Posts about Holidays

Holiday Food Recipes

The winter holidays are here! Hanukkah started yesterday, and Christmas is right around the corner. Celebrate the holidays with good food and good company. We’ve got a few quick recipes here for tasty drinks and snacks that the whole family can enjoy. Read on for a diverse holiday recipe roundup. Mulled Wine Don’t let the wine part fool you, this can be made without alcohol so that the whole family can partake. This warm, spicy holiday drink carries delicious flavors of wine, oranges, and star anise. The best part is that it doesn’t take much time at all to brew. Simply mix your mulling spices, wine, oranges, and sweetener in a pot to boil and you’re all set! This recipe from Gimme Some Oven has a delicious combo of flavors. Check it out! Latkes You don’t need to celebrate Hanukkah to appreciate the classic latkes! These crispy potato pancakes are a Hanukkah staple, and they’re so easy and tasty that we could honestly eat them year-round - and probably will now. This recipe is from Jake Cohen, a famous Jewish chef who has gone viral on social media with his easy to follow recipes. Check out the ingredients below, you’ll probably have most of it at home already! Fruitcake Cookies This recipe combines the flavors of a classic fruitcake in cookie form. Fruitcakes can be heavy with all of that tasty filling, so we love that these cookies are a lighter take that still packs in all the winter spices and fruit flavors. Here’s a quick list of ingredients you can pick up from Winco, just across the street from Acero Haagen Park! We hope everyone is having a wonderful December so far. Take a photo of your favorite holiday recipe and share it with us on Facebook or Instagram! Come back next week for food, fun, and more in Vancouver, Washington.

Christmas Tree Farms in Clark County

One of the best things about living in Vancouver is the proximity to both the city and rural areas! That means we can get the best Christmas trees straight from the source. If you’re celebrating Christmas and you’re looking for a Christmas tree, check out this list of the best Christmas Tree farms in the area. Joe’s Place Farms Joe’s Farm is less than 10 minutes from Acero Haagen Park off 112th Ave. This is the last year that you can get trees here as Joe himself is retiring at the end of December! This farm has been around since 1946, and we are sad to see it go. Show your support and give Joe’s one last hurrah! They’ve got a great selection of Grand Firs, Nordmans, Oriental Spruce, and more! You can get a pre-cut tree or they can custom-flock any tree on the lot for you. Klopman Farms We can’t think of anything more cheery than wandering around a gorgeous tree farm, sipping cider with the smell of pine in the air. That’s exactly the kind of experience you’ll have at Klopman Farms ! Nestled in the hills of Washougal about 25 minutes away, this family owned and operated Christmas Tree farm has a large selection of sturdy fir trees and pines to take home for Christmas. They’ve got a family-friendly environment with free hot cocoa and cider to take with you as you browse through their gorgeous selection of trees, wreaths, and decor. There’s even a u-cut option, where you can ride a tractor to where the trees are planted and cut down your own tree. Make some happy Christmas memories this weekend at Klopman Farms. Glenwood Tree Farm Glenwood Tree Farm is about 20 minutes from Acero Haagen Park. This family owned and operated Christmas Tree farm is settled on a gorgeous plot of land that’s often used for weddings and special events. They offer pre-cut and u-cut options. Check out their website to learn more! That’s all for this week! Take a photo and share with us on social media if you happen to visit any of these Christmas tree farms! Come back next week for more food, fun, and holiday cheer.

