Dec 27, 2023
These bacon-wrapped Brussels sprouts are perfect for serving as an appetizer or side dish.
Prep Time: 5 mins • Cook Time: 25 mins • Makes: 12 servings
INGREDIENTS
- 12 strips bacon
- 12 brussels sprouts
- maple syrup
- black pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- On a cutting board, lay out strips of bacon.
- Lightly brush each strip of bacon with maple syrup making sure to coat the entire surface of the meat. Lightly sprinkle with black pepper.
- Starting from the bottom of a strip of bacon, roll up a single Brussels sprout.
- Transfer the bacon-wrapped sprouts to a baking sheet, placing seam side down. Lightly brush the tops of each wrapped Brussels sprouts with more maple syrup and sprinkle on additional pepper.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until bacon is done and thoroughly cooked.
- Remove from baking tray and place on paper towels to remove excess bacon fat.
- Arrange on a platter and serve immediately.
Dec 27, 2023
These delicious bite-size cheese balls are easy and can be made ahead of time.
Prep Time: 30 mins • Chill time: 4 hours or overnight • Cook Time: 10 mins • Makes: 12 servings
INGREDIENTS
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1 4-ounce jar diced pimentos, drained
- 1 to 2 jalapeños, minced (seeds & membranes removed), optional
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 18 ounces bacon, cooked until crisp and finely diced
- 1 ½ cups pecans, toasted and finely chopped
- ¼ cup finely chopped parsley
- Pretzel sticks
DIRECTIONS
- Combine cheese, mayonnaise, garlic and onion powder, cayenne pepper, pimento, and jalapenos in the bowl of an electric mixer and blend at medium speed until well combined. Season with salt and pepper, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up.
- In a medium shallow bowl, combine diced bacon, chopped pecans, and chopped parsley. Using a spoon or a small cookie scoop, form heaping tablespoons of the pimento cheese mixture into balls.
- Roll each pimento cheese ball in the mixture of bacon, pecans, and parsley, pressing the coating into the cheese so that it adheres.
- Refrigerate cheese balls until firm, and keep them chilled until ready to serve. Just before serving, skewer each cheese ball with a pretzel stick.
Dec 18, 2023
By Stephanie Simons,
Head Pharmacist,
Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire
This time of year, we tend to think about chocolates, movies and mince pies for all! While it’s perfectly fine to treat your friends and family with indulgent gifts, the best presents can help improve their lives – and a great way to do that is to boost their health. A pharmacy might not be the first stop for your holiday shopping, but you might be surprised to find some great options available that make your loved ones feel great!
Vitamin gummies
Vitamins come in many forms, from traditional tablets to sachets that dissolve in drinks. You can also take your daily vitamins as a gummy sweet! More luxurious, they’ll give your loved ones all the benefits of a vitamin tablet with the added fun of a sweet treat.
Choose Vitamin A like Nature’s Truth Beta-Carotene (which is converted to vitamin A in the body) to helping their body’s natural defence against illness and infection, Vitamin B (Berocca, B-Complex) to support the nervous system and energy release, or Vitamin C (Redoxon, Haliborange, Emergen-C), helping to protect cells and keep them healthy, maintaining healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage. Unsure which would suit? A multi vitamin like Centrum, One-A-Day or Rainbow Light tablets or gummies is a great all-rounder!
Relaxation
Has your friend or family member had a stressful year? The pharmacy has a wide range of products to help them find calm. Bath salts or oils like Aura Cacia or Nature’s Truth Essential oils can turn a simple bath into a luxurious experience that helps relax after a hard day. Candles like Glade are also a brilliant way to introduce aromatherapy to anywhere in the house.
CBD products can also help reduce anxiety and improve sleep. Though originating in the same marijuana plant as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the psychoactive drug more commonly known as ‘weed’ – CBD is a different chemical compound, without the intoxicating, potentially dangerous effects of THC.
