2025 KITTITAS COUNTY
HOMETOWN Holidays
Downtown for the HOLIDAYS
Downtown for the HOLIDAYS
This holiday season, make every purchase count — for you, your neighbors, and your community. Shop small and support local.
NOVEMBER 28
PLAID FRIDAY SHOPPING
All Day @ Participating Businesses
Purchase your holiday gifts from local businesses. Special hours and promos when you #ShopLocal.
MOMENTS TO REMEMBER & TREE LIGHTING
3 - 5 PM @ Unity Park Downtown Family activities, live music, Santa & Mrs. Claus photos, and tree lighting.
DECEMBER 4
HOLIDAY GIRLS NIGHT OUT
5-9 PM @ Downtown Businesses
Grab the gals and hit the town for a night of deals, promos, specials, and more.
DECEMBER 17
ELLENSBURG NIGHT MARKET
4-8 PM @ Gard Vintners, The Ridge Encore, Valo Stuff those stockings and shop with 30+ vendors at this annual night market.
ANNUAL ORNAMENT FUNDRAISER
Every ornament purchase helps light up downtown! Proceeds go towards holiday decor and programming.
Pearl Street Books, Valo, Fortuity Cellars, Gard Vintners, Ellensburg Floral, Gallery One, Umpqua Bank, Buddy’s Barkery, The Grazing Table
Events: Moments to Remember (11/28), Holiday Girls Night Out (12/4), Ellensburg Night Market (12/17)
Shop Local Contest, Event Details, and More
HOLIDAYS Abroad
CWU international student finds peace on both sides of the ocean
BY ANNA TALLARICO | Special to the Daily Record
For many students at Central Washington University, winter break means heading home to festive family gatherings and familiar traditions, with only a few hours of highway time in between.
But for international students like Maho Hoshino, the holidays can look a little different. Sometimes lonelier, but also peaceful in its bittersweetness.
Hoshimo came to Ellensburg from Japan last year to pursue graduate studies at CWU.
Home, she says, is about a 10-hour flight from Seattle — and that’s only if everything goes smoothly.
“Going home for the holidays means a long trip with flights and sometimes layovers,” she explained. “Winter weather can make travel hard, but it is worth it to see my family.”
Still, the journey is often too long and too expensive for such a short winter break.
Like many international students,
Hoshimo usually spends the holidays in Ellensburg.
While her classmates pack up cars or catch short flights home, she stays behind in a college town that’s suddenly a whole lot emptier.
The town’s holiday hibernation is a stark contrast to Japan’s bustling winter celebrations.
“In Japan, the New Year is the biggest holiday, with family gatherings, special food, and visiting shrines,” Hoshino explained.
“It feels very different.”
While Ellensburg may lack the lively traditions of home, Hoshimo finds peace in the slower pace, and settles into her own rhythm.
In fact, she says she misses nature, the peaceful town, and her friends from college when she goes home to Japan.
But being far from loved ones is never easy when she’s at school.
While at CWU, Hoshino said she misses her family, friends and Japanese food the most.
Central Washington University students walk through campus on a snowy day last year.
A very merry Kittitas County
BUCKETList
BY ANNA TALLARICO | Special to the Daily Record
The holiday season is in full swing across Kittitas County, and with small town charm comes small town traditions. Here are just a few don’t-miss activities to celebrate Christmas, Ellensburg style.
- Cut down a tree at Badger Pocket Christmas Tree Farm (for the last time)
Badger Pocket Christmas Tree Farm is the only U-Cut Christmas tree farm in Kittitas County. This season will be its last, as its owners Donald and Joanne Chance are retiring after years of hard work. Besides a large selection of evergreens (eight different species, to be exact), the farmstead is all about the Christmas experience; hot cocoa, cookies, decorations – the works. Don’t miss the chance to cut down your own tree this year.
- Go tubing at Snoqualmie Pass
Skiing isn’t for everyone. But one could make an argument for tubing.
Take Exit 52 off westbound Interstate 90, and you’ll come across Summit Central, one of the busiest ski resorts in the state. Across the street, the Summit Tubing Park offers more than 18 tubing lanes and a covered conveyor lift.
