Gift guide 2014

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November 2014

A Special Supplement from

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Celebrate with safety around your tree this holiday season

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How to make your holiday season more eco-friendly

Celebrate The Season • 2014 • 2

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5 Make the most of Black Friday shopping 6 Celebrate and stay true to your budget this holiday season 10 A look back at popular toys from years past 11 How to make your holiday season more eco-friendly 14 Christmas tunes to spread holiday spirit 18 No holiday celebration is complete until eggnog has been served 21 ‘Tis the season for gingerbread cookies

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3 • 2014 • Celebrate The Season

4 Celebrate with safety around your tree this holiday season

Celebrate The Season • 2014 • 4

Inspect lights before decorating the tree. All Christmas lights should be inspected before they are hung on the tree.

Replace any loose or burned out bulbs, and inspect cords to make sure they are not worn down or frayed. Follow manufacturer instructions carefully when stringing lights, as there may be specific guidelines as to how many strings of lights can be connected at one time.

Celebrate with safety around your tree this holiday season

C

hristmas trees are a beloved staple of the holiday season. Whether you prefer a freshly cut tree or an artificial alternative, the day a Christmas tree is brought home or erected is when many people truly grow excited about the holiday season and begin to be overtaken by holiday cheer.

But as beautiful and inspiring as Christmas trees can be, it’s important that men, women and children exercise caution around trees so no accidents occur.

The following are some Christmas tree safety tips courtesy of the National Fire Protection Association.

Choose the right tree. The tree you choose can go a long way toward ensuring the tree will make it through the season accident-free. Artificial trees should be identified on their labels as fire retardant, which means they are less susceptible to fire, something that’s especially important since so many people drape their trees in decorative lights. A freshly cut tree should

have fresh, green needles that do not fall off when the tree is touched. This indicates that the tree is not dried out and less susceptible to catching on fire.

Use appropriate lights. Many lights are exclusive to indoor or outdoor use, so be sure to use the appropriate lights for your indoor tree. The wrong lights could be a safety hazard. Do not hang lit candles on a Christmas tree.

Do not place the tree near a heat source. Even freshly cut and flame retardant trees can catch fire, so it’s important that trees are not placed in close proximity to any heat sources, including fireplaces, radiators, heating vents, baseboard heaters, and candles. In addition, avoid placing the tree near lights or lamps that emit a lot of heat.

Keep the tree clear of exits. A Christmas tree should never be placed in a spot that bars an exit. Should an accident happen and the tree light on fire, all exits should be easily accessible so residents and guests can quickly get out of the home.

Add water to the tree stand every day.

Water should be added to the tree’s stand every day. That water will not only help the tree maintain its color and aesthetic appeal,

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but also helps to prevent the tree from drying out. A dry tree is a significant safety risk, so be sure to check if the tree needs water when you wake up each morning and again before going to bed. Many trees initially need water both in the morning and at night. As the holiday season wears on, the tree will likely consume less water, but it’s still best to monitor the stand’s water levels every day until the tree is discarded.

Turn lights off before going to bed.

Though a Christmas tree may look beautiful when it is illuminated in the middle of the night when no other lights are on, the lights on the tree should always be turned off before going to bed or leaving your home.

Properly discard the tree. Trees that have dried out pose a considerable fire risk, so it’s best to discard a tree when it starts to drop needles. Do not place a discarded tree in the garage or lean it up against your home. If necessary, consult a local recycling company to determine the best way to discard your tree.

5 • 2014 • Celebrate The Season

Make the most of Black Friday shopping

B

lack Friday is one the biggest shopping days of the year, and is often the perfect time to begin holiday shopping and save money on incredible deals. Thousands of eager shoppers will leave their homes in the early morning hours and wait in lines at stores in order to grab the best prices of the season, while retailers will be gearing up to lure the greatest number of shoppers. Surviving the day unscathed and arriving home with discounts galore involves having a game plan for success.

coat in the car or make use of a coat check service if available. Dress in layers if you will be waiting outside for stores to open. This way you can shed clothing as the mercury rises or when you get inside.

