Make Your Own Calzones

In just 30 minutes, you can cook up flavor-packed pizza pockets in your own kitchen. Start with our basic recipe, then personalize the seasonings and fillings to your tastes—it’s really that easy! And best of all, you can make an extra batch to freeze for another night or quick lunch.

Basic Calzone Recipe Personalize the fillings to your tastes, just like you would at the pizza shop, or mix up one of our 6 winning combinations (below). Pair them with a delicious salad, and dinner’s done! Makes 8 small or 4 large calzones Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 10-15 minutes INGREDIENTS 1 pound store-bought pizza dough, thawed if frozen About 2 cups of filling Grated Romano cheese, optional Pizza sauce, for dipping *Tip: Always cook raw meats before adding to filling; vegetables can be sauteed or left raw. No matter the ingredients, fillings should be more dry than wet. INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or lightly oil a pizza screen.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to about 1/4” thick. Cut out 8 4”-circles for small calzones, or 4 8”-circles for large calzones. Get more perfect rounds by using an overturned bowl with about a 4” or 8” diameter to cut.
Tip: Make store-bought dough feel homespun! Sprinkle it with fresh or dried herbs, then use a rolling pin to embed and/or dust with flavored salts just before serving.
3. Spoon filling—1/4 cup for small calzones and 1/2 cup for large—onto the center of each circle. With clean hands, fold the dough over the filling, being careful to keep the edges clean.
4. Press the edges with your fingers, then pinch and roll inward, creating a seal. Slice small slits in the tops to allow steam to escape. For extra flavor, brush with garlic or chili-infused oil.
5. Transfer to prepared baking surface and cook for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown. Sprinkle with finely grated Romano cheese, if desired, and cool on a rack for 5 minutes before serving.
Make-Ahead Tip: To freeze, arrange unbaked, unwrapped calzones, on a baking sheet. Once frozen solid, transfer to a re-sealable plastic bag or individually wrap in plastic wrap. Bake them straight from the freezer adding 5-7 minutes to the bake time.
6 Calzone Filling Ideas From crowd-pleasing classics to flavorful new takes, the sky’s the limit:
• Caprese Calzone: About 1/2 cup each of diced tomato, fresh basil, grated Parmesan, shredded mozzarella and chopped fresh mozzarella (Not recommended for freezing.)
• Meat Lover’s Calzone: About 1/2 cup each cooked, crumbled Italian sausage, pepperoni and crispy bacon or pancetta, pizza sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese, seasoned with dried Italian herbs.
• Spinach & Feta Calzone: Embed fresh dill into the crust, then fill with 1/2 cup each of chopped spinach, sautéed onion, feta and ricotta cheese.
• Santa Fe-Style Chicken Calzone: 1/4 cup each of shredded chicken, sliced roasted red pepper, diced green chili, black beans,corn, cheddar, mozzarella and ricotta cheese. Serve with creamy salsa dip—half garden-fresh salad, half cream cheese, whipped together.
• Spicy Sausage & Spinach Calzone: Embed ground fennel seed and fresh-cracked black pepper into the crust, then fill with about 1/2 cup each of shredded mozzarella, ricotta, cooked, crumbled spicy Italian sausage, chopped spinach and pizza sauce.
• Pepperoni Pizza Calzones: The classic pizzeria favorite, turned inside out. About 1/3 cup each, pepperoni, mushrooms, ripe sliced olives, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan and pizza sauce, seasoned with crushed red pepper flakes.
What kind of calzones do you order or bake the most? Share your favorite seasonings and filling combos below.

It is Raining...It's Pouring - The Seller and their agent were snoring...

This week in Houston, Texas a home owner called asking me "Why their house had not sold". The strange thing is, that it was not for one of my listings. I asked the address so i could look it up on MLS. Now it was not a short sale, it was not a foreclosure and no bank was involved. The listing expired with their former Real Estate agent.

I asked if they had re-newed their listing and they said "never in a a billion years would they re-list, that this out of town agent listed the home and they never saw them again". They pushed me on the phone to tell them why their house did not sell. I told them i could not tell them without seeing their home, that i would like to see the home and could give them my honest opinion.

So the other evening i headed over to the house. It is a good neighborhood, an upper middle class area  of similar homes. I pulled up and started to make notes, the grass was uncut but the mower was sitting in a part of the lawn that was cut, it looks like they stopped and just left it there. I entered the house and 4 dogs came barking and jumping on me. I shook their hands and they offered to walk me through the house. The home is about 12 years old, the carpets were worn and dirty, there was cob webs in most corners and the house smelled like a dog kennel. They showed me the kids bathroom which had trash piled almost to the sink. We finished the tour in their 3 season screen porch. I asked to sit in their as there was a nice breeze.

