evansville thrifty nickel's christmas gift guide #3

2013 Christmas Gift GuideLOOK INSIDE FORGREAT GIFT IDEAS

GET THEM WHAT THEY REALLY WANT THIS YEAR!

PLAY THE

TRIVIA CONTEST

ON PAGE 8 FOR

YOUR CHANCE

TO WIN $20

THRIFTY NICKEL WANTS ADS CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2013 DECEMBER 12-18, 2013

Gift Giving Gets PersonalSome of the best gifts this holiday season are the ones that people

take personally.That's the word from trend watchers who say affordable, customized

presents that include favorite photos, messages and other personaltouches can be found for most anyone on your gift list. Try thesesuggestions:

Make It CountConsider making a donation to

a favorite charity in yourrecipient's name. Many groupsoffer certificates of thanks todonors that can be customizedwith a friend's or loved one'sname.

Wear It WellSearch the Web for sites that let

you create customized T-shirts,sweatshirts or hats. Personalize theclothing with a funny saying orphoto. You can even find sites that

let you customize everyday items such as dishes, towels and evenbedspreads.Most Wonderful Time All Year

Try visiting a Web site such as www.fedex.com/gifts to design acustomized wall or desktop calendar, complete with treasured photos,personal messages and more. The calendars can be a great--andsentimental--gift that keeps on giving to friends and family throughoutthe year.Basket Of Fun

You might give a gift basket filled with items that reflect thepersonality or interests of the recipient. For instance, a dog lover mayappreciate a photo book of pooches and a designer leash completewith Fido's name embroidered down the side.Fun Memories

Scrapbooks can be an inexpensive and simple way to show someone

you care. Fill a scrapbook with memories of times past but also symbolsof future fun, such as pictures of palm trees to symbolize a vacation,or photos of bridal gowns if there's a wedding in the future.

DECEMBER 12-18, 2013 THRIFTY NICKEL WANTS ADS CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2013 PAGE 3


Christmas OrnamentCake

Prep Time: 20 min.Bake Time: 55 min.Decoration Time:30 min.Difficulty: EasyYield: 12 servings

INGREDIENTS•1 bag M&M’S®Brand MilkChocolate Candiesfor the Holidays•1 bag HolidayMINIS® Mix•1 16-oz. box pound cake mix•2 12-oz. cans whipped vanilla frosting• Red and green food coloring• 2 resealable plastic bags

DIRECTIONS• 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bowl.• 2. Reserve 3 TWIX® Brand MINIS® and chopthe remaining bag of Holiday MINIS® Mix. Preparethe cake mix according to package instructions andpour the batter into the prepared bowl. Sprinkle thechopped candy on top of the batter.• 3. Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpickinserted in the center comes out clean. Remove fromthe oven, let cool for 15 minutes, invert and let cool

completely.• 4. Divide the frosting between 3 bowls;tint one bowl red and one bowl greenleaving the last bowl white. Transfer the caketo a serving platter.• 5. Using the photograph as guide, coverthe center with a 3-inch stripe white

frosting. Spoon the tinted frostings intoseparate resealable plastic bags with a smallcorner snipped. Pipe multiple lines of tintedfrosting on either side of the white frosting.Decorate the white portion with M&M’S®Brand Milk Chocolate Candies for theHolidays.


It's Beginning To Look A LotLike The Holiday SeasonHoliday-Wise Health Tips

(NAPSI)-The hustle and bustle of the holidays isexciting, but for Americans living with a chroniccondition, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), it can createchallenges.

For the 400,000 people in the U.S. affected by MS,extra rest may be needed. Shiela R. is an ambassador forMS LifeLines®, an educational support community forpeople living with MS sponsored by EMD Serono andPfizer Inc. She says that exhaustion can lead to frustrationbut that the key to coping with holiday-related stress issimple.

"You have a choice to either conserve your energy and

enjoy the holidays, or you can stress yourself out trying toget everything done on your own and be exhausted," shesays. "It's important to remember what the holidays areabout-spending time with your loved ones."

Shiela, along with fellow MS LifeLines AmbassadorDavid, share these tips to help individuals living with achronic condition prepare for and enjoy the holidays:Plan Ahead

• Make a list (and check it twice) to help reduce thestress that can result from feeling rushed, disorganized orunprepared during the holidays. If you are hosting aholiday event such as a family dinner, make individualchecklists for each aspect of the occasion, such as shopping,cooking and buying gifts.

• Make a calendar of your daily to-do's and considerplanning one activity per day to avoid feeling stressed andtired. Continue to make your health a priority during theholidays.

