NewsTribune_Holiday Life_103021

Holiday Life ILLINOIS VALLEY

2021

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INSIDE • Decorating for the holidays • Illinois Valley Christmas music performers • Family-favorite Christmas cookie recipes • Ways to cut stress when holiday party planning

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A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | October 2021 3

Contents

Holiday Life

426 Second Street La Salle, Illinois 61301 (815) 223-3200 (800) 892-6452 www.newstrib.com

Ditch the Holiday Stress 6 Party shortcuts for cutting your workload.

Publisher Dan Goetz

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas 10

Niche Editor Shannon Serpette

Putting out your seasonal décor is a quick way to jumpstart your holiday spirit.

sserpette@shawmedia.com

Regional Advertising Director Jeanette Smith jmsmith@shawmedia.com

Writers Courtney Jonsson Brandon LaChance Shannon Serpette Torianna Swinson

The New Way to Christmas Carol 16

Local musicians make a point of sharing holiday cheer through music.

Christmas Cookie Corner 20 Tried-and-tested cookie recipes for the holidays.

The Art of Buying Presents for Kids 23

Photographer Shannon Serpette

A gift-buying guide for parents and grandparents.

Designer Liz Klein Published by: est. 1851

On the cover: This merry light-up snowman lantern is just one of the many Christmas decorations available at Hoffman’s Patterns of the Past in Princeton. Owner Jyl Morse said her store goes all out for Christmas, decorating 12 trees in the shop.

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Ditch the Holiday Stress Party shortcuts for cutting your workload Story by Courtney Jonsson

E

ven if you look forward to hosting your family’s holiday party each year, you likely have moments where you’re stressed beyond belief. It’s not easy trying to do all that cooking, baking, cleaning, and organizing when you’re trying to keep up with all your other daily commitments as well.

Instead of stressing out this holiday season, wouldn’t it be nice to delegate some of the work to someone else? That way, you can enjoy your holiday season without feeling rushed every minute of the day. Here are some shortcuts you can take to make your holiday a little brighter so you can soak in all those moments that matter.

CHOOSE A MAIN DISH One of the simple joys of the holidays is enjoying a nice meal with your family, but it can be overwhelming to prepare. From main dishes to sides, appetizers to desserts, there is a lot to do, especially when you factor in cleaning up all those dishes.

Local restaurants can be an excellent resource when your holiday party planning begins. The main dish, some would argue, is the most important part of the meal, but it can take hours to prepare. Tony’s Butt Shack in Hollowayville offers catering services that will save every party host a handful of hours.

“The main dish of choice at the Butt Shack is our Texas beef brisket. No one really has 17 hours to cook a bris-

PHOTOS BY SHANNON SERPETTE

Letting someone else take the chore of baking off your plate can be a huge timesaver when you’re hosting a holiday party or attending one. Myrtle’s Pies in Princeton has an assortment of crowd-pleasing pies and other desserts that will let you cross holiday baking off of your list. ket, so this dish makes a great impact at gatherings,” Tony Vaccaro, owner of Tony’s Butt Shack said.

Verucchi’s Ristorante in Spring Valley offers up main dishes rooted in tradition.

Their family favorites are served at holiday parties and never seem to disappoint.

Paula Verucchi Tomsha shared some of the history behind their famous lasagna.

“When feeding family and friends, we recommend a pan of Grandma Bea’s homemade lasagna. Our 97-year-old matriarch has been serving it for special occasions for 75 years, and if you have ever tried our lasagna, then you know you

6 October 2021 | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | A NewsTribune Publication

can taste all of the love that goes into it,” she said.

Whether you choose the Texas brisket from Tony’s Butt Shack or Grandma Bea’s lasagna at Verucchi’s, your guests will be impressed by the meal on the table.

SNACKS AND SIDES Appetizers and side dishes can be difficult during holiday party planning because there are so many to choose from.

Most hosts want their appetizers to fit well with the main course. Creating multiple appetizers that please your guest’s palettes is daunting. Instead of stressing out about what to serve, turn to the experts.

Jack’s Tap in Spring Valley, owned by Eric and Bri Verucchi, has a chef on staff that gladly alters Jack’s offerings to best serve their customers. A few choices at Jack’s include a taco bar, sandwich platters, and wings.

