What’s Cooking?

Thank you!!!!!

We can’t thank you enough for supporting our small business since 1979!!

BESTOF 2021

Sinclair Travel

3707 S Southern Ave., STE 2085 MESA, AZ 85206

PLEASE CALL TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT! 480.981.3795 WWW.SINCLAIRTRAVELCENTER.COM

ADVERTORIAL We’ve Been Doing Reverse Mortgages For Over 30 Years For A Reason… THEY WORK

When Maria and Diego were young, they didn’t think about owning a home, let alone retirement! As they grew older, as we all do, they wanted the American dream, owning a home. That dream for Maria and Diego took hard work. With a good job, paying the bills, mortgage and of course keeping up with the kids, their house is more than just a home. It is the family they’ve built and the life they have lived. It was worth it all.

Now nearing retirement age, they are looking forward to enjoying what they earned. Maria and Diego couldn’t wait to sit back and relax and enjoy the fruits of their labor. But even with all their careful planning, unforeseen events and unexpected expenses diminished the assets they set aside for their retirement. The only realistic option they could see was to sell their retirement home in Sun Lakes. It felt like an impossible task. Luckily, their son, knowing how hard they worked and desired to stay in their home, suggested an alternative; a reverse mortgage. Maria and Diego’s credit card debt were not a part of their retirement plans, but Sun American Mortgage stepped in to help turn a bad situation into an opportunity for them to stay in their home. With 30 years of experience assisting Arizona seniors in similar situations Sun American Mortgage is a leader in the Reverse Mortgage industry. Instead of selling their precious home they worked so hard for in Sun Lakes, Maria and Diego were able to turn to the equity in their own home to pay off their credit card debt and get back on track to retire better.

With their reverse mortgage line of credit, they can take money in and out of their home without recourse. They can make payments on their reverse mortgage if they want to, but also feel safe knowing that in a pinch, no payment is required. They pay their property taxes, homeowners’ insurance and HOA fees as always. Maria and Diego have options. They can simply pay the interest, make a full payment every other month, make two payments every month, or never make a payment again for as long as they live in the house. The reverse mortgage gave them the fl exibility to live the future they dreamed of, even though their retirement plans didn’t go quite as planned, they can… retire better.

Call Sun American Mortgage Company (480)467-1000

or toll-free at 1(800) 469-7383. 4140 E. Baseline Rd., Ste. 206, Mesa, Arizona 85206

An equal housing opportunity company, member of the Better Business Bureau & the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association • Mortgage Banker License #BK7548 • NMLS #160265 Parker Turk: LO-0912436 • NMLS#267132 Rex Duffi n: LO-0911707 • NMLS#169138

What’s Cooking? Christmas cookies

BY JAN D’ATRI

What makes this the most wonderful time of the year? Well, besides glad tidings, family and the holiday spirit, it’s gotta be Christmas cookies! Nothing puts a smile on faces like a big platter of goodies decked out and adorned with glitter and glaze!

These tricolored cookies are among my very favorite to bake up, decorate and give as gifts for the holidays. Why do I love these cookies so much?

First, this basic stocking cookie recipe is just right. With its combination of butter and shortening, you get the great fl avor of butter, and the shortening makes the cookies soft but still great for decorating. Second, they are so colorful, and that color is achieved in such an easy way. All you do is make one batch of batter and color two parts with green and red. Now you have a predecorated cookie that just gets a glaze and a tiny bit of decorating sugar. No fuss. No muss. Just gorgeous and scrumptious cookies that are fa-la-la-la lovely to eat and to share.

Christmas cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar • 1/2 cup Crisco shortening • 1/2 cup butter • 1 large egg • 1 8-ounce carton of sour cream • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 1/8 teaspoon almond extract • 4-3/4 cups fl our • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Cream together shortening, butter and sugar until light and fl uff y.

Add egg, beating until well blended.

Stir in sour cream, vanilla and almond extract, mixing well.

Add fl our, baking powder, soda and salt, beating well until dough forms into a ball.

Add to cream mixture and beat well.

Divide into three equal parts. Add red food coloring to one ball, mixing to a bright red color. To the second ball, add green food coloring and repeat process. Do not color third ball. Chill at least one hour. When ready to bake, tear off pieces of each colored dough ball and create a mosaic on a Silpat (silicone baking mat) or parchment paper. Roll out colored dough to 1/4 inch thick. Using cookie cutters, cut out designs.

Use up remaining dough scraps by combining them together, rolling out and cutting out more cookies. Bake for 9 to 10 minutes at 350 degrees. When slightly cooled, brush with icing and add decorative sprinkles. Keep cookies in an airtight container. Cookies can be frozen before they are iced.

Cookie icing

Ingredients

• 2 cups powdered sugar • 1/8 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract • Enough water to create a glaze

Directions

Stir powdered sugar, almond extract and water to desired consistency. If glaze is too thick, add more water. If too thin, add more powdered sugar. Glaze should be thin and runny enough for the decorative colors of the cookie to show through.