Tag Archives: holidays

December Publisher’s Note

November 25, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda

At the end of the year, our schedule gets tossed into the air.

While everyone decorates and parties, TheBurg staff scrambles to meet early deadlines, finalize our stories, and get our monthly magazine into your hands.

The rapid-fire Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year’s train of holidays is always challenging, and this year is especially tough for us, given the quirks of the calendar.

Nonetheless, no worries. As always, we’ll meet our deadlines, with our print magazine packed with community news, commentary, features, events and fun. And, like each December, this issue focuses heavily on the holidays and how we celebrate here in the Harrisburg area.

This month, we have holiday stories that range widely from local attractions to light displays to seasonal entertainment and more. We also have some great ideas on ways to give back to the community, if that’s on your to-do list.

If it is, we hope that you’ll consider putting something special from TheBurg under your tree, as merch sales help fund our mission of serving this community. Currently, we offer sweatshirts, T-shirts and ballcaps through our website or, if you prefer, just drop by our office. Donning your Burg gear also shows the world (or at least your fellow Wegman’s shoppers) that you support our work and your community.

For the holiday season, we also hope you’ll consider joining Friends of TheBurg, our membership program. To say “thanks,” we’ll send you a Burg-branded tote, delivered right to your door. You’ll also get an invitation to the Burg Bash, a huge annual party to honor our members (and my single-favorite night of the year). To date, we’ve had over 700 individuals, families, groups, companies and organizations become members—so please, join in the fun!

OK, I think I’m all pitched out for the month. It’s time now to turn the page and dig into our annual seasonal issue. TheBurg staff wishes you and your loved ones the happiest of holidays!

Larry, Lauren, Meg, Maddie, Natalie and Lex

Lawrance Binda
Publisher/Editor

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

February Editor’s Note

January 29, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

Recently, TheBurg’s cartoonist sent me a list of “celebrations and holidays” for February.

Now, I don’t know who compiled this list, but, apparently, Feb. 3 is “National Carrot Cake Day,” Feb. 8 is “National Kite Flying Day,” and Feb. 28 is “National Public Sleeping Day.”

In February, you can find something to celebrate every day, from the frivolous (“National Bubble Gum Day,” Feb. 7) to the intellectual (“World Thinking Day,” Feb. 22) to the serious (“World Rare Disease Day,” Feb. 28 or 29).

When I asked him where he found this long list, the answer was obvious: the internet. Where else?

When I was a kid, February was a child’s paradise.

The month began with the always fun Groundhog Day, segued into the crafty (if nerve-racking) Valentine’s Day and wrapped up with a day off for President’s Day. Toss in a weeklong “winter break” and a few snow days, and we basically learned nothing all month long.

At TheBurg, we also consider February to be a month of holidays. Each year, we have a romance-related story or two, as we do this year, and, in the past, had features with presidential themes. Groundhogs even have made an appearance.

In addition, for many years, we’ve built our February issue around Black History Month, as we do again this year. Since the Black Lives Matters protests last year, there’s been a greater emphasis on Black history, culture, business, etc., and our stories have followed in that spirit. This month, we expand that coverage even further.

One more thing about February—it’s a short month. For someone who prefers the days long and the weather warm, I look forward to the quick progression from mid-winter bleakness to the promise of spring. But to spur summer along, I’ll make certain to celebrate on Feb. 22—National Margarita Day.

Lawrance Binda
Co-Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

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Fosterthefoodie’s Holiday Gift Guide: 11 Local Gifts for the Food Lovers on your List!

November 19, 2020 | by Corinne Foster

From wine & pizza to sweets & treats, Fosterthefoodie has curated tasteful options to fit every budget!

The holiday season is just around the corner, and now more than ever, it’s important to shop local and support your favorite small businesses. With these 11 locally made goods, ranging from cider and cannolis to charcuterie and cookies, there’s something for everyone on your list. Trust me; in no time, you’ll have to find a gift for the foodies in your life, and you’ll realize that some of the best presents can come in small (business) packages!

Sweet717

Any candy lover will appreciate a gift basket from Sweet717! Create something special by mixing and matching some of Sweet717’s bestselling treats like the Festive Chocolate Covered Pretzels, Peppermint Dark Chocolate Nonpareils, Peppermint Fluffs, or my favorite – the Handcrafted Peppermint Bark Bars! Whether you’re grabbing a mix of festive treats or a box of their classic fudge, you’ll definitely find something to satisfy a sweet tooth!

