Holiday gift guide 2014

Gift Guide Your community voice for the north!

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Gift Guide

Gingerbread Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • •

½ cup of unsalted butter at room temperature ¾ cup of packed dark brown sugar ½ cup of fancy molasses 2 large eggs at room temperature 3 ¼ cup all-purpose flour 1 tbsp ground ginger ½ tsp ground allspice ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp baking soda ½ tsp table salt Icing sugar (optional)

Directions: (NC) Baking seasonal treats is a primary part of the holiday tradition – and not only is homemade gingerbread a crowd pleaser at any function, the spicy aroma is bound to inspire budding bakers as well.

“Holiday baking is fun for the whole family, mainly because everyone knows how tasty all the effort will be,” says Michael Schach, senior manager, food product development at Walmart Canada. He points out that their Great Value line is popular for keeping costs down, and all of the other ingredients for the recipe can be found in their bakery aisle, or online:

1. Beat butter, brown sugar and molasses together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one by one, beating well after each addition.

2. In a separate bowl, sift flour, ginger, allspice, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add this gradually to the butter mixture and stir until blended. Shape dough into 2 balls, wrap and chill for about an hour, up to 2 days.

3. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line 2-3 baking trays with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the first ball of dough until just over 1/8inch thick. Use a cookie cutter of your choice to cut out cookie shapes. Lift them carefully to the prepared trays, leaving about ½-inch between them. Add any scraps to the second piece of dough and repeat.

4. Bake cookies for 15-18 minutes until browned a little just around the edges. Let cookies cool for a few minutes on the tray before removing to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar for an easy way to add a festive touch.

5. Cookies will keep for up to 10 days in an airtight container.

Additional recipes and snacking ideas can be found at www.walmart.ca/recipes.

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Gift Guide

Delight dinner guests

(NC) One- or two-bite desserts are hot, even when they’re cool. In this recipe from President’s Choice, for example, instead of the usual graham crumbs for the crust, try using chocolate sandwich cookies filled with vanilla crème.

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Gift Guide Continued from page 4

Serves: 24 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Chill time: 4 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients • • • • • • •

8 PC® “Eat the Middle First” Cookies 1 tbsp (15 ml) all-purpose flour 1 ½ tsp (7 ml) granulated sugar 1 tub (250 g) PC Greek Yogurt Cream Cheese- Caramel 1 egg 24 Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips 24 toasted pecan halves

Instructions

together into bottom of cup. Bake in the centre of oven for 5 minutes. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, stir together flour and sugar.

In a bowl and using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and flour mixture until smooth. Beat in egg. Spoon 1 tbsp (15 ml) of mixture into each muffin cup. Bake in the centre of the oven for 8 to 10 minutes or just until cream cheese looks set. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes. Place one chocolate chip flat side up in centre of each cheesecake bite; immediately top with a pecan.

Chocolate chip will melt. Cool to room temperature on rack, about 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Line a 24 mini-muffin cup pan with foil liners.

Transfer to an airtight container; refrigerate until firm and cold, about 2 hours.

In mini food processor, process cookies to fine crumbs. Place 1 tsp (5 ml) crumbs into each muffin cup. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, gently press crumbs

More recipe ideas can be found online at pc.ca. www.newscanada.com

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Gift Guide

Gift Guide

Tablets are the gift

that keep on giving, starting with price (NC) The newest technology items are often at the top of holiday wish lists – and tablets are now the must-have of all.

No matter whether you’re looking for a device to stay connected, to be kept entertained, or to get organized, a tablet excels. Today, advanced processing power made possible by Intel, gives this device a long battery life, great performance and amazing speed at an affordable price. You might even buy multiple tablets for the “nice” people of any age on your list, especially with these primary gift-benefits in mind: • The gift of communications: Families are always looking to keep in touch while on the go and tablets can help. With a large screen and fast processor, it makes quick work of running multiple social apps. Perfect for family’s with everyone using their Continued on page 10

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Gift Guide

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Gift Guide Continued from page 8

preferred social networks and platforms to keep in touch, tablets make multi-tasking with apps quick and seamless.

• The gift of organization: From school concerts to soccer practice, what if you never again had to wonder where you and your kids needed to be? Giving your family members tablets lets you create a home hub system to house a family calendar and help navigate busy schedules with ease. Some family calendars even have a handy chores score keeper, grocery lists and weekly menus. This way everyone can help keep your home running like clockwork.