Holiday Attractions around Vancouver, WA

It’s the most magical time of the year! We could all use some holiday cheer, and this year we have tons of fun holiday attractions around Vancouver and Southwest Washington to kick off the holidays with. Read on for a list of the best holiday attractions and winter events going on in Vancouver, WA and around Clark County. Christmas Ships Parade The Christmas Ships Parade is taking place along the Columbia River, with wonderful views from the Waterfront Renaissance Trail and the Grant Pier at the Vancouver Waterfront. The ships will come sailing by the pier between 7:30 pm and 8 pm on December 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, and 21st. Come out to the waterfront for a crisp evening stroll with a cup of hot cocoa, and enjoy the pretty lights sailing by. You can view the Christmas Ships full schedule on their website , along with all the locations on the Columbia River they’ll sail by this December. Vancouver Symphony Orchestra The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra holds a stunning performance every year, and this year they will be live streaming the event for viewers to enjoy at home. They will be performing December 12th and 13th at the Skyview Concert Hall with a program full of Christmas classics and holiday favorites. Check out ticket prices and the full program and famous musicians on their website today. Tickets sell fast! Winter Wonderland at Portland International Raceway This is a holiday family favorite! The Winter Wonderland at PIR is a drive-thru holiday light show. You get to drive along the racetrack where they’ve set up intricate light displays with holiday music playing. This year the proceeds will go to Sunshine Division’s hunger relief program. This year they aren’t taking cash, so make sure you purchase tickets online beforehand! Re-Imagined Radio: A Christmas Carol The Kiggins Theatre has always been a home for unique cinema and nostalgia lovers, and this performance of a Christmas Carol has a unique spin. Re-Imagined Radio is a mixture of live public and performance art that re-imagines classic radio dramas with local performers and during non-Covid times the audience can participate too. With the event this year being virtual, the audience can still have an immersive experience via social media. It’s a great way to build community, as well as support local actors, sound artists, and the historic Kiggins Theatre. Learn all about it on their website , the show will take place on December 24th! That’s just a few of the events going on in our community! Check out Visit Vancouver and Oregon Live for more information on events happening in the area this year. Come back Friday to find out where to buy Christmas Trees locally!

Thanksgiving Recipes and Where to Buy Local Ingredients

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and we are so excited to gather around and share a meal together! We are thankful to be happy and healthy during these uncertain times, and are looking forward to celebrating at home with a tasty feast next week. Read on for a few of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes and where to buy local ingredients in Vancouver, WA. Apple Cider Mimosa Start the festivities off with a festive take on a classic mimosa! It’s the perfect Thanksgiving drink with warm fall spices, and it won’t feel out of place whether your family starts their feast at 11am or 3pm. You can’t go wrong with this brunch cocktail. Here’s a great recipe from What The Fork ! Ingredients: 2 oz. apple cider 2 oz. champagne cinnamon sugar, optional apple slices, optional Instructions: Dip the rim of a champagne glass in water. Dip in cinnamon sugar to rim the glass. Pour 2 oz. of apple cider in the glass and top with 2 oz. (or more) of champagne. Garnish with apple slices, if desired. Serve immediately. Cast Iron Hasselback Potatoes We could eat an entire meal of just potatoes, and this dish would definitely be on the table! These potatoes are simple to make and packed full of flavor. They take about an hour to cook so you can get these going and then multi-task and cook other things at the same time! The ingredients are super simple, and you can easily multiply this recipe from Country Living without breaking the bank for a large family meal. Ingredients: 5 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and divided, plus more for pan 6 medium russet or Yukon Gold potatoes (about 2 pounds) 2 tsp. M5 Spice Rub, divided 2 tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley Sour cream, for serving Directions: Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease a 12-inch cast-iron pan with butter. Cut each potato crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices without cutting all the way through to bottom and leaving about 1/4 inch of potato intact (this will help them hold together). Arrange potatoes in pan 1 inch apart. Brush with 2 1/2 tablespoons butter. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon spice rub. Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and drizzle potatoes (which should have opened up slightly) with remaining 2 1/2 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon spice rub. Bake, uncovered, until potatoes are crispy on edges and soft in the middle, 15 to 20 minutes. Garnish with parsley. Serve with sour cream alongside. Fresh Herb Stuffing The traditional stuffing side dish is given new life with this delicious blend of herbs! Whether you cook this in the bird or not is entirely up to you, but this recipe was designed to be cooked outside the bird. The instructions are quite lengthy so we’ve linked them here . Ingredients are listed below so you can see what this recipe entails and all the wonderful flavors! Ingredients: 3 tbsp. olive oil, plus more for pan 1 loaf country bread, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 12 cups) 2 medium onions, chopped Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 4 stalks celery, chopped 3 c. chicken stock 1 c. fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped 2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves 2 large eggs, beaten You can find all these ingredients at local grocery stores such as Chuck’s Produce, Fred Meyer, New Seasons, Trader Joes, and Winco just across the street from our brand new apartments. Come back next week for more food and fun in Vancouver, Washington!

