Resident´s Birthdays
June Cook 12/9Ruth Miller 12/9Pat Garren 12/12Margaret Bennett 12/16Kathryn Dansby 12/29
Celebrating December
Universal HumanRights Month
Gingerbread House Day
December 12th
Christmas
December 25th
Thank-You Note Day
December 26th
New Year’s Eve
December 31st
Community Events
Family Christmas Party
December 22nd 3-5 PM
Collaborators
Jennifer Klein
Kristen
We Also Celebrate
Andy Williams (singer)
Dec. 3, 1927
Dave Brubeck (pianist)
Dec. 6, 1920
Ellen Burstyn (actress)
Dec. 7, 1932
Buck Henry (writer/actor)
Dec. 9, 1930
Rita Moreno (entertainer)
Dec. 11, 1931
Frank Sinatra (singer)
Dec. 12, 1915
Christopher Plummer (actor)
Dec. 13, 1929
Betty Grable (actress)
Dec. 18, 1916
Branch Rickey (manager)
Dec. 20, 1881
Louis Chevrolet (engineer)
Dec. 25, 1878
Donna Summer (singer)
Dec. 31, 1948
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Home Sweet Home
Gingerbread House Day, December 12, brings a touch of magic to the holiday season. It’s the perfect occasion to indulge in a time-honored tradition: building and decorating gingerbread houses. This charming holiday observance offers a sweet escape from the busyness of the season.
The history of gingerbread houses has roots in medieval Europe, where gingerbread was initially reserved for special occasions and celebrations. It was often used to create intricate works of edible art, including gingerbread houses. These delectable structures gained popularity in Germany during the 16th century when the Brothers Grimm published their fairy tales, including the famous story of Hansel and Gretel, who discover a house made of gingerbread and candy deep in the forest.
Notable gingerbread houses have become a source of fascination and wonder. The White House has a longstanding tradition of creatinga gingerbread replica of the executive mansion during the holiday season. These intricate confections often include detailed icing decorations and miniature furnishings.
Another impressive example is the annual National Gingerbread House Competition in Asheville, North Carolina. This event attracts pastry chefs and artists from around the world who craft astonishing gingerbread creations, from charming cottages to elaborate castles.
In modern times, gingerbread houses have evolved from simple, rustic structures to intricate architectural marvels. They continue to be a beloved holiday tradition.
Spectacular Soda
With its hundreds of uses, bicarbonate of soda certainly deserves its own day on December 30. Baking soda, as it is commonly called, is used for far more than baking.
Make homemade toothpaste by mixing baking soda with hydrogen peroxide. Mix a 3-to-1 ratio of baking soda and water to create a gentle exfoliant for your skin or to relieve the itch of insect bites. Add a sprinkle of baking soda to your shampoo to add extra cleaning power. Out of deodorant? Just apply a thin dusting of baking soda under your arms.
Even the ancient Egyptians were wise to the uses of baking soda. They found natural deposits of bicarbonate of soda and used them to create soaps. It’s time to put that box of baking soda front and center in the cupboard.
Resident of the Month
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Want to see some Clemson footballs autographed by Dabo Sweeney? Or a check out a batting helmet autographed by Alvin Dark? Just ask LC Smith—Smitty—a huge Clemson football fan and sports fan in general. Looking for someone to watch the PGA Open or the Masters with? Smitty, a former golfer himself, is your man. But he also enjoys watching Westerns and game shows. Or maybe you’d enjoy a game of poker? Call Smitty—he’d love to play! He enjoys meeting people and finding connections between them. As an U.S. Air Force veteran, he’s traveled the world—but he loves Easley the best, for that’s where he grew up, and that’s where he was when he met Betty Medlin Tinsley.
Together, they created a well-appointed home in which they hosted large family dinners, bridge and Mahjong parties, and poker nights. Betty always laid a lovely table for celebrations with china, centerpieces, the works. She is an avid reader, especially of biographies (like of Eleanor Roosevelt, or Eisenhower, or Jackie O), and history– and cookbooks! She’s an excellent cook; you should try her melt-in-your mouth biscuits. (And ask her about chocolate gravy on snow days!) In the summers, she canned, froze, or pickled summer corn, beans, okra, cucumbers, and more. Do you know a good joke? Betty loves an excuse to laugh!
We are so happy to have these two as our Residents of the Month for December!
Associate of the Month
Kayla Marie
Our December Employee of the Month is Kayla Marie Jamie! Kayla has been doing caregiving since 2019. She has been at Oakview park for six months and is currently a medtech and caregiver on second shift. Kayla has made many friends with coworkers and the residents. One thing about Kayla is she takes her time with the residents even if it’s a simple task.
Sharing that time with the residents puts them at ease and forms better relationships. Kayla loves everything about her job. When she is not working she loves to spend time with her kids and husband as well as reading books, baking, cooking and puzzling. We are so happy to have Kayla Marie as our employee of the month for December.
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December Recipe Spotlight:
Sweet Roll Stuffing
Ingredients:
(for 12 servings)
unsalted butter, for greasing
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 sweet yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1⁄2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced 2 cups diced honey ham(300 g)
24 Hawaiian sweet rolls, cut into 1-in (2 1/2-cm) cubes, toasted
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 3 large eggs
1 cup chicken stock(240 mL)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Coconut Topping
1⁄2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes(50 g), shredded
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
2 oranges, juiced
For Garnish
3 scallions, thinly sliced 2 oranges, zested
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 9×13-inch (22×33 cm) baking dish with butter. Sauté onions until caramelized; add garlic, red pepper flakes, bell peppers, and ham. Cook for 5 mins. Pour mixture over toasted Hawaiian rolls, season with salt and pepper.
Whisk eggs, chicken stock, and melted butter; pour gradually over bread mixture. Transfer to baking dish, cover with foil, and bake for 45 mins.
Prepare topping: Mix shredded coconut, poppy seeds, and orange juice. Sprinkle over stuffing after 45 mins. Bake uncovered until coconut is golden brown, 10–15 mins.
Let it rest for 10–15 mins, then top with scallions and orange zest. Serve warm.
Dining Director Spotlight
Please give Kyrez Irvin a warm welcome to Oakview Park! He is our new Dining Director! Kyrez is a native of Greenwood, South Carolina. Growing up, he watched his grandmother prepare homemade meals and developed a passion for cooking at an early age. Before making the transition to Oakview Park, he was a Sous Chef at the University Of South Carolina for the past 6 years.
During that time, he prepared meals for student athletes including the Lady Gamecock Champion’s and their coach Dawn Staley. He believes that good food and hospitality is the way to everyone’s heart. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his four-year-old daughter Kali & his beautiful girlfriend.
Gluten Free
Lately you may have heard the termgluten-free. Gluten is a protein commonly found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale(a combination of barley and rye). For those with celiac disease, gluten causes inflammation of the small intestine. For this reason, they must avoid bread, cookies, and anything else made with wheat flour.
Many others believe that a gluten-free diet can be healthful and help prevent milder food allergies.
Gluten-Free Baking Week, the week before Christmas, provides people with the opportunity to try many different gluten-free ingredients in place of traditional wheat flours for their holiday baking. Almond, coconut, hazelnut, potato, teff, and corn flour offer interesting and flavorful flour substitutes. Even if you don’t have any gluten allergies, this is your chance to impress your friends and family by using ingredients you’ve never baked with before.