Monday, November 21, 2016

Thanksgiving Side Recipe Ideas

Do you know what you are making for your Thanksgiving meal? With the holiday quickly approaching, it is time to plan out your food spread for your family gatherings. Your trusted real estate agent in Lake Ozark, Missouri knows the importance of a tasty meal to bring a family together. To help you prepare, I have provided some recipe ideas below to go along with your turkey or ham this year for Thanksgiving dinner.



Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole


4 cups sweet potato, cubed
½ cup white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
½ teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, softened
½ cup milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons butter, softened
½ cup chopped peacans

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Put sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan with water to cover. Cook over medium high heat until tender; drain and mash.
In a large bowl, mix together the sweet potatoes, white sugar, eggs, salt, butter, milk and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In medium bowl, mix the brown sugar and flour. Cut in the butter until the mixture is coarse. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the sweet potato mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly brown.

Celery Stuffing


½ cup butter
½ cup minced onion
2 cups diced celery, with leaves
3 cups chicken broth
4 quarts bread cubes
3 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon black ground pepper
½ teaspoon sage
1 pinch died thyme
1 pinch dried marjoram

Melt butter in saucepan. Saute onion in melted butter until soft, but not brown. Add celery and stir well. Add 2 cups chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Place bread cubes into large mixing bowl. Add eggs, salt, pepper, sage, thyme, and marjoram. Add onion-celery mixture; combine thoroughly. If still too dry, add more chicken broth. Makes enough to stuff a 10 to 15 pound turkey.

Grandma’s Green Bean Casserole


2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon white sugar
½ cup onion, diced
1 cup sour cream
3 (14.5 ounce) cans French style green beans, drained
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup crumbled buttery round crackers
1 tablespoon butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth, and cook for one minute. Stir in the salt, sugar, onion, and sour cream. Add green beans, and stir to coat.
Transfer the mixture to a 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. Spread shredded cheese over the top. In a small bowl, toss together cracker crumbs and remaining butter, and sprinkle over the cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is golden and cheese is bubbly.

Holiday Cranberry Sauce


4 cups fresh cranberries
1 ½ cups water
5 whole cloves
5 whole allspice berries
3 cinnamon sticks
2 cups white sugar

Place fresh cranberries and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Wrap cloves, allspice berries and cinnamon sticks in a spice bag. Place in the water with cranberries.
Cook until cranberries begin to burst, about 10 minutes.
Stir in sugar and reduce heat to low. Continue cooking 5 minutes, or until sugar has dissolved.
Remove from heat and allow to cool. Discard spice bag. Chill in the refrigerator 8 hours, or overnight, before serving.

Butterhorn Rolls


1 cup shortening
1 cup milk
½ cup warm water
 1 ½ teaspoon active dry yeast
1 teaspoon whiter sugar
2 eggs
½ cup white sugar
2 teaspoon salt
4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ cup butter, softened

In a small saucepan, combine shortening and milk. Heat until shortening is melted; set aside to cool. Dissolve the yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in the warm water. Beat the eggs, 1/2 cup sugar and salt together. In a large bowl, combine the milk mixture, yeast mixture and egg mixture. Sift the flour and baking powder together, and add to the wet mixture; stir until combined, then cover and refrigerate overnight.
Divide dough into fourths, and roll out on a floured surface. Spread surface with the soft butter. Cut dough into triangles, and roll up from larger to small end. Place rolls on a baking sheet, and allow to rise for 3 to 4 hours. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C.)
Bake in a preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown.

For more recipe ideas for your Thanksgiving meal, visit www.allrecipes.com

Whether you are hosting a family get-together and preparing the entire meal or bringing a side to a family member’s home for a gathering, you are ready to prepare your dish with the above recipes. Your experienced real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks wants you to be ready to prepare a meal for Thanksgiving. You are now ready to head to the store with your grocery list to stock up and prepare for your upcoming holiday feast!

