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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Open house and a new cup cake recipe!

Time to open the doors - this time at Pines of St.James in Murrells Inlet. This home is ready to move in, has new carpet and paint! Neighborhood is close to St.James schools, shopping, and the beach is not far at all!

This Sunday is going to be a banana cupcake day. Here's the recipe:

3 very ripe bananas, mashed
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup shredded, sweetened coconut
Grated zest of half of 1 orange
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Frosting:
6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar

Heat oven to 350F. 
Make the cupcakes: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the bananas, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on low speed until combined. With the mixer still on low, add the oil, eggs, sour cream, vanilla, coconut and orange zest.  Mix until smooth. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.  Pour the batter into cupcake liners, 2/3rds full.  Bake for 20-23 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack, and cool completely. Once cool, decorate with frosting or dust with powdered sugar.
Make the frosting: Mix the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on low speed until smooth.  Add the sugar and mix until combined and smooth.
I did not mention the recipe has coconut too. A little tropics to this tropical weather. Wash it all down with some good ol' southern sweet tea.
Hope to see you there. This Sunday 7/13 from 1 PM - 4 PM 9958 Conifer Lane, Murrells Inlet.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Did you miss my open house a week ago?

If you did you missed these scrumptious cupcakes too!

Coconut Cupcakes.. 
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
6 large egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
3 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup plus 3 tablespoons coconut milk, divided
1 tablespoon amaretto liqueur

..with Coconut Frosting
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tablespoon coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups large-flake unsweetened coconut, toasted

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy and creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until well blended. Add egg whites, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Add extracts; beat well.
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with 1 cup coconut milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition.
Divide batter evenly among 18 paper-lined cups of muffin pans. Bake at 350° for 20 to 23 minutes or until batter is set but centers of cupcakes still look slightly wet. (Do not overcook.) Cool in pans 10 minutes; transfer to wire racks.
Combine amaretto liqueur and remaining 3 tablespoons coconut milk; stir well. Spoon mixture evenly over tops of warm cupcakes, spreading with back of spoon. Cool completely.

Frost cupcakes with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting, and sprinkle with toasted coconut. Store at room temperature.

Notice: the open house cupcakes were made with almond extract instead of amaretto! 
What is your favorite cupcake flavor? Let me know I'll bake them for my next open house this weekend at Pawleys's Island…  http://searchallproperties.com/openhouse/1923982/1197-Old-Plantation-Drive-Pawleys-Island-SC

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Green Chick Peas - healthy and tasty summer recipe!

I found this recipe from Joyful Belly website, added cilantro heavy-handedly, and the dish was just delicious. And it is healthy, too!

Green Pesto Chick Peas

1/2 cup fresh basil
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
2 pinches of cayenne pepper, or to the taste
1/2 cup coconut milk
1+ lime juice1/4 tsp salt
2 cans (15 oz) chick peas
1 tbsp olive oil


In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the olive oil, coconut milk, and lime juice until the consistency is smooth. On a cutting board, stem and finely chop the basil and cilantro. Puree the coconut base, basil,    cilantro, and salt in a food processor to desired consistency. Taste it, and adjust salt to your preference. Set the pesto aside to marinate the flavors.

Saute the Chickpeas: Drizzle olive oil in the bottom of a large frying pan. Strain and rinse then toss in canned or home-cooked chickpeas. Saute until they are lightly browned, and slightly crispy. 
Turn off the heat, and pour the sauce into the pan and toss with the chickpeas. Serve with a lemon wedge and a little garnish of basil on top. Yumms!


Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Want to tour the Surfside Beach Club with me?
I can show you all six homes for sale on a short tour around the neighborhood - Call me- lets pick a day! 'Must sees' on the tour are the beautiful club house and magnificent pool!
Visit minnafrench.com for the latest list of tour homes!


Homes for sale at Surfside Beach Club.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Beautiful home ready to move in at Pines of St. James

Beautiful home ready to move in at Pines of St. James, Myrtle Beach

9958 Conifer Lane, Murrells Inlet, SC
Get Directions Click Here


                                                                                     
Description Photos Maps & Local Schools
$ Click for current price
3 BEDROOMS
2 BATHROOMS (2 full)

Wonderful location. St James School District. Popular development. Did I forget to mention that this home has NEW CARPET, NEW PAINT, NEW APPLIANCES and and attached 1 car garage?? Fenced in yard, storage shed. Hmm, seems to me all it needs is you!!! Looking forward to having you visit it. Call your agent today for your own showing and please do not delay!! Condition and price are going to cause it to go quickly!!! Thank you for considering this on your list of possible homes!!!
Courtesy of Beth Ross/Carolina Pines Realty, Inc.


Other useful links:







Showing Agent: Minna French
Carolina Pines Realty, Inc
843-742-0942
minnafrench@yahoo.com



Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Easy and tasty summer dish!

Peruvian Ceviche
Ingredients:
2 lbs tilapia fillets or 2 lbs other firm white fish fillets, cubed
8 -10 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1-2 habanero peppers, seeded and chopped (or real Peruvian Aji Amarillo, if you can find it)
8 -12 limes, freshly squeezed and strained to remove pulp, enough to cover fish
1 red onion, thinly sliced and rinsed


Directions:
Combine all ingredients except red onion and mix well.
Place rinsed red onion on top and let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours before serving.
Before serving, mix well and serve with lettuce, corn, avocado or other cold salad vegetables on the side.
It is important to use a juicer that presses the juice out of the limes, not one that will tear the membrane of the lime sections since this will make the lime juice bitter.

This ceviche is SO good! You can adjust spice by putting less (or more!) habanero pepper. Surprisingly it does not taste too spicy in this dish. Buon appetito!

The Future is looking Brighter..

..and I'm not just talking about the weather!


According to the Grand Strand Ecomomic Quarterly Report 

  • Overall economic conditions have improved along the Grand Strand, the employment figures have also continued to improve. Q4 2013 experienced unemployment rates below 8% in the fourth quarter for the first time since 2007. Additionally, regional employment has continued to rise through 2013.
  • Tourism has continued to improve through the 4th quarter of 2013 as RevPar and deplanements have experienced double digit percentage increases along with all other tourism metrics seeing increases over the 4th quarter of 2012. The North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex has been completed and is expecting to bring more events to the area in addition to those already generated by the City of Myrtle Beach athletic facilities and the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. 
  • Real estate market: In the fourth quarter of 2013, there was a slight increase in single family residence inventory while condo/townhome inventory continued to decline. Single family residence sales are up over 11% year over year from Q3 2013 while median sales price for SFR and condo/townhome properties have also increased. The number of building permits have continued to increase over the past 12 months as the market continues to remain stable.
Courtesy of SiteTech Systems and the Wall College of Business’s Center for Economic and Community Development at Coastal Carolina University.


Homes in the Grand Strand area

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I am a new blogger and wish you have a moment to read my stories and share your opinions with me! I will post news and newsworthy stuff regarding real estate, the beach, food, and anything that may interest you and me!