< PreviousChristmas in Cayman 28 FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2022 Hosting a holiday party, minus the stress The days leading up to the holidays tend to be among the busiest of the year, with lots of celebrations taking place over a few short weeks. If you are hosting a holiday celebration of your own, you are not alone. Many spend time and money on entertaining in December which can quickly get expensive and stressful. That said, it’s important not to let your party planning overwhelm you. Preparing for a holiday bash does not have to be a nightmare if you can enlist help for some of the busy work and outsource some of the key elements. Consider the following ideas for bringing friends and family together this year without having to micromanage either your budget or the logistical details. BYOPAIR-OF-HANDS Enlist a crew of friends and family members to help with the pre-cleaning, prep, cooking, bartending and final clean-up. Many hands make light work, and working toward a common goal can be a fun part of the gathering itself (remind your volunteers of that fact). RENT, DON’T BUY Instead of investing in your own serving ware and glassware, simply head to your nearest party rental store and check off all your needed supplies. The result will be far more elegant than opting for disposable paper products, and you need not worry about how and where you will store all those pieces afterward. Best of all, they will just pick them up, saving you on all that cleaning. SAVE THE FURNISHINGS Worried that your limited furniture collection will not allow guests to fully relax? Instead of buying something new, think about renting some of the fun, comfortable and design-forward seating groups now available for rental. Today’s options go way beyond traditional folding chairs to encompass cocktail tables, rugs, lighting elements, bars and fully configurable sectionals and lounges, many of which can be used inside or out. If you’ve got the money to spend, such items can really transform a garden. PARTYBOOTH IT To take your party theme a step further, consider the fun of renting or creating a full-sized backdrop that sets the stage while providing a prime selfie opportunity for your guests. Alternatively, hire a party booth that provides accessories and will give you printed copies as well as digital versions of all the fun photos taken throughout the night. CATERING IS KEY Hire a local caterer for your refreshments, or just contract for an attention-grabbing main course. Keep it simple with a traditional meal or opt for a local specialty. Getting a party catered could be the best thing you’ve ever done and believe it or not, it could be cheaper than cooking yourself. Most tend to over-buy for a party, resulting in big bills and presenting the difficulty of too many leftovers to store. Once you give your caterer the number of attendees, their experience will know how much stock to buy. CREATE A PLAYLIST Simplify the entertainment and/or dance music by creating a party playlist on your smartphone ahead of time, then hooking it up to your own speakers. With the internet easily at hand, you can even just use YouTube, which has lounge mixes and the like available. (Do not use an Amazon Echo, or everyone will be yelling out “ALEXA, PLAY… ” requests all night long.) HEAD ON OUT Finally, do not discount the idea of holding your party at a restaurant or rented event venue. That saves you from time-consuming preparations and cleanup, shifts the liability elsewhere and lets guests come and go at their discretion. With some few tips and tricks up your sleeve, you can host a holiday event that you will actually enjoy yourself. Isn’t that the greatest gift of all?Christmas in Cayman 28 FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2022 Hosting a holiday party, minus the stress The days leading up to the holidays tend to be among the busiest of the year, with lots of celebrations taking place over a few short weeks. If you are hosting a holiday celebration of your own, you are not alone. Many spend time and money on entertaining in December which can quickly get expensive and stressful. That said, it’s important not to let your party planning overwhelm you. Preparing for a holiday bash does not have to be a nightmare if you can enlist help for some of the busy work and outsource some of the key elements. Consider the following ideas for bringing friends and family together this year without having to micromanage either your budget or the logistical details. BYOPAIR-OF-HANDS Enlist a crew of friends and family members to help with the