Know the prices of the items you want to buy. Scour advertisements in advance of Black Friday to gauge the regular retail prices for common items, including electronics. Comparison shop for the best prices and make notes to help you when Black Friday arrives.

Make a list and stick to it. Buyers’ remorse come Saturday morning is common for those who have over-extended their budgets and purchased items they did not need. Know ahead of time what you plan to purchase and do not veer off course.

Understand the fine print of “door busters.” Door buster sales are meant to get shoppers into stores, where retailers hope shoppers will make additional purchases while taking advantage of advertised deals. If door buster items are all you’re looking for, read the advertisements carefully, noting the start and end time of the discounts and if there will be limited quantities. In addition, determine if there is a special return policy for sale items purchased on Black Friday.

Dress for comfort. Wear sensible, comfortable shoes and clothing when shopping. Leave a large purse at home and opt for something compact that can be draped securely over your shoulder and body to navigate the crowds. Keep your

N

Arrive together but shop separately.

The “divide and conquer” method of shopping allows everyone in your shopping party to score good deals. Split up shopping tasks and then head to different areas of the store. Share and collect your purchases when you meet up after the rush.

Scout the stores ahead of time. Visit the stores where you plan to shop a few days before Black Friday. Learn the layout of the store and where everything is located. Try on certain clothes or read over the labels of big-ticket items you plan to buy. Knowing where items are located and having all of your information in advance will cut down on the time it takes to find items on Black Friday.

Don’t overlook nontraditional stores.

Many other stores, from pharmacies to supermarkets, stock items apart from food and toiletries. Consider taking advantage of their sales for some Black Friday deals.

Clean out your car prior to shopping.

Make room in the trunk or cargo area for all of your purchases. For those who will be buying large, heavy items, find out if the store will ship the merchandise or will hold it aside until you can take it home. Understand that some stores will not hold items and enlist a friend or spouse to help you pack purchases into the car.

Park off campus. Mall parking lots can get just as crowded as the stores themselves.

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Pack a small snack and drink. It’s easy to become dehydrated and hungry waiting in long lines, which can compromise your decision-making abilities. Bring a snack so that you can recharge your body and continue shopping.

Leave the kids at home. Black Friday shopping can be stressful, and children can easily get lost or bumped around in the fray.

It is safer to leave them home so you can focus your full attention on shopping.

Know when to call it quits. Establish a firm cut-off time for ending your shopping excursion. This way you can head home, rest and sort through your purchases.

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Celebrate and stay true to your budget this holiday season

T

he holiday season is a joyous time of year dominated by family reunions and seasonal soirées. And while kindness is a theme of the holiday season, this time of year can be especially unkind to personal budgets, many of which get stretched thin in the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Travel and shopping tend to do the most damage to budgets come the holiday season, when people hit the road to see family and friends, often with numerous gifts in tow. But the holiday season does not have to be so harsh on personal budgets, especially for those men and women who employ a few tricks of the trade to lighten their financial burdens during this festive time of year.

Set spending limits. Many families, especially those that are very large, establish spending limits with regard to how much each person can spend on gifts for their loved ones. Such limits still allow holiday celebrants to exchange gifts with their family members, but limits help celebrants reign in their holiday spending as well. No one wants to begin the new year with heaps of debt or an empty bank account, so don’t be afraid to propose such spending limits to your relatives.

Share hosting duties. In addition to travel and shopping, hosting holiday parties requires a considerable financial commitment on the part of the host. Rather than forcing holiday hosts to shoulder that burden on their own, families can share the hosting duties, even if the party is still slated to take place at one person’s home. Make the holiday dinner a potluck affair so holiday hosts don’t have to assume the cost of the entire meal on their own. Request family members bring certain items, asking one person to provide beverages for the night while another takes care of dessert. Sharing such duties makes the cost of hosting a large holiday dinner much more manageable while freeing up time that holiday hosts can spend with their loved ones.

