIE DINSTEL The presents will soon be purchased and wrapped. Then they sit under the tree waiting to be sent to their final destination. Don’t let the cost of shipping hold you back. If you are like me, you spend a chunk of change sending those packages to your family in the Lower 48. So, where are the bargains here? Getting a bargain starts with selecting that present. If you are ordering a present, see if it can be shipped directly to the person for whom you are buying. You still pay shipping, but you only pay for it once. Sometimes it is cheaper to ship to the Lower 48 than to ship to Alaska, so take advantage of this. Many companies are set up to ship gifts, so the invoices aren’t included — nothing so tacky as someone knowing how big a bargain their present was. Also, many websites are offering free shipping this time of year. Check your favorites and see if that is a possibility. You might want to check www.freeshipping.org for deals on shipping. This website has lists of who is offering free shipping and what restrictions are on shipping right now. A minimum order may be required. Last week, I got free ship-

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Thursday, November 22, 2012

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SHIPPING

Gift exchange games provide fun

Continued from Page H3

But be careful in placing that order. Make sure you don’t buy items that are not needed and overspend just to get the free shipping. If you are shopping locally, good for you! Many of our local businesses have the flat rate shipping boxes right in the stores. Ask when you purchase that gift if they are available. I’m also selecting presents based on how big they are. Maybe that doesn’t allow for picking the perfect gift, but if you have two good options, pick the smaller one. Careful management of the present giving can also save you money. I ship presents to my sister for her grandkids who will be at her house during Christmas. It may mean a larger package, but it will save me from mailing to four different addresses. Consider buying one present for the whole family, which will cut down on both the cost of the gift and may save you in the shipping department. One present rather than four will cut down on the volume, if you are careful in selecting. Now that all these steps have been considered, what about the actual shipping? One of the best bargains that has come along in several years is the flat rate shipping boxes provided by the U.S. Postal Service. They come in several sizes: a small box that ships for $5.35, a medium size for $11.35 and a larger one for $15.45. I’ve found these to be invaluable as I’ve shipped “care packages” to my kids when they were going to school or living out of state. The weight of the package doesn’t matter, so stuff it full. The biggest bargain is that you don’t have to purchase boxes to ship in — they come with the rate. These boxes are in high demand this time of year, so you may have some challenges finding them. I went to my post office and they say that some of the boxes are often in short supply. You can go online and have them sent to you, but it takes some time. So, order early or be prepared to search for them and be patient. Make practical decisions to ensure that your holiday shipping doesn’t break the bank.

By ANICA WONG Creators.com It happens to the best of us. Whether it’s the company holiday party or a gift exchange between a few friends, everyone has ended up with a gag gift when the other participants take home Starbucks gift cards or fancy kettle corn. Gift exchange parties happen between extended family members, colleagues and friends. While there are many types of parties, make sure all of the participants keep in mind that the real gift in the whole thing is the time you get to spend with those people, regardless of what item they end up taking home at the end of the night. “The idea of taking the stress out of holiday shopping while still enjoying your friends’ and family’s company during the busy holiday season is captivating,” said Matt Taylor, founder of Yankee Swap, a website that provides information and rules for the game Yankee swap, also known as the “white elephant” gift exchange. Taylor started the website a few years ago because he wanted to print out official rules of the game for a work party but found that there wasn’t one place that provided clear directions for the game. Most people know the game as white elephant, with Taylor noting that the use of the term is probably regional, with people in the New England region calling it Yankee swap. For the history buff in your party, the myth that the game started with a holiday prisoner of war swap during the Civil War is very compelling and storytelling-worthy. But it’s more likely that it started as a simple parlor game during the 1800s. “Before the advent of radio, gentlemen and ladies found themselves with more leisure time than any previous generation and would amuse themselves with games such as charades, truth or dare, 20 questions and the Yankee swap,” says Taylor. As with all other gift exchangetype games, make sure you let the

Creators.com

Gift exchange parties not only bring your favorite people together but also cut down on your gift costs. participants know what the rules are: What is the minimum and maximum price allowed? Are you doing gag gifts or not? In what order are you going to be running the game? Another fun party game that incorporates gifts is the cobweb game. Setting up for this game is the most important part. Take one color of string or yarn and attach it to one person’s present. Hide the present somewhere in the room and wrap the string around lampposts, under chairs and over tables before handing the string to the person whom the present is intended for. “Hide” each present like this, and then when all of the strings turn your living room into a cobweb, let

while you try to steal gifts away from each other during the Yankee swap, one of the perks of doing gift exchange games is that you don’t have to buy a gift for everyone at the party. Keep in mind that the typical American said he/she was going to spend an average of $646 on gifts for the 2011 holiday season, according to the American Research Group. Instead of purchasing 15 individual presents, you can buy one gift for a lucky member of the group, lowering your annual holiday spending considerably. Inevitably, the holidays are about giving. But why not make the giving more fun by adding a game twist here and there? Laughter can be the best gift of all.

your guests loose to go find what’s on the other end of their string. If you and your friends are all into one thing (whether it be alcoholic beverages, vampires or books), try a themed party on for size this year. A cocktail swap would be perfect if your group likes to try its hand at playing bartender. Each person or couple invited to the party is tasked with bringing a gift bag full of the ingredients for a specific cocktail. Coupled with instructions on how to make the drink, this gift provides others with something new to learn and a sure-fire good time (vampires optional, designated drivers required). While spending time with your friends or colleagues and laughing

Children’s books for the family to read together An old grandmother I once knew kept Christmas gift giving simple. She gave each child something to do (play with or build), something to eat, something to wear and something to read. For that special something to read for your family this year, Chinaberry recommends a collection of enduring favorites and soon-tobe-classic reads chosen to nurture caring and respect, be positive and uplifting, and provide rich and wonderful reading for children’s hearts and minds. Here is a look at three new titles in the collection. Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton take a fresh look at “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” with paintings by Eric Puybaret, in a board book format. Unlike the sad tale of the great friendship of dragon and boy that slips away forever when the little

Roxie Rodgers Dinstel is a professor of extension on the Tanana District Extension Faculty. Questions or column requests can be emailed to her at rrdinstel@alaska.edu or by calling 907-474-2426. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Chinaberry recommends a collection of enduring favorites and soon-to-beclassic reads chosen to nurture caring and respect, be positive and uplifting, and provide rich and wonderful reading for children’s hearts and minds.

boy grows up and leaves home, there is a satisfying resolution that teaches more about friendship and loyalty than the 50-year-old folk song ever did. The board book retails for $7.95, and a pop-up version with a CD is also available. “Seed by Seed,” written by Esme Raji Codell

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and wired and fast-paced world.” The hardcover book retails for $16.99. Chinaberry also recommends Lissa Evans’ “Horten’s Incredible Illusions: Magic, Mystery & Another Very Strange Adventure,” for ages 8 years and older. This small, thick chapter book starts off where the first adventure, “Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms,” ended and grabs returning readers and new fans alike from Page 1. “Just when height-challenged Stuart Horten thinks his big adventure is over, he discovers that Great Uncle Tony has left behind yet another mystery: he’s hidden his and illustrated by Lynne nature; try to make peace Rae Perkins, broadens the where there is war; and you will, and his magic tricks are the clues to its location!” legend and legacy of John can reach your destination reads the jacket. Unlike the “Appleseed” Chapman for by taking small steps. The dark and dreary reads popumiddle-elementary through book jacket says, “Esme lating the shelves of many early-middle-school students. Raji Codell and Lynne Rae More than the oft-told tale, Perkins show us, in eloquent children’s sections, this is a fun adventure for reading this new edition looks into a words and exhilarating alone or reading together life based on five principles: pictures, why Johnny AppUse what you have; share leseed matters now, perhaps out loud. The hardcover book retails for $14.95. what you have; respect more than ever, in our loud Creators.com

By DIANNE CROWN Creators.com


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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Thursday, November 22, 2012

