Page 5 - Holiday Showcase 2016

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE MORNING CALL
Stock up for legendary entertaining
Grandparents in town?
Unexpected guests?
No problem! With a
little planning and the right
ingredients, holiday entertain-
ing is a snap.
Want to impress them with
gourmet, local treats? The
Lehigh Valley is home to a
number of shops and super-
markets that carry baked
goods, homemade treats and
other goodies, including the
Allentown Farmers Market
and the Easton Public Market.
From fresh-made sushi to party
trays with Mediterranean
treats, these sites boast a wide ¦ Frozen cheese pizza:
variety of unique items and
cuisines to satisfy every pal-
ate.
So stock up on the follow-
ing fridge, freezer and
pantry staples before the
holiday rush, and you’ll be
ready, no matter who shows
up hungry on your doorstep.
¦ Whole nuts: Walnuts,
pecans, almonds, cashews or
pistachios.
¦ Olives: Whole and sliced,
black ripe, green, Kalamata
and stuffed varieties in cans
and jars. Or fresh from food
bars.
¦ Cheese: Feta, mozzarella,
cheddar and aged provolone.
And don’t forget the brie!
Seasonal warmth means fire safety, too Midnight Mass
T he holiday season is
full of warmth, but it
can also pose safety
risks, especially regarding the
use of candles, fire and heating ¦ Consider annual mainte-
products.
In 2015, one home structure
fire was reported every 86
seconds, according to the
National Fire Protection Asso-
ciation. Unfortunately, the
hustle and bustle associated
with this time of year may
mean you are paying less
attention to safety precautions. major cause of accidents and
To protect your family and
home, check out these tips.
Safety devices
Double check all of your
home’s safety devices, includ-
ing carbon monoxide detectors
and smoke alarms for func-
tionality and to ensure batter-
ies are still working. Doing so
will offer you peace of mind
during a time of year with
additional fire risks.
Fireplaces
Nothing beats the charm
and warmth of a fireplace,
particularly around the holi-
days when the family is gath-
ered together. Heatilator, a
leader in fireplace safety,
began including safety screens
as standard equipment more
than a decade before rules
required the use of this equip-
ment in new fireplace installa-
tions. They offer these tips:
¦ Ensure gas fireplaces are
outfitted with safety screens.
Check online or at a fireplace
retailer to find retrofit safety
screens.
¦ Never leave children or pets
unattended near a lit fireplace
or one that was recently turned
off. Safety screens are meant
to protect against contact with
hot glass, but remember that
the metal can also heat up, and
your heating equipment —
fireplaces, stoves, inserts and
their surrounding material —
will remain hot for some time
after use.
CeArvGtaiififiltcaabtlees
50¢ OFF
1/2 GALLON PREMIUM
With this coupon. Not valid with any other
offers or prior purchases. Expires 12/24/16 Excludes take home items & specialty cones.
YouDreamIt.We Make It.
Expert Jewelry Repair Services Available
Tightly wrapped or vacuum-
packed cheeses can last in the
fridge for several weeks.
¦ Tortilla chips: Plain or
flavored; square, triangular or
round.
¦ Salsa in a jar: Mild or
medium to please most palates.
¦ Whole pita or pita crisps:
Pita bread can be frozen.
¦ Hummus: Choose a sealed
refrigerated package.
¦ Carrots, celery and bell
peppers: Whole veggies keep
longer than pre-cut, and these
three are easy to find in the
produce aisle.
Choose your favorite brand,
thick crust or thin.
¦ Olive oil: A kitchen es-
sential that is also healthy.
These 10 basic ingredient
categories are the building
blocks for five delicious, party-
worthy spreads that can be
prepared in 15 minutes or less.
Here’s how:
Fast cheese-
and-olive tray
Cube cheddar cheese, aged
provolone and mozzarella. On
a platter, make rows of alter-
nating colors with cubed white
cheese next to a row of green,
garlic-stuffed olives, then a row
of darker cheese and a row of
¦ Make sure gifts, trees and
holiday décor are all placed a
safe distance away from the
fireplace.
nance for both wood-burning
and gas fireplaces, as recom-
mended by experts. Fireplaces
might require annual chimney
cleaning to prevent creosote
buildup, which can ignite.
