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Easy Upgrades for Holiday Entertaining

Holiday gatherings call for an extra touch to make the celebrating special. Since many holiday festivities are centered on food, focus some attention on the refreshments for a simple way to upgrade your next holiday party.

From the presentation to the pairings, it's easy to make an ordinary spread extraordinary this holiday season. Take this year's event to the next level with these easy tips that bring the wow-factor to your gathering:

Make it look as pretty as it tastes. Even simple platters of crackers and cheese can feel extra special when presented on a pretty plate. If you're serving food buffet style, use a colorful tablecloth and stack sturdy boxes of varying sizes underneath to serve as risers that create some visual interest for the spread. Incorporate seasonal decorations such as ornaments or sprigs of holly and poinsettia blooms. For a plated meal, a table-runner adds just the right pop of color and a tasteful centerpiece of candles or evergreen dressed with holiday trinkets elevates an everyday table.

Offer the perfect pairings. When planning your menu, consider the types of beverages you'll serve along with the appetizers and dishes. When paired properly, food and cocktails complement one another, making the flavors more vibrant and the overall experience more impressive. A good starting place is cheese. Pair alpine-style cheese such as Roth Grand Cru with Riesling; creamy blue with gin; smoky blue with merlot; Havarti with pinot noir; Spanish-style such as Roth GranQueso with scotch; and Gouda with prosecco.

Enhance traditional favorites. Putting a fresh, elegant spin on the basics instantly elevates your menu and the overall experience for your guests. Even a staple like cheese can get some special dressing for the occasion. This recipe combines three rich, flavorful cheeses for a fondue that's sure to delight guests.

Explore more ideas for exceptional holiday entertaining at rothcheese.com.

Culinary Education Center House FondueCook time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6

3/4       pound Grand Cru Original, shredded
3/4       pound Grand Cru Reserve, shredded
1/2       pound Roth Fontina, shredded
16        ounces Pinot Grigio or other light- to medium-bodied white wine
1          loaf crusty artisan bread
            fresh apples, grapes and pears
            black and white pepper (optional)
            nutmeg (optional)

Combine cheeses and wine in ceramic fondue pot and stir to combine. Allow mixture to soak 15-30 minutes.

Heat mixture over low heat, approximately 7-10 minutes, stirring constantly with wooden spoon. Do not allow mixture to boil. When cheese has melted completely, remove from heat and transfer to tabletop burner.

Serve fondue with chunks of bread and fruit. If desired, provide pepper and/or nutmeg guests can sprinkle onto a plate and use for dipping bread and cheese. Pair with chilled dry Riesling and a shot of authentic Swiss kirschwasser.

10 Reasons to List Your Homes During the Holidays

Homebuyers need to purchase homes all year long, so there might be some advantages to placing homes on the market during the holiday season. Some of these  benefits include: 

1. People who look at property during the holidays are serious buyers and are more ready to make a decision.

2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the holidays, so property has less competition.

3. Houses "show better" when decorated for the holidays with the wonderful lights and festive colors associated with the season.

4. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays and often base their decision on the warmth and good feeling they receive when viewing your house.

5. Buyers have more time to look for a house during the holidays because they have designated time off from work to purchase a home.

6. Many people want to buy before the end of the year for financial and tax reasons.

7. January is traditionally the month for transfers. Transferees can't wait until the Spring to buy. Your house must be on the market to capture these buyers.

8. You may restrict showings during your own personal family events and still take advantage of your spruced up and decorated "show ready" property.

9. You can sell now, but specify a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year if you so desire and if agreeable to the other party.

10. By selling now you have an opportunity to buy during the spring, when more properties are on the market.

6 Tips to Protect the Things You Love Indoors and Out

Whether the family dog gets his muddy paws on the couch, an ice cream cone melts all over the backyard hammock or a sudden storm soaks your new patio cushions, life is filled with unexpected messes. There's no time like the present to plan ahead so you're ready for whatever mess life throws your way.

Here are some simple steps you can take to protect the things you love both indoors and out, so they last well beyond the season:

Indoors

Clean upholstery: Sofas and chairs are vulnerable to surface stains, so cleaning upholstery on a regular basis is important. Start by vacuuming the furniture to remove as much surface debris as possible. Then use a damp, soapy cloth to gently spot treat the fabric, allowing it to soak in, reaching dirt beneath the surface. Once dry, protect the material withScotchgard Fabric & Upholstery Protector, which helps repel liquids and stains, preventing future messes.