Easy projects rethink tie-dye for elegant gifts about 15 minutes, stirred constantly, then removed and rinsed. The bands are removed and the tights Crafts don’t have to be comlaid flat to dry. Another option plicated. With the holiday season adds a second color. ahead, an easy, enjoyable craft can A DIYer can get a lot of variety cover many gifting bases. What out of this project without much could be more fun than experiwork, Watts says. From socks to menting with a simple tie-dye? shirts, she recommends experiA few do-it-yourself sources menting with folding or bunching have taken tie-dye up a notch, the fabric before it hits the dye away from the explosions of pribath. Another option: Dip an item mary colors seen on camp T-shirts partially into the dye bath, allowinto a more elegant realm that’s ing the color to bleed upward into perfect for gift giving. the fabric. One such project — tie-dying “It’ll fade dark to light,” Watts tights — appears in “The Bust DIY says. Guide to Life” (STC Craft, 2011), Any fabric that can soak up dye edited by Laurie Henzel and Debcolor will do, but Watts says knits bie Stoller. And the idea transcends will “come out as a blurry splotch. tights. Besides making gifts, it You’re not going to have the same works for “anything that you have distinctiveness.” that either you didn’t like the A similar craft, using white original color or you think needs scarves, appears in the October sprucing up,” said Callie Watts of pages of Martha Stewart Living Bust magazine, which aims its pop- magazine. Inspired by “shibori,” culture content at young women. an intricate Japanese technique in In the book, a pair of white which textiles are folded, twisted tights is folded accordion-style or bound with thread before dyefrom toe to top and secured with ing, this craft requires little besides rubber bands. It’s boiled in a pot a plastic, shoebox-size bin and a of black fabric dye, such as Rit, for bottle of fabric dye. By JENNIFER FORKER Associated Press

“We saw it taking off in the blog world,” said Blake Ramsey, a holiday and crafts editor at Martha Stewart Living. “It’s so accessible to people and with such satisfying results.” Change the simple accordion fold — this craft’s defining step — to vary a scarf’s outcome. Fold the fabric wide for large stripes or narrower for thinner stripes. Try a silk or rayon scarf, or use cotton for different dyeing effects. “I have great respect for the people who do (shibori),” Ramsey said. “For me, honestly, I’d prefer to whip out 10 scarves and enjoy looking at the results I get, the happy accidents, and learning from my experimenting.” This is a great craft for people who don’t want to spend a lot of time or money. “If you think you’ve messed up, it’s $4 down the drain and you learn from your mistake and start over,” Ramsey said. “I think that’s the beauty of dyeing. You can always dye over it again.” As with the earlier craft, this one can be adapted for nearly any fabric or clothing. The magazine

used inexpensive, white scarves because they’re easy to fold. (Ramsey bought her samples for a few dollars apiece online at Dharma Trading Co.) “I’d encourage people if they feel comfortable with it to try other things,” Ramsey said. Cotton gives the dye job a more graphic appearance, while silk and rayon absorb dye in a softer manner. Incorporate a second color by allowing the fabric to dry completely between dip-dyeing. It could take several days. For a second dyeing, fold the fabric differently, such as diagonally, to further enhance the results. Don’t limit yourself to white fabric and clothing either. Ramsey said a blue chambray scarf she dyed in blue turned out beautifully. Besides the indigo dye traditionally used in shibori, Ramsey recommends trying a burgundy or oxblood shade, which are trendy colors this fall, she said.

Dip-dye Scarf By Blake Ramsey, Martha Stewart Living

Supplies: Scarf Iron Clothespins 3 plastic bins (the size of shoeboxes) Liquid dye, such as Rit Dye fixative Assembly: 1. Accordion-fold scarf. Press with the iron, secure with clothespins. (If scarf is wider than bins, fold in half widthwise after folding.) 2. Mix dye in a bin according to manufacturer’s instructions. Dip scarf’s folded edge in dye (the resulting stripe will be twice as wide as the dip). 3. Dip scarf’s folded edge in another bin filled with cold water to rinse. 4. Mix fixative in another bin according to manufacturer’s instructions. Dip folded edge in fixative to set. 5. Clip accordion-folded scarf to a clothesline or pants hanger. Place newspaper or a drop cloth underneath scarf to protect surfaces. Let hang to dry, about one day.

Good Housekeeping picks Gifts for the golfer in your life top toys for the holidays will always be a nice gift. As we approach winter, a new pair of golf slacks or a longThere is no simple solusleeve top will be a welcome tion to finding the perfect addition to her cold weather gift for a golfing fanatic. golfing wardrobe. A new Buying someone a brandgolf shirt will also be wellnew putter who has used received by an avid golfer. his trusty Billy Baroo for And if she plays at the same years might destroy his course frequently, purchase putting mojo as he trades her a shirt or other apparel Billy’s luck for Scotty Cam- from the local golf course or eron’s smooth sensations. club with its logo. If price is Rather than find yourself a consideration, try looking the reason for the demise of on the discount shopping a golf game, take inventory sites online, such as Gilt or over their needs, and you’ll Ruelala, where there will find the perfect gift. occasionally be a sale of Start by evaluating their major golf apparel brands at current state. Is she comnice markdowns. plaining about playing with The golfer who enjoys a 20-year-old set of irons? collecting unique parapherIs she looking for the game nalia from different courses improvement aid of a new or events will enjoy logo hybrid club? Does she love tchotchkes. You can simply apparel with the logos of go onto eBay and type in famous golf courses? Or to “pine valley golf” or “pebble dress like her LPGA idols? beach golf” and see a litany Taking the time to think of items that range from about these simple consider- logo balls and golf bags to ations will make your deciscorecards and trophies. sion much easier. Take a look through his If your fanatic is a dufgolf bag or on his shelves fers and looking for some to see whether you notice game-improvement techball markers with different nology, help him out with courses or old golf photos on a set of transitional irons. his walls, and you’ll know The hybrid low-loft clubs where to start. You may will help improve his long purchase an inexpensive game, and the cavity-back ball marker for a few dollars short irons will deliver the or a logo golf bag for a few same consistency he’s used hundred dollars. to feeling. These sets can be You may also notice that purchased at various price your golfer is desperate for points. Adams Golf makes something, such as a new a high-quality set of clubs golf umbrella or a new golf that you can typically find glove. These can be simple on sale at golf stores or new fixes. Check her golf bag, on eBay. Higher handicap and look at the accessories. golfers may struggle using Go through the pockets to iron sets that don’t offer take full inventory. If you the same forgiveness of a know that your golfer loves hybrid set. These clubs will Titleist balls, you can buy work well for both men and a dozen new balls or 50 women. limited-play used balls. Any When your golfer enjoys of these may be purchased looking stylish on the golf at the local sporting goods course, new golf apparel store, pro shop or online. By SARA MENDELL Creators.com

Each product tested by engineers, kids The Associated Press NEW YORK — Not all the testers for Good Housekeeping’s annual Best Toys list wear lab coats. Some are barely out of diapers. For its 2012 list, engineers reviewed hundreds of toys for safety and educational merits. But the true test comes from 140 kids, ages 3 to 13, who play with the top 135 new toys at the magazine’s product-testing laboratory in New York. There are more price-conscious choices less than $25 to choose from this year, according to the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, along with toys that teach, including robotics for very young children and sophisticated art projects and models for older kids. Others fall into the category of back-tobasics, abandoning tech in favor of more open-ended play. “Parents can feel confident that our winners are safe, fun and encourage creativity, imagination, and problem-solving skills,” said Rosemary Ellis, editor in chief of Good Housekeeping. The winners of Good Housekeeping’s 2012 Best Toy Awards are revealed in the December issue, on newsstands:

Ages 3 and up The Hexbug Hive Habitat Set ($35) has mechanical bugs running through a customizable maze, and the Techno Source Glow Crazy Doodle Dome ($20) is a tent that allows children to draw on the walls with a green light wand.

Ages 4 and up T.S. Shure ArchiQuest Architectural Elements ($30) is a set of wooden blocks “in fresh shapes and bright hues” while the Playmates Shellraiser ($35) is a car for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ($10 each).

Ages 5 and up Moose Toys Fortune Cookie Maker ($25) lets kids make their own fortunes and cookies with a little help from the microwave, and the Jakks Pacific Power Trains Auto Loader City ($40) has a five-car train and 18 feet of track for “an affordable alternative to die-cast models.”

