Yes, A Turkey in the Crock!

Yesterday was my birthday, and the furthest thing from my mind was post for Crockpot Sunday.

Here you go readers!

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Have you ever thought to put a turkey in a crockpot?

Well if you have never tried it, you are definitely missing out. It is the only  way to cook a turkey for my family. Since I discovered the deliciously fall off the bone juicy crockpot method, I have not gone back to traditional. Thanks to Anna Cater!

My recipe below; stuffed and unstuffed way to cook a turkey in the crockpot.

 

                                                                                                             Turkey in the Crocker

 

7-15lb Turkey (depending on the size crockpot you have)

 

                                                                                                           Butter Blend for Turkey

1lb of butter

1T oregano

1T parsley

1T basil

1t salt                                                                            

1t pepper

                                                                                                                     Unstuffed

 

I use dried herbs but you can use fresh too. Blend ingredients well with mixer. Prepare bird normally, then stuff blended butter between breast and skin, being generous, and spreading throughout the breast. Tie legs, stick a thermometer in breast, being careful not to hit any bones. Then put in crockpot. I put turkey in the night before because we usually eat around 2pm. According to http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/mintemp.html Turkey should be minimum of 165*.

 

                                                                                                                    Stuffed

10c bread crumbs

1c celery chopped

1 med onion chopped

1T parsley

2 beaten eggs

½ c butter

1t Italian seasoning

 

Sauté onion, cerlery, and herbs in butter until tender. Add 10c of breadcrumbs, and blend. Allow to cool about 15 mins. Then gradually add beaten eggs and blend well. Stuff bird. Most of the time I have had about 3 cups left over. Put left over stuffing in casserole dish.

Once bird is stuffed, place in crockpot, then do blended butter spread above. Follow same temperature guidelines above. Crockpot 10- 15 hours on low depending on size of bird. Once your bird is cooked to temperature it will be fall off the bone juicy. The skin will be moist, so for those of you who are fans of crispy skin bake skin in the oven at 350* a tad bit.

Know the Difference Between Pre Qualification and Pre Approval

Did you know that pre qualification and pre approval do not mean the same thing when buying a home?

Something  buyers and sellers need to know when venturing into the housing market:

Pre Qualification

This means you have the credit score, and  pulled credit from your lender that shows him/her you "could" be approved for a loan to buy a house.
In this segment process, you are gathering all the necessary  items needed to get a preapproval and go into underwriting.
Underwriting is a fancy way of saying all investors involved in your prequalification process accept or reject the documentation from your lender.

Pre Approval

Is a simple way of saying to the seller, I am ready for underwriting now. I do not need to gather anymore paperwork, and I am ready to buy and be approved for a loan right now.

Many buyers get these two approvals  mixed up, thinking that they are pre qualified and ready to buy.

Buyers: best advise when  you are starting to look, if your lender says you're pre qualified, great you start looking, however continue to stay in contact with your lender getting all the necessary  paperwork together to submit to underwriting, that way your ready  when you do find a home to put an offer on, plus it will make your offer look stronger than the buyer who is just qualified.

Sellers: Always ask for a letter of approval whether a pre qualification or pre approval with any offer.
Just because a buyer gives you a pre qualification doesn't mean they can't buy your home, it just means the lender is still asking for more information from the buyer to go into underwriting.

Please ask your chosen lender if you have further questions on this process.

Tis The Season Part 2

Yesterday we talked about the advantages buyers can take to make a sale.
Sellers have a completely different advantage.
Here are a few tips on how to make the sale.

Sellers

Some people think that during the holiday season, selling their home is not the best idea, but contrary to what you believe, it is actually the best time to sell.

Yes, I understand it's a busy time and your may have a lot going on, however so does everyone else-
Which is the ideal reason why it is a good time!
Your competition are going to be other sellers. Staging a home is a great idea, and you can always look around your own home to see what would look good. Get updated kitchen bathrooms, without spending a lot. A good way to that is paint neutral, and replace hardware.