“All packages can be catered to your party’s needs.

Hosts can add any dish or appetizer to the packages. Our chef can make anything,” the Verucchis said. Jack’s Tap is a one-stop shop for your appetizer and side dish needs.

Their friendly staff will ensure you feel comfortable with what will be served at your next gathering.

GET SOME BAKING HELP What’s a holiday party without a wide assortment of baked goods? If you love having pies, cakes, and cookies for your guests to nibble on but get stressed trying to find the time to do all that baking, you can outsource your wish list to a bakery.

At Myrtle’s Pies in Princeton, customers can choose between a mind-boggling number of hot or cold pies.

If you don’t want the fuss of making sure the cold pies stay chilled during an extended get-together, hot pies are always a good option.

For Thanksgiving, Myrtle’s sells a lot of pumpkin pies.

But other popular holiday choices, especially in December, include apple, cherry, strawberry rhubarb, French silk, or coconut cream. If you want your pie to be more memorable, Myrtle’s

sells a lot of unique flavors, including Blue Goose, which consists of blueberries and gooseberries, molasses apple, blueberry mango, and nut pies, like its bourbon pecan.

“We have a lot to choose from,” David Grebner, the owner of Myrtle’s Pies in Princeton, said.

PAIR WITH WINE Pairing wine with your meal can be a challenge. August Hill Winery has over 35 options to choose from, ensuring your meal is accompanied by the perfect beverage.

Mark Wenzel, founder and winemaker at August Hill Winery and Illinois Sparkling Company, offered up some expert advice.

“I recommend having a variety of wines for your holiday meals to suit the different tastes of your guests and the variety of foods you are serving,” Wenzel said.

He gave examples of wine and food pairings that are popular around the holidays.

“Our ISC Brut Ombré Rosé sparkling wine and August Hill Cranberry Infusion are

both fantastic pairings with turkey and stuffing. If you are serving ham, you can’t go wrong with ISC Sec sparkling wine or August Hill Vignoles.

With Italian dishes, Ginocchio is a good choice,” Wenzel said. “For wines to pair with dessert, our ISC Brut pairs well with pecan pie, ISC Demi Sec Rosé pairs well with fudge and other rich chocolate desserts, and August Hill Almond Infusion or Moscato pair well with most desserts including pumpkin and apple pies.”

Employees at August Hill are glad to help you select the right wine for your party when you visit their location in Downtown Utica.

SPRUCE UP YOUR SPACE As you start to get the china out of the cupboard and shine the silverware set, a feeling sets in that you are forgetting something – decorations. Every holiday party needs to have some sort of decor to make the space feel cozy. Valley Flowers and Gifts in Spring Valley offers pick-up and delivery options

so your holiday planning can be seamless.

“The designers at Valley Flowers and Gifts are here to help alleviate that stress by helping with your decorating needs. Whether it’s fresh flowers or silk, we create unique arrangements sure to wow your guests,” Theresa Taliani, owner of Valley Flowers and Gifts, shared.

The Flower Bar in Peru also designs multiple arrangements centered around fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, which makes it easy to swing by and pick something up that will elevate the feel of your space.

“We offer a variety of floral arrangements over the holidays, including real and silk. Typically, we create five different centerpieces that range from $29.99 and up. We also offer smaller arrangements per request,” Nikki Tonioni, owner of The Flower Bar, said.

FINISHING DETAILS The final touch when planning a holiday party is ensuring your guests arrive

safely and comfortably.

Because Illinois weather is unpredictable, you may want to call TNT Lawncare in advance. TNT Lawncare offers snow removal services through the winter months. These services include plowing the driveway, shoveling the walkway, and laying salt to ensure your guests get in the door without incident.

When you have guests flying in from out of state, you might not have time to pick them up from the airport. Or maybe with your already busy schedule, you don’t have time to do as much cleaning as you’d like before guests arrive. That’s where Butler Concierge Services, a new business in the Illinois Valley, can help.

“Butler Concierge can offer many solutions to your holiday crunch time.

Do you need help cleaning out that guest bedroom?