Ages 6 and up The Moose Toys Micro Chargers Loop Track ($20) has fast-charging cars that shoot through a stunt track, the Crayola Marker Airbrush ($25) uses markers to create spray paint-style art and the Lego Friends Adventure Camper ($30) creates a motor home with dolls, bikes and a surfboard.

Ages 7 and up The Techno Source Codee ($8) is a twistable chain of blocks that can be made into creatures like a bright flamingo or robot, and the Playmobil E-Rangers Headquarters ($130), has a swiveling LED spotlight and a working solar panel.

Ages 8 and up The Silverlit Porsche 911 Carrera ($80) is a replica of the sports car that can be steered by iPhone, or kids can create colorful domino-type patterns with Colorfall from Marbles: The Brain Store ($45). Wild Planet Night Sight ($40) is head-mounted infrared night-vision goggles, and Hasbro’s Bop It! Smash ($23) has players trying to hit a moving light.

Ages 9 and up The K’Nex Atomic Coaster ($71) is a motorized ride for cars that requires assembly of more than 1,000 pieces.

Ages 10 and up The Ravensburger 3D Building Set ($26) is a puzzle kit to create replicas of famous sites like the Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building.

As with any purchase, you can always shop around for the best value. The Internet has created a transparent golf marketplace where anyone can compare prices. The pro shop will usually be the most expensive stop, and eBay will usually be the cheapest. Remember that a brief investigation will lead you to the perfect gift. Good luck!

Friends of Creamer’s Field A nonprofit organization.

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1300 College Rd.


Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Thursday, November 22, 2012

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DIY gourmet gifts for Fluffy and Fido 1 large egg, beaten 2-3 tablespoons milk 1 cup dried catnip Preheat oven to 350 F. Place tuna in food processor or blender, and blend into a thick paste. In a large mixing bowl, mix the tuna, Bisquick, egg, milk and 1/2 cup dried catnip until well moistened. Add additional milk as needed. Mixture should resemble thick, sticky dough. Roll the mixture into small, bite-sized balls. Roll each ball in the remaining catnip and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 F for 5-8 minutes until set. Treats should be soft, not crunchy. Let treats cool at room temperature for two hours. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days or in the freezer for up to one month.

By CHANDRA ORR Creators.com Nothing says you care quite like a handmade gift, but why should the humans have all the fun? Surprise your favorite feline or canine companion with a gift from the heart such as homemade biscuits, gourmet chicken jerky or tempting catnip treats. “DIY gifts for pet lovers are really fun to make,” said Jennifer Quasha, author of more than 40 books, including “The Dog Lover’s Book of Crafts” and “Chicken Soup for the Soul: I Can’t Believe My Dog Did That!” “The whole time you’re working on the project, you’re thinking of your friend, his or her pet, and how much they will like or get a chuckle out of what you are creating,” Quasha said. “It says that you care enough to spend a lot more time making something than going out and buying something.” While you’re in the kitchen crafting your signature Christmas cookies, pour an extra cup of cocoa, and cook up these gourmet goodies for the dogs and cats on your list — and don’t forget the gift wrap. For paws-itively pleasing packaging, pack the tasty treats in holiday tins or festive Chinese takeout-style containers. In lieu of a bow and gift tag, top it off with a new collar and personalized dog tag — or for the kitties, a catnip toy mouse or jingle ball.

PEANUT BUTTER ‘GINGERBREAD’ BISCUITS

With wholesome ingredients like oats, bran, molasses, barley and apple scraps, these mouthwatering treats made in a food dehydrator will have your dog begging for more. For an extra decadent treat, add a thin layer of “chocolate” icing made from Creators.com melted carob chips. Skip the pricey pet store fare and make your own chicken jerky for the canine companions on your 1 1/2 cups water 1/2 cup oil Christmas list. The prep time is minimal, and you have the added benefit of knowing it’s 100 natural. 3 tablespoons natural peanut butter (no sugar added) 2 teaspoons vanilla Pamela Braun, recipe developer pieces should snap when broken. the baking dish and place on 2 cups whole-wheat flour If they’re still flexible, continue paper towels until cooled. Store in and the voice behind the web1/2 cup cornmeal dehydrating until crispy. Store a zip-close bag in the fridge until site My Man’s Belly. “One of 1/2 cup oats my favorite gifts to give to my jerky in zip-close bags or airtight gift-giving time. Bones can be 1/4 cup honey crunch wheat friends that own dogs is a gift of containers. refrigerated up to two weeks or SUPER SOUP BONE germ dehydrated chicken breast treats. Don’t have a dehydrator? Place stored in the freezer for up to two In a large bowl, combine flour, Instead of splurging on pricey With all the concerns surroundsliced chicken on baking sheets, months. bones at the pet store, make your ing treats being imported from and bake in the oven at 200 F for cornmeal, oats and wheat germ. Stir in oil, peanut butter, vanilla own from an inexpensive grocery China, these homemade treats two hours, or until done. GOURMET CHICKEN JERKY and water. Knead till smooth, store staple: beef soup bones. Trashow your friends that you care Chicken jerky for dogs is all adding more flour or water as ditionally used for making homeabout their pet, just like you care CATNIP TUNA TREATS needed. Roll out dough to about the rage, and for good reason. It’s about them.” made broth, these hefty bones 1/4-inch thick. Shape into bars, These catnip-infused tuna are simple to prepare, and they’re chewy, satisfying and packed with Slice boneless, skinless chicken treats are sure to please even the or cut with cookie cutters in the protein — but it’s also pricey and breast into 1/4-inch slices. The just as indulgent as the basted, shape of bones or gingerbread most finicky feline. The recipe meaty beef bones but at a fraction potentially loaded with unhealthy overall shape doesn’t matter, men. makes enough to share with all additives. Bake your own at home Braun says, but the thickness of of the price. Place cutouts on dehydrator the cat lovers on your list, and in a food dehydrator, and you’ll be each slice should be uniform. To prepare, place in a glass tray and place in dehydrator at it sure beats the standard storecertain it’s 100 percent natural. baking dish and cook at 250 F Lay out the chicken pieces on the highest setting (145-155 F) “As a dog owner, I care about for two hours or until the bone the dehydrator tray, leaving room bought fare. for 6-8 hours. Add time if needed, 1 can tuna, well-drained what my dog eats as much as is golden brown and the meat between each piece. Dehydrate for as treats should be very dry. 1/3 cup Bisquick baking mix I care about what I eat,” says chunks are crisp. Remove from eight hours at 145 F. The chicken

Gifts to make traveling comfy and convenient By BETH J. HARPAZ AP Travel Editor NEW YORK — Travel is fun once you reach your destination, but being away from home, getting through airport security and enduring long trips can be stressful. No wonder, then, when you ask, “What’s a good gift for travelers?” the answer is often related to comfort and convenience. Here are some ideas for holiday gifts that make travel more pleasant, whether the traveler in your life is a frequent-flying sales manager or a bus-riding student. For music lovers, how about upgrading flimsy earbuds to a set of headphones? Bose noise-cancelling Quiet Comfort headphones, at a pricey $300, have been a top pick among travelers for years, but Consumer

