Cake Balls ARE fun to make!

cake balls!!

Ok, I just had to get on the bandwagon and make cake balls for holiday gifts. I got rave reviews, so I thought I would share my recipe! This made about three dozen balls.

 

Two boxes of Dr. Oetker Organic Lemon Cake mix

One box of Dr. Oetker Organic Vanilla frosting mix

(http://www.oetker.us/en/product/organics/organic-cake-mixes)

Orange extract

Organic raspberry preserves

Organic chocolate chips, any flavor you want plus some fun drizzle type candy.

Mini muffin cups

Now, here is the fun part! Follow the cake directions and bake two cakes in sheet pans, let them cool completely. Crumble one cake in large bow. Set aside other crumbled cake for now.

Cake crumbled and ready for more ingredients!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow the directions for the frosting mix and add some orange extract. Or pick another flavor! Add the frosting to your crumbled cake. Seriously, using your hands is the easiest way to mix these two ingredients.

blend in frosting & preserves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you have added all the frosting and your mix is too wet, now it is time to add more cake. Just add a little at a time. I added a small bit of preserves just because I love the berry flavor in my cakes. You can skip this if you want. Gradually add more cake until your mixture is moist enough to form balls, but not so moist that it no longer even looks like cake.

I searched my kitchen for the perfect tool to form the balls since using my hands was just not working well for me. Don’t laugh, but I ended up using my two tablespoon coffee scoop from Starbuck’s. It was the perfect size! I arranged the balls on wax paper and place in my freezer overnight. The next day, I melted my chocolate in my makeshift double boiler. I used a bamboo skewer, skewed a ball one at a time and dipped in to the chocolate. I put them in the mini muffin cups and sprinkled with the decorative candy. You have got to sprinkle them when the chocolate is still warm.

I refrigerated my cake balls until I was ready to package them and hand out as gifts. Needless to say, these were the gifts that never left an office door!

Bon Appétit!

Importance of Hiring a Real Estate Agent

Found this article via Twitter this evening….could not be more true!

Home shopping and selling can be an intense and difficult task. With a lot info obtainable online, many people think they’ll be able to tackle the task on their own. With homes for sale increasing, the real estate market can be complicated if you do not have the skills and experience in real estate. The advantages of utilizing the service of a real estate agent are invaluable when selling or buying a house or property.

The advantages of hiring a real estate agent are numerous. Buying a home is more than simply submitting an offer. A real estate agent will have such knowledge about homes for sale such as the neighborhoods, outline community area, locations of hospitals, police station, roads, shopping, grocery stores, etc. They’ll also assist you in locating a home that you will be able to afford as well as offer some tips on where to seek a mortgage. They’re knowledgeable about all that’s involved when buying or selling a house, such as the documentation required and the steps that must be completed to close a deal. Real estate agents minimize the stress involved in buying and selling a home.

If you’re selling a home, a real estate agent can take over the duties of arranging for a showing of the house and property, take the calls for people interested in a home, and listing the home with the right description that attracts potential buyers. Agents will know if a home that is listed on the market is worth the asking price. They’ll take a look at such aspects as demand, current market conditions, location and type of house, and note the main features of the house such as the number of bedrooms to make sure the asking price is acceptable. They can additionally negotiate the asking price of a home which might save you thousands of dollars.

A real estate agent is able to recommend such professionals as a home inspector, mortgage firm, a very good lawyer, home appraiser …etc. They have great contacts with those in the real estate market. They know the reputations and can offer a variety of choices to help you select wisely. As well, the quantity of paperwork concerned with selling and buying a house can appear complicated and overwhelming to a newbie in the real estate market. Also, the purchase papers can be extensive and confusing. There are other important papers such as federal and state forms. A real estate agent has the knowledge about homes for sale and all of the documentation needed in order to ensure that everything will be written up correctly and legally.

Due to the complicated nature of the real estate industry, you never know what questions you will have however one thing for certain is that you will have all your questions answered by a real estate agent. Real estate agents play a crucial rule within the home sale/purchase process. By hiring a real property agent, you will save time and expense. For anyone involved in a home selling or buying undertaking, a qualified real estate agent is important to a successful deal.

