Local entrepreneurs offer presents for all
Giving the gift of experience
Ideas for last-minute holiday shoppers
BY FRANCINE FULTON
Using their ingenuity and creativity, several local residents who enjoy activities like shopping, baking, needlework and making crafts have been able to parlay their interests into businesses that provide unique gift items.
Lyndell Sahd is the founder of LancGoods, which offers gift boxes that feature products from local businesses such as coffee, honey, candy, candles and handmade soaps and lotions. Sahd began the effort during the pandemic as a way to help local businesses and to assist shoppers who were reluctant to leave their homes for shopping, especially gift-buying. “I grew up in Lititz and tried to shop locally. It is very important to me,” Sahd explained.
She noted that her customers appreciate the local aspect of her business in a climate where people prefer the convenience of ordering gifts online. “People have appreciated shopping locally more than ever, so it’s been great,” Sahd said. “What people like about what I do is that they love the local concept, and they love the convenience. They let me do the running around. Instead of going to five places to look for gifts, I will do everything for them, providing a thoughtfully curated box.”
Among the boxes that LancGoods offers is a coffee box, which contains coffee along with mugs made at the Lancaster Creative Factory. There is also a birthday box
with birthday cake-scented candles and a Home Sweet Home box that real estate agents may give as a gift for their clients moving into a new home.
“We added a Thinking of You box, which is a nice alternative to sending flowers when someone is going through a tough time,” Sahd explained. “The Lancaster box is one of most popular ones. We sell many of those as Christmas gifts. Everything (in the box) is 100% made in Lancaster (County).”
“For Christmas, there will be many new varieties (of boxes) coming out,” she added.
Sahd pointed out that an added benefit of the business is meeting local shop owners. “So many of the companies (where I buy the goods) have so many amazing stories. The best part is the relationships that I built,” she stated.
For more information, visit www.lancgoods.com and www.facebook.com/LancGoods. Sahd also encourages customers to follow the company on Instagram.
Another Lancaster County resident who founded a giftbased business based on her interests is Gretchen
businesses.
Christina Maser, who launched the Christina Maser Co. in 2000.
Maser’s story began in the 1990s, when she learned how to make jam to feed her children who had food sensitivities. Canning and making preserves led to growing her own herbs followed by the creation of sauces and vinaigrettes. She then expanded her efforts to make candles, soaps and bath and body products.
“I had a friend who taught me to make jam. I grew different herbs (to flavor them),” Maser explained. “I bought produce from local farms and local growers, and we still do.”
Maser was selling name-brand cosmetics at the time, and the company encouraged her to hold an open house. “When no one showed up at the open house, I started making stuff (that day),” Maser recalled. “I made jams and bar soaps, and I used to buy antique fabric and make coverlets. That year we did two (financially successful) shows - at Christmas and Easter - and I said to myself, ‘I guess this is a business.’”
Maser was also a salon owner and was able to grow the business
through her past customers. “I had people who knew me and trusted me and (started to buy) items from me,” she stated. “Then, I (started selling items) at a farmers market in Philly.”
Eventually, she converted a section of her basement into a workshop, but the business has since outgrown that space as well. “We are in a building of our own in the city,” said Maser. “We don’t have a retail store, but we have a sizable workshop. (The business) has evolved over the past 23 years.”
Christina Maser Co. offers three separate lines of merchandise: pantry items, which are shelf-stable food products such as jams, sauces, salsa and dry soup mixes; bath and body items, which include soaps, laundry soap and lotions; and soy wax candles and room sprays.
“We sell online and wholesale, and we are in (more than) 70 stores,” Maser said, noting that her products can also be found in LancGoods gift boxes. To learn more, visit www.christinamaser.com and www.facebook.com/christinamaserco.
While Maser started making jam at home and was eventually able to sell it to others, Lancaster resident Kelsie Peak also makes specialty items that people love to buy - handmade crocheted stuffed animals that she offers for sale on her Facebook page, “Kelsie’s Crochet Kritters.”
Peak, a stay-at-home mom to three daughters, decided to give crocheting a try. “I was not someone who
Christina Maser Co. crafts smallbatch products ranging from candles and soaps to jams and dried soup mixes.
crocheted but always wanted to try it. I thought I would make one or two for the kids and the first one I made was a turtle,” she said. “A lot of people showed interest and told me to keep making them. Because of how many ‘likes’ and comments I got, I thought I would make some more. I made the turtle in September 2022. By November, people asked me to make things. It blew up way bigger than I anticipated.”