Picking up Mom from the airport? Do you need any gift shopping done? We can do that,” Kate Butler, the owner of the business, said.

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It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas Putting out your seasonal décor is a quick way to jumpstart your holiday spirit Story and photos by Shannon Serpette

W

hile Christmas is a spiritual holiday, it’s also highly visual as well. For many people, implementing festive décor and dishes around this time of the year is the best way to kick your holiday spirit into high gear. For some, that means getting out treasured family keepsakes you only see at this time of year and perhaps adding a new acquisition to that collection of holiday pieces or china.

The beautiful thing about decorating for the holidays is that there is no right or wrong way to do it, said Jyl Morse, owner of Hoffman’s Patterns of the Past in Princeton, a store that sells china, decorations, ornaments, and much more.

Whether you like a particular color scheme, prefer religious decorations, or want a yard so well decorated that Clark Griswold would be jealous, the holiday season has something for all types. Even DIY-ers or those who want an old-fashioned Christmas can get into the fun by stringing popcorn and hanging it in their house.

Hoffman’s tries to showcase all the different looks that someone could opt for when decorating for Christmas, so they put up multiple trees each year.

“We do 12 trees in here,”

Morse said.

Each tree has a different theme, such as a snowman tree, a rustic tree, a Polish pottery tree, a bird tree, a sports tree, and a Jim Shore tree. For those who don’t know, Jim Shore is a giftware industry icon who creates a variety of holiday decorations, including Santas. Hoffman’s carries a large assortment of Jim Shore art, which has become highly collectible, Morse said.

See Decor page 13

Top Right: Snowmen are a constant favorite each year for those decorating for Christmas. Hoffman’s Patterns of the Past has numerous snowmen decorations to choose from.

Lower Left: A Christmas platter can be a fun way to set out Christmas cookies for Santa or for your relatives.

10 October 2021 | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | A NewsTribune Publication

S’mores ornaments are a big hit around Christmas, especially with young kids.

Jyl Morse of Hoffman’s Patterns of the Past in Princeton said her store goes all out when decorating for Christmas and offering unique pieces that will make the holiday season seem extra special.

Left: Birds and pinecones both make excellent types of décor for the holidays for someone searching for a rustic look.

Right: A Jim Shore collectible Santa, sold at Hoffman’s Patterns of the Past, is a colorful and intricate showstopper for any holiday centerpiece.

A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | October 2021 11

Polish pottery, such as this display at Hoffman’s, is a great choice for holiday decorating because of its fun, festive colors.

Thanksgiving decorating is sometimes lost in the shuffle between Halloween and Christmas, but setting out a beautiful pilgrim display such as this one can transform your dining room table.

Christmas gnomes are all the rage this year, according to Jyl Morse, owner of Hoffman’s Patterns of the Past.

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Decor

FROM PAGE 10

One trend that is continuing to gain steam for holiday decorations is gnomes. Gnomes may seem like an unlikely Christmas trend, but they continue to ride the wave of popularity they’ve enjoyed the past couple of years.

“Gnomes are really big this Christmas,” Morse said. “It’s a big European thing, but it’s coming here. They’re just so darn cute.”

Gnomes were highly popular in the 1970s and have made a big comeback in recent years, she said. These days you can find gnome figurines and ornaments in which they are dressed as Santa Claus.

Another trend that some people love is themed trees, Morse said.

“A lot of people do themed trees,” she said.

Themed trees can include only a specific color scheme or solely one type of decoration, like snowmen. It’s whatever the person putting up the tree likes most to see.

“Gnomes are really big this Christmas.

It’s a big European thing, but it’s coming here. They’re just so darn cute.”

Jyl Morse, owner of Hoffman’s Patterns of the Past “We have a lot of different looks. You have your nature looks,” Morse said, adding that many people love decorating with birds, especially cardinals, during the holiday season.

Cardinals can offer a remembrance of loved ones who are no longer with you, and they provide that festive pop of red color that many people love to see at Christmas.

Another trend that appears to be on fire right now is S’more ornaments. These cute ornaments give a fun and friendly vibe to any Christmas tree, and they are often a favorite of younger children who think they look both adorable and tasty. Hoffman’s has a large selection of this type of ornament for people who are thinking about adding new items to their tree this year. Morse said these or-

naments are so beloved that some people keep them up year-round.

