How to cook a turkey in 3 hours...Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I have a guest blogger today, my mom, Roberta Buckley.  This is the most amazing turkey recipe ever, so I wanted to share it with you.  The rest of this blog is in her words:

This method of cooking the turkey is from the San Francisco Fire Department in the 1960's. I've never cooked a turkey any other way, and I've Never had it fail. Moist and Sweet, easy to carve, with plenty of juice for gravy.

 

Knowing that your turkey will be done to perfection in Three Hours takes all the guess-work out of planning your meal. Want to eat at 4pm? put your bird in the oven at 12:30p (the extra 1/2-hour allows time for the turkey to Rest for 20 minutes before carving).

 

(although the instructions appear to be lengthy, the method itself is very simple. I just wanted to make it as clear as possible. :-D )
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15 - 22 lb turkey
Turkey truss-ers (I don't know what to call them - those sharp pointy skewers) and kitchen string
Large paper grocery bag
Crisco Shortening
Lawry's Garlic Salt (or any "california style" garlic salt will do)
Stapler

 

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

 

Preparing the Turkey:
About one hour before before you plan to put the bird in the oven:
o remove giblets from cavities (*if using a frozen turkey, see note below).
o rinse turkey, inside and out, under cold running water removing fatty deposits from the cavities, and any pin feathers.
o Using old bath towels, thoroughly dry turkey inside and out.
o If you stuff your bird, do so now and truss. (note: No matter what your stuffing recipe instructs, you don't need to add liquid to your dressing. Leave it dry or you might have mush. Trust me.)
o If you do not stuff your bird, place whole onions, apples, and/or other veggies in cavities, and truss.
o Generously spread shortening on entire outside of bird (skin must be dry or shortening will not stick).
o Generously sprinkle garlic salt over bird.
o okay... this part takes two people (**see my method below): Stand paper grocery bag in roasting pan and put bird into bag and, folding over the end of bag once or twice, staple shut.
o Lay bagged bird breast-side-up in pan making sure that the paper bag doesn't hang over the edges of the pan.
o Press bag closely against turkey. Using more shortening, grease outside of bag. Any spot left ungreased (especially those not touching turkey) will burn and you will lose some of your juices.
o Place turkey into preheated 500 degree oven and set timer for One Hour. It is Very Important that you do Not open the oven door for the next Three hours. Guard oven carefully against nosy guests - Duct Tape it shut if you have to. (lol)
o After One Hour, lower oven setting to 400 degrees, and re-set timer for One Hour.
o One Hour later, lower oven setting to 300 degrees, and re-set timer for One Hour.
Ding Ding Ding... Remove bird from oven; wait a bit, and then gently tear paper bag from top of turkey. Invite everyone into kitchen to ooh and ahh... take a bow.
o After 20 minutes of rest, move turkey to carving board, and do what you do.

 

*Frozen Turkey must be thoroughly defrosted. No ice inside, no frozen leg joints. This method will fail otherwise.

 

**Bring a kitchen chair to the counter and place your roasting pan on it. Stand the large grocery bag in pan. Have your helper (men are so handy) lift the turkey and slide it into the bag. It's easiest to staple the bag shut at this point. Lay bagged turkey breast-side-up into pan.

 

I would love to hear from you if you try this method. It makes cooking the turkey Fun!

Irregardless...it was a fun "girl's night" out

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Dinner with Marlene at The Irregardless Cafe in Raleigh, NC

Last night I had the pleasure enjoying a fantastic meal with a friend who is also a real estate client of mine. I met Marlene when I joined the Raleigh Delta Zeta Alumni Chapter in the mid 90's. We became friends first, then when it was time to sell her townhome in Cary, she called me. I sold it for her & sold her a new home in Cary. Then a few years later she called again to sell that home for her & help her buy her dream home on the other side of Cary. Needless to say, I was quite surprised when she called a while back to talk to me about selling the dream home and maybe moving to Briar Chapel (it's in Chatham Co, but so close to Chapel Hill, that has a Chapel Hill address) or Downtown Raleigh!