Peak said that she learned the process by watching YouTube videos. “I am a visual learner, and I came across YouTube videos of people making plushies. It got me hooked,” she stated. “When I saw the videos, it broke it down easier for me, and I could actually relate to the video in a way, and it caught my eye.”
Peak says that she tries to make time each day to crochet the critters, noting that each one takes about eight hours to complete. “They are someone else’s patterns, but I will take credit for making them. I sometimes add my own little things to them like bows to make it personal,” she explained. “It’s all crocheted, but a lot of it is done in pieces, and I have to hand-sew it onto the main body.”
Peak, who is also a cosmetologist, said that crocheting allows her to be creative and express her own personality. “I didn’t feel like I had a place other than being a mom. (This is) how can I still be a mom and have my own interests,” she shared. “I feel like it’s my own thing.”
She said that she also enjoys being part of a culture that wants to purchase homemade items. “I am proud of myself. It is a hidden talent that I didn’t know I had,” said Peak. “It’s amazing to see the creativity that people have, and I get to be a part of that homemade environment.”
“I’m still in shock that one little thought/hobby ended up turning into a business,” she added.
To learn more, individuals may join the “Kelsie’s Crochet Kritters” Facebook group.
Go ahead and pamper that special someone one your holiday gift list. They deserve it.
There are few feelings more invigorating than that of being out on the water.
BY JEFF FALK
The holidays are a time for giving. But not all of us practice the art of giving the same way.
Giving requires thoughtfulness and compassion and generosity - and sometimes thinking outside of the
proverbial box.
It is that exact sentiment that seems to be at the heart of the recent trend of choosing the gift of experiences over material goods.
Some creative givers are choosing memories, shared times and the broadening of horizons over items that end
A membership at the North Museum is the gift of experience that continues to give throughout the year.
up in the back of a closet somewhere. Lancaster County businesses and organizations have responded by meeting that demand.
Besides, an experience is the perfect gift for that hardto-buy-for person on everyone’s list.
“I think it’s a big movement,” said Michelle Meek, a
massage therapist and the owner of Däs Spa in Lititz. “It seems like we’ve always given stuff, but experiences are so much more valuable. Gifts show how much you know about a person, as opposed to checking off something from a list, like ‘That’s done.’ It’s not really the gift; it’s the thought behind it.’”
“No one remembers what they get for Christmas,” said Scott Downs, director of development and strategic partnerships for the North Museum of Nature and Science in Lancaster, “but you remember experiences for a lifetime. I remember when my dad took me to the Franklin Institute as a kid. I’m more interested in collecting experiences.”
“An experience is a really great gift,” said Michelle Mancini, the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania’s education coordinator. “Rather than getting more stuff, (the recipients) can look back and remember the experience. It’s more of a personal connection. It’s really thoughtful.”
Situated on 80 acres of natural woodlands at 465 Speedwell Forge Road, Lititz, the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania is home to more than 50 wolves and offers scheduled guided tours and symbolic adoption programs among its gift ideas. Some consider it one of Lancaster County’s must-see attractions.
“We really get a big spike in sales in the holiday season,” said Mancini. “Anything from the sanctuary makes a great gift. When people come here, they can hear the stories of the wolves. People can come and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Some people may not have ever heard a wolf howl. But once you do, you’ll never forget it.”
The North Museum, 400 College Ave., Lancaster, is home to central Pennsylvania’s largest planetarium, a live animal room, educational programs, exhibits and about a quarter of a million objects. Be careful when givi ng the gift of nature and science, because recipients may just learn something.
“This is a gem of a museum,” said Downs. “This place just keeps giving. If you like dinosaurs, if you like space, you’re going to love this place.”
Located at 14 E. Main St., Lititz, Däs Spa focuses on self-care, which may be an especially fitting gift for someone who focuses on the needs of others, and, as a result, may at times neglect himself or herself. Sharing such an experience with someone you care about can make it twice as nice.
“It’s really about the memories, the time spent together,” said Meek. “That’s going to last longer than a book or a pair of socks. With couples’
massages, people can laugh and learn about each other. We can teach you how to work on loved ones at home. We show them the tricks of the trade. It benefits a marriage when you can take care of each other.”