For those who have a family tradition – or want to start one with their young children – of putting out cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas,

Hoffman’s has plenty of special holiday dishes, plates, and mugs to choose from.

Whether you’re the type who loves decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving happens or you want to wait until closer to the big day, the local stores that carry Christmas items, like Hoffman’s, are there to accommodate you. Morse said Christmas sales are now being made before Thanksgiving and are often big sellers well into January.

“Christmas has extended so much anymore,” she said.

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A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | October 2021 15

The New Way to Christmas Carol

Story by Brandon LaChance

W

e’ve all seen the old Christmas movies where families or church groups huddle together in the cold outside of homes and businesses to sing Christmas songs to help everyone feel a special holiday vibe. While you can still occasionally find those dedicated carolers, in 2021, caroling has become, for the most part, a thing of the past.

However, Christmas music and the spirit remains vibrant as local musicians make a point of sharing holiday cheer through music.

“I don’t know the science behind it, but singing in general is a physical activity that can warm you up,” said Kevin Kramer, a 2004 LaSalle-Peru graduate who teaches and performs music year round. “You don’t have to be an athlete to do it. For people to be able to participate in singing, whether it’s in a group or on their own, is great.”

“During the wintertime, it gets darker earlier so moods can be affected. Singing is a mood booster as well. It’s a healthy activity to participate in because you’re connecting with your breath and you’re using your voice to make tone rather than speaking English,” he said. “You’re resonating your voice a little more and it can provide an inner warmth.

I’m not necessarily a caroler but as a musician in America, during December Christmas music is definitely in my song repertoire. It’s always an enjoyable thing to share music with people. To have them want to sing along and join

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Christina Eltrevoog of Ottawa performs Christmas music each year locally, and she is planning a release of a Christmas EP this holiday season. you adds a lot to it as well.”

Kramer, who is 35 years old, studied music at Illinois Valley Community College before focusing on music composition at Columbia College Chicago and now teaches guitar and drum lessons at 408 Fine Arts Factory.

16 October 2021 | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | A NewsTribune Publication

Between teaching, hosting lessons for groups/bands, working weddings as a musician and a DJ, and playing his own gigs, Kramer is always around music. Especially when it’s time to deck the halls in December.

“Rip’s Tavern would have

me play Christmas-centric music there for probably four or five years in a row the day of the Christmas Day parade in Ladd,” Kramer said. “This last December a car dealership in Peru had a music event in their facilities, and I was there for that. My favorite Christmas songs are John Prine’s ‘Silent Night All Day Long’ and the classic Charlie Brown Christmas song from Peanuts.”

Christina Eltrevoog, who is 31 and lives in Ottawa, also participates in Christmas entertainment year in and year out. With busy schedules, the Covid-19 pandemic canceling anything and everything in 2020, and the immediate future uncertain for singing in front of a large group of people at their homes, Eltrevoog is dedicated to playing Christmas music during the holiday season anyway she can.

“I’ve been playing music at 3 French Hens French Country Market in Morris once a month when they have their Artisan Market. They have a holiday market 5 to 9 p.m.

Nov. 19-20 where it’s holiday themed,” she said. “People can shop for their Christmas presents from local artisan sellers while I’m providing music outside of Jennifer’s Garden.”

“I’m planning to play a Christmas concert at 4 p.m.

Dec. 12 at the Church of the Nazarene in Marseilles. I’m also planning to release a collection of Christmas songs this year. I hope to have the Christmas EP out by November,” she said. “I recorded them last year during the winter. I was doing a series on my YouTube Channel called Tune’s Day where every week I’d release a new video of a cover song arrangement. I did ‘Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep’ from the movie White Christmas. I also did ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ (which will be featured in a PBS TV special in Cleveland), a hymn called ‘Little Baby Jesus’ and ‘O Holy Night’.”

Eltrevoog, who will also sing Christmas hymns for worship service for United Methodist Church at 9 a.m. Dec. 12 and the United Methodist Church in Marseilles at 10:45 a.m.