Reports also gives high ratings to many models less than $100, including headphones from Able Planet, JVC and Audio-Technica. Is there a neck-pillow junkie in your life? You know who they are: They keep neck pillows stashed in bags and glove compartments in all sizes, colors and styles, from inflatable to bead-filled. Consider a new addition to the collection in the form of a neck pillow with built-in speakers. Mic Anderson, an agent with The Magic for Less Travel agency, bought one for about $25 for her 14year-old daughter Sarah from a kiosk at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, and it was a hit. “It plugs into your MP3 player or iPod,” Sarah said. “I use it on car trips and plane rides, and I also use it in my room a lot.” The

speakers are inside the Ushaped pillow so they sit beneath your chin on either side. Sarah says you can hear the music without disturbing the person sitting next to you, which her mom confirms. Carol Gundrum, who also works for The Magic for Less, asked fellow travel agents for gift ideas and packing cubes were one of the top suggestions. Typically made from lightweight fabrics with zippers, packing cubes come in various sizes designed to fit inside luggage. Fans say they help compress clothing so you can fit more in, but just as important, they make it easy to organize belongings. Socks and underwear might go in one cube, shirts in another, shoes in a third so they don’t get clothing dirty. Cubes can also be filled with non-wearables like electron-

ics, books and papers or beauty products. If checked luggage exceeds weight restrictions, a cube can be removed — some come with small hooks or handles — and carried. Packing cubes are available from various retailers but one popular brand is from www.eBags.com. “The packing cubes are our No. 1 bestselling product out of 50,000 on eBags.com,” said eBags cofounder Peter Cobb. In various colors, with mesh windows for breathability and visibility, they range from under $20 for a set of three in small and slim sizes to under $30 for a large set of three. Gift ideas abound on the www.3floz.com website, which sells health, beauty and grooming products in sizes approved for carry-on air travel. Click on “products” to see the company’s

list of “bestsellers,” like the Air Repair skin care kit, which includes cleansers and moisturizers, $39; garment care items like The Laundress Crease Release spray, $8; toothpastes and fold-up toothbrush in the Go Smile kit, $12, and a Malin+Goetz bag of six products including shampoo, conditioner and body wash, $30. Nifty travel products from Flight 001, which has brick-and-mortar stores as well as a website, include lightweight yet sturdy containers for liquids that can be collapsed, rolled up and tucked in your bag when not in use, then filled as needed. Flight 001’s Bubi bottle, $30, 22 ounces and in four colors, can be used for hot or cold beverages, and it’s safe for dishwashers, microwaves and freez-

ers. It’s perfect for travelers who like the idea of a refillable water bottle that won’t take up a lot of room when empty. Show a little love for the lower leg: For air travelers, socks with treads, soft washable slippers or compression socks (which need not be surgical strength — take a look at athletic brands like Saucony’s AMP PRO2 socks, $38 online) can make flights more bearable. For those with short legs (or anyone who wants a lift underfoot while seated), the travel supply company www. Magellans.com sells three types of portable footrests. Two are fold-up styles made from sturdy lightweight plastic, $25 and $29.50, but Magellan’s bestselling footrest is a cozy inflatable cushion that folds flat, $29.50.

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Holiday gifts Familiar items among hot toys for every teen By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN Creators.com

By SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com It can be difficult to buy gifts that teens will like, since there’s such a discrepancy between what a 13-year-old loves and what an 18-year-old loves. Teens can be very particular about which trends suit their style and which trends are “in” at their school. Luckily, there’s a free online tool to help you assess each of the teens on your gift list. At Gifts.com, simply click on the Personality Profiler tool on the home page, enter the teen’s name, answer some easy questions regarding the teen’s goals, hobbies and “what she talks about at dinner” and the site delivers an array of gift suggestions on a list titled to the teen in question. Take this quiz for each of the teens on your list, and you’ll save time, and perhaps money, in finding the perfect, on-trend gifts. Also making this task easier for you, the Gifts.com editors place a banner on each of their top gift picks. Here are the top trends in teen gifts for girls and guys:

Achiever items Goal-oriented teen gifts include iPad covers in different designs, locker organizers with white boards and pockets, digital alarm clocks, USB sticks in themed designs and the Gifts.com editors’ pick of a digital scanner pen for better note taking.

Trendanista items For teen girls who love their fashion designer labels, consider Kate Spade wallets, key chains or iPhone covers. They’re very hot right now. A Gifts. com editors’ pick for teen girls are manicure collections filled with pretty nail polishes in classic, trendy colors, with sparkly nail polishes in for teens of all ages. As an example of new nail polish artistry, the editors of Gifts.com showcase the Ciate Caviar Manicure set, a two-part revolutionary nail art kit created in London, which they say brings “avant-garde catwalk nail styling to your fingertips.” Featuring pearlescent beads for a 3-D effect, this kit creates attention-grabbing nail designs ($25). Trendanistas also love jewelry, and this season’s big look is the cuff bracelet, also a bargain buy at less than $30 for many styles of wider bracelets in silver, either simple or intricate. And of course, you can’t go wrong with a gift card to the trendanista teen’s favorite store or site.

use right now, so that you can give them accessories that work with them. It’s a wise idea to buy teen tech toys closer to the holidays, and not months prior, since they upgrade their gadgets often -- and you don’t want to give them a phone case that doesn’t work with their current phone. Looking at the top trends in teen tech items, here are some of the choice picks: • Headphones. Yes, big headphones worn over the head are in again, with funky colors from designer collections. You’ll see basic black, island turquoise, vivid orange and patterned headphones on the market. The Urban Ears headphones are an editor’s top pick at Gifts.com. • Earbuds. Teens use these tiny earpiece tools to listen to music or television shows via their handheld gadgets, and a range of teen-style earbuds are on the market right now. From classic solid-colored earbuds to those with a hot pink zebra pattern, to ear buds with sports team logos on them, these gifts are easy to match to your recipient, and even if they own earbuds, they can always use extra pairs for their sports bags or for travel. • iPhone cases. Tailor your choice to the teen’s interests, from classic novel covers to soccer to funny quotes and sayings. Teens love to accessorize their tech gear, and your gift cases can expend their options.

Diaries and journals Surprisingly, teens don’t write everything on social media — mostly because their parents are “friends” with them on Facebook and monitor their posts and friend activities. So a private writing space is greatly appreciated by teens who want to journal their projects, goals and, yes, their school dramas and crushes. Creative types may use their journals for writing poetry or sketching, and a starter scrapbook complete with an array of stickers and borders from the craft store melds a teen’s penchant for keepsakes and artistry. One of the most popular journals on Gifts.com is the Ticket Stub Diary, which lets them insert their tickets from concerts, plays, sporting events, and vacations, and journal details of each experience.

Furby is back and better than ever; Barbie will be taking a lot of pictures; and Monster High dolls and accessories probably will be smashing all the holiday competition, say experts when describing the “hot toys” for Christmas 2012. No. 1 on the Mattel top 12 list is the Barbie Photo Fashion doll. The doll is actually a digital camera, and Barbie’s shirt is where the digital image will appear. At $49.99, this doll is a little pricier than your usual Barbie, but she can hold more than 200 images and features an internal rechargeable battery. She’ll be a hit with your young photographer on Christmas morning and beyond. “This year, we are introducing an innovative doll that lets girls customize, create and design, all in one interactive toy. The Barbie Photo Fashion doll combines fashion play and photography with a simple click,” says Cathy Cline, vice president of U.S. marketing for Mattel’s girls brands. “With this digital camera doll, girls can customize their own photos and then display them on Barbie’s T- shirt -- allowing them to be the ultimate photographer and stylist.” Mattel also has launched Apptivity, which is a new line of toys made from plastic that interact with iPad games. In other words, Apptivity brings toys to life and turns tablets into moving digital worlds and is compatible with the iPad. Fisher-Price Apptivity items are compatible with the iPhone and the iPod Touch. Games will include “Hot Wheels,” “Cut the Rope,” “WWE Rumblers” and “Fruit Ninja.” “With millions of households now owning iPads, we sought out a meaningful way to create new play possibilities that both entertain and bring families together,” says Lisa McKnight, senior vice president of marketing for Mattel’s North American division. “Apptivity meets the needs of today’s techsavvy kids while showcasing our trusted brands and best-in-class partners.” Families who want to play a new and fun board game might want to consider giving the “Angry

Money and gift cards

Creators.com photo courtesy of Mattel

The Barbie Photo Fashion doll, considered one of this season’s hottest toys, is actually a digital camera.

