Happy New Year

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Culinary Travel: Florida

Florida cuisine is extremely diverse, as varied as her population, as exciting as her history. From the Spanish settlers in the early 16th century to the Cuban, Caribbean and African immigrants, the rich fusion of exotic and complex cuisines has created a food culture that continues to evolve. Visiting the Florida panhandle, the food traveler will find barbecue, grits, Cajun and Creole dishes, while a cooking vacation in the lower parts of Florida offers dishes such as Cuban arroz con pollo and Jamaican jerk chicken. Foodies will discover spicy flavors combined with the sweetness of tropical fruits such as mangoes, papayas, coconuts, and citrus fruits. Florida cuisine also features native seafood specialties including conch, grouper, snapper, and grunt along with unique local dishes like swamp cabbage, seviche, and Key lime pie. Vacationers are sure to enjoy the eclectic blend of culinary delights that are found in Florida.

Florida Key Lime Pie

 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
 2 (14 ounce) cans low-fat sweetened condensed milk
 3/4 cup key lime juice
 1 teaspoon grated lime zest
 1/4 teaspoon salt
 1 cup heavy cream, chilled
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Directions
To Make Lime Filling: In a large mixing bowl, whip cream cheese until fluffy. Add condensed milk, lime juice, lime rind, and salt. Whip until mixture is smooth. Pour into graham cracker crust. Cover with plastic wrap and chill thoroughly.

To Make Topping:
 In a medium bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form. Add vanilla or lemon extract and confectioners' sugar. Continue to whip until cream forms stiff peaks. Place topping in a fine-mesh sieve and place sieve over a bowl to catch liquid that drains off. Cover topping tightly with plastic wrap and allow to drain for 2 hours.

Before serving, discard liquid that has drained from topping. Spread topping over pie.

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Best Skiing Destinations: Girdwood, Alaska

Girdwood is not your average resort town. While it might draw in a large number of visitors every year, largely thanks to Hotel Alyeska, a luxury resort at the base of Mount Alyeska, it is a small, tight-knit community where you can find a range of characters, from ski bums to senators, all with a great love for the outdoors. Just an hour's drive from Anchorage, or a short ride on the Alaska Railroad, this eclectic town is a favorite stop for visitors and locals.

Rising up from the edge of town, Alyeska Resort is the largest ski area in Alaska. It has six lifts, two magic carpets, and a 60-person tram that climbs the mountain’s steep north face with views to the ocean. Tree line is low this far north, so the upper half of the mountain is wide-open alpine, more like the open terrain of the Alps than a typical American resort. There are ample blue runs and a smattering of beginner runs near the base, but experts will get the most out of the mountain.

Originally called “Glacier City” for the icy behemoths that rim the surrounding mountains, it’s no surprise that touring a glacier is so easily accessible. You can go on a guided hike over Alaska’s glaciers and mountain ridges. If you want to strike it rich, you can go on a gold panning tour. Flightsee over glaciers and take in the amazing Prince William Sound. Enjoy the views from a raft, or take the wheel with a Jeep or ATV. And if you’re in the mood to mush, you can go dog sledding across a glacier. If you want to see wildlife up close, check out the 140-acre Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center just 11 miles pas the Girdwood turnoff.

For many, winter in Girdwood is a non-stop holiday. Skiers, snowboarders, and outdoor enthusiasts revel in the trails and slopes that the town has to offer. However, Girdwood has a number of fairs and festivals that draw in large crowds throughout the rest of the year. And if you’re planning to explore the area on your own, be sure to check out Girdwood’s top trails in summer and winter.

After a day of exploring Girdwood, take a tram ride up to Seven Glaciers Restaurant, perched on Mount Alyeska. With large windows and gorgeous views of the Chugach Mountains and Turnagain Arm, you will be in awe of Alaska’s little “resort town”.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours at (602) 843-5100 to book your holiday travel today. Check out our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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Let Us Help You Get Lost

Whether business or pleasure, Rawhide Travel and Tours delivers. Internet Travel sites list hotels and destinations, but offer little else. Our years of experience in the industry will help you design the perfect traveling experience. From romantic getaways to large events, our experienced agents will handle all the details. Traveling does not need to be stressful. You can count on us for great value and dependable service.

We arrange travel air, land and sea. We can arrange the perfect destination package including, resorts, conference rooms and meeting locations, special events, and attractions.