Candles
Candles can be a feast for
the senses, but they are also a
house fires, especially when
your home is decked out with
extra-combustible décor.
Don’t burn candles near cur-
tains, trees and other
flammable objects.
Never leave candles unat-
tended. Ensure all flames are
extinguished before leaving a
room and before going to
sleep. If you have pets or
children, make sure any open
flames are well out of their
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016 5
deep purple Kalamata olives. StatePoint
Or substitute brie for one of the
other cheeses. Present with Setting out a variety of olives offers both eye appeal and subtle taste differences.
toothpicks and napkins for
easy self-service — or little and any variety of olives on cheddar cheese over the top, sprig of parsley, thyme or
butter knives (metal or plastic) small bamboo skewers and and slide under the broiler until rosemary adds a decorative
for spreading the soft brie on serve on a tray, alongside pita the cheese bubbles. Spoon touch. If you wish, you can
water crackers. triangles and hummus. salsa on top, sprinkle with add nuts in the shell with a
Pizza-tizers sliced, ripe black olives and nutcracker on the side.
Expert tip: Cut pita bread in serve on a heat-resistant board.
A simple cheese pizza can triangles, brush with olive oil, Easy pleasers The key to holiday
be a canvas for appetizer art. and warm in the oven at 350 entertaining is being pre-
Add fresh, thinly sliced bell degrees Fahrenheit for 5-6 Sometimes the simplest pared with a few simple
pepper, shredded mozzarella minutes. flavors are best. ingredients so you can
cheese and a generous topping Olive nachos spend more time with
of sliced black, ripe olives. Fill several small, colorful guests and less time in the
Fill a cast-iron pan with bowls with olives, crunchy kitchen.
Bake, then cut into mini- tortilla chips, generously grate nuts and cubed cheeses. A
slices or small squares and StatePoint
serve on wooden cutting
boards. Drizzle with olive oil.
Mediterranean
medley
Place store-bought hummus
into a colorful dipping bowl.
Drizzle with olive oil and top
with sliced Kalamata olives.
On a large platter, surround the
bowl with equal amounts of
pita triangles, carrot and celery
sticks, plus bell pepper strips.
Serve with a bowl of Kalamata
olives and cubed feta cheese.
Cheese-and-olive
kebabs
Alternate cubes of moz-
zarella or provolone cheese
a rite for many
Many families have
StatePoint their own unique times, and the Christmas
Check your chimney beforehand and you won’t get burned. holiday tradi- Midnight Mass very well
tions, but one tradition that may have been adopted
unites millions of Chris- from these practices.
tians all over the world is
the celebration of Midnight Regardless of the basis
Mass. behind the celebration, it
can be a breathtaking and
In many parishes, Mid- emotional service, thanks to
night Mass is the first cele- the memorable passages
bration of Christmas Mass. read and the inclusion of
church choirs. Many Mid-
The origins of Midnight night Mass celebrants feel
Mass are not exactly the Mass serves as an im-
known. However, certain pressive reminder of the
monks and nuns attended true meaning of Christmas.
liturgical services at mid-
night every day in ancient Metro Creative
Connection
reach and consider alternatives Holiday Gift Card Theme Available!
such as candle warmers.
Gift Cards Fit Everyone
The greatest holiday gift OnYour List!
you can give this season is the
gift of safety. While decking w No expiration date
the halls, take steps to make w Good for ticket purchases for any
your home safer, too.
State Theatre produced show
StatePoint w Order online, by phone
or in person
Home of the FREDDY© AWARDS! .453 Northampton St., Easton, PA
610-252-3132 1-800-999-STATE
Order www.statetheatre.org
Fees apply.
musicgive the gift of
at Community Music School
Gift Certificates
for Music Lessons
FREE MENU
ITEM available in any denomination
Buy one menu item, get one To order music lesson
of equal or lesser value free gift certificates for the
holidays, call, click, or
visit by Dec 16
Limit $5. One per visit - one per person. With
this coupon. Not valid with any other offers or
prior purchases. Expires 12/24/16
New students welcome!
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Downtown Allentown - West Allentown
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