They started to pepper me with questions of "why didnt alot of people come see their house, Why there was no offers and on". I started my listing presentation and quickly told them what their old agent never was professional enough to do. To cut to the chase i told them there were 2 basic types of buyers in this market, the first that is looking for a good clean home, that needs no repairs and they can move right in. That those types of houses when priced at or just below market value are selling quite quickly as there is a shortage of listings.

The other type of buyer is the bargain hunter, they dont mind doing work but are looking for bargains, their offers are commonly 20-30% below current market value. I told them they need to make a choice to make the home ready for sale or sell it as is. They did not know what "ready for sale" was.  I told them that when people see an ad they call for the address to drive by, that in a matter of 10 seconds they decide if they want to come in or keep driving. I told they needed to remove the junk car in the driveway, that they should cut the lawn and trim the bushes to make the yard inviting. The husband added my mower ran out of gas.... So i add for the inside they should put away anything not used, make sure we can walk through rooms easily and the carpets should be cleaned. I told them the kitchen and bathrooms should be clean and look like new.

They sat there with mouths wide open, i wasnt sure the next reaction when the wife blurts out my husband comes home from work, starts his chores and then takes a nap. The husband looks at me and says "my wife doesnt work, she sleeps all day. Without  a pause i told them it is up to them if they would like to sell the home or not. If you want to sell it as is i should be able to get you $250,000 and if you want to clean things up we should able to get $290,000. The wife thanked me for saying it like it is. That she had 4 other agents over and no one told them what i said. She said she would list with me but asked for a week to clean. The husband commented to his wife "see how much your sleeping and not doing anything almost cost us" . They then agreed to hire soem help.  I was really conflicted whether i wanted this listing by now, but they signed the listing. I asked them for a key and said we needed the old agents sign removed. They called their old agent on speaker phone, a kid answered and said "my mom is sleeping, can i take a message".

It was fitting with all the sleep that goes on with these sellers. I left there with my head spinning, was everyone "Asleep" in this transaction?

The lesson to be learned here is:

1. The exterior of your home needs to be neat, trimmed and inviting
2. The interior should be clean, not cluttered and free of smells and odors
3. You need to price your home at or just under market value to attract the most potential buyers.
4. As a listing agent you can not sleep through your listing hoping it sells, you need to inform your seller of things that can be improved or changed to assist in finding a buyer.
Would you have taken this listing?


If you are looking to buy or sell a home in New Hampshire, please call us first. We are locally owned and operated and strive to provide the best possible personal and professional service . We can guide you trhough each step of teh buying or selling process.

If you owe more than your house is worth or are behind in your payments, we can help. We can assit you through selling your home through a short sale often at no cost to the home owner. Call us at 281-326-HOME or visit our website at www.davidthelocator.com.

A personal story of how our vacation ended in tragedy on the Carnival Conquest....September 25, 2011.

The unthinkable... unexplainable...why???


I was so excited about getting away! My husband David and I were ready on September 18, 2011 to board the Carnival Conquest for what was supposed to be a fun and relaxing 7 days in the Caribbean. The trip started on Sunday the 18th, we said our usual good byes to our loved ones and got on board. This time we reserved a balcony for the first time so we happily went up to view our 9th deck balcony and get situated. The trip started off great and the first 2 days were spent at sea. We did the usual things you do on board a ship.... watch some shows, play some games, swim, read... just relax! On Wednesday we arrived in Jamaica and spent the day there enjoying the beautiful Caribbean waters and snorkeling. On Thursday we arrived in Grand Cayman, another beautiful place... so far so good. On Friday, September 23rd we arrived at our final destination which was Cozumel. We took a taxi to a beach and spent the day there as well enjoying the beach and more snorkeling. Around 4:00PM we headed back to the ship. Back in our room we were relaxing and debating on whether or not to go to dinner at 6:00PM which was our appointed time. We decided to blow it off and eat later. Our ship began to set sail around 6:00PM so I decided to go to the balcony and watch as we sailed away. I didn't know how much this decision would change my life. As I stood on the balcony I was staring straight ahead as we started sailing away, then I turned my head to the right and what I saw next  has deeply affected me in a terrible way. I saw a man deliberately jump off the 11th deck straight into the ocean. I was completely shocked. My mind was not computing what I had just seen. Then I started screaming! David ran to the balcony and we saw the man come up out of the water but he was floating on his face. I ran to the phone and called downstairs and told them to stop the ship because a man had just jumped. I was completely distraught, my mind had just seen a horrible thing. I ran back to the balcony where I saw someone throw a buoy ring towards the man. It was almost sunset so I ran downstairs and outside to try to find him. The ship had already stopped and a Mexican boat nearby responded to us and began to search  but they were not where the man was. You can only imagine what's going on as alerts are being broadcast through the PA,  flares are being shot into the water, some people have no clue what's going on others are screaming, Etc. I found another person that was on my deck that also witnessed it & we both agreed that both ships were very far away from the man. I found a worker nearby & I told him that they were searching in the wrong areas and so they reported that immediately to the Captain and the ship turned around back towards the direction we were telling them but it was almost dark now & the visibility was about to be zero and that's what made me feel more anxiety was that time was running out. Well, I don't know how many boats ended up out there but it was pitch dark outside and after a short while we were cleared to leave. The thought of leaving that man behind was too much to bear.


