Best recipes for a Mint Julep on Kentucky Derby Day!

Bets Mint Julep Recipe for The Kentucky Derby’s Run For The Roses!

Off to the grocery store I go in search of the best ingrediants for what is known as “The best Mint Julip in The World.”  It is a “must serve” at your Kentucky Derby Party tomorrow.

The second most asked question this time of year right after, “which horse will win the Kentucky Derby”, is usually “what is the best Mint Julep recipe ever?” In honor of the bacon-and-egg relationship of fine spirits and betting on a Kentucky Derby winner, we have dusted off an old family recipe which we swear was concocted by our Great-Grandpappy and perfect if you are holding a party.

A note about the ingredients- suggest anything pre-mixed or made with powdered sugar and you should turn around and leave right now with your head bowed in shame. The Mint Julep is a deceptively simple drink in terms of combination, but needs a slow hand and a reverence for all things Kentucky. You will need:

Mint Julep Ingredients- Serves 8

2 cups of the sweetest Kentucky morning dew collected from a field of uncut bluegrass (or tap water if you must)

2 cups of the purest sugar hand refined by debutantes at a charity ball (or the store bought white stuff if you don’t want to take the whole thing seriously)
 ½ cup roughly chopped Spearmint leaves grown by blind mountain men (regular mint is fine but please try and buy it from someone wearing overalls)
 32 fluid ounces of premium Kentucky Bourbon preferably along the lines of the 107 proof “Pappy Van Winkle”

 Mint leaf garnish? Really? Stop it, you are just embarrassing yourself.

Making a True Mint Julep

Now that you have some combination of the above ingredients you are ready to practice the magic of mixology, or in the case of the Mint Julep something we like to call “Southern Alchemy”. Wait until your guests arrive before preparing, and remember it’s all about the feel!

1. Put the sugar and water into a saucepan and bring slowly to a full boil until the sugar is dissolved. Let stand and cool. You have now made “simple syrup”, which is not an insult to that side of your family that no one talks about, but rather reflects the ease of the preparation. Simple syrup has many uses, such as for sweetenin’ old fashioned ice tea and declaring that “it is insufferably hot today.”

2. Mash the spearmint with the simple syrup. There is some controversy here but it is muddled so just ignore it completely. The Julep (which comes in many flavours) is originally a medicinal drink which was then made into a tincture with the appropriate herb depending on one’s condition. The alcohol no doubt made the whole thing much more pleasant but note that this drink has real medicinal value- in particular to sooth nerves, aid digestion, vanquish gas, and scarily enough combat hirsutism or “hairiness”. A vigorous, old timey two step shuffle to aid the mashing process while singing along at the top of your voice with the Soggy Bottom Boy’s “Man of Constant Sorrow” would be appropriate here (original song by one-eyed Kentuckian Dick Burnett!).

3. Add crushed ice (“crick” ice preferable when in season). Anything by Tennessee Williams crushed ice. Your crushed ice should reek of despair, binge drinking, and subtle innuendos about unmet marital needs. Do not be afraid to yell out “Stella” at random intervals to get you there.

4. Bourbon. Lots of it, and remember if you can’t set it on fire then it’s not worth discussing. Again barring your own still set-up, make sure to go for anything that people warn you might make you go blind. In terms of volume the recommended mix is four ounces of the mash to ¼ cup simple syrup, but these are essentially big government guidelines and to be met with suspicion and contempt. This would be a good time to put on “Copperhead Road” by Steve Earle at high volume to get your fire up. Think Revenuers, Junior Johnson, and ’49 Fords with blown out 500 cubic inch engines barrelling through “the hollers” in the dark of night- who the hell has the right to tell you what you can grow, err distil anyway??

5. Combine all the above and serve in antique Civil War era pewter mugs. If you happen to be all out of one hundred and fifty year old drinking vessels, then you may use those giant plastic mugs you got at Senor Frogs in Cabo- just make sure they are really chilled!

6. Et voila! The most authentic and best Mint Julep recipe ever. Drink a minimum of four prior to race time, all the while making outrageous claims to your guests about your athletic accomplishments in high school- ahh the glory days! (this step optional)

At this point your Kentucky Derby party will have been a hit, and absolutely unlike anything anyone has ever witnessed before. Assuming friends, family and spouses are still talking to you afterwards, you will no doubt be asked to host your equine soiree again next year. If however everyone has left never to return, we recommend putting on Bill Monroe’s bluegrass classic, “Blue Moon of Kentucky”, while mixing another Mint Julep- it can only make you feel better!

I will share it here..along with some photos of delicious tasting mint julips!

Compliments of www.gamblingbeat.com

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Behind the Scenes of being a Realtor, Bob Baffert, California, Celebrity Real Estate, Kentucky Derby Day 2012, Kenutcky horse racing, Lexington Kentucky, Louisville, Mint Julips

Homeowners who endured years of declining home values will discover that the game has changed in their favor.

With low mortgage rates and home prices gaining momentum, an increasing number of buyers are expected to shop for homes this spring.

The good news for sellers: The inventory of homes for sale is shrinking, so they have less competition and more control of the situation.

