Monday, July 30, 2012

My Pal and a hero helping in Haiti

Loan Officer Helping Haiti


Christine Meserve, a loan officer at the Princeton corporate office, has spent the last fifteen years doing humanitarian work from Peru to Africa, and dedicated much of her time over the recent years to those suffering in Haiti.
As the Team Coordinator for The Flying Doctors International Chapter, she is responsible for 90% of the fund raising, purchasing and preparing for travel all of the necessary medications, pharmacy manager in country, among other responsibilities. In the years since the devastating Haitian earth­quake, Christine and her organization have been setting up remote medical clinics deep in the mountains and jungles of the country, where peo­ple have little access to medical care of any kind.
This past March, Christine visited two villages that had never seen a doctor before. The workload is intense, with over 2000 patients seen over a five day period, but she always feels that she receives more from this work than she gives.
“It is exhausting, challenging, heartbreaking, and I am grateful and honored to be a part of it,” she said.
Christine is especially passionate about medical humanitarian aid in developing countries, and she advises those looking to get involved to choose an organization that caters to your passions as well. There are likely already outstanding organizations you can join that have the same goals as you – improving education, the environment, and so on.
“I love the people in these countries, the inspiring individuals I work with, and the remote and chal­lenging nature of the locations that we travel to,” said Christine. “The clinics are real, raw, and the gratitude that these patients genuinely have is humbling. Their needs are simply greater than anything we can imagine here. Last year we took over 1600 pounds of medical supplies alone.”

Monday, July 23, 2012

Great looking receipe

Apricot Muffins with a Topping of Crunchy Goodness

Sweet, salty, tender and crunchy -- that's what these apricot muffins are like.
Sweet, gooey caramel with a sprinkle of sea salt.
Skinny jeans with a billowy top.
And the gregarious jock with the shy, bookish girl next-door.
Plain and simple, opposites attract.
Why? Because in the immortal words of Tom Cruise to Rene Zellweger in “Jerry Maguire,” they complete one another.
The same can be said about the best baked goods. If there’s soft, there ought to be crunchy, as well, to provide added contrast and greater interest.
When I decided to bake a batch of muffins the other week, using summer apricots fresh from the farmers market, I knew I wanted the tender treats to sport not only a crunchy top, but one that was both a little sweet and a bit salty.
My inspiration came from a bag of Sahale Snacks Almonds with Cranberries, Honey & Sea Salt, of which I had received as a sample. The mix of honey-roasted almonds, toasted sesame seeds, dried cranberries and orange blossom honey did just the trick. Rough chopped, the nut mixture was sprinkled over the muffin tops just before baking.
The Sahale nut mixture before being chopped up.
The nut mixes come in a variety to choose from.
The resulting muffins were just as I had hoped: nutty, crunchy, salty-sweet on top and tender within with big chunks of soft apricots in every bite.
If you don’t have a bag of Sahale nuts on hand, you can use sliced almonds, chopped walnuts or pecans, along with a sprinkle of sugar, sesame seeds and a tiny pinch of salt over the top of each muffin before baking. Also, feel free to substitute peaches or nectarines for apricots, if you prefer.
Enjoy one for breakfast. Or heck, even after dinner for dessert. After all, life is just a little more delicious with a serving of contrariness.
Apricot Muffins with a Topping of Crunchy Goodness
(makes 12)
1 3/4 cup pitted, chopped fresh apricots
1/2 cup sugar plus 2 tablespoons, divided use
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons wheat germ
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and allowed to cool slightly
1 cup low-fat milk
1 teaspoon almond extract
Heaping 1/3 cup Sahale Snacks Almonds with Cranberries, Honey & Sea Salt, roughly chopped
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a standard muffin tin with cupcake liners.
In a small bowl, toss apricots with 1 tablespoon of sugar. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, sift together flour, wheat germ, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt.
In another medium-size bowl, whisk together eggs, melted butter, milk and almond extract until combined. Stir in the flour mixture just until evenly moistened. Don’t over-mix or your muffins will end up tough. It’s OK if the batter still looks a little lumpy.
Fill muffin liners almost to the top with the batter. Sprinkle chopped nut mixture over each muffin. Then sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar evenly over all the muffin tops.
Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool the pan on a wire rack for about 5 minutes, then carefully remove each muffin from the pan.
From Carolyn Jung

