Find the beauty

I grew up in the small town of Sweet Home on the west side of Oregon.  It is so beautiful and green there that I was worried that my move to La Grande in eastern Oregon for college would be a landscape disappointment.  I was very pleasantly surprised to find out that, while so different from what I was used to, it held a rugged beauty that I loved as much as that I'd grown up with.  A move from the Grande Ronde Valley to Reno filled me with the same concerns.  How could I leave the mountains, trees, lakes and rivers that I knew and loved so well? 

Once again...pleasant surprise!  Northern Nevada is beautiful!  Admittedly, there aren't as many trees as I'm used to.  But the high desert terrain is gorgeous and provides a stark contrast to the high blue skies that we have over three hundred days per year.  I'm beginning to learn (only took me forty-some years!) that beauty is everywhere if you open your heart and mind to it.

If you'd like more information about the beautiful Truckee meadows just let me know!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Not-so-secret sauce

My brother-in-law and his wife came to visit recently and we made pizza.  Becky, my sister-in-law, asked for the recipe for both the crust and the sauce.  I was thinking "you'd already have it if you were reading my blog!" and probably actually said that out loud. That certainly sounds like something I'd do.  Evidently my blog-Karma didn't think my snarkiness was funny.  If I ever actually posted the sauce recipe my blog-Karma deleted it.  I'm guessing the more likely scenario is that I intended to post it and never did.  I'm doing my part to pave that road to hell.

So here are my apologies to Becky for my snarkiness and the recipe for my favorite pizza sauce. What I love about it:  Complex flavors that compliment rather than overwhelm the toppings, can be quick to prepare, calls for ingredients I typically have on hand, and has the ideal consistency.

Ultimate Pizza Sauce

2 Tbs olive oil                                                                         1 tsp dried basil

1 Tbs butter                                                                            1 tsp dried oregano

½ cup onion, chopped                                                           ¼ tsp salt

¼ cup celery, finely chopped                                                ½ tsp sugar

1 clove garlic, minced                                                            ¼ tsp black pepper

1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce                                                     1 small bay leaf

1 can (6 oz) tomato paste                                                      1 tsp fennel seeds

2 Tbs Parmesan cheese, grated

1.       In a large skillet, melt butter with the oil.  Add the onion, celery and garlic and saute until      soft and transparent.

2.       Add tomato sauce and tomato paste and stir until smooth.

3.       Add remaining ingredients and bring to a slow simmer.

4.       Simmer for 30-60 minutes (or not at all depending on your taste and time frame).

5.       Remove bay leaf and spread the sauce on your prepared pizza dough.

 

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Year of the Snake

You've probably heard it is the Year of the Snake...but I was recently reminded that it is always going to be The Year of the Cat.  My friend Deb invited me to the Boomtown Hotel & Casino on Friday night for a meet-and-greet with legendary Al Stewart.  Just one more cool thing Reno has to offer.

Deb was smart enough to bring her album from 1976 and a marker in case she had an opportunity to get an autograph.  Al was thrilled!  He signed the album and had his photo taken with it and the casino owner.  Pretty cool.  Even cooler...he got up on stage and performed Across the Border.  The man can still sing and play with the best of them!  If you get a chance to see him perform...GO!  You won't regret it!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Wally Cookies

I don't make any secret of the fact that I have a particularly awesome family.  I have been blessed by really wonderful parents, siblings and in-laws, nephews and nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins.  My relationships with these amazing people are some of my proudest life achievements.  If that was all I accomplished in life I'd feel like an overachiever.

One uncle, in particular, is larger than life.  As a young child I was both terrified and awestruck by him.  He has always been bearded, gruff, ribald and hilarious.  As an adult, I'm just awestruck.  He isn't particularly demonstrative, but I have never doubted for a moment the depth of his love for his family, nieces and nephews included.

I was pretty rattled when I got a call from my cousin Melody over the weekend with the news that Wally had suffered a heart attack.  He was in the hospital, stabilized and awaiting tests.  The weather was bad and if he had to be transported it would pose a new set of concerns.  I made calls to family to let my people know what was going on.  My brother Sheldon expressed what we all were thinking, "You just never expect anything to happen to Wally."  So it was with great relief that I got to share Melody's Sunday update:  3 stints, resting comfortably, maybe going home on Monday.

