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DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021

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Living in North Georgia

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HOME MAGAZINE, A DIVISION OF The Times Gainesville, GA A Metro Market Media Inc. property

Manuscripts, artwork, photography, inquiries and submitted materials are welcome. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Metro Market Media Inc. Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy of published materials, Metro Market Media cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. HOME: Living in North Georgia reserves the right to refuse advertisements for any reason.

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SHOP SMALL How to support small businesses this holiday season

HOLIDAYS Why are Christmas colors red and green?

TASTE OF HOME Holiday baking gets even sweeter with brownies

HOME DECOR Must-haves to achieve a holiday wonderland

10 12 13 14

HOLIDAYS Unique ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve during the pandemic

TASTE OF HOME Serve potato pancakes for holiday celebrations

HOLIDAYS The best ways to store and serve champagne

CALENDAR Upcoming events.

December 2020 | HOME | 3

SHOP SMALL

HOW TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

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he holiday season is an important one for small businesses every year, and it figures to take on heightened importance in 2020. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in late 2019 and early 2020 hit small businesses especially hard, with many being forced to close their facilities to customers to prevent the virus from spreading.

Estimates regarding the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on small businesses varied, but many small business owners were forced to let go employees as they confronted steep declines in revenue. A ZenBusiness survey of more than 1,000 small business founders, senior managers and decision makers found that 37 percent of small businesses that employ between 11 and 25 people were considering laying off more than one-fifth of their workforce.

As small businesses face difficult challenges, it’s no surprise that many consumers want to support locally owned small businesses this holiday season. Such support not only can help small businesses, but also can help to revitalize local communities.

 SHOP ONLINE Online shopping has traditionally been dominated by big box retailers. However, many small businesses increased their ecommerce capabilities to generate revenue.

Shoppers concerned about shopping in person this holiday season should explore the delivery and curbside pickup options available at locally owned small businesses.

Even businesses that have not traditionally 4 | HOME | December 2020

been allowed to deliver, such as breweries and wineries, have been able to do so during the outbreak, giving consumers unlimited online shopping options.

 PURCHASE GIFT CARDS Gift cards take the guesswork out of holiday shopping, and such cards are easily shipped or even emailed to loved ones.

That is a significant benefit during the 2020

holiday season, when delivery times are expected to be lengthy. Gift cards to local businesses simplify holiday shopping, support small businesses, and help shoppers avoid potential delivery delays.

 SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE Word-of-mouth is vital to small businesses at any time and can be especially valuable as these companies try to overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak. Holiday shoppers can share their experiences with local businesses via social media. Share information about the lengths local small businesses have gone to regarding safety measures, order fulfillment and their delivery and pickup efforts.

Such sharing may compel neighbors and friends to follow your lead and provide vital support to local businesses in need this holiday season.

Small businesses are the backbone of many communities, and the holiday season provides a great opportunity to support such firms as they look to recover from a difficult year. H

HOLIDAYS

WHY ARE CHRISTMAS COLORS

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Red and Green?

any people may not get in the holiday spirit without decorations and all the trimmings.

Chances are strong that if you have containers full of items just waiting to see the light of day again this holiday season, those items are red or green or some combination thereof.

Red and green have become the traditional colors of Christmas, just as blue and white symbolizes Chanukah. But how did this color palette come to evolve?

Just like many traditions of Christmas, the red and green scheme has origins that pre-date the Christian celebration. Christmas has borrowed from many of the customs of winter solstice celebrations of ancient peoples, including the Celts. Ancient Celtic people revered holly plants, believing they brought beauty and good fortune in the middle of winter in a time when the landscape is normally bleak and holly plants thrive and stand out. Celts would regularly bring in sprigs of holly and deco-

rate their homes with the plants, which feature shiny, serrated leaves and bright, red berries, to guarantee a prosperous new year.

Holly also came to be associated with the crown of thorns Jesus Christ was forced to wear during his crucifixion.