Loan mods:  As more distressed homeowners regain equity in coming months, many with high-interest loans will be able to refinance and perhaps cash out some equity. If you fell behind on your mortgage payments, you might get a second chance to modify your loan.

Homebuyers are losing bargaining power as the market shifts in favor of sellers. But home prices remain attractive for the most part, and low mortgage rates should stay on their side for a little longer.

1. Fewer options, higher prices and bidding wars

If you plan to buy a home this spring, expect competition.

Demand from homebuyers is growing faster than the supply of homes for sale, according to data from the National Association of Realtors.

“It’s creating a little bit of a shortage and a mismatch between supply and demand,” says Jed Smith, managing director of quantitative research for the National Association of Realtors.

Buyers are encountering bidding wars in many parts of the country, Smith says. Competing offers pose a challenge for first-time homebuyers.

Competition:  “Multiple offers seem to be the norm these days,” says Patty Da Silva, owner of Green Realty Properties in Davie, Fla. She says she recently represented a seller who received more than 15 offers in one weekend for a house in Cooper City, Fla.

“Home listed Wednesday evening; first showing on Saturday at 1 p.m.; several offers came in on Saturday and several Sunday; the home was under contract by Monday morning,” she says.

As of February, there were 1.94 million homes for sale nationwide. That represented a supply of 4.7 months at that month’s sales pace. A balanced market requires about six months’ of supply.

During the same period last year, there was a supply of 6.4 months.

“Back in 2010 we had 9.4 months’ of supply,” Smith says.

2. Loan modifications made easy — for some

Homeowners who are behind on their mortgages may get a hassle-free opportunity to reduce their monthly payments.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency will require mortgage servicers to offer a streamlined modification program to borrowers with loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, starting in July. The offers will be sent to homeowners who are at least 90 days behind on their loans but no more than two years behind. To qualify, borrowers must owe at least 80 percent of the home’s value.

The modification reduces the loan’s interest rate and extends the loan term to 40 years.

Minimal paperwork:  Borrowers won’t be required to submit any financial documentation to the lender to get approval. The loan modification becomes permanent after three payments are made during the three-month trial period.

“Streamlined modification provides borrowers who face difficulty satisfying the documentation standards of traditional workout programs with a path to stay in their homes with reduced paperwork requirements,” says Meg Burns, senior associate director for housing and regulatory policy for the FHFA. “This option should be especially helpful to those who are self-employed, part of multigenerational households, or simply overwhelmed with the document-collection burden.”

3. Federal Housing Administration loans lose appeal again

Borrowers seeking low-payment mortgages will be charged for mortgage insurance for the life of their loans if they don’t get their Federal Housing Administration mortgages by June 2.

The FHA currently requires borrowers to pay for mortgage insurance on FHA loans until the balance reaches 78 percent of the original value of the home.

Pay forever:  Once the change goes into effect, all new FHA loans with less than a 10 percent down payment will carry mortgage insurance until the loan is refinanced or paid off. Loans with a 10 percent down payment or greater will have to pay for mortgage insurance for at least 11 years.

For borrowers who plan to stay in their homes for less than 10 years, the new rules won’t make that much of a difference, says Cameron Findlay, chief economist at Discover Home Loans. That’s because normally, it takes borrowers about 10 years to reach the required loan level for the insurance to cancel anyway.

“But for those who are planning (to) keep their houses for an extended period, this is a big deal,” Findlay says. “They can always refinance later — but who knows where rates are going to be 10 years from now?”

4. Equity loans and cash-out refinances are back — sort of

About 1.7 million homeowners regained equity in their homes last year, and an additional 1.8 million are close to it, according to a recent study by CoreLogic. All they need is home values to go up by another 5 percent, CoreLogic says.

As home prices rise, millions of homeowners might consider turning to their homes as a potential source for a loan. Cash-out refinances and home equity loans, which were popular during the housing boom, are slowly returning, along with the temptation to tap into equity.

“I’m starting to see some of that,” says Michael Becker, a mortgage banker at WCS Funding in Baltimore. He says he has recently received a couple of inquiries from parents who are thinking of using some of their equity to pay for college expenses. Another client is considering a cash-out refinance to pay off credit card debt.

Home as ATM:  Lenders remain somewhat reluctant because these types of loans contributed to the mortgage meltdown as homeowners turned their homes into ATMs. But borrowers who have good credit scores and sufficient equity should be able to find lenders willing to do cash-out refis and home equity loans this spring.

5. Mortgage rates rise at a snail’s pace

Mortgage rates are expected to creep up this spring but should remain low.

Up just a little:  The Mortgage Bankers Association estimates the 30-year fixed rate will reach 3.9 percent by the end of the first quarter this year. That’s not as good as the superlow rates that borrowers got in December 2012, when the 30-year fixed hit a record low of 3.5 percent in Bankrate‘s weekly survey. But it’s still a good deal for most buyers and refinancers, housing experts say.

“Rates are climbing slowly, but even by the end of year, they are not going to be astronomical,” Smith says. “They are still a bargain.”

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California, Coldwell Banker, Economic Real Estate News, Information for Buyers, Information for New Home Buyers, Information for Sellers, San Diego

Robin Williams Lists Napa Valley Estate for $29 Million.

