Tuesday Chatter…with The REAL ESTATE TEACHER

Turned the Bucket over, and filled Tin Stand with Succulents and Mason Jars, Candles…Need some Sparkle after the Holidays..

Interesting Lighting can be found at Paris Flea Market in Powell, Ohio

George trying to unscramble the letters of his Valentine Gift…Golf and Caddie at Pebble Beach…

Busy week…”Threats” of snow to Central Ohio…..still remember the excitement of a possible SNOW DAY…and now I think of frozen fingers when trying to unlock a property.

Loving Spaghetti Squash…This is just one recipe…create your own sauce and/toppings. You can’t go wrong.
1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded

2 tablespoons oil

1 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes

3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

3 tablespoons sliced black olives

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
2.Place spaghetti squash with cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet, and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a sharp knife can be inserted with only a little resistance. Remove squash from oven and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled.
3.Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and cook until tomatoes are warmed through.
4.Use a large spoon to scoop the stringy pulp from the squash and place in a medium bowl. Toss with the vegetables, feta cheese, olives, and basil. Serve warm.

Count down has started…time with my babies coming soon…look out Yanok Sisters…

The BEST Chicken…Weight Watchers Recipe…Pies and Pints Review

New recipe for me….sooooo good. 4 ingredients and George liked this dish!!!

Mexican Chicken Breasts

Ingredients:
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package of taco seasoning
16 oz. of boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup salsa
1/4 c. of fat-free salsa

Directions:
1. Place chicken breasts and taco seasoning in a plastic bag…shake to coat well.
2. Spray casserole dish with Pam.
3. Place breasts in casserole.
4. Bake 30 minutes fat 375.
5. Top with salsa about 5 minutes before breasts are done.
6. Top with sour cream before serving.

We also tried Pies and Pints Saturday…

Location is in Worthington Place…formerly known as Worthington Square Mall.
I had heard so many good things…My experience was just ok…Service was excellent, pizza just ok, of course large selection of beers, very noisy.
If you haven’t been to Worthington Place, stop by…changing everyday.

Getting very excited to see not just one but both of our daughters in the month of March! Also pulled off a great surprise for George on Valentines Day…Tee Time at Pebble Beach with Caddie.

Busy trying to get ready to leave…good thing about Real Estate…easy to take care of business when out of town…and never fails…always the busiest when traveling.
Biggest obstacle right now…low inventory! If you are thinking of listing your property now is the time. Very few resales and not many new builds completed…pickings are slim!

Tuesday Again…I Vote for Pumpkin Pasta & Inexpensive Centerpieces!

So in looking at my stats for my blog…you seem to love recipes…This one I tested last week and The Food Critic, George, loved it.

Pasta with Creamy Pumpkin Sauce

1 lb. of Whole-Wheat Penne or other short tubular pasta

1 T. Olive Oil

1 Shallot, minced

1 T. Fresh Rosemary

1 Garlic Clove, minced

Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes

1 (can) 15 ounces of Canned Pumpkin

1/2 Cream

1/2 cup of Grated Parmesan

Ground Black Pepper

Salt

Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until almost tender but still firm to bite.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat.  Add shallot. Cook until tender, about 3-5 minutes.  Add rosemary, garlic and red pepper flakes.  Stir until frangrant.  Add pumpkin and cream.  Stir to combine.

Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup of cooking liquid.

Add pasta to skillet with pumpkin sauce.  Toss over medium heat, adding some of the cooking liquid, until pasta is tender and sauce is desired consistency.  Stir in half of the Parmesan.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Transfer pasta to a large bowl.  Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and serve.

George suggested adding some spicey Italian sausage for a variation.

I found the recipe in the Columbus Dispatch, DispatchKitchen Section.

Making Centerpieces for Concord Counseling (NON PROFIT) Wine Tasting Event…Gave this same idea to Andi, YOUNG LIFE, in California.  Easy, fast, and inexpensive.  Trees with photos of past events, participants, donors…etc.

Container from $ Store, Gravel to weight down the pot, Burlap and Glue Gun to cover pot.

Calking…$2.50 at Hardware.  This foam like substance will hold anything in place.  WEAR GLOVES.