Susan Spica
Professional REALTOR®

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

5 Tips for Selling Your Home During the Holidays

While many people pull their homes off the market during the holidays or wait until the season has passed to put their home on the market, there are a number of benefits that go hand in hand with selling during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Your trusted real estate agent in Lake Ozark, Missouri is here to provide some tips to make selling during the holidays easier. If you are in the market to sell your home at the Lake of the Ozarks, don’t wait until the holiday season has passed!


1. Get in the Holiday Spirit


Many homeowners will refrain from decorating for the holidays, when their home is for sale. This method may work, but adding a little holiday cheer to your home can appeal to potential buyers on the market. Now I’m not suggesting you go Clark Griswold style when decorating, but tastefully incorporating Thanksgiving or Christmas décor is acceptable during the holiday season, even if your home is on the market. This helps to create a cozy and cheerful atmosphere for those looking to purchase your home.

2. Attract Motivated Buyers


If a buyer is actively looking during the holiday season, they are serious about purchasing a home. People are typically busy during the months of November & December, preparing for and traveling to and from holiday gatherings. Keep in mind that anyone looking at homes is usually motivated to buy.


3. Keep it Cozy


Although it is not cold yet, the temperature in the area will be dropping soon. Be sure to turn up the heat for an inviting feel inside your home. Give buyers a place to escape the cold air, when they look at your space. If buyers are nice and warm inside your home, they will feel welcomed and relaxed, allowing them to appreciate your home.

4. Think Curb Appeal


As always, remember to spruce up your curb appeal when your home is on the market. Often times, potential buyers will drive by a home before scheduling a showing of the property. The view from the road may be what sways a buyer to look at your home or not. Keep up with your leaf removal regimen when selling your home. You want to show buyers that you take care of your home and maintain it well. If you wish, you can also add Christmas lights to your curb appeal. Line your roof and/or porch area with lights to entice potential buyers this holiday season.

5. Be Flexible


While the holiday season keeps many of us busy, try to be flexible when potential buyers want to look at your home. Keep in mind that buyers may have some time off work around the holidays, which allows them to spend time searching for a home.

With these selling tips in mind, you can prepare your home for potential buyers this holiday season. There are typically less homes on the market during the holiday season, this means less competition for your house. Take advantage of the market conditions and up your chances to sell your home at the Lake of the Ozarks during the holidays. Give me a call at (573) 280-0484 if you want to put your home on the market before the holiday season arrives.

Susan Spica
Professional REALTOR®

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Fire Safety Tips for Fall

As the temperature starts to drop, especially overnight, many homeowners at the Lake of the Ozarks will start to heat their homes. Whether it be wood in a fireplace or a furnace, there are a few dangers that come along with heating your home. Your trusted real estate agent in Lake Ozark, Missouri has provided some fire safety tips to help make your home a safer place this fall.


Service Furnace


Before you turn your furnace on for the first time this year, consider having a professional check over your system. This can help ensure it is in proper working order and that no safety issues are present. If you do have your system checked out, you can catch a potential issue before a problem arises.

Clean Chimney


Ensure your chimney is clear of all debris before starting a fire each time. Whether it be tree limbs or leaves, a blockage can cause smoke and/or a fire to be trapped inside the home.

Use Caution with Fireplace


When dealing with fire in a fireplace, use caution at all times. Utilize fireplace tools to handle wood when shifting fire and placing new logs on a flame. Keep in mind that you should always use a fireplace screen to keep the fire secure.

Proper Placement of Space Heater


When plugging in a space heater, ensure it is placed away from any flammable objects. Keep the heater away from objects like curtains, clothing, and bedding, which can easily catch fire.

Blow Out Candles


With the limited daylight hours and cooler temperature, many homeowners are home more in the fall and winter months, than during the summer. This means more people will be burning candles inside their home, since they are there to enjoy the flickering light and pleasant scent. If you do choose to burn a candle, ensure it is extinguished before leaving the house or going to bed at night.