- “Moments to Remember”
Nov. 28 promises a full day of holiday fun, thanks to the Ellensburg Downtown Association’s annual “Moments to Remember” celebration. Spend the morning shopping local and enjoying festive music during Plaid Friday. Then make your way to Unity Park from 3 to 5 p.m. for the tree lighting, choir and dance performances, kids’ activities, and Santa sightings. From 5 to 7 p.m., Central
Washington Dance Academy dancers will perform excerpts from “The Nutcracker” in the State Farm Insurance windows.
Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus are in the lobby of the Fitterer’s Building. And don’t miss a wander through the streets of Bethlehem with a live nativity scene in the Fourth Avenue alley (by Mountain High Sports).
- Shop local
Say no to consumerism and yes to supporting your local businesses this holiday season. Find the perfect gifts for all your loved ones (and maybe even yourself) downtown. If you missed the Nov. 15 Ellensburg Holiday Market (featuring vendors such as The Mad Crafter, Valley Cactus Boutique, Hungry Cookies Bakery, Purity Soapworks, and many, many more), be sure to catch Holiday Girls Night Out 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 for discounts, giveaways, live entertainment, pampering opportunities, and more downtown.
- Attend a local show
It’s not Christmas without “The Nutcracker,” “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” or “The Polar Express” see all of these live, produced, directed, and
performed by talented local dancers from Central Washington Dance Academy, Ellensburg Dance Ensemble, and the Dance Barn. More information about these performances can be found on Page 6.
COUNTY
EVENTS Calendar 2025
ELLENSBURG
Moments to Remember
Nov. 28, 3 PM – 6 PM
417 N. Pearl St.
November 28 is a busy, busy day in downtown Ellensburg! Spend the morning shopping local and enjoying festive music during Plaid Friday. Then, make your way to Unity Park for Ellensburg’s annual Moments to Remember celebration.
Holidays in the Country – Thanksgiving Weekend Bazaar
Nov. 29, 10 AM – 4 PM
McIntosh Ranch, 7820 Highway 97, Ellensburg
Visit the ranch for the annual holiday craft bazaar. Local vendors will showcase unique and hand-crafted goods to kick off the holiday season!
Holiday Girls Night Out
Dec. 4, 5 PM – 9 PM
Downtown Ellensburg businesses
Whether you are shopping for loved ones or treating yourself, local businesses are excited to welcome you downtown for the annual Holiday Girls Night Out! Visit shops, restaurants, galleries and more for special discounts, unique menu items, live music, and plenty of holiday treats!
Ware Fair
Thursday, Dec. 4 & Friday, Dec. 5, NOON – 6 PM
Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 AM - 2 PM
Student Union & Recreation Center, Central Washington University
Support local artists and visit CWU’s 48th Annual Ware Fair! Come learn about professional arts and workmanship while shopping beautifully handcrafted items. Join in on the holiday cheer with a festive caroling performance, activities for the community, and exchange knowledge, wares, and build relationships as the community welcomes the winter season.
Toys for Tots presented by the Bearded Sinners and Downer County Bikers
Dec. 6, 2 PM – 11 PM
Kittitas Valley Event Center - The Armory 901 E. Seventh Ave
There will be silent auctions, live auctions, live Music, pictures with Santa, food and beverages. Come celebrate and support the community by raising donations to give to those in need.
Central
Washington Dance Academy presents ‘The Nutcracker’
Dec. 6, 2 PM & 7 PM
Dec. 7, 2 PM
Morgan Performing Arts Center
Central Washington Dance Academy brings the traditional holiday classic of “The Nutcracker” to life this December. With three enchanting performances, you are sure to be swept up in the holiday cheer.
Holiday Night Market
Dec. 17, 4 PM – 9 PM
Valo, Gard Vintners, The Ridge Encore Head downtown to Valo, Gard Vintners, and The Ridge Encore for more than 30 vendors, live music, Santa sightings, festive tasting menus and more at the annual Holiday Night Market.
Cle Elum
Adopt-a-Tree Program
The Cle Elum Downtown Association is offering its Adopt-a-Tree sponsorship opportunity again this year for families and businesses. Participants can purchase a custom ornament featuring a name or logo — this year’s ornaments will be slightly larger and designed in a reindeer style!