The custom of using red and green continued into the 14th century. Dr. Spike Bucklow, a research scientist at the University of Cambridge, says red and green also were used to paint medieval rood screens, which were partitions installed in churches to separate the congregation from the priest and altar. Dr. Bucklow notes that Victorians also extended the association of these colors as a physical boundary to another boundary: the marking of the end of the old year and the beginning of a new one at Christmastime.

While red and green had associations with Christmas in early times through holly and other sources, the connection was perhaps best solidified thanks to a man named Haddon Sundblom. Sundblom was an art-

ist commissioned in 1931 by the Coca-Cola company to create an image of Santa Claus for the company’s upcoming holiday ads.

Until this point, versions of Santa were rarely consistent, with his clothing vacillating between green, blue and red. He also wasn’t the plump, jolly fellow associated with Christmas as we know him today, but rather thin and elf-like. Sundblom portrayed him as a chubby man wearing red robes, likely as a nod to Coca-Cola’s own red logo, even though the company denies the connection. Santa was featured in front of a green background. The ads proved popular and Sundblom’s Santa became the preferred depiction. Santa’s red robes perfectly complemented the green background and other green components of the holiday, such as Christmas trees and holly, that already had been solidified as Christmas imagery.

Color plays a strong role in creating Christmas nostalgia. Red and green are put on vivid display throughout the season. H

December 2020 | HOME | 5

TASTE OF HOME HOLIDAY BAKING GETS EVEN SWEETER WITH

Brownies

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hat would the holidays be without delicious foods to share with loved ones? In fact, crafting elaborate meals and baking goodies is par for the course once the weather begins to cool and decorations turn up on businesses and homes. Many people have tried-and-true recipes they rely on each year, but there’s always the possibility to give new tasty tidbits a try. There are so many tantalizing desserts to tickle the tongue, but this recipe for “Rocky Recchiuti Brownies” from “Chocolate Obsession” (Stewart, Tabori & Chang) by Michael Recchiuti and Fran Gage yields rich and chewy brownies that no holiday celebrant will be able to resist.

ROCKY RECCHIUTI BROWNIES Makes 16 brownies 51/2 ounces 100 percent unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped, divided 10 tablespoons (5 ounces) unsalted butter 2/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 11/3 cups granulated cane sugar 1/3 cup walnut halves, roasted and roughly chopped 6 jumbo marshmallows cut into quarters (substitution for Tahitian homemade marshmallows) 1. Preheat the oven to 325 F. Line the bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and liberally coat the paper and the pan sides with flavorless vegetable oil.

2. Put 3 ounces of the chocolate and the butter in a medium stainless-steel bowl and set over a pot of simmering water. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate and butter melt and are fully combined and the mixture is smooth. Lift the bowl from the pot. Set aside.

3. Sift the flour and salt together into a bowl. In another bowl, combine the eggs and vanilla extract and whisk together by hand until blended. Whisk in the sugar.

4. Whisk the egg mixture into the chocolate.

Add the flour and the remaining 21/2 ounces chocolate to the batter and, using a rubber spatula, mix well. Then mix in the walnuts.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Spread it evenly with a small offset spatula. Scatter the marshmallow pieces evenly over the surface and push them halfway into the batter. The tops should remain uncovered.

6. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven until the marshmallows are browned and a skewer inserted into the center of the brownie sheet comes out with some batter clinging to it, about 45 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold.

7. Run a table knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the sides of the brownie, and then slide the brownie, still on the paper, onto a work surface. Using a ruler to guide you and a sharp knife, cut into sixteen 2-inch squares.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

6 | HOME | December 2020

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December 2020 | HOME | 7

HOME DECOR

MUST-HAVES TO ACHIEVE A

T

Holiday Wonderland

he end of the year marks a period of heightened festivity. Come the holiday season, homes and businesses are decorated and everyone seems to have an extra spring in their step. The sight of snowflakes, candy canes, evergreen wreaths, and Christmas trees can elicit nostalgia for happy holidays of the past, as well as excitement for what is yet to come. When it comes to decorating for the holidays, there are certain items that set the scene.

 CHRISTMAS TREES Germany is credited with starting the modern Christmas tree tradition. It dates back to the 16th century when devout Christians brought trees into their homes and decorated them. German settlers brought Christmas tree traditions to America upon their arrival in Pennsylvania in the 19th century.