Cornerstone Coffeehouse

Buying a gift for a coffee lover in your life? This year, give them something to make them feel close to chipper every morning: a gift basket from Cornerstone Coffeehouse! Nowadays, we have more time than ever to get serious about fresh grinds with the endless hours at home to drink it. So, give that special person in your life who cannot function without their coffee a new roast paired with bakery treats and a mug. Because an hour spent uncaffeinated is an hour wasted!

The Shoppe on Chocolate

We all have a person in our lives that loves to entertain, goes the extra mile for parties and really does it up for any occasion! You know the one: the hostess with the mostest. So, treat that entertainer to something they can help entertain you with this year – like a gift basket from The Shoppe on Chocolate. Gift them with a versatile tray that be can be used to serve drinks or hold food, pair it with some mulling spices to add a nice seasonal flavor to wine or cider and throw in some cheese markers for the finishing touch!

Tröegs Independent Brewing

For the biggest cheese lover on your Christmas list, a cheese sampler is a great way to treat them to their best present yet. This Beer Cheese Sampler from Caputo Brothers Creamery contains cheeses created with beers from Tröegs Independent Brewing – Mad Elf Beer Cheese, Troegentaor Beer Cheese, Perpetual IPA Beer Cheese and Cracked Elf. You can even add on some pepperoni from Salumeria Biellese to help create the perfect cheeseboard for an extra $10! It’s perfect for the beer lover or foodie in your life!

Wyndridge Farm

Raise a glass to celebrate the season with some amazing craft beverages from Wyndridge Farm! Hook up your boozy best pal or your classy coworker with some delicious hard ciders or some seasonal craft beers from Winding Path Brewing Co! Complete the gift with some Wyndrige Farm merchandise like koozies, glasses or clothing! This craft-beer gift will be everything you need to have a truly hoppy Christmas (sorry, I had to!).

Laurcuterie

What’s more impressive than a perfectly crafted charcuterie board? One that is made just for you! The Laurcuterie To-Go Box is perfect for any small gathering, whether you’re attending as a guest or hosting! The box includes a variety of meats, cheeses, produce, dip/spreads, nuts, pickled assortment, dried fruit and crackers, but can be customized just to your liking. This holiday season keep things simple and gift your charcuterie-loving friend one of these ready-to-go boxes!

Knead HBG

Is there anything more amazing than a sizzling pie fresh out of the oven? Look no further than Knead HBG! They now offer DIY Pizza Kits – complete with Pizza Dough, Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese! For only $5, you can take the delicious goodness of a Knead Pizza to the comfort of your own home. It’s easy to make, cheap to buy, and even better to share with friends! It’s the perfect gift for every pizza lover on your list!

3700 Market Café

Celebrate the season by sharing one-of-a-kind bakery gifts everyone will love. Fill a gift basket with the best treats 3700 Market Café has to offer: mouth-watering brownies, cookies and decadent desserts galore! Comfort food is the fastest way to the heart, and during these unprecedented times, we could all use some holiday spirit! No matter what the holidays look like, 3700 Market Café will make sure there is something delicious to add to your gift list!

Grazery

Incorporating delicacies from Italy, Greece, Morocco and Spain, a Mediterranean gift basket is a healthy introduction to some of the unique flavors from this popular sun-drenched region. Grazery offers a selection of hand-picked Mediterranean pantry items that would be the perfect gift this holiday season! From olive oil, to forest honey and pistachio halva, you’ll find something for everyone’s taste buds! And – Grazery is now offering pre-made gift baskets to make it even easier to shop!

JB Kelly Seafood

Who’s ready for a seafood extravaganza? This may not be the year to take a trip to warmer weather, but why not bring a little bit of vacation into your kitchen with a seafood dinner for two from JB Kelly Seafood! Pick through dozens of offerings and treat your loved one with a meal they won’t forget – and enjoy it from the comfort and convenience of your own home!

Caputo Brothers Creamery

If you’re lucky, you have someone in your life who loves to bake. One super delicious and interactive gift is this DIY Cannoli Kit from Caputo Brothers Creamery! The kit comes with a 1lb. pastry bag of their housemade cannoli filling, made with their fresh ricotta, lightly sweetened, along with 12 mini cannoli shells. Think of it as a gift for them (and a gift for you)!

Stay tuned throughout the month on Fosterthefoodie for more info on each local business! And – if you make a purchase, make sure to say you found your present on Fosterthefoodie’s Holiday Gift Guide!