Pricing:
$30 per ornament
Purchase four and receive the fifth free Last season, more than 100 ornaments were created and sponsored, and this holiday season, the tradition continues!
Plaid Friday
November 28th
The Cle Elum Downtown Association is excited to launch its Downtown Coupon Booklet during Plaid Friday this year!
Community members are encouraged to wear their best plaid and come shop local Black Friday deals while enjoying the beautifully lit downtown.
The coupon booklet will be available both printed and as a digital flipbook, making it easy for folks to enjoy an interactive shopping experience.
Some participating businesses include: Farm & Home
Mule & Elk Brewing
Jensen Farms Outpost (Ice Cream + Mercantile)
Bright & Day
Pioneer Coffee Roasting Co.
Miner’s Pizza + Pastry Co.
This will be an all-day event, encouraging people to shop local and engage with the Cle Elum downtown community and new businesses.
The Grinch returns!
Thanks to Big Z Entertainment, the Grinch will be making appearances at the following Christmas in Cle Elum events:
Plaid Friday: Nov. 28 | 2 PM – 4 PM
Tree Lighting Ceremony: Nov. 29 | 6 PM –7:30 PM
Lighted Parade: Dec. 6 | 6 PM – 8 PM
Kids Day with the Grinch: Dec. 8 or Dec. 17 (TBD) | 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
All events will take place in downtown Cle Elum to encourage local shopping and engagement throughout the holiday season.
Operation Santa
Santa Mailboxes will be placed at: Pioneer Coffee Cle Elum Fire Dept.
CEDA Office
Jensen Farms Outpost
Sunset Café
Children can drop off letters and Santa will write back up until Dec. 22.
(Please be sure a return address is included.)
Santa begins sending letters just after Thanksgiving.
Possible Returning Event
The Cle Elum Downtown Association is reaching out to the Northwest Sled Dog Association and are hopeful to bring back the sled dog event this year — weather permitting!
Christmas in Cle Elum Lighted Parade
Registration is now open Entry Fee: $20 (supports parade and operational costs).
Theme: Optional — Antlers & Evergreen. Visit cleelumdowntown.com/christmas-in-cleelum for more details.
SUNCADIA
Holiday Bazaar
Nov. 28, 10 AM – 5 PM & Nov. 29, 10 AM – 4 PM
Conference Center (Rialto, Owens & Rialto
Pre-function)
Get into the holiday spirit at the Suncadia Holiday Bazaar! This festive market features unique gifts, local vendors, seasonal treats, and holiday décor, along with complimentary activities for all ages. Enjoy the perfect shopping experience while participating in holiday crafts, photos with Santa, and more — all set against the beauty of the season!
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Nov. 28, 6 PM – 7 PM
Dawson Park
Kick off the holiday season at Suncadia’s Tree Lighting Ceremony! Enjoy the magic of the season as Suncadia lights up the resort’s stunning Christmas tree, accompanied by festive music, hot cocoa and holiday cheer. This family-friendly event includes complimentary activities, making it the perfect way to celebrate the holidays with loved ones!
Story Time
Dec. 6, 13, 20, 7 PM – 8 PM
Conference Center (Panerio) Snuggle up in your coziest pajamas, bring your favorite lovey, and slip on your slippers for a magical Holiday Storytime! Enjoy heartwarming holiday tales and a warm, delicious cookie to make the evening extra sweet.
ROSLYN
Roslyn Old Town Christmas
Nov. 28, 10:30 AM — 7:30 PM
Downtown Roslyn
It’s the countdown to the most wonderful time of the year! Enjoy the Annual Old Town Christmas Roslyn-style. You will be thrilled with a festive experience to cheer in the Christmas season. From two free movie showings of “Elf” at Roslyn Theater, build your own charm bracelet, crafts, live entertainment around town, and more! Starting at 10:30 a.m., enjoy activities downtown throughout the day. At 5 p.m., the Christmas program begins with The Mountain Voices Children’s Choir, special entertainment, and the exciting countdown to lighting the Christmas tree at 6 p.m., followed by the Yakima Christmas Trucks parade and photos with Santa, too!