Call us and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com


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Merry Christmas

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Culinary Travel: Christmas Cookies: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

This family favorite pairs the winning combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Best of all, they're sealed with a kiss.

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup smooth or chunky peanut butter (not natural)
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla 
30 chocolate kisses, unwrapped

Special Equipment:
2 large baking sheets

Directions
Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and a second rack in the lower third then preheat to 350°F.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

Place 1/2 cup sugar in a small bowl.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the remaining 1/2 cup sugar with the brown sugar, butter, and peanut butter and beat on medium speed, scraping the bowl occasionally, until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the egg and vanilla, beat on medium until fully incorporated, about 1 minute. 

With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture and stir until just combined.

 Roll the dough into walnut-size balls, roll in sugar, and arrange on baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between cookies.

 Bake, switching the cookies between the upper and lower racks about halfway through baking, until just starting to brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

 Remove the cookies from the oven and press a chocolate kiss into the center of each. Cool the cookies on baking sheets for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Continue baking cookies on cooled baking sheets. 

Do Ahead: The cookies can be baked ahead and stored, in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 3 days.

Yield
Makes 24 to 30 cookies

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Best Christmas Destinations: Hotels That Deck the Halls

There’s no place like home for the holidays unless you can treat yourself to a hotel instead. The most festive hotels deck not only the halls, but just about anything that gets in their way, with showstopping decorations, towering Christmas trees, and light spectacles that are sure to make your spirits bright.

It can be a wonderful time to travel, whether you want to experience how another part of the country celebrates Christmas or just steer clear of the demands of decorating and cooking back home.

Here are some hotels/resorts that go all out to decorate for Christmas.

Coeur d’Alene Resort, ID
For more than a quarter of a century, this lakefront resort has transformed into a watery winter wonderland. This year, holiday guests can expect a 1.5-million-light show, the largest in the country, accompanied by a 160-foot-tall living Christmas tree, a 3,000-pound wreath, and more than 400 animated holiday figures. Be sure to board a cruise boat for the ride to the “North Pole,” where Santa’s workshop awaits.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, AZ
A white Christmas comes to the desert thanks to snowfalls, an ice-skating rink oasis (christened in 2013 by Olympian Dorothy Hamill), and oversize outdoor displays that include 14-foot poinsettias and a candy-cane forest. There are no fewer than 180 illuminated Christmas trees; a whopping 1.8 million holiday lights fringing the resort’s lagoons; and a special holiday “train” to take it all in from. Plus, all the usual Christmas standbys: hot cocoa, carolers, and the jolly big fellow himself.

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville
Now in its 30th year, the Gaylord’s “Country Christmas” celebration pulls out all the stops for the holidays, with special events and activities, and over-the-top décor offset by more than 2 million holiday lights. Blockbuster attractions include a Frosty the Snowman themed ice installation, showcasing more than 2 million pounds of ice sculptures and an on-site production of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, with its famed high-kicking Rockettes.

Hotel Colorado, Glenwood Springs, CO
With the snowcapped Rockies as backdrop, the Hotel Colorado (est. 1893) stages a massive Christmas display with 250,000 lights, many draped over the twinkling twin-towered façade. The assortment of Christmas scenes and displays includes a life-size Santa in his antique sleigh and the gingerbread-house-themed Legends Café coated with real gingerbread.

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, Riverside, CA
Sixty miles east of L.A., The Mission puts on an illuminated extravaganza with nearly 4 million lights and 400 animated figures. Soak up the atmosphere while gliding around the ice rink, riding in a horse-drawn carriage, or puckering up under the world’s largest man-made mistletoe. Nighttime brings live music and appearances by Old Saint Nick, accompanied by his trusty sidekicks: live reindeer.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours at (602) 843-5100 to book your holiday travel today. Check out our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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Experience Full Service

Need to travel on business or leisure, Rawhide Travel and Tours will make it happen. We will arrange your flights, rail, hotel, car rentals and cruises. Let us assist you in planning your upcoming business trip. We're also available to help you plan that exciting vacation.

Want a small hotel or a luxury resort? Let Rawhide Travel and Tours customize the perfect spot just for you! We have many choices.  Let Us Help You Get Lost.

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EVA Air to fly Hello Kitty Boeing 777s from Houston

Taiwan's EVA  Air is the latest international carrier to announce new service to the Houston airport, saying it would begin flying its distinctive Hello Kitty-themed planes to Houston this summer. 

