Christmas Shipping Deadlines Begin Today!

The last day to send First Class through USPS is today.

Want to mail something out from Westfield in time for Christmas? The time to hit the post office is now! FedEx is offering a variety of shipping options throughout the week, and on Sunday, Dec. 25, is offering FedEx Same Day shipping. USPS also recommends using its Web site to print shipping labels and pay for postage or using one of their  Automated Postal Centers, which, like ATMs, perform many of the same  functions of a trip to the post office. And if you want to overnight something by Thursday, USPS Express Mail may cost a little more, but it may also get your gift to the right door at the right time.

• Photos (1)

Holiday Gifts for Him

The fourth installment of the Patch 2011 Holiday Gift Guide reminds you that he's looking for something spirited, classy or sporty this year. So check out our holiday gift guide for all the important guys in your life.

Not sure what to get your dad, brother or son this year? Don't worry, Patch has you covered. Check out our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide for Him that features Union County artisans and retailers with all your holiday gift needs. For the Wino   For the Spirited   For the Golfer   For the Tailgater   For the Sporty   For the Handy Man   For the Technology Crazed   For the Classy Guy   For a Little Bling   For Fun

• Photos (48)

Holiday Gifts for the Greenie

The fifth installment of the Patch 2011 Holiday Gift Guide reminds you that the environmentally conscious would like gifts that inspire living green.

Ever wonder how to wrap that gift for the environmentally conscious? Well, this year you can do even better with gifts galore for those who like to live green. Among Union County artistans and retailers there are plenty of environmentally-friendly gifts you can buy for kids and adults alike. Happy shopping! Want some tips on how to buy green and reduce waste this holiday season? Check out this blog by the Summit Environmental Commission.   Made of Recycled Materials   For the Environmentally-Friendly Kid   For the Organic Lover   Eco-Friendly Food & Drink

• Photos (13)

Local Flavor

A Last-Minute Recipe for the Thanksgiving Rush

This orange and spice cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving will brighten up your table.

Too busy to read this because you're too busy cooking? No worries. This quickie recipe for homemade cranberry sauce can be made in 10 or 15 minutes with minimal fuss and absolutely no hassle. Given to me years ago by my good friend Lorraine Bowyer, I now make a double batch every year at Thanksgiving. The combination of the tart cranberries and orange rind with the warm spices of cinnamon and cloves makes for a very popular dish at the table.   Last minute cooking has its benefits too. Since they are home from school, get the kids involved in the kitchen. They can measure the ingredients, peel the orange and stick the whole cloves in the peel (and snack on the orange while they work). Fresh cranberry sauce is a fast fix and it's done …

• Photos (1)

Holiday Gifts for the Host and Hostess

The first installment of the Patch 2011 Holiday Gift Guide reminds you that you should never arrive at a party empty-handed. So we're shining a light on Union County shops that sell goodies to thank the folks who throw great parties.

Before you head out to join in that pull-out-all-the-stops Thanksgiving dinner, be sure you don't show up empty handed. You can count on the Patch 2011 Holiday Gift Guide Patch to direct you to the Union County artisans and retailers to find gifts that will make the season bright.   Something Unique   Gifts For Fun Food & Drink

• Photos (31)

An 'Oldie but a Goodie' Thanksgiving Dessert

Pumpkin cheesecake with bourbon-sour-cream icing has become a holiday staple at the Chmiel house.

For Paula Chmiel, Thanksgiving traditions often come in the form of cooking up those tried-and-true favorites that make it such a special holiday. The South Orange resident is a professional chef. In her family, pumpkin cheescake is one of those recipes that people talk about for weeks both before and after the holiday, so give this one a try if you want to impress! Originally published in Gourmet in 1990, it was a recipe Paula noticed on the magazine cover while at college and she just had to make it. Jump ahead 21 years and the same recipe is still alive and well both in the Chmiel house and online (www.epicurious.com), though she has changed it up a bit here and there. While Paula isn't working in a restaurant kitchen these days — she's…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

Light Up Thanksgiving With This Yummy Side

Potato and onion gratin with thyme tastes as good as it looks!

Nothing inspires comfort food like a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings and next to stuffing, nothing beats the potatoes. After all, this is the one dinner that we can be sure is home cooking at its finest — a pull-out-all-the-stops meal where too many sides are never enough and the turkey is never too big. Well this year, I'm featuring a side dish that's comforting, cheesy and light enough you'll still have room for that pumpkin pie. A year ago, this column featured a pretty spectacular Thanksgiving side dish, potatoes au gratin with bacon and scallions. Sure, it was packed with bacon, cheddar cheese and heavy cream. A dish like that is a show-stopper on the table and the recipe was a hit. In fact, it even became a high school …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)