 

By : Keith Pollow     http://www.nextlevelarticles.com/rss.php?rss=226 

Lemon Roasted & Stuffed Chicken

I made this Roasted Lemon Chicken this past summer on Father’s Day. This weekend I craved the same chicken, but with vegetables available in our local Boise stores. I used acorn squash, parsnips, and brown mushrooms. I actually tweaked my original recipe and went crazy with the lemon zest and sage. What the heck, they are my favourite ingredients! Serves 4 to 6, depending on hunger.

1 large chicken, 4-5 pounds

1 lemon, quartered
1 lemon, juiced

Zest from one lemon (or both!)

Quality olive oil

Loaf of rustic bread, sliced

2 small sweet onions, quartered

1 butternut squash, peeled & cut in large chunks*

1 can artichoke quarters, drained

1 pkg fresh sage, stemmed

Sea salt & cracked pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Clean and rinse chicken, remove giblets, etc. Lift skin above breast, thighs/legs & below the bird. Insert about ¾ of the sage and lemon zest. Set aside rest of sage. Juice the one lemon and half of other lemon, set aside. Insert slice of rustic bread into cavity with two lemon & onion quarters, any leftover zest & remaining sage.

Set chicken on rack in roaster and surround with squash, onion quarters, artichokes. Sprinkler sea salt and freshly cracked pepper. Drizzle olive oil and let chicken sit for 10 minutes in cool kitchen. Pour lemon juice over chicken and vegetables. Place in oven and roast for 80-90 minutes or until done, about 20 minutes per pound.  (clear juices when pricked). This is the slow roast method,  fyi.

Line large serving dish or bowl with bread slices. Place chicken and vegetables over bread. Pour juices from roaster pan over entire dish/bowl.

* NOTE: In winter, get creative with root vegetables or other squash available in season.

Bon Appétit!

Spanish-Style Crockpot Chicken

I realized I have not posted my number one favorite slow cooker chicken recipe. So! Here you go! This easy crock pot chicken is made with just a few ingredients, super simple….

Ingredients:

• 12 chicken thigh pieces, bone in
• ¼ cup quality flour
• Sea salt and cracked pepper, to taste
• 1 tblsp fancy paprika
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped or minced
• 1 tblsp grated lemon peel
• 2 tsp thyme, crumbled
• 1 cup pitted prunes, cut in half
• 2  14 oz cans artichoke hearts
• 1 cup green olives, drained
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup red wine

Preparation:

Wash chicken; remove skin. Pat dry.

Combine flour, ½ tblsp paprika, salt and pepper in a large plastic bag. Add chicken to flour mixture and toss to coat. Place chicken in an large oval slow cooker.

Sprinkle chicken with garlic, lemon peel, thyme and ½ tblsp paprika. Top with artichokes, prunes and olives. Combine juice & wine; pour over chicken. Cover and cook on LOW setting for 6 hours or until chicken has cooked through and sauce has thickened. Serves 8 to 10.

Bon Appétit

Orzo Spinach Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes & Capers

I found myself attending the usual amount of holiday parties this season, but this year the need for taking a dish to add to the event was in order. My favorite ingredients play a role in this dish: orzo pasta, spinach, Bella Sun Luci sun dried tomatoes. I looked online for a similar salad that is served at Romano’s Macaroni Grill, and this is my adaptation. Serves a hungry crowd: 12-14 for a side dish or 8-10 main dish.

Ingredients:

1 fresh bunch spinach, about 10oz, cleaned & de-stemmed, cut julienne

1 small radicchio, cut julienne

1 tablespoon quality olive oil

1 lb. box Barilla orzo pasta, cooked al dente & drained

¾ cup Bella Sun Luci sun dried tomatoes in oil & herbs, julienne cut

1/3 cup non-pareil imported capers, drained

I cup pitted kalamata olives, cut in half

Dressing:

1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic

Juice from one large or two small fresh lemons

½ cup quality olive oil

Grated lemon rind from the lemon, about 1-2 tablespoons (you decide)

Fresh ground pepper

Cheese:

Now, this is where you can play with this ingredient. I use one of two different cheeses; it just depends on my mood. Either 2 heaping cups of crumbled feta cheese or 2 heaping cups of shredded Pecorino cheese.