Dec. 12, has a love for the caroling tradition and hopes it never truly fades away.

Throughout the year, El-

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Kevin Kramer performs Christmas music for Illinois Valley businesses every December. trevoog is involved in many projects as she plays solo gigs, is half of a duo called MMCM which released an EP called “Inbetween” in 2020, plays with a local rock band called the Belle Rangers, is in a female folk trio called the Morning Larks and is involved with a community free form radio station WRWO-FM 94.5. All of her music endeavors started at a young age with Christmas tunes being a major factor.

“Most of my musical adolescence involves singing in choirs through the Ottawa school system,” Eltrevoog said. “I tried out for Friendly City Sound, the children’s choir in Ottawa, as early as I could. I actually tried out a year too early and they made me come back the following year. I started singing when I was in fourth grade at Shepherd Middle School. I continued at Ottawa High School in the jazz choir and theater. I

started writing songs and playing the guitar and piano when I was around 12. I grew up singing hymns in church and Christmas carols were always a staple.”

“I grew up on the east side of Ottawa, and they have this tradition on Chapel Street where the residents would line up on the street on Christmas Eve with candles in a bag.

My family and I would go to the Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church, and they have a candle lighting service. It would be dark in the sanctuary except for the lit candles. It was mystical and an enchanting time.

We would sing some carols there and then we would walk down Chapel Street, and it was very special to do it every year.

When I’m in town, it’s still something I love to do,” she continued. “I also like to carol through the community, but I See Caroling page 18

A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | October 2021 17

Caroling FROM PAGE 17

don’t know if that’s all going to happen this year. We also carol at nursing homes, but we weren’t able to go last year.”

The communal aspect of listening to and singing the same songs with family, church, a large group, or a community is special to Eltrevoog.

Christmas tunes can be helpful in other ways as the songs can touch an individual who may be estranged from their family or is going through a tough time. Eltrevoog has seen the reconnection between loved ones, and it helps her to remember the importance of fellowship.

“The time spent is more important than the dollars we spend on objects,” she said.

“It’s great to have an expression of generosity toward somebody, but I really think it’s about our relationships and time spent; music helps with that.”

Kathy Jagiella has seen the

Christmas spirit lift people as well. While the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church choir director was leading singers to different nursing homes, an unforgettable memory was created.

“I had my middle school group with Peru Catholic, and we visited Heritage Manor four years ago. The elderly were very sick. We began singing a Christmas carol with me playing the guitar and the children singing,” Jagiella said.

“One of the elderly men was in a wheelchair. He sat up and started singing with us.

It was a beautiful moment.

The nurses around us were gasping and tears came to their eyes. I was confused and asked them what happened after we stopped singing. They said they didn’t know the man singing could speak or that he was aware of what was going on around him. They were absolutely amazed.”

“The connections we make when we’re young stay with us throughout our lives. Especially with music because it can touch a special place in our hearts that regular speak-

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ing and communication may not be able to reach when you’re ill,” she said.

Jagiella, who is 55 years old and moved to Peru 15 years ago to become St. Joseph’s choir director, has remained active in singing Christmas carols as she has sang in many nursing homes.

This Christmas season will be different since knowing if and when people can sing for the elderly isn’t clear. However, Jagiella plans to reach out to nursing homes in order to carol for as many as she can and has an idea to carol outside like the days of old if need be.

“If we can’t go into nursing homes to sing for people, I think it would be a good idea for us to be outside, and they can watch and listen through the windows,” said Jagiella, who teaches violin and singing at 408 Fine Arts Factory.

“We could all bundle up and sing outside. The children would probably think it’s kind of fun to Christmas carol for them, and it would be great for the elderly.”

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4 Reasons Facials are Skyrocketing in Popularity In the most recent census data, 2.73 million US citizens reported having a facial 4 or more times within 6 months in 2020 and 13.52 million people did not have one at all during the same period. According to Dr. Nicole Norris of Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa in Peru, IL, “The number of people having facial services on a more regular basis has trended upward from the last US Census but there are still way too many women and men missing out! I think if more people understood that facials are so much more than a relaxing treat on vacation, they might make them more of a priority in their life. In my office, facials are considered a skin treatment that can be customized to your skin concerns, a way to get your skin ready for a more aggressive treatment that we offer, an event treatment, or a way to maintain great skin we have helped you achieve through other modalities.”

