Portland Observer December 20. 1979 Page 7 Living Christmas trees aid Santa, landscape Living Christmas trees do double duty, first as a decoration and then as a landscape plant. They are p u r­ chased just before the December holidays, brought into the house as a Christmas tree, then planted per­ manently outside. Some o f the more popular living C hristm as trees are Scotch pine, Doublas-fir, shore pine, blue spruce, noble fir , Austrian pine, redwood and giat sequoia. McNeilan advises checking at loval nurseries to find out which varieties are adapted to the different growing conditions found in Oregon. Living Christinas trees can be pur­ chased in two formes: containerized or balled-in-burlap. Trees grown in containers are more likely to survive the indoor-outdoor transitions and are simply easier to deal with, accor­ ding to McNeilan. Moreover, trees that were grown in th e ir containers and have well- developed root systems are hardier than thsoe that have just been dug and transplanted into large pots. When buying a containerized tree this Christmas, find out how it was grown before making the purchase. However, a nursery-grown balled- in-burlap tree that has been properly roote-pruned can make an excellent liv in g C hristm as tree, even i f it requires a bit more work. When the tree is brought home, a two or three stage relocation procedure should be used so the tree can adjust to warmer inside tem- peratues. Place it in an unheated garage fo r fo u r days, then in an unheated room in the house, i f possible. A containerized tree can be left in its container indoors. The balled-in­ burlap tree must be placed in some sort o f tree stand or pot that w ill support it and allow it to be watered. Leave burlap wrapped around the roots and tree trunk while it is in the house. Place the tree in the coolest location in the room where it will be a decoration. Keep it away from hot air ducts and large windows where the sun could cause severe scald. The tree should be kept at normal indoor temperatures no more than four to five days. The tree may respond to the higher indoor temperature by starting to grow. Test the container soil surface daily and add water when it feels dry. Water a balled-in-burlap tree only enough to keep the rootball from drying. Decorations are fine as long as they do not break twigs and branches. Keep hot bulbs away from the foliage and do not use Hocking or artificial snow. w ith an equal amount o f organic matter such as peat moss, compost, rotted manure, sawdust or leafmold. The organic matter is especially important in clay soils that do not drain well. Remove the tree from the con­ tainer and spread the roots out as much as possible. Then place the tree in the planting hole so the soil sur- facae meets the tree trunk at the same place it did when the tree was in the container. Fill the hole around the plant with the mixture o f soil and organic mat­ ter and water it in. Do not fertilize (he plant until late spring. An organic- surface mulch w ill protect the tree from cold temperatures. Planting instructions for balled-in- burlap trees: dig a hole twice the size o f the rootball and mix the soil from the hole with an equal maount o f organic matter. Cut the twine from around the tree trunk and unwrap the burlap from the upper half o f the rootball. When it's lime to move the tree outdoors after the holidays, reverese the procedure. Move it to suc­ cessively cooler locations before placing it completely outdoors. P lanting instructions fo r con­ tainerized trees: dig a hole at least twice the size o f the tree’s estimated root area. Mix the soil from the hole Choose safe toys this Christmas FLAKE A FISH FOR FLAVOR Look to the sea: flake a fish W ith to d a y’ s ever-rising livin g costs, you, like most homemakers, are probably searching for foods that are easy on the budget, loaded with nourishing protein, and tasty and tempting to eat. That’ s a large order to fill—but search no longer. Look to the sea! Your local fish market or frozen seafood counter has a wide variety o f seafoods to fill your needs, ranging from party-fare to budget- priced. Don’ t let the price tags fool you; fish that sell for less are just as tasty and nourishing as those with a higher price. The difference is in demand, ease o f catching, and the quantity available. One o f today’ s best buys is whiting caught in the cold waters o ff the shores o f Massachusetts and Maine. W hiting, one o f the most versatile fish on the market are used in more d iffe re n t ways than any other species. They are p le n tifu l and therefore among the least expensive. Whiting have tender, white, firm- textured flesh. They can be baked, b ro ile d , panfried or poached. Whiting are available frozen, either whole, headed and dressed, or dilleted ; and they are sometimes smoked. The average weight is from 1 to 4 pounds and up to 12 inches in length. Flaky whiting, a National Marine Fisheries Service recipe, o ffe rs a special taste treat and one that you can afford to serve again and again. In this easy-do recipe the whiting are dipped into beaten egg and rolled