Fosterthefoodie is a food and drink blogger promoting the best dishes and drinks in Central PA for under $15. In less than two years, Fosterthefoodie has developed over 80 local partnerships and gained over 4,100 followers to become a top influencer in the Harrisburg region. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook!

Fast Fish: A quick, healthy recipe for Lent.

February 28, 2018 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

Well, March has finally arrived, and, with it, the faint glimmer of spring.

This is also the season of Lent. Those who abstain from meat during this time might be looking for easy-to-prepare, meatless meals.

When I was a child, Lenten meals at my family home usually elicited groans from my corner of the table. Common fare included big bowls of lentils with olive oil (just olive oil); chickpeas with elbow macaroni; occasional tuna salad, which my father hated; and fried flounder, which usually ended up in little pieces because it stuck to the skillet (no Teflon back then).

So, in my search for some interesting fish dishes for Lent, I turned to renowned Italian chef, cookbook author and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich. Lidia has a rather endearing little cookbook out there, “Lidia’s Commonsense Italian Cooking,” which approaches cooking as a way to nurture bonds between friends and family. In it, she also stresses easy-to-make dishes, cooking with seasonal ingredients, and never wasting any food in your kitchen. I’m sure my mother would have liked its emphasis on Italian greens, vegetables and beans. Lots of beans!

Armed with a pound of cod and not much in the way of an idea beyond butter, lemon and perhaps a few capers, I found Lidia’s recipe, “Codfish with Olives and Zucchini.” It was incredibly easy to make and actually enjoyed by my often fish-wary spouse.

But what I liked best was how adaptable this recipe was. While putting it together, I kept thinking of all the possible combinations of fish and vegetables that would work. And though you can add some rice to your dinner, the majority of it is made in one pan.

CODFISH WITH OLIVES AND ZUCCHINI (recipe can be cut in half)
Ingredients
• 6 thick pieces skinless cod fillet
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1½ teaspoons kosher salt (optional)
• 2 cups whole cherry tomatoes (I used a mix of red, yellow and orange)
• 8 ounces medium zucchini, sliced into ¼-inch half moons
• ½ cup mixed pitted olives, cut in half
• ½ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, chopped

Directions
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Place the cod on a plate and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Lightly salt. (I’m very careful with the salt because of the saltiness of the olives.)
• In a medium bowl, toss the cherry tomatoes, zucchini, olives and basil with the remaining olive oil and a little salt.
• Spread the seasoned vegetables on a rimmed baking sheet. (Using PAM first is helpful.)
• Roast the vegetables on the bottom rack of the oven until they just begin to soften, about 15 minutes (watch carefully).
• Nestle the cod in the vegetables and roast in the center of the oven until the fish is cooked through, about 15-20 minutes. Remember to judge cooking times with the thickness of your fish.

Place the fish on plates and arrange the vegetable mixture around and a little on top of the fish. Serve with a little rice, small new potatoes or even just garlic bread. The presentation of this dish is lovely. It’s good enough for company.

I’m already planning on some different combinations:
• Roasted salmon filets on a bed of sliced fennel, sliced artichoke hearts and halved, tiny red potatoes
• Roasted halibut steaks on a bed of sliced sweet onion and sliced red, green and yellow peppers
• Thick flounder filets with sliced onion, sliced mushrooms and capers

As a matter of full disclosure, I served my sons Mrs. Paul’s fish sticks when they were little boys. What was I thinking? These fish dishes are so much better! Try them this Lenten season and all through the year.

Good (for You) Cheer: Tips for healthy holiday eating–without depriving yourself.

November 30, 2017 | by Sara Meloy and Tamara Rhodes

The holidays are the time for friends, family, good cheer and good food. Lots of food. But if you are managing your weight, you don’t have to feel left out.

Here are some tips to help you enjoy the bounty of the holidays, without adding the pounds.

Never go to a party hungry. You may think it’s a good idea to skip a meal or limit your calories beforehand to save them up for the big holiday party. Our bodies— unfortunately—do not work like this. If we under-eat, we tend to be hungrier than normal and then we eat large portions of unhealthy foods, typically more calories than what we would normally eat if we ate moderate portions throughout the day. Having a small snack before an event can help prevent you from overeating at a party.

Slow down. It’s so easy to get excited and overeat when there is an abundance of delicious food in front of us. Sometimes, if we eat quickly, we can eat two to three times what our stomach can actually hold in a 15-to-20-minute timespan, which is the amount of time it takes for the stomach to tell the brain that it is full. Slow down by taking small bites and setting silverware down between bites. You may be surprised to learn that a lesser amount of food will actually satisfy you.