More Apricot Recipes: Slim Apricot Tarts

And: Apricot, Almond Brown Butter Tart

And: Apricot Flaky Scones
Share and Enjoy:
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Author:foodgal
Date: Monday, 23. July 2012 5:25
Trackback: Trackback-URL Category: Fruit, General, Recipes (Sweet)

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6 comments
  1. 1

    Your muffins looks amazing! I love that crunchy topping.
    Cheers,
    Rosa
  2. 2

    Sigh…summer apricots! I cannot wait for those! These look delightful! :)
  3. 3

    Genius! They’re almost like mini crumb cakes!
  4. 4

    These are so picture perfect!!
  5. 5

    Okay these look so delicious that I may have to make some of them today!!
  6. 6

    What a delectable creation. I love the stone fruit season and what a great use of the apricots. I’ve never tried the Sahale Snacks but sound like something I’ll love! What a nice topping and contrast of texture it creates for these muffins. I hope the Sahale Snacks will make it to the muffins before I snack them away. :P

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Great tips for homebuyers from FNMA web site

Homebuying Process

Understanding the Steps

Thinking of buying a home? It’s the biggest purchase most will ever make. Before you start, make sure you understand the homebuying process.

How to Buy a Home

If you are a first-time buyer or haven’t bought a home in a while, understanding how to buy a house can be daunting. Although your experience may differ, the homebuying process generally follows these steps.
1. Gather the Information You Need to Qualify for a MortgageBefore buying a home, you will need to secure financing. When preparing to buy a home, be ready to provide a mortgage lender with the following information.
Income and employment
  • What is your current income?
  • Are you employed?
  • Do you have a history of steady employment?
  • How much do you have in savings?

Down payment
  • Your lender will ask how much money you have available for a down payment for the house you would like to buy.
  • A down payment of 20 percent or more of the home purchase price generally provides you with immediate equity in a new home.

2. Find a Lender to get Preapproved for a Mortgage LoanWhile preapproval is not a mortgage commitment or guarantee, it will provide guidance on what you can afford to spend on your home. Having a preapproval letter to show to a seller demonstrates that you are a serious buyer. When you are ready to buy, it will shorten the time it takes your lender to complete the mortgage application process.
Talk with several lenders and shop carefully for the best dealGetting the best deal on loan terms, interest rate, and fees is important. Remember that you are investing not just in a home but also in the mortgage loan that will finance your home. Talking with several lenders can help you get the best deal possible.
Make sure your lender explains the preapproval process clearlyDuring the preapproval process, the lender you choose will review your financial information, including salary and how much you owe on credit cards, car payments, student loans, and other debt. They’ll review your credit report, which shows how promptly you’ve paid your bills in the past, and they’ll review your ability to pay property taxes and other expenses of homeownership.
Make sure your lender explains all loan fees – the up-front costs of originating, processing, and closing the loan – as well as costs associated with escrows for taxes and insurance (see below) and other costs of owning a home, such as homeowner association dues. This will help educate you on some of the additional expenses related to buying a home.
3. Consider Setting up an Escrow Account Your lender may suggest that you set up an escrow account. In fact, most mortgage companies require an escrow account for mortgages with less than a 20 percent down payment or those with a lower loan-to-value ratio, unless the borrower is willing to pay a higher interest rate.
An escrow account helps you:
  • Manage your budget with monthly tax and insurance payments instead of an annual lump sum payment
  • Gain peace of mind knowing your payments will be made, on time, on your behalf
  • Meet your lender’s requirements by ensuring that your home is protected with paid-up insurance coverage and taxes

What is an escrow account?An escrow account is defined as a trust account held in the borrower’s name to pay obligations such as property taxes and insurance premiums.