in a zesty mixture o f shelf-ready instant mashed potato flakes and cheese- The number one concern in choosing children’ s toys is safety. But there are other things that we should consider as well, says Cal W illiam s, M ulto no m a h C ounty Home Economist, such as the child's age, interests and a bilities. Many toys have suggested ages printed on the outside o f the package. A fte r you’ ve decided whether the toy is appropriate for the child’s age, ask yourself if it w ill help him develop new skills and discover new interests such as art, sports, or science. The Toy M anufacturers o f Am erica o ffe r the fo llo w in g suggestions for buying toys. I. D on’ t buy toys im pulsively. garlic salad dressing m ix. A sp rin klin g o f melted butter or margarine adds extra fla v o r and helps keep the fish m oist while baking. This flavorful fish will tease the taste, delight the eye, and save the budget. Pineapple and orange slices served with crispy greens make a tasty salad accompaniment. Fish and fruit always go so well together! Go ahead and beat high prices-treat your family to Flaky whiting, then listen to the raves come in! FLAKY WHITING melted 3 pounds pan-dressed whiting or other pan-dressed fish, fresh Paprika’A or frozen Thaw frozen fish. Clean, wash, 1 teaspoon salt and dry fish. Sprinkle inside with salt dash pepper and pepper. Combine potato Hakes, salad dressing mix, salt, and pepper. 1 cup instant mashed potato Dip fish in egg and roll in potato flakes Hakes. Place fish in single layer on a 1 package (7/10 ounce) cheese- well-greased bake and serve platter, garlic salad dressing mix 16 by 10 inches. Pour butter over fish. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake in 'h teaspoon salt an extremely hot oven, 500°F., for 15 dash pepper to 20 m inutes or u n til fish flake 1 egg.beaten easily when tested w ith a fo rk . 'A cup butter or margarine. Makes 6 servings. Both you and your children w ill en­ joy their new playthings more if you consider the types o f toys that your children are interested in, Mrs. Williams says. D on’ t restrict your purchases to those kinds o f toys that you enjoyed in your childhood. 2. Select playthings w ith some degree o f realism. Through T V , movies and books, today's children are aware o f and stimulated by the world around them. Psychologists suggest that realistic toys-playthings that are scaled down models o f real- life objects-help children, especially younger ones, to become inventive and imaginative in their play. 3. Look for toys that provide a variety o f play experiences. While very young children may simply stack a set o f blocks, slightly older children may use the same blocks to "represent” a city, using their other toys (cars, dolls, animals) as props. Mrs. Williams points out there are many toys that suggest a variety o f activities to children and encourage them to use their imaginations in play. 4. Gradually introduce more com­ plex versions o f familiar playthings. Younger children need simple board games that are governed by chance. As children grow and learn strategy you can introduce games requiring skill. Observe your children's play to see when they're ready for the next, more complex play experience. 5. Spread your toy budget throughout the year. D on’ t over­ whelm children with too many new toys at once. Use birthdays, the start o f fam ily vacations and other oc­ casions to introduce new toys and new play experiences. 6. Involve your children in the toy selection process. Learning to play also means learning to make decisions. Discussing toy selection with children encourages them to think for themselves and live with the consequences o f their decisions. Mrs. Cal W illaitns adds it's a valuable lesson in consumer education. All Salew ay's W ill Be... SAFEWAY CLOSED Christmas Day Tuesday December 25 Closing at 6 p m Christmas Eve So furt^p'o.eps HF Mar SpendHoi da» A 'ft ■-Liter Soft Drinks ». 1 2 -Pock Í 5 Budweiser ■ Cragmont Reg Diet Mixers Ptusdep 1-Pound C&H Suge 'Powdered Dork of Golden Bi Vegetable < O i l- 4 8 01. ’ Mu-Made Salad 4 Cooking Oil j sc ■ rib J ( V i 6 - P a k Michelob"1 Lucef’f* INTRODUCTORY OFFER! Blazer Bar ENERGY. We can't afford to waste it. Fresh Butter Crest Toothpaste ■Shady Lane Quarters 1-lb Carton Whipping Cream Lucerne Bonus Quality 2-lb. Sharp Cheddar Pint H oliday F avorites © Ice Cream ©Dinner Rolls © Mixed Nuts ©3-lb. Shortening ©Aluminum Foil © 28-oz. 7 up Lucama Aiaortad Flavors Hart Gal ...U N IO N OR COMPANY D E N T A L IN S U R A N C E ISA VALUABLE AS SE T... YOUR HEALTH AND APPEARANCE COMPLETE COOPERATION ON ALL DENTAL INSURANCE CLAIMS WE HANDLE ALL THE DETAILS OF COMPLETING YOUR CLAIM FORMS Party Pnda Muti •/Paanut« 12-« Coupon Redeemable thru Monday Dec Ï* I97R Wrigley's Gum ?len T Pak 1' sticks Limit 4 Packs With Coupon i , & a ??/ m a a & m |gr T angerines Smoked Ham Sweet Zipper Skinned Fruit Christmas Time Favorite | a m a t. ------------------------------, r ■ SAFEWAY COUPON no appointment needed Come in at your convenience PARK F R E E -A n y Park n Shop Lot HOURS: Weekdays 8:30am to 5pm Saturdays 8:30am