• The gift of fun: A tablet is the perfect gift for families who play together. A tablet with a high-quality screen can be used anywhere so you can enjoy family games night at home or on the road. Buy two tablets and revel in friendly competition from across the living room with simple online games.

• The gift of research: When looking for the right tablet for members of your family, its best to begin by thinking about how each person would use their tablet. Often, battery life, processing power and screen size are key factors you should investigate before making a decision. With the variety of tablets now available, there will be a perfect match for every person on your list this year. www.newscanada.com

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Gift Guide Serve this tantalizing guacamole dip

to guarantee rave reviews

(NC) Holiday entertaining is all about the appetizers and some of the most delicious recipes are often the most simple. Celebrity chef Lynn Crawford shares her secret recipe for guacamole, a must-have menu item which she says will guarantee your ‘nice’ spot on Santa’s list. . .

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Gift Guide Continued from page 12

Spicy Guacamole Dip Makes: 2 Cups Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Ingredients • 2 ripe avocados • 2 tbsp lime, juiced • 1/2 red onion, finely chopped

Directions 1. Halve and pit the avocados. Scoop out the flesh of the avocados into a bowl and gently mash with a fork, leaving them somewhat chunky.

2. Add the remaining ingredients, and fold everything together to gently mix.

• 1 garlic clove, minced • 1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped (remove stems) • 4 tbsp Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise

Tip: For some heat, add in 1 pickled jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped.

• 1/2 tsp. salt • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Complete nutrition information is available at www.hellmanns.ca. www.newscanada.com

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Gift Guide

MUST-HAVE TOYS FOR

GIRLS AND BOYS (NC) Hunting for the toy that is ‘guaranteed to please’ can be a daunting task with so many choices available. But according to Walmart, their holiday elves have been working overtime to come up with just the right gift for every child on your list.

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Gift Guide Continued from page 16

Here’s a snapshot of just a few: VTech Go Go Smart Wheels Fun at the Zoo Playset: Kids can multiply their fun as they race cars down three different courses on over three feet of track, learning about colours, vocabulary and music along the way.

Fisher Price Thomas & Friends Trackmaster Avalanche Escape Set: Help Thomas face down dangerous conditions (like a big gap in the tracks) with this interactive set, finding courage, and maybe even some treasure, along the way.

Crayola Paint Maker: Kids will love mixing their own custom paint colours with this kit and creating unique paintings with their one-of-a-kind hues.

Firetek Bow: Your little adventurer will love this light-up power bow that shoots soft foam whistling arrows up to 38 metres into the sky.

Flutterbye Storm Fairy: Pressing a button sends this little fairy into flight, and kids can guide her movement by placing the palm of their hand underneath her.

Play-Doh Magical Designs Palace Set: Using Play-Doh modeling dough, little ones can create new worlds and mould masterpieces.

Boomer the Dino: Boomer moves around on just two wheels, and pulling on his tail will make him roar.

My Sweet Baby Toddler Doll: Kids will have hours of fun styling the hair and bright clothes of these little cuties.

Additional toys and gift ideas can be found at www.walmart.ca/toys. www.newscanada.com

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Gift Guide

Impress your guests with a

flavourful, triple cream brie (NC) Room-temperature, triple cream brie is always a winner when entertaining. So why not elevate it to fabulous with this recipe from President’s Choice:

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Pear & Basil

Marinated Brie Prep time: 10 minutes Stand time: 4 hours

Ingredients 2 tbsp (25 ml) Extra-Virgin Olive Oil 2 tbsp (25 ml) finely chopped fresh basil Pinch salt 8 oz (250 g) wedge PC速 Triple Cream Brie 2 drained, canned pear halves packed in light syrup, thinly sliced Half a baguette

Instructions In a small bowl, stir together oil, basil and salt.

Cut cheese in half horizontally. Place bottom half cut side up on a serving plate.

Spoon half of the oil mixture over cheese.

Place half of pear slices on top in a flat layer. Place remaining piece of cheese on top, cut side down. Spoon remaining oil over and layer with remaining pears.

Cover with plastic wrap. Let stand at room temperature for 2 to 4 hours or until cheese is soft.

Meanwhile, cut the half-baguette into thin slices. Toast and serve with the brie.

Makes 6 servings More recipe ideas are available online at pc.ca.

