D4 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 4, 2002 Pomegranates: An elegant and colorful addition to festive holiday decorations (NASPA)-If you're searching for a fast and fabulous centerpiece idea or a hom em ade holiday gift from the heart, consider som ething innovative this year-the pom egranate. Because of its deep red coloring and extralarge size, the w onderful variety of pom egranate can be used as a festive addition to any holiday decoration. Pom egranates are easy to work with and make a dram atic statement in any centerpiece. Here are some basic tips for how to decorate with pom egranates and step-by-step instructions for a classic candle ring: Enhance the color and textured surface of pom egranates by applying a light coat o f cooking oil to the sur face. Rem ove excess with a paper towel. B uff the surface till it shines! Or, if you prefer extra sparkle w ithout losing the rich burgundy-red color, dust the untreated surface of the pom egranate w ith an aerosol spray glitter, available at craft stores. The fine glitter adds a bit o f sheen to the surface and dresses up the fruit for the holidays. If you can't find the spray in craft stores, try glitter hairspray from the beauty supply store. 1%. ·%. *r'¥: (Note: Don't try this if you have already shined the surface o f the fruit. It w on't adhere to a shiny surface.) C lassic C an d le C en terp iece 1. Fill the bottom half o f a pretty pedestal bowl with floral foam. 2. Insert 2 or 3 candles in the cen ter, close, but not touching each other. 3. Use ivy or garland to surround the candles and cover the foam. 4. N estle in fresh pom egranates (on skewers)* and roses. 5. Decorate w ith smaller, natural items such as nuts, pinecones, holly and ribbons. To secure pom egranates in a formal arrangem ent, insert two 6 inch bamboo skewers at least 1 inch deep into the fruit. Space the insertions about 1 inch apart. Then place the skewers into the floral foam to hold them securely. Using two skewers instead o f one will better support the w eight o f the fruit and prevent it from turning in the design. The deep red color and versatility o f the pom egranate helps make this classic candle ring a quick and easy holiday centerpiece or a great gift. Cheers for festive beverage ideas (N C )-N o th in g m akes- a h o lid a y p a rty m o re m em o r a b le th a n a d d in g s p e c ia l Itouches th a t m ak e y o u r ;guests feel w elco m e in y o u r hom e d u rin g th e c e le b ra to ry seaso n . B ut rarely d o we th ink o f th e b a r as a p lace w h e re a few d e ta ils c a n m ake e v e ry o n e feel m ore festiv e. H e r e 's a few id e a s to sp read som e h o lid ay cheer: F irs t a n d fo re m o s t, d o n 't n e g le c t the b a r area w hen d e co ra tin g the house. W h e th er it be c a n d le s, fresh b o u g h s o r sim p ly a w reath, m ake the b ar a fo cal p o in t o f the room by a d d in g som e h o lid ay ap p eal an d colour. G u e sts w ill be d raw n to the b ar upon th e ir arriv al and the atm o sp h e re o f e v ery o n e m illin g a b o u t w ill k eep the p arty festiv e. D e p e n d in g on the b e v e ra g e s you are serv in g , fill sh o rt g la sse s w ith p e p p e r m in t stic k s, ca n d y c a n e s, c in n a m o n stick s an d c h o c o la te d ip p e d s p o o n s and p lace on the bar. N ot only w ill they add co lo u r, but g u ests w ill love the idea o f ad d in g th em to th e ir drinks fo r fla v o u r. C h o c o la te d ip p ed sp o o n s are a g reat a c c o m p a n im e n t to fla v o u re d o r re g u la r coffees a n d c in n a m o n s tic k s go w ell w ith rum and eggnog, m u lle d w in e a n d ap p le cider. S erv e a c o lo u rfu l sp ir it lik e R em y R ed as a " h o u se s p e c ia lty " . T h is b le n d of re d b e rrie s , o rc h a rd f r u it a n d R em y M a rtin F in e C h a m p a g n e C o g n a c is v ib ra n t re d in co lo u r, p e rfe c t fo r p u ttin g e v e ry o n e in th e h o lid a y sp irit. A d d in g to its appeal, R em y R ed is in c re d ib ly v e r s a tile an d c a n b e m ix e d w ith to n ic , so d a , ju ic e , c h am p ag n e o r en jo y e d all on its o w n o v e r ice. C hill b e fo re se rv in g an d re frig e r ate a fte r open in g . T he p ro d u c t is so ld at y o u r lo c al LC B O in a 750 m L (24oz.) b o ttle that re tails fo r $24.95 o r a 200 m L " sa m p ler size" w hich re ta ils fo r $7.95. O th e r g re a t h o lid a y g a rn ish e s in c lu d e le m o