Birds Space Game,” says Christopher Byrne, known across the country as The Toy Guy. “The app is now a board game,” he says. “This is the latest version from Mattel. It’s really selling well.” Lego toys have long been a favorite with boys, but the company has launched a new item in Lego Friends, says Byrne, who is also associated with TimetoPlayMag.com. “This is the first girl-centered line from Lego,” he says. “It caused a bit of a stir when it was launched earlier this year, but it’s doing very well and is very popular.” One toy that’s making a comeback is the odd-looking but fun Furby. “Yes, it’s back, but I have to say that they’ve done a really great job of updating the technology, so the play is better than ever,” Byrne

says. The Bounce Bounce Tigger, from Just Play, is a “new version of a toy that was a hit about eight years ago,” Byrne says. Seeing as the toy is meant for preschoolers, there is a “totally new consumer base since then,” he says. “They’ve done a great job animating the toy, and it’s hilarious.” High-energy boys with time on their hands over the holiday break can play outside with the Nerf N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire. “This is one of the most high-powered Nerf guns yet. It shoots up to 75 feet and can hold up to 104 foam darts,” Byrne says. Though it is still a little

early to know for sure the way all toy sales will go, Byrne makes one prediction on which both he and Mattel agree. Mattel is promoting Monster High High School on its top 12 toy list, and Byrne thinks the toy company is right on the mark. Girls also will enjoy the Monster High Create-A-Monster kit, according to Mattel. When it comes to the Monster High and Ghouls Rule dolls, Byrne concludes, “You will not be able to get these by Nov. 1, and I’d bet money on that — or at least they’ll be very hard to find. Monster High is completely on fire from a sales perspective.”

Gift Certificates

Teens are in a stage of self-discovery and independence, which means they love to choose their own gifts. You may help that happen, and perhaps help Teens are extremely tech- them get an item they’ve been saving for with a cash savvy. They often own the gift or a gift card to their top tools, such as iPhones, favorite site or store. Not iPads, MP3 players and sure which gift card would high-powered laptops and be best? Just ask them. It’s desktops. In order to give a gift to give them some say teens excellent tech-orientin what you get them. Teens ed gifts, you have to know love that. which kinds of tools they

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Thursday, November 22, 2012

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Plenty of tasty choices for food book gifts banana bread from Mark Bittman’s “How to Cook Everything.” Essays about each book and its importance make this an excellent gift for the person who loves cookbooks even more than cooking. There also is the incredibly charming “Handwritten Recipes” (Perigee, $20), a collection of found recipes by bookseller Michael Popek. Tucked between the pages of books brought into his store, Popek found the jots and scribbles of recipes from unknown cooks. In “Handwritten Recipes,” he collects those notes and recipes, assembling a book that is as much lovely artifact as cookbook.

By MICHELE KAYAL Associated Press It’s that time of year again, when retailers deck their halls, radio stations relentlessly jingle and cookbooks go forth and multiply. The dawn of the holiday season also marks an onslaught from the publishing world — a rush of food books that begins in August and refuses to slow down until every family in America has gifted (and perhaps regifted) at least a dozen. Or maybe it just feels that way. The upshot of all this is that there truly is a food book for everyone on your shopping list. Should you care to go that route, we’ve sussed out some of the best to help streamline at least that leg of your shopping trip.

For cookbook geeks Fancy a sunderland pudding? Ever wonder how to dress a calf’s head? Publisher Andrews McMeel has teamed up with The American Antiquarian Society to publish reproductions of 100 cookbooks documenting the early American cooking experience. “American Cookery” (Andrews McMeel, $22.99) by Amelia Simmons was originally published in 1796 and is believed to be the first cookbook to document American culinary techniques. It offers a window into those days with recipes for items such as spruce beer and tongue pie set beside page images from the original cookbook. Also part of the series is America’s first Jewish cookbook, “Jewish Cookery Book: On Principles of Economy” (Andrews McMeel, $28.99) by Esther Levy. It originally was published in 1871 and includes recipes for fish balls and frimsel (noodle) soup. Its recipes, menu suggestions and household management tips aimed to help European immigrants adapt to their new country while

Mexican dishes like pork tamales to fusion creations like scallop and cucumber cocktail. Charming family stories combined with richly colorful photos to make this a delightful invitation to cooking. In “The Latin Road Home” (Lake Isle Press, $35), chef Jose Garces traces his culinary journey from his ancestral home of Ecuador through his different influences from Spain to Cuba, Mexico and Peru. Recipes for dishes like red snapper in tomato sauce and his grandmother’s empanadas are woven with thoroughly readable narratives of his life and family, as well as useful information about the regions. “Gran Cocina Latina: The Food of Latin America” (W.W. Norton, $45) by Cuban-born chef Maricel Presilla offers a sweeping, sophisticated history of Latin food that illustrates the diversity of techniques, styles and flavors through 500 recipes. Recipes for foundational adobos and sofritos pave the way for cuitlacoche and jalapeno quesadillas, various pilafs, empanadas and tamales.

For the world traveler The Associated Press

Above: Nathan Myhrvold, author of “Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking,” poses with books at the Institute for Culinary Education in New York. The former chief technology officer for Microsoft turned his techie smarts to cooking in last year’s massive sixvolume tome. Right: The book “Piece of Cake: Home Baking Made Simple,” by David Muniz and David Lesniak, provides lessons in easy baking. maintaining their religious heritage. Both volumes are perfect for the armchair anthropologist in your life.

For regular geeks Does your loved one stand over a pot of boiling water with a thermometer? Wonder why salt makes steak juicy? Muse out loud about why russets make fluffier mashed potatoes than red bliss? We got it covered. “The Science of Good Cooking” (America’s Test Kitchen, $40) by the folks behind Cook’s Illustrated magazine doesn’t just offer “400 recipes engineered for perfection,” it also covers 50 basic concepts explaining why the recipes work. Useful sidebars showcase tips and techniques — use

a skillet, not a wok to stirfry — and charts that check your measurements (a cup of all-purpose flour should weigh 5 ounces) make it a handy reference guide. “Modernist Cuisine at Home” (The Cooking Lab, $140) is even sexier. The laboratory that last year produced “Modernist Cuisine,” a six-volume encyclopedia of molecular gastronomy by Nathan Myhrvold, has turned its blow torches and sous vide machines on home cooking. It’s a monstrously fun and shockingly practical cookbook that truly lets you get your geek on in the kitchen. Because who knew that a touch of citric acid makes the ultimate grilled cheese? Or that scrambled eggs can be dispensed from a whipping canister and that bak-

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Who didn’t love Kevin Gillespie, the tattooed “Top Chef” contestant who worshipped pig and always concocted something homey? His book, “Fire in my Belly” (Andrews McMeel, $40), brings home recipes like Brussels sprouts gratin with heavy cream and mustard and the “one-pot hog supper” with fat back and cracklings. Light it’s not, but delicious? Tickling the other end of the spectrum is “Hero Food” (Andrews McMeel, $35) by New York chef Seamus Mullen. More than 80 recipes such as caramelized cauliflower with anchovies and duck liver toasts with pickled raisins are part of Mullen’s quest to manage his rheumatoid arthritis with 18 “hero” ingredients like sweet peas, parsley, berries and squash. Despite his motivation, Mullen’s food tastes anything but

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The Brasil Nuts

Saturday 11/24

GULLIVER’S BOOKS GULLIVER’S

Love pho, but want to branch out? Charles Phan, the chef behind San Francisco’s famed restaurant The Slanted Door, offers “Vietnamese Home Cooking” (Ten Speed Press, $35), devoted to bringing tamarind, star anise, fish sauce and lemon grass to a kitchen near you. While many of the recipes are a little too “chefy” — who’s going to fillet their own fish for the “simple fish soup”? — they go a long way to introducing the flavors and techniques of the cuisine. Bite-sized steamed rice cakes promise unusual party snacks, and lemon ing soda helps caramelize grass chicken could be a vegetables? feather in your toque. “The Hakka Cookbook: For nostalgia Chinese Soul Food from Around the World” (Unihounds versity of California Press, Americans have been $39.95) by Linda Lau hungry for nostalgia, and Anusasananan captures the publishers are happy to flavors and stories of an feed them. “101 Classic often overlooked Chinese Cookbooks: 501 Classic diaspora. Fried eggs and Recipes” (Rizzoli Internabitter melon, tangy-sweet tional Publications, $50) raw fish salad, and chicken boils down the classic, stuffed with preserved most iconic cookbooks to mustard greens offer new 501 recipes, drawing from insights to even the savvibooks that span Fannie est fan of Chinese food. Farmer’s 1896 “The BosAmong the steady supton Cooking School Cook ply of books on Latin food, Book” to Thomas Keller’s 1999 “The French Laundry three stand out. “Muy Bueno: Three Generations Cookbook.” Sneaking in between are of Authentic Mexican Flarecipes such as sole meuni- vor” (Hippocrene Books, $22.50) by Yvette Marere from Jacques Pepin’s “La Technique,” Bengal red quez-Sharpnack, Veronica Gonzalez-Smith and Evanlentils from Julie Sahni’s “Classic Indian Vegetarian gelina Soza, preserves recipes spanning old world and Grain Cooking,” and

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Thursday, November 22, 2012

Seasoned salts can be an offbeat treat the texture of the salt, which in this case tends to be large and coarse. Finely ground seasonings or more robust dried herbs, or a blend of the two, all work well. I’ve outlined a few suggestions for each variety, but this is a creative effort, so just explore your spice cabinet. Be sure to label your salts and include hints on what to use them on.