Tree branch from woods is here to stay.

Black and white photos, tied on branches with twine, calking covered with shredded, brown, grocery bags……mason jars with candles that can be used over and over all year, all seasons, inside and out…good investment.

NEW PLACE IN Columbus, OHIO …Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant located in Easton Town Center right across from Nordstroms…Just walked by yesterday…looks very interesting.

EASY STREET in Powell…Had a celebration dinner last week with buyers and my BEST lender…White PIZZA fantastic, PUB atmosphere, relaxing and great prices.

VOTE…We have the FREEDOM to VOTE…Got to go to the polls!  Have a great Tuesday!

Fall is HERE…Pumpkin Quesadillas

Try this….Pumpkin Quesadillas                             

2 cans of canned pure pumpkin puree

1 t. ground cumin

8  8 in. flour tortillas

4 oz. goat cheese, crumbled

1/2 c. of chopped walnuts, toasted

1/4 c. vegetable oil

In bowl, stir pumpkin and cumin season.  Spread over 4 tortillas.  sprinkle with cheese and nuts.  Top with remaining tortillas.  In large skillet, heat 1 tbsp. of oil over medium-low.  Cook quesadillas 1 at a time, turning once and adding more oil between batches, until browned, 3 minutes.  Cut into wedges.

This recipe could be changed in so many ways…cinnamon and a little sugar???  Make it your own.  Enjoy…fantastic, sunny, Fall day in Columbus, Ohio.

Apple-Sour Cream Crumb Pie…Martha and George say, “It’s a Good Thing”

Sunday at our house…trying two new recipes…one is a winner…..Apple-Sour Cream Pie….2 plus sticks of butter, 16 oz. of sour cream….

The Apple-Sour Cream Crumb Pie…George ‘s evaluation, “This is the BEST apple pie I have ever eaten.”  Not one other word, like a little more cinnamon, slice the apples thinner, the crust is a little too flakey…he said  it was the BEST!  The recipe came from Maratha Stewart’s November issue 2012, page 167-192-193…giving Martha credit for this one.  If you have the issue…some great table ideas too…oh Martha…she knows a Good Thing.

Pie Dough   1 2/3 c. of flour, 3/4 tsp. salt, 3/4 t. sugar, 1 stick plus 3 T. unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, 1/4 to 1/2 c. ice water

Crumb Topping  1/2 c. packed light brown sugar, 1/2 c. granulated sugar, 1/2 c. flour, 1 t. ground cinnamon, 1/4 t. salt, 2 sticks of unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, 1 c. walnuts, coarsely chopped   (left out the walnuts, not George’s favorite…oatmeal could be used too I am guessing)

Filling  1 c. sugar, 1/2 c. flour, 1 t. ground cinnamon, pinch of salt, 16 oz. sour cream, 2 eggs, lightly beaten, 2 t. vanilla, 6 Golden Delicious apples, p, cored, and sliced into 1/4-inch wedges

Pie Dough   Combine flour, salt, and granulated sugar in a food processor and pulse to blend.  Add butter, pulsing until pea-size clumps form,  with machine running, add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until mixture just comes together.  Shape dough into a disk.  Wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, about 45 minutes.  This was the first time I have ever made pie dough with a food processor…so easy, so fast, and crust was perfect…didn’t have to handle the dough much…  When dough is cool, roll out to fit a 10-inch pie-plate.

Crumb Topping  Whisk together sugars, flour, cinnamon, and salt.  Add butter and combine with a fork or pastry cutter.  (I used the food processor again)  Stir in walnuts, and press filling into large clumps with your hands, refrigerate until ready to use.  As mentioned before we left the walnuts out of the recipe.

Filling   Whisk  together sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl.  Stir in sour cream, eggs, and vanilla until thoroughly combined.  Add apples, tossing to coat.  Place apple mixture in crust.     Bake for 10 minutes at 450, lower temp to 350 and bake for 45 minutes, put crumb topping on and bake 5-8 more minutes…ENJOY!

Coast Toast……Wonderful Breakfast!

