Who doesn’t love donuts? They’re a classically decadent treat, and the customizable options are seemingly endless. Phoenicians are blessed with many amazing donut shops, each with their own unique twist. Check out Pending Sale | Beautiful Avaton Plan w/ Custom Features at Encanterra®
5 Best Hikes in Phoenix
As it starts to cool down this weekend and next, it’s the perfect time to enjoy a morning hike at one of Phoenix’s many trails. The beautiful serenity of the desert, 80-degree weather, and some good cardiovascular activity— what more could you ask for? Check out this list of the 5 Best Hikes in Phoenix from The Outbound Collective. Did your favorite make the cut?
Meet Tony and Leah on Crocus Ave
Tony and Leah knew many years ago that a home at Encanterra® was in their future. In 2011, Leah visited Encanterra® to attend a Chamber of Commerce meeting at the club and was blown away with what she saw when she drove through the front gate. She called Tony right away and told him she had found their future retirement home. Six years later they are now calling Encanterra® home. Shea Preferred Realty Group helped them find a beautiful resale home, a Captivate plan.
Tony and Leah grew up in southern California and met 30 years ago. They went on a camping trip with mutual friends and instantly the sparks flew. This November, they will be celebrating their 27 year wedding anniversary. They have three beautiful daughters, Brooke (28), Samantha (22) and Sydney (14). After living in California their whole lives, they decided they wanted a change of pace. Tony was working for Fed Ex and was able to get a job transfer to Tempe. They settled in Gilbert to raise their family. Now that they are almost empty nesters, they love the low maintenance lifestyle that Encanterra® offers.
Leah was previously owner and operator of a successful American Family Insurance office in Gilbert. In 2014, she attended a Chamber of Commerce meeting where she made a connection that would forever change her career path— she met Mike Olander, owner of Affordable Pest Control and Encanterra® homeowner. Tony and Leah quickly became friends with Mike and his wife, Cathy. That friendship blossomed into a business opportunity when Tony joined Mike as co-owner of Affordable Pest Control. They only had 300 customers at that time. Today, they are growing fast with 1,100+ customers, 3 full-time technicians, and 5 trucks that service the Southeast Valley. The name of their company, Affordable Pest Control, truly speaks for itself. If you are looking for pest control service, you’ll be amazed at their pricing. Their business is growing so fast that Leah recently joined the team as their Marketing and Client Relations Manager. She made that title herself but it fits her perfectly!
This November they are planning a cruise to the Bahamas with Mike and Cathy. They are looking forward to traveling more now that their house is a little quieter. When Tony is not working he loves to hit the golf course, and Leah loves to watch him swing. They love and adore their two English Lab dogs, Chloe and Cooper, both 4 years old.
Welcome to the community, Tony and Leah. We are so glad you have found the Good Life at Encanterra®!
August 2017 | Encanterra® Real Estate Market Report
Featured Listing | Brand New Aria Plan at Encanterra®
Recipe | Roasted Garlic by Encanterra® Resident and Author, Jules Meyer
This week, we have another awesome recipe from Encanterra® resident and author, Jules Meyer’s upcoming cook book. If you missed the last recipe she shared with us (Creamy Baked Brie w/ Toasted Almonds), get it here — It’s super tasty! Now we’re lucky to get to try Jules’s Roasted Garlic Recipe, along with a personal introduction from the author herself. Check it out below!
Roasted Garlic is mild, sweet and delicious! I love Roasted Garlic and always have some in my fridge so it’s ready for any recipe I may need it for. You can Roast Garlic many ways but I prefer to cook mine in the oven with a little olive oil, some dried herbs, and a little water to steam. I find the water helps the Garlic stay super plump and moist. The cloves easily pull up and out of its skin so it’s easy to use or spread. I made Roasted Garlic one night for a cocktail party and some of the guests had never had it before. They didn’t know Garlic could ever be so sweet and mild and spread like Butter. They were so surprised and loved it! Most recipes don’t add water to the pan but one time I added some water to the pan and I’ve made it this way ever since. I think this is what really makes it extra special. Of all the ways I have tried cooking Garlic this is my absolute favorite!
