Professional decorators have fine-tuned
their design plans for the big"holiday buzz."
As the weather cools, anticipation and
preparation will begin for festive celebra-
tions, intimate get-togethers and savory
feasts. With enthusiasm and a little guid-
ance, any homeowner can become a design
star and achieve a touched-by-a-pro look.
Whether your style is glitzy garland and gild-
ed ornaments or plush greenery and glow-
ing menorahs, the following tips will help
anyone deck the halls like a pro.
A Theme that Says it All
Every great design tells a story, and
every story needs a theme. Begin crafting
the theme of your holiday story by perus-
ing magazines for inspiration on a style
choice and for assistance when choosing
a color palette. If you're that single trend-
setter who wants to make a statement, per-
haps splurge on an edgy pink tree com-
plemented with hues of turquoise and
Tiffany-esque crystal balls. An ever-busy
mom with no time to spare may consider
colors and design options that will last
throughout the winter. For example, rather
than decorating just for the holidays with
bright reds and greens, create a whimsical
wonderland of neutral snowy whites, soft
metallics and lightweight fabrics. Put some
time and thought into your holiday decor
theme. It should reflect the main charac-
ter of the story - you!
Check the List, Check it Twice
Once the theme is set, the real fun
begins - shopping for items needed to bring
the holiday story to life. Take an invento-
ry of existing decorations that fit the theme
and make a list of those fetching components
that will transform your ideas into a fea-
ture animation. Shop smart and invest in
staples that may be used year after year. One
pro trick is to use timeless hues, such as
clear, gold and silver, which can easily be
incorporated into most designs. Remember
to always stay focused on the theme. With
the plethora of holiday decor available, it's
certainly easy to get sidetracked. Remain-
ing on-target will help streamline the pur-
chase decision process and prevent impulse
buys.
Centerpieces Make a Splash
After the decor is purchased and the
halls are decked, look around to deter-
mine the final edits needed to perfect your
holiday story. Professional decorators often
include eye-catching conversation-starters
into their design plans. Simple elements such
as striking centerpieces allow anyone to
mimic the signature of designer flair.
This season, consider making a cen-
terpiece for the dining area, living room
or foyer by utilizing the element of water.
Found at national home improvement cen-
ters, a Beckett Container Fountain Kit
accompanied with ornaments and wreaths
can transform an everyday bowl into a
magical, artistic focal point sure to impress
even the most discerning guest.
"Our container fountain kits are among
Beckett's best-selling products," says Laris-
sa Gleason, marketing manager at Beck-
ett Corporation. "The popularity of the kit
derives from its ease-of-use and versatili-
ty - making it a perfect tool to make unique
water-based creations whether you are a pro-
fessional designer or an amateur DIYer."
Create a festive container fountain with
the tranquil sounds of a flowing cascade by
placing the pump included in the kit into
the center of a bowl. Surround the pump
with artificial poinsettias, color-coordi-
nated ornaments or a wreath made of
waterproof greenery for all to enjoy.
With these tips, feel assured that you
can deck the halls like a pro. All it takes
is some thoughtful planning, diligent focus
and creative vision. An abundance of inven-
tive Web sites offer insight and instruc-
tion to do-it-yourselfers taking on design proj-
ects.
Courtesy of ARA Content
K
C
M
Y
4
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Gift Guide
The Citizen. Auburn, New York
Bite-Size
Cheesecakes
a Party Pleaser
In many households, cheese-
cake is a mainstay of holiday enter-
taining. Families may even com-
pete as to who boasts the best
recipe.
Whether you prefer extra creamy
cheesecake, Italian style with ricot-
ta inside, blueberry versus straw-
berry fruit topping, or any of the
dozens of other cheesecake vari-
eties, you may recognize that
cheesecake is not the easiest of
desserts to make. Plus, it is a rich
dessert, which can sit heavily in
your stomach if you overindulge.
For those looking for a cheese-
cake recipe that's no-fuss, but still
delicious, try these individual
cheesecakes that bake in 15 min-
utes. Vanilla wafers form the "crust"
of these cheesecakes, eliminating
the need to crush and pack down
graham crackers as is the case
with most cheesecake recipes.
CHEESECAKE CUPCAKES
Makes 12 cupcakes
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese
(can use reduced-fat varieties if
desired), softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
12 vanilla wafer cookies
Topping of your choice (cherry,
blueberry or pineapple pie filling)
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Fill a
cupcake pan with foil or paper cup-
cake liners.
Blend the cream cheese, sugar,
eggs and vanilla together with an
electric mixer until smooth.
Place one vanilla wafer in each
cupcake liner to form the crust of
the cheesecake. Spoon cheesecake
batter into each cupcake, leaving
a little room for the cupcake to
rise while baking.
Place pan in the oven and bake
for approximately 15 minutes, or
until the tops of the cheesecakes
are lightly golden.
Remove pan from oven and let
cool on a wire rack. Top each
cheesecake with topping of choice
and let chill in the refrigerator
until serving time.
Toasting
Good Health
There are many traditions at
Christmastime, including raising a
glass to toast to the good health
of friends and family. This tradi-
tion dates back to old England,
where wassail was the drink of
choice at this time of year.
Wassail is a warm drink that is
made from ale (similar to beer,
but heavier) or wine. It is often
flavored with cloves, cinnamon
and nutmeg. According to the
"Women's Day Encyclopedia of
Cookery," the word wassail is derived
from the Old Norse word vesheill,
which means "be in good health."
To create a tasty, nonalcoholic
version perfect for Christmas or
to take the chill off of any winter's
day, try this recipe, courtesy of
Drinks Mixer.
WASSAIL
1 gallon apple juice
2 oranges
2 lemons
1 lime
1 tablespoon cloves
1 tablespoon allspice
2 cinnamon sticks
1 quart water
1 cup sugar
1. Heat the water to boiling. Cut
the lemons and oranges (and lime
if using) in half and squeeze the
juice into a separate bowl to save,
throw the skins and pulp into the
boiling water. Add spices and sim-
mer for one hour.
2. Remove the cinnamon sticks,
a few cloves, allspice and save to one
side. Using a slotted spoon or strain-
er remove the citrus peels and pulp
and the remaining spices. Return
the cinnamon sticks and saved
spices to the water. Add the apple
juice or cider and return to heat.
3. When boiling remove from heat
and add the citrus juice and sugar.
Simmer very lightly for another 10
minutes and serve.
Oswego
22 E. Utica St.
342-0644
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2121 W. Genesee St.
253-6869
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7825 W. River Rd.
638-2945
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ith
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789-5158
The Citizen. Auburn, New York
Gift Guide:
Sunday, November 18, 2007
21
Deck the Halls Like a Professional
Holiday recipes
Daut's
...it's a FOOD thing!
10 E. Genesee Street, Auburn
(315) 252-7175 · Open 7 Nights
Open 7 Nights
Monday-Thursday 4:00pm-10:00pm
Friday & Saturday 11:00am-11:00pm
Sunday Noon-9:00pm
Open
Christmas Eve, Noon-8:00pm
New Year's Eve, 3:00pm-?
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Of all the big and little
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Happy Holidays!
M.C. Townsend
Construction
Rte. 90 · Montezuma, NY
776-4067 or 730-4067
www.mctownsendcontr.com