Your monthly mortgage payment includes an amount for property taxes and insurance in addition to the amount you owe for principal and interest. Your mortgage company will place the amount of your monthly mortgage payment that is for taxes and insurance into an escrow account. The funds can be used only to pay taxes and insurance on your behalf.
Your mortgage company pays the taxes and insurance bills for you when they are due. Your mortgage company examines any changes in your tax and insurance costs (for example, your local government may change the amount of your real estate taxes). Each year, your mortgage company sends you a statement showing the activity for the prior 12 months – amounts collected from you and placed in escrow as well as the payments made on your behalf – and showing any adjustments that may be needed based on changes in your tax and insurance costs.
A simplified example* of how escrow payments are calculated
  • Annual real estate taxes: $1,800 ÷ 12 months = $150 per month
  • Annual property insurance: $720 ÷ 12 months = $60 per month
  • Total monthly taxes and insurance: $210

In this example, $210 would be added to your total monthly mortgage payment and applied to your escrow account. You might hear your total monthly mortgage payment referred to as your “PITI” – for principal, interest, taxes, and insurance.
*The amounts you owe for real estate taxes and insurance will vary – this is a simplified example, and your mortgage company will likely use a more detailed calculation method that considers various factors. Ask your lender for a full explanation and an estimate of the escrow payment on your mortgage.
How to tell if you have an escrow accountIf you have a mortgage but are not sure if you have an escrow account, check your monthly mortgage account statement or contact your mortgage company. Your account statement will typically indicate your “Escrow Balance” and the amount of your total monthly mortgage payment that is applied to escrow.
More information about escrow accountsFor more information, talk with your mortgage company to determine if you are setting aside adequate funds in your escrow account or if you should set up an escrow account. Also, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers Frequently Asked Questions about Escrow Accounts for Consumers.
4. Select Your HomeWith your mortgage preapproval in place, you are ready to begin your search. You can check online and your local newspaper for homes for sale in your area. A licensed real estate professional can help you find a home that meets your needs and your budget. In addition, a licensed agent has access to the Multiple Listings Service (MLS) that generally offers the most comprehensive list of homes for sale, making the house buying process easier.
Helping Owner Occupants with First Look™ In many communities, foreclosed homes offer an affordable homebuying option. To promote neighborhood stabilization through higher owner occupancy rates, Fannie Mae created First Look. This program encourages the purchase of foreclosed homes by owner occupants, rather than investors, by allowing owner occupants (or any organization using public funds) to submit an offer on a Fannie Mae property without competition from investors for the first 15 days. Many of these homes offer flexible HomePath financing, which is available only on Fannie Mae homes.
Fannie Mae also supports prospective homebuyers by partnering with public entities and nonprofits to help them take advantage of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds to purchase HomePath properties.
In 2010, Fannie Mae sold more than 115,000 HomePath properties to owner-occupant and NSP buyers.
Additional information:

Marketwatch story about 15-year fixed rates there are lowwwwwwwwwwwwww


Amy Hoak
July 23, 2012, 12:02 a.m. EDT

Record low 15-year mortgages gain appeal

Spread between 30-year and 15-year rates ‘unusually wide’