Never Heat with an Oven


Heating your home with a gas range stove or an open oven door can lead to toxic air entering the home. This is not safe for you or your family to breathe in.

Test Smoke Alarms


Two times a year, you should test your smoke alarms and replace the battery. A smoke alarm can help alert anyone inside the home to exit because there is a fire threat. To help protect your family, ensure your smoke detectors are in proper working order and have fresh batteries.

Whether you already own a home or are planning to purchase a house at the Lake of the Ozarks, these fall safety tips can help keep you and your family safe at home. If you are in the market for a new home, an experienced real estate agent in Lake Ozark, MO can help you with the search. Now that you know these tips for fire safety in the home, you can feel confident about protecting your home this fall. 

Susan Spica
Professional REALTOR®

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484

Friday, November 4, 2016

Sell Your Home – 9 Bathroom Staging Tips

Although a bathroom is typically a smaller room in the home, it can still be a major selling point for the house. If you are considering selling your home at the Lake of the Ozarks, staging can allow potential buyers to see the best aspects of the house. Showcasing your space for buyers on the market is a major benefit of staging your home. Your experienced real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks has provided tips to help you better stage your bathroom, when selling your home.


1) Fresh Coat of Paint


While this may not be necessary, many times a new coat of paint can freshen up a space, especially a bathroom. If you do invest in paint, it is recommended to use a neutral color that will appeal to a wider range of potential buyers whom may be looking to purchase your home.

2) Incorporate Luxury Towels


To help create a spa-like environment, consider adding high quality towels to your bathroom. Nice towels can make a space feel luxurious. You can hang the towels from your towel rack, as well as roll towels in a basket or on a shelf for a simple, yet eye catching display.

3) Upgrade Fixtures


If your fixture finishes do not match, ensure they are all the same finish. If you have a gold fixtures in your bathroom, consider upgrading to a nickel, brushed nickel, or bronze tone. Simply replacing outdated fixtures can bring the entire room up-to-date.

4) Create a Relaxing Display


A large jar or bowel can be used to display relaxing bathroom pieces. Sponges, bath bombs, and soaps are nice items to display. This helps add to the spa-feel of the bathroom, along with luxurious towels.

5) Add Light a Light Scent


A bathroom is usually fairly small, especially when it comes to incorporating a scent. Keep in mind that not every potential buyer will fond of a certain scent you select. Try to keep scents light in the bathroom. Also consider opening a bathroom window, if it is nice outside, allowing a nice breeze to enter.

6) Look at the Mirror


Changing out the mirror in a bathroom can give the space a whole new look and feel. Consider adding two smaller mirrors, side by side, for an updated look.  

7) Remove Unsightly Items


When potential buyers are in your bathroom, ensure unsightly items are out of view. Remove any cleaning products, the plunger, and trashcan for an uncluttered room. Consider removing a scale as well, to increase floor space.

8) Showcase Storage Options


Many potential buyers will think about storage when looking to purchase a home. Whether you have shelving or a large vanity, show off the available storage space in your bathroom. Also keep in mind that buyers will be looking in those storage spaces, so keep it organized!

9) Clean, Clean, Clean!


Nothing is more unsightly than a dirty bathroom! Ensure your bathroom is sparkling when you have a showing. Incorporate cleaning the bathroom into your daily routine to keep up with it. This can help alleviate any panic that may set in as you get a call for a last-minute showing.

Now that you have some bathroom staging tips under your belt, you are ready to take action and prepare your house for a showing. Once a homeowner decides to sell their home, they usually want to sell it fast. Staging can help boost the chances for a fast home sale because it shines the best light on the home possible. A bathroom is used a number of times throughout each day, creating a clean and relaxing space can help attract attention from potential buyers. Give me a call at (573) 280-0484, if you are ready to put these bathroom staging efforts to use and sell your house at the Lake of the Ozarks!

Susan Spica
Professional REALTOR®

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484