Use smaller dishes. In addition to slowing down, use smaller dishes. We not only eat with our stomachs, but with our eyes, too. We can fool our brains into thinking we’re eating more food by using a smaller plate. With a smaller plate, it will take much smaller portions of food to fill it up, allowing us to feel satisfied with less food.

Offer to bring a healthier choice. Holiday meals are occasions to have rich foods that we don’t normally enjoy year-round. But this shouldn’t prevent us from bringing a healthier dish or fresh vegetable or fruit tray to the party. Also, there are many different ways to “lighten” a rich holiday recipe, such as using low-fat or fat-free ingredients, or even replacing unhealthy ingredients altogether. See the sidebar for some delicious ways to make your family recipes healthier.

Watch alcohol consumption. Let’s face it—liquids can do a lot of calorie damage. Alcohol calories add up very quickly, even in one or two glasses. A standard beer usually accounts for about 100 to 150 calories per 12-ounce bottle/can. A 5-ounce glass of wine (red or white) has the same number of calories. Each ounce of hard liquor can add up to 60 to 100 extra calories, not including the calories in the liquids we mix with the liquor. Calories consumed from alcohol can sometimes add up to the same as a small meal.

Socialize strategically. The most popular area to meet and talk is usually in the kitchen or near the food table. However, having easy access to food while you are focused on talking makes it easy to overeat. Sit down away from the buffet table, concentrate on your food, and engage in conversation with those nearby doing the same.

Remember, the worst thing you can do is deprive yourself. These special events come just once a year, but just a few small changes can make the difference between maintaining and gaining weight over the holidays.

Tamara Rhodes, RD, LDN, and Sara Meloy, RD, LDN, are dietitians at UPMC Pinnacle.

Make Your Holiday Recipes Healthier

Make low-fat ingredient substitutions in cooking and baking.
Use skim or 1-percent milk instead of 2-percent or whole milk.
Use nonfat, plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream or mayonnaise.
Use egg whites in place of whole eggs.
Use unsweetened applesauce in place of oil.
Use fat-free or low-fat cheese, cream and condiments in place of full-fat varieties.
Use sugar-free maple syrup in place of regular maple syrup.
Get creative with casserole toppings, such as by using almonds or walnuts in place of marshmallows or fried onions.
If you are breading something, use whole-wheat panko, ground flaxseed or crushed whole-grain crackers (Wheat Thins, Triscuits).
Refrigerate gravy and skim the fat off before re-heating and serving.
Make cookies with a light dusting of sugar rather than icing.
Hold off on the whipped cream, chocolate or ice cream topping.
Make pies with real fruit instead of pie filling for more vitamins, more antioxidants, more fiber and less sugar.
Choose pies without a caramelized surface or top crust, such as pumpkin pie instead of pecan or apple pie.
Replace half of the sugar in desserts with a sugar substitute such as Splenda or Stevia.
Use graham crackers to make pastry dough.
Prepare a crustless quiche or cheesecake.

A Very Harrisburg Holiday: This Christmas, shop for gifts that are not only sold locally, but made locally.

November 30, 2017 | by Ann Knaus

For years, professional shoppers and last-minute gift-buyers had few choices but to hop in the car and travel to the local malls or big box stores to stock up on holiday presents and other seasonal goodies. What they found were the same offerings over and over, from store to store. It could leave even the merriest uninspired.

This year, break the mold and explore some of the unique local businesses that are bringing new life and new ideas to the holiday season.

It’s possible to shop for almost everyone on your list with a single visit to the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg, where an array of vendors offers everything from food products to beautifully handcrafted items.

Popped Culture in the stone building is owned by attorney-turned-entrepreneur Mark Wieder. For the holiday, the artisan popcorn business is featuring Chocolat à L’orange, (dark chocolate with orange), Caspers’ Peppermint Bark, (white chocolate with peppermint bits) and Gingerbread Pop (just like the cookie). They are also introducing POPelicious popcorn spice blends so fans of the popcorn can recreate Popped Culture popcorn at home. “We are really excited to bring some holiday flavor and flair to the Broad Street Market,” Wieder said. Guests are invited to stop by for a popcorn demo this month.