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    By Amy Hoak, MarketWatch
    CHICAGO (MarketWatch)—Average rates on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages have been below 3% since May, leading more borrowers to consider swapping their current home loan for one with a 15-year term.
    Not only are interest rates on the 15-year mortgage at record lows, but the difference between the 15-year and the 30-year mortgage is unusually wide, Freddie Mac Chief Economist Frank Nothaft said.
    The rate on the 30-year mortgage averaged 3.53% for the week ending July 19, compared with 2.83% for the 15-year, a difference of 0.7 percentage point, according to Freddie Mac. In 2007, the average spread was 0.31 percentage point.
    “There’s no question, the interest-rate differential has been much higher over the past year than at any other time,” Nothaft said. (Freddie Mac’s records for the 15-year mortgage go back to 1991.)
    Thank Federal Reserve policy for the low rates: “They have pushed short-term interest rates as close to zero as they can,” Nothaft said, and “that keeps other short-term lending rates fairly low.”
    The yield on the 10-year Treasury is often the benchmark used to set rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, while the five-year Treasury is the benchmark for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. The spread between the 10- and five-year Treasury has been wider in recent years than at any other time dating back to 1962, Nothaft said.
    Many see an opportunity for significant savings.
    Thirty-one percent of those who refinanced during the first quarter paid off a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and swapped it for a shorter-term loan, according to Freddie Mac’s most recent statistics.
    Some people are seeking to pay off their mortgages before they retire; others are scarred from the financial crisis and want to chip away at debt as fast as they can, said Karen Mayfield, national sales manager for the mortgage-banking division of Bank of the West.
    “We’ve all … watched the 401(k)s get killed, [home] equity get killed,” Mayfield said. “Debt is less sexy today.”
    Not only do these borrowers get a lower rate, but when a mortgage is amortized over a shorter term the borrower pays less interest over the life of the loan. The trade-off is that your monthly mortgage payment likely will be higher since you’re paying off the same principal over a shorter period.
    Say you have a mortgage of $300,000, and your financing options are a 30-year mortgage at 3.75% or a 15-year at 3%. The 15-year would cost you $683 more a month, Mayfield said, but in five years, you’d save $14,735 in interest and have $55,679 more in equity. By year 15, you’d have saved more than $68,000 in interest.
    That doesn’t mean financing into a shorter-term loan is right for everyone.
    First-time home buyers, for example, often don’t fully understand the costs involved in home maintenance and taxes, Mayfield said.
    Those who have to stretch to make payments on a 15-year mortgage probably shouldn’t do it. Ditto for those who wouldn’t be able to keep up with payments if they lost their job or suffered a reduction in income, said Rich Arzaga, a certified financial planner and founder of Cornerstone Wealth Management in San Ramon, Calif.
    Remember, it’s always possible to chip away at a 30-year mortgage by making an extra payment when you can.
    Before deciding on a 15-year mortgage, crunch some numbers.
    Pay attention not only to interest rates and monthly payments but also to where you are in the life-cycle of your current loan and how long you plan to keep the property, Arzaga said. Calculate how long it will take to recoup closing costs.
    Consider whether forking over extra cash each month for a mortgage payment is the best use of your funds. For example, if a mix of investments can yield a 6% return, it might make more sense to put the extra cash toward that if you have a current mortgage rate of, say, 4%, Arzaga said.
    Regardless, an increasing number of people are listening to the voice in their heads that tells them it’s better to own a home free and clear before retirement, said Len Hayduchok, president of Dedicated Senior Advisors, in Princeton, N.J.
    People are tapping into their rainy day funds to pay off part of their mortgages, even if there are more lucrative investments out there, Hayduchok said. “The trend is to reduce the time [to pay off the mortgage], more so than any time I’ve seen in the profession.”
    Amy Hoak is a MarketWatch reporter based in Chicago.

    Sunday, July 22, 2012

    Two more books because frankly we all must read more


    The Richest man in Babylon- I have given out 50 copies of this book it stresses our choices with money. Tells the story through a story or parable about money.

    The automatic Millionaire- read the Latte factor I think it will really reach you

    Three Books I ask you to read... for you

    Three Must-Read Personal Finance Books


    There are many informative and interesting books about managing your personal finances out there. These three are some of the best stand-outs to make a change in the way you view and handle your money.
    1. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
    The author of this book is considered one of the best financial investors of the century, and his advice is still extremely relevant since its original publishing in 1949. His stock market strategies are highly well-respected, and this book will give you a deeper understanding of how to invest your money.
    2. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
    This bestseller is a great overview to managing your finances. It covers getting out of debt, investing, saving for emergencies, college, paying off your mortgage, and much more.
    3. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley and William Danko
    This book explains what people not just in Beverly Hills or the Upper East Side are doing to make themselves financially successful. It goes over the seven common key traits that the authors have found that wealthier people possess, maybe even your next door neighbor, and shows you how to cultivate them for yourself.
    Do you have any favorite personal finance books that belong on this list? Add them to the comments!

    Paul from Halcon is sharing wines through dinners

    http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Halcon-Vineyards/56858194655


    We have two wine dinners coming up - one at Tarragon in Sunnyvale July 25th and one at Chop Bar, Oakland on August 15th. We will be pouring the 2010 Halcon Alturas Syrah and 2010 Halcon Esquisto Mourvedre, along with barrel samples of our 2011 wines including our new Roussanne/Marsanne blend. Both dinners are $70 per person which covers food, wine, tip and tax.
    Please send a email to info@halconvineyards if you want details of the menu or to reserve a spot.