EVA's Houston service will be to its main base in Taipei. The airline will fly three weekly flights starting June 19 before increasing that to four weekly flights on July 1.

EVA says it will fly the route with brand new Boeing 777-300ER jets that are scheduled to be delivered to the airline in May. EVA says the 777-300ER it will use on the Houston route "will be specially painted nose-to-tail with Hello Kitty and Sanrio characters." EVA flies its distinctively painted planes on select routes. EVA has previously flown In the News: Hello Kitty planes to Los Angeles.

As for the 777 it will use to Houston, the 333-seat aircraft will have 39 seats in EVA's Royal Laurel Class business section, 56 in "Elite" premium economy and 238 in regular coach. The planes will be equipped with Wi-Fi and new in-flight entertainment systems. EVA's new 777s also will offer text-messaging and roaming service options that will allow fliers to send and receive short messages on their own mobile phones.

Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH) will become EVA's seventh destination in the United States and Canada, joining Los Angeles, New York JFK, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver. The Houston flights also give EVA the opportunity to funnel connecting passengers to and from Star Alliance partner United, which operates its busiest hub at IAH.

For IAH, EVA joins a growing list of recent airlines that have added new international service at the Texas airport.

Just last week, Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways announced it would add flights from IAH to Tokyo Narita. Elsewhere, Korean Air and Scandinavian carrier SAS are among the major international carriers that have added new long-haul routes from the airport in 2014. Others, including Air China and Emirates, have beefed up capacity on existing IAH routes. In addition, United also new international routes to Munch and Santiago, Chile, while low-cost carrier Spirit announced a major expansion at IAH that includes several Latin American destinations.

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Off the Beaten Path: National Christmas Center

National Christmas Center is dedicated to preserving and sharing precious mementoes and memories of Christmases past.

Nestled in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, National Christmas Center Family Attraction & Museum takes you on a journey through wonderful memories of Christmases past and present, near and far. 

Relive precious memories, window shop at "Woolworth's 5&10", filled with vintage merchandise and fixtures; discover "Christmas 1944, The War Years", and more. Thousands of antiques and collectibles stir memories of hearth and home.

Be a child again, imagine a christmas tree so large its branches reach the four corners of the room! Nestled underneath is a huge mountain of fantasy villages and electric trains, "Toyland". Step into the pages of a fairytale as you walk through "TudorTowne", the animated storybook village. Encounter the animated elves, bears and reindeer busily crafting Christmas toys in "Santa's North Pole Workshop".

Learn the origins of many Christmas customs and traditions in "Pennsylvania Christmas". Explore a global village and see life-sized gift givers in "Christmas around the World". Watch the evolution from Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, Turkey, 300 AD, to today's Santa Claus.

Fifteen main galleries and numerous, ever-changing smaller exhibits.

20,000 square feet of life-sized, walk-through, indoor exhibits bring the holiday to life for all ages.

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Culinary Travel: Christmas Cookies - Germany

These fragrant treats, provide a delightful rush of warm spices when bitten into. Pfeffernüsse are one of the oldest of German cookies and an excellent addition to any Christmas cookie plate. Dunk them in coffee, tea, mulled cider, or hot chocolate. Or don’t dunk, just eat.

German Spice Cookies (Pfeffernüsse)

Ingredients
½ cup honey
⅓ cup unsulfured molasses
2 tbsp. butter
2 eggs, at room temperature
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
½ cup candied lemon peel, finely chopped
⅓ cup almonds, finely ground
¾ tsp. freshly ground cinnamon
¾ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
¾ tsp. freshly ground cloves
¾ tsp. freshly ground cardamom
½ tsp. baking powder
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1–2 tbsp. light rum


Directions
Put honey, molasses, and butter into a small pot and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until hot, 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Add eggs and whisk to combine. Put flour, half the lemon peel, almonds, cinnamon, pepper, cloves, cardamom, and baking powder into a large bowl and stir to combine. Add honey mixture and beat with a wooden spoon until well combined, to form a dough. Cover surface of dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Lightly oil your palms with some of the oil. Form dough into 36 balls, each about 1" wide (the dough will be very sticky, so keep your hands lightly oiled while working). Divide dough balls between baking sheets, keeping them spaced 1" apart. Bake until slightly cracked on top and just firm to the touch, about 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool slightly.

