Welcome to the heartwarming tapestry of the holiday season! As Publishers and passionate aficionados of all things local, we at Chatham + Short Hills Lifestyle and Morris Lifestyle magazine are thrilled to share a truly special treat with you. In "Cherished Traditions and Festive Sips," we've embarked on a delightful journey through our community, where local business owners have opened their hearts to reveal their most cherished holiday traditions. But wait, there's more! Our advertising partners, who have become dear friends, are adding an extra dash of warmth to the holiday spirit by sharing their favorite holiday drinks and the secret recipes behind them. Let's toast to the magic of the season with stories that will warm your heart and recipes that will tickle your taste buds! Thank you, Short Hills Hilton, for hosting us for the photo session and for sharing your drink recipes!
Stacey Futterman Tauriello
5 POINT Physical Therapy and Wellness, https://5pointpt.com/
“My favorite holiday tradition is decorating for the holidays. My family is mixed blend of traditions from both Jewish and Greek orthodox faith. So, our menorah and Christmas tree are a beautiful part of our decorations. I am blessed to have had a grandmother that left me her original menorah and a mother-in-law that gifted me all her hand made Christmas tree ornaments. Every year we get a fresh tree and decorate it. The smell of the tree always makes me so happy for the holiday season. Add in baking holiday cookies to our ritual always puts a smile on my face and now my 5-Year-old daughter as well.”
Peppermint patty hot chocolate with alcohol: Hot chocolate (homemade is best), Creme de Cacao, Peppermint schnapps.
Nick Shchurko and Mills
Bee Cleaner, Flooring & Upholstery cleaning, https://bee-cleaner.com/
“I absolutely love spending the holidays with my loved ones, especially when we have a big feast planned! It's such a special time to catch up and be thankful for everything we have in our lives. And after we've eaten our fill, we get to exchange presents and play games all night long. I just adore this tradition because it brings us all even closer together each year.” Nick
Irish Coffee: 1 1/3 oz (2 parts) Irish whiskey, 1 oz (1½ parts) Fresh cream, 1 tsp. Brown sugar, 2 2/3 oz (4 parts) Freshly brewed hot coffee. Whipped cream and shaved chocolate (optional)
Angelique van der Made
Red Oyster USA, https://red-oyster.com/
“Holiday tradition: to have a great evening long dinner with a group of our best friends. Everyone makes a special course including the pairing wine (we always challenge ourselves to be more creative and more special than the year before). Off course, we will start the evening with great Osetra caviar on fresh PEI oysters and a Gin Mare tonic.”
Gin tonic: With Gin Mare gin includes lemon peel. This gin pairs very well with a fresh oyster!
Kimberly Brechka
Weichert Realtors, www.kimberlybrechka.com
“I’m a nice Jewish girl from NY who married a nice Catholic boy from West Orange, NJ and created our own version of the holidays we like to call “Chrismakkah. ” We decorate our home and our Christmas tree with menorahs, dreidels, Jewish stars and all sorts of ornaments. We light the menorah during Hanukah every night with a heaping plate of potato pancakes to kick off the holiday. My husband is the king of baking homemade sugar cookies with our kids every year while I do most/all of the gift and food shopping. From hosting family gatherings and sleepovers with friends, who visit from far away, to ginger bread house building contests, our home filled with love is truly a gift of its own.”
Bacardi Raspberry: Mixed with Diet Cranberry Ginger Ale or Diet Cherry 7-Up. Freeze some raspberries and sprinkle with sugar and add them to each cocktail.