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Show winter section Exiled to the doors: a survivors JACK WATERS Managing editor As winter approaches, there is a four-letter word that comes to the mind of many. Cold. During the wintry weather season, a lot of time will be spent indoors. These are days in which sleet defaces the slopes at the resort, when the roads become crystallized with ice and it is realized that the closet is sans suitable warmth. In this freezing frenzy, inside enjoyment is only an idea away; but before any activity is chosen, here is a word to the wise: Get your coffee on! Or, for others, a "Word to the Wisdom": Get your hot chocolate on! Either way, you'll be happy you added a warm refreshment to your indoor activity. Guitar Hero - Rock the '80s when the temperature's in the 20s. When it comes to video game battles with friends, Guitar Hero is rarely topped. Whether it's face-melting guitar riffs or chord combinations twist- ing your fingers into pretzels, Guitar Hero helps you become the rock star you always dreamed of. Board games - You know, there used to be a time when games were played on a table, instead of on a gaming system. Conquer the world in RISK, or satisfy your pseudo-sweet tooth with Candy land. Think that Monopoly puts the "bored" in board games? Well, you should play Twister, the interactive game that provides the opportunity to finally left-armred that special someone's right-foot-blue. You MI be closer with each spin. Remember: bare feet grip, and fresh socks slip. Both choices can be beneficial if used the right way. to draw all the time? You should really get back into that. Or grab that guitar gathering dust and serenade the night away. Food contests - Kobayashi may have lost his hot dog crown, but will you ever lose your "cold dog" crown? The possibilities are endless. Nothing settles the competitive score like a vomit disqualification. The new year is just around the comer, and with it will doubtlessly come countless resolutions. Within weeks or ,even days of the ball dropping in Times Square, however, many will already have broken their resolve and will be setting their resolutions aside until 2009. So what's the secret to reading that book, losing those love handles or "laying off the sauce" while everyone else is throwing in the towel? Here are a few suggestions: For starters, if you have a goal in mind, make a list of all the things you'll need to do to accomplish it. For instance, if you want to lose and what it will feel like to achieve them. It sounds corny, but it helps. Lastly, reward yourself. When you meet one of your smaller goals, treat yourself to something good. Just be careful you don't overindulge in a habit you're trying to break. Celebrating your first sugar-free week by gobbling down an entire box of See's^candy would be a bad idea, but take the money you would have spent on those chocolate confections and go see a movie. Worthwhilegoalsarehard to achieve, but with determination, they are achievable. So padlock the fridge, pull out the textbooks and put on the running shoes. A whole new year full of resolutions is waiting. Hitting up the hot springs GREGWILCOX Staff writer With winter fast approaching, it is important that you find some places to defrost from time to time. You know, like when the weather gets so cold, even the polar bears don't go outside? Going to one of Utah's various hot springs is a great way to stick it to Old Man Winter. Regular hot tubs will work, of course, but there is a far more exciting thrill in looking to the outdoors to find natural hot springs. The Saratoga Hot Springs These hot springs aren't the nicest smelling ones you will find; but besides that, they are a good time and fairly close in distance. They are located in Saratoga Springs, near Lehi. Be aware that, technically, it closes at 10 p.m., and the local cops check it after that time. Fifth Water Hot Springs For a more scenic, quality experience, visit the Fifth Water Hot Springs up Spanish Fork Canyon. Although you must hike a little (about two-and-a-half miles) to get there, it is well worth it. These hot springs have a beautiful and picturesque surrounding, and the people who own and maintain these springs, whoever they are, do a fabulous job. There are several manmade soaking pools, allowing many to enjoy the soaking pleasure the springs offer. These pools spill over, forming a warm stream, which can be enjoyed as well if one wants to leave the pools. Apparently, the area is known for having rattlesnakes, so caution should be taken. Expect to hike about an hour each way. Mystic Hot Springs These breathtaking springs are located by Fish Lake. Consisting of several pools and tubs, the Mystic Hot Springs is a great getaway. It is on a 175-acre resort in the city of Monroe, which also has several hiking and mountain biking Life Writer A few days following the conclusion of fall semester, Provo, once a winter wonderland bustling with students anxious to finish finals and reunite with family and friends, will suddenly transform into an icy ghost town, silent and white. To the small population of students left behind, unable to travel home for the holidays, do not despair. It may seem impossible to imitate the nostalgic sounds and smells thatonly home can bring this time of year, however, there is no void (even the melancholy aches of holiday loneliness) that food cannot fill. With a few comforting recipes and innovative ideas for new traditions, your tiny apartment or dorm miles away from home will exude the holiday spirit you remember without days of preparation or breaking your budget. This is the ideal time to begin practicing cooking simplified versions of classic holiday recipes