    Thursday, July 19, 2012

    Buying short sales or foreclosures

    Buying Short Sales or Foreclosures


    There’s no question that negotiating the short sales or a foreclosure can be time-consuming and frustrating. It can take months. But if you’re patient and willing to do the work, your reward will be a great house at a bargain price.
    Short sales
    For a distressed property, you could be dealing with third parties, each with their own agenda and process rules.
    On short sales, banks will price a home close to the market value, but they are often willing to take less to avoid a costly foreclosure. The average short sale in the past year has sold at14 percent off the list price, compared with a 7 percent discount for foreclosure and regular sales.
    Dealing for a foreclosure
    Because banks are eager to unload properties they own, they list the home at a price at which they think it will sell quickly. These properties are often bought for cash by investors. In California, 31 percent of recent deals were by cash, according to Money magazine.
    In some cases, the bank that handles the foreclosure may not own the loan. During the real estate boom years, many loans were sold off to other investors. In that case, the bank who owns the property has to consider the amount investors who own the loan are willing to accept.
    Wells Fargo short sale and foreclosure servicing department says, on loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration, lenders can accept no less than 88 percent of appraised fair market value in the first 30 days. That declines to 84 percent after 60 days.
    How to make an offer
    In deciding what to bid on a foreclosure or short sale, remember that banks aren’t interest in making several counteroffers, though they may come back to you once or twice. In weeks to come, you could resubmit the offer and it might be accepted.
    Your initial bid should be 10 percent to 20 percent below the list price

    Chef Joey shares more about Ca Foie Gras band

    abc7newsBayArea@abc7newsBayArea
    A French government official is proposing a boycott of Calif. wines in response to the state's ban on foie gras.

    My pal the Food Gal strikes again

    Cantaloupe in Cake? You Bet!

    Tuesday, 17. July 2012 5:25 | Author:foodgal
    Yes, you can bake with cantaloupe. Who knew!
    I’ve enjoyed berries, peaches, plums and all manner of other fruit in baked treats.
    But cantaloupe?
    Not until now.
    Don’t get me wrong. I love that beautiful netted fruit with its sunny orange flesh. But cantaloupe in a cake seemed as farfetched to me as watermelon or honeydew in one.
    That is until I spied a recipe for “Cantaloupe Cake (Torta di Melone)” in “Dolci: Italy’s Sweets” (Stewart, Tabori & Chang), of which I received a review copy. The book is by Francine Segan, a food historian and New York City cookbook author. The cookbook boasts more than 125 recipes for Italian specialties such as sweet ricotta crepes, rosemary semifreddo, angel hair pasta pie, and even an unlikely chocolate eggplant dish.
    Because the melon chunks are soaked in Asti Spumante, a glass of the Italian sparkler makes a nice accompaniment to the cake.
    I couldn’t let a chance to bake with cantaloupe pass by, so I gave it a whirl.

    Todd Duncan 2011 blog that reached me

    Friday, August 20, 2010

    Make Each Day Your Masterpiece





    You are in the process of creating a masterpiece. Every day there is an opportunity to improve. The most successful people change their lives because they can see the opportunity to change something today. You are an agent of change, and your life and your business are both your responsibility and your opportunity.

    As I looked at the autographed basketball in my office and the Pyramid of Success John Wooden gave me, I was reminded that he constantly instructed his players to make each day their masterpiece:

    When I was teaching basketball, I urged my players to try their hardest to improve on that very day, to make that practice a masterpiece. Too often we get distracted by what is outside our control. You can’t do anything about yesterday. The door to the past has been shut and the key thrown away. You can do nothing about tomorrow. It is yet to come. However, tomorrow is in large part determined by what you do today. So make today a masterpiece . . . This rule is even more important in life than in basketball. You have to apply yourself every day to become a little better. By applying yourself to the task of becoming a little bit better each and every day over a period of time, you will become a lot better. Only then will you be able to approach being the best you can be – John Wooden


    Masterpieces are created when you make good decisions and then commit to managing those decisions. Both require you to master the art of self-leadership and embrace the importance of self-discipline. How would the person you see yourself becoming in the future be acting today, in the present? I love this question. I ask it of myself often. It brings immediate perspective to each aspect of life. You will never change your life or your business if you don’t manage yourself every day. As Wooden has his pyramid, one of the most famous pyramids is that of Maslow -


    You will never move from the base of Maslow’s pyramid to become a fully engaged human being without self-leadership. We will explore this over the next several days.

    Daniel pink- do commissions motivate? Only way to motivate?

  • IndieBound
  • 800 CEO Read
  • Are commissions the only way to motivate salespeople?