During the holiday season, with out fail it seems, inventory always seems to drop this time of year.
Take full advantage of that. Get your house on the market, find a good Realtor, and price it well.
Watch the offers come in!

What sellers may not realize, that during a low inventory market there is still a lot of activity among buyers. Low inventory means a sellers market. It means a seller has a chance for a multiple offer situation.
Buyers are looking everyday to see what new listing has come up, and be sure to know, your listing will be one of them.

Tis The Season

The Holidays are a upon us and for many of you its planning time to be with families. The busy time can also make some of us lose focus on goals that we are trying to accomplish.
Buying or Selling a home.

Buyers

Stay focused keep your goal in front of you. Whether you have a plan to move into a home by Dec 31st or wait for the hustle & bustle  to be over, and close in January, here are a few tips to help ease some of the stress.

1.) Get Pre Approved. Not pre qualified.  Pre qualified means you have a lender who has looked at your credit and says you can possible buy. Pre Approved means your lender is confident enough to submit what he has to the underwriter to get your loan approved.

2.) While your looking, whether your pre-approved or pre qualified, get all the necessary paperwork together now, before you find your perfect home. Inventory is very low right now, and chances are if your are not ready to place an offer, another buyer could potentially grab your dream home.

3.) The stronger your offer, the better chance you have of getting the home. A couple way to make a good solid offer.
                      A.) Have all your paperwork into the lender, so you can tell your agent, you are ready to go to underwriting.
                      B.) Escrow Money (Deposit in some states). Know the risks of this, and ask your agent. Sometimes  if you say I'll put this amount down now, and once everything is met on the terms, I'll put down more, can make your offer stronger in a multiple offer situation. But PLEASE each state is different so ask your Realtor what this means.
                      C.) Make your price close to of at asking price. If your agent has done a proper CMA (Comparable Market Analysis) chances are this house should be at value, and if it is, it's better to be close to asking than low balling the seller. One you are at risk of a stronger offer from another buyer, or two you offend the seller and he ignores your offer. Again please check with your Realtor.

Tomorrow I will write how this time of year is a great time for the Seller!

Fall and Winter Tips This Season.

Fall and Winter tips this season.

Now that daylight saving time has ended the days are shorter. The nights are getting colder and I am sure you all feel the cold brisk, in the air as winter approaches.  Here are 10 things I have with me as I venture out on a drive.

1) Keep a spare blanket in the car.
2) Have bottled water ready.
3) Carry extra granola bars in your console.
4) Buy a second battery for your cell phone and keep in glove compartment.
5) Keep air pressure monitored for your tires.
6) When going long distances make sure to fill up tank the night before.
7) Keep a container of baby wipes and hand sanitizer in the car.
8) Put jumper cables in your trunk.
9) Stash a flashlight under your seat.
10) Keep a car cell phone charger in the car.

Have a safe winter everyone.

Bourbon Short Ribs

                                                                                                

1lb Short Ribs

½ c Bourbon

½ c ketchup

1 whole garlic

1can Tomato paste

¼ c brown sugar

¼ agave

1 can tomato sauce

½ onion shredded

¼ apple cider vinegar

¼ Worcestershire sauce

¼ t pepper

¼ t salt

 

In crock over med heat, brown short ribs on both sides. Meanwhile, combine all ingredients. Once meat is brown on both sides, pour sauce in crock, simmer for 8-12 hours.

Recipe's Accidently Deleted Are Back!

I accidently deleted  some of my crockpot recipe's  on this blog, when I was messing with the blog format so I am putting them in again for you to view. Another crockpot recipe coming tomorrow.