By J.M. HIRSCH AP Food Editor It seemed like a tall order. I wanted an edible gift that was fast and easy to make, inexpensive, wouldn’t spoil or need to be refrigerated, and that kids could be involved in. With so many caveats, the field is pretty narrow. I’m not a fan of baking mixes, such as muffins or pancakes. Too much measuring and printing of recipes so recipients know how to use them. Spice rubs are a good choice. Trail mix is another. But I’ve done those before and this year I wanted something different, something a little less expected. The solution I came up with — seasoned salts. The concept is simple. Blend salt with various seasonings, then package them nicely. The kids can even get in on decorating the jars. There are just a few things to remember as you do this. Most important is that seasoned salts — whether prepared or purchased — are intended as finishing salts. That means they should be used to season finished dishes, not during cooking. Most of the nuanced flavor of a seasoned salt would be lost if used for cooking. For gift purposes, I suggest planning for two kinds of salt — powdered salt, which is intended for use on popcorn, and flaked salt, which is for sprinkling over finished savory foods. First, the powdered salt. The powdered part of this is key. Movie theater popcorn tends to be perfectly salted because vendors use powdered salt; this adheres to the corn kernels far

POPCORN SALT COMBINATIONS (Each makes enough for 4 to 6 gifts, depending on jar size) — 1 pound kosher salt, six 3-inch cinnamon sticks, 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (grind everything together) — 1 pound kosher salt, 2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice blend (mix the spice blend into the salt after it is ground) — 1 pound kosher salt, 4 teaspoons garlic powder, 4 teaspoons smoked paprika (mix the spice blend into the salt after it is ground) — 1 pound kosher salt, 2 1/2 The Associated Press An array of popcorn salt combinations — Sichuan pepper, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and smoked tablespoons Sichuan pepper (grind everything together) paprika — are pictured. better than even fine grain salt does. This is why your homemade popcorn usually is unevenly salted, and why you end up with a sea of salt on the bottom of the bowl. Making powdered salt is simple. Use inexpensive kosher salt (usually about $1.50 for a 3pound box), then run it through either a food processor or blender (you also can use a mortar and pestle for smaller batches) until it reaches the consistency

of powdered sugar. Seasonings can be mixed in by hand after the salt is ground, or simply added to the processor or blender at the same time. When selecting seasonings for popcorn salt, don’t hesitate to get creative, even mixing sweet and savory flavors. But always aim to use seasonings with a similar texture as the powdered salt (in other words, finely ground seasonings such as cinnamon, paprika, garlic powder,

etc.). For flake salts intended to use on savory foods, you’ll need to start with pricier flaked sea salt. You usually can find bargains on this variety at places such as Trader Joe’s and similar retailers. With these salts, you simply mix them with the seasonings you want, then bottle them. Even easier than powdered salts. You also have more choice when it comes to seasonings. No need to worry about matching

SAVORY SALT COMBINATIONS (Each makes 1 to 2 gifts, depending on jar size) — 1/2 cup flaked salt, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 2 teaspoons dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes — 1/2 cup flaked salt, 1 1/2 tablespoons fennel seed, 2 teaspoons cumin seed, 2 teaspoons mustard powder — 1/2 cup flakes salt, 2 teasoons curry powder

BOOKS: Literary gifts abound for culinary enthusiasts of every possible variety Continued from Page H8

medicinal. Fans of uber chef Thomas Keller will welcome “Bouchon Bakery” (Artisan Books, $50), featuring 150 recipes from humble shortbread and oatmeal raisin cookies to pistachio madeleines, pain au chocolat, raspberry macarons and other items from his fabled bakery.

(Rizzoli, $29.95) by David Muniz and David Lesniak Love dessert but hate offers more than 120 recito fuss? A stout float from pes for classic American “Sinfully Easy Delicious treats — think brownies, Desserts” (Artisan Books, peanut butter cookies and $25.95) by Alice Medrich blueberry muffins. Black is the treat for you. The and white cheesecake, an float is joined by dozens honest-to-goodness New more recipes such as peaYork crumb cake, and nut butter pavlova, honey cakes from bundts to babcaramelized figs, and food kas join the fun. processor chocolate mousse Home-baked pies are the that are just as easy. And aspiration of many a cook. easily as tasty. “A Year of Pies” (Lark, “Piece of Cake: Home $19.95) by Ashley English Baking Made Simple” offers strawberry, rhubarb

For the baker

Jamie Oliver’s magazine, “Jamie Magazine.” With the motto “Making You a Better Cook,” each issue is jammed with recipes, as well as travel and food stories and stunning photography. Appropriately enough, the magazine’s first U.S. issue is the holiday edition. Subscriptions for $32.95 at http://www. jamiemag.com. Are your loved ones more the digital sort? Help them bridge the digital

and ginger hand pies for spring, pumpkin tiramisu pie in fall and pies for all the days in between. Savory pies like curried winter vegetable and galumpkis pie — the pie version of Polish stuffed cabbage — mix things up in the colder months.

For the browser Stuff somebody’s stocking with an eight-issue subscription to the justlaunched U.S. edition of

divide into the kitchen with “The Epicurious Cookbook” (Clarkson Potter, $27.99), a collection of more than 250 of the topranked recipes from the ubiquitous recipe search site. The recipes are easy, reliable and vetted by the many, many users who have turned the site into an invaluable kitchen reference.

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Thursday, November 22, 2012

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Kitchen gifts for the foodies in your life BY SHARON NAYLOR Creators.com Give a man a fish and he eats for one day. Give a foodie a fish spatula and he makes many delectable seafood meals for his family and friends. If you have people on your gift-giving list who love to cook and experiment with new recipes and exotic cuisines or always serving up amazing dishes at meals and get-togethers, you can’t go wrong by choosing kitchen-oriented gifts for these so-called foodies this holiday season. They love everything culinary since these gifts work with their passion for cooking, and even the most inexpensive, unique kitchen gadget or spice mix thrills them. You can buy for the experienced chef or for those just starting out, such as newlyweds, engaged couples and those who have discovered a love of cooking later in life. “My mother started taking cooking classes at her retirement home, and she fell in love with organic and Asian cooking,” says Dena Guerrard, a mother of two. “Now, she wants cooking tools, sauces, cookbooks and other items for her new inter-

Creators.com photo courtesy of Sur La Table

New and improved zesters are a top kitchen gift for foodies. est, which makes it far more exciting to shop for her gifts.” Here are the top types of gifts to consider for all the foodies on your holiday shopping list: • Flavored Balsamic Vinegars These subtly- or powerfullyinfused vinegars open up whole new worlds of flavor profiles in salads, seafoods, poultry and red meats. At the Cape May Olive Oil

Co. (http://www.CapeMayOliveO ilCompany.com), some of the top creatively designed balsamic vinegars include: • Pomegranate balsamic. This balsamic vinegar has the tartness of the pomegranate right in it making it slightly sweet, slightly tart. Enjoy it on salads, in desserts and in sauces and marinades.