Napa Valley Hosts Some Huge Celebrity Compounds for Celebrities Like Robin Williams.

Hollywood comedian Robin Williams is interested in selling his massive Napa Valley estate, Villa Sorriso. The villa is on 653 acres and includes a 20,000-square-foot main house; solar farm; and 18 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc grapes.

Villa Sorriso is built atop the Mayacama Mountains, which separate the Napa and Sonoma valleys. The five-bedroom, 12-bathroom Italian villa was designed by David Gast & Associates and is faced with Portuguese limestone. The interior features formal living and dining rooms, a gourmet eat-in kitchen, and numerous temperature-controlled vaults for both wine and art storage. The kitchen is understated yet elegant, with stainless steel appliances surrounded by marble and butcher block counters. The living room is simple yet elegant, including a terrace with views of the estate.

No actor’s house would be complete without a state-of-the-art movie theater. The house also features five luxurious bedroom suites, each ornately adorned with contemporary trappings. Each bedroom has its own en suite bathroom and jaw-dropping views from every window.

In addition to 20,000 feet of interior living space, the grounds are truly the spectacle of the property. Steps from the master suite is a 65-foot, infinity-edge swimming pool surrounded by antique stonework and a multitiered sculpture garden, perfect for entertaining. Tennis courts, hiking trails, and a private lake complete with rowboat highlight the variety of different outdoor activities on the estate.

No Napa estate would be complete without acres upon acres of vineyards. Located within the Mount Veeder Appellation, Villa Sorriso produces several tons of usable grapes every year. The grapes are currently purchased and aged by award-winning vintner Robert Craig, who produces Cabernets “highly prized for deep, black mountain fruit; cassis; dark chocolate; and hints of violets, mint, and spice.”

In addition to vineyards, more than 100 olive trees dot the property, producing several dozen gallons of gourmet olive oil every season. The property also includes a seven-stall barn and tack room with room for several dozen livestock. The property is bounded by Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and breathtaking views in every direction. Villa Sorriso comes with its own onsite property manager, allowing the new occupants to merely enjoy the surroundings without worrying about maintenance.

The home was originally listed in August with a price of $35 million, though it was recently reduced to $29.9 million. Williams might no longer be interested in living at Villa Sorriso, but it remains a gem in the heart of California wine country.

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California, Celebrity Real Estate News, Coldwell Banker, Shannon Biszantz

The Joys of being a Realtor when clients become great friends.

Linda and Roy’s wedding in Del Cerro last Fall.

Linda’s wedding in Del Cerro Fall of 2012

The most rewarding part of being a Realtor is when a client becomes a friend and the joys of sharing life’s moments evolve. Last fall I was invited to my friends Linda and Roy’s wedding at their home in Del Cerro that I sold them. I first met Linda in the beginning of my career of a Realtor by taking a call at the front desk from her inquiring about an investment property. Since then, we have enjoyed summers at the race track, dinners in Del Cerro and the special occasion of their wedding.What a wonderful afternoon with a beautiful sunset to show off their new home and have friends celebrate their union. Today I started thinking of them as Del Mar Horse Racing Season begins again and I get to meet my friends on Wednesdays at our box on the finish line.

Enjoy these wonderful pics the the views that last forever high up in the hills of Del Cerro:

[View with PicLens]

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Behind the Scenes of being a Realtor, Coldwell Banker, In My Opinion Only, Shannon Biszantz

  Nick Nolte Sells His Malibu Estate for $8.25 million.

Nick Nolte’s Estate is 6,000 square fee, 4 bedroom  on two acres in Malibu’s Bonsall Canyon.

Nick Nolte and his Malibu mansion have been through the ups and downs of the Southern California real estate market since the actor purchased the home in 1990, fresh off a string of ’80s hit films. But after haging on to the home for 23 years it seems he’s finally ready to sell.

The “48 Hours” star just listed the 4-bedroom house for $8.25 million, according to real estate website Redfin. He paid $2.35 million for it.Nick Nolte (Amanda Edwards/WireImage)A look at the photos shows the 6,000-square-foot estate, which sits on two acres in Malibu’s Bonsall Canyon, isn’t lacking in heavy stone and wood detail. Case in point: The listing boasts a mahogany arched entryway with onyx floor, 19-foot vaulted ceilings, six massive stone and carved wood fireplaces, Italian marble floors with wood inlay, and mahogany French doors and windows.

The property is split into two structures (because Nick needs his privacy when he has visitors). The main house includes a bedroom on the ground floor and a “romantic” master suite upstairs, complete with two fireplaces. There’s also a detached 2-bedroom

3-bath guest house with a couple of additional fireplaces and private entrances. The yard features a lighted tennis court, lagoon-style pool, and hot tub.

And Nolte isn’t the only showbiz type to have lived there. Eagles member Don Felder, actor Tommy Chong, and music producer David Foster all previously owned the pad. But Nolte has the honor of being the only resident who made us cry in “Prince of Tides.”

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California, Celebrity Real Estate, Coldwell Banker, Economic Real Estate News, Shannon Biszantz