pre-cleaning, prep, cooking, bartending and final clean-up. Many hands make light work, and working toward a common goal can be a fun part of the gathering itself (remind your volunteers of that fact). RENT, DON’T BUY Instead of investing in your own serving ware and glassware, simply head to your nearest party rental store and check off all your needed supplies. The result will be far more elegant than opting for disposable paper products, and you need not worry about how and where you will store all those pieces afterward. Best of all, they will just pick them up, saving you on all that cleaning. SAVE THE FURNISHINGS Worried that your limited furniture collection will not allow guests to fully relax? Instead of buying something new, think about renting some of the fun, comfortable and design-forward seating groups now available for rental. Today’s options go way beyond traditional folding chairs to encompass cocktail tables, rugs, lighting elements, bars and fully configurable sectionals and lounges, many of which can be used inside or out. If you’ve got the money to spend, such items can really transform a garden. PARTYBOOTH IT To take your party theme a step further, consider the fun of renting or creating a full-sized backdrop that sets the stage while providing a prime selfie opportunity for your guests. Alternatively, hire a party booth that provides accessories and will give you printed copies as well as digital versions of all the fun photos taken throughout the night. CATERING IS KEY Hire a local caterer for your refreshments, or just contract for an attention-grabbing main course. Keep it simple with a traditional meal or opt for a local specialty. Getting a party catered could be the best thing you’ve ever done and believe it or not, it could be cheaper than cooking yourself. Most tend to over-buy for a party, resulting in big bills and presenting the difficulty of too many leftovers to store. Once you give your caterer the number of attendees, their experience will know how much stock to buy. CREATE A PLAYLIST Simplify the entertainment and/or dance music by creating a party playlist on your smartphone ahead of time, then hooking it up to your own speakers. With the internet easily at hand, you can even just use YouTube, which has lounge mixes and the like available. (Do not use an Amazon Echo, or everyone will be yelling out “ALEXA, PLAY… ” requests all night long.) HEAD ON OUT Finally, do not discount the idea of holding your party at a restaurant or rented event venue. That saves you from time-consuming preparations and cleanup, shifts the liability elsewhere and lets guests come and go at their discretion. With some few tips and tricks up your sleeve, you can host a holiday event that you will actually enjoy yourself. Isn’t that the greatest gift of all? Christmas in Cayman 29 FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2022 FINGERS CROSSED FOR A NORMAL 2023 Happy New Year WWW.COMPASSMEDIA.KY you ayou a Wishing Happy New Year Wishing Merry Christmas Happy New YearHappy New Year andChristmas in Cayman 30 FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2022 Sorrel: A taste of Caribbean Christmas Sorrel is as much a part of the traditional Cayman Christmas as sand yards and heavy cake. With its ruby red fruit reaching prime ripeness in November-December, many will already be stocking up at the farmers’ market and making their own refreshing festive beverage. The name sorrel originates from the French for ‘sour’, due to the plant’s characteristic acidity and lemon flavour. It is a species of the hibiscus family and, while there are several different types grown in the region, the deep red fruit of the roselle is the most common variety found on-island. The drink is prepared by steeping the outer skin of the fruit (the ‘sepals’) in hot water, which produces a rich, red liquid. Fresh or dried sorrel can be used. Sweeteners and spices are then added according to taste, along with an optional dash of rum – this helps preserve the drink, not to mention adding a little festive cheer. The drink is served chilled. Cayman shares this Christmas tradition with neighbours such as Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat and Dominica, each of which puts its own subtle twists on the basic recipe. Cinnamon, cloves and bay leaves are usually added in Trinidad and Tobago, for example, while the Jamaicans opt to perk up the flavour with fiery ginger. Follow the custom this year by welcoming guests to your home with a chilled glass of sorrel accompanied by a hearty slice of fruit cake. Christmas sorrel recipe Makes 1 quart INGREDIENTS 1 cup sorrel 2 whole cloves 1 cinnamon stick 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated ½ cup light brown sugar 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice Rum to taste DIRECTIONS 1. In a large saucepan or heatproof bowl, combine sorrel flowers, spices and sugar. Pour over 4 cups boiling water. 