Posts about Uncategorized

Holiday Treat Recipe

Last week, we mentioned some ideas for performing acts of service for others. If you just can’t think of what to do for a friend or neighbor, we think a plate of these treats would do the trick! Make a batch for yourself, too, because we can guarantee that you’ll want a taste! This recipe from Self Proclaimed Foodie is a classic winter cookie recipe. Shaped just like the classic candy cane, these peppermint flavored treats are sure to find a way into your heart (and tummy!). INGREDIENTS 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (2 sticks) 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup powdered sugar 2 large egg yolks 2 teaspoons peppermint extract 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 12 drops red food coloring 1/2 cup decorating sugar (red, white, your choice but large crystals work best) INSTRUCTIONS —In a small bowl, combine flour and salt. Set aside. —In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes. Scrape the sides, add the granulated sugar and powdered sugar and continue to beat until very light in color and fluffy, another 2-3 minutes. Scrape sides again and add the egg yolks, peppermint extract and vanilla , beat on low speed until well combined. —With the mixer running on low speed, spoon in the flour and salt mixture until all of the dry ingredients have been added and fully combine. Do not over mix. —At this point, remove half of the dough and place on a sheet of plastic wrap. If you're a perfectionist, you should have about 28 ounces total, so you'd want to take out about 14 ounces of the dough. Add food coloring to remaining dough in bowl and mix just until the color has evenly blended in. Add the red dough to a separate piece of plastic wrap. —Shape both dough balls into a square that's about 5-6 inches in length. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight (or longer if you're making them ahead of time). —Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper or a silpat. —Roll each dough to a 9x9 inch square, then stack them on one another and roll to seal them together. Cut the dough down the center and refrigerate both halves. After the dough has chilled a bit, after maybe 15 minutes, take out one of the halves and start cutting short strips that are about 1/4 inch thick. Roll each strip to lengthen and slightly twist at the same time. Roll in decorating sugar and then lay out on baking sheet in the shape of a candy cane. —Bake until just slightly brown on the bottoms, 13 to 15 minutes. Rotate your baking sheet half way though if your oven doesn't bake evenly. Remove from oven and allow to cool on sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Continue baking process with remaining dough, keeping it cool until ready to bake (otherwise your cookies expand too much). —Store in airtight container and segregate from other cookies as the peppermint flavor will transfer Head to the site here for a step-by step guide on how to make them look just like candy canes! As mentioned previously, this is a great recipe to make and bring to friends or someone who might just need a little pick-me-up. Remember to drop some off for your friends in Fife, WA once you’re done baking these delicious treats!

Acts of Kindness

It’s a busy time of year with plans and decorating and packing and traveling and parties. Taking time out of your day to help another person might feel like a burden, but we’re certain you’ll feel the holiday spirit as you help others. You don’t have to go out of your way and plan a meal for your neighbors or rake all the leaves from someone’s driveway. At Port Landing at Fife, we’re all about those small acts of kindness that leave a big impression. As you look for little ways to help others, you’ll help them have a great day and feel the holiday spirit, too! It’s a chain reaction, and it’s what the holidays are really about. From Barefoot on 45th we found a great list of ideas that will certainly get you thinking. Some of her ideas are: — Online donation to zoo for an artificial tree for a panda — Assemble homeless bags and put in our cars to give out a later time. — Give coupons out to customers waiting to make their purchase at Michaels — Donate children’s pajamas at sleep train for foster children — Buy dog toys to donate from the humane society wish list — Feed parking meters that are close to expiration These little acts of service are a great way to brighten someone’s day. These obviously aren’t just for the holidays, consider serving others at any time of the year. Doing these acts anonymously is a fun way to secretly serve others. But if you do get caught, and the receiver attempts to “pay you back” ask them to pay it forward! This is the notion that service is a ripple effect and can help more than just those involved in the original action. Let us know about your favorite organizations to volunteer with in Fife, WA in the comments.

Holiday Events

Heading out to a local event is a great way to get to know your community. Holiday events are held annually and make great traditions for years to come! There are plenty of events for all ages and interests in the Tacoma area. Don’t forget to dress warm for outdoor events. The Fife Community Center is holding a tree lighting this year. The website says, “ Santa trades in his sleigh for a fire truck! Come celebrate the season with the Mayor and Santa as they use some holiday magic to light up the trees outside of City hall.” The Holiday Tree Lighting with Santa will take place on December 6th. The City of Fife site mentions “Come celebrate the season with the Mayor and Santa as they use some holiday magic to light up the trees outside of City hall.” This event will be at Fife City Hall from 6:00 pm -7:00 pm. The City of Fife is putting on a performance of the Nutcracker this year. The website says, “This classical ballet is full of enchantment where toy soldiers fight rat armies, snowflakes come dancing to life, and the sugarplum fairy presides over it all. The enduring magic of Children’s Dance Theater’s production of The Nutcracker sets the season a-sparkle, creating memories your family will cherish forever. For more information call 253-887-8937.” Purchase tickets here . Of course, there are plenty of other events coming to Fife this year; this is just a sampling of the events coming to the area. Fife has a close knit community and puts a premium on cultural events for its citizens to enjoy. Let us know about any community events we’ve missed. What events are you planning on attending this month? Leave the details and let us know in the comments. Happy holidays and thanks for reading the Port Landing at Fife blog!