The PotteryWorks, 16 W. Orange St., Lancaster, offers a different sort of hands-on shared experience. Gift certificates come in the form of painted tiles, a presentation that’s just as creative as the recipient for whom it’s meant.
“It makes a great gift, especially if your partner loves quality time together,” said Julie Bowers, an associate at the PotteryWorks. “You’re giving an experience, and you’re coming away with a memory. It’s time to relax, and you’re going to end up with a beautiful, individualized piece. You’re looking to spend time with someone you love. You’re going to remember experiences the rest of your life.”
For those who are less interested in indoor activities, kayakLanCo is all about outdoor adventures on the water.
With a fleet of 20 single kayaks and six planned routes, kayakLanCo does all the work, and gift recipients have all the fun. They’ll meet you at the beginning and pick you up at the end. In between it’s all self-guided exploration.
“It is unique,” said Terilyn LeDuc, owner and operator of kayakLanCo. “The goal is to simplify getting people out on the waterways. I find that oftentimes it’s people buying gift certificates for family members. Some enjoy it so much, they want to do it again next year. It’s a great way to give something memorable. Because of the memories, the experience tends to create connections between people.”
Who says there’s no such thing as the perfect gift?
Creating art with loved ones has the power to bring people together.
If you’ve never gotten up close and personal with a wolf, it could be the experience of a lifetime.
Come
Small businesses long have been the heart and soul of local communities. There is something to be said about being on a first-name basis with a local restaurateur or another small business owner, as such familiarity often translates into exemplary service.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses account for 99.9 percent of companies in the country, due in large part to the broad definition of small businesses (those with fewer than 500 employees). However, the vast majority of businesses in the United States have a staff that’s smaller than 20 workers, according to the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. These firms employ nearly 60 million workers, says the SBA.
Despite the prevalence of small businesses, less than 80% of entrepreneurial small business ventures make it beyond their first year, and only about half make it beyond five years.
Consumers who want to help their favorite small businesses survive can use the holiday season and beyond to set the course for success. Consumers can make a concerted effort to fuel this important cog in their local economic engines.
The concept is simple but effective. Opting to shop in local stores over larger conglomerates and franchises can help small businesses take root. Before making holiday shopping lists, visit local stores and base gift ideas on items they have in stock. Chances are those gifts will be one-of-a-kind.
All businesses have slow periods, and post-holidays is often a time when sales stagnate. Gift cards may bring new customers into local businesses who might otherwise not have patronized them, potentially creating new repeat customers.
The holiday season is chock-full of entertainment opportunities. Individuals can rely on nearby restaurants and other food and beverage businesses to cater holiday parties. Some businesses also may be willing to discount or donate food for nonprofit group activities, such as church holiday bazaars, school holiday concerts or fundraising fairs.
The holiday season breeds excitement. Therefore, when shoppers are in local stores, they can snap pictures of products and overflowing shopping bags and post them online while praising local businesses.
Enrollment in a health club or a massage therapy service are gifts that keep on giving for the recipient, but also help ensure consistent incoming cash for the business providing the service.
When shopping this holiday season, consumers can look to the small, local businesses in their communities that help make towns and cities unique.
This year, give the Gift of memories with an experience the whole family will love!
Day and overnight trips throughout the year available to exciting destinations like The Museum of the Bible, Great Smoky Mountains, Niagra Falls, Colorado and the West, Mackinac Island, The New England States and much more!
Holmes County Holiday Tour
December 4-6, 2023
Enjoy this relaxing 2-night, 3-day trip to Holmes County, Ohio and experience the master car ving of David Warther, shopping at Sol’s, fantastic meals, the “Behalt cyclorama”, and the incredible live show “The Christmas Ship” plus more.
Christmas at The Ark Encounter! Wednesday, December 27 thru Saturday, December 30
Give yourself or someone you love an amazing present this year! Bring the family for an unforgettable trip that includes festive lights, live music/ shows, holiday dining, gift shopping, a live nativity and more at the life-size Noah’s Ark and the newly renovated Creation Museum. Experience the special Christmas programming at both locations. plus pay a visit to the ight 93 memorial and the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center where we will experience the Amazing Behalt (a 10 foot by 265 foot circular painted mural tracing the Anabaptist history through the centuries! We travel from and return to Lancaster County PA. Luxur y Private Char ter Bus Travel, 3 nights lodging, 10 meals, admission to the Ark Encounter, the Creation Museum, and the Behalt tour, Snacks and Beverages on the bus, and a personal gift included ! What a great way to end 2023!