Directions:

Julienne spinach and radicchio and set aside. I take 5-6 spinach leaves and arrange on top of each other. At the stem end, roll tightly. Take a sharp knife and slice the roll, resulted in beautifully cut strips! In a large bowl, combine sun dried tomatoes, capers & olives. Once pasta is done and drained, add to bowl and mix well. Set aside. In a large sauté pan, drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil & 1 tablespoon of the fresh lemon juice. Heat, then add the spinach and radicchio; cook until just wilted. Add to the bowl and toss. Add the cheese, toss well. I wish I had a photo to post, but there is no remaining salad each time I make it!

Bon Appétit!

Farewell to My Year as ACAR President

Is it too trite to start off this post with a “as I was sitting reminiscing about 2011”….? Truth be told, that is exactly what I am doing. Heavy sigh!

I have had a wonderful year at the 2011 Ada County Association of Realtors President. This year was a success due to the dedication of a stellar staff at ACAR, the enthusiasm of my Board of Directors and the commitment of my Committee Chairs, Vice Chairs and Committee members. My success is their success and a direct result of true teamwork.

Last week I gave my exit speech at the Installation event for the 2012 President and new Board Directors. My theme was Lead by Example, and the center of the message contained four items that I read about in a blog earlier that week. The first was Focus – focus on what excited you as a volunteer. Second, Be an Expert – Make sure you know what you are talking about. Third, Build Your Relationships – in each transaction or interaction at the office, tell that ACAR member about what is happening at their local association. Fourth, Share Your Story – tell that ACAR member who are your peers just why you are a volunteer.

We can all take that message to the alternate level of our lives, and extend this to our relationships, our families, and the people we meet each and every day. Focus on kindness. Be an Expert to help someone in need. Build your relationships and extend yourself. Share your story and inspire others.

At this time of year, we all think about giving and what to get someone. This year, try to think about the gift that comes from your heart. From deep inside that makes your gift so personal that other person receiving that gift is truly touched.

To me, a gift is not just something you wrap and give. A gift is a smile. A gift is a helping hand. A gift is a meal. A gift is a good deed that nobody sees you do. A gift is a voice mail to say hello, I am thinking about you. A gift is your true self and unconditional love.

Peace on Earth my friends!

Where have I been, where am I going?

I find it hard to believe that I have not posted on my blog for so long! What is up with that? Where have I been?

As I began to think about that, I realized I have not quite given myself  the “me” time I used to. I have not taken very many or nearly enough breaks that I deserve. I have been far too lax on my exercise schedule. This just has to change!

What am I going to do about that? Well, go to bed earlier so that I will get up earlier for my power walks or yoga. Eat better, preparing more meals at home. Creating a to do list that is reasonable. Saying no to distractions. When I am grateful, say it out loud (or in today’s terms, post it on Twitter!). Remember to pick up a phone and make a call rather than email or text. Read more. Be more informed. Learn something new each week.

I could go on and on, you get the picture.

What have you been doing lately? Better yet, what are you now going to do?

Five Reasons for a Mortgage Refinance

This is fantastic information I read today from the National Association of Realtors, House Logic article. Good advice if you are considering a refinance soon……..

Article From HouseLogic.com
By: Barbara Eisner Bayer
Published: October 22, 2010

There’s more to a mortgage refinance than lowering your monthly payments.

Naturally, if you’re paying 6% for your mortgage and you can refinance at 5%, you’re gonna do it. Although cutting your monthly payment remains an important motive, there are at least five other reasons to consider a mortgage refinance, for long-term savings and convenience.

1. Change your mortgage term

If you decrease the term of your mortgage in a refinance by going from a 30-year to a 15-year, you’ll pay a lower interest rate and shorten your total interest costs. You’ll build home equity more quickly, and pay off your loan sooner, even though your monthly payments go up.