Chicken Corn Chowder

 

4-5 Baker potatoes

1lb chicken breast or 2 15oz cans of chicken

1 large carrot – shredded

1 shallot

3-4 sprigs of celery – finely chopped

¼ c chopped cured bacon

1 cup kernel corn

1 cup creamed corn (optional)

1qt heavy cream

3-4 chopped garlic

1 15oz can chicken broth

1T dried basil

1 stick butter

4-6 T flour

Salt

Pepper

 

Set Crockpot on med hi and add chopped cured bacon. Dice up 1 lb of chicken in bite size pieces and add to crock. (If you’re using can chicken wait to add).  Meanwhile peel and chop potatoes into bite size pieces. Peel and shred carrot, chop celery, shallot, and garlic, & add all to crockpot. Add teaspoon salt and pepper, and dried basil. Sauté together until veggies are tender. (about one hour). Add can chicken if using instead of fresh. Add chicken broth, cream corn, can corn and stir.  Add heavy cream, & stir. Simmer for about 5 hours. For Thicker soup: Melt 1 stick of butter and flour together.  Once desired consistency allow to bubble for 3-5 mins eliminating the flour taste.  Add rue to crock. Simmer for 30 more mins. Serves 8-12

Mexican Salsa Beef Stew

 

1lb beef cubed

3 baker potatoes

½ med onion roughly chopped

3-4 garlic cloves chopped

4 carrots peeled chopped

½ red pepper

½ jalapeno

Handful of cilantro

1 can stewed tomatoes

1c water

1T olive oil

1T flour

3 bay leave

1t oregano

1t basil

1t garlic powder

Salt & pepper

 

Heat Crock to med hi & add olive oil, bay leaves, oregano, basil, garlic powder, meat & brown together. Add flour. Peel and chop potatoes, & carrots into bite size pieces. Add potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, and continuing sauté for about 30 mins. In a food processor add red pepper, jalapeno, cilantro and stewed tomatoes & blend. Add 1 c water. Combine to crockpot. Simmer for about 3 hours. Serve 6-8

Helpful Hints For Buyer's and First Time Home Buyer's

Buying a home might be the biggest purchase of your life. With that being said there are  a few things you should look for when venturing on buying your first home.

Find a good lender. Do your research. Call  different institutions, ask question and get quotes about rates and offers. Be careful however not to give out too much personal information when shopping around. Multiple pull up of credit reports may ding you rather than help you. Once you have that "warm fuzzy" feeling  finding the right lender then give the information needed to get a pre approval.

The more prepared you and your lender are on a pre approval, the stronger your offer will be when you place an offer.

While you are looking for that perfect home, with the huge backyard, gourmet kitchen and workshop garage space, keep that same focus on getting any extra essential paperwork together your lender may call for later.  You may have the best lender anyone has ever encountered, and he has asked you for everything under the sun from you, but when he submits your application to the underwriter their is a potential that the underwriter will want more information from you. So have all possible information ready and waiting if asked.

Find a good real estate agent. Finding a good real estate agent you trust goes a long way.
Does the agent listen to your needs?
Do you hear more yeses than noes?
Are they helpful when you ask questions?
Do you feel comfortable when talking with them?
Do they seem to have good customer service skills?
Do you trust them?

Like a lender, shop around to find the best agent to fit your needs.

Get an inspection. A common mistake I see in this business, is the buyer does not get their own inspection done on a property. I Have Done This As A Buyer! If you are investing in hundreds of thousands of dollars why would you not get your own an inspection? Some sellers find it necessary to do their own inspection before putting their house on the market. Thinking it will help with a quicker sale. My thoughts: Conflict of interest. Who did the inspection? Did the seller know the inspector personally? How long ago was the inspection? If you are going to buy and use the inspection report from the seller use your own judgment to decided if it is something your willing to do.
The inspection is more for a buyers sense of assurance about what they are buying rather than the sellers interests.

Time Lines. Once you are in contract you will have time lines to accomplish each task that is laid out in your purchase agreement contract. It is the job of everyone involved  in the transaction to stay on  strict timelines (you, your agent, your lender, title and escrow company, the seller, and the sellers agent) If everyone works together and is on the same page, it usually sets a precedence for a smooth closing ahead.

For the first time home buyer, buying a home can be fun, exciting, exhausting, stressful and frustrating all in one breath. Just keep in mind whatever lies ahead, the end product....your first home awaits, and years later you will reflect on the adventure with family and friends.

There is a quote I found on Facebook it said, "Good things come to those who believe, Better things come to those who are patient, and the best Things come to those who Don't Give Up".