• If you take medicine for yourchronic condition, you may want toinclude reminders on your checklistsor calendar so that it doesn't fall offthe radar during the holidays.Welcome Support

• Look to family and friends forhelp when it comes to cooking,baking, wrapping gifts and hostingevents. Invite people over for a bakingor cooking party as a fun way ofenlisting help. "The biggest thing I'velearned is to not put so much pressureon yourself," says David. Instead ofoffering to host a holiday dinner, forexample, offer to assist the host bydoing some of the grocery shopping."This way, you can remain involvedwithout overextending yourself," headds.

• If you have MS, it may also helpto talk with others living with thecondition about how they prepare forthe holiday season. Visitwww.mslifelines.com/holidaytips toaccess the Peer Connection Program,where individuals can schedule a timeto talk one-on-one with someone whoknows how it feels to be living withrelapsing MS.Have Fun

• Lighten your load by askingfriends and family for a little extrahelp. As Shiela explains, the holidaysare a time to appreciate what youhave, enjoy time with loved ones andprepare and celebrate as a family. "Biteoff only what you can chew. You'll feelless stressed and more in control,which is ideal during the holidays andyear-round."

For more tips and information,visit www.mslifelines.com/holidaytips or call (877) 447-3243.


WITH MATTRESS PURCHASE+

+See store for details.

Herb-Topped PorkTenderloin CasserolePreparation Time: 20 minutesTotal Time: 2 hoursServings: 6

INGREDIENTS:• 1/2 cup sliced green onions• 2 cloves garlic, minced• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided• 11/2 cups fat-free half-and-half or milk• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour• 1/2 teaspoon salt• 1/4 teaspoon pepper• 3 medium white potatoes, very thinly sliced• 2 cups Kellogg's All-Bran Complete Wheat Flakes cereal (crushedto 1 cup)• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese• 3/4 pound pork tenderloin, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or chopped fresh sage• Fresh rosemary sprigs or whole sage leaves (optional)DIRECTIONS:• 1. In small nonstick saucepan, cook onions and garlic in 1 teaspoonof the butter for 1 to 2 minutes or until tender. In small bowl, whisktogether half-and-half, flour, salt and pepper. Stir into onion mixture.Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until thickened andboiling. (Mixture will be very thick.) Remove from heat.• 2. In 8 x 8 x 2-inch baking dish or shallow 2-quart casserole coatedwith cooking spray, layer half of the potatoes. Spread half of theonion mixture over top. Repeat layers. Tightly cover with foil. Bake,covered at 350° F, for 1 hour.• 3. Meanwhile, melt remaining 5 teaspoons butter. In shallow dish,combine cereal and Parmesan cheese. Coat pork slices with butter.Roll in cereal mixture.• 4. Arrange pork on top of hot potatoes. Sprinkle with any remainingcereal mixture. Drizzle with any remaining butter. Bake uncoveredat 350° F for 30 minutes more. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon rosemary.Bake uncovered at 350° F about 10 minutes more or until potatoesare tender and pork is done. Garnish with rosemary sprigs (if desired).

Holiday Poppers• Prep Time: 10 min.• Difficulty: Easy• Yield: Makes 8 poppers.

INGREDIENTS• 2 (16 x 27-inch) sheets red tissue paper• 2 (16 x 27-inch) sheets green tissue paper• 8 (5-inch) paper tubes (either cut a paper towel tube in half, oruse an empty toilet tissue tube)• Assortment of: DOVE® Chocolate, SNICKERS® BrandMiniatures, MILKY WAY® Brand Minis, 3 MUSKETEERS®Brand Minis and TWIX® Caramel Cookie Bars Minis• Red curling ribbon• Green curling ribbon• Gold curling ribbon

DIRECTIONS• 1. Cut the tissue paper in half, lengthwise.• 2. Cut 8 strands of each color of ribbon, 15-inch long.• 3. Fill the tubes with a selection of three miniature such as:SNICKERS® Brand Miniatures, MILKY WAY® Brand Minis, 3MUSKETEERS® Brand Minis and TWIX® Caramel CookieBars Minis, DOVE® Chocolate, SNICKERS®, MILKY WAY®,3 MUSKETEERS® and TWIX®.• 4. Lay one sheet of tissue paper flat on a surface. Place the tubeat one edge and roll the paper tightly around the tube. Tie theribbon tightly at both ends of the tube.• 5. Once all the tubes are wrapped and tied, link them togetherby placing alternating color tubes end-to-end, and tying themwith the gold ribbon.


Got someone on your list that is hard to buy for? Stuff theirstocking with a gift certificate from one of these retailers!


Christmas Gift Guide 2013 Trivia ContestPlay to Win $20 HOLIDAY CASH!Name________________________________

Address ______________________________

City/State/Zip__________________________

Phone _______________________________

HERE’S HOW TO WIN:Simply fill in the answers on the triviacontest entry form. Answers can be foundin the Christmas Gift Guide inserted in thisweek’s Thrifty Nickel. Mail or drop off atyour friendly THRIFTY NICKEL at 999 N.Congress Ave., Evansville, IN 47715.Deadline is Tuesday, December 17, 2013.Winner will be announced in the December19, 2013 issue of the THRIFTY NICKEL.