Remove rug and carpet stains: Whether it's red wine, tomato sauce or berries, spills and dropped food can create unwanted stains, damaging your rugs and carpet. Tackle these messes as soon as they happen with a quick and easy DIY recipe. First, sprinkle the spot with baking soda, let it sit for 10 minutes and then vacuum. Mix a tablespoon of dish soap, a tablespoon of vinegar and two cups of warm water. Blot with a clean sponge until it disappears. 

Clean your curtains: After using your curtains as a barrier between the outdoors and your living space all summer long, they likely collected dust. Most curtains can be steam cleaned, but taking them down and putting them back up again can be a hassle. To limit this, dust or vacuum your curtains every week as part of your cleaning routine. You can also use a lint roller to remove embedded dirt and grime that the vacuum can't handle.

Outdoors

Waterproof outdoor fabrics: With cooler temperatures coming, winter elements are sure to make landfall in your backyard. Protect your favorite outdoor cushions with the Scotchgard Outdoor Water Shield – moisture and liquids just roll right off.

Protect your footwear: As you break out your suede boots to step out in style this season, keep them looking great by protecting them from salt stains and snow with a water- and oil-repelling leather protector.

Care for your car: From muddy boots to coffee spills, messes often make it to car seats and floor mats when we least expect it. To clean these surfaces, mix 2 tablespoons of dish soap with 2 tablespoons of hot water and baking soda. Use a cleaning brush to lightly work through the stain in a circular motion. Wipe the area with a cloth and let the space air dry. To help prevent future stains, use an auto interior fabric protector.

Join the Windle Group for our Annual Third Monday Trade Days Halloween Event

Here Are the Best (and Worst) Cities to Own Investment Property

A rise in home prices might be bad news for buyers, but creates big opportunity for investors

For those looking to participate in the often volatile and profitable real estate market, GOBankingRates surveyed 61 out of the 100 most populous cities in the U.S. to find the best and worst cities to own investment property.

GOBankingRates analyzed the following factors:

• Employment growth: the percent change in the city's number of employed people year-over-year
• Population growth: the percent change in the city's population year-over-year
• Increase in home values: the percent change in the city's median home value year-over-year
• Years to pay off property: the number of years it would take for rental income to pay off the median home value

10 Best Cities to Own Investment Property	10 Worst Cities to Own Investment Property
1. Orlando, Fla.	1. Anchorage, Alaska
2. Tampa, Fla.	2. Pittsburgh
3. Denver	3. Chicago
4. Seattle	4. Virginia Beach, Va.
5. Austin, Texas	5. Cleveland
6. Reno, Nev.	6. Honolulu
7. Dallas	7. Detroit
8. Portland, Ore.	8. Tulsa, Okla.
9. Raleigh, N.C.	9. Omaha, Neb.
10. Miami	10. El Paso, Texas

 "Growing populations in the top 10 cities on our list are fueling the need for more housing," said Cameron Huddleston, Life + Money columnist for GOBankingRates. "That's why these cities are such great places to own investment property now. On the other hand, the cities at the bottom of our list have seen little-to-no population growth, so the demand for housing isn't as high – which means real estate investors won't do as well there."

Stand-Out Study Insights:
Five out of the ten best cities to own property are located in Florida and Texas.
Population levels are actually declining in places like Anchorage and Cleveland, pushing them to the bottom of the list.
When it comes to real estate investments, Midwest isn't best – none of the Midwest states made it into the top 15 of the best states to own investment property.
Seattle, Austin and Reno rank among the top 10 places to own investment property. However, it takes 17 to 19 years to pay off median home values in these cities based on yearly rents.

Methodology: GOBankingRates.com surveyed 61 of the 100 most populous U.S. cities, based on 2015 Census estimates, and evaluated each city by four main factors. (1) employment growth, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Economic Summaries in August 2016, with the percentage representing the employment change from June 2015 to June 2016 in each city; (2) population growth, based on and sourced from the 2014 and 2015 Census, with the percentage representing the change in population from 2014 to 2015; (3) increase in home values, based on Zillow Home Value, with the percentage representing the change in median home values for single-family homes from June 2015 to June 2016, sourced August 2016; (4) years to pay off property, which was based using the median home value for July 2016 and the median rent for a single family residence for July 2016, both sourced from Zillow; median rent was multiplied by 12 to obtain yearly rent and then home value was divided by yearly rent to determine how many years it would take for the home to be paid off from rental income using current home values and rent prices for each city.