PREP TIME AND COOKING TIME
5 to 10 minutes to Prep
50 Minutes to 1 hour to Bake plus 10-15 more Minutes to Brown
Set oven to 425 Degrees
Garlic can be baked and kept in Tupperware with tight lid for up to 5 days in the fridge
INGREDIENTS
3 to 5 Large Garlic Bulbs– I always make extra to have on hand
1 to 2 Tbls Extra Virgin Olive Oil – enough to coat the top of each bulb
Italian Seasoning or Dry Oregano – a pinch over the top of each bulb (Optional)
Water – 1â„4 to 1â„2 cup, just enough to cover the bottom of the pan to help steam the Garlic
STEPS
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Get an Oven Proof Glass Pie Plate or an Aluminum Pan (I use a round aluminum pan which is what I prefer) but either works just fine. Also get a piece of Aluminum Foil big enough to cover the pan tightly around the edges.
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Use a serrated knife to cut the Garlic in half. We will bake both halves.
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Place the Halved Garlic Bulbs with the Raw Garlic exposed and facing up, in your oven proof pan.
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Drizzle Olive Oil over the top of each Garlic Bulb just enough to coat. Sprinkle with Italian Seasoning or Dried Oregano *optional. *NOTE: The dry herbs are optional. I prefer to have a little bit of seasoning on them when serving as an appetizer but keep them plain when using for other recipes.
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Now, put a small amount of Water (1/4th to 1â„2 C) in the dish just enough to help Steam the Garlic and make it Extra Creamy and Soft in Texture. Start with 1/4th Cup and see how that sits. You don’t want too much just enough to coat the bottom of the baking dish.
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Cover the dish tightly with Aluminum Foil and place in oven.
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Set timer for 50 minutes. *NOTE: In my oven the Garlic takes 60 minutes almost every time and then I take the foil off and bake 10-15 more minutes to brown the Garlic. Depending on your oven it may already be brown and you won’t have to add any more time to it.
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN IT’S DONE?
At 50 minutes take a peek. Take the Garlic out of the oven and lift the edge of the foil without tearing. If some of the Garlic is raised and coming up and out of the skin it is done. Usually you will see some of the Garlic sticking to the top of the foil. You can also stick a fork into the Garlic to see how soft it is. It should be soft. *If some Garlic isn’t coming up and out of the skin then put in oven for 10 more minutes. You can also add a little more Water to the pan if it has all cooked out. After 60 minutes take the Foil off and bake 10-15 more minutes to add a little Golden Brown Color to the Garlic (as *noted omit this step if already golden brown) When the Garlic is done cooking set it on a hot pad or a cool burner with the foil lightly tented until ready to serve. It will be Creamy, Spreadable and delicious! If putting straight into the fridge let it get to room temp before putting it into your Tupperware container.
SERVING AND PLATING HINTS
I prefer to keep the Garlic Cloves in the Bulb then put on a platter with Freshly Baked Crostini and some type of Soft Creamy Cheese such as Alouette or Boursin along with some Grapes and Strawberries. I like the presentation when the Garlic is served in its whole form. You can also push the Garlic Cloves up and out of the Skin and put in a little dish and serve with Freshly Baked Crostini and Crackers. Guests can easily spread it on this way. Spread on Toasted Baguette with Butter and then slather some of my “Creamy Baked Brie with Toasted Almonds†all over it.
My Real Estate Reality By T.J. Kelley
I live and breathe real estate. I also feel very blessed to work on a team that brings so much talent to the table. I joined the Arizona Experience Realty Team (Resale Broker for the Shea Preferredâ„¢ Program) almost 4 years ago. Many of you know that I started my real estate career with Shea Homes as a new home sales associate back in 2008. It was a dream come true to join such a prestigious home building organization. Shea Homes has core values that are hard to find with any other home builder. It gave me a great foundation for my career path in real estate. It also made the transition over to resale effortless.