 MISTLETOE Mistletoe is known as the “kissing plant” and it is customary for couples to kiss while standing beneath the plant, typically hung in doorways and arches. Mistletoe was once hung to drive off evil spirts and ensure fertility. Kissing under the mistletoe was first found associated with the Greek festival of 8 | HOME | December 2020

of burning the log dates back to solstice celebrations and the tradition of bonfires.

The Christmas tradition called for burning a portion of the log each evening until Twelfth Night, also known as the Epiphany, which takes place on January 6.

 POINSETTIAS Saturnalia and later with primitive marriage rites.

 LIGHTS Lights are commonly seen during the holiday season. The custom of having holiday lights dates back to when Christmas trees were decorated with candles, which symbolized Christ being the light of the world. These traditions evolved from pagan rituals that would celebrate the return of light of the sun as the days grow longer after the winter solstice.

 YULE LOG Many families burn a yule log in the fireplace and watch it burn while listening to Christmas carols. The familiar custom

Poinsettias are a tropical plant that originated in Mexico. Joel Roberts Poinsett was the first Ambassador from the United States to Mexico. He became enamored with the plants, and brought them back to his native South Carolina. An old Mexican legend suggests a poor girl had nothing to offer baby Jesus at Christmas Eve services, so she picked a handful of weeds and put them at the bottom of the nativity scene. These weeds burst into bright red flowers and became known as “Flores de Noche Buena,” or “Flowers of the Holy Night.”

Holiday decorations borrow traditions from all over the world to help establish a festive wonderland. H

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HOLIDAYS

, New Year s Eve UNIQUE WAYS TO CELEBRATE

DURING THE PANDEMIC

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ew Year’s Eve is a highly anticipated day on many people’s calendars. Social schedules tend to be busy during the holiday season, and that typically culminates on December 31, when people across the globe gather to say goodbye to one year and welcome in a new one.

Much of the world is no doubt ready to put 2020 in its rearview mirror, but New Year’s Eve celebrations will almost certainly have to be scaled back this year. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the ways people gather socially, so traditional New Year’s Eve parties likely won’t be in the cards as the world turns the calendar from 2020 to 2021.

Raucous parties might not be on the docket this December 31, but that does not mean people cannot still celebrate the end of what’s proven to be a very challenging year.

DON’T WAIT UNTIL MIDNIGHT Many people love to be around friends and family as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that the COVID-19 virus spreads more easily indoors than outdoors. Gathering around the television to watch the ball drop in Times Square as you count down to the new year may put celebrants’ health in jeopardy. If you want to gather with loved ones, do so earlier in the day and gather outdoors when the weather figures to be much warmer than it will be at midnight. A champagne toast around a 10 | HOME | December 2020

backyard firepit can serve as a stand-in for midnight toasts.

HIT THE ROAD Travel restrictions may dictate where people can safely celebrate New Year’s Eve, but if large gatherings with friends are prohibited this year, families can plan getaways. New Year’s Eve is on a Thursday this year, and many offices will be closed on the following Friday in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday. That makes it an ideal weekend to get out of town. Many vacation rental services like VRBO and Airbnb have introduced guidelines to address health and

safety concerns prospective travelers may have. Before booking a getaway, contact hosts to determine what they’re doing to make their rentals safe for renters.

CELEBRATE OVER AND OVER AGAIN One unique way to see 2020 to the door and usher in 2021 is to celebrate throughout the day and night as various areas of the world officially close the book on 2020.

The Pacific island nations of Tonga, Samoa and Kiribati are the first countries to ring in the new year, and they will do so at what will be 5:00 a.m. on December 31 in New York. Many countries across the globe ring in the New Year before residents of North America, so North Americans can make a day of sending 2020 into the history books and celebrate each time a new country reaches 2021.