Thanksgiving Turkey Trots in Vancouver WA

November is a special time of year to think about all the things we have to be thankful for and give back to the wonderful community we live in. An excellent way to do this is by participating in the local Thanksgiving Marathon! Read on to learn about the Clark County Turkey Trot, where to sign up, and why it’s so special to the people of Vancouver, WA. Here are some quick details about this family-friendly Turkey Trot! The race itself is a 5k or 10k Run/Walk, taking place on Thanksgiving Morning - November 26, 2020. The race follows a pre-marked course that you can find on the website, and for this unique year if you want to race at home you are more than welcome! The official courses will still be marked with Start/Finish signs and 5K turnaround signs on Thanksgiving morning from 8 am-10 am! There are courses for Ridgefield, Camas, Lewisville, Salmon Creek Trail, and along the Waterfront. The cost to join is just $20. The Polar Plunge is not included in that, as that part of the race has been canceled this year. That $20 covers registration, a t-shirt, finisher’s magnet, and race bib! The Clark County Turkey Trot is a long-running (pun intended) turkey-trot sponsored by numerous local businesses. The list of sponsors for 2020 includes Heritage Bank, Barre3, Clif Bar, Columbia Sportswear Company, coreTek, The Old Spaghetti Factory, and more! This fundraiser gives 100% of the proceeds from the race to the Clark County Food Bank. The Clark County Food Bank is essential to alleviating hunger and food insecurity in Clark County. They are a grower, gleaner, and supplier of food and provide a critical link between resources and people in need! This organization is an incredible force, distributing 8 million pounds of food and 6.7 million meals a year. There is a great need for help with over 100,000 hungry people in Clark County, and the Clark County Turkey Trot is just one way to give back and help your community this holiday season! If you participate in the race, take a photo and share it with us on Facebook or Instagram ! Come back next week for a blog featuring more ways to pay it forward this holiday season. Have a good weekend everyone!

Last Minute Costume Ideas: Halloween Shopping in Vancouver WA

We are so excited for Halloween! It’s going to be a full blue moon on a Saturday, and it doesn’t get much more magical than that! There aren’t any big Halloween parties happening around town this year, but you can still dress up for your own Halloweekend celebrations at home. Whether you're having a party of one or your quarantine squad is joining you, dressing up this year is easy with all these great costume shops and thrift stores nearby. Read on for a quick list of the best costume shopping in Vancouver. Spirit Halloween Just 15 minutes from our apartments is Spirit Halloween . You can't go wrong here! This place is your one-stop-shop for all things spooky. They have everything: costumes, wigs, makeup, face paint, fake blood, fake teeth, props, and decorations if you want to pick up a little spooky something for the home. Party City About 5 minutes away is Party City ! From accessories to makeup to full-on costumes, they are here to meet all your costume needs. Be a kid from Stranger Things, a sexy pirate, a Ghost Buster, they’ve got so many options available! Visit their website to see what’s still available at the Chkalov location. Target Target is a great choice for low-key costumes! There's one about 5 minutes away on Mill Plain and they've got costumes for all ages there too. Plus they have the cutest Halloween decor and you can buy last-minute candy while you’re at it! Definitely stop by, you'll never regret a trip to Target. Thrift Stores When in doubt, DIY a costume with vintage and thrifty finds from nearby thrift stores. Perfect for the sustainable shopper, or someone looking to recreate obscure characters from movies! There's a Goodwill less than 10 minutes away. Whatever you end up doing for Halloween, share your Halloween #OOTD with us on social media! We'd love to see what you put together. As always, come back next week for more food, fun, and shopping in Vancouver, Washington.