25 gift ideas: All local, all under $25
By now, you've probably done all your big-ticket, gotta-get-it Black Friday morning shopping. But that doesn't mean you're finished for the season, does it? So in the spirit of supporting local businesses and supporting your wallet, the features staff -- from A&E to Homes & Gardens of the Northwest , FOODday , MIX and Living -- offers these 25 great gift suggestions, all local and all no more than $25.Alma Chocolate: For $22.50 you can get an assortment of 10 award-winning concoctions. The most popular mix, according to proprietor Sarah Hart, is her Salty, Spicy, Sweet Box: three salted lavender caramels, three habanero caramels, two Thai peanut butter cups and two salted peanut butter cups. Her icons -- religious, hearts, etc. in dark chocolate covered with 23-karat edible gold leaf -- are also popular during the holidays; the small ones run $12-$15. Made in the shop, her chocolates, caramels and sauces are all handcrafted with fresh, organic ingredients. Visit her shop at 140 N.E. 28th Ave., 503-517-0262 or almachocolate.com.
Vintage bike print: Damascus artist Jean Cody prints vintage bike artwork directly onto a page from a vintage dictionary. The result is a beautiful and affordable ($12) print with a golden patina and vintage charm. Several colors, including red and blue, and different bike styles are available from her Etsy shop. The prints are sized for a standard 8x10 mat (not included, but available separately) with an opening for a 5x7 print. Purchase at Cody's FauxKiss shop on Etsy: etsy.com/shop/FauxKiss.
Adopt a zoo animal: Anyone can be a ZooParent at the Oregon Zoo. For $25, you can "adopt" an animal for critter lovers, kids who are begging for a pet or those with too many plastic toys. The money goes toward the zoo's Future for Wildlife Fund. In return, the recipient will get a year's membership to ZooTracks magazine, an animal fact sheet and a decal. More information: oregonzoofoundation.
Cup Size Ounces Inches - News
Not that you'll ever need to recycle the Hydro Flask, which comes in six sizes from 12 to 64 ounces, is powder coated in eight colors, and is seemingly indestructible -- hence its lifetime warranty. The slim bottles easily fit into a bike bottle cage
Some airlines are cracking down on super-size carry-on bags, making passengers check them. Liquids and other rules: Follow the liquids rule, too. Liquids in carry-on luggage must be in containers smaller than 3.4 ounces, fit in a quart-sized plastic
Butter a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish. Drain the potatoes and return them to the warm pot. Add 8 ounces cream cheese and mash together until the cream cheese melts. Stir in 3/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream and 1/2 cup warmed milk.
Stop when the butter pieces are the size of tiny peas. Very slowly, add about a half-cup of ice-cold water and knead the dough. Form a disc and wrap in plastic, then chill in the fridge for a few hours before rolling it out and lining your pan.
Melt 5 tablespoons (65 to 70 grams) of (unsalted) butter, and mix this into the crumb/sugar preparation. Press this into an even layer in a 9-inch round pie pan, up the edges as well. (I'm not sure about standard pan sizes in other parts of the world,