Dr. Norris continues, “When you come into my medical spa for your initial visit, we take pictures of your face without make-up using a skin imaging camera that allows us to not only see the surface of your skin but also issues lurking beneath. During your consultation, we ask you about what skin concerns you may have and offer education about the best medicalgrade cosmetic products and procedures to treat those concerns. Often a facial is the first step toward a patient’s skin care goals along with a solid home care regimen. For instance, if a patient admittedly has never really done much for the skin of their face and comes to me for skin rejuvenation, I will often have them start a series of facials to get their skin prepped and healthy for a more aggressive anti-aging treatment with a laser or a microneedling device. When they follow this protocol, it will ultimately lead to their best result.”

“Another great reason to have facials, is to get your skin looking its best for an event, like seeing family and friends around the holidays or a holiday party”, adds Amanda Visione, licensed esthetician at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa. “By performing superficial exfoliation and vellus hair removal with dermaplaning, your make-up application looks more professional.

Your skin will also actually glow through your makeup, and you will less likely have blemishes for your big event, with facials as part of your event prep!”

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Sierra Vaessen, licensed esthetician at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa, believes that facial maintenance is central to the best skin of your life.

“When I see patients monthly for a facial, their skin shows it. They may have done other procedures here that are more aggressive for anti-aging but to maintain those results and protect their investment, facials are key.”

“Facials are not all created equal,” states Kelsey Thrush, licensed esthetician and laser technician at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa. “First of all, a good facial should always start with dermaplaning which technically can only be performed under the supervision of a licensed physician. Secondly, a skin consultation and medical history prior to a facial are important so that we can customize your facial to what your skin needs and make sure the products that we are using are safe for you. And most importantly, the back bar of products used for your facial make all the difference in the world. We use medical-grade skin care products backed by studies and created in a lab by a team of health-conscious cosmeceutical chemists.

You can be sure that you are getting not only relaxing me-time when you come for your facial here, but also a facial with real results.”

If you would like to see what a series of facial treatments can do for you at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa, call their experienced medical spa team to set up your facial consultation and become part of the trend in this country to have regular facial treatments for healthy skin. As Dr. Norris always says, “Healthy Skin is Beautiful Skin!” Check out their facial menu online at NicoleNorrisMD.com or follow them on Instagram/ Facebook to know when they offer facial specials!

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A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | October 2021 19

Christmas Cookie Corner

Tried-and-tested cookie recipes for the holidays

By Shannon Serpette

S

ometimes you’re too tired or busy to even think about adding holiday cookie baking to your list. But in some families, the holiday season is unimaginable without an assortment of home-baked Christmas cookies.

Gathering in the kitchen and baking together is a wonderful bonding opportunity to instantly put you in a festive mood.

When I was a child, my mom would bake well over a thousand Christmas cookies each year for our gatherings and to give away to

BUCKEYES INGREDIENTS: 1 stick butter, softened 3 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar 2 cups crunchy peanut butter 3 cups Rice Krispies 12 ounces chocolate chips INSTRUCTIONS: Cream butter, sugar, and peanut butter until smooth. Add Rice Krispies and form into balls. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler.

Dip balls into chocolate and place on waxed paper.

CHOCOLATE CRINKLES INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup shortening 4 squares unsweetened chocolate 2 cups sifted flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups sugar 4 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla Powdered sugar for coating INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt together shortening and chocolate.

Sift together flour, baking powder,

and salt. Add sugar to chocolate, stirring until smooth. Adds eggs, beating well after each one. Add vanilla. Add in the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture and blend thoroughly. Chill the dough for two hours.

Using a small amount of dough, form into balls. Roll each one in powdered sugar. Place about two inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake for about 10 minutes. Don’t overbake – the cookies will be soft when taken from the oven. Wait a few minutes and then remove the cookies from the sheet, allowing them to cool on a rack.