Make your own decorations. Holiday decorations go a long way toward feeding the festive atmosphere of the season. But store-bought decorations can be expensive.

Instead of outsourcing your holiday decorating, make homemade decorations with materials purchased at a nearby arts and crafts store.

Gather the family together for a crafts night and enjoy this time spent together during what’s typically a hectic time of year. Homemade

decorations also create lasting memories, as you and your family can enjoy reflecting on the fruits of your labors every holiday season for years to come.

Start shopping early. One way to stretch your holiday shopping budget is to start shopping early. Though many holiday shoppers have been given such advice, very few take it to heart.

Shopping early affords you more time to find deals and comparison shop, and beginning your search for gifts early allows you to patiently wait for sales or other discounts that might not be available once the holiday season hits full swing.

If you plan to purchase any big-ticket items well in advance of the holiday season, first confirm the return policy, specifically how long you have to return the gift, as you don’t want your loved one to end up with a gift they can’t return if necessary.

The holiday season finds many people stretching their budgets. But men and women can employ several strategies to save money while still enjoying a memorable and festive holiday season.

Families do not have to stretch their budgets to enjoy a festive and memorable holiday season.

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A look back at popular toys from years past M

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any parents have spent time during the holiday season on endless quests for the perfect gift for their children. Many gifts have earned “must-have” status over the years, and although many of these gifts are forgotten by the time the next holiday season comes around, certain products have remained timeless. Some of these more memorable products have even been resurrected into newer, modern-day versions of their previous selves. Here’s a look at some of the toys that have made their mark over the last several decades.

Rubik’s Cube: The Rubik’s Cube reached the height of its popularity during the 1980s, when the colorful game puzzle was mass-marketed to the public.

Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Erno Rubik actually invented what he dubbed the “Magic Cube” a decade prior. Since the product’s inception, millions of Rubik’s Cubes have been sold across the globe, making it one of the top-selling puzzles and toys.

Cabbage Patch Kids: Adults stormed stores in the mid 1980s for Cabbage Patch Kids, which became one of the most popular toys of the decade. Designed by art student Xavier Roberts, Cabbage Patch Kids began as dolls called “Little People.” The dolls were marketed with a fantastical story about a cabbage patch in a magical valley, where dolls were born and awaited their adoption into loving homes. Cabbage Patch Kids have been produced by a number of different toy manufacturers through the years, and shoppers can still find new incarnations at stores today.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles started as a comic designed to parody established popular comics of the early 1980s. The concept of genetically mutated turtles who possessed ninja skills quickly caught on and the TMNT franchise expanded to television shows and scores of complementary merchandise.

Beanie Babies: Ty Inc. introduced a series of plush toys filled with tiny plastic pellets instead of traditional polyester stuffing in 1993. These pellets made the dolls flexible and cuddly, which played a role in their popularity. Throughout the 1990s, children collected as many of

the Beanie Babies as they could, though some of the dolls were more coveted than others. Ty ceased production of Beanie Babies in 1999 with a bear called “The End,” but it wasn’t long before new Beanie Babies were manufactured for a new generation of children to collect.

Tickle Me Elmo: The hottest toy of the 1996 giving season was Tickle Me Elmo, a plush doll based on the beloved Sesame Street monster. When prompted, Elmo would laugh, giggle and gyrate to the delight of kids and adults alike. Tickle Me Elmo caused mass frenzy at stores during the 1996 holiday season, as shoppers swarmed toy stores to get their hands on the top toy of the year.

Nintendo DS: The Nintendo DS, first offered in 2004, was the first Nintendo console released in North America before it was released in Japan. With its dual screens (the lower being a touchscreen) and portability factor, the handheld device became one of the most popular gifts for young gamers.