n and o ran g e rin d s cu rled fo r effect and m arasch in o c h e r ries on a to o th p ick o r sm all skew er. G u ests also enjoy the look o f a glass rim m ed w ith a lig h t d u stin g o f sugar. F o r m axim um h o li day appeal, use lefto v er red o r g re e n su g a r sp rin k le s fro m d eco ratin g sh o rtb read an d rim g la sse s w ith it. Sim ply run lem on, lim e o r o ran g e rin d aro u n d the glass and then dip in su g ar or sp rin k les. T h ese sim ple b u t e ffe c tiv e g arn ish es and b ev erage id e as w ill add flare to yo u r h o lid a y g e t to g eth e r. Try them and yo u r g u ests w ill no d o u b t re m em b er a tte n d ing yo u r festiv e fete. Nottinghill Co-operative Preschool Limited Space available in January 3 afternoon program 1469 Nottinghill Gate (Glen Abbey U nited Church) N ottinghill Gate & U pper M iddle 9 0 5 -8 2 7 -1 4 4 2 O P E N H O U SE /R E G IST R A T IO N 2 0 0 3 / 2 0 0 4 S c h o o l Year. F eb ru ary 8 , 2 0 0 3 ...for yourself why we have been voted the #1 Italian Restaurant in Oakville again this year. Enjoy... an authentic Italian experience in V £ a C 0 S ! f l a t,a is s e C b /e fo a tiz ig r / £ of SG rviC G in tjxe; C £TA C o rp o ra te / S o c ia l C a te rin g one o f Oakville's oldest casual fine dining establishments, tucked away in th ^ e p r t ot downtown Oakville. 5 > ® t w 6 ozSbnm p " ` Hours: Mon. - Fri Lunch 1 2 - 2 pm Mon. - Thu. dinner 5 - 9 3 0 pm Fri. & Sat. dinner 5 - 1 0 pm · Closed Sundays SpecialE vent and fb r ty Planning Theme P arties Intim ate D inners to Lavish (gatherings C atering to (groups o f` 5 to 5 0 0 C&ZIn o w fo book y o u r ffoH d& y P&r&eis 2 2 Crab daNNS Ca\aman Book Now For Holiday Gatherings \ oz3 S \ ox. ScaWops M u s s e ls \Nh\te f«*' Pinch Pinch p\nch Pinch pinch . pinch p luttennefenne' luUenne Leeks Satfron G a f' ' C 0 Redi O n io n s ju V ie n n e R e a & Peppef fate . G a lle ria 151 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville VS °^d 6 a S 1 tb p' . \ tb s p - pars\ev (together) P e rn o d Tarragon S inful Pleasures C atering (905) 2 5 7 -0 4 4 8 905-845-7731 sp W h it e w n e ^ k e d . C heck fo r 5 c j/ite {-Tlestaurant <&^/ptagfae w ith M ajestic W ine C ellars fn vtte y e a tv a ruftftpMK h ed & i&QfU TONIGHT at 730pan. Antipasto A medleyofthree Italian antipasti arranged ona exquisite platter Prosciutto, ponwdoro & mozzarella, Italian cocktail shrimps, and Insalata di Mare Elite style. Frascati La Musa Superior^ (Lathim) A favourite since the Roman empire this wine is produced in an area jost south ofRome from a biend of TVebbiano and Malvaaa grapes. Straw colour with a delicate pleasant bouquet and a fine fruity nose. Flavour is dry and elegant. First Course TwoManicotti stuffed with ricotta cheese, porcini mushrooms and spinach covered in a delicate tomato sauce. Sangiovese del Palio (Emilia Romagna) Made with 100% Sangiovese grapes. Rich, supple and full-bodied with a pleasant ruby colourand bouquetofwild berries. Serves as an all round red wine. Second Course Roasted Veal Roll in a demi glaze with diced mixed vegetables CenfAre Nero d'Avola (Sicily) Made with Nero d' Avola and blended with 15% CabernetSauvignon. Colour is ruby red. Richly flavoured with ripe fruit notes,balanced & generous with a refined and velvety taste. Jh ee x p e rie n c emil b ete m p o ra ry hi fh em e m o rie su fitt fa s i fo re v e r La C osta takes p rid e in be in g able to offer th e "to ta l" d in in g expe rience . Th e w a rm M editerranean d e co r and th em e, featured at all o f La C o sta 's lo ca tio n s , give s th e patro n the feeling o f d in in g at a seaside cafe. La C o s ta 's m enu, inspire d by the M editerranean, is u niq ue in that it features sm all and la rge p o rtio n s . C o m p le m e n tin g the food is an e x c itin g and e xte nsive w ine list e n co m p a ss in g b o th the fam iliar and new ly discovered from aro u n d the w o rld . Dessert lemonice cream drizzled with wild berries. Passito di Pantelleria (Sicily) Made from the Moscato diAlessandria grapes on the island ofPantelleria. Amberyellow colourwith a complexand elegant style and a bouquet reminiscentofdried fruit & apricots. \J % J p er person (taxes and gratuities extra) $acp 9 www.elitsrestowrant.CQm 407 Speers Road, #4, Oakville 905-815-9689 Oakville 905.339.0227 2273 Royal Windsor Drive Burlington 905.634.7421 421 Brant Street ujuiui.lacosta.ca ler Locations include; London. Hamilton. Kitchener 8 Barrie 4