Over in the brick building, be sure to check out the offerings at Elementary Coffee Co. “We’ve garnered a really good following at the market,” owner Andrea Grove said about the 3-year-old shop, which is partnering with Fennec Design, located across the street in the Millworks, to create enamel coffee mugs for gift-giving. “We had some merchandise the past couple of years, but (this year) we wanted to do something unique and are really excited about this. This is the only place in town you can get this type of mug.” The mugs retail for $15, and shoppers can choose from the simple Elementary Coffee logo and a more intricate flower design. Later in December, the shop also will carry MiiR travel mugs for coffee-drinkers on the go. Need a drink now? Elementary is serving up eggnog lattes made with steamed Apple Valley Creamery (East Berlin) eggnog and the ever-popular Midtown Ginger drink: a maple syrup-based latte with Apple Valley Creamery whole milk, topped with Calicutts (Lemoyne) fresh ginger and cinnamon spice mix. The shop also serves a peppermint ganache mocha, a warm, dark chocolate mint ganache mixed up daily and ladled out of a crockpot topped with Apple Valley Creamery milk and dusted with cocoa powder.

Vie Chevre owner David Kern is making it easy for shoppers to find just the right gift. The goat milk soap company in the market’s brick building has grown by leaps and bounds in the past year. Kern made “gifts on a budget” the theme this holiday season, making it easy for shoppers to buy everything from Secret Santa gifts to the unique objects for that special someone. Candles, a main staple item at the shop, will feature three specialty scents: On an Open Fire, Winter’s Chill and Home and Hearth, with each evoking warm and familiar fragrances of the season. Additionally, reasonably priced and ready-for-gifting are mason jars complete with to-and-from cards that include Vie Chevre’s famous Goat Milk Soap, Lip Balm and samples. Small jars are $7 and large jars are $10. “The week before Christmas, we will also be doing a full-push, last-minute gift sale,” said Kern, anticipating a bustling season.

If you have a sweet tooth or someone in your life adores anything that resembles Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, then Fudge-O-lutely is not to be missed in the brick building. The demure shop packs a punch of color. Visitors’ noses are overwhelmed by the delicious smell of chocolate wafting over the counter. Owner Jessica Kost says it all started with her grandma’s fudge recipe. “I used her base recipe and played around with ingredients to come up with new flavors. More recently, I started adding other products like marshmallows and cotton candy,” she said. Her holiday flavors include peppermint bark, gingerbread and eggnog. Other treats are handmade peppermint marshmallows dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in crushed peppermint candy. The shop also offers gift samplers and a mug set including Fudge-O-lutely handmade marshmallows and Frederic Loraschi (Colonial Park) gourmet hot cocoa mix.

Eight Oaks Distillery is a new kid on the block at the Broad Street Market, and owner Chad Butters is feeling at home. “The community here is so supportive,” he said. The New Tripoli-based business set up shop in the brick building a few months ago and hit the ground running. Serving American vodka, authentic applejack, colonial rum, American gin, Pennsylvania rye whiskey and bourbon whiskey, Eight Oaks is using traditional distilling methods to create its Pennsylvania-based products. Three new releases this month include pinot bourbon, aged rum and aged applejack. For anyone looking for gifts for that person on your list who likes to imbibe, two gift packs will be available: one with a bottle of vodka, Moscow mule cup and recipe, and another with applejack, a cocktail glass and recipe.

Speaking of the hard stuff, Harrisburg’s own Midstate Distillery is just a few blocks from the market. The distillery, located at 1817 N. Cameron St., offers a wide selection of spirits, including bourbon, vodka, moonshine and rum, for drinking on site or gifting. It may be the perfect place to unwind with your out-of-town visitors following that mandatory tour of the state Capitol.

While in the city, be sure to stop in at Matangos Candies, which has been in business for 60 years. Peter Matangos, the grandson of founder Chris “Pop” Matangos, is the face of the business these days. The old factory store at 1501 Catherine St. has remained the same since it opened its doors. This year, customers can buy old-fashioned clear toys as candy-lovers enjoy chocolate straws, chocolate Santa molds, Christmas crystal creams, peanut brittle, black walnut brittle, cashew brittle, black walnut hash and Roka, which is a cashew butter toffee rolled in milk chocolate and chopped almonds.