    Let’s face it. Salespeople aren’t like the rest of us. You and I want a decent paycheck, of course. But we also seek much more from our work – the chance to learn, to contribute to the world, and to climb the ladder of self-actualization.
    But not the folks in sales. They are — and here comes the adjective we deploy most often – coin-operated. Slip a quarter into the slot and they’ll do a little dance. When time runs out, insert another coin or they’ll stop dancing.
    In the new Harvard Business Review, I’ve got a 2-page article challenging this view. It explains why commissions sometimes backfire — and introduces a few places that have eliminated commissions and seen sales rise.
    You can read it here. (Free registration required. UPDATE: Article is now free and outside the firewall.)

    ***
    As it happens, this question — Are salespeople different from the rest of us? — was one of the first questions I got from readers after publishing Drive. And I became so interested in the broader topic of selling that for the past year, I’ve been writing a book about the subject — the first book on sales for people who’d never read a book about sales. You’ll be hearing more about that in the coming months in advance of its January launch.

    mortgage rates hit another low

    — Average rates on fixed mortgages fell again to record lows, creating more incentive for buyers to enter the recovering housing market.
    Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate on the 30-year loan fell to 3.53 percent. That's down from 3.56 percent last week and the lowest since long-term mortgages began in the 1950s.
    The average rate on the 15-year mortgage, a popular refinancing option, declined to 2.83 percent, below last week's previous record of 2.86 percent.
    The rate on the 30-year loan has fallen to or matched record low levels in 12 of the past 13 weeks.
    Cheaper mortgages have contributed to a modest housing recovery. Home sales fell in June but were up from the same month last year. Home prices are rising in most markets.
    The Associated Press

    how to buy a home in a tight market

    Tips on Buying in a Tight Market

    Post image for Tips on Buying in a Tight Market
    by The Dawn Thomas Team on July 19, 2012
    The Dawn Thomas Team always likes to give our clients and potential buyers information that can help make the home buying process as smooth and predictable as possible. An emerging trend in the current market is: multiple bids on homes and a lot of people are repeatedly making offers on homes and getting rejected. The Dawn Thomas Team presents you with Tips on Buying in a Tight Market so you can be prepared and we can help you find the home of your dreams!
    Increase your chances of getting your dream house instead of losing it to another buyer, with these easy steps.
    1. Get prequalified for a mortgage. You’ll be able to make a firm commitment to buy and make your offer more desirable to the seller.
    1. Stay in close touch with your real estate sales associate to find out first about new listings that come on the market. And be ready to go see a house as soon as it goes on the market.
    1. Scout out new listings yourself. Look at Internet sites, newspaper ads, and drive by the neighborhood frequently. Maybe you’ll see a brand-new “for sale” sign before anyone else.
    1. Be ready to make a decision. Spend lots of time in advance deciding what you must have so you won’t be unsure when you have the chance to make an offer.

    1. Bid competitively. You may not want to start out offering the absolute highest price you can afford, but don’t try to go too low to get a deal. In a tight market, you’ll lose out.
    1. Keep contingencies to a minimum. Restrictions such as needing to sell your home before you move or wanting to delay the closing until a certain date can make your offer unappealing. In a tight market, you’ll probably be able to sell your house rapidly. Or talk to your lender about getting a bridge loan to cover both mortgages for a short period.
    1. Don’t get caught in a buying frenzy. Just because there’s competition doesn’t mean you should just buy anything. And even though you want to make your offer attractive, don’t neglect inspections that help ensure that your house is sound.
    This blog is courtesy of The Dawn Thomas Team who is an award-winning Real Estate Agent team at Intero Real Estate Services in Los Altos 650-947-4661. We help nice people with selling and buying homes from Palo Alto to West San Jose!

    Saturday, July 14, 2012

    Daniel Pinks 3 quotes to live by

    The 3 quotations I keep on my office wall

    Some of you asked. Here’s the answer:
    “Live as if you were living already for the second time and as if you had acted the first time as wrongly as you are about to act now.”
    Viktor Frankl
    “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”
    Steve Jobs
    “Being a professional is doing the things you love to do — even on the days you don’t feel like doing it.”
    Julius Erving

    Receipe from Chef Joey Elentrrio Chez TJ

    Rising Star chef Joey Elenterio, Chez TJ

    Published 03:19 p.m., Wednesday, March 14, 2012
    • Chicken Wing Coq Au Vin (Joey Elenterio, Chez TJ) as seen in San Francisco on March 7, 2011. Food styled by Lynne Char Bennett. Photo: Craig Lee, Special To The Chronicle / SF
      Chicken Wing Coq Au Vin (Joey Elenterio, Chez TJ) as seen in San Francisco on March 7, 2011. Food styled by Lynne Char Bennett. Photo: Craig Lee, Special To The Chronicle / SF


