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As our bubble bursts and we all settle in for a couple of quiet weeks at home, it's a great time to check more holiday to-do's off your list. Stuck wondering what to give for gifts? Scroll down for the hot gifts this season - and they're not from big brands. Start your holiday baking with the classic fudge and shortbread recipes below. Hit the reset button and spend more quality time with your loved ones, maybe watch a Hallmark Christmas movie or two.
Take some time to really enjoy being with the people you love ❤️
Jill, SaltWire Audience Team
Weekend weather
Two fast-moving weather systems will race across the region over the next 72 hours. The leading edge of the first area of low pressure will produce flurries, followed by showers. The next one will bring rain and a mild south wind, but it's November - so the mild weather is not going to linger. Get Cindy's latest forecast here.
Bake now, enjoy later
There's no need to stress about holiday baking! Enjoy time with your family and get a head start on your holiday baking.
Sydney, N.S., baker Emma Donahue is here to give you her tips and tricks for frosting your tasty creations, and what to bake now and freeze for later so you have delicious fresh cookies at the ready.
To top it all off, we're also sharing a recipe for the classic shortbread with buttercream frosting.
Oh fudge!
Holiday fudge is an East Coast tradition and a fan favourite at markets and craft fairs, usually made with milk, butter, sugar and additions like chocolate, nuts, fruits and other creative flavour additions.
What might come as a surprise to you, is you can even make fudge with potatoes! Meet Tricia McLean Ettinger, owner of Oh Fudge! in Souris, P.E.I. The resulting treat is lower in calories compared to traditional fudge but tastes just as great without any grittiness, it simply melts in your mouth. While we can't share Ettinger's secret recipe with you, we haven't left you hanging. Click for Rae Sawler's family fudge recipe which has been handed down for generations.
You won't be disappointed!
Creating holiday feels
We're all spending more time in our homes this year, so why not go all out decorating inside to embrace that warm, holiday feeling? Whether you're looking for glitz and glam, bright pops of colour, natural elements like real greenery and wood, or a traditional nostalgic feel, we have plenty of ideas for updating your holiday decor.
The hot items this year? Tree collars, layering garlands and flocked artificial trees.
A holiday reset
If 2020 has taught us anything, let it be the importance of spending time with family and friends, giving back to our communities and really getting back to the true meaning of the holiday season.
I personally relate to Labrador native Darryl Dinn, who realized years ago the spirit of the season was lost in the bustle of the commercialization of the holiday season. Late nights wrapping last-minute gifts, scouring brightly lit stores jammed with people frantically trying to find the perfect gift. It's time for a reset
. Find out how Dinn and his family created a minimal Christmas with maximum joy.
Better than socks
What's the hot gift this year? Anything locally made, experiences and gifts that support our communities.
For Justin Barbour — an adventurer, author, filmmaker, and public speaker — having a memorable experience tops his Christmas list, and he'll be spending Christmas Eve in the wilderness in an 8x10 canvas tent with his fiancée and their two dogs, with a few thoughtful gifts exchanged between themselves.
Cailin O'Neil prefers to give experience gifts and is planning more adjustable ones this year, not knowing when activities and events will be back up and running. She's turning to local restaurant gift cards, allowing the recipient the flexibility of dining in (if available), or taking their order to go.
Stephanie McQuaid, travel writer and photographer, started shopping early and supporting local businesses, and is in love with "P.E.I. in a box" by Experience P.E.I., a carefully-curated box filled with Island favourites.
Local reads
Folklorist Dale Jarvis has written many books over the years, including, Any Mummers 'Lowed In?: Christmas Mummering Traditions in Newfoundland and Labrador. A passionate promoter of Newfoundland culture, Jarvis took the time to answer questions about mummering and other Christmas traditions in this recent Q&A article, explaining everything you you need to know about the mysterious visitors disguised in costumes.
Thanks for reading!