Zhu Zhu Pets: Interactive, robotic hamsters, Zhu Zhu Pets first appeared on the scene in 2009. Their name was derived from Mandarin Chinese and translates to “little pig.” These small toys could be set to explore their environment or simply emit cooing sounds in the “nurturing mode.”

Nintendo Wii: In addition to the Sony Playstation and Microsoft’s Xbox 360, the Nintendo Wii became the latest in a history of must-have video game consoles in the early 21st century. Games on the Wii were interactive through the use of motion-sensing hand controllers and other gaming interfaces. The later release of the Wii Fit package made the Nintendo Wii even more popular.

Monster High Dolls: With their ghoulish good looks, Monster High action figures were one of the most gifts of 2012. The dolls are based on a series of young adult novels modeled after “Twilight,” though the Monster High dolls are targeted to younger children than items associated with the wildly popular “Twilight” series.

It remains to be seen which toy will become this season’s “must-have” item.

your holiday season more eco-friendly

C

ome the holiday season, it can be easy to overlook certain things, like eco-friendly living, in an effort to make entertaining easier. The holiday season has become a time of excess, with large meals, an overabundance of presents and other wasteful measures. This year, environmentally conscious hosts can make an effort to make their celebrations more environmentally friendly.

• Purchase locally made gifts to reduce the amount of shipping required. This cuts down on materials used and fossil fuels that power planes or cargo ships needed to transport products made overseas.

• According to the Environmental Protection Agency, roughly 40 percent of all battery sales take place during the holidays. Consumers concerned about the effect of batteries on the environment can give only battery-free gifts.

• Make your own gifts. Not all gifts have to be bought at the store. There are many meaningful gifts that can be made by

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• Rely on natural items when decorating your home. When decking the halls this holiday season, collect pine cones and holly from outdoors and make garlands from raffia or vines. These materials can be put into compost heaps or ground up into mulch later on, reducing waste.

• Cut back on lighting by reducing the number of lights you string up on your home and choosing energy-efficient lights. LED lights, which use up to 95 percent less energy than traditional bulbs, is another way to leave a smaller carbon footprint this holiday season.

• Avoid especially flashly wrapping paper.

Glossy or metallic wrapping paper is hard to recycle. Use paper made of natural fibers or select plain postage paper and dress up presents with reusable ribbons and bows.

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How to make

Celebrate The Season • 2014 • 12

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13 • 2014 • Celebrate The Season

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Celebrate The Season • 2014 • 14

Christmas tunes to spread holiday spirit S

ome stores start stocking Christmas decorations and wrapping paper as early as the end of October, and some families begin decking their halls in holiday finery in late November. But for many people, the holiday season has not truly begun until the music synonymous with this festive time of year has hit the airwaves.

Few things can make a person feel as festive as the holiday songs they know and love.

Many families have a favorite musical artist whose music they consider synonymous with their holiday celebrations. While families have their own unique holiday traditions, over time certain holiday songs have emerged as favorites. These are the tunes you’re likely to hear played over and over on the radio.

Billboard, which tracks the music industry’s most popular songs, compiled its own list of the most popular Christmas songs. The list measures the volume of people who have been exposed to the song on the radio, and is based on ranking rather than exact figures of listeners, and the following are the 10 most popular songs based on those parameters.

10. “Happy Xmas (War is Over),” by John Lennon: This song debuted in 1971 and was written by Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono. Performed with the Harlem Community Choir, the song was originally a protest song about the Vietnam Warm before it eventually became a Christmas standard.

9. “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24),”

by Trans-Siberian Orchestra: According to Nielsen, this instrumental mash-up of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Carol of the Bells” is one of the best-selling Christmas digital singles in SoundScan history. A combination of full, classical orchestra and rock, “Christmas Eve” is a memorable and powerful piece of music.