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Gift Guide How to make the holidays for kids

(NC) We’ve all felt the pressure to attend every holiday movie, try every sweet goodie, and pile up all of our presents under the tree. Yet many parents find that it’s not the gifts their kids remember. Children most enjoy the traditions, the time spent together and the moments of connection with family, friends, and even complete strangers.

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Gift Guide Continued from page 24

“My kids can’t recall what was under the tree two years ago,” says Debbie Wolfe a mom in Toronto. “But they often talk about our annual trip to see the decorated shop windows downtown, or the refugee family we invited for Christmas dinner that year.”

Here are five other ideas for memorable, magical holidays: 1. Start a holiday tradition: Try sledding on Christmas Eve, making the cookies your grandmother made, or watching a holiday classic every weekend in December.

2. Open your heart: Invite a less fortunate family for a meal, or get your kids to send a gift to a family in a developing country. This can be done on the web site called World Vision Gifts.

3. Take in music: Whether it’s free holiday music at your city hall, or Christmas carols at a nearby church, the sounds of the season have a wonderful way of lifting spirits.

4. Set up mailboxes: Tape large envelopes to bedroom doors and drop in notes of fun and encouragement. Invite kids to cookie baking in the kitchen that afternoon, or count down the days until Christmas.

5. Let the lights shine: Brighten those dark December nights with candles at dinner time. Or let them sleep by the Christmas tree one night, with the lights twinkling.

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Gift Guide 5 HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR

long-distance loved ones

(NC) Sending just the right gift can be difficult when family or friends live far away.

Often the distance has left us out-of-touch with their tastes and interests – and the last thing we want is to send something they don’t like, or can’t use, so that your gift is nothing but clutter.

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Gift Guide Continued from page 28

Here are five suggestions to express your love across the miles: 1. Think envelope: Find something small yet thoughtful that can fit in an envelope and qualify for a later mailing date. Maybe have your kids cut out paper snowflakes so loved ones can stick them up in a window.

2. Send words: In a world where many send the same Christmas letter to 50 different people, take the time to compose an e-mail directed especially to your friend or family member.

3. Tell a visual story: Put together a small online photo album with pictures of times you’ve shared together.

4. Shop local: Google search for a bakery close to where they’re living or staying, and place an online order for their favourite cookie or the local delicacy.

5. Honour them: Online you can arrange to send a gift of charity. A web site called World Vision Gifts has a selection to suit every personality on your list, while helping a family in a developing country. For example, if your loved one enjoys gardening, you can give fruit trees in their name. www.newscanada.com

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Gift Guide

HOW 3 AMAZING CHARITIES

are giving back this holiday season (NC) Between everyday d obligations bli ti and d commitments, it t it can b be difficult lt for f anyone to focus on the positive. But the pressures of the holidays mean that for a lot of families in need, day-to-day reality becomes unmanageable during this time of year.

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Gift Guide Continued from page 32

Canadian charities do spectacular work for communities struggling both here and across the globe. Here are the ways three top Canadian charities are revolutionizing giving back this holiday season: 1. The Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) – Working with community-level organizations, this foundation provides care and treatment for HIV/AIDS. How to help: Instead of expensive jewelry or extravagant household items, treat your loved ones to a gorgeous SLF printed or digital card and a donation in their name.

Your contribution fights back against a pandemic that has ruined too many lives.

2. The Air Canada Foundation – Families in remote areas are often unable to obtain specialized medical care, so the Air Canada Foundation provides free transportation to hospitals and charitable organizations.

How to help: Donate your Aeroplan miles to children in need during the month of December and Aeroplan will match them to a maximum of 500,000 miles. For details, go to www.aeroplan.com/donate.

3. Veterinarians Without Borders (VWB) – This groundbreaking charity ensures the well-being of animals around the world. VWB’s work includes animal health care, delivering vaccinations, helping to form co-ops, and training women, children and families in food production, nutrition, husbandry and disease control.

How to help: If you’re looking for an effortless shopping experience, consider a VWB eGift. You can send the eGifts to multiple recipients and customize each greeting card.

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Gift Guide Continued from page 34

Donating to charity is a creative, elegant gift for everyone ne on your list. For a unique way to brighten up the holiday y season, consider donating your miles to any of these charities through Aeroplan’s Beyond Miles program.

“Beyond Miles enables members to donate their miles to 10 charitable partner organizations dedicated to improving lives and enriching communities at home and d around the world,” says Alden Hadwen at Aeroplan. To donate your miles, go to www.aeroplan.com/donate. www.newscanada.com

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