The rest of the trip all I could think about was that man and the vision of him jumping. Why? I prayed and prayed and prayed the whole way home. I have thought a lot about that day, how short life is, how fragile it is, how we don't ever know what another human being is going through nor what another minute holds for us. Life is precious, it's meant to be lived with a purpose, God has a purpose for all of us and there is nothing too big that He can not handle. I pray for that family and for anyone else out there that is suffering with thoughts of suicide, depression or anything else. Please talk to someone, please know "This too shall pass...."  


One thing I learned, "Marisol, smile a little more, say hello a little more, slow down, be kinder... because you never know how that one smile, that one hello or that one extra act of kindness will impact another human being." 


Thanks for letting me share my grief.


Marisol Quijano-Moore
www.davidthelocator.com

12914 E Silent Shore Ln, Houston, TX 77041 - HAR.com

12914 E Silent Shore Ln, Houston, TX 77041 - HAR.com

All-in-One Garage Sale & Organization

Getting ready to show your house and now realize that through the years you've accumulated a lot of...well..."stuff"? Now here’s a project that’s win, win, win—organize your garage, cut back on clutter and make a little extra cash all at once! With our helpful tips, easily whip your garage into shape, then help it stay that way with affordable organizers. Since we want your sale to be a success, we’ve even provided tips to help you bring in buyers and make your sale run smoothly.

Make the Cut
First and foremost, it’s time to declutter and determine which items you’re willing to sell. While every garage is different, here are our favorite methods for tackling disorganization:

• Side to side, top to bottom: To ensure you sift through everything, start at one end of your garage and move in the opposing direction, looking at items from top to bottom. If possible, back out your cars and use the extra space to sort items that can stay, be sold or get tossed. To signal a box or area has been examined, place a sticky note on it.
• Price immediately: When you find a garage sale-worthy item, price it right then and there. Stickers are classic and simple, but avoid using them on items like books that can become damaged. Hangtags or clothespins with pricing written directly on them make nice alternatives.
• Boxes and bins are your friends: Set aside a few empty boxes and bins, each representing a different category such as holiday decorations or sporting equipment. When you find something worth keeping, simply toss it in the appropriate container. Later, they can be directly set on shelves or used to organize items into smaller units.
• Stick to your guns: Repeat this mantra: "When in doubt, throw it out." If you haven't used it in the last year, to the garage sale it goes. Have a tough time letting things loose? Work with a partner who can offer an honest opinion.

Add Easy Organizers 
Now that you’ve decided what to keep versus sell at your garage sale, incorporate new organizers that will help you stay on track with ongoing clutter control:

• Pegboards: Inexpensive and easy to personalize, pegboards can be added to nearly any wall. Purchase a variety of hooks and bins to hang from your pegboard, and you can easily store items like tools, sports equipment and cleaning supplies.
• Shelves: In a tight space like a garage, organizing up is essential. Include shelves where you can. Set storage containers with drawers on top of your shelving, and you’ll make items like extension cords and extra seeds easy to access. Jars and crates make excellent organizers, too.
• Shoe Organizers: Hang a few  shoe organizers in your garage and use the pockets to store anything from small pieces of hardware to gardening tools. 
• Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Sale

• Prior to your sale, collect as many bags as possible to be used for purchased items. You’ll also want to have newspaper or packing material for fragile goods.
• Find out where you can hang signs by looking into local laws, then position them around your neighborhood.
• Make sure signs are legible and consistent. Drive past them to ensure they’re easy to read.
• Advertise your garage sale in a local newspaper or a free online service.
• To increase the buzz around your sale, try teaming up with neighbors to host a larger garage sale that attracts more buyers.
• Before selling items—especially electronics—make sure they work.
• Wash all clothes before putting them out for sale, and check each garment’s pockets for valuables or forgotten money.
• Use a good cleanser such as Mr. Clean or one of your preference.

Tips to Help You Host Your Sale

• Lay out your sale based on categories like kids stuff, clothes, electronics, books and garden tools.
• Make sure price tags are easily visible.
• Be ready to sell! Make sure you have a pen, notepad, change and a calculator on you at all times. An apron can help you juggle these items.
• When it comes to items you just really want to get rid of, consider setting up deals like “fill this bag for $5.”
• If selling electronics, run an extension cord to your sale so you can plug in electronics to prove they work. Batteries are also important for many games and cameras.

Hope this was helpful! Now get busy and get ready to show your home!!!

Feel free to contact us at 281-326-HOME (Office) or 281-235-7811 (Direct) for all of your Real Estate and Apartment Locating needs!!!!