Upcoming Events Downtown Frederick Nov-Dec 2015
Frederick ZIP code 21701 for downtown and surrounding areas showed a 17% increase in the total September 2015 homes sold over 2014 sales but a 4% drop in the average sales price.
Roasted
Sweet Potato Quiche
Ingredients
- 3 cups (1/2-inch cubed ) sweet potatoes, about 2
medium peeled
- 1 cup chopped sweet onion
- 2 TBLsp olive oil
- ½ tsp seasoned pepper
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 6 slices bacon cooked and
crumbled
- 1 refrigerated pie crust
- 2 cups (8oz.) shredded Gruyere
cheese
- 1½ cups half-and-half
- 4 large eggs
- 2 TBLsp chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425ยบ. In a medium bowl, toss sweet potatoes, onion, olive oil, seasoned pepper and ¼ tsp salt.
- Spread in a single layer on a lightly pan.
- Bake 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Stir halfway through. They will soften when the quiche is baking.
- Let sweet potatoes cool to room temperature.
- Remove pie crust from refrigerator and let sit on the counter for 5 minutes.
- Unroll the piecrust and fit into a pie plate. Trim excess pie crust from edges or fold excess and tuck it under. If tart pan has fluted edges, press the pie crust into the edges.
- Line piecrust with a double layer of heavy duty aluminum foil. You can place pie weights or dried beans on top, but I found that a double thickness of heavy duty foil will keep the pie crust from puffing up while baking.
- Place on baking sheet & bake for 10 minutes. Remove foil and bake 5 more minutes. Cool crust 5-10 minutes.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
- Add crumbled bacon to sweet potatoes and onions and place half of this mixture on top of piecrust. Top with half of cheese. Repeat layers.
- Whisk together half-and-half, eggs, parsley, rosemary, salt and pepper and pour into piecrust.
- Bake in lower part of oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until set.
- Cool for 15 minutes before slicing;
Get
Your Garden Ready for Winter
Getting
your garden ready for winter mostly means cleaning up. Pull the dead annuals
from the garden, trim back rose bushes and shrubs. Trim perennials where needed.
It’s also a good time to repair fences, structures and outdoor furniture. Remove old mulch from around roses that may
harbor insect eggs or spores from fallen leaves and apply new mulch to protect
the stems and roots.
Keep the Spirit of
Thanksgiving Alive Year-Round
The month of
November evokes notions of gratefulness and abundance. Gratitude can be a way
of life that can boost your immune system, contribute to overall happiness, and
improve your personal and professional relationships. Some tips include
Write a few things for which you are thankful daily. Be specific, and focus on the ordinary, everyday life.
Reflect on obstacles you have overcome and difficult times through which you have persevered, taking the opportunity to appreciate how your life has since improved. Let go of past hurts that still haunt you, you will free yourself to welcome future happiness.
Live in the moment, without dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Savor ordinary experiences and try to view them as opportunities for growth.
Most people are adept at displaying to the world their best aspects while concealing the negative. By comparing the negative aspects of your life to the positive aspects of others' lives, you are
allowing a skewed perception of reality to harm your happiness and sense of
self-worth.
Selling Your Home
During the Holidays
Contrary to popular belief, sellers in the real estate
market during the holiday season may enjoy several advantages. With so many
realtors and homeowners clinging to the assumption that it is not worthwhile to
list until January, buyers will have a smaller selection of properties from
which to choose. Less competition increases the likelihood that a particular
home on the market will garner an offer.
When more properties flood the market
after New Year, this advantage will disappear. Furthermore, buyers who are
taking time off from their holiday activities to search for a home are more
likely to be serious about moving as soon as possible. Therefore, while homes
on the market during the holidays will attract fewer potential buyers, the
showings that they have may be more likely to yield an offer. Here are some
tips to help you secure a sale without sacrificing the festive spirit.
·
Decorations
should accent – but not overwhelm – your property excessive decorations are distracting.
·
Remember
that your home is the centerpiece, so any decorations should merely complement
the property rather than dominate buyers’ focus.
·
Keep
the interior charming and bright
·
Consider
placing a few flameless candles around your home for a cozy look.
·
Bake
cookies in advance of a showing so that an inviting aroma lingers.
· Showcase how your home looks in other seasons. Provide photos from all seasons in your listing materials or in a photo album or slideshow that you have available when buyers come to view the property.