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Marlene's Original Dream Home in Cary


A few months ago we attended an event featuring local chefs at Briar Chapel, the neighborhood where she is considering building a home. They had set up local chefs in each of their models, so as you toured the models, you sampled a culinary delight. At each house they had a drawing for a gift certificate to the restaurant where that chef works. To my great surprise I won the gift certificate to The Irregardless Cafe in Raleigh. Which both Marlene & I agreed was the best of the bunch. And, that was saying a lot, as the others were quite delicious.

Fast forward to last night. Marlene & I finally were able to get our schedule to sync up so we could enjoy our "girl's night" out. When we arrived at The Irregardless Cafe, we were shocked at how full it was, and I was left wondering if I should have made reservations. As it turned out, they were hosting Science Cafe Raleigh. The topic that night was Livability & Sustainability in the Triangle. Perfect for a real estate agent & client who is considering purchasing a home in downtown Raleigh.

Last night was a great example of why I love what I do.  Working with friends who become clients or clients who become friends is one of the best parts of my job.  It is those times that I get to combine work with pleasure.  I have heard some agents say that it is unprofessional to socialize with their clients.  To each his own.  Personally, I feel that trust is the most important element of any relationship.  When clients get to know who you really are, beyond the business persona, then they can really begin to trust that you will take care of them like you would a friend or family member.  Once that happens you become a valuable asset to them, someone they want to work with any time they buy or sell a home and they feel comfortable about referring you to their friends & family.

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In case, you are like us and hadn't heard of Science Café Raleigh. It is a monthly event where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can participate in topical discussions with leaders in the fields of science and technology. Hosted by local Sigma Xi chapters and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, these monthly talks are located in coffee shops, bars and restaurants around Raleigh and promote discussion of science in an informal community setting.

Visit http://naturalsciences.org/programs-events/science-talks for a schedule of upcoming events.

Tagged Briar Chapel Cary Chapel Hill Chatham County Downtown Raleigh North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Raleigh Delta Zeta Alumni Chapter Science Cafe Raleigh The Irregardless Cafe in Raleigh

we have drywall

The following is an email I received after the drywall that had been donated by Stock Building Supply to the Gilliam & Associates Realty Nashville Flood Relief Drive arrived in Nashville.  It is from Kim Council with the Community Resource Center in Nashville, TN.


Begin forwarded message:

From: Kimberly Council
Date: September 9, 2010 10:26:07 PM EDT
To: Catherine Mayhew 
Cc: Scott Kinnear , David Thornton, Robin Fastenau, Gina Gilliam 
Subject: we have drywall

Oh yeah, it came today!!!

Gina Gilliam with Gilliam & Associates Realty hooked up with Robin Fastenau at Stock Building Supply, and we received 256 sheets of 1/2" 4x12 dry wall.  Then someone arranged for this company out of North Dakota to get it to us.  The driver was awesome.  And he did a mean job backing his 18 wheeler into a tight spot.  We had people honking horns, cussing and everything.  It was beautiful!

David Thornton and Scott Kinnear with Cumberland Materials helped us out with the unloading on this end.  Scott dispatched a great guy named Jose and his partner.  Jose can drive one of these fork lifts like a master.  But, he wouldn't let me behind the wheel.  I'm not sure why.  But who cares, David saved us a few hundred bucks or over use of volunteers.  That stuff is HEAVY!!

A few challenging moments of getting 12 ft drywall through an 8 ft door, and yes, we were done.  Fortunately we had Pico on had to supervise the whole thing and keep everyone moving today.

So spread the word ladies, I have dry wall I need to move out before the end of the month!  Thank you to everyone involved.  Nashville is very grateful for your generosity.

Kim

Cumberland Materials Truck

Cumberlandmaterials

Jose the Great

Josethemaster

Drywall - yes, it is inside.  Jose just helped get the trucker out quickly as possible

Drywall

Pico supervises

Supervisorpico

News & Observer Article on Gilliam & Associates Realty Flood Relief Drive

Click here to download:
NO-REAL-FRONT-09-11.pdf (258 KB)
(download)

Gilliam & Associates Realty Nashville Flood Relief Drive

We are accepting all donations, the need in Nashville is tremendous.