From Easy Art to a Sweet Treat

Spooky, silly or symbolic, carved pumpkins are an essential ingredient to any Halloween celebration. This year, scare up some special fun for your party with a wicked watermelon carving, instead – but don't stop there.

After crafting your watermelon into an artful mummy, take advantage of the healthy, immune-system supporting qualities of the lycopene leader among fresh produce. At 92 percent water, as well as an excellent source of vitamins A and C, watermelon is a hydrating post-art snack.  

Carving a creative design into a watermelon is a simple way to kick off the festivities and requires only a handful of common tools. Add a twinkling candle to make a fantastically frightful centerpiece. Or fill it with a fresh fruit salad or salsas for a more functional, practical approach.

Even if you're planning on a hollowed-out carving, keep the sweet juicy fruit and make it a healthy addition to your Halloweenparty menu with a recipe that puts to use all your carving leftovers.

To take advantage of all a watermelon has to offer – outside of the fun carving – try Frosted, Frozen Watermelon Balls or Kids Watermelon Pizza Supreme. These fun, simple recipes make it easy to incorporate a healthy snack after all your hard work carving up a Halloween masterpiece.

Find more recipes, carving patterns and inspiration at watermelon.org.

Carving Tips

• Prior to carving, read through all of the directions.
• Cuts are easiest when the watermelon is at room temperature. Once your handiwork is complete, chill the carving and contents before serving.
• After drawing your design on the rind, insert toothpicks in key places to guide your cuts.
• A sharp knife with a pointed tip makes the easiest, cleanest cuts.
• Remove excess flesh in large pieces, when possible, to allow for easier melon ball or cube creation.
• Use round toothpicks or skewers to attach pieces to your design as flat toothpicks are not strong enough to bear the weight or stand up to the thickness of the rind.

Choosing a Watermelon
With a thick rind covering the fruit inside, you may wonder how to choose the best watermelon at the market. Here are some tips for picking the perfect one:

• Look it over. Look for a round, oval or oblong shaped watermelon that is free from bruises, cuts or dents.
• Lift it up. The watermelon should be heavy for its size. On average, a 5-pound watermelon yields 15 cups of edible fruit.
• Turn it over. The underside of the watermelon should have a creamy yellow spot from where it sat on the ground and ripened in the sun.

Mummy
Supplies and Tools:
Oval or round seedless watermelon
Cutting board
Kitchen knife 
Small bowl
Dry erase marker
Paring knife 
Melon baller, fluted or regular
Scoop
Assorted peelers
Cheesecloth
Straight pin
Battery-operated candle or light
Candy eyeballs or blueberries

Wash watermelon under cool running water and pat dry.

On cutting board, place watermelon on its side and use kitchen knife to cut off 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch from bottom (end opposite stem), being careful not to cut too deep into white part of rind.

Cut 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch from stem end to create opening large enough to fit small bowl. Using dry erase marker, draw eyes, nose and mouth, along with wavy slits around carving to let more light flow through. Use paring knife to cut out design, being sure to cut through to red fruit.

Use fluted or regular melon baller to hollow out inside of watermelon. Use scoop to remove excess watermelon.

Peel green rind off outside of watermelon. (Tip: Different peelers work well for different parts of the watermelon, depending on how flat or round the melon is.)

Wrap thin strips of cheesecloth around mummy carving and secure with straight pin, if needed.

Put battery-operated candle or light into carving. Fit small bowl into top of carving and trim away excess rind to make bowl fit securely. Fill bowl with melon balls and attach candy or blueberries to make eyes.

Kids Watermelon Pizza Supreme
Servings: 6
            1          watermelon slice (8-10 inches around and 1-inch thick), drained 
            1          cup strawberry preserves
            1/2       cup white chocolate chips
            1/2       cup raisins
            1/2       cup chopped walnuts
            1          cup sweetened shredded coconuts

Place watermelon slice on serving platter and cut into 6 wedges, leaving in shape of pizza.

Spread preserves over watermelon and sprinkle chocolate chips, raisins, walnuts and coconut.

