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recipe friday




Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!




SPAghetti Sauce

Our family recipe that has been handed down through the generations


Ingredients


·         1 lb ground beef or turkey
·         2 T oil
·         1 clove garlic, minced
·         24 oz tomato paste
·         48 oz water
·         1 T dried parsley
·         1 T dried oregano
·         2 tsp salt
·         1/3 C sugar
·         1 T Worcestershire Sauce

·         Hot Cooked Pasta

Directions


Brown meat and garlic in oil in Dutch oven

Add remaining ingredients in order above and simmer uncovered for one hour

Serve over hot cooked pasta



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church on sunday


Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!

Whether a church is
simple or ornate, large or small,
old or new, wooden or stone...
it is most likely always a beautiful sight to behold.






Today, I share this beautiful image of a church with you
in hopes that it will bring
a little peace, a little joy
and a lot of love.


Lord, as I walk through this World,
Let Your Grace Light my Path,
Your Mercy Shelter my Soul
and Your Love Heal my Heart.


enjoy your saturday

Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!



recipe friday




Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!





Shrimp Scampi with Linguini

Ingredients


·         1 lb linguini
·         4 T butter
·         4 T extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
·         1 large shallot, finely diced
·         5 cloves garlic, sliced
·         Pinch red pepper flakes, optional
·         20 large shrimp about 1 pound, peeled and deveined, tail on
·         Kosher salt
·         Freshly ground black pepper
·         ½ C dry white wine
·         1 lemon, juiced
·         ¼ C finely chopped parsley leaves


Directions


For the pasta, put a large pot of water on the stove to boil.
When it has come to the boil, add a couple of tablespoons of salt and the linguini.
Stir to make sure the pasta separates; cover.
When the water returns to a boil, cook for about 6 to 8 minutes or until the pasta is not quite done. Drain the pasta reserving 1 cup of water.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter in 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the shallots, garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using) until the shallots are translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Season the shrimp with salt and pepper; add them to the pan and cook until they have turned pink, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove the shrimp from the pan; set aside and keep warm.
Add wine and lemon juice and bring to a boil.
Add 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons oil.
When the butter has melted, return the shrimp to the pan along with the parsley and cooked pasta and reserved pasta water.
Stir well and season with salt and pepper.

Drizzle over a bit more olive oil and serve immediately.



BONUS FEATURE:

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sunday in bed



Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!



It’s Sunday and everyone deserves a day off.

Here’s wishing you a restful Sunday.




enjoy your saturday

Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!



recipe friday




Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!




Shrimp and Grits
So, I am completely obsessed with this recipe.
Shrimp = YUM...Grits = YUM
Enough said, right?

Ingredients


For the grits:

  • 3 C milk
  • 3 C heavy cream
  • 1 C stone-ground white cornmeal
  • 2 T unsalted butter
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

For the shrimp:

·        2 T extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium white onion, minced
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1-pound andouille or spicy Italian spicy sausage, cut in chunks
  • ¼ C all-purpose flour
  • 2 chicken stock
  • 2 to 3 bay leaves
  • 2 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on
  • Pinch cayenne pepper, adjust to personal preference
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 T finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 4 green onions, sliced

Directions

For the grits:
Place a 3-quart pot over medium-high heat. Add the milk and cream. Slowly whisk in the cornmeal. When the grits begin to bubble, turn the heat down to medium low and simmer, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon. Allow to cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until the mixture is smooth and thick. Remove from heat and stir in the butter, thin it out with a little extra cream. Season with salt and pepper

For the shrimp:
Place a deep skillet over medium heat and coat with the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic; sauté for 2 minutes to soften. Add the sausage and cook, stirring, until there is a fair amount of fat in the pan and the sausage is brown. Sprinkle in the flour and stir with a wooden spoon to create a roux. Slowly pour in the chicken stock and continue to stir to avoid lumps. Toss in the bay leaves. When the liquid comes to a simmer, add the shrimp. Poach the shrimp in the stock for 2 to 3 minutes, until they are firm and pink and the gravy is smooth and thick. Add the cayenne pepper, Tabasco and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper; stir in the parsley and green onion. Spoon the grits into a serving bowl. Add the shrimp mixture and mix well.

Serve immediately. (Grits cool down quickly)


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soft staging your home

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Soft staging is a lesser-known version of home staging. Staged homes have a better track record of selling faster and for more money than empty homes, but while the investment in it definitely comes back to you when you sell the home, not every seller has that investment readily available.

In those cases, soft staging can be an excellent alternative. Soft staging has the same concept as traditional home staging but without the furniture. The seller can bring in just a small amount of new artwork and accessories that complement the home to make it feel warmer and more inviting. These decorative additions may seem simple, but they have a big impact on a home buyer’s psychology. A home with at least some touches of décor is more attractive than one without them.



The Benefits of Soft Staging

It’s budget-friendly. As I mentioned, soft staging requires a much smaller investment than conventional home staging. Instead of bringing in full rooms of furniture, just use artwork and smaller pieces of décor to freshen up the space. This makes the number of pieces (if you rent these items for staging or if you actually purchase these items and take them with you when you move) significantly smaller, as well as the move-in and move-out process much simpler, resulting in significantly smaller fees. Even a small investment in soft staging will provide a noticeable return.