RDA “A Charming Christmas”
Nov. 28, 11 AM - 5 PM
Downtown Roslyn
Roslyn Downtown Association presents: “A Charming Christmas”
Pre-Order for $15 each now. Then, on Nov. 28, come to the Masonic Hall at 122 W. Pennsylvania Ave. (next to the Roslyn Post Office) to receive your bracelet, charms bag and charms map. Check-in between at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Then stroll the businesses of Roslyn to collect all your charms by 5 p.m. Order tickets at: roslyndowntown.org/event/ rda-a-charming-christmas-collect-charms-tomake-your-own-souvenir-bracelet
Roslyn Eagles Christmas Bazaar
Nov. 29, 11 AM - 4 PM
Roslyn Eagles, 107 N. Second St Vendors are bursting with excitement to invite you to Roslyn’s Holiday Bazaar at the Roslyn Eagles on Saturday, Nov. 29 for a day filled with holiday cheer, creativity and shopping galore! It’s the perfect chance to support Roslyn’s amazing local talents and discover one-of-a-kind gifts that will make your loved one’s smile. From handmade crafts to delightful treats, there’s something special waiting for everyone!
DECK the (performance) Halls a guide to local holiday shows this season
BY ANNA TALLARICO | Special to the Daily Record
For those who can’t miss a trip to the theater during the holiday season, you won’t be disappointed. Kittitas County is offering a glittering lineup of local performances this winter, from classic ballet to interactive theater, to enchant audiences of all ages.
DANCE
“’Twas the Night Before Christmas” is a new ballet by the Ellensburg Dance Ensemble inspired by the classic 1823 poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” Set on a magical Victorian Christmas Eve, the show features playful mice, toys, reindeer and Santa herself, performed by local and Central Washington University dancers. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11; 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14
at the Morgan Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $22 for adults and $16 for seniors and students.
“The Nutcracker” returns to the Central Washington Dance Academy stage with more than 40 local dancers in roles from baby mice to the Sugar Plum Fairy. Performances are 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Morgan Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for children and seniors, plus a $2.10 fee.
“The Polar Express” by The Dance Barn brings the beloved story to life with an original live adaptation featuring talented local dancers, singers and performers ready to transport you straight to the North Pole. Showtimes are 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 at the Morgan Performing Arts Center. Tickets, including fees
and taxes, are $23.40 for general admission, $17.80 for children, and $21.16 for service members, first responders, teachers and mental health professionals.
THEATER
Central Theatre Ensemble presents “Blithe Spirit,” “an improbable farce in three acts,” at Tower Theatre. The comedy follows novelist Charles Condomine, who accidentally summons the ghost of his first wife during a séance, setting off chaos with his current wife, a doctor, the doctor’s wife, and a clumsy maid. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov.
21-22; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23; and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, Dec. 7. General admission is $20 and $15 for CWU students with ID. A $3 convenience fee applies.
Valley Theatre Company’s “Readers Theatre” presents “A Christmas Carol” as part of its “Script-in-Hand Series” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15. The performance features actors reading directly from scripts with minimal props, costumes, or scenery, offering a unique, character-driven experience. A $5 donation is recommended. Location is to be announced.
Clara (Anna Rose, right) catches the Sugar Plum Fairy (Emma Tolmich) in the Ellensburg Dance Ensemble’s rendition of “The Nutcracker” last year.
are an important part of the
TRADITIONS Holiday
The holiday season in the United States is a time like no other. As soon as Thanksgiving ends, the country rushes to prepare for the winter holidays.
From Christmas movies to extravagant decorations, people stop at nothing to get in the holiday spirit. Here are 10 of our favorite holiday traditions.
1. Decorate the tree
Whether you get a real tree or a fake one, creating a perfect tree is a classic Christmas activity. Complete with lights, tinsel, baubles and ornaments, Christmas trees are one of the most traditional symbols of the holiday season. Put on some holiday music and
gather your family and friends to “deck the halls” as you decorate your tree and get in the Christmas spirit.
2. Bake Christmas cookies
The holiday season is a time to indulge! A favorite tradition in the U.S. is baking and decorating Christmas cookies. It’s typical to use cookie
cutters to make sugar cookie dough into holiday shapes like trees, stars, or wreaths. Once the cookies are baked, go crazy with red and green icing and sprinkles to really highlight the holiday season.