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    Joey Elenterio is like the little brother you can't shake. On his first day at Spago in Palo Alto, his job was to make 40 pounds of mashed potatoes. But it didn't take long before he was pestering line cooks and sous chefs for more work.
    "I was always getting yelled at," Elenterio recalls with a smile. "I'd be at someone else's station, looking over their shoulder, touching stuff, wanting to cook something."
    It's that curiosity and drive that's helped Elenterio, now the executive chef at the Michelin-starred Chez TJ in Mountain View, rocket up the kitchen totem pole.
    Born and raised in the South Bay, Elenterio attended the California Culinary Academy straight out of high school. He'd wake up at 5 a.m. to drive from San Jose to San Francisco, attend class all day, then work a full shift at Spago before returning home past midnight.
    In three years, he went from stage to saucier to banquet chef before the Wolfgang Puck restaurant closed in 2007. Then came a short-lived position as sous chef at Tanglewood on Santana Row in San Jose - short-lived because he was promoted to executive chef two weeks after his arrival.
    "I was young, I was the yeller, I had the keys to the Ferrari and I didn't know what I was doing," he says of his fast and furious initiation.
    A calmer and more confident Elenterio now leads the kitchen at Chez TJ, where he started as a sous chef in 2009 and took over as executive chef a year ago. The yelling has given way to "the look," which is especially pragmatic in a five-person kitchen where everyone ends the night by sweeping floors and taking out the garbage.
    As Elenterio has matured, so has his cooking. He likens his style to creating grown-up versions of classic comfort foods, such as his accompanying recipe for coq au vin made with chicken wings.
    One of his favorite dishes on Chez TJ's menu, in fact, is a cream of leek soup that's a riff on the classic potato leek. To Elenterio, the ability to wow someone with a humble bowl of soup is one of the hallmarks of a good chef.
    "I didn't grow up on avant-garde dining," he says. "I grew up on mac and cheese, shepherd's pie and pork chop and potatoes, so that kind of food is very near and dear to me."
    Age: 26
    Restaurant: Chez TJ, Mountain View
    Cooking style: Contemporary French
    Recipe: Chicken Wing Coq au Vin
    Quote: "It's fun to try and weave that classic Americana into contemporary French."

