Today's Entertainment

Shania Twain of "Real Country" on USA Network "My favorite things to watch before bed – though they always give me nightmares – are crime stories, prison stories, things like that. l'm always trying to solve a mystery." Caitriona Balfe of "Outlander" on Starz "There's been way too much politics going on these days, like the news is sort of what I end up watching, mostly, and Rachel Maddow. But that doesn't tend to be great for the mental health these days. 'Ozark' was one I watched recently, which was really good. Obviously, 'The Handmaid's Tale' was incredible. I'm so bad. I've been shooting so much that I haven't been able to catch up on too much TV. Hilarie Burton, seen recently in "The Christmas Contract" and "'Tis the Season: A One Tree Hill Cast Reunion" on Lifetime "I really like 'Divorce.' I think that's a smart show. And I also love 'Catastrophe'; I binged the hell out of that, it was so good!" As a baker and one-time architecture student, Marcela Valladolid appreciates the work, artistry and construction know- how of the competitors who create their elaborate confections on Food Network's "Holiday Gingerbread Showdown." "Especially the ones that really thought about proportion," she says, "Like the ones where you could truly just shrink yourself down to size and there was so much detail that you could live in those spaces. ... And the ones that really stood out for me were those. Like the ones where they were actual, like, living spaces or working spaces or play spaces or playgrounds or parks or cities or whatever they were building, and it was just really, really incredible to try to imagine yourself be that size and navigate those pieces of art because that's what they are. They're true pieces of art." In the four-episode series, which premieres Sunday, Nov. 25, host Valladolid ("The Kitchen," "Mexican Made Easy") tests the skills of nine gingerbread artists in holiday- themed challenges, with the final products evaluated by judges Kerry Vincent, Molly Yeh and Adam Young. The winners of each episode advance to the finale on Dec. 16 with a chance to win a $25,000 grand prize and a feature in Food Network magazine. As the competition progressed during filming, which took place in early fall, Valladolid was also struck by the intense focus of these individuals, who had only hours to do what they're used to doing in weeks. And when things didn't go as planned, she says, it was obvious. "They are so into their art and they're so into all of this," Valladolid says, "that whenever they made a mistake they were the first ones to point it out. And as a host, because I wasn't a judge on this fortunately, I would say, 'Don't tell us what you did wrong, don't open your statement telling us that you didn't have time to do those details on the window or whatever.' "But because they are artists, they were mortified about presenting us with something that wasn't up to their standards of perfection. So you could definitely tell when somebody was disappointed in their work." And in this case, the work that is very personal. "Sometimes you would have to remind them there were cameras," Valladolid says, "because that's the level of focus that it takes to make it in these kinds of competitions. ... There were moments where it was just absolute dead silent. And I got it. ... I did it for a couple of years in architecture and you just did not want to be spoken to, distracted or moved from that headspace where you're just incredibly focused. And these are artists, this is what they do." Marcela Valladolid BY GEORGE DICKIE Artists construct confectionary masterpieces on 'Holiday Gingerbread Showdown' Page 8 November 26 - December 2, 2018 YOUR LOCAL FULL LINE GROCERY STORE 65730 SR 13, Millersburg 574-642-4399 Monday – Friday 8 – 4:30 • Saturday 6 – 1pm Saturday Morning Coffee & Rolls Starts at 6:00am Farmers Cheese ........................................................ $2.99/lb WC Orange Juice (gallon) ............................................. $3.99 Post Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal...............................2/$3.00 Farm Dust Seasoning 8oz ............................................. $3.99 Whip-N-Ice Frosting 2lb ................................................ $4.29 Orders can be faxed to 574-642-0181 SPECIALS NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 1, 2018 We accept EBT *We Have Yoder Meats Now!* Nice selection of steak and brats. *We will be closed on Thanksgiving Day* Please allow 24 hours notice Order Your Pies TODAY! Bakery is NOW Open!

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