• Mandarin orange balsamic. Bold orange aroma and flavor. Perfect for vinaigrettes, salads and sauces for Asian dishes. Use with pork or chicken dishes. • Cranberry balsamic. This is a wonderful flavor to add to meats, such as pork or turkey. Works great on a salad with nuts, or try it on vanilla ice cream. • Flavored Extra-Virgin Olive Oil. Flavored olive oils add gourmet flair to the foodie’s treasured recipes and allow them to follow celebrity chef recipes to the letter. You'll find such flavors as jalapeno, lemon, rosemary, garlic and even bacon-flavored olive oil. Look especially for black truffle garlic olive oil, which the experts at Cape May Olive Oil Co. describe as “an elegant oil to use as a final touch to your dish. Drizzle over pasta, vegetables or scallops, and it makes for a wonderful risotto.” • Spices Quality essential spices are an essential in a foodie’s kitchen, and you’ll wow them with your gift of exotic spice blends, like Marrakesh, a Moroccan blend used for lamb, fish, meatballs, couscous, soups and roasted vegetables; and Cataluna, a blend of pimento and smoked cinnamon, for stews, soups, bean dishes and pork.

• Flavored Sugars The Cape May Olive Oil Co.’s website shows off more than a dozen inspiring uses for flavored sugars, including Ginger Flavored Pure Cane Sugar Sweet: Top lemon sorbet or pumpkin pie. Fresh: Use Ginger sugar in stir-fry to add a sweet zing. Savory: Perfect on grilled salmon. Liquid: Ginger sugar will be your new favorite when added to a steaming cup of tea. Twist: Caramelize ginger sugar on top of creme brulee. • Kitchen Tools Browse the kitchen gadgets at such popular stores as Sur La Table, Williams-Sonoma and other upscale entertaining and foodie delight sites and you’ll see chefworthy kitchen gadgets that turn the everyday cook into a master chef. From top-quality, ultra-long zesters to strawberry hullers to chef-quality mandoline for fine slices of cucumber, to a julienne peeler, specialty tools elevate an indoor and outdoor kitchen’s creations. Shop FoodNetwork.com to buy gadgets from the recipient’s favorite chef’s line, such as Guy Fieri’s sauce squeeze bottles and expert paring knives.

Guide to coffee table books as holiday gifts By LEANNE ITALIE Associated Press NEW YORK — Even people without coffee tables enjoy coffee table books as gifts, especially if they’re thoughtfully chosen rather than hastily snatched from a store shelf at the last minute. The holidays bring fresh choices every year among large-format, photo-driven books. A sampler among new releases:

Fashion and style “Vogue: The Editor’s Eye,” Abrams Books, features interviews with eight of the magazine’s stylists

through time. Celebrity portraits and behind-thescenes candids by the fashion industry’s top photographers, including Irving Penn, Mario Testino, Richard Avedon and Annie Leibovitz. “Icons,” Running Press, stunning up-close photography by Markus and Indrani of Kate Winslet and Kanye West, along with more stagey and dramatic commercial jobs featuring the duo’s A-list clientele, from album covers to magazine work. “Tim Walker: Story Teller,” Abrams Books, with the photographer turning fashion into fairy tales. Singer Kate Bush wrote a foreword and Walker includes per-

sonal observations of the full-page, color-saturated shoots. There’s Tim Burton as a skanky Santa and model Xiao Wen with a huge insect on her open mouth.

Film and TV “Bond on Bond,” Lyons Press, the Roger Moore years, by Roger Moore. Lots of trivia in text spanning all 50 years of 007, not just Moore’s stint. His recollections are cheeky and well informed. He includes snapshots of famous pals who showed up on set, details gadgetry and includes a great color beefcake shot of Daniel Craig, shirt off. “Steven Spielberg: A

LIM ITED TIM E O FFER !A C T N O W !

photo submission period is closed. Thank You for your participation!

Looking Back... A beautiful book of photographs tak en throughout history by the people w ho helped forge our com m unity.

A rriving in D ecem ber 2012,Look ing Back w ill m ak e a great holiday gift.

“The Rolling Stones: 50,” Hyperion, by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood. In celebration of the band’s 50th anniversary, stark commentary from the Stones themselves to go with tour photos, candids and closeups. “Green Day: The Ultimate Unauthorized History,” Voyageur Press, by Alan di Perna. The rock journalist includes concert visuals, posters and memorabilia such as backstage passes in this retrospective spanning the band’s 25 years. Out on Dec. 16.

Sat.

hats, gloves, scarves, new hygiene products, unopened board games, craft items or sets, movie passes, basketballs, footballs, puzzles for all ages, and gift cards of $10–$20. Please note: We do not accept skin-toned cosmetics, clothing or shoes. Santa's Calendar: Fri., 11/23 Clearing House Opens Mon., 11/26 Referrals Accepted

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“Ralph Steadman’s Extinct Boids,” Bloomsbury, with commentary from Ceri

notes of appreciation.

Whether you have handmade gifts, collections, donations, or store-bought items…now is the time to get them NEW HOURS ready for the Clearing House opening 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. tomorrow in the former railroad Mon.–Fri. depot behind the News-Miner! 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

T his book contains photos that have been passed dow n from generation to generation — Fairbank s from the early 20th century on.

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Levy. Levy, a filmmaker, asked the cartoonist best known for his work with Hunter S. Thompson to produce one painting for an art exhibition on birds. Steadman didn’t stop there, documenting in beautiful color 100 birds in all. His full-size paintings are punctuated by humorous emails and phone conversations between the two. “Mad’s Greatest Artists: Mort Drucker, Five Decades of His Finest Work,” Running Press. A collection of movie and TV satire plucked in comic-strip format from the pages of the magazine. George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and others among Drucker’s targets wrote

is Opening Tomorrow!

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner presents

O n ly

Retrospective,” Sterling, featuring text with the director and film critic Richard Schickel in conversation as Spielberg looks back on the last 40 years. Chapters are chronological by movie. Photos heavy on film stills. “All the Bits: Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, by Luke Dempsey. A colorful doorstop of a book offering complete scripts for every one of the show’s 45 episodes, with marginalia and fun graphic details.


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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Thursday, November 22, 2012

Great inexpensive gifts Gifts for the gamer: From classics to superheroes

By TAWNY MAYA MCCRAY Creators.com The holidays are the biggest shopping season of the year, a time to dole out gifts to the special people in your life. For shoppers on a budget, this time of year can be a real headache. But there are plenty of great and practical gift ideas out there under $50 that are sure to make your loved ones merry. Big Picture PR has standout stocking stuffers for less than $50 this season. For women, jewelry designer Paula Montgomery has a nice selection of repurposed romantic vintage earrings starting at $45. Jewelry designer Kris Nations has plenty of pieces for less than $50 from her eco-friendly line made with repurposed metal. Necklaces start at $39, earrings at $35 and bracelets at $25. There are also several items on sale. All metals are 14-karat gold or sterling silver. According to Nations’ website, she works with metal refiners who obtain their metal from the earth’s existing metal supply rather than depending on mining new precious metals, which can generate environmental waste, contaminate water and endanger the lives of humans and animals. All her jewelry is made in the USA. Hard Candy Cases has a wide variety of quality casings for less than $50 for your iPhone, iPad, iPod, Kindle Fire and Macbook. Cases for iPhones start at $9.95, iPads at $16.95, iPods at $34.95, Kindle Fire at $39.95 and Macbook at $9.95. Find the entire collection at http://www.hardcandycases. com. Many stores have a large array of gifts for less than $50 online, including Barnes & Noble and Pottery Barn. Items include wine racks, industry wine coolers, candles, incense, recycled glass bottle vases, lanterns, clocks, journals, pens and picture frames. An article from eHow about Christmas gifts for women that are less than

BY CATHERINE MCNULTY Creators.com

Creators.com

These blue keystone earrings, from Paula Montgomery, are a great gift if your budget is on the low side. $50 suggests purchasing bath and beauty products in the recipient’s favorite scent. “Find out her favorite perfume, and instead of buying the perfume itself for Christmas, purchase the accompanying products, such as lotions, body washes, body oils, soaps, bubble bath and candles, in the same scent,” the article states. The article also suggests putting a spin on simply buying a bottle of wine. Instead, take the woman in your life on a tour of a local winery. Many wineries offer free tours and tastings so you can sample a variety of wines and find out which ones your loved one will like. “Take note of her favorite wines during the tastings,” the article states. “After the tour, purchase several bottles of her favorites, and give them to her as Christmas gifts. For $50, you can likely purchase one to three bottles of wine, depending on the price.” An article from eHow on

gifts for men suggests picking out tools, sports paraphernalia from their favorite team or a nice bottle of wine or whiskey for less than $50. Gift certificates are also a nice gift for $50 or less. Montgomery said she’s big on giving gift cards to her friends from their favorite store or hobby, such as a knitting store, bead store, independent movie theater or coffee shop. “That way, they only use it for themselves and not feel like they need to use it on someone else,” she says. “I like to get them from local shops and try to avoid the big-box, mall store, chain store, so as to support the local economy and locally owned shops.” Montgomery added, “I also make one-of-a-kind gift card holders myself so it shows more thought than just running out and buying a gift card and shoving it in a boring envelope. The envelope that I make becomes part of the gift.”