Meanwhile, whisk together confectioners' sugar, rum, and 5 tsp. hot water to make a smooth glaze. While cookies are still warm, use a pastry brush to coat each one with a layer of glaze. While the surfaces of the cookies are still moist with glaze, garnish each top with pieces of the remaining lemon peel. Set cookies aside to let cool completely. Eat right away or store in an airtight container, layered between sheets of waxed paper, for up to one week.

Makes 3 Dozen

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Best Christmas Destinations: Santa Claus, Indiana

This famous town is home to the world's only post office with the Santa Claus name! Experience the world's first theme park, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, featuring three of the top wooden roller coasters and the world's longest water coaster. Visit Christmas-themed attractions throughout the town of Santa Claus, Indiana, such as Santa's Candy Castle, Santa Claus Christmas Store, Santa's Stables, and more.

Santa Claus Land of Lights
Experience the shining story of Rudolph told in brilliant LED lights! The Santa Claus Land of Lights is a 1.2 mile Drive-Through Family Christmas Light Adventure located inside 
Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort.

 Santa Claus Museum & Village
The Santa Claus Museum features historical documents, photos and artifacts illustrating the progression from the tiny settlement of Santa Fee (pop. 65) to the present day town of Santa Claus. Exhibits feature the story behind the town's famous name, the history of tourism, and artifacts highlighting the town's unique history. Page through decades of children's letters to Santa Claus, and listen to the voice of Santa Jim Yellig. Explore the joy behind Christmases of yesteryear with antique toy displays and a large collection of Santas of every shape, size and interpretation.

Make sure to visit the Original Santa Claus Post Office and pen your free letter to Santa. Include your full address, as Santa and his Elves will write back in December. This historic structure also serves as the headquarters for Santa’s Elves, a group of volunteers who tirelessly help Santa answer the thousands of children’s letters that arrive every year.

Experience the magic of Christmas at the Santa Claus Christmas Store. Here you are sure to find just what you would expect in the only town named after jolly Ole St. Nick. From beautiful gifts, collectibles, Christmas tree ornaments and brilliant twinkling light displays to the warm mouth-watering aroma of Mrs. Claus' Christmas goodies, they specialize in the complete holiday experience.

Stop by the 1880 Santa Claus Church, a beautiful historic structure that contains most of its original furnishings. And don't miss the opportunity to take your family photo in front of the historic 1935 Santa Claus Statue. Standing 22-feet-tall and built of solid concrete, this statue is one of a kind.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours at (602) 843-5100 to book your holiday travel today. Check out our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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Rawhide Travel and Tours: The Best Travel Agent in Glendale, Arizona

This month the tree is decked out to welcome in the holiday season. No matter what you are celebrating, Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanzaa, we hope you have a joyous holiday.

The Christmas Tree
From millions of homes worldwide to the White House, the Christmas tree is a tradition that owes its popularity in part to a popular British queen. In 1846, the popular royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Unlike the previous royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at court immediately became fashionable.

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles.

Rawhide Travel and Tours with combined total of “75 years of travel experience" provides amazing deals for your dream vacation with experienced, friendly travel experts.

Plan your next great vacation with Rawhide Travel and Tours. Call today (602) 843-5100 or email us at flythis@rawhidetravel.com.

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In the News: Flying With Pets: How to Ensure Their Safety

With the holiday travel season in full swing, it's a good time to consider expert advice on how best to manage your itinerary. After all, Thanksgiving through New Year's spans some of the busiest days of the year for commercial flying in the United States.

But for those whose family includes furry members, it's also a good time to consider whether four-legged loved ones should fly at all. It's an issue that has been back in the news in recent weeks, after passenger Frank Romano's dog was lost by Delta Air Lines in Los Angeles in October, allegedly after chewing through a plastic kennel.

Can some animals travel safely, either in the cabin or the belly of an aircraft? Yes. But it's a more complex issue than many pet owners realize, so do your research.

Some pets should never fly. The American Humane Association advises: "As a general rule, puppies and kittens, sick animals, animals in heat and frail or pregnant animals should not travel by air." Furthermore, the Humane Society of the United States warns "air travel is particularly dangerous for animals with 'pushed-in' faces," such as bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats; some airlines will not accept them.

During this holiday season, some regions of the United States will be too cold for pet travel, while other regions will be too hot, making the booking process quite difficult. Minimum and maximum temperature guidelines apply, and they also apply to connecting cities along the way.