With a calming affect but none of the dangerous properties of cannabis, CBD oils and tablets (USA Hemp or Upstate Elevator Company), or drinks like Trip are an effective way of calming anxiety, stress or as an alcohol alternative for those reducing their intake.
Beauty products
Skin care is a popular festive gift, but there’s no need to pay a premium for luxury brands. Pharmacies sell brands we trust to treat skin effectively without the luxury mark-up. For oily skin, try something with salicylic acid like Neutrogena Acne or Aveeno Calming, while dry skin will love a rich moisturiser like Cerave, Cetaphil and Aveeno. For sensitive skin, try a calming, fragrance-free product like Epaderm or Hydromol.
If your loved one is more into hair care, a moisturising hair mask like Cream of Nature Honey Avocado or Whole Blends Honey Treasures works wonders on all hair types. Argan Oil hair mask is also a popular choice for anyone who uses heat styling, as it protects and adds shine!
Pregnancy gifts
Expecting a grandchild? Neice or nephew on the way? If there’s a special expectant mother in your life around, the pharmacy is the perfect place for festive shopping. Folic acid products like N.B. Folic and Pregnacare are very helpful for all pregnant women, but if looking for something more comforting, body oils like Bio-Oil can help calm itchy stomachs and reduce stretch marks, or specialist teas like Roobios and Red Raspberry Leaf can soothe discomfort in the later months.
Stay safe
Health is a personal thing and you shouldn’t buy medicinal products for someone else. When shopping for gifts, it’s a good idea to have a chat with your pharmacist. Not only can we make helpful suggestions, but we can make sure products like vitamins are suitable for the recipient and don’t have any risks attached. Receive a gift from a pharmacy? We can help there too.
So, if you’re wondering where to start with the holiday shopping, why not start at the pharmacy? For what gift could be better – than good health?
Stephanie Simons is the head pharmacist at Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and has been practicing for over 20 years. She is a registered pharmacist with the Bermuda Pharmacy Council and is a member of the Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association.
Dec 13, 2023
Prep Time: 45 mins • Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins • Makes: 12 servings
INGREDIENTS
- 1 pouch (17.5 oz) Betty Crocker™ Sugar Cookie Mix (or make from your own recipe)
- Butter and egg called for on the cookie mix pouch
- 1 pouch cookie icing in white, or make royal icing from scratch
- 12 large marshmallows
- 1 tube Black Decorating Gel
- 1 tube Orange or Red Decorating Gel
DIRECTIONS
- Follow the preparation and baking directions on the sugar cookie pouch for making 12 large cookies.
- On cooled cookies, draw a “snow puddle” with white icing. Draw the outline of the puddle, then go back and fill in the shape.
- While the icing is still wet, immediately place a marshmallow on one side of the cookie.
- Once the icing and marshmallow have set, pipe the arms, mouth, and eyes onto each cookie using black gel.
- Using the orange decorating gel, pipe on the nose, and buttons.
- Allow cookies to set for at least one hour before serving.
Dec 12, 2023
These chocolate-filled pastries are so cute for the holiday season, and so easy to make!
Prep Time: 15 mins • Cook Time: 45 mins • Total Time: 1 hour • Makes: 7 trees
INGREDIENTS
- 2 sheets puff pastry dough (7.3 oz), thawed
- 1/4-1/3 cup of chocolate spread such as Nutella
- powdered sugar for dusting
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll out 2 sheets of thawed puff pastry. Spread a generous layer of chocolate spread onto one of the puff pastry sheets, covering all corners. Then, add the second sheet on top.
- Use a pizza cutter to make 1-inch wide strips. Save the last end piece for making the stars.
- Roll up a strip of dough accordion-style with a minimum of four layers. Work the layers from a wide tree base to a shorter piece at the top.
- Using a wooden skewer, thread through the center of each dough tree, then place each one on the prepared baking sheet.
- Using a small star cookie cutter, cut out stars on the last strip of dough. Add the star to the top of the skewer of each tree. Bake for 40-45 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