    Chicken Wing Coq Au Vin

    Makes 4-6 small portions
    Adapted from Chez TJ chef Joseph Elenterio. Making the partially boned chicken wings in this recipe may look daunting, but it's approachable if done in steps. One option for the wine for the sauce is a boxed Pinot Noir, which is exactly 4 bottles. This makes a lot of sauce; you can reboil it, then freeze leftovers to use with pasta or for another braised dish after thinning.
    • 2 dozen chicken wings
    • 6 to 8 ribs celery
    • 2 large yellow onions
    • 8 large carrots
    • 12 ounces cremini or other mushrooms, wiped clean
    • 2 whole heads garlic, loose skins removed
    • 4 ounces thick-cut smoked bacon
    • 4 750-ml bottles (or 1 box) dry red wine, preferably Pinot Noir
    • -- Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
    • -- Olive oil, for searing
    • 2 1 1/2-ounce containers concentrated chicken glace (see Note)
    • 2 cups low-sodium beef or veal stock
    • 1/2 bunch thyme
    • To finish:
    • 24 pearl onions
    • 2 tablespoons Banyuls vinegar or Champagne vinegar + about 1 1/4 teaspoons honey
    • 3 to 4 medium carrots
    • -- Fresh lemon juice, to taste
    • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, or 4 tablespoons butter + 4 tablespoons olive oil
    • -- Sugar or honey, as needed
    • -- Mixture of tender herbs to garnish (optional)
    2 days ahead: Have ready a 6- to 8-quart non-aluminum container with a lid, and space for it in your refrigerator. Cut chicken wings into three parts: the tips, mid, and drumettes; discard tips or freeze for future stock.
    Prepare half the vegetables: Cut half the celery ribs into 1-inch pieces. Peel one onion, then cut into about 1-inch pieces and separate the layers. Scrub 4 carrots, halve lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces. The amounts of each vegetable should be similar. Cut half of the mushrooms into quarters. Separate cloves of 1 head garlic and lightly smash.
    Cut half the bacon into 2-inch pieces.
    Combine chicken, cut vegetables, separated garlic cloves and bacon pieces in the container (the vegetables should help keep chicken pieces from touching). Add enough red wine - about 3 quarts - to cover all.
    Cover the container and refrigerate for 24 hours; redistribute the chicken at least so it marinates evenly marinated.
    1 day ahead: After 24 hours, take out the chicken and arrange it on a rimmed baking sheet lined with paper towels; pat dry and season with salt and pepper. Strain and reserve the wine but discard the vegetables (if desired, use vegetables to make a light, winey stock). Pour a light coating of oil into a large, deep, heavy-bottomed skillet; set over medium-high heat, add the chicken and brown on both sides, working in batches as needed. Move browned pieces to a 7- to 8-quart Dutch oven, preferably enameled cast iron.
    Move oven rack to the middle or bottom third of the oven and preheat to 325°.
    Prepare the remaining vegetables the same way as earler; set aside. Pour about 1 cup of the reserved wine into the skillet, bring to a boil and cook, stirring, to scrape up the browned pieces on the bottom. Add the vegetables, stir to coat; reduce heat to medium and cook until the vegetables are tender, adding water or oil as needed. Add the rest of the reserved wine and remaining new wine. Increase the heat, bring to a boil and reduce the wine by half.
    Meanwhile, dissolve the 2 containers of the chicken glace concentrate in 2 quarts hot water to make brown chicken stock. Add to the skillet, along with the beef or veal stock and thyme (if there is too much, pour excess into the Dutch oven). Bring skillet mixture to a boil and pour all - including the vegetables - over the browned chicken wings. Cover tightly, place in the oven and bake 2-3 hours, or until the bones easily rotate.
    Uncover, cool until you can handle the wings, and then transfer them to a rimmed baking sheet. If desired, remove bone from the drumettes while they are still quite warm. However, wait until the mid wings cool a bit more - if they are too hot, they will shred; if too cold, they will hard to de-bone. Rotate each bone and slide out of the wings. Cool completely, then place flat, using parchment between layers. Finish recipe or refrigerate if making ahead.
    Meanwhile, strain and discard vegetables from the braising liquid (you might want to save the delicious, buttery-soft garlic cloves for your bread). Reduce liquid to desired intensity and consistency, skimming as needed; there will be about 2 1/2 cups sauce depending on how long it has reduced. Cool and refrigerate.
    To finish: Bring wings to room temperature. Meanwhile, combine pearl onions, vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a very small non-aluminum pot; the liquid (1 part vinegar to 4 parts water, if more is needed) should amply cover the onions. Bring to a boil and cook about 45 seconds, just to loosen skins. Remove onions, trim root ends, peel and set aside. This can be done ahead.
    Peel and cut carrots into desired bite-size shapes. Cook carrots in salted boiling water until al dente; set aside. This can also be done ahead.
    Remove any solid fat from the sauce. Rewarm the sauce and adjust to taste with salt and lemon juice. Keep warm.
    Working in batches if necessary, melt butter (or half butter, half olive oil) in a skillet over high to medium-high heat. Re-sear chicken. Wipe skillet between batches if the fat darkens too much.
    In a separate skillet, reheat onions and carrots with some butter and a little sugar or honey over medium heat until nicely glazed; season to taste.
    Assemble chicken wings with vegetables, drizzle sauce over the wings and garnish with the fines herbs.
    Note: More Than Gourmet's Glace de Poulet Gold is one brand of shelf-stable, concentrated roasted chicken stock. (It comes in small, round, 1 1/2-ounce containers, generally in the soup aisle or near the butcher counter.
    Due to the variable amounts of sauce used and marinade absorbed by the other ingredients, there is no analysis.
    Wine pairing: A Grenache-based blend - especially from Spain's Priorat wine region - is the choice of Chez TJ sommelier Jessamine McLellan. She says it is medium-bodied with nice fruit flavors, but generally made in a more rustic style, which holds up to the dish but doesn't overpower it. Also on her list are most Rhone-based reds from E. Guigal or M. Chapoutier, which are readily available.
    Janny Hu is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Twitter: @janny_hu. janny_hu@sfchronicle.com