There are so many dangers, concerns and nuances involved in flying with pets. In doing your research here are some good references:

• The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Air Travel Tips 
• The Humane Society's Travel Safely 
• The American Humane Association's Traveling 
• The American Veterinary Medical Association's Traveling with Your Pet 

All four of these organizations also provide advice for those who travel by alternate modes, such as car, bus, train and ship.

Before you query individual airline policies, you need to review governmental restrictions. The U.S. Department of Transportation provides guidelines on Transporting Live Animals for both owners and shippers at its site. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration features a Flying with Pets page; it includes critical information on security screening and rules for pets in the passenger cabin.

For those traveling with pets in foreign countries or importing or exporting pets, there are specific requirements, detailed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For a rundown on foreign rules, country-by-country regulations are provided by the industry's global trade organization, the International Air Transport Association.

Once you've addressed all these issues, you'll need to learn the specific policies of the carrier you'll be booking, since they do vary. Each airline has its own rules on which animals it will and will not carry, specific regulations for cabin and belly travel and policies on containers.  Fees can vary for such services.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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Off the Beaten Path: The Museum of Science and Industry’s, Chicago, IL

The Museum of Science and Industry’s 73rd annual Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light features more than 50 trees and displays, beautifully decorated by volunteers from Chicago’s ethnic communities to reflect their diverse culture and holiday traditions. Guests can stroll through the dazzling forest of trees, enjoy intermittent falling “snow” every half hour and savor the performances of various dance and choral groups on the Holiday Stage.

This year’s Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light features a Disney theme, highlighting temporary exhibit Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. The Museum’s 45-foot Grand Tree, located in the Rotunda, pays homage to the exhibit with more than 30,000 twinkling lights and hundreds of Disney-inspired ornaments and trimmings. Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives offers more than 300 artifacts and hands-on experiences that tell the story of Walt Disney’s innovations and legacy. New for the holiday season, see costumes from Disney films such as The Santa Clause and Maleficent, learn about the making of the animated film Frozen, and even sketch beloved new characters from some of your favorite Disney movies!

Explore nine decades of Disney history and artifacts in Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives. Presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, the exhibition celebrates Disney imagination, innovation and entertainment with nearly 300 artifacts, many which have not been widely seen by the public. From clips of Walt Disney's earliest animated pre-Mickey works, to props, models and costumes from modern favorites like The Little Mermaid and Pirates of the Caribbean, the exhibition is full of childhood memories for kids of all ages. 

The Museum of Science and Industry opened its doors in 1933 and is the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, is home to more than 35,000 artifacts and more than 400,000 square feet of hands-on experiences designed to spark scientific inquiry and creativity. Since opening our doors in 1933, we’ve welcomed more than 180 million guests from around the world. Our mission, to inspire the inventive genius in everyone by presenting captivating and compelling experiences that are real and educational, is realized through world-class exhibits such as: Science Storms, an exhibit revealing the science behind some of nature’s most powerful phenomena; YOU! The Experience, an exhibit that lets you explore what it means to live a vital, healthy life in the 21st century; and the U-505 Submarine, the only German U-boat in the United States.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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Culinary Travel: Christmas Cookies - France

It has been claimed that meringue was invented in the Swiss village of Meiringen and improved by an Italian chef named Gasparini in the 18th century. However this claim is contested; the Oxford English Dictionary states that the French word is of unknown origin. It is sure nevertheless that the name meringue for this confection first appeared in print in François Massialot's cookbook of 1692.

Authentic French Meringues 

Ingredients
4 egg whites
2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar


Directions
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C). Butter and flour a baking sheet.

In a glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until foamy using an electric mixer. Sprinkle in sugar a little at a time, while continuing to whip at medium speed. When the mixture becomes stiff and shiny like satin, stop mixing, and transfer the mixture to a large pastry bag. Pipe the meringue out onto the prepared baking sheet using a large round tip or star tip.

Place the meringues in the oven and place a wooden spoon handle in the door to keep it from closing all the way. Bake for 3 hours, or until the meringues are dry, and can easily be removed from the pan. Allow cookies to cool completely before storing in an airtight container at room temperature.

Prep 20 mins Cook 3 hrs Ready in 3 hrs 20 mins
Original recipe makes 3 dozen

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Best Christmas Destinations: New York City

New York City makes a great destinations all year long, but it is especially gorgeous at Christmastime.

