Super Bowl Snacks

Don’t fumble over what to feed your Super Bowl party guests. Gain yardage with a big platter of Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels. These tasty appetizers can be filled with just about anything you can top a pizza with, so feel free to get creative. Serve them with a zesty tomato sauce and get that extra point.

   

Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels
Makes 24

1 can refrigerated crescent rolls

½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup shredded provolone cheese
4 ounces sliced pepperoni, chopped
2 tablespoons each diced mushrooms, onions, green peppers and black olives
1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
Parmesan cheese for sprinkling
Pizza sauce for dipping

Heat oven to 350 F. Coat a mini muffin pan with non-stick spray.

Separate crescent rolls into 4 rectangles. With a rolling pin, slightly roll out in both directions.

Sprinkle each rectangle with mozzarella and provolone cheeses, pepperoni and veggies. 

Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

Carefully roll each rectangle then cut into 6 pieces.

Place pinwheels into muffin pan. Bake for 10 minutes or until dough is lightly browned.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve with pizza sauce. 

Soup's On!

Whether you refer to it as borscht, bisque, consommé, or bouillabaisse, a big steaming bowl of soup is sure to add warmth and nutrients to your day. Aside from being simple and affordable to prepare, soup is good for you and an easy way to get your daily servings of protein and veggies. 

In honor of National Soup Month, I reached out to local culinary expert and “soup magician”, Liz Donaldson who graciously shared her recipe for Italian Wedding Soup. 

As the manager of Elroy's Deli Market in Fremont, Ohio, Donaldson has recently added soup to the deli’s menu. “We serve Italian Wedding Soup every day; it’s a classic,” said Donaldson. “I make a two gallon pot each morning, and it’s usually gone. The cheese rind really makes the soup, adding that silky texture.”

For more of Donaldson's soup recipes, check out the January 9 issue of the Sylvania AdVantage at http://bit.ly/2FJvwwi

Italian Wedding Soup

1 stick butter

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 stalks celery, diced

3 carrots, trimmed and diced

6 cups chicken stock

2 cups tiny meatballs

1 cup acini di pepe

1 package fresh spinach

Rind of Parmigiano-Reggiano

In a large pot, melt the butter and sauté the vegetables until softened.

Add the chicken stock and the meatballs. Bring to a boil and then reduce to medium.

Add the acini di pepe and the cheese rind and allow to simmer 20-25 minutes. Add the fresh spinach and cook for 10 minutes.

Shop Local - Buy the 419

This holiday season, do something good for your family and friends that also benefits our community. Shop locally! Our community is rich with artists and small business owners who put color, culture and creativity in our region. So, why not hit the pavement and enjoy holiday shopping the good, old-fashioned way? Here are some great area shops and boutiques to help send you on your very merry way.

Cream Velveteen

Where to find - Home Décor

Cream Velveteen
119 N. Ontario St., Toledo
Owner Sharon Perry has brought shabby and very chic style to downtown Toledo. Celebrating its one-year anniversary, Cream Velveteen is housed inside Rustbelt Coffee and carries refreshed furniture, decorative items, candles, chalk paint, gifts and more. While shopping, sip on a delicious chi latte or holiday wassail.

Cream Velveteen

Cottage on the River
24202 Front St., Grand Rapids, Ohio
Christmas décor, home accessories and custom painted furniture.

Lily’s at Levis
2110 Levis Commons Blvd., Perrysburg
Unique gifts items and home accents.
lilysatlevishome.com 

Where to find - Art and Music 

Toledo Museum of Art 

The Museum Store
Toledo Museum of Art
2445 Monroe St., downtown
The premier place to shop for collectors of all ages, the Museum Store features a fabulous selection of glass, jewelry, books, stationary and items for children. Also available for gift giving are the 2017 Limited Edition Goblet and Ninth Edition Ophelia Ornament.
toledomuseum.org

Toledo Museum of Art

River Centre Gallery
5679 Main St., Sylvania
An extraordinary selection of gifts showcasing regional and local artists.
rivercentregallery.com

Culture Clash Records
4020 Secor Rd., Toledo
Flip through the record bins and peruse the area’s largest selection of vinyl.
cultureclashrecords.com

Culture Clash Records

Where to find - Wine and Cheese 

Bottle Shop at Mancy’s Italian
5453 Monroe St., Toledo
Get in the spirit of the season at the newly opened Bottle Shop, located inside one of the area’s favorite Italian restaurants. Shop for that fabulous hostess or the wine lover in your life from a large selection of wine and craft beer, priced to fit all budgets.