It makes an empty home feel warmer and more inviting. The most powerful part of home staging and soft staging alike is the effect staging has on potential home buyers. Staging makes a listing feel more like home rather than just an empty house. It may seem unnecessary from the outside ─ after all, the décor won’t be there when the buyer actually moves in ─ but the truth is, buying a house is a very emotional process. Small details like towels in the bathroom and an open cookbook on the kitchen counter help buyers imagine themselves living there. It’s especially helpful in a home that doesn’t have many upgraded features, or in brand new homes where the kitchens and bathrooms can sometimes look too sterile. While cleanliness is extremely important, soft staging takes the hard edge off of a sterile-looking kitchen or bathroom. Warming it up with some decor makes it look more approachable and natural. Some pleasing décor will show the possibilities and help buyers focus on the positives rather than the negatives. They are more likely to become emotionally attached to a home that has these charming touches.

It helps define each room. One of the biggest downsides to an empty home is the lack of structure for each space. For many buyers, imagining how to use each spare bedroom or an awkward loft space can be overwhelming. Staging these areas, even with just a few accessories, can help fill in the blanks. You don’t want potential buyers getting caught up in confusion. By answering these questions before they even ask them, they will be able to focus on the positives of the home.



A Vignette for Soft Staging:

A vignette is a small visual element that provides context to an area. Vignettes can be used in secondary rooms, such as kid's bedrooms, offices, or those areas that don't really have a defined purpose. Vignettes can also be used to visually take the curse off entering a cold vacant house in lieu of full staging.


PRO's of Vignette Staging:

Cost is low, perfect for small budget.
Instantly changes the emotion of walking in to a vacant room.
Gives a vacant house a homier feel.
Gives a vacant property a human element.
Takes the buyer's attention away from any possible flaws.

CON's of Vignette Staging:

Not as effective as full staging in getting offers.
Buyers will have a more difficult time establishing an emotional connection to the house.
Buyers will not easily envision themselves living there.
Will not give buyer a frame of reference on size of room.
Will be more difficult for buyer to imagine furniture placement.

Vignette staging should always be consistent with the purpose of the room. In other words, stage an office as an office.



What to Keep in Mind when Staging:

Place objects in odd numbers. Groupings of objects in 3's or 5's are more visually pleasing than even numbers of objects.

Draw the buyer through the house with the vignette. Draw the eyes through the room with the vignette.

Consider Full Staging of the main living areas, the emotional spaces of the property, kitchen, master bedroom, and family room is recommended, Soft Staging the other spaces.



Any level of Home Staging will improve your chances of attracting more buyers to visit your home and ultimately result in a SOLD sign in the front yard.




monday at the beach - movie style


Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!





When warm weather arrives, my mind and soul wander off to the beach.
(Unfortunately, my body just doesn’t get a chance to go!)

Whether it’s New England or the Gulf coast, 
I am physically and emotionally drawn to sand and surf.

What is it that has this effect on me?
Does this happen to you?

So welcome to my blog series…

'Monday at the Beach'

Let’s go...



Want to take a moment to play Six Degrees of Separation, All in the Detail style?

One of my all-time favorite 'movie houses'? Something's Gotta Give. Probably a house that is on the Top Ten List of most house addicts, right? The movie itself, only received a 6.7 (out of 10) on IMDB, but who cares about the movie, its' all about the house, right? Anyway...


In Something's Gotta Give, Ina Garten's Hampton Store, The Barefoot Contessa, (yes, just in case you have been asleep for 100 years, there was a store in the beginning) was features as the place where Diane Keaton's character shops for 'fine food' items (but sadly, the store has since closed) Cool, huh? I told you it was Six Degrees of Separation 'All in the Detail style'?


Want to see more of the Barefoot Contessa properties? I have a 'backstage' tour of Ina's (that's what her close friends call her and she might not know it but I could so be her close friend!) East Hampton Home, Garden, Barn and yes, even her Paris apartment


So now, back to the movie house. I know, I know, you have already seen this a million (and one) times, but com' on… it’s always worth seeing again... and again... and again, right? PLUS, this time, I have some interesting little known facts added!


Let’s take a look at the Southampton estate used as Diane Keaton’s home in the film Something’s Gotta Give. Oh, by the way, (you might not know this one) – in 2014, it sold for a stunning $41 million. (for those of you who were looking and missed out)

The exteriors of the beautiful beach house, located on two acres of oceanfront, were featured in the 2003 Nancy Meyers film which co-starred actor Jack Nicholson.


Diane Keaton Character's Living Room 

“It’s every woman’s dream house — the house that, if you became successful and could afford a beach house, yours would look like,” stated director Meyers.



Oh, by the way, (you might not know this one either).Would you believe that the actual movie set was only 7 rooms? And the director and set director were very worried that the movie would actually come across as a ‘small budget’ play because of the restricted floor plan? HA - Little could they even imagine, right?


Diane Keaton Character's Bedroom

The actually house that sold in the Hamptons, is a 11-bedroom, 8000-square-foot Shingle-style mansion at 576 Meadow Lane in Southampton, New York and was built in 2000 by Alan Meckler, the CEO of Mediabistro.com.

The new lucky owner of the estate on “Billionaire’s Row” is Jimmy Tisch, the CEO of Loews corporation. Tisch’s new neighbors include Calvin Klein, Henry Kravis and Leon Black (for those of you who are keeping track).


Diane Keaton Character's Kitchen

The interiors of the Hamptons home were filmed on a Hollywood soundstage, so Something’s Gotta Give’s much-coveted kitchen (featuring a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a Wolf range) wasn’t included as part of the $41 million price tag.

Beth Rubino, the movie’s set decorator, stated “Diane’s character loves to cook, so we had to have a practical, functional kitchen, that could also hold a lot of people.”

And don't forget, Diane Keaton Character's Pool

Now com'on, I mean REALLY! Couldn't you just sit and look at these beautiful images all day (and me, probably all night, too)?

  
Some Photos and Information courtesy of Hooked on Houses