New Year’s celebrations figure to be different as the world ushers in 2021. But there are many unique ways to celebrate that can make New Year’s Eve just as fun as it’s always been. H

DONATE TO HOSPICE OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA MEDICAL CENTER

give a

love light IN HONOR OR MEMORY OF A LOVED ONE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON 100% of Love Light donations benefit Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

Tune in to Northeast Georgia Health System’s Live Stream on Facebook to hear stories of Hospice families and to enjoy our virtual tree lightings.

Thursday, December 10 | 7 p.m.

Visit nghs.com/lovelight to donate in honor or memory of a loved one this holiday season.

TASTE OF HOME SERVE POTATO PANCAKES FOR HOLIDAY

Celebrations P

otato pancakes are traditionally served during Chanukah celebrations. This dish is often referred to as “latkes,” a Yiddish word that loosely translates to “little oily thing.”

Potato pancakes are not exclusive to Jewish celebrations and cuisine. Germans have their own variation called “kartoffelpuffer” that can be served with sour cream, applesauce or smoked salmon. The Irish have “boxty,” which may be made with a combination of shredded potato and mashed potato before being fried. Many potato pancake recipes are quite similar.

They involve only a few ingredients and fry up in a flash. Some chefs recommend draining the shredded potato prior to cooking so that the pancakes will fry up crispy and not be soggy or break apart. Enjoy this recipe for “Latkes,” courtesy of AllRecipes.com.

LATKES Potato Pancakes | Serves 12 3 1 3 1 2 1/2

large potatoes, peeled and shredded small onion, shredded large eggs teaspoon salt tablespoons all-purpose flour cup vegetable oil

1. Place the potatoes and onion into a bowl, and stir in eggs, salt and flour as needed to make the mixture hold together. With wet hands, scoop up about 1/3 cup of the mixture per patty, and form into flat round or oval shapes.

2. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it shimmers, and gently place the patties into the hot oil. Fry until the bottoms are golden brown and crisp, 5 to 8 minutes, then flip with a spatula and fry the other side until golden.

3. Line a colander or strainer with 2 paper towels and drain the cooked latkes in the colander. Serve hot.

12 | HOME | December 2020

HOLIDAYS

THE BEST WAYS TO STORE AND SERVE

Champagne

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o New Year’s Eve celebration would be complete without a champagne toast to ring in the new year. Champagne is a vital component of many special occasions, such as anniversaries, retirement parties and weddings.

Champagne is a sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France, though the term “champagne” is often mistakenly used in reference to any type of bubbly.

Champagne is a wine and, like merlot

or pinot grigio, it has specific storage and serving temperatures to ensure top flavor.

According to ThermoWorks, wines have specific layers of flavor that are most effectively enjoyed when they’re experienced at the proper temperature. In wine, temperature affects alcohol, acid, and aromatics.

ThermoWorks suggests a temperature of 45 F for champagne.

In addition to controlling temperature, there are other ways to help ensure champagne reaches the palate in optimal fashion.

Grape Escapes, a wine tasting and touring company, says that champagne is already aged properly before being sold, so it does not necessarily benefit from extra aging in the bottle. When kept too long (beyond 10 years for vintage), some effervescence may be lost and the flavor will change.

Bottles of champagne should be stored horizontally in a well-chilled environment.

They should be kept away from bright or artificial light. Chilling also will help reduce the “pop” and overflow of the bubbly. If you purchase champagne and need to chill it for serving, you can achieve this by either chilling it in the fridge for three hours before serving, or in a Champagne bucket in a mixture of ice and water for 30 minutes.

Etiquette experts say it is preferable to open a bottle of champagne with a hiss rather than a large pop. To achieve this, chill the champagne and also open the bottle very slowly and with a great deal of control.

When the champagne is opened, Daniel Brennan, PR and communications director at Champagne Laurent-Perrier, advises taking your time pouring a little champagne into each glass to allow the bubbles to settle.

Then return to the first glass to pour more, helping to make the champagne less likely to froth. Do not tilt the glass like pouring a beer, rather pour the champagne gently down the inside of the glass.

The shape of the glass comes down to preference. Traditional coupes look the part, but tulip-shaped flutes will produce more bubbles and help capture the flavor and aromas of the champagne.