2. Move from an adjustable rate to a fixed rate

ARMs offer low introductory rates, but they also offer long periods of uncertainty that make it hard to budget. It makes sense in a mortgage refinance to go from an ARM to a fixed-rate loan during a low-interest rate environment. You’ll get emotional security and your rate won’t fluctuate (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/do-adjustable-rate-mortgages-make-sense-now/) with changing economic conditions.

3. Take out cash

With a cash-out mortgage refinance, you can turn an intangible asset-accumulated home equity-into a tangible one-cash. It makes sense for a project that will generate long-term benefits, like a home improvement or funding a child’s college education (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/deduct-mortgage-interest/). However, don’t do it for frivolous reasons. Unless you’re extremely disciplined, you could find yourself in even deeper debt.

4. Consolidate two mortgages

When interest rates are low, a mortgage refinance lets you consolidate your main mortgage and an outstanding home equity loan to realize a lower overall monthly payment. Plus, you’ll have only one mortgage payment to make each month.

5. Recover from divorce

If your home is jointly owned with your soon-to-be ex-spouse, a mortgage refinance will turn a joint obligation into the responsibility of the person keeping the home. Nothing is more frustrating than tracking down a former spouse who doesn’t keep up with his or her end of the mortgage payment.

Lay the groundwork

If one of these reasons resonates with you, contact your current lender to see if it’ll offer you preferred rates or reduced closing costs on a mortgage refinance. But don’t assume the current lender is best: Leave no stone unturned by searching for lenders online and calling community banks and local credit unions.

No matter which lender you choose, a mortgage refinance for the right reasons can save you lots of money-and that’s the best reason of all.

Barbara Eisner Bayer has written about mortgages and personal finance for the past 16 years for the Motley Fool, Mortgages.com, and Nursevillage.com, and has been the Managing Editor of MortgageLoan.com, CompleteGrowth.com, and Credit-land.com. She has recently survived the challenge of refinancing her second home.

Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Easy Frittata – Bake It!

I gave this a lot of thought this morning. What do I do with leftovers, and how can I make a super simple frittata? Bake it, is that possible? Why not try!

Ingredients:

Sunday morning frittata, delish!

 8 medium eggs

1/3 of package of light cream cheese  –  I don’t keep milk in my fridge, but I sure do have light cream cheese

1/2 to 1 cup cooked or steamed -vegetable of choice, I used asparagus

1/2 cup chopped onion, sautéed until golden brown

1 cup cheese, I used Swiss this morning

Salt & pepper to taste

Fresh herbs to taste, you choose!

Two pie dishes, greased or sprayed with oil

In food processor, combine eggs and light cream cheese until frothy and creamy. Add the vegetables, onions, herbs to your own personal satisfaction. Pour in to pie dishes. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, covered loosely. Remove cover and bake another 5 to 10 minutes or until brown and done.

Bon Appétit!

I wonder why, I wonder how, I wonder….

Just sitting here at home tonight, wondering why. Wondering just how. Wondering what to do…..

The answers are close at hand, but are the answers simple? If so, why are those answers so elusive? Are those answers complicated? If so, how does one peel the layers? Once those layers are peeled, what do we see? What do we want to see?

Last night I was with a group of friends and we went to see the movie, The Help, and it was a poignant movie set in the South in the 1960’s, a reminder of the changes that took place in our country. A reminder of the changes taking place in this very day and age. A reminder also of how we can create change, just as the movie suggested.

Changes take place in all our lives, in all time zones, in all time frames, in all decades, in all centuries. The results are what we learn from those changes, how we take those changes, and how we can decide on what we should do to create a better world.

I made a commitment long ago to strive to be more collaborative. To find a solution, to look for options, to create a common ground to work from, to make sure others are heard. Can you help me to take that a step further, take that outside the confines of our daily lives with strangers?

A dear friend once called me the Idea Girl. My idea, right now during these challenging times,  is to simply listen. Simply listen.