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February 2024
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If you are a couple who just got married in 2023, a couple looking to celebrate a special anniversary or just a group of friends looking to have fun in the Florida Sun this winter, DON’T DELAY, CALL FUN COUNTRY TOURS TODAY! At 717-823-2086 Before this opportunity Melts Away!
January
It’s unlikely that anyone aspires to be a last-minute holiday shopper. Putting off shopping can make for a stressful home stretch to the season, and there’s no guarantee store shelves won’t already be picked clean or that gifts purchased online will arrive on time. Despite how unappealing lastminute shopping can be, it’s still a fact of life for millions of people. As the clock winds down this holiday season, shoppers can look to these ideas for inspiration.
Tickets to a movie, sporting event, live theater performance, or concert may still be available for those shopping later in the season. People of all ages enjoy experiences, and a 2022 survey from the travel booking platform GetYourGuide found that 50% of survey respondents indicated they would enjoy receiving tickets to a concert or show.
The holiday season is a popular time to indulge in some great food and wash it down with a favorite wine or another beverage. That tradition makes food and beverages a great holiday gift. Shoppers can take a loved one out to a favorite local restaurant, prepare a homemade treat, or purchase a favorite dish from a local specialty grocery store or eatery. They may also pair the food with an appropriate beverage from a brewery or winery in the region.
Gift cards may never earn a distinction as the most sentimental item to give a loved one during the holiday season, but they tend to be greatly appreciated. In fact, a survey from the National Retail Federation found that 54% of participants identified gift cards as the mostwanted gift of the 2022 holiday season. Small, local businesses and restaurants are among the many establishments that sell gift cards, so shoppers are bound to find a card to please anyone on their list.
Books make an ideal holiday gift for everyone from young kids to grandparents. Traditional print books can be purchased from local retailers. For gift recipients who might prefer a different format, e-book sellers enable gift givers to pick the perfect time to notify loved ones they have received an electronic book. Audiobooks, which can be downloaded to a smartphone or given as a CD set, make a great gift for loved ones who spend a lot of time behind the wheel.
Last-minute holiday shopping can be stressful. However, various sought-after items can be secured at the last minute, helping gift givers’ loved ones to have a happy holiday season.
Sat., Nov. 25th 11am-5pm Featuring 25 additional vend s
Bros & Brews Mens’ Night
Wednesday, December 20th 6-9pm Complimentary Gift Wrapping while you wait
Midnight Madness Shopping Event Friday, December 22nd
Open 11 am - midnight
Wine Gift Baskets available daily with locally made items
Special Local Artisan Items will be added as we expand our shopping area from November 15th thru Christmas Wednesday-Thursday 12-6pm Friday 11am-9pm Saturday 11am-5pm & Sunday 12pm-5pm sma 5pm
The feeling of giving a gift and watching the recipient smile broadly after peeling away the wrapping is part of what the makes the holiday season such a special time of year. Matching presents to people is not always easy, but when shoppers pull it off, the smile on a loved one’s face is quite the reward.
To match a gift to the recipient, a shopper may consider the person’s hobbies and talents. For creative individuals, gift givers may consider purchasing items that will help these artists take their creativity to the next level. The following gifts may fit the bill.
Each artistic pursuit requires its own array of materials and tools to perfect the craft. For example, painters will rely on canvases, paints and paintbrushes to create masterpieces, while those who engage in ceramics may need bisques, clays and firing tools. A mix of supplies can fuel upcoming projects.
Artists may be inspired by others who engage in the arts. Gift givers may consider purchasing tickets to a museum that has always been a favorite for the gift recipient. Entry to a local art installation or exhibition also figures to be a hit.
Classes with an artistic master can help artists hone their craft. Local artists may be available to serve as mentors or instructors, and sessions with these people can make perfect holiday gifts. Gift givers may also look online for annual subscriptions or monthly sessions during which people can learn from well-known instructors in various fields.
Many artists also are entrepreneurs who sell their wares to others. Gift givers can help promote that passion by funding an online shopping website or paying for table or booth fees at area craft festivals and other vendor events around town.