3. Write a letter to Santa (and the
PRACTICAL Gifts that inspire creativity and
confidence STATEPOINT
Holiday gifting shouldn’t mean giving objects that sit in the corner and gather dust. Consider these gift ideas that will inspire growth, learning, creativity and confidence — and which will actually get used:
Musical possibilities: Open the door to a world of creative possibilities for your gift recipient with the CT-S1-76 keyboard from Casio, which is designed for anyone who’s ready to spread their musical wings.
Its 13-watt bass-ported stereo speaker system delivers punch and clarity at all volumes, but it can also be played quietly with a good set of headphones. With 76 full-size keys with touch response and more than 60 tones, including stereo grand piano, it’s a versatile, customizable instrument, and one built to accommodate many types of use. It’s sleek and portable design is well-suited for on-the-go music-making; its built-in metronome keeps the beat; and its one-button recorder makes it easy to capture one’s compositions and performances.
Handwritten inspiration: Whether your gift recipient is a poet, lyricist, doodler or big thinker, a digital notebook is a must-have for getting creative juices flowing.
This handy, stylish tool for the
workplace, classroom, or on-the-go, combines the digital benefits of being able to save, organize and search for one’s work, with the distraction-free experience of writing on paper by hand.
Mathematical fun: Students and recreational math enthusiasts alike should be armed with the best scientific calculator to support their studies.
The fx-991CW ClassWiz from Casio comes with a new quadruple graded LCD display, so that users can easily find their cursor while writing and modifying expressions.
With the ability to store and recall up to nine variables, which can contain integers, computations and functions, and to recall variables between sessions, the ClassWiz is a powerful learning tool. All of its functions can be accessed through the Math Catalog, which hosts 47 scientific constants and 40 measurement conversions. By partnering the calculator with an internet-capable mobile device, solutions can be graphed and visualized through ClassPad.net.
Fitness that keeps on giving: For the fitness enthusiast in your life, or someone who aspires to be, consider a subscription box aimed at supporting them on their athletic journey.
Some subscriptions are categorized by sport to appeal to yogis, hikers, weight lifters, marathoners and more, and
others are tailored by type of product, such as apparel, healthy snacks or recovery gear. With so many options to choose from, you’ll be sure to find a subscription that will inspire your fit friend or family member.
This holiday season, make the season merry and bright by using gift-giving as an opportunity to support your love ones’ talents and passions.
reindeer)
In the U.S., tradition holds that Santa Claus travels all over the world on Christmas eve to deliver presents to children everywhere. Guided by his trusty team of flying reindeer (most famously, Rudolph), Santa’s sleigh traverses the entire globe all in one night. Many children write letters to Santa to ask for special gifts. The night before Christmas, families leave out letters and cookies for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer. After all, Santa and his team must get hungry with all that traveling!
4. Look at the twinkly lights
During the holiday season, homes across the U.S. are transformed into winter wonderlands. Filled with twinkling lights, nativity scenes, Santa figurines and so much more, it’s incredible to look at all the holiday displays. A popular tradition is to walk or drive around the neighborhood to
admire all the beautiful decorations.
5. Build a gingerbread house
Gingerbread is a food that doesn’t get much recognition outside the holiday season. But it shines bright as the star of an important tradition: Building gingerbread houses! You can make your own gingerbread from scratch or buy a kit at the grocery store to make things a little easier. Put your house together and cover it with icing, sprinkles, and gumdrops. You’ll end up with a gorgeous creation that tastes good, too!
6. Sing Christmas carols
The holiday songbook has practically endless amounts of Christmas songs, both classic and modern. In the U.S., the age-old holiday tradition of caroling is still done today, although it might not be as popular. But, if you’re in the mood to spread some holiday cheer, round up some musical friends and go door-to-door in your neighborhood, singing your favorite carols.
7. Exchange gifts
Giving gifts is a fun and thoughtful way to celebrate the people you love during the holiday season. There are a variety of popular gift exchanges, like “Secret Santa” or the silly tradition of “white elephant.” For Secret Santa, people each choose a name at random and secretly buy gifts for whoever they’ve chosen. It’s always fun to guess who your Secret Santa is when you receive your gift!