In Friday's post I said my next blog would be a recipe for snickerdoodles.  As a small child I called them Wally Cookies because the sugar and cinnamon looked like, to me anyway, my uncle Wally's beard.  I didn't even know they were called snickerdoodles until I was old enough to read the recipe for myself!  So here is a recipe I tried this weekend.  What I love:  they are slightly chewy and stay soft longer than my usual recipe.  What I don't love:  they don't taste quite like Mom's.  I'll post her recipe soon and you all can weigh in with a favorite.

An Even Better Snickerdoodle

Yield: 16-18 cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
For rolling:
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars with an electric mixer on high speed. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth.
2. In another bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar.
3. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix well.
4. Preheat oven to 300 degrees while you let the dough rest for 30 to 60 minutes in the refrigerator.
5. In a small bowl, combine the sugar with the cinnamon for the topping.
6. Take about 2 1/2 tablespoons of the dough and roll it into a ball. Roll this dough in the cinnamon/sugar mixture and press it onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Repeat for the remaining cookies.
7. Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes and no more. The cookies may seem undercooked, but will continue to develop after they are removed from the oven. When the cookies have cooled they should be soft and chewy in the middle.

 

Please post your results if you try these!

 

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Slacking shame

I'm ashamed to admit how badly I've been slacking with my blog posts.  Which I'm sure all of you loyal readers have noticed!  My only (lame) excuse is that I've been so busy with work that I've pushed this to the back burner.  Even though I know certain work related activities (craigslist ads, Facebook posts, blog posts, tweeting, etc.) are part of the framework of my business that KEEPS me busy. If I want to stay off the work roller coaster I need to be consistent with these tasks!

So I'm back at it!

My busy-ness involved writing three offers in one day while trying to spend some quality time with family from Idaho.  All three offers were accepted...yay!...and my time with family was short but certainly quality.  We taught my brother-in-law, who is an excellent card player, how to play pinochle.  I am shocked that he didn't already know how to play.  I am, perhaps, even more shocked by how quickly he picked it up.  I've been playing for over 20 years and don't feel like I grasp some of the strategies he has already mastered.  Thank goodness for great partners!

Speaking of great partners, I'd like to thank Lisa Fleck and Shaun Bittick at Summit Funding.  These gals helped me with two of my deals and were responding to my calls and e-mails at all hours of the morning and night on a Sunday and a holiday Monday.  We're in a seller's market here in Reno and their prompt and knowledgeable assistance is a large part of why my buyers are under contract right now!

If you're looking for assistance buying or selling real estate in Reno or Sparks, Nevada give me a call!  If you're looking for snickerdoodles...check back tomorrow.  Great recipe coming!!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

I've said it before...

And I'll say it again:  If you run, you are a runner.  It doesn't matter if you are fast or slow, thin or not, rich or poor, or go short or long.  If you run you are a runner.  It really is that simple.

I read a cute article on Active.com yesterday called How You Know You Are A Runner.  There were 25 or so "tips" to tell you if you're a runner.  Items like "you plan a vacation around a race", "you name your running routes. And all you have to say to your running buddies is, "new houses, 8 a.m.," and they know where to go", and "you're proud of your black—or lost—toenail".  I selected those from the list because my husband and I have 3 trips planned around running events between now and November.  Because, I tell my husband I'm running the Double Eagle and he knows just how far and where I'm running.  And because my brothers and I send one another pictures of bruises, scrapes and breaks from our running and riding adventures.  A morbid sort of wound one-upmanship.  Nick is winning with his recent bike spill which surpassed my broken-ribs-in-the-dark event.

The comments that followed the article included additional reader "tips".  One that broke my heart, though, was from a girl who said, "I guess I'm not a runner because none of these apply to me even though I run 10+ miles per week".  Or something to that effect.  Unfortunately she appears to have deleted her comment.  I was going to reply to her comment that she is a runner regardless of what some silly article has to say.  She runs.  She gets out there and puts one foot in front of the other.  And she should be proud of that.  But posting a reply would have forced me to sign in to Facebook and I hate when I'm forced to do that.  I guess in the future I need to suck it up and say what needs to be said to keep another runner on the road.  Or treadmill.  Or trail.

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Z Pies

I have a couple of really amazing out-of-state buyers who hope to relocate to Reno in the near future.  I was downtown previewing properties for them this weekend and grabbed lunch at Z Pie. Being in the heart of downtown and enjoying a meal from such a unique business got me thinking about a new "chapter" for my blog.  I'm going to start plugging Sparks and Reno.  There are so many things that I love about the area and I want to share them!  Z Pie is one of them!