If the artist has a particularly beloved collection or piece of art, arrange for a professional framing or purchase a high-end display case. This way the artwork will remain pristine to be enjoyed in the years ahead.
Although gift cards may seem impersonal, they can be the means by which an artist is able to purchase supplies or travel to art shows to sell his or her offer
M-F
The Trust Dance Festival 2024 Local Choreographers’ Showcase and masterclasses.
January 13 – January 14
The Trust | Great Hall
The Gospel of Mark Performed dramatically word-for-word from the ESV Bible in a one-man performance given by Piercing Word’s Aaron House.
March 1 – March 2
The Trust | Black Box Theatre
Samantha Hankey Opera News praised “Lucious” Mezzo-Soprano performs works by Strauss, Bizet, and Debussy.
March 12
The Trust | Great Hall
Tanya Gabrielian Pianist will perform Rachmaninoff, Bartok, and Siloti transcriptions.
March 16
The Trust | Great Hall
Apollo5 Award-winning British vocal ensemble proves how dynamic only five voices can be.
April 5
The Trust | Great Hall
Featuring one of life’s most savory and delicious comfort foods, join with those who have discovered the “from-scratch” meat pies that are made at Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies. Surrounded by Amish farmlands in the heart of the PA Dutch countryside, this family owned and operated business uses special mouth-watering recipes that are making their beef, chicken, and sausage pies more famous with each passing year.
From the humble beginnings in their Amish farmhouse kitchen to a USDA inspected commercial enterprise, the quality and taste of their pies remains the same, even as the distribution has increased from one market stand to multiple stores and farm markets throughout Pennsylvania and surrounding states.
You are always invited to stop by the Zook’s retail store to stock up on these quick and easy meals that are tasty and nutritious too! In addition to meat pies. Zook’s has a nice selection of specialty food items, including homemade soups, bake-at-home meals and fresh bakery items.
The natural world is a wonder to behold, with aweinspiring views and wildlife. Spending time in nature has been studied and reported on by a number of medical professionals. The general takeaway is that enjoying time in the great outdoors has been linked to everything from improved mood to reduced risk of disease. Just a little bit of time in the fresh air and sunlight can improve wellbeing by a significant margin, which is perhaps why nature has inspired so many devotees.
If there is a nature lover in a gift giver’s family, that interest can be used as inspiration when holiday shopping this year. Gift givers may consider the following suggestions.
Bird watchers or other animal observers understand that wild animals can become skittish around people. It’s best to view them from afar, and a good set of binoculars makes it easier to do so.
Another way to watch wildlife is to do so from a motion-capture trail camera that can be set up by a nesting area or along a path frequented by local wildlife.
When the GoPro camera came on the scene, it revolutionized the way amateur filmmakers could document their adventures. The GoPro and its model evolutions continue to enable people to capture photos and videos both on land and underwater. With a head mounting strap and some additional accessories, adventurers will be unencumbered by the camera. Similar mounting devices may be available for Android- and Apple-based phones and cameras as well.
Those who enjoy exploring the outdoors on foot may appreciate durable, waterproof footwear that can go from the trail to the mountainside more readily.
It’s important to keep safety in mind when enjoying nature. A well-stocked first aid kit is a great way to give the gift of good health and safety.
When sleeping out under the stars or at a campsite, a tent, ground cover, sleeping bag, backpack and camp stove are just some of the items that can make the experience all the better.
Nature lovers can enjoy their passions even more thoroughly with gifts that cater to their love of the great outdoors.
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Food features prominently throughout the holiday season. Family meals around the holiday dinner table are a cherished tradition in millions of households, and refreshments also play a central role during seasonal gatherings with friends and colleagues. The focus on food sometimes even extends to gift-giving, with people presenting loved ones with packages of holiday-themed sweets, fruit baskets or other edible items.
One group of people that may be especially interested in receiving food-related gifts is foodies. Foodies always know the best place in town to grab a bite or when a trendy new restaurant will open its doors. Such individuals may also enjoy making meals at home. The following gift ideas can make this holiday season more flavorful for the family foodie.