SUGAR COOKIES INGREDIENTS: 3/4 cup of butter-flavored shortening 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon of vanilla 2 and 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt INSTRUCTIONS: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Roll to 1/8-inch thick on floured board if you like crisper, thinner cookies.

Roll to 1/2-inch thickness if you like softer cookies. Bake 6 to 9 minutes, depending upon how

family members and friends. She would spend the weeks before Christmas baking and freezing all those cookies in her favorite holiday tins. Then on Christmas Eve, those cookies would be lovingly carted out of the freezer and placed on a table in the dining room.

Even though she’s in her 70s now, that tradition continues, much to the delight of all of her grandchildren. Here are some of my family’s favorite holiday cookie recipes for those who love Christmas cookie baking as much as we do.

thick you rolled the dough. Cool for one minute and then remove from cookie sheet to wire rack to cool completely.

9-inch pan. Let cool until firm. Cut in the desired number of pieces. When cooled and cut, pack in airtight containers and store in a cold place.

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INGREDIENTS: 12 ounces of chocolate chips 3 four-ounce bars of sweet baking chocolate One seven-ounce jar of marshmallow creme 4 and 1/2 cups sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons butter or margarine One 14 and 1/2 - ounce can evaporated milk 2 cups chopped walnuts

INGREDIENTS: 1 cup butter or margarine 1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 and 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/4 teaspoon salt

INSTRUCTIONS: Put chocolate chips, cooking chocolate, and marshmallow creme in a bowl.

Combine sugar, salt, butter, and evaporated milk in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Boil steadily over medium heat for six minutes, boiling the whole time. Stir constantly to prevent scorching.

Pour the boiling syrup over the chocolate and marshmallow crème in a bowl and beat until the chocolate is melted. Stir in the nuts.

Pour into a lightly buttered 13 x

20 October 2021 | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | A NewsTribune Publication

INSTRUCTIONS: Cream margarine. Add sugar gradually and cream until fluffy. Add unbeaten egg and vanilla; beat well.

Stir together dry ingredients; blend into cream mixture. Chill dough for one hour. Roll on well-floured pastry board to 1/4- or 1/2-inch thickness.

Cut with floured cookie cutter. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 6 minutes at 400 degrees.

To make icing: Get an additional 1 cup of powdered sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla or other flavoring. Add enough water to make the icing easy to spread – about 1 tablespoon. Tint the frosting with food coloring if desired.

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GINGERBREAD COOKIES

INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup margarine 1/2 cup shortening 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 1 egg yolk, unbeaten 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups flour 1 bag of chocolate chips 1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional INSTRUCTIONS: Cream together margarine, shortening, brown sugar, and egg yolk.

Stir in vanilla, salt, and flour. Pat mixture into lightly greased 15 and 1/2 x 10 and 1/2 inch jelly roll pan.

Bake in a 325 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

Pour the chocolate chips over the warm baked cookies as soon as you take them out of the oven.

When the chocolate chips are melted, use a knife to spread them over the whole surface of the cookies. Add chopped nuts to the top if desired and cut while warm.

INGREDIENTS: 1 cup shortening 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 cup molasses 2 tablespoons vinegar 5 cups flour 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 to 3 teaspoons ginger 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground cloves Red cinnamon candies, optional

cutter. Place one inch apart on a greased cookie sheet. Use red cinnamon candies if desired. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 5 to 6 minutes. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet and cool on a rack.

EASY NO-BAKE CANDY COOKIES INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup butter or margarine 2 cups sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons cocoa 1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup chunky or smooth peanut butter, or SunButter for those who have peanut allergies 2 cups quick oats INSTRUCTIONS: Melt butter or margarine in a heavy saucepan. Stir in sugar, salt, cocoa, and milk. Bring to a boil and boil for exactly two minutes. If using natural SunButter instead of peanut butter, boil three minutes instead of two. Remove from heat; stir in peanut butter or SunButter, then oats. Mix thoroughly and drop by rounded teaspoon

INSTRUCTIONS: Thoroughly cream shortening with sugar. Stir in egg, molasses, and vinegar; beat well. Mix dry ingredients together; stir into molasses mixture. Chill for at least three hours.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-inch or 1/2-inch thickness, depending upon whether you like softer cookies or crisper ones. Cut with a cookie