Just over the river, Market Street in Camp Hill is like something from a Norman Rockwell painting. Lined with small shops and restaurants, this centerpiece of the community looks like it belongs in a snow globe. At the center of it all is Cornerstone Coffeehouse at 2133 Market St., a community favorite since 1994. Stop in to get your caffeine fix and pick up some great gifts, including coffee mugs, 25 different teas, tea steepers, tea infuser mugs, T-shirts and other coffee supplies like French presses. “We carry so many items, but it’s what our customers want,” said General Manager Nicole Miller, who has been at Cornerstone for seven years. The shop also will be offering Christmas coffees that include Kringle Crunch, Santa’s Toddy, Jingle Bell Brew, Peppermint Mocha and fan favorites egg nog and egg nog lattes. Quiches will be available made-to-order for Christmas morning, and Chef Chuck LaPorta will offer a Feast of Seven Fishes class. Beyond the gifts and treats, it’s still about the people. “We are very community-oriented and our customers love our barristas,” Miller said.

A few blocks away is One Good Woman at 1845 Market St., specializing in coffee, loose-leaf tea and gourmet foods and gifts. “We have an ever-changing inventory so there is always something new to look at,” co-owner Mechelle Webster said. This season, the store offers baskets as personal, business or corporate gifts. Customers have the option to select the items for the baskets themselves or have them selected by staff. Despite the name, One Good Woman carries gifts for men, women and children. Be sure to check out the fine, handmade jewelry and the wide range of One Good Woman-branded items.

This is just a small sample of craft, bespoke and local products from Harrisburg-area shops. Be creative in discovering your own. You’ll find the search fun, the people friendly and the results better, more creative and more delicious than anything out of the big box.

Author: Ann Knaus

Crab for Christmas: Take a little dip.

November 30, 2017 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

For food junkies like me, the Christmas holidays can best be described as a “cook-a-thon.” By the time Thanksgiving is over, I find myself frantically scouring magazines and cookbooks for special things to make throughout the season.

I make a few cookies each year but seem to always come back to the crispy gingersnaps I have made for decades and Martha Stewart’s sugar cookies laced with a touch of brandy. There’s always a standing rib roast for Christmas dinner and a fruit-studded pound cake that I soak in bourbon for days after baking. If I have time, I will make sweet almond macaroons with pine nuts (Italian pignoli cookies) and a seasonal biscotti, perhaps with cranberry and orange. Tradition usually prevails.

For almost 30 years, my family hosted a Christmas Eve open house. Although it began as a two-hour event, it eventually stretched from one in the afternoon to well into the evening. There was always lots of food: baked ham with brown sugar and cloves, turkey breast roasted with butter and maple syrup, smoked salmon with capers and red onion, Italian antipasto, cold shrimp, a variety of wraps and the ever-popular “cocktail weenies.” This latter item was very popular among the high school crowd when our sons were that age.

But the star of the show was my baked crab spread. A co-worker shared this recipe with me many years ago, and it has been a holiday “go-to” ever since. For some reason, I opted to exclude it from my open house menu one year. There were protests all around.

Whenever I serve this to guests, it is quickly eaten, and so I always double the recipe. I like that I can use a lower fat cream cheese without harming the consistency of the spread and, if there happens to be any left over, it re-heats beautifully. You can make it with backfin crab rather than the very expensive lump or jumbo lump variety, thus cutting the expense somewhat. And as Martha Stewart is fond of saying: “That’s a good thing.”

Rosemary’s crab spread can be part of your cocktail party spread at Christmas (or all winter long). But it is light enough to serve as an appetizer before dinner, as well. I hope you find many occasions to serve it throughout the holidays and beyond.

Baked Crab Meat Appetizer

Ingredients

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened (I use either the “lower fat” or regular fat.)
8 ounces fresh crab meat
3 tablespoons onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons milk (Whole milk works well, but I have often used half and half for added creaminess.)
1 teaspoon horseradish
½ teaspoon salt
Dash of freshly ground pepper
½ cup sliced (not slivered) almonds, lightly toasted.

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
Combine all ingredients except the almonds in a bowl and mix together well (I use a wooden spoon.)
Spoon mixture into an oven-proof baking dish.
Sprinkle the almonds on top and bake until bubbly, about 15 minutes.

The crab spread can be made ahead, kept in the fridge, and popped in the oven right before your guests arrive. I usually serve it with nice crackers, but it is also very good with crostini or small pumpernickel bread rounds that are available at the holidays. Sprinkle the top of the spread with a little paprika for a nice touch. And, if you like things spicy, sneak in a few red pepper flakes when mixing.

I do a fair amount of cooking over the Christmas holiday and often a lot of fretting over getting everything done. But my one constant is my crab dip. It works for almost every occasion (well, maybe not Christmas morning brunch!) And it sure beats cocktail weenies.