Keeping Your Home Safe and Sound

Last week we gave some tips on how to stay safe while traveling away from Fife, including keeping your belongings secure and in sight at all times. This week we want to focus on your precious possessions which are back at home. As you prepare your suitcase for your trip, prepare your home as well. Before leaving, take these precautions so you won’t have to stress: — Empty the fridge of any foods that may spoil or mold while you are gone. You do not want to be greeted with rotten milk when you come home. — Think ahead for when you return from your trip; most likely you’ll have work or school or other responsibilities the next day, so do what you can to make things easier for yourself. — Making your bed can kind of be a pain, but there is nothing nicer than returning home to a neat and tidy bedroom. — Make sure you’ll have something clean to wear when you get home that way you won’t be stuck doing laundry and you can rest after your trip. —Keeping your toiletries in one bag can be helpful not just while traveling, but upon return as well. You will simply have to take that bag into your bathroom and can avoid searching for your shampoo or toothbrush. —Pay attention to security issues. Lock up valuables while you are gone. Arrange for a trusted friend to water plants or check on pets while you are away. Close and lock all windows. Putting lights on a timer may be helpful as well if you choose to do so. Don’t let mail or packages pile up if you don’t want people to know you are gone. Lock your car if you are leaving it and remove valuables from there as well. We hope these tips are helpful to you as we head into the holidays. Stay safe and Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks for reading the Port Landing at Fife blog!

Staying Safe While Traveling

Whether you live alone or have roommates, leaving for an extended period of time can bring up unexpected issues. If you don’t leave your home in good condition, you could come back to a few — surprises and not in a good way. Here at Port Landing at Fife, we want to ensure your safe return to a home that is in order and just the way you left it. In order to stay safe while you are gone, we recommend these tips from Smart Savvy Living . — Out of sight, out of mind, and easy to snag. We all like to think we’d realize it if someone was trying to steal our wallet or device right out of our pocket. However, these sorts of thieves are often rather skilled and know what to look for and how to execute their plan. That’s why I always keep important things like my phone, money, and ID or small important bags in my view and preferably close to my body. I know some people will even put an empty wallet or pre-paid card with no balance in sight in their pockets so it would get swiped first versus the real deal they want to keep safe. — Being aware of your surroundings is important for several reasons. First, sometimes you just get a bad feeling about an area. I always say trust your instincts and if you don’t feel comfortable or something feels off, keep going to your next destination. Having an up-to-date map or guide whether physical or digital is also important so you know where important things are like hospitals, your hotel, banks, and embassies are in case you need them. It’s also good to know where you have been so that if you do lose something (or just want to go back to revisit something) you know where to look. These are some steps you can take while you are gone, in order to stay safe. Stay tuned for next week’s post when we give you some tips on how to keep your home in order while you’re away.

Hosting Holiday Guests

Holiday time is upon us! For some of us this means traveling to see loved ones, or we get to host our loved ones under our own roof. This can definitely bring on some added stress during this season. But you don’t have to feel like you’re running the Ritz-Carlton, adding a few simple luxuries and necessities to your space can help your guests feel right at home! Think about what things you would be delighted to find upon your arrival and add those simple items. Our first step is to check with guests to figure out just what they are expecting. How long will they be staying? Are they expecting meals? Will they need to be dropped off at the airport? Figure out the parameters of their trip so you can plan accordingly and hopefully avoid any surprises. Before your guests arrive plan to do a thorough cleaning, paying special attention to bathrooms and bedrooms; clear the clutter so your guests can feel at home. This article from Cottage in the Oaks has some simple tips for hosting loved ones. The author puts her suggestions this way, “I want our home to be a wonderful experience for anyone that stays here…I know I have had some not so pleasant experiences as a guest. You know when you have been anticipated….and it makes all the difference in the world. There are a few places that I know I will not visit ever again. Regardless of what anyone may say….there was no ‘welcome’ or ‘so glad you are here’ atmosphere. I would never want anyone feeling that way after staying here at our cottage…so, I’ve put together a few things that I think help to create a welcoming and gracious atmosphere for guests.” Visit her page and check out the ideas she shares. Thanks for reading the Port Landing at Fife blog!