2. Cover the container and set aside until cool, then transfer it to the refrigerator and leave to steep for two days. 3. Strain through a fine sieve or cheesecloth. Add rum and fresh lime juice to taste. Stir well. 1. Serve over ice, with slices of fresh citrus fruit if desired. Nutrient rich Aside from its edible uses, sorrel is packed with nutrients – including vitamin C, calcium and vitamins B2 and B3 – and offers several medicinal benefits. Long before the term ‘superfood’ was termed, traditional healers were prescribing roselle as a fever relief, mild laxative or as treatment for cardiac and nervous ailments. Christmas in Cayman 31 FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2022 SEASONING BLEND 8 cloves fresh garlic 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 2 large sprigs fresh thyme 4 large scallions, white and green parts 1/2 seeded Scotch bonnet pepper or 3 mutton peppers, including seeds 4 seasoning peppers 1 teaspoon table salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon Pickapeppa Sauce FOR THE BEEF 4-1/2-pound boneless rump roast or sirloin tip roast 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon table salt 1 tablespoon Garlic & Herb Mrs. Dash seasoning blend 1-1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper 2 teaspoons browning or Kitchen Bouquet 1 large onion, chopped 3 seasoning peppers, chopped, including seeds Beef broth (as needed) DIRECTIONS Rinse the beef in cold water and vinegar and pat dry. Trim off any thick sections of excess fat, but leave a nice layer on one side. Pierce beef all over with a sharp knife, making cuts deep enough to hold seasoning. Combine the garlic, thyme scallions and peppers in a small chopper or food processor and chop fine or chop by hand. Use a rubber spatula to scrape this into a small bowl. Add the salt, ground pepper and Worcestershire sauce and Pickapeppa sauce and mix well. Before you begin seasoning the meat, put on disposable vinyl gloves if you have them – the hot pepper will irritate your skin. If you don’t use gloves, then remember to wash your hands immediately after handling the beef, for sanitary reasons as well. Put the meat on a platter, and using your fingertips, stuff some seasoning into each cut in the beef. This takes time to do properly, and be sure to push the seasoning in deep enough so the flavours will penetrate the meat. Spread any remaining rub over the surface, top and bottom and ends. Cover the beef tightly with plastic wrap (not foil). Refrigerate overnight, or even better, a day or two. When ready to cook the meat, remove roast from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove wrap and heat oil in Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium high heat until hot. Place the beef in the hot oil and use a large, heavy fork to turn meat, browning well on all sides, turning as each side browns. Turn off the heat and remove the roast from the pot to a clean platter and sprinkle with Worcestershire sauce, salt, Mrs. Dash and pepper. Now sprinkle the browning and smooth evenly with a knife over the roast. Preheat oven to 325 F. Add the onion and carrots to the pot, stirring so any browned bits stuck to the bottom are loosened and mixed with the vegetables. Return the roast to the pot and heat over medium high heat for 3 minutes until vegetables being to soften. Add the broth, to make a half inch, and stir again – I throw in a few more sliced seasoning peppers, too. Cover beef and bake about 2-1/2 hours. The vegetables and broth should provide enough cooking liquid (and gravy base). However, you should check the roast from time to time to make sure it isn’t drying out, and turn it as well. This is very important if you aren’t sure of your exact oven temperature. Add a little more broth if necessary. Remove cover during the last 30 minutes of roasting. Beef is done when you can pierce easily with a fork – some prefer even ‘falling apart’ for shredding. Remove from heat and transfer the roast to a serving platter. Cover with aluminium foil and let stand for 20 minutes before carving. Make gravy if desired from the cooking liquid or taste. Adjust seasonings if desired, and spoon over beef as is. Cleo states: “After you go through all the work of browning the beef, you can also cook this recipe in a 6-quart crock pot or slow cooker for 12 hours on low, or 5-1/2 to 6 hours on high and walk away for the day. It won’t have as nice a crust, but it will still be delicious.” Christmas beef: A Caymanian tradition A traditional Cayman Christmas spread would not be complete without Christmas beef. In days gone by, with beef being so expensive, Christmas was the only time many would indulge in this treat. Slow cooked until succulent and moist, Christmas beef was, and still is, a festive favourite for many in Cayman. If you are tempted to try it out, follow this recipe from ‘Miss Cleo’s Cayman Kitchen: Treasured Recipes from East End.’ Christmas in Cayman 32 FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2022 How to keep the flame aglow all season long There is actually a proper way to burn a candle. And there are ways to make them last longer. Here are some tips to help keep the flame aglow: DON’T BURN A NEW CANDLE FOR ONLY A FEW MINUTES. The first time you burn a container candle, you should allow it to form a complete pool of melted wax across the surface of its container, from rim to rim. This is because wax has a memory, and on subsequent lightings, the wax pool will struggle to go beyond the circumference of the previous burn. The candle will most likely tunnel down into the wax from then on. The wick will sink deeper and deeper into the candle, and the wax on the sides will never burn, shortening the life of your candle. KEEP WICKS TRIMMED. A trimmed wick will give you a nice bright flame. A long or a crooked wick can result in uneven burning, which can lead to bursts of high flames or smoking. Wicks should be about one-fourth- inch high for best burning; don’t trim them lower than that. Wait for the candle to cool 100% and turn it upside down. Take off the charred part with a tissue, and your wick will be good to light. AVOID PUTTING BURNING CANDLES IN THE PATH OF VENTS, FANS OR DRAFTS. Currents of air can cause candles to burn unevenly or produce excessive smoke or soot that can leave messy black stains on your container. If a wick becomes too long or an air current disturbs the flame’s teardrop shape, small amounts of unburned carbon particles can escape. KEEP THE WAX POOL CLEAR OF ANY DEBRIS. Don’t mess up the candle pool with pieces of cut- off or charred wicks or used matches. Introducing debris into the wax will interfere with the chemistry of the candle and may cause it to burn unevenly. This could clog the wick and prevent it from drawing up the fragrance oil and diffusing the scent. LET A CANDLE COMPLETELY COOL BEFORE LIGHTING AGAIN. A candle in a container takes about two hours to completely cool down, but it’s worth the wait both for safety and function. It’s much safer to trim the wick when the wax pool has hardened. A hot pool of melted wax can burn your fingers if you dive in for a wick before it’s cooled and solidified. NEVER LEAVE UNATTENDED. The main rule of enjoying candles is to never leave a burning candle unattended. WIN & GIVE! WIN $10K OF FREE GROCERIES WITH FOSTER’S! PURCHASE ANY 2 SPECIALLY MARKED PRODUCTS TO BE ENTERED TO WIN. DECEMBER 1-24 LOOK OUT FOR THESE IN STORE. FOSTERS.KY/TWICEASNICE E s t . 1982 i n C AY M A N ~ 40 YE AR SANNIVERS AR Y ~ 40 WIN BIG! Win large meals, desserts, BK merch, and the KING OF PRIZES: 10 x $1982 CASH TO BE WON! Purchase any item over $4.00 and receive your scratch & win card. Celebrate our 40th for 40 days and win big! over $40,000 worth of prizes Celebrate with us from 23rd December 2022 - 1st of February T&Cs apply. Purchases over $4 will receive one scratch and win card per transaction. While stocks last. Available on all purchases over $4 from the 23rd of December 2022 - 1st of February 2023 at all Cayman locations. Valid until 23rd December 2023. Can not be redeemed with the same transaction.CHRISTMAS CAYMAN 20 22 A Mission to Heal, a Passion for Being the Best. MIAMI-FORT LAUDERDALE METRO 2022-23 RECOGNIZED IN 8 TYPES OF CARE Contact us to schedule an appointment Call 954-542-1350 | email: globalservices@holy-cross.com 4725 North Federal Highway | Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308 Since 1955, Holy Cross Health has taken pride in its ability to combine quality medical care and advanced technology with sincere compassion and understanding. With a Joint Commission Certified Stroke Program and Advanced Heart Failure Program, Holy Cross Health also is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Regional Hospital. Holy Cross is a 557-bed acute care hospital offering progressive services and programs to meet the region’s evolving healthcare needs.Next >