8. “White Christmas,” by Bing Crosby: Crosby crooned this tune in 1942 in the movie of the same name, and Irving Berlin’s song soon became one of the most popular holiday tunes of all time. It has been covered innumerable times and has become a holiday season standard.

7. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” by Andy Williams: This popular Christmas song was written by Edward Pola and George Wyle in 1963. The song celebrates the traditions and feelings of the Christmas season.

6. “Feliz Navidad,” by José Feliciano: This Spanish-English pop song is recognized

by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers as one of the 25 most-played and recorded Christmas songs around the world. Puerto-Rican born Feliciano has said that the song has always been a bridge to the cultures that are so dear to him.

5. “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” by Burl Ives: This song was written by Johnny Marks, an American songwriter. Ironically, Marks was Jewish, but he specialized in Christmas songs and wrote many of the holiday standards people love, including this upbeat tune and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

4. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” by Nat King Cole: Believe it or not, this song was actually written in the summer when composers Bob Wells and Mel Tormé were trying to cool off with winter imagery. Snow-covered images and phrases eventually turned into lyrics for this popular song that was most memorably recorded by Nat King Cole.

3. “Jingle Bell Rock,” by Bobby Helms: This song has been performed by many, but Helms’ version of the is perhaps the best known. The song highlights the crossover style known as “rockabilly” and merges the classic “Jingle Bells” with rock n’ roll references of the 1950s.

2. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” by Brenda Lee: Brenda Lee was a chart-topping female vocalist of the 1960s who owes much of her success to this beloved holiday classic. Despite the mature sound of her voice, Lee recorded this version when she was only 13 years old.

1. “All I Want for Christmas is You,”

by Mariah Carey: This up-tempo love song has become a Christmas classic and one of Carey’s most popular hits. She cowrote and coproduced the song with Walter Afansieff.

It is one of the few, modern, original Christmas songs to stand the test of time and become an official Christmas standard.

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No holiday celebration is complete until eggnog has been served T

he holiday season is rife with tradition, from Christmas trees to lighting displays to visits with Santa Claus at the local mall. Families reunite come the holiday season to exchange gifts, enjoy meals together and do a little catching up along the way.

But the holiday season also is synonymous with parties. Whether it’s to enjoy an office holiday party, a gathering with family and friends or a more intimate gathering at home, such celebrations are a big part of the holiday season and a main reason why this is such a festive and beloved time of year.

As this is a season of celebrating, it’s good to remember that no holiday party is truly complete until eggnog has been served. Enjoyed almost exclusively during the holiday season, eggnog is as much a staple of holiday celebrations as

stockings hung by the chimney with care. This year, impress your holiday guests with the following recipe for “Excellent Eggnog” from A.J. Rathbun’s “Good Spirits” (Harvard Common Press).

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the yolks with a hand mixer until completely combined. Add the sugar and beat until it reaches a creamy consistency.

Excellent Eggnog Serves 8

4. In a medium-size mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with a hand mixer until soft peaks form (be sure before beating the whites that you have cleaned and thoroughly dried the beaters).

8 large eggs, preferably organic 2¼ cups superfine sugar 8 ounces brandy 8 ounces rum 4 ounces bourbon 1 quart milk Freshly grated nutmeg for garnish 1. Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites, setting the whites aside for a moment.

3. Add the brandy, rum and bourbon, and then the milk, beating well.

5. Fold the egg whites into the yolk-sugar-alcohol mixture. Refrigerate the mix until well chilled (at least 3 hours).

6. Stir to recombine as needed. Serve the eggnog in mugs, topping each serving with some nutmeg.

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D. PALMIERI’S BAKERY ~ From Our Kitchen to Yours ~

624 Killingly Street, Johnston 621-9357 www.dpalmierisbakery.com

$

Hours: Tues-Fri 6AM-6PM • Sat 6AM-5:30PM • Sun 6AM-1PM

4

8

495 999 $

RECHARGEABLE!!!