8. Wear an ugly sweater
Dressing up for holiday parties is one of the best parts of the season. It’s fun to don your very best, complete with sequins and sparkles, hopefully. But it can be even more fun to show up wearing a hallmark “ugly” Christmas sweater, complete with a silly saying or antiquated embroidery. Hunt for the perfect hideous knit at a thrift store, find one with a festive phrase online, or make your own. Extra points for garland and flashing lights!
9. Watch Christmas movies
When the weather outside is frightful, the best thing to do is settle in with a blanket, a cup of hot cocoa and your favorite Christmas movies. From timeless classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life” to the hilarious journey of Buddy in “Elf,” there are so many holiday movies worth watching. Many TV channels even have countdowns to Christmas with a different movie every night.
10. Spend time with the people you love
Holiday traditions are the most fun when done with cherished friends and family. Whether baking cookies or caroling, decorating the tree or snuggling up on the couch with a classic holiday movie, being surrounded by your favorite people makes everything better. No matter what holidays you choose to celebrate, the season is a time to give thanks, reflect on the past year, and spend time with loved ones. Information courtesy of EF Academy International
BUDGETING 101 Holiday
Financial advisors share their top tips
STATEPOINT
Holiday season expenses are a given, but with a bit of planning and effort, you can easily include them in your budget. However, amid inflation, you may have concerns about balancing a merry holiday season with good money management.
Certified Financial Planner professionals are sharing their top tips for keeping finances intact throughout the season.
Prioritize expenses: Examine your winter budget and see how much extra you have left for holiday-specific spending (e.g., gifts, decorations, hosting and travel). A financial advisor can help you adjust for these additional expenses, as well as fit a holiday budget into your long-term plans.
Remember, it’s important to keep your expectations flexible so that if you overspend in one area, you can reduce spending elsewhere. For example, if seeing family is a priority but visiting involves pricey airfare, consider suggesting a Secret Santa so that everyone is responsible for buying just one gift. Or, if you want to bring loved ones together to celebrate but need to trim expenses, consider hosting a potluck. Your guests might
love a chance to contribute their favorite dish.
Find deals: Leverage technology tools to find deals when online shopping. Consider using a browser extension to automatically test coupon codes and ensure you have the lowest price possible or to learn when the price of an item has dropped.
Practice self-care: Give yourself the gift of a stress-free season by setting spending boundaries. This means being guided by your intentions, not peer pressure, when it comes to giftgiving, charitable giving and other areas where spending can become competitive.
Plan for next year: Get a head start on next year’s festivities by setting aside a little money from each paycheck into a high-yield savings account, starting now. Make this an annual habit to help ensure each holiday season can be enjoyed comfortably and to the fullest.
For help examining income and expenses during the holiday season, visit LetsMakeAPlan.org to find a CFP® professional near you.
It takes planning and care to have a financially healthy holiday season, but entering 2026 without additional debt will make it well worth the effort.
DRAZEN ZIGIC / ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS
Holiday RECIPES
CANDY CANE
SANDWICH COOKIES
Submitted by:
Sabrina Nutt, Daily Record
Makes 20-28 sandwich cookies
A taste of the holidays in a unique red-and-white design with a delicious minty creme filling. *Recommended refrigeration*
Ingredients:
• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• Red paste food coloring
GÅRD ESTATE WINES’
WHIPPED BOURSIN WITH POMEGRANATE & SMOKED SALT
Submitted by: Gard Vintners
Easy, elegant, and totally addictive. This whipped Boursin spread is creamy, tangy, herbaceous and topped with jewellike pomegranate arils and a sprinkle of smoked salt. A festive favorite ready in minutes and perfect for pre-dinner snacking, wine tasting spreads, or holiday grazing boards. Pairs beautifully with our 2022 Skål Sparkling Rosé & 2024 Sauvignon Blanc!
Ingredients:
• 1 package Boursin Garlic & Herb cheese, at room temperature
• 4 Tbsp heavy cream or half & half
• ½ cup fresh pomegranate arils
• 1 recipe Peppermint Filling
• Loose Granulated sugar
Instructions:
For Peppermint Filling:
1. In a medium mixing bowl beat 1/3 cup butter, softened, with an electric or stand mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract. Gradually beat in 2 cups of powdered sugar. Beat in enough milk (2-3 tablespoons) to make a filling of a thick piping filling
For Cookies:
1. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.