I love our team, but I love our team’s dedication even more. We stay on top of the industry trends, education, social media or any other area that will provide better service to our clients. Experience is extremely important in real estate. If I had one hundred dollars for every time I’ve heard someone say they were considering selling real estate because they like to look at houses, I’d be retired by now! Like many of us, I love watching HGTV now and again— but it’s not reality. Many of those shows just gloss over the buying and selling process and make it look so easy and effortless. Countless times I have walked into a home and seen poor design choices and unfortunately, homeowners may never see their return on investment. Don’t let that happen to you. Our team is a great resource to anyone that is considering making changes or updating their home. We love to provide guidance or suggestions on what updates will add the most value to your home from a resale perspective. At Arizona Experience Realty Team (Resale Broker for the Shea Preferred™ Program), we want to make every client’s experience unforgettable. We do that daily and it’s one of the reasons why our team is ranked in the top 1% of real estate agents in the valley. Whether we are working with a first-time home buyer or a luxury home on the golf course, our work ethic and communication style make every real estate transaction seamless.
Good things come in packages, right? If you are considering buying or selling a home, consider us as the “complete packageâ€. Many of you have worked with our team, but I’d like to share a little more about who we are and why I have stuck around so long.
Lacey Collins joined our team a few months ago. She may be new to the real estate industry but her work ethic and determination are something that I have never seen before. She is a true go-getter and goes above and beyond for anyone she meets. She also catches onto things with lightning speed. This business moves incredibly fast and I love seeing her flourish. If you have met Lacey, you know what I’m referring to. We also laugh often when we work together which makes our days so much fun.
Ben Leeson is a walking encyclopedia of real estate. When you meet Ben, you’ll know quickly that he is a straight shooter. He tells it like it is and I have learned so much from him. He has tremendous attention to detail in everything he does and it’s one of the reasons why I love working for him. Many times, it’s easy to tell people what they want to hear especially when you are dealing with someone’s home. In real estate, I have found that it’s one of the worst things a person can do. Ben tells his clients exactly what needs to be done and why. He’s got a winning formula that works every single time.
So that’s it for my first blog. I have so much more to share. Next time around I’m dedicating it all to my favorite Transaction Coordinator, Michelle Saurage. She is our “wizard behind the curtain†and we are so lucky to have her on our team. Stay tuned!
Meet the Neighbors | Mike and Jean on Crucillo Drive
Mike and Jean are familiar faces around the Club. They joined the community back in 2013 and knew Encanterra® was special on their first visit. A few months ago, Mike and Jean decided it was time to invest more in their future so they purchased another home at Encanterra®. Shea Preferred Realty Group helped them find a beautiful resale home in the Resort Collection, a Muros plan which they intend to rent out.
Their love story started almost 50 years ago in Rochester, New York, where they were introduced to each other by a mutual friend. This August, they will be celebrating their 47th wedding anniversary. They have two daughters, Mary and Kathryn. Mary lives in Richmond, Virginia and has 4 daughters— Ainsley, Mallory, Darby, and Piper. Kathryn lives only a few miles from Encanterra® and has one son, Bryson.
While living in Rochester, Jean graduated from Nazareth College and received a degree in History. She later received her master’s degree in Education. Jean taught primary education during her career and retired after 42 years. Mike graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology. He worked for Xerox for 17 years, during which time he was transferred to California. He later worked for SUN Microsystems as Controller of Corporate Resources and was then recruited by McAfee as an Executive in Planning and Sourcing, where he retired just a few years ago. Mike and Jean love to take yearly trips back to New York. A few weeks ago, they rented a lake home outside of Rochester, which gave them the chance to catch up with long-time friends and visit family.
Living at Encanterra® has given them the opportunity to meet so many wonderful new friends. They love being ambassadors for the community and meeting new homeowners. They are both very active in local charity events and community service. Mike and Jean, welcome to the “Good Life†again!
Featured Listing | Amazing, Gated Townhome in South Phoenix Golf Community