Rules: Must Be 18 years of age and older to play. Employees andrelatives of Thrifty Nickel are not eligible. One entry per person.

1. Find the cactus? _________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Where can you get $3.00 Off an $18.00 or more purchase? ________________________________________________________

3. Who has a Ogio Giza? _____________________________________________________________________________________

4. Who has a toll free # of 1-800-758-8231? _____________________________________________________________________

5. Who has 2 other locations in Kentucky? Name them? ____________________________________________________________

6. Who has quality jewelry at a fraction of the retail price? __________________________________________________________

7. Who has a package for $162.95? ____________________________________________________________________________

8. Who is located at 2106 W. Franklin St.? _______________________________________________________________________

9. What business will clean out attics, garages, houses and businesses? _______________________________________________

10. Where can you find appliances starting at $125 each? ___________________________________________________________

11. Where can you get 20% off lady and gentleman watches? ________________________________________________________

12. What business has the phone number 1-877-586-8839? _________________________________________________________

13. Whose phone number s 270-826-0067? ______________________________________________________________________

14. Who sells shrimp and hot wings at wholesale prices? ___________________________________________________________

15. What company is offering Flexsteel Sofas and Sectionals on which you can save up to 40%? ____________________________

16. Whose address is 4612 Vogel Road? ________________________________________________________________________

17. Who is on Red Bank next to Lowe’s? _________________________________________________________________________

18. Who is the only authorized Makita Sales and Service Center in the tri-state area? _____________________________________

19. Who has $5 off with ad? __________________________________________________________________________________

20. Whose phone number is 812-475-0566? _____________________________________________________________________

21. What business is located at 943 North Park Drive in Evansville, IN? ________________________________________________

22. What company sells scooters for as low as $500? ______________________________________________________________

23. Where can you find Dinette Sets as low as $176? ______________________________________________________________

24. What business is located at 424 W. Main Street in Boonville, IN? __________________________________________________

25. Who “gives you the power to get the brands you want today?” ____________________________________________________

INGREDIENTS• 1 3/4 cupsDOVE®Chocolate• 3/4 cupM&M’S®BrandMINIS®• 1 bag pretzelsticks, broken into various sized pieces• Reynolds® Parchment Paper

DIRECTIONS• 1. Remove 3/4 cup red and green M&M’S® BrandMINIS® and set aside for decoration.• 2. Line a baking sheet with Reynolds® ParchmentPaper.• 3. Melt the DOVE® Chocolate in a bowl set overa saucepan of boiling water. Stir the mixture as itmelts. When mixture is shiny and smooth, turn offthe heat.• 4. Once all the chocolate is melted, dip the pretzelpieces one at a time and arrange them on theprepared baking sheet into an antler shape. Placethe M&M’S® Brand MINIS® on each antler as itis finished.• 5. Repeat this same process until all the antlers arefinished.• 6. Let the chocolate cool completely and get firm.You can refrigerate to firm the chocolate morequickly.• 7. Once firm, remove them from the Reynolds®Parchment Paper.• 8. If desired, wrap each one in a sheet of cellophane,tied with a ribbon or simply put them on a cookieplate.

REINDEERANTLERS


Doggie BarkHelp your child make a specialtreat for that other member ofthe family, plus any other dogsin her life. (We hear that reindeerare also partial to this bark!) Besure to use carob chips --chocolate is harmful to canines.INGREDIENTS• 4 cups carob chips• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter• 1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts or chopped walnuts• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamonInstructions1. In a bowl, melt the carob chips in the microwave for30 seconds. Stir them with a wooden spoon, thenmicrowave for 30 seconds more.2. Stir in the peanut butter and microwave for another 15seconds. Stir the ingredients again to combine.3. Add the nuts and the cinnamon, then stir the mixtureto coat the nuts.4. Line an edged cookie sheet with aluminum foil andlightly spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray. Pourthe mixture onto the foil and chill it for 15 minutes in thefreezer or 30 minutes in the refrigerator.5. Remove the bark and break it into roughly 1- by 2-inch pieces. Store it in an airtight container for up to 2weeks. Makes about 70 pieces.

Holiday Baking With A Regional Twist(NAPSI)-Bakers everywhere are dusting off their rolling pins and gathering up their measuring cups.

Every corner of the country has its own unique spin on holiday cookies and candies, with recipes that areoften inspired by local ingredients or a reflection of traditions unique to the people who live there.