• Smoked salt
Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour.
2. Divid the dough in half. Leave one half plain. Tint the other half of the dough with the desired amount of red paste food coloring. Cover each portion and chill for about 1 hour or until firm enough to handle.
3. Preheat oven to 375 F. Pinch 1/2 or smaller balls from each portion of
• Your favorite fancy cracker (we recommend Trader Joe’s Raisin Rosemary Crisps)
Instructions:
1. In a medium bowl, whip the Boursin with a hand mixer, adding cream one tablespoon at a time until smooth and fluffy.
2. Spoon into a serving dish and top with pomegranate arils and a generous sprinkle of smoked salt.
3. Serve with crackers, plus extra arils & smoked salt.
4. Enjoy with a chilled glass of our Skål Sparkling Rosé or Sauvignon Blanc!
Curious about our recommended wine pairings? Come see for yourself. Stop by Gård Estate Wines at 311 NE Pearl St and enjoy a few festive sips!
dough. Roll together one plain ball and one red ball of dough. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Press dough balls with the bottom of a sugared glass into a 1/4-inch thickness. Place balls 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are light brown. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Once cookies are fully cooled, using a piping bag or spoon, spread peppermint filling on bottom half of the cookie. Top with another cookie and gently press together.
Holiday RECIPES
How to use pineapple to elevate your holiday dishes
DOES HOLIDAY COOKING STRESS YOU OUT?
STATEPOINT
If so, you’re not alone! According to PWC research, 54% of people admit to feeling uptight any time they think about prepping or cooking food for holiday celebrations. Fortunately, stress-free holiday dishes can be possible with the right ingredients.
Executive chef at Dole, James Bickmore-Hutt has ideas for how to elevate your holiday dishes in preparation for the festivities. “The holiday season is such a busy time of year. It’s also a moment when people are expecting to be ‘wowed’ at mealtime. Selecting high-quality ingredients like Dole Tropical Gold Canned Pineapples can reduce prep work and help you deliver crowdpleasing dishes quickly, so you can focus on enjoying the season with loved ones.”
Why are these pineapples Chef James’ best-kept secret? Dole
Tropical Gold Canned Pineapples are handpicked at peak ripeness and are a naturally sweeter variety of pineapple. Offered in pre-cut chunks or slices with no sugar added, they help home chefs cut down on prep time without sacrificing freshly-packed flavor.
Here are Chef James’ top tips for incorporating them into your seasonal fare:
• Add extra garnishes of pineapple to any holiday dish for a naturally sweet, tropical taste – no need to add extra sugar!
• Pineapples are very juicy, and you can pre-cook dessert filling on the stovetop to thicken the juices. Simply drain the liquid from the can, pour the fruit in a pan, reduce remaining liquid and then combine it with a thickener of your choice before adding back in.
• Let fruit-filled desserts cool for at least two to four hours after baking to allow the filling to fully set.
• For added oomph and flavor in
cocktail or mocktail batches, reserve pineapple juice from the same cans used in your food dishes, like a familyfavorite pie.
This holiday season, Chef James’ guaranteed crowd-pleaser, Caramelized Pineapple Baked Brie, adds a tropical twist to a traditional spread. Ready in 40 minutes and with just six ingredients, this stress-free appetizer will make your festivities all the more memorable!
Ingredients:
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 can (20 ounces) Dole Tropical Gold Pineapple Chunks in 100% Pineapple Juice, drained
• 1/4 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 tablespoon honey, divided
• 1 package (13 ounces) round brie cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped roasted salted pistachios
Instructions:
Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add pineapple, rosemary and 1 tablespoon honey, stirring occasionally for 6 minutes or until the pineapple is golden brown.
Line a baking sheet or small baking dish with parchment. Cut the top rind off the brie and discard, placing the remaining portion on the parchment paper.
Spoon pineapple mixture over the brie. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and drizzle with the remaining 1 teaspoon of honey before garnishing with pistachios.
To stress less in the kitchen during this year’s holiday festivities, let precut pineapple take center stage for easy preparation of elevated classics.