Buon Natale!

Author: Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

What to Bring? Our wine guy shares his notes for your holiday meal.

November 30, 2017 | by Steve Juliana

At this time of year, conversations often turn to the subject of the upcoming holiday meal.

In my family, tasks are divided between the food and the beverages. Since I don’t consider myself much of a chef, my responsibility is to bring wine that will match the dishes that my relatives create.

Therefore, I was looking for inspiration when I was invited to the Chairman’s Selection tasting this past fall. I sampled many wines and made notes that would keep me up to date when it became time to shop for the quaffs that will make our holidays a memorable occasion.

I hope you find my choices helpful and that they make the holidays brighter for you and yours.

Keep sipping,

Steve.

White Wines
Olivier Lebrin Chateau de L’Aujardiere Muscadet Sur Lie 2016, $12.99, Code #78690
France’s oyster wine with citrus flavors and long finish. Very good.

Jean Cavaille Apremont Cep Noir Vielles Vignes 2016, $17.99, Code #78702
Palate-scrubber from French Alps with citrus fruit and bright acidity. Unoaked.

Domaine V La Grange Viognier 2016, $14.99, Code #78704
Flowery example of Rhone’s great white grape. Excellent holiday table wine. For ham or shrimp.

Red Wines
Rock Point Pinot Noir 2015, $10.99, Code #78686
Savory Oregon Pinot with strawberry nose, cherry and herbs on the palate.

Montague Winery Pinot Noir Reserve 2014, $17.99, Code #78730
Nice Cali Pinot with big mid-palate fruit and a long finish. For turkey.

Z’ivo Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2012, $19.99, Code #78695
Light, easy-drinking Pinot from Oregon leaning towards Burgundy. Velvety finish.

Renato Ratti Barbera D’Alba Battaglione 2014, $11.99, Code #78678
Tasty red from Italy. Spicy and fruity. Good food wine.

Bersano Generala Barbera D’Asti Superiore Nizza 2011, $14.99, Code #78721
Well-balanced red from famous Italian village. Big mid-palate, fruity.

Babylon’s Peak Shiraz-Carignan 2015, $13.99, Code #78605
Spicy, well-layered Rhone blend by way of South Africa. Good beef wine.

Rhebokskloof Cellar Selection Flat Rock Red 2014, $12.99, Code #78606
Another South African blended red with Pinotage and French grapes. Easy-drinking.

Les Vignobles Foncalieu Latoque Reserve 2015, $10.99, Code #78715
Bordeaux meets Rhone in this rich blend from southern France. Tasty.

Domaine Les Evigneaux Rateau 2015, $14.99, Code #78727
Big, punchy Rhone red with a blend of five grapes. Good winter quaff.

Aranleon El Arbol Tempranillo 2015, $19.99, Code #78670
Rich, dark wine from one of Spain’s most well-known grapes.

Precision Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, $24.99, Code #78717
Light wine from Napa Valley. To drink now or lay down. For the grill.

Havens Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, $29.99, Code #78663
Delicious example of Napa Valley Cab that won’t break the bank. Very smooth.

Napa Valley Cattle Company Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, $29.99, Code #78738 Heavy blend of four Cabs from mountain vineyards. Best to lay down.

Havens Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District 2013, $39.99, Code #78664
Balanced Cab with cassis, blackberry and dusty tannins.

City announces date, route of 2017 holiday parade

November 6, 2017 | by Lizzy Hardison

Food trucks, music and inflatable gingerbread men are all on the agenda for this year’s holiday parade, which will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18 in downtown Harrisburg.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse announced details of the parade at a press conference this morning, which took place in city hall and featured a guest appearance by Santa Claus.

The parade will begin at noon and continue until 3 p.m., rain or shine. It will begin on Market Street then travel up 2nd Street and on to North Street. The route will continue on Front Street and conclude on City Island.

The parade will feature giant inflatables from Big Events, an international provider of parade balloons. Local marching bands and dance teams will provide entertainment, and hungry parade-goers can avail themselves of food trucks parked on Market Street.

The afternoon’s festivities will be broadcast on Channel 20. Residents who don’t want to brave the cold can join the after-party at Strawberry Square beginning at 3 p.m.

There, they can visit with Santa, enjoy holiday cookies and hot chocolate, and watch encore performances from the step teams, drill teams and marching bands that participated in the parade. PSECU will offer prize money to the best teams as picked by a panel of judges.