The following are in greatest need:

* Laundry Detergent
* Toilet Paper
* Diapers of All Sizes (baby & adult)
* Baby Wipes
* Feminine Hygiene Items
* School Supplies
* Standard School Attire (Metro Schools require students to wear solid colored collared shirts with khaki, black or navy pants)
* Socks of All Sizes (baby, kid & adult)
* Underwear of All Sizes (kid & adult)
* Bedding (sheets, mattress pads & pillows)
* Towels
* Surplus Building Supplies (tools, drywall, tile, lumber, work gloves, masks, etc.)
* Painting Supplies (paint, brushes, rollers, painter's tape, drop cloths, etc.)
* Non-perishable Food (soup, crackers, pasta)
* Clean-up Supplies(mops, brooms, heavy duty work gloves, masks, sponges, squeegees, scrub brushes, plastic gloves, bleach, all-purpose cleaner concentrate, trash bags, paper towels and cases of bottled water)
* Hygiene & Personal Care Supplies (shampoo conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc.)
* Sunscreen

Why help? Nashville, TN was hit with 18" of rain in one weekend. Homes were flooded with 4'-6' of water in many cases. People in our neighboring state are in the process of rebuilding their homes & lives. In many cases without the assistance of insurance. This was a 500 year flood that hit many homes that were not even near water, so they didn't have flood insurance.

When you have 4'-6' of water in your home, you have to trash everything. The clothes, furniture & appliances are trashed, the floors, drywall, insulation, etc. need to be replaced. This is what thousands of families in the Nashville area are facing. Many are living in homes that have striped down to the studs.

We can help! Gina Gilliam, of Gilliam & Associates Realty , has arranged for UPS Freight to donate a 28' truck. Jerry Gala, of Apex Autoworks, has donated an office space in his building for the collection & storage of donations. Once the donated items are collected, UPS Freight will drive them over to Nashville, TN & deliver them to the organizations that will distribute them to the charities.

All you need to do is gather the items you are donating & bring them to Apex Autoworks (1800 North Salem Street, Apex, NC 27502) between 10 am -3 pm, M-F until August 20th.

If those times don't work for you, contact Gina Gilliam at (919) 274-4462 or gbgilliam@earthlink.net to schedule an alternate day & time.

Alone we can not do much to make a difference, but together we can change lives! Drop off your donations TODAY!

Part 1 of a 2 part series: The Beauty and The Beast

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Part 1 ~ The Beauty

This June marks the 16th year I have been a Realtor. That realization gave me pause, as I thought about all the homes I have shown over the years. Needless to say, I have seen a lot of houses. Some of them were breathtakingly beautiful. Others made me want to call for an exorcism.

Homes can be attractive either because of their architecture or their decorating. The Best, are those that cause you to fantasize about putting a for sale sign, in your yard as soon as you get home. On more than one occasion I have called my husband to announce we will be moving soon, as I have found the PERFECT home. Don’t worry Dear Reader, because taste in homes & décor is so personal, the homes that cause me to drool don’t always excite my buyers. And I would never talked a buyer out of buying a home that I wanted for me. Not to mention the quality details that get me hot & bothered in a home are often ignored by buyers. I got over the shock that not everyone appreciates quality (enough to pay for it, at least) a long time ago.

Signs of quality in a home are always in the details. It is the smallest of items that separate the cream from the milk. To find it you will need to look up. What do the ceilings look like? Is there crown moulding? If so, what size is it? How many pieces does it contain? How detailed is it? I love going to old homes, the ones with 10’ + ceilings and intricate crown moulding. It reminds me of the “Painted Ladies” in my original hometown of San Francisco. Look down at the hardwood floors. Do they have a Rosewood inlay? I have seen some amazing hardwood and marble floors. The kind of floors that you don’t want to put a rug on top of because they were designed to be admired, like a piece of art.