It’s ideal to drink all of the champagne in a bottle, as it will begin to lose its fizz immediately after opening, yet that isn’t always possible. A specialized champagne stopper will help keep the champagne fresh for up to two days after opening. After the bottle has been opened, refrigerate it.

Do not wash champagne glasses in the dishwasher. Hand wash and allow to drip dry. Soap or fibers from towels can impede bubble formation in the glass during subsequent pourings.

Learning how to properly store and serve champagne can enhance special occasions. H December 2020 | HOME | 13

DECEMBER & JANUARY

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 12/7/2020 Lee Anne White: A Bowing Acquaintance with Plants 10:00am Hall County Library System, Gainesville Branch 770-532-3311 ext. 113 127 Main St NW Gainesville Discover art photography at its finest in a new space in our renovated library.

Lee Anne White is a fine art photographer whose work is rooted in the landscape. She creates intimate portraits of place—the terrain, plants and other indigenous elements that give a landscape character. She reveals both the unexpected and overlooked in nature’s details and is drawn by a sense of mystery and an emotional connection to place.

12/8/2020 Taking Your Skill to the Next Level with Celeste McCoullough-Online class via Zoom 10:00am Quinlan Visual Arts Center 770-536-2575 514 Green Street N.E. Gainesville In this class, students will be guided in painting projects of their choosing over the course of the five weeks. At the beginning of each class, Celeste will provide examples of work and methods for the students to employ as appropriate as they work through their own projects.

Two days prior to each class, students will email Celeste a photo of what they are currently working on along with a photo of their reference material.

Students will be provided with log-in information via email.

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1/20/2021 Watercolor or Drawing Intermediate Artist Studio with Sara Oakley (Session One) 9:30am Quinlan Visual Arts Center 770-536-2575 514 Green St NE Gainesville Once an artist has a beginning class behind them, how do they continue to grow in their media? Studio classes are a great answer. As a part of our new dedication to the study of fine art. the Quinlan Academy of Art, we offer two media categories, two sessions each are offered with a short break in between. Sara is known for providing solid “nuts & bolts” instruction, not only specific to your media and goals, but also those skills common to any media or style. These working studio sessions are adapted to your art preference, but laughter and friendships are always included. Social distance is part of the plan, so enrollment is limited. The studio is ADA compliant. If you need advice about whether you’re ready for a studio class, let us know and Sara will be in touch.

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1/19/2021 Oil / Pastel Intermediate Artist Studio with Sara Oakley (Session One) 9:30am Quinlan Visual Arts Center 770-536-2575 514 Green St NE Gainesville Once an artist has a beginning class behind them, how do they continue to grow in their media? Studio classes are a great answer. As a part of our new dedication to the study of fine art, the Quinlan Academy of Art, we offer two media categories, Oil / Pastel, and Watercolor / Drawing,

coached by working artist and teacher Sara Oakley. Within these categories, 2 sessions are offered with a short break between. Sara is known for providing solid “nuts & bolts” instruction, not only specific to your media and goals, but also those skills common to any media or style. These working studio sessions are adapted to your art preference, but laughter and friendships are always included. Social distance is part of the plan, so enrollment is limited. The studio is ADA compliant. If you need advice about whether you are ready for a studio class, let us know and Sara will be in touch.

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During the zoom sessions, Celeste will provide concrete comments and suggestions regarding each student’s work, including covering issues of artistic approach, composition, drawing, color, atmospheric perspective, and linear perspective.

The class will be conducted via Zoom, so students will need access to a computer, Internet connection, and ability to log onto Zoom. They will also need to be able to photograph and email their work and reference materials.

Students may utilize any paints and materials they have on hand. Celeste will be placing a particular emphasis on painting with a palette knife and cold wax medium, and she will strongly emphasize utilizing a three-color limited palette (e.g. Cad Yellow Light, Cad Red Medium, and Ultramarine Blue with white; Yellow Ochre, Quinacridone Rose and Cobalt with white; etc.) Students may use any of the three primaries in discussing mixing color).

Students may work on any support and support size.

Designed for students of all levels.

Visit gainesvilletimes.com/calendar to post your event.

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Wishing you a wonderful holiday season From our family to yours

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