Visitors who drive to watch the parade can get four hours of free parking by using the promo code LUVHBG on the ParkMobile app. The Market Square garage will also offer a $10 flat rate special for parade day.

Three Ring Market: Market of Curiosities offers an odd circus of quirky holiday gifts, craft beer and live music.

October 30, 2015 | by Missy Smith

When you step inside a place called the “Market of Curiosities,” you should already know what you’re in for—anything but the ordinary.

And, indeed, the market is unlike the run-of-the-mill Christmas craft show or bazaar. Jam-packed with handmade and vintage offerings by more than 50 vendors, the market entertains holiday shoppers with quirky and unusual gift ideas.

“I want people to scratch their heads first and then realize how amazing these [non-traditional gifts] are,” said Sarah Taby, founder of the Market of Curiosities and owner of Miss Ruth’s Time Bomb vintage shop in Carlisle. “You are going to see really unique things that you wouldn’t find at most craft shows.”

Shoppers can find amusing gifts like pressed young leaves and flowers that are resin cast in metal jewelry by metalledwith; pewter accessories molded around found animal bones and teeth by Martha Rotten; small, upcycled, found-object metal robots by Robot Girl; imaginative plush animals inspired by 1950s-‘60s pop culture by Mod Sew Design; and stationery by “The Society for the Prevention of Psychic Dimming,” a printing business with a stand that at first puzzles, then delights the mind.

Shopping for inimitable gifts and getting in the holiday spirit the hipsterway requires a visit to the Market of Curiosities.

“I describe it as a three-ring circus of shopping, beer tasting and live music,” said Taby.

For Everyone
Last year, the market opened its doors for the first time and welcomed large crowds of shoppers into the historic Carlisle Ribbon Mill, which is the host site again for this year’s market.

“The space is gorgeous, and Carlisle Ribbon Mill was willing and eager to work with me,” said Taby, who estimates that she packed 1,300 people into the historic mill-turned-event facility at the inaugural market.

“It certainly exceeded my expectations,” she said. “I felt really honored that the vendors would take the risk to do this in its first year. When I do this market, I put the vendors first. If we put them first, the crowd will follow.”

With samples of local brews, indie-style music and a vendor selling mustache wax and related products, this market boasts more beards, flannel shirts and tattoos than your traditional holiday outing. This is the vibe that Taby is going for. She describes it as “an odd market for everyone.”

“I have an obsession with all things circus and sideshow, so I just wanted to honor that part of myself. I jokingly say I would love to own a circus, and I like to dress up as a lion tamer for Halloween,” explained Taby, who was bit by the vending bug in high school, when she traveled with her family’s tattoo business to conventions. After putting in some time helping with her family’s booths, she began selling her own vintage jewelry and designs at shows.

“Vending is a circus,” Taby said, laughing. “You are very much a part of that circus lifestyle, like a vagabond or a gypsy.”

On a Limb
Market-goers can even celebrate the carnival atmosphere by stepping into a photo booth to dress the part of circus performers and smile for a humorous photo to take home.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Taby. “Bring your imagination and don’t expect to know what to expect. Bring a little bit of your childhood curiosity with you.”

For attendees 21 and older, be sure to have your ID along to get a wristband at the door, which is your ticket to tastes from Leaux Dog Brewing Co., Market Cross Pub, Molly Pitcher Brewing Co. and Alibis Eatery and Spirits of Carlisle; Big Hill Ciderworks from Gardners; and Wolf Brewing Co. of Harrisburg. Sip your adult beverages as you shop to music by local bands, including Rivers and Hot Mess, and grab a lobster roll, falafel and more from food vendors.

The Market of Curiosities vendors have something to offer everyone and serve as great inspiration for Taby.

“I really love all of the vendors,” she said. “I feel passionate about their work and am very supportive of them. There are so many vendors who have other jobs, or are stay-at-home [parents] who are incredible, creative forces that do this as a side gig. I am very inspired by them.”

Hosting her market in Carlisle, where she lives and works, was just a natural choice to show off what the artistic, hip town has to offer.

“I think Carlisle is under-appreciated,” concluded Taby. “I thought we could have a cool event like one you would see in a metropolitan area. So, I went out on a limb and did it, mostly because I love Carlisle. It’s a cool place, and I wanted to show it in that way.”

The Market of Curiosities takes place Saturday, Dec. 5, 12 to 8 p.m. at Carlisle Ribbon Mill, 320 E. Louther St., Carlisle. For a full list of vendors, visit www.marketofcuriosities.com.

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