Frosted, Frozen Watermelon Balls 
Servings: 35-40
            1          small watermelon
            1          package (3 ounces) watermelon or other red flavor gelatin dessert

Using melon baller, scoop out 35-40 small watermelon balls. Place on paper towels and set aside.

Pour gelatin into shallow bowl. One-by-one, gently drop watermelon balls into bowl, roll around, take out and place on plate covered with paper towel. Repeat until all gelatin is used.

Place plate of frosted watermelon balls in freezer. Allow at least 2 hours to make sure they are completely frozen. Remove from freezer and let sit a few minutes before eating.

Note: To serve with toothpicks, place toothpicks in before freezing to aid in serving.

Create Spook-Tacular Treats And Spiced Sweets This Fall

Celebrate the colors and flavors of autumn with Monster Cupcakes, Spiced Cider and Candy Corn Fudge

Sweltering temperatures are on the way out, making way for beautiful changing leaves and the familiar scent of pumpkin pie spice. Just in time for family trips to the pumpkin patch and parties with spooky desserts and drinks, McCormick has created recipes to help you celebrate all the flavors of autumn and its warm hues.        

"The crisp air seems to inspire us all to start baking again," said McCormick Executive Chef Kevan Vetter. "Create an autumn frosting palate with our new Color from Nature Food Colors, which are made from ingredients such as beets and turmeric. You can combine the trio of starter colors – berry, sunflower and sky blue – to make everything from a maroon glaze for an Autumn Leaf Cookie to yellow-and-orange-tinted white chocolate to make Candy Corn Fudge."

Fall Sweets

• Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes: Ice cupcakes with green frosting then top with a marshmallow "pumpkin" dipped in orange frosting for a sweet addition to your fall gathering. Use a chocolate taffy roll for the pumpkin stem.
• Glazed Autumn Leaf Cookies: Decorate leaf-shaped maple cookies with glazes tinted the stunning colors of fall foliage, like maroon, forest and pumpkin.
• Spiced Caramel Apple Cider: Make this seasonal coffeehouse favorite at home with apple cider, caramel topping and apple pie spice. Add an extra touch of flavor with maple, rum or orange extract.
• Spiced Cupcakes with Autumn Colored Cream Cheese Frosting: Frost these spice cupcakes in different shades of yellow and orange, and organize in an ombre formation -- from dark to light - for a colorful addition to your dessert table.

Halloween Treats

• Halloween Monster Cupcakes: Topped with decorations like candy eyeballs and colorful fur-like frosting, these spooky cupcakes will impress adults and kids alike.
• Candy Corn Fudge: Inspired by Halloween's favorite candy, this delicious white chocolate fudge has yellow and orange layers. Cut into small triangles and wrap in cellophane for a fun addition to party goodie bags.
• Orange Hocus Pocus Fizz: Blend rum, coconut and pineapple juice into an enchanted drink that's sure to be a Halloweenhit. Leave out the sparkling wine and rum for a whimsical "mocktail" everyone can enjoy.
• Pumpkin Cupcakes with Candy Corn Colored Buttercream: Frost pumpkin cupcakes with layers of white, yellow and orange buttercream frosting.

'Chopped' Champion Angie Mar Fires up 32 Burger Recipes for NFL Homegating Season

Uniquely inspired by each NFL team, these recipes help fans show their team pride



With the NFL season underway, NFL Homegating is calling all grill masters to grab their aprons and turn up the heat. Angie Mar, Chopped "Grill Masters" Champion, NFL Homegating "Burger Maestro," and Chef and Owner of New York's celebrated Beatrice Inn, has tapped her culinary expertise, love for mouth-watering burgers and enthusiasm for NFL Homegating to create 32 diverse and delicious burger recipes, inspired by each NFL market, for fans across the country to cook and enjoy with their friends and family on game day.
An NFL Homegating party is an authentic celebration of food, drink, tradition and fun with friends and family that brings the celebration and tradition of a stadium tailgate to the comfort of home. The NFL Homegating product line includes team branded cookware, drinkware, serve ware and décor designed to transform any home into a game watching headquarters and help fans show their team spirit all year round.

Mar's creative and easy-to-follow recipes vary from sweet and savory to unusual and exotic. Each recipe incorporates an element of each team's hometown, with signature ingredients representative of the region.