Our hearing aids are half the cost of other leading brands. We have hearing aids that fit your hearing loss and your budget. We are committed to better hearing and will work with you so you can walk out of ZOUNDS hearing!

Trade In Your Old Hearing Aids On Our Best Model Limited Time Offer

20

Get $1700 Credit per aid toward

Give a gift of vintage jewelry.

We offer a wide selection of unique and beautifully crafted rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and brooches – from Victorian, Art Nouveau and Edwardian, to Art Déco and Mid-Century.

Visit our website to see a sample of our collection.

3228 Post Road, Historic Apponaug Village Warwick (800) 910-4869 or (401) 738-0511 placejewellers.com Lic.#92365

20 Programmable Channels Comfortable RECHARGEABLE! Superior Anti-Feedback Best Background Noise Suppression HEARING AIDS BY

Buyers, Sellers and Appraisers of Estate Jewelry

Comes With Remote and Recharger

$

all discounts off MSRP

1599 Price Per Aid After Trade In Discount

Hearing Evaluation

988 Centerville Rd. Our new location: Warwick, RI 02886 101 Franklin St. Unit 1D Westerly RI 02891 Behind SAS shoe Behind On The Left Side WWW.ZOUNDSHEARING.COM.RI

19 • 2014 • Celebrate The Season

LET US CATER YOUR

Celebrate The Season • 2014 • 20

FASHION JEWELRY OUTLET s... er u l P Oth f o ot es” A L oodi “G

r h o ds s a C ar tC d i d Cre cepte Ac

70% OFF Suggested Retail Prices Imported Costume Jewelry

Pins Bracelets Earrings

2/ 10

$ 00

THURSDAY

Dec. 4th 9AM-7PM

Necklaces

2/ 12

$ 00

FRIDAY

Dec. 5th 9AM-7PM

Neck & Ear Carded Sets

10

$ 00

SATURDAY

Dec. 6th 9AM-3PM

100 BELLOWS ST. • WARWICK, RI 401.965.6666

RobeRt K. DyeR, MD DeRMatology Robert K. Dyer, MD, MPH • Brown University Medical School • Harvard University Master of Public Health • American Academy of Dermatology • American Society of Dermatologic Surgery • Clinical Assistant Professor, Brown University Medical School

Vincent D. Criscione, MD • Brown University Medical School • Amerian Academy of Dermatology • American Society of Dermatologic Surgery • Medical Dermatology Society • New England Dermatological Society • RI Dermatology Society

Katie Seitz, MSPAS PA-C • University of Kentucky Master of Science in Physician • Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants • New England Dermatological Society • RI Dermatology Society

Meighan Dingle Blanco, MSN, FNP-BC • Columbia University, Master of Science in Nursing • Lahey Clinic, Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Fellowship • New England Dermatological Society • RI Dermatology Society

General, SurGical, and coSmetic dermatoloGy 3461 South County Trail, Suite 202, East Greenwich

471-DERM (3376) • www.dyerderm.com

21 • 2014 • Celebrate The Season

’Tis the season for gingerbread cookies The holiday season is dominated by tradition. Families typically have their own unique traditions, but certain practices are so widely popular that they have become synonymous with the holiday season. Such is the case with certain foods, including gingerbread cookies. Gingerbread cookies can be enjoyed year-round, but many people only enjoy this tasty treat during the holiday season. For those who can’t wait to indulge in gingerbread cookies this year, consider this recipe for “Soft Glazed Gingerbread” from Elisabeth M. Prueitt and Chad Robertson’s “Tartine” (Chronicle Books).

Soft Glazed Gingerbread Yields 12 to 20 cookies Dough 3¾ cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon cocoa powder 4 teaspoons ground ginger 1½ teaspoons ground cloves 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 large egg

½ cup blackstrap or other dark molasses 2 tablespoons light corn syrup Glaze 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 2 tablespoons water

To make the dough, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Set aside. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until creamy.