I learned about them months and months ago when I was doing a search for great coffee in the Reno area.  I was reading a coffee rating web site that rated coffees from all over the world and I kept seeing Wood-Fire Roasted coffees with the highest ratings. I almost jumped out of my skin when I saw they are located right here in Reno!  Then I read the roaster's blog and learned about their support of Z Pie...a pot pie restaurant on West Street.  Pot Pies!!!  I know, right?!!

Because serving handmade potpies with no preservatives and a commitment to plant based materials for their carry-out products isn't enough, they are a non-profit business dedicated to the support of The Eddy House (previously known as The Black Bear Project). This organization helps young adults who have aged out of the foster care system by providing life skills training, a living environment, employment opportunities and positive role models.  You'll feel pretty good when you eat one of these gourmet gems.  You'll feel even better knowing you're supporting such a worthwhile cause.

Turkey Cranberry Z Pie

Let me know which Z Pie is your favorite!  And of any Reno/Sparks attractions you'd like me to highlight here!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Back in the saddle

I got on my bike last night.  It is on my indoor trainer in my loft so I can look out at the street and hills beyond as I pedal along.  I know I need to be cross-training. I also know that my husband and I plan to do a brick in the very near future and I have NOT been cycling like I need to.  All day I've been wondering why my back is fatigued.  Then I remembered the 30 minutes on the Giant.  It is all coming back to me...

So while part of me wants to scrap my run for tonight I am fully aware that the best thing to do is RUN.  How many times have I told you about miscellaneous aches and pains that miraculously resolve themselves with a good run?  I'm counting on tonight being no different.  I am going to play it safe and do it on the treadmill.  If my back decides to rebel I'd prefer to be in my own home...not three miles out in the dark.

Wish me luck!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Running Partner

I am not the type of person who wants to run with others.  I run my own run, at my own pace, with my own thoughts.  I'm not against running clubs.  Anything that makes running right for someone is great with me.  But huffing, puffing, sweating and flailing are things I prefer to do without an audience.  The last 50 yards of any race are the hardest for me...trying to hold in my stomach, pick up my step AND look like I'm having a good time.  No easy task.

So while I don't often run with another person (or people) I have to say that a good partner is important.  An accountability partner, that is.  I did not want to run last night. My back was tired from the previous night's effort on the bike.  But before I even got off work my husband was sending me messages about the run he had planned.  Before I left my building he was at the La Purisima Mission ready to hit the trail.  As I was getting ready to curl up on the couch he called to tell me about his run.  He sounded so joyful, so little-kid-on-Christmas-morning, that I wanted to get some of that joy for myself.

My run wasn't awesome.  I probably sounded more like the kid that has to clean up after the dog than the kid with the Red Ryder.  But I did it.  Because my accountability partner got me off my...er...couch.  I'm much happier to be blogging about an okay run than a great couch-sitting.  There are days Todd doesn't want to run but does because of me.  Last night was a great example of the reverse.  I'm lucky to have my husband, my 72 year old running mother, my sister with two kids who is going back to school and working, and a great group of fitness minded friends.   So get off your couch...and go find the person that will keep you on track!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Superbowl Super Fun Run

For the past several years Todd and I have had a mini-tradition with our favorite friends Glen and Carol.  We do a brick on Superbowl Sunday.  We would load up our bikes and drive down to Conley Lane in Cove, Oregon.  We'd park at the hay bales, ride our bikes 7 plus miles, return to the hay bales, and set out to run about 3 miles on our jelly-legs.  Glen came up with the idea as a way to jump start our running/riding year and to offset the snacks we'd be eating later in the day.

Today Glen and Carol did the Cove brick and Todd and I drove to Minden and participated in a 10K fun run the Tumbleweeds Gymnastics group put on.

There were over 150 runners for the 5K and 10K events...pretty darned respectable turnout for an inaugural event.  The sky was blue, the wind was still, and the course was flat.  We followed the run with a mocha at  Coffee On Main in Gardnerville.  Not a bad way to spend a morning.

Next event?  The Aunt Bee Memorial Brick.  It is a family event that we've done in honor of my Aunt Bee who passed away in 2010.  I guess I'd better get on that bike with a bit more regularity!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com

Stewie Head

The torta I had for lunch yesterday may have looked like Stewie from The Family Guy, but man was it fantastic!  The meat was tender and flavorful, the bread was delicate and just a bit sweet, the spices just right.  Todd and I went to El Rosal on Steneri Way in Sparks for the second time yesterday.  I may never make a torta as delicious as this, but I am certainly going to try.  If any of you wonderful readers have a recipe to recommend I will gladly try it and share my results here!

www.jerianne.rnohomes.com