I wanted to share this recipe…new to me.  Emily wanted Andi and I to eat breakfast at this cute little place in San Diego…looking over the coast because a) cute little cottage b) the best breakfast…Coast Toast c) lots of seals to watch.  This dish is somewhat like French Toast but tastes like Creme Brulee inside…very good.  So I did enjoy a,b,and c.  Forgot about the wonderful breakfast…a few days later Mike’s sister made Coast Toast for breakfast…equally wonderful and she shared her recipe.

Overnight French Toast

• 10 ounces loaf French bread (or a full sized loaf of  Texas/Thick Slab Bread
• 8 eggs
• 3 cups of milk
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 3/4 t. salt
• 1 t. vanilla
• 2 T. butter, cut into 5 pats
• 1/2 t. cinnamon

Instructions:

1.  Grease 13 x 9 pan.  Cut bread into 1″wide strips.  Put one layer into the bottom of the pan.

2.  Beat eggs, milk, sugar, salt and vanilla in a large bowl.  Pour over bread.

3.  Cut each pat of butter into several pieces, enough so that each bread slice has a piece on it.  Sprinkle the top of the bread with cinnamon.  Cover with foil and refrigerate for up to 36 hours.

4.  When ready to cook, place pan in COLD oven.  Turn temperature to 350 degrees anda bake for 45-50 minutes.  When touched, it should spring back.  Allow to set for 5 minutes before serving.  Serve with syrup and/or confectioners sugar.

The preparation is very similar to the Breakfast casserole that is so easy…and I think everyone already has…we always have it for Christmas morning…sausage and eggs.

Getting ready to list a great house on Hoover tomorrow.  Great view, ranch, with 2 master suites and a good price…in Westerville, Ohio.  I am finally getting caught up from my visit with my daughters…and looking forward to Thanksgiving with both daughters again…Ohio State University vs. University of Michigan…Turkey Tailgate.

 

 

 

Inexpensive, Fun Deco Ideas with Andi

Living so far away from my daughters really does make it difficult to help them with decorating advice.  Many times  photos pop up on my phone, Mom, what do you think?, Should I buy this?, What is this arrangement on the table missing?.  So over the phone…and now face time…I can say, move it over to the left, it needs something with some color, more texture, show me what you have in storage…not a good price,  I will look for it and ship it out…So when I am right there…my mind doesn’t stop.

Andi has a mantel over her fireplace that is so narrow…very difficult to arrange anything interesting.  We have been looking for a mantel in Ohio and CA. for the last year with no luck.  When we were in San Diego a few weeks ago, she saw a window with words she loved…$150…Andi, we can make this, we just have to find a window.

We did find a window, brought it back home, and…we decided we don’t need a mantel anymore…$25 for the window…I think she may go back to the store and buy more windows in different sizes…great Christmas presents…

 

Old lamps spray painted black…found these great lamp shades for $15 each…like these so much I am ordering some for myself…really cute!

Found the perfect bench to complete her foyer…and added more photos below the moving flats…we found last visit…and she is also using the bench in photo shoots for her photography business…

Another find in Sacremento…$25 table….Couldn’t find a place inside…but could go many places…

A piece of old luggage…always a good find…accessory, storage, stack for tables…$20  Rolled up paper that was left in the sun to turn brown, rolled up in a glass container…

Andi’s front flower bed…thank you Mike! Too bad I don’t have a before photo…Wish we had a longer growing season in Ohio..

 

Weight Watchers Delight…Ratatouille by George

Just had lunch…warmed up Ratatouille with just a little cheese melted on top…oh so good.  3pts. if you are counting WW points.

Not many of George’s dishes are measurable……well should be measured on the WW point system.  This is one of my favorite summer dishes…very filling and good for you too.  I think his trick is the time he spends cutting and cubing all the vegetables…I would never take the time…big pieces of vegetables but not as tasty if I was preparing Ratatouille.

He cuts, cubes….celery, garlic, onions, carrots, cauliflower, zucchini and fresh tomatoes.   Sautes garlic and onion in olive oil…3 T.  Then adds some fresh herbs from our herb garden….changes this each time he cooks..and adds the rest of the vegetables…cooks until the vegetables are tender…..tastes better the next day.