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3: Europe’s Most Wanted” is getting the video game treatment. The question is, When they’re all this awesome, which one do you buy? Alas, some questions can only be answered thusly: All of them! Occasionally, you may want your gamer to step away from the screen and into the real world. Does this mean they need to forsake their allegiance to gaming? Of course not! You can fully kit out your favorite gamer with T-shirts, hoodies, buttons and even coffee mugs from websites such as CafePress, Zazzle and Threadless. They have tons of game-inspired designs, sarcastic slogans and reasonable prices. And where best to wear these new threads? Why not take your gamer to the movies to see a movie about a video game villain who wants to be the good guy for once? Disney’s “Wreck It Ralph” opens Nov. 2, and plenty of old-school gaming villains make appearances. This holiday season, you may find yourself wishing everyone were as easy to shop for as a gamer.

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Chances are you have at least one gamer on your holiday list this year. Apps for smartphones, online role-playing games and tons of different gaming systems have made it easy and accessible to play video games anywhere and with or against anybody. What used to be an activity relegated to dorky, adolescent boys, has become a pastime for a huge swath of the population. But finding the perfect gift can take a little sleuthing. What kind of gamer are you shopping for? Pow! Bam! Swoosh! Does your gamer dream in onomatopoeic sounds and spandex outfits? Fear not, tremulous holiday shopper, you’re shopping for a superhero fanatic! Fortunately, gifts abound for your wouldbe caped crusader. If your loved one has allegiance to a specific super, why not get a portrait of him/her as that superhero? The Comics Factory can do just that! Featuring officially licensed Marvel characters, each portrait is digitally hand illustrated to transform any picture into a comic-style masterpiece. No quick drag and drop Photoshoppery here. Check out the selection at https:// thecomicsfactory.com. And really, who doesn’t want to be a part of the Avengers? With the release of Nintendo’s Wii U — the next generation of the Wii gaming system — “Batman: Arkham City” is getting an upgrade, as well. The Armored Edition is an enhanced version of this award-winning game that all but puts the players in the Batsuit. Be prepared to deploy the batarangs — KER-CHANG! Also available this holiday season is “LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes,” for those

who prefer their video games and childhood toys to happily coexist. Or if you’re afraid your wannabe hero honey is going to freeze during those long, late night gaming sessions, you can always get an official Batman or Superman Snuggie. Yes, they really exist. But what if your gamer isn’t gaga for capes and tights? What if you know when your gamer is around because of the incessant Mario Bros. ring tones and repeating of the phrase “It’s on like ‘Donkey Kong’!” You may be shopping for a classic video gamer. Chances are, they have the games they love already, so what could you possibly buy them? Accessories, toys, and clothing, oh my! The classic Nintendo Entertainment System is benefiting from a huge boom in nostalgia, and you can now buy everything from Nintendo wall graphics to Nintendo Monopoly featuring all your favorite 8-bit characters. Got a sugar junkie on your hands? How about Mario Brothers gummies? ThinkGeek has an excellent selection. Maybe you have younger children who love being on the computer. There are plenty of fun and educational games to choose from. If you’ve got a mini Sherlock on your hands, “The Great Cookie Thief” app for iPhone and iPad will allow youngsters to help Cookie Monster find out who has been stealing all the cookies on Sesame Street. “Scribblenauts Unlimited” is for slightly older children and will help build vocabulary and reasoning through puzzles and challenges. For the pop culture savvy person on your list, everything from Cartoon Network’s hit “Adventure Time” to “LEGO Lord of the Rings” to “Madagascar


Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Thursday, November 22, 2012

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Consider donating your money instead of buying gifts elty to Animals Los Angeles says that the majority of their donations come during the holiday season. “A lot of people, especially in the last Whether it is in Sunday school few years, have opted to help othor at home around the kitchen ers (during that time),” she says. table, most of us learned that when Davenport, the senior director of we have more than what we need, development with the SPCALA, we should give to those less fortupoints out that there are many nate. And for the most part, people ways that donating to your favorite around the U.S. do give. According charity instead of giving gifts to to a new study by the Chronicle of your friends and family this year Philanthropy, Americans, on avercan benefit the organization, as age, give 4.7 percent of their discrewell as provide a feeling of good tionary income to charity, donating will. more than $135 billion in 2008 (the “We rely 100 percent on donamost recent IRS tax records availtions,” Davenport says. “It is able for data analysis). important to have support from While the study doesn’t show our local community.” The animal when most of these donations are shelter has several ways that a given, Miriam Davenport of the person can donate. Like most orgaSociety for the Prevention of CruBy ANICA WONG Creators.com

nizations that take donations, the SPCALA has a donation page on their website. They even offer to send out an e-card or a mailed card to a person if you donate money in honor of them. Instead of spending money on toys and clothes that your family and friends might get little joy from, giving money to help the shelter is a win-win for everyone. Davenport says that like other animal shelters, they also accept food, blankets, toys and other items. These objects get put to good use by the more than 3,000 animals that get adopted through SPCALA every year. If you’re not a pet person, there are many other places your generous donation can be put to good

use instead of being used once and thrown away, as many Christmas presents are these days. The Internet has made donating easier than ever. Justgive.org has simplified the process even more by pulling together more than 1.8 million charities into a single database. The cool part about the website? You can give charity gift cards. “You choose the value of the cards; your recipient chooses the charity; their charity receives a donation — everyone wins,” states the website. So instead of buying your mom another sweater, put that money on a GiveNow card, and let her pick the charity to which she’d like to donate. They even let you upload your

own image to personalize your gift cards. If you’re looking to affect a single person this holiday season with your giving, consider sponsoring a child. While it can be overwhelming to think about all of the children in the world who need help, focus on making a difference here at home. According to Save the Children, one in four American kids (or 15 million children) lives in poverty. This organization offers options to sponsor a child in the United States. Your money not only supports that child, but also helps Save the Children to provide literacy, early education and nutritional programs around the country. This year could be the year that you give back instead of just giving.

18405059 11-22-12

29th Annual

Gingerbread House Contest SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 • CARLSON CENTER Contest Rules

• Entries must have major components such as walls and roofs constructed of gingerbread (not graham crackers, cookies, etc.) • Entries must have been constructed in 2012. • Electrical outlets will NOT be available; please keep this in mind when designing your entry. • There are no size limitations; however, if your display does not fit on a 30”x6’ oblong or 72” round table, please call Pam Pearson, 459-7548, no later than 4:00 p.m., Nov. 28, to make special arrangements. All entries must be mounted on a sturdy base. • Entries will be received between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. Open to the public for viewing from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Vote for your favorite entries until 2:30 p.m. Winners will be announced at 3:15 p.m. Entries must be picked up between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.

Contest Divisions

• Adult (age 17 & older) • Juniors (ages 12-16) • Youth (under age 12) • Group (2 or more people of any age) • Children’s Group (2 or more people, all under age 12) • Prizes will be awarded for first place in each division.

You be the judge!

For more information, call Pam Pearson, 459-7548 or ppearson@newsminer.com

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Winners in the five divisions will be determined by viewer voting, with overall grand champion selected by the Daily News-Miner Gingerbread House Committee.


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