Bottle Shop at Mancy's Italian

Paula Brown Shop
912 Monroe St., downtown Toledo
Shop an eclectic mix of home accessories, stationery, jewelry, wine and gourmet food products.
paulabrownshop.com

Sofo’s Italian Market

5400 Monroe St., Toledo
Create a gourmet gift basket from Sofo’s selection of wine, cheese and Italian specialty foods.
sofofoods.com

Sofo's Italian Market

Where to find - Clothing and Accessories

V Collection and Barber Lounge
5630 Main St., Sylvania
Shop for the well-dressed man at V Collection men’s clothing store. Include a gift certificate to Barber Lounge for an Executive Shave with a hot towel and neck massage or one of the many hair, shave and skin care treatments offered. 

V Collection

  

FiddleStix Boutique & Gallery
4165 Chappel Dr., Perrysburg
5693 Main St., Sylvania
Two locations to find one-of-a-kind items plus the largest selection of Vera Bradley, S'well Bottles, Yeti Coolers, Alex and Ani and Lokai in northwest Ohio. The boutique also specializes in personalized gifts and invitations for all occasions. 

FiddleStix Boutique & Gallery

Delve into Dexter

Although Dexter Michigan is the state’s newest city, receiving its charter in 2014, the former village’s history dates to 1824 when the area was first settled. Located just 15 minutes west of Ann Arbor, Dexter’s 14 parks, charming downtown, and unique businesses and eateries, make it one small town worth delving into.

Dexter Cider Mill
Don’t let fall slip away without a visit to Dexter Cider Mill for apple cider made the same way for 120 years, using an oak rack press. Located on 3685 Central Rd., the mill is the oldest continuously operating cider mill in Michigan.

Dexter Cider Mill

  


The mill also offers homemade sweet, cinnamon donuts and other apple-related goodies such as pies, strudel, turnovers, caramel apples and apple butter. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday until Thanksgiving. 

Mill Creek Park North

Parks and Recreation
Opportunities abound for recreation in Dexter. Bordered by three metroparks - Hudson Mills, Dexter-Huron and Delhi, outdoor activities near Dexter abound. In addition, Mill Creek Park North and South is easily accessible from downtown. Split between Main Street, the park has two distinct areas. 


The north side consists of 2.15-acres of parkland along Mill Creek, a picturesque, old stone railroad bridge, and a boardwalk for bicycling, running and walking your dog.

An elevated walkway under the old stone bridge at Mill Creek Park North.

The south side features four more miles of parkland, foot trails and an elevated walkway which winds through wetlands.

Asters line the walkway at Mill Creek Park South.

Stroll along the wetlands at Mill Creek Park South.

Cowboy Cuisine
When it’s time for some chow, mosey on down to Hotel Hickman's Chuck Wagon BBQ, 8050 Main St., where proprietor Scott Thomas and his Hotel Hickman Gang rustle up barbecued pulled chicken and pork, Texas style beef brisket, smoked sausage and baby back ribs. Enjoy your grub on the covered pavilion or in the adjacent Mercantile where you can also pick up some cowboy cookware, penny candy and Hotel Hickman’s “Not so world famous” Whiskey Bent BBQ sauces, seasonings and slaw dressing. 

Hotel Hickman's Proprietor Scott Thomas. 

Finish your meal with apple, cherry, or bourbon peach cobbler, or opt for the bread pudding all of which are served from cast-iron skillets. 

Texas style beef brisket, I-44 potatoes and cobbler at Hotel Hickman's Chuck Wagon BBQ. 

And…  don’t leave without asking how the 1-44 Potatoes got their name and for the story behind Hotel Hickman. The Chuck Wagon is open Thursday – Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Monument Park and Downtown Dexter, Michigan.

Perfectly Pumpkin Bars

It was a much-anticipated yearly tradition at my former workplace when coworker Marilyn Muranyi, often referred to as “mom” around the office, would bring her fabulous Pumpkin Bars. The giant sheet pan of mouthwatering seasonal treats, topped with sweet cream cheese frosting, was usually wiped out within an hour. 

These bars are the perfect sweet treat to accompany you to any fall family gathering, or simply, enjoy them with friends or your favorite coworkers.

Marilyn Muranyi

Marilyn's Pumpkin Bars

Bars:

2 cups sugar
½ cup oil
½ cup applesauce
4 eggs
2 cups canned pumpkin
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt

Frosting:

3 ounces cream cheese
6 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk

Heat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, mix all bar ingredients together.

Pour into a 10” x 15” greased pan with sides. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool.

Combine frosting ingredients. Spread over cooled pumpkin bars.