Enjoy!

Check out Skinny Taste website…my trainer suggested I take a look.

Decadent Brownies…so EASY….This 7 Day Holiday is not good for online Weight Watcher

This recipe I kind of made up from watching Hoda and Kathy ….I watch them at the gym…and yes I do enjoy them…

1.  Make and bake a brownie mix…

2. As soon as it comes out of the oven…put peanut butter cups on top…and put back in the oven until the candy is melted

3. Smooth the melted candy out a little, cover and put the pan in the refrigerator…until the candy sets up

4. Frost with Chocolate Frosting…and Decadent is the word!

Variations….peppermint patties, snickers…you name it.  I think Hoda put graham crackers on top of the baked brownies and topped with marshmallows…and then back to the oven..and then frosting.

Kentucky Derby 2012 … Another Race, Another Party, New Friends, Old Friends, Open Floor Plans

       It is a tradition at our house to have a Kentucky Derby Party.  This started in our former neighborhood and after the “hosts” moved on, we kept the tradition going…about 30 years.  And yes, some of the same original Derby Partiers…still attend or call in from current destinations.  Tradition includes…red roses….dozens…I love buying myself red roses..and so much less expensive today since Trader Joes and Whole Foods stock cut flowers.  Derby glasses from Churchill Downs with the past winners, Mint Juleps, Derby Pie, Hats, and race information posted on our walls…$5.00 Bets and the race is on.  We always hope our patch of mint is up, glasses are ordered in time for delivery, and the house is ready for guests…inside and out…We never know what the weather may be on the first Sat. in May.

 

We try to do something different each year.  This year as always, red roses ….and white fence with grass and horseshoes, old silver pieces, and an old feedbag.  The large green glass plates are one of the best investments my neighbor and I have ever made in our shopping ventures…$1.00 per plate.  We each have 24 so they are great for entertaining.  Christmas green, Easter, showers, gourmet groups….these plates have been carried over the drive between our houses on ice, through the wind, rain, hot, sunny days…for many years…

                      Derby Pie… 1 cup of sugar, 1/2 c. flour, 2 eggs, 1 stick of butter, 1 c. chopped pecans, 6 oz. chocolate chips, and 1 tsp. of vanilla.  Mix flour and sugar.  Beat butter until creamy, add eggs, and stir in the rest of the ingredients.  Pour into unbaked pie shell.  Bake at 325 for 45 minutes.  Serve with whipped cream.  We have slowed down….I used to make 6 pies…we are down to 3 pies.   Derby Pie and Mint Juleps always on the menu.

 

 

 

This year George made Kentucky Bourbon Sweet Potatoes…6 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes.  Mix 1 c. brown sugar, 1/2 c. butter, 1/2 c. of bourbon, 1/2 t. vanilla…heat until just starting to boil.  Pour over potatoes in baking dish.  Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.

We also had ham sliders…Jarlsberg or Cheddar Horseradish cheese spread…Pasta Salad and Spinach Salad completed the menu.  This is always a fun time for us…and I hope for our guests.  Preparation time is not nearly what it used to be…I can now schedule my work…real estate vs. teaching, two little girls are now out on their own, and Evite has speeded up invitations.

OPEN floor plans..important when entertaining….I always mention that when interviewing a new buyer.  Do you like to entertain?  Do you have frequent family events?  Are you planning on letting your children entertain?  As a teacher and parent of 2 girls, I wanted an Open Floor plan with some privacy but yet open so I could always be on “parent duty”.  We have always had large groups in our house…George and I like to entertain, and we wanted the girls to know their friends were welcome.  George made the Pasta Dinners for the tennis, lacrosse, and cheerleader teams.  Study groups would work on our kitchen island on projects…knowing you really can’t damage granite counter tops…science projects, glue, poster board, and paint…Hardwood floors are so easy to keep clean with spills, etc.  Our finished basement…”lower level” is even open with no door….the element of surprise is often a great deterrent of poor choices.

I am now working with my new assistant…Henry.  He is fast, sweet, and loves people.   More info. to come soon.