and beginning new holiday traditions. Find a few fellow solitary companions, bust .out the Mannheim Steamroller or Amy Grant albums (or whatever), and have a fabulous meal. A few ideas for holiday traditions • Make homemade ice cream with friends or family. You can add pumpkin pie filling and cinnamon or cranberry sauce for holiday variations. • Make chicken noodle soup with the leftover chicken and bones. • Sing carols and deliver treats to neighbors. .Tt • Share favorite holiday memories around the dinner table. • Re-enact traditional holiday stories around the fireplace (or furnace). • Drive around neighborhoods that are decorated in lights while sipping hot chocolate with candy canes. •• 1 roasting chicken, about 4 pounds 1/4 cup melted butter Zest of one orange (reserve 1/2 for stuffing) 1 cup orange marmalade How to keep your New Year's goals Staff writer LINDSAY JOHNSON Chicken Is smaller, so it cooks faster, and it doesn't leave you with an obscene amount of left overs. Plus, it's less expensive than turkey. Restore your hobbies Remember when you used a little bit of extra weight above your belt, you'll need to start jogging and doing some torso-twisting exercises. You may also need to cut back on the pizza and Coke. Use your list to make smaller goals that will help you achieve your main goal, and put them into action. By accomplishing smaller goals one by one, you will be able to see your progress, giving you the motivation to continue working toward your ultimate goals. Post your goals somewhere you will always see them. Tape them on your bedroom wall so you can see them when you walk in, or on the bathroom mirror so you can look them over as you brush your teeth. When you look at your list, try to envision accomplishing your goals Holiday recipes and traditions Orange-glazed Chicken and Stuffing Read a book - If you think it takes a long time to read a book, just think how long it took the author to write the book. You might learn a thing or 30. Pick up the first one you come across. The solution to resolutions JUSTIN RITTER The taste of home away from home trails on the property and in the Fish Lake National Forest that adjoins the resort. The mineral deposits from the water have built, over time, awesome rock formations that are creating a cascade of water to the large pools, tubs and ponds. Going out with your friends to some hot springs, sitting back laughing, engaging in witty banter, and enjoying the contrasting temperatures of the water with the air sure beats winter cabin fever. And for the record, skinny-dipping is not permitted in any of the hot springs; so if you do it, don *t get caught. On a trip to any hot springs, it's important to pack water (especially if kids are with you), as the hot water can dehydrate the body. For directions to any of these hot springs, or for more information on them, visit this Web site: http://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/springs.html \ Prepare stuffing and spoon into cavity of chicken. Combine melted butter, zest and marmalade and rub over the chicken. Place chicken breast-side up on a roasting pan and cook uncovered for 60- to 90- minutes in a 350 degree oven. After chicken begins to brown, baste with pan drippings and loosely cover with foil. Chicken is done when a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of meat reads 180 degrees. Let the meat rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Stuffing: 1/4 cup butter 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 tart apple, peeled and chopped 1/2 cup chopped celery 1/4 cup dried cranberries Remaining orange zest 2 cup bread crumbs 1 egg 1/4 cup milk 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning Salt and pepper Saute" onion, apple and celery in butter over low heat until tender. Add cranberries and orange zest and cook for another minute. Remove from heat and combine the remaining ingredients. Mashed Golden Potatoes and Gravy Yukon Gold potatoes are smaller, so they cook fast and their waxy skin does not need to be peeled. 1 medium bag Yukon Gold Potatoes 4 tablespoons butter 3/4 cup sour cream Milk, added to desired consistency Boil clean potatoes In water until tender when poked with a fork. Completely drain water from pot. Mash potatoes, leaving some texture. Mix in butter, sour cream and milk. Salt and pepper to taste. Gravy: 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons flour Chicken broth Melt butter in sauce pan over medium heat. Add flour and cook until slightly brown. Whisk in chicken broth and raise heat to medium-high. Bring to a boil and add more chicken broth to adjust consistency. Green Beans with Bacon Crumbles and Toasted Pecans 1 package frozen green beans 4 strips bacon, cooked until crisp 1 tablespoon butter 1/2 cup chopped pecans Steam green beans over boiling water for about 5 minutes until bright green and tender. In a small frying pan, melt butter until bubbly. Add chopped pecans and stir until lightly toasted. Pour butter and pecans over green beans in a serving bowl. Crumble bacon on top. Mini Chocolate Chip Pecan Pies • 1 package mini pie crusts Semi-sweet chocolate chips 3 eggs 1 cup sugar 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup light corn syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup chopped pecans * ' Place pie crusts on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle a few chocolate chips in the bottom of each crust. In a medium bowl, beat eggs slightly. Add sugar, corn syrup, butter and vanilla; stir until blended. Pour filling into pie crusts over chocolate chips. Evenly sprinkle chopped pecans on top of each pie. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until center of pies are set. |