Wherever you may live on the map, there is a recipe--or two--to add to your holiday cookie plate, such as:• Bananas Foster Bars, a dessert synonymous with New Orleans--the place where it was created. This

recipe takes all those great flavors--the rum, the bananas and, of course, the butter--and transforms theminto a bar cookie that's sure to make any dessert plate a hit.

• Almond Butter Buckeyes, buttery and nutty chocolate confections inspired by the nuts that fall fromOhio's famous buckeye trees. Come holiday time, they are produced--and consumed--in mass quantities in"The Buckeye State," as well as in neighboring states throughout the Midwest.

BANANAS FOSTER BARSMakes 16 2-inch barsIngredients:Bars:1⁄2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened1 cup dark brown sugar, packed1 egg1 tablespoon dark rum or 1 teaspoon rum extract1 cup flour1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder1 teaspoon cinnamon1⁄4 teaspoon salt1 cup bananas, diced1⁄2 cup (2 ounces) pecans or walnuts, choppedFrosting:2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature4 ounces cream cheese, softened4 tablespoons light brown sugar1 teaspoon rum or pure vanilla extract1 teaspoon cinnamon1-2 cups confectioners' sugar, siftedDirections:Bars:• Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter and flour 9-inch-square pan*.• In large bowl, beat together butter and sugar with electric mixer until creamy. Add egg and rum; mix tocombine.• In small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; gradually add tobutter mixture. Mix in bananas and pecans; stir to incorporate. Pour batter into prepared pan and spreadevenly. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.• Remove pan to a wire rack to cool completely.Frosting:• In large bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, sugar and extract with an electric mixer. Beat until light andfluffy. Add cinnamon and 1 cup confectioners' sugar; blend until smooth. (Careful; overmixing will causeseparation.) Add additional confectioners' sugar to create desired consistency.• Spread frosting immediately over cooled bars. Cover and store bars in refrigerator for up to 3 days. Whenready to serve, cut bars into 2-inch squares.


Almond ButterBuckeyesIngredients:1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened1-1⁄4 cups almond butter*3 tablespoons dark rum or 11⁄2teaspoons rum extract1 teaspoon almond extract3-3⁄4 to 4 cups confectioners' sugar,sifted12 ounces bittersweet chocolate,chopped for coating

Candies: Makes 4 dozen candies

DIRECTIONS:Candies:In large bowl, combine

butter, almond butter, rum, almondextract and confectioners' sugar usingelectric mixer. Dough will be smoothand firm. Shape dough into 1-inchballs; place on parchment-lined bakingsheets.

Refrigerate until firm, about 30minutes.

Coating: Melt chocolate in shallow,microwave-safe dish. Heat 30 seconds;stir; then continue in 10-secondintervals, stirring after each cook time.Chocolate should be melted andsmooth.

To dip balls, insert a toothpick about1⁄2 inch into the ball, dip into meltedchocolate, leaving a small circle ofdough visible at the top, and place onparchment paper to dry until chocolateis firm. Repeat with remaining candies.Store in airtight container for up tothree days.

*You may substitute peanut orcashew butter for almond butter; omitalmond extract if you use asubstitution.

Homemade Cheese StrawsINGREDIENTSMakes about 3 Dozen* All-purpose flour, for work surface* Puff Pastry, made through the fourth turn* 12 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated medium-fine(about 4 cups)* 1 large egg, lightly beaten* Coarse saltDIRECTIONS 1. On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry dough to a 9-by-20-inch rectangle. Sprinkle 3/4 cup cheese over center ofdough. Starting at the near short end, fold dough into thirds,enclosing cheese. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate 1 hour. Repeat.Wrap in plastic; refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. 2. Cut dough in half; wrap half in plastic, and refrigerate. Ona lightly floured surface, roll out half the dough to a 12-by-15-

inch rectangle about 1/8 inch thick. 3. Using a pastry brush, dust off excess flour; brush beatenegg over dough until well moistened. Sprinkle 1/2 cup plus 2tablespoons cheese and a pinch of salt over lower half of dough.Fold top half over cheese-covered half. Gently press to seal.Brush top of dough with beaten egg; sprinkle with remaining1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cheese and a pinch of salt. 4. Trim dough to 12 by 6 1/2 inches with a pastry wheel orknife. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.Refrigerate 30 minutes. 5. Preheat oven to 375 . Using a pastry wheel, cut dough into3/8-by-12-inch strips; twist into spirals. Space 1/2 inch aparton baking sheets. Press ends onto sheets to prevent straws fromstraightening. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 30 minutes. 6. Bake until golden and cooked through, about 18 minutes.Loosen straws from sheets with a thin spatula; transfer to awire rack to cool. Store in airtight containers at roomtemperature up to 1 day.

evansville thrifty nickel's christmas gift guide #3

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