Sunday, December 30, 2012
Tips from a Matt Prentice restaurants expert on everything from picking the right glassware to serving it at just the right temperature.
Ready for New Year's Eve? Here are five Champagne tips for party-givers and partygoers: By "clean" I don't mean free of dirt and debris, but instead free of soap residue, as many liquid detergents don't rinse off completely. Aside from imparting undesired lemon and lavender scents in your wine, they will cause Champagne to go flat faster or prevent your wine from adhering to the glass and releasing aromatic qualities. Tip: For hard to clean decanters use a nonscented denture cleaner. After a little soak and good rinse, your crystal is good as new. Each wine has various qualities and aromas; science has proven that these molecular compounds release differently based on the shapes and sizes of glassware. By picking the right glass for…
Monday, December 24, 2012
The North American Aerospace Defense Command has a website that now offers a Santa tracker mobile app to follow the jolly man's magical flight.
They sent him their wish lists, sat on his lap, and been on their best behavior. Now the only thing left for children to do is leave out some milk and cookies and track Santa's progress as he delivers gifts around the world on Christmas Eve. Thanks to the folks behind the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) website, families worldwide can now follow Santa's Christmas journey in real time. The tradition started in 1955 after an advertisement for Sears Roebuck & Co. misprinted a telephone number for a special "Santa hotline." Instead of reaching Kris Kringle, the number put kids through to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Commander-in-Chief’s operations, according to a description on the NORAD Tracks Santa Facebook …
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Our Patch Elf on the Shelf has gotten ahold of our computer and now wants to know what his buddy elves are up to. Share your photos here!
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Sunday, December 23, 2012
Hi friends! I'm the Patch Elf on the Shelf. Call me Patchy. I've heard about more of my friends hanging around the area lately, and I wondered what they were up to. Could their families post pictures here on Patch to show me? I'd love to catch up with them. We all go back to Santa on Christmas Eve, but in the meantime, we'll be watching you! Cheers, Patchy the Elf Add your photo by clicking on the green "Upload Photos and Videos" icon.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Check out these interesting fun facts and trivia about New Year's Eve.
If you're celebrating New Year's Eve this year and find a lull in the conversation, impress your family and friends with this New Year's trivia.
Friday, December 21, 2012
No need for maple syrup with these light and sweet morning meal.
The month of December is a busy one. Take some quality time with your family on Christmas morning and try a new recipe. Swedish Pancakes Swedish pancakes, similar to a crepe, are much lighter than traditional pancakes. For your Christmas breakfast, serve them with lingonberry jam (available at IKEA or specialty food stores), bacon or sausage, and fresh fruit. Maybe you will start a new tradition in your family! Makes about 10 You can make the batter the night before and refrigerate it. Preheat the oven to 225 degrees and place a cookie sheet in the oven. 2 eggs 2 cups milk 1 cup flour 3 T sugar 3 T butter, melted 1/8 tsp. salt pinch of nutmeg vegetable oil for the pan Lingonberry jam, for serving Dusting of powdered sugar, if desired In …
The agency will also offer discounts to families traveling over the holidays.
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Friday, December 21, 2012
NJ TRANSIT will offer additional service over the holiday week, along with a special extension of the Family Super Saver Fare, according to a press release from the agency. The Family Super Saver Far allows up to two children 11-years-old and younger to travel free with each fare-paying adult and will be offered from 7 p.m. on Friday Dec. 21 through 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 2 on all trains, buses and light rail lines. Extra service will provide more travel options, according to the release, whether customers are heading toward the mall for some last-minute shopping or getting a head start on the Christmas holiday. Friday, Dec. 21 Trains, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, Newark Light Rail and River Line will operate on the current weekday …
Here are some ways to celebrate Christmas with your neighbors.
Toys For Tots Donate new, unwrapped toys to Toys For Tots at the Laundry Mill or the Cliffwood VFW. Holiday Book Drive Barnes & Noble of Holmdel will host a holiday book drive through Jan. 1. This year Barnes & Noble in Holmdel's annual bookdrive will be benefiting Holiday Express, a local charity benefitting individuals in need right here in our own neighborhoods. Everytime you visit Barnes & Noble in Holmdel purchase the books of your choosing and let any cashier or bookseller know you would like to donate it to Holiday Express. Hope For The Holidays Galleria Dental will be accepting your donation of new unwrapped toys and gift cards for the youngest victims of Hurricane Sandy. We will be collecting and distributing all donations to …
Thursday, December 20, 2012
If the holidays leave you with little time to shop for gifts, try these stores in Matawan and Aberdeen for great last-minute gift ideas.
With all of the tree trimming, cookie baking and partygoing, there is so much to do during the holidays that it's easy to leave shopping for Christmas presents until the last minute. But by then, the malls and chain stores are usually chaotic and the mere thought of battling crowds is exhausting. Here are some ideas for easy gifts that can be bought locally and require little stress: Tell us: What are some of your own last-minute gift ideas? Share in the comments below. Don't forget to tell us where you can pick them up!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
What's the latest you can send a package this year to ensure pre-Christmas delivery? We run down the options around Matawan and Aberdeen.
If you're the type to put off holiday shopping until the last minute, not to worry—there are plenty of speedy ways to ship your items nationwide and ensure that they'll arrive before Dec. 25. Below is a rundown of USPS, UPS, and FedEx deadlines for pre-Christmas arrival. Cost, of course, goes up with the speed of the service. The absolute latest option nearby? Express mailing your package from the Laurel or Laurel Mall post office by 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 22. U.S. POSTAL SERVICE Method Last day to ship First Class Mail Thursday, Dec. 20 Priority Mail Friday, Dec. 21 Express Mail Saturday, Dec. 22 FEDEX Method Last day to ship FedEx Express Saver Wednesday, Dec. 19 FedEx 2Day Thursday, Dec. 20 FedEx Standard Overnight, FedEx …
Sunday, December 16, 2012
The holiday season can bring many dangers to the pet in your life.
The holiday season is filled with family, friends and parties but don't forget about your pets. Here are a few helpful tips to keep your animals safe and happy this holiday season. Fore more ways to keep your animals safe during the holiday season check out ASPCA.org.
mandi ball
6:54 pm on Monday, December 24, 2012
some of our elves hiding spots include: the ceiling fan, on top of the window, the television, on the cabinets, a plant, on the top of the fridge, the wall wine rack, the christmas tree and on the hanging christmas countdown. Gotta love the elf on a shelf and every other spot :) more ›