Shoppers who want to impress their food-loving loved one with something truly unique can give a tabletop firepit. Safe for indoor use, tabletop firepits enable s’mores-loving foodies to indulge in a traditionally summertime favorite yearround. Tabletop firepits are small enough to be stored on a kitchen countertop or in a cabinet. When in use, the appliance is smokeless, removing perhaps the lone disadvantage to making this
Monthly subscriptions are a gift that can keep on giving all the way until the next holiday season. Sweets lovers may appreciate receiving a box of fresh chocolates each month, while those with other stes may anxiously await the day their monthly shipment of pickles arrives at their doorstep. The options are endless, ensuring there’s a monthly subscription out there to tickle every foodie’s fancy.
Amateur sauciers may find inspiration in a sauce sampler set. Options abound, so shoppers can find something for peo ple who love a spicy sauce, something weet or even in between. Providing a range of sauces can also provide daily variety in one’s meals, making this gift ideal for those who want something spicy tonight before pivoting to a sweeter dish tomorrow. Flavored olive oil sampler sets also can be a great gift for cooks e to experiment with new flavors.
Foodies who love to host their fellow food fanatics may appreciate a new charcuterie board and knife set. A 2023 report from Kroger
revealed that the supermarket chain expected charcuterie boards to remain popular over the course of the year. That popularity makes sense, as anything from meat to cheese to fruit to crackers has a home on a charcuterie board, making the item especially appealing to people who routinely share their homes and love of food with friends and family.
Of course, foodies aren’t just about food. Beverages also figure prominently in many foodies’ lives. A high-end espresso maker can grind fresh beans and brew multiple cups in no time, making it an ideal addition to any foodie’s culinary arsenal.
It's not uncommon for Christmas celebrants to include a little history in their decorations and celebrations each year. Even food can add a touch of the sentimental to Christmas celebrations. This year, holiday hosts can create some nostalgia around the Christmas dinner table by serving this recipe for "Roasted Christmas Goose" courtesy of the Food Network and Mark Slawson of The Wort Hotel in Jackson, Wyo.
Roasted Christmas Goose
(6 to 8 servings)
1 14- to 16-pound goose
1/4 cup sea salt
1 lemon, halved
1 apple, cut into chunks
1 potato, cut into chunks
1 orange, sliced
1 cup chopped celery
Basting syrup (recipe follows)
Stuffing (recipe follows)
Cumberland sauce (recipe follows)
Basting Syrup:
1/3 cup corn syrup
1/3 cup cane syrup
1/3 cup melted butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons brandy
Stuffing:
3 cups whole chestnuts, roasted and peeled
1 14-ounce bag stuffing mix
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup diced apple
1/4 cup diced onion
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
3 cups chicken stock
3/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
Cumberland Sauce:
1 1/2 cups beef stock
3/4 cup port wine
3/4 cup red wine vinegar
3 shallots, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon crushed black peppercorns
3 oranges, juiced
Directions:
1. Place goose in a large pot. Add water to cover, and stir in the sea salt. Refrigerate overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Remove goose from water and drain well. Remove all innards, and trim excess fat from the tail. Rub inside cavity with lemon juice. Place apple, potato, orange, and celery inside the body cavity. Truss the bird like a turkey.
4. Place the goose in the preheated oven. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook 20 to 25 minutes per pound. Baste the goose every half hour with the basting syrup.
5. Carve goose and serve with stuffing and Cumberland sauce.
Basting Syrup:
6. Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl.
Stuffing:
7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. Coarsely chop the chestnuts and put in a large bowl. Add the stuffing mix, raisins, celery, apple, onion, salt, and pepper. Toss to combi ne. Pour in the chicken stock, butter, and cream and mix until evenly moistened.
9. Transfer to a baking dish and bake until the top is browned and crisp, about 1 hour.
Cumberland Sauce:
10. In a saucepan, combine the stock, port, vinegar, shallots, peppercorns, and orange juice. Bri ng to a boil and cook until reduced by 2/3, about 25 minutes. Strain and refrigerate. Serve cold over roast goose.
We grow our own PoinsettiasHanging Baskets. Single, double and triple branches in 4-10” pots.
Poinsettia Gift Baskets, & Christmas Cactus Lots of Fairy Garden Accessories, Air Plants, Pottery, all sizes of Houseplants, Succulents & Wind Chimes.
Directions:
Opportunities to entertain or visit with family and friends abound during the holiday season. Dessert is always a big hit during festive occasions, and the following recipe for "Pear and Chocolate Frangipane Tart" melds many popular flavors. Frangipane is an almond-flavored cream. In this recipe from "Chocolate: Deliciously Indulgent Recipes for Chocolate Lovers" (Ryland, Peters & Small) by Maxine Clark, it is paired with decadent chocolate and sweet pears.