In addition to having superb shopping, it's a great place to find unique gifts as well as find everything on your own wish list.  New York City also boasts many holiday traditions. There is the giant tree at Rockefeller Center and the holiday-themed windows at New York's famed department stores. Another attractions that brings scores of tourists to New York City during the holidays is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, a Broadway-style show put on by the famous, high-kicking Rockettes at the even more famous Radio City Music Hall.

Here are a few things you might want to do while in New York.

Rockefeller Center Plaza 
See the big tree, a tadition since 1931 and now boasting 45,000 LED lights. It's worth fighting the crowds, particularly after dark when the lights bounce off the bare shoulders of the golden Prometheus statue. Lights click off at 11:30 pm through Christmas, then at 9 pm through New Year's Eve.

Go window shopping. The holiday themed window at the major department store can be amazing.

FAO Schwarz and try the giant floor piano keyboard at New York's most famous toy store. The FAO Schwarz flagship store in New York City is a must-see destination in the Big Apple, bringing the 150-year legacy of the beloved brand to life for visitors of all ages. 

Go ice skating at the Wollman Rink in Central Park. Skating on Wollman Rink is a winter tradition for New Yorkers and tourists alike, so many people have tied up their skates for the very first time on this ice. Ice skating is a long-standing and beloved tradition here in Central Park, as old as the Park itself.

Macy's elaborate Santaland, a stunner of a scene of Christmas trees, elves, toy trains and snow-filled wonder. It's also still home to the 'one real Santa Claus according to Macy's stor hotline.

See a holiday show. St John the Divine's Winter Solstice is a beloved, and rather secular, concert series (this year December 18–20), while Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular is the show every NY kid sees growing up, with dozens of dancing Santas and the line of Rockettes a-leg-kicking.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours at (602) 843-5100 to book your holiday travel today. Check out our website: rawhidetravel.com.

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Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Plan Your Next Vacation With Rawhide Travel and Tours

Rawhide Travel and Tours with combined total of “75 years of travel experience" provides amazing deals for your dream vacation with experienced, friendly travel experts.

Services offered include booking domestic and international air travel, hotel and resort reservations, car rental and cruises for individuals, corporate, group and incentive travel. Also tour packages of every type from a weekend getaway, to San Diego or Disneyland to involved and detailed vacations worldwide.

Plan your next great vacation with Rawhide Travel and Tours. Call today (602) 843-5100 or email us at flythis@rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

In the News: Why Airfares Continue to Rise as Oil Prices Drop

Oil Prices are down but airlines are not lowering their fares.  How is that possible?

In October, there were four separate attempts by U.S. airlines tried to hike airfares with mixed success.

United, Delta, and Southwest matched an American/US Airways fare increase of $2 one way, or $4 round trip.

In the super-competitive airline world, fares typically increase when one carrier raises prices and others follow, but they could be rolled back if competitors don't follow or if one or more airlines decides to roll back.

By the end of that week, American rolled back its prices, but there will likely be other attempts.

Since this took place against a backdrop of falling oil prices, jet fuel accounts for about one-third of airline operating costs, saving them billions, you might have expected them to drop ticket prices. Don't count on it.

Normally, when oil prices are down, the economy follows and people don't want to fly. That's not happening; the U.S. economy is outpacing much of the rest of the world and demand remains strong. Oil prices keep falling. During the October hike attempts, oil dropped to the low $80s per barrel. At the moment it's a bargain-basement $60+.

Airlines are not passing along savings to passengers, mostly because, they don't have to. There is no incentive to do so.

Here are some more reasons:

Demand is good

Every day, people tell the airlines their ticket prices are just fine by the simple act of boarding a plane. And boarding they are, in near record numbers. According to the recently-released government statistics, in August alone, 70 million passengers squeezed into U.S. airline cabins which meant a record domestic load factor of 86.8 percent. So people are willing to pay what airlines charge, why would they lower prices?

Competition is down

Blame all those mergers of the past few years that saw Continental disappear into United, Northwest into Delta plus the unions of US Airways and American and AirTran and Southwest. This means a lot of competition which helped keep prices low is gone; four U.S. airlines control about 75 percent of all flights, and competition continues to decline particularly on international routes.