Slowly add the granulated sugar and mix on medium speed until the mixture is completely smooth and soft. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Add the egg and mix well.

Add the molasses and corn syrup and beat until incorporated. Stop the mixer again and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed until a dough forms that pulls away from the sides of the bowl and all the ingredients are well incorporated. Remove the dough from the bowl, flatten it on a large piece of plastic wrap into a rectangle about 1 inch thick, cover the dough with the plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper on a nonstick liner.

Unwrap the dough and place on a floured work surface. If using a plaque with a design, roll out the dough 1⁄3-inch thick, lightly dust the top with flour, press your cookie molds over the dough, and then cut out the shapes with a small knife and place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Alternatively, using the mold as a guide, cut around it with a small knife, flip the mold over so the design is facing you, and place the dough over it, pressing it into the design. Unmold the

Soft Glazed Gingerbread

shapes onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between them.

If using a patterned rolling pin, lightly dust the lined baking sheet with flour and transfer the dough to the pan. Lightly dust the top of the dough with flour and roll it into a rectangle about 1⁄3-inch thick with a plain pin. Then, using the patterned pin, roll over the dough with enough pressure to ensure a clear impression of the design. Trim the sides with a small knife. It is not necessary to cut into smaller sizes before baking.

Bake the cookies until lightly golden along the sides but still soft to the touch in the centers, 7 to 15 minutes. The timing will depend on the size of the individual cookies, or if you have made a single large patterned piece that will be cut after baking.

While the cookies are baking, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and water until smooth.

When the cookies are ready, remove from the oven and let cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Then, while the cookies are still warm, using even strokes, brush a light coat of glaze on the top of each cookie, evenly covering it. Let the cookies cool completely. When the glaze dries, it should leave a shiny, opaque finish.

If you have used a patterned pin to make a single large plaque, cut into the desired sizes with a small, very sharp knife. The cookies will keep in an airtight container in a cool place for about 2 weeks. They do not freeze well, however, as the glaze becomes watery when they are thawed.

Christmas MORRIS FARM Wreaths Trees &

Beautiful Balsam & Boxwood

Fraser & Douglas Come in early to get that perfect Christmas Tree!

Bring your stand & we will place it in the stand for Free!

Free loCal Delivery For ChrisTmas Trees

GREENHOUSES 2779 Warwick ave., Warwick

Hours: sun.–wed. 9-5, Thurs.-Fri. 9-6, sat. 9-5

delivery availaBle

738-1036

Boxwood Trees ~ swags ~ roping Kissing Balls

Beautiful selection of

PoinseTTias

Celebrate The Season • 2014 • 22

Wanted New Addition — 2,400 s.f.

• broken jewelry • Gold & silver bars • Gold Filled items • Gold & Diamonds • 1 & 2 carat Diamonds • estate jewelry • pocket & Wrist Watches • Rolex & patek philippe • jewelry • old coins – Gold & silver • Air conditioners

Silver Tea Sets and Flatware sets.

Costume Jewelry.

Come in and see what we have!

• tV’s — Flat screens • Musical instruments • old Guitars • contractor tools • chain saws • Demo saw • construction equipment • Game systems • Ammunitions We Buy, Sell & Pawn Firearms

Indoor Heated Storage We Pawn: RV’s • Cars Trucks • Boats Trailers Motorcycles Dirt Bikes 4 Wheelers

sterling $11oz.

10K $340oz. gold fill $11oz.

14K $520oz.

18K $700’s oz. silver plate $1 lb. pRices subject to MARket

Big John’s Pawn shoP

1495 Main Street West Warwick, RI (Across from Roch’s Market)

Lic#201115

Mon-Fri 10am-7pm Sat 10am-6pm

401-615-5500

www.bigjohnspawn.com

23 • 2014 • Celebrate The Season

Celebrate The Season • 2014 • 24