Grapevine Magazine Dec 2020

HOME for the

Holidays GRAPEVINE EDITION DECEMBER 2020

localumbrellamedia.com

CONNIE SUNDSTROM "... A Realtor with Enthusiasm, Integrity and Strong Negotiating Skills."

858-334-8114 • csundstrom@compass.com www.conniesundstrom.com DRE#01304420

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Join us for coffee, tea, pastries, & peace. Find thoughtful gifts & artifacts.

Kettle & Stone

1619 W. Lewis St. | San Diego

619.326.8505

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“We Are All In This Together!”

This holiday season, please consider a locally owned business for your gift purchases. Every dollar that’s spent locally helps drive our economy, and helps keep our businesses thriving.

LIVE LOCAL. • SHOP LOCAL • IT STAYS LOCAL

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Staging your home for

SALE

By Michele Robert Poche

There’s a whole lot more to selling a house than simply putting a sign in the yard. Whether you choose to work with a realtor or list by owner, there are many ways you can increase your home’s selling potential and decrease all that waiting until the act of sale.

• CLEAN Seems like a nobrainer, right? But it’s surprising how much is overlooked by the person actually living there day-to-day. Grime Remove personal items and organize for a neat, clean look. in the bathrooms and kitchen and dust everywhere else should be addressed before every showing. Store a bottle of the refrigerator and disposal for food • LANDSCAPE Trim the all-purpose cleaner in each room for easy odors and, if you have pets, hiding all bushes back from the house. Pressure access. And dust rags? You just can’t have evidence. Create pleasant smells by wash the sidewalks and bricks. Freshen too many. burning scented candles or, according to the lawn, garden, annuals and mulch. legend, baking cookies.

• DECLUTTER Counters, As the old saying goes, you only get one shelving, tabletops, closets, hallways, the chance to make a first impression. When • REPAIR Address things that garage … the more clear and sparselyneed repair. If a door sticks when closed, prospective buyers drive by the house, decorated, the more spacious that area you want so much curb appeal that fix it. If the cabinet handle is loose, will appear. Before showings begin, pack they can’t help but pull over to dial the tighten it. Now is the time to get to all away all mementos, snapshots and number on the sign. those little jobs you’ve been putting off. assorted personal effects. Then label the So break out your tools, light bulbs, filters If all else fails, hire a stager. Yes, boxes. You’ll be thrilled when the movers and WD-40 and get to work. You don’t there are people who are actually paid come. want a leaky toilet costing you a house to handle all of this work for you!

• PURGE Boxing up everything is sale! helpful but do you really still need those old • NEUTRALIZE Yes, it was fun bowling shoes from college? Paring down painting stars on your son’s ceiling and your belongings is helpful at selling and the princess mural on your daughter’s moving time. Consider having a yard sale, wall. But now it’s time to get back to listing a few things on eBay or donating to a basics. Nobody wants to buy a house filled local charity to lighten your family’s load. with immediate projects. Invest in some good, white paint (or go crazy and get • INHALE Every house has a off-white) and start “everyman-ing” that smell. Ensure yours is a good one by house. emptying all trash receptacles, checking

Happy Selling!

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Keeping Traditions Alive During an Unusual Holiday Season

T

his holiday season may look a bit different due to social distancing.

But just because everyone is not physically together, doesn’t mean your family can’t share its favorite traditions.

The Olesen family of O&H Danish Bakery knows how important holiday traditions are to feeling connected to loved ones.

Now in its fourth generation, the familyowned and operated bakery is sharing its best tips for creating holiday cheer from anywhere: • Celebrate virtually: In a survey commissioned by O&H Danish Bakery and conducted by SWNS Media Group and OnePoll, nearly 80 percent of respondents say time with family is their favorite part of the holiday season. Whether your tradition is a Christmas movie marathon, a caroling session around the piano or eating certain foods and baked treats, you can enjoy these activities together over video chat this year.

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• Share traditional foods: The sensory memories that good food creates are powerful. In fact, 44 percent of people say the holiday spirit wouldn’t be the same if they didn’t have their traditional holiday dessert.

If you are like many families, that favorite dessert is Kringle, a traditional Danish treat made of 36 layers of butter and pastry. Among O&H’s special holiday offerings are Thanksgiving Stuffed Kringle, A Very Danish Christmas Kringle and the classic Pecan Kringle. Over the past 70 years, the award-winning bakery has shipped to more than 100 countries, making landfall in all seven continents, including Antarctica. This year, doorstep delivery makes it easy to order a traditional favorite for your own household or send a gift to family members near and far. Visit ohdanishbakery.com.

• Plan ahead: When it comes to ordering gifts and specially baked treats, make sure

to account for busy schedules and congested delivery services to ensure all your goodies arrive on time. Take note of shipping times and policies, as well as ordering deadlines for each company. For example, O&H allows customers to pre-order Kringle and schedule a preferred delivery date in the future.

• Create hygge: Evoking the sights, sounds and aromas of a typical holiday season will help make this year feel more cheerful. Take a cue from Danish culture and embrace hygge. Pronounced “hoo-ga,” it means creating a cozy atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life, such as the warm glow of candlelight or a steaming cup of cocoa -- and there is no better time of year to do it than the holiday season.