Airlines are healthy

This is an odd and refreshing change for a lot of carriers that struggled to survive in the dark days after Sept. 11th and again during the recession of 2008. Many did not survive, and those that did began cutting out frills, like meals, and instituting then shocking innovations like baggage fees. Most important, they cut capacity, and merged. Planes these days are packed.

Airlines are very happy to be profitable for a change and are using some of this money to increase investor dividends, spruce up aging terminals and replace older gas-guzzling aircraft.

Where does this leave the passenger?

While there is no incentive to discount at the moment, this could change quickly. Plus, if oil continues to stay low, we might also see new start-up airlines, which would add fare-lowering competition to the mix. JetBlue adding more capacity while Delta tries to gain market share in Latin America.

But ultimately, passengers are in the driver's seat. When we say "Enough!" to airfare prices and follow that up by refusing to fly then ticket prices will drop.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Off the Beaten Path: Schokoladenmuseum (Chocolate Museum), Cologne, Germany

Hans Imhoff, a chocolatier and businessman from Cologne, opened the Schokoladenmuseum in 1993, after retiring from the confectionary business in 1992. The museum that bears the late industrialist's name is a paen to the product of the cacao bean, from its development and primitive processing in the New World by the Olmecs, Mayans and Aztecs, to modern production methods and innovations. The program discusses the role of chocolate in later South American societies and among European elite. With 5,000 guided tours and 675,000 visitors a year, the museum is in the Top Ten of German museums.

The museum sits inside a glass-and-steel structure shaped like a ship. Inside, the tour takes visitors through the process of chocolate production from the farm to the candy store, continuing through a greenhouse where two species of cacao trees are grown and then on through the industrialization of chocolate production, including vintage advertising campaigns. Miniature machinery allow guests a closer look at the production process, and the chocolate produced by these machines can be sampled. A  9.8 foot chocolate fountain is the highlight, succeeded only by dipping a wafer into the chocolate stream.

In addition to celebrating the history and taste of chocolate, the museum also strives to educate guests on Fair-Trade chocolate and the international chocolate authorities' commitment to bettering working conditions on cacao farms.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Culinary Travel: Christmas Cookies - Germany

Take inspiration from Christmas traditions around the world and bake up a batch of these Christmas cookies. The Snickerdoodle is the best "sugar" in the history of cookies. Great warm with a tall glass of cold milk.

Candy Cane Snickerdoodles

Makes about 48

Ingredients
2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
12 crushed candy canes

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a baking mat and put in refrigerator to chill.

Whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla.

 Gradually stir in the flour mixture, beating on low speed just until the flour is blended.

Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.

In the meantime, mix together the sugar and crushed candy canes in a small bowl.

Scoop 1-inch balls of dough and roll in the crushed candy canes to coat.

Place on chilled cookie sheet about 2 inches apart and bake for 10 minutes.

Chill the dough and cookie sheets between batches.

 Let cookies set on baking sheet for 2-3 minutes and then remove to a cooling rack. Store cookies in an airtight container.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Best Christmas Destinations: Edinburgh, Scotland

The second most populous city in Scotland is home to one of the most vivid holiday celebrations which include holiday light shows and fireworks.

Edinburgh's Christmas is a spectacular, six-week season of festive entertainment in the heart of the city. Taking place in St Andrew Square and East Princes St Gardens, the festival features a host of shows in the beautiful Spiegeltent, as well as ice skating, markets and rides, including the Big Wheel and the 60-metre Star Flyer, with breathtaking views over the city.

In 2013, the Christmas attractions were visited by over 2.6 million people. 2013’s opening ceremony saw over 26,000 people take to George Street to witness Sir Chris Hoy switch on Edinburgh’s Christmas lights. The festival is a fantastic Christmas celebration, and great fun for the whole family!

Edinburgh's Christmas takes place over multiple sites in the town center.

St Andrew Square features the Spiegeltent, where our shows take place, the Scottish Market, the helter skelter, one of our two fantastic carousels, a brand new ice rink and bars serving something to warm you up!

East Princes Street Gardens hosts the Big Wheel, the Star Flyer, a stunning ice rink and carousel, and the traditional European market.

Santa Land, also in East Princes Street Gardens, features Santa’s Grotto, a Christmas Tree Maze, the Santa Train, a children’s market, and family-friendly rides the North Pole Slide, Race-o-Rama, Swan Lake, Reindeer Ride, and a Rollercoaster.

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours at (602) 843-5100 to book your holiday travel today. Check out our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com