Pear and Chocolate Frangipane Tart
(Serves 8-10)
4 medium, firm pears, unpeeled
2/3 cup seedless raspberry jam
2 tablespoons ruby port
Toasted shredded or silvered almonds, to scatter (optional)
Pastry:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg yolk
2 1/2 to 3 tablespoons chilled water
Chocolate Frangipane
Filling:
6 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 to 2 tablespoons
chocolate liqueur
2/3 cup ground
almonds
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1. To make the pastry, sift the flour and salt onto a sheet of waxed paper. Put the butter and egg yolk in a food processor and blend until smooth. Add the chilled water and blend again. Pour in the dry ingredients and blend until just combined. Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead gently until smooth. Form into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Bring to room temperature before rolling out.
2. To make the chocolate frangipane filling, put the butter in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add the sugar and beat until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs and the chocolate liqueur, then stir in the ground almonds and the cocoa. Cover and set aside.
3. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured work surface and use to line the tart pan. Prick the pastry all over with a fork and refrigerate until firm.
4. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and put a heavy baking sheet on the middle shelf.
5. Spread the chocolate frangipane evenly over the chilled pastry crust.
6. Halve the pears and scoop out the cores. Cut each half into thirds and arrange them randomly over the chocolate frangipane.
7. Transfer the tart to the preheated baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the pastry starts to brown. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for a further 15 to 20 minutes or until the pears are tender and the frangipane is set. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
8. About 20 minutes before serving, melt the jam with the port in a small pan and boil for 1 minute to make a glaze. Remove the tart from the pan, brush with the glaze, scatter with the almonds, if using, and serve at room temperature - never chilled - with cream, if using.
More than just a hardware
• Longenecker’s Gift Cards
• Holiday Decorations
• Fresh Wreaths • Garland • Poinsettias
• Toys • Books • Advent Calendars
• Gift Wrap • Cards
• Cookbooks • Kitchen Accessories
• Small Appliances
• Gas Grills & Turkey Fryers
• Table Décor
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Legend suggests that gingerbread originally landed in Europe in A.D. 992 with an Armenian monk named Gregory of Nicopolis, who brought a honeyand-spice cake to other monks in France, where it quickly became a favorite and was considered a "food from heaven."
Gingerbread once was a treat only for the elite, but as the masses discovered it, recipes evolved to include soft cakes to hard biscuits and everything in between. The following recipe for medieval "Gingerbread" produces a chewy, almost candy-like texture with potent ginger flavor. Try it for holiday gatherings, courtesy of "Tasting History" (Simon Element) by Max Miller.
Gingerbread
(Makes 20 to 25 1-inch pieces)
12 to 14 slices stale white bread
1 cup honey
1 tablespoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground long pepper (a spice similar to black pepper but with more heat that typically must be ordered online)
1/2 teaspoon sandalwood powder, if desired, for color (one drop of red food dye can be used instead)
1/2 cup or less sugar (enough for sprinkling)
20 to 25 whole cloves
Gold leaf
Directions:
1. Either with a food processor or by hand, grind the bread into coarse crumbs. Commercially bought bread crumbs will work as well, though the texture from homemade bread crumbs is preferable.
2. Pour the honey into a large saucepan set over medium heat, and heat to a rolling boil; the honey will become like syrup. Note that it will boil up quite a bit, so do not use a small saucepan. Slowly add the bread crumbs to the honey while stirring. The mixture should come together and begin to pull away from the sides of the saucepan. Continue to mix until fully combined. Remove the pan from the heat and quickly stir in the ginger, long pepper, and sandalwood, if desired. Turn the mixture out onto a sheet of parchment and spread with a spatula. Then, place another sheet of parchment on top and, with a rolling pin, roll the gingerbread out to about half-inch thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until stiff, about 2 hours.
3. Once the gi ngerbread is cool, sprinkle sugar on top and cut into 1-inch squares or whatever shape you like. Keep in mind that each piece should be bite size, as the flavors are very strong. They will also be quite sticky, so handle them as little as possible. Insert a whole clove into each piece of gingerbread and fleck with gold leaf. Leave the clove in until serving, then remove it just before eating.