This year might be especially difficult for families who are physically separated, but there are many ways to spread cheer and keep traditions alive. (StatePoint)

Holiday Breakfast Waffles

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7 Tips for Hosting a Virtual Holiday Cookie Exchange

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t may take a little extra time and creativity, but a holiday cookie exchange can be held virtually and it’s worth the effort according to experts.

“There’s a famous quote, ‘If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.’ It’s so true for me as I find great joy in developing easy, flavorful recipes,” says Cindy Gilbert, McCormick Test Kitchen chef. “My friends have come to me for years requesting tips and tricks, and over 20 years ago, they anointed me the annual holiday cookie exchange leader. This past year has been challenging, but I knew I wanted to keep the tradition alive while following social distancing guidelines.”

Here are Gilbert’s top seven tips on hosting your own virtual cookie exchange, along with her favorite delicious McCormick cookie picks.

1. Keep the virtual guest list small and local. Your family and friends’ safety is the most important thing, and no one wants to bake a ton of cookies.

Aim for five to 10 people.

Gingerbread Men Cookies – No winter holiday is complete without gingerbread men. They’re cute and can be decorated with raisins, cinnamon red-hot candies or royal icing.

2. Invite cookie enthusiasts. Invite people who enjoy being in the kitchen and welcome sharing their recipe secrets! Tell them they’re going to be sharing the story behind their choice.

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies – This tasty recipe crinkles from the confectioners’ sugar, and the deep chocolate red color and taste add up to a cookie you’ll be proud to share.

3. Package cookies in separate portions. Ask participants to package each serving in individual containers or resealable bags of six cookies per serving.

Easy Lemon Cookie Truffles – This is a perfect no-bake option. Lemon extract adds a bright citrus flavor to this easy four-ingredient treat that starts with store-bought sugar cookies.

4. Arrange the exchange. About an hour before

the virtual get-together, set up a table outside, in a cul-de-sac or school parking lot. Everyone can take turns grabbing their cookies quickly and safely. Or, arrange no contact porch drop-offs during a set time.

Holiday Meringue Cookies – These deliciously airy, light, and low-fat meringue cookies are the perfect confection for any holiday celebration. Add your favorite food coloring for a festive twist.

5. Request the recipes. Ask guests to provide a recipe card in their individual packages, or as the host, you can compile the recipes and share through email.

Double Ginger Gingersnaps – A personal favorite of Gilbert’s, these are a ginger lover’s dream!

Ground ginger and crystallized ginger make the flavor pop on these cookies, which are crispy on the outside and chewy inside.

6. Share stories via video conference. Many guests like to tell the stories behind their cookies. By scheduling time to connect, you’ll likely hear some heartwarming or hilarious anecdotes and maybe even some helpful tidbits.

Sugar Cookie Thumbprints with Spiced Jam – Inspired by a bakery treat, this holiday twist on a classic uses cinnamon or ginger-spiced jam.

7. Have fun. Take time to ask how everyone has been and give them a chance to share what other traditions they’re planning this year.

While the party is about cookies, it’s also about connecting, having fun and picking up a few new recipes to try.

Pecan Cookie Balls – These buttery melt-inyour-mouth cookies, also known as Mexican Wedding Cakes, make a great addition to any holiday cookie exchange.

Find these recipes and more by visiting McCormick.com/CookieExchange.

With a little creativity and the perfect cookie recipe, you can reinvent your favorite baking traditions for a safe and festive holiday season.

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Christmas Cookies

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BOTTOMS UP!

THREE KINDS OF BEVERAGES FOR THREE KINDS OF PARTIES

Holiday Tea INGREDIENTS: • 12 c. water • 12 whole allspice • 3 cinnamon sticks • 2 tsp. whole cloves • 12 tea bags (unflavored or complementary, e.g., orange or cinnamon) • 1 c. sugar • 1 c. cranberry juice • ½ c. orange juice • ¼ c. lemon juice • 12 orange slices DIRECTIONS: • Pour water, allspice, cinnamon and cloves into pot and bring to a boil.

• Remove from heat, add tea bags and steep for 5 minutes.

• Use strainer to remove all contents from water.

• Add juices and sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved.

• Serve hot, garnished with orange slice.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

INGREDIENTS: • 6 half-ounce pieces of your favorite chocolate • 2 tsp. of your favorite hot cocoa mix • 1 ½ tbsp. sugar • 1 ½ cups milk • 3 cups ice • whipped cream • chocolate shavings DIRECTIONS: • Chop chocolate into small pieces and melt in double boiler.

• Add cocoa mix and sugar, stirring constantly until blended. Remove from heat.

• Slowly add ½ c. milk, stir until smooth, then cool to room temperature.

• Pour chocolate mixture, remaining milk and ice into blender and blend on high until smooth.

• Serve in large glass, and garnish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Champagne Punch

INGREDIENTS: • 1 12-oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed • 1 12-oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed • 1 12-oz. can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed • 1 2-liter bottle ginger ale, chilled • 1 2-liter bottle champagne, chilled * DIRECTIONS: • Mix juice concentrates in large punch bowl.

• Add ginger ale and champagne. Stir gently.

• Chill with frozen plastic ice cubes.

(Regular ice waters it down.)

• Garnish with floating orange, lemon and lime slices.

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