Here's a snapshot of all 32 unique NFL Homegating burger recipes:

• Arizona: "Southwest Slam," featuring diced jalapeños, crumbled cotijia cheese and chopped tomatillos
• Atlanta: "The Dirty Bird," featuring Cajun seasoning, American cheese and bacon on breaded chicken breasts
• Baltimore: "Baltimore Harbor Master," featuring soft shell crabs and cheese
• Buffalo: "Buffalo Winger," featuring Bison burger patties, buffalo wing sauce, celery and bleu cheese
• Carolina: "Carolina Pork Primer," featuring boneless pork chops, pickled onions and barbeque sauce
• Chicago: "Chicago Classic," featuring beef patties, pickles, beefsteak tomatoes and cheese
• Cincinnati: "Cincinnati Chili Burger," featuring patties made of ground beef and chili, dark chocolate and cinnamon
• Cleveland: "Dawgpound," featuring kielbasa links, sauerkraut and barbeque sauce
• Dallas: "The All-American," featuring diced jalapeños, hot sauce, hickory smoked barbeque sauce and cole slaw
• Denver: "Colorado Crush," featuring queso fresco, chopped jalapeños and cilantro
• Detroit: "Motor City Mother Lode," featuring horseradish-aged cheddar and hickory-smoked bacon on an English muffin
• Green Bay: "Cheesehead's Delight," featuring a fresh cranberry glaze, arugula and Wisconsin aged cheddar
• Houston: "Bulls on Parade," featuring beef patties, nacho cheese and chunky red salsa on challah rolls
• Indianapolis: "Indy Insanity," featuring veal patties, horseradish mayonnaise and beer-braised onions
• Jacksonville: "Jacksonville Delight," featuring alligator meat, adobo mayonnaise, peaches and white cheddar
• Kansas City: "KC Cook-Out Burger," featuring brisket basted in spicy molasses topped with flavorful potato salad
• Los Angeles: "LA Pacific Perfection," featuring classic condiments, pickles, American cheese and sesame buns
• Miami: "Crispy Cuban," featuring pork, ham, Swiss cheese and pickles
• Minnesota: "Minnesota Muncher," featuring flavorful onions, Cambazola Black Label cheese and grilled potato buns
• New England: "The Colonial," featuring lobster, hot sauce and celery
• New Orleans: "Big Easy Burger," featuring crawfish, red beans, cayenne pepper and andouille sausage
• New York: "New York Melt," featuring dry-aged beef, pastrami and fresh thyme on thick-cut rye, and the "New York Colossal Crunch," featuring beefsteak tomato, crispy bacon and potato chips
• Oakland: "Blackhole Burger," featuring brie, grilled onions and a squid ink aioli
• Philadelphia: "The Philly Remix," featuring dry-aged ribeye, tellegio cheese and spicy calabrese peppers
• Pittsburgh: "Steel City Stacker," featuring fried eggs and D'affinois cheese on a brioche bun
• San Diego: "San Diego Seaside Burger," featuring beer-battered halibut, crushed tomatillo, corn and cilantro
• San Francisco: "Bay Area Burger," featuring crab cakes, chopped cornichon and pickled onions on a sourdough English muffin
• Seattle: "Seattle Sauerkraut Slam," featuring patties made of pork, veal and beef; Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and potato chips
• Tampa Bay: "The Tampa Bay Roll," featuring Swiss cheese, kimchi and a sourdough roll
• Tennessee: "The Tennessee Brisket Burger," featuring brisket, barbeque sauce, and bread and butter pickles on flaky biscuits
• Washington, D.C.: "Orchard Burger," featuring avocado, gruyere cheese, diced apples and cole slaw

Each of the 32 burger recipes are available on the NFL Homegating Pinterest board and include easy-to-follow directions for crafting the perfect burger to take your NFL Homegating party to the next level or for celebrating your team on any day of the year.

Fans can prepare ingredients on the Touchdown Cutting Board, then fire up the grill in the NFL Homegating Grilling Apron. Then, display the perfectly crafted burger on a team branded Ceramic Plate, and serve it up with your favorite beverage in a Glass Tankard.

Discover additional recipes, entertaining tricks and more ways to keep the party going in style on the NFL Homegating Pinterestboard. Show them off at your next NFL Homegating party with your favorite team products available atNFLShop.com/Homegating.