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A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | October 2021 21

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The Art of Buying Presents for Kids: A Gift-Buying Guide for Parents and Grandparents

It’s common for parents, grand- gear. You can get some of those things for both genders – it just parents, or any kind of relative depends on a kid’s interests. to be unsure of what to buy a Younger children tend to child around the holidays. They may have an idea, but they aren’t make lists of things they want so everybody knows. They start sure if the kid they are getting it writing the list whenever they for will like it. Kids, especially teenagers, will pretend to like the see something on TV or hear about it from a friend, so these things you get them and never lists tend to be pretty use them. It can be long. They most likely hard to find out what pick out a lot of expenthey truly like. Getting sive things, so they will gifts that their friends get fewer gifts. get isn’t guaranteed to The big problem is, if make them happy. It they have siblings that all comes down to their don’t pick out expenpersonality traits. sive things, they will To start, you should compare gifts and how consider what sports much they got and will they play. If you see Torianna most likely have an arthey’re interested in Swinson gument. A way to solve softball or baseball, you could buy them gloves, baseballs this is to give joint gifts. You or softballs, catching gear, or get could give the girls a few presents that are for all of them and them tickets for a professional not just one of them, and the baseball game. same for the boys. Or you could If they like traveling, you give a brother and a sister some could take them on a trip to a state of their choice and explore. joint gifts to share, too. Some Spending time with them would ideas for joint presents are board games, video games, electronics, be a great gift that would give movies, and simple things that them lifelong memories. children will enjoy. This way, the Or if you’re unsure about children will learn to share and what gift to give, you could let can’t complain that their siblings them go to stores to pick out are taking their toys. gifts and have a fun family adA good way to get to know a venture. You could also talk to child better and figure out what them about their passions and what they’ve been up to lately to they want is to ask them how their day was. Sometimes a child possibly get ideas. If it all goes might say they were jealous of wrong, you could ask them to write down gift ideas. If you dis- something another child had. like that idea, you can simply get Other times, you can just look at their clothes to see what kinds them a gift card or money.

Another idea is that you could of clothes they’d wear. You could take a peek at their room go to a movie theater and let and the stuff they decorate with them pick the movie and buy to get an idea. movies of the same genre as a If their room is decorated gift. You could ask their friends, parents, or siblings what they are in a certain color, you can get interested in. If they’re a girl, they random things like brushes, lip gloss, or water bottles in that may like nail polish, face prodcolor. You could figure out ucts, or beauty products as preswhat their favorite scent is and ents. If they’re a boy, you could buy them air freshener, deodorbuy them video games, AirPods, ant, perfume, lotion, and other speakers, drones, or workout

things. If you can’t figure out what their favorite scent is, you can just buy them a ton of scents because even they might not know what their favorite is.

Their personality can say a lot about what they like. If you notice that they like to read, you can buy them books or a bookshelf. If they love to stay organized, buy them organizers for school and at home. If you notice they are trying to be an artist, you can buy them paint sets, pencils, colored pencils, drawing boards, and many other things. If their room is full of electronics, you can get chargers for them or any electronics they don’t have. In my opinion, it’s harder to buy for people who love electronics because you truly never know if they’ll like it or not. What makes it worse is that they’re super expensive.

If you notice a child loves to write, you can get them paper, pencils, any electronics to type stories, and many other things. If they love to decorate, you can get them decorations for all seasons.

Chances are, if they’re a teenage girl, they’re most likely going to want beauty products. Whether they’re a boy or a girl, they may be trying to get fit, so workout gear might be a great gift.

While all of these are gift ideas, they aren’t one hundred percent guaranteed without truly knowing the child. If you’re totally unsure, the best thing you can do is give them what you believe they’d like and keep the receipt. One thing is certain, though – kids will notice and appreciate the sentiment behind any gift you do give them.

About the author: Torianna Swinson is a high school student who lives in Marshall County.

She is a straight A student who has participated in volleyball, track, cross country, softball, and basketball at school.

A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | October 2021 23

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24 October 2021 | Illinois Valley Holiday Life | A NewsTribune Publication