I know you are thinking, what does the Kitchen & Master Bath look like? Because these two rooms are most important to buyers, just look at any survey, or ask any agent. Who cares, I say. What?! Yes, I said, "Who cares!". Why? Because all nice homes have nice Kitchen & Baths, it’s a given. Nobody who gets the details right, gets those two rooms wrong. Let’s look at the spaces that tell you what you need to know. The forgotten spaces…like the area that you pass through on your way in from the garage. Is there a bench? Does it have a place for you put your shoes, keys, book-bags, purse, jackets, etc.? I love the ones that have a seat with a top that lifts to reveal storage. What about the laundry room? Does it have cabinets for storage? Is it big enough? The best ones of these have a laundry chute and a pass through cabinet to put the folded clothes and linens in once they are clean.

Okay enough about what I appreciate in a home. What are some of your favorite features? What would you do, if money was no object, to your home? Replace your hollow doors with solid ones? Add working transoms above the doors in your home? Add built-in bookcases or window seats? Okay, your right these are more of my favorites, so enough about me…tell me what you would do…

Part 2 ~ The Beast, coming soon…

Tagged home buying home decor

Happy Mother's Day!

This the day we reserve to give thanks to the women who gave birth to us. And/or those took us into their heart, giving us a special place where they can nurture, and love us in the way only a mother can do. Blessing to all the women who have given life, or made a life, for a child.

Momma's Prickly

Okay, I know it is only May 4th and the true Dog Days are months away, but our AC went out upstairs on Sunday. It's been in the 80's the last couple of days, which isn't as bad as it will get when you live in the South. But I'm spoiled, and once it goes over 80 inside my house, I start getting what my husband lovingly refers to as "prickly." I know it's bad when he starts warning the animals to stay away from my office. We both work from home which can be a blessing, or a curse depending a variety of things like how much sleep I have gotten, how hot it is inside the house, how busy I am, etc. You get the idea. Luckily for us, he is a builder and has "connections." This afternoon the HVAC guy came out to the house and fixed the problem. The house is cooling down as I type. After a good night's sleep I will be back to my charming self tomorrow.
Tagged air conditioning family home office living in the south summer working from home

Top 3 Reasons You Should Buy a House Today!

1. Interest rates are low.
2. Home prices are low.
3. Both interest rates and home prices will rise.

Duh?! Right?! Of course, you knew I would say those things. If you are reading this blog, you were hoping that I would share some secret- some jewel- some "insider trading" gem that only I would know after 15 years in real estate. Here’s what you may not realize: It is all math... worse, it is algebra! Boring, I know.

If you say, “I want a $500,ooo house,” what you are really saying is, “I can afford an 'X' amount monthly mortgage payment. In this case, X equals interest rate, times the principal, plus taxes and insurance. If the interest rate goes up, so does the payment. If the payment goes up, then the amount of house you can afford goes down. All of a sudden, that half-million dollar dream home is out of reach. Anyone who has ever bought a car knows that payments can be played with. You can put a larger down payment on the house; you can get an adjustable rate mortgage instead of a fixed rate mortgage; you can secure additional private (i.e., Family) financing, and so forth... You get the idea.

Here is the best news (the part that doesn't involve a crystal ball): rates are going up, but they are still at historic lows. Demand for housing is low because people are scared. When they are no longer scared, prices will go up. Pent-up demand will be unleashed on the market place. We all know about supply and demand. When demand goes up, prices go up. You are at a once in a lifetime crossroads: Demand is low, interest rates are low. You can get MORE for your Money than my crystal ball says you will ever be able to get again in your lifetime! Don't let this opportunity pass you by... you will regret it if you do... I can promise you that you will.

“Okay,” you say, “yes, prices are low, but I bet they will go lower.” You are a risk taker and want to feed off the bloodbath you foresee. You may be right, prices may go lower. Can't say for sure one way or another; but, interest rates are rising. That is happening. If the rate goes up faster than the prices fall (which is what is happening now), then you are losing ground, not gaining. Your payment will still be more than it would have been if you had paid more for your house. All signs point toward buying now.

Get off the fence and into my car... let's go find you your dream home now, while you can still afford it!

Tagged blogging home buying home prices home selling interest rates loans real estate
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