Did you know that Mai Tai actually translates to “good”? Well, we think this recipe is VERY good. Pam Keagan and Patti White take their turn at Norcom Cooks with this refreshing and exotic drink.

Pam Keagan’s Mai Tai!

Serves: 1

Ingredients

1 ½ oz light rum

1 ½ oz fresh lime juice

1 ½ oz pineapple juice

splash of orgeat syrup

splash of grenadine

splash of orange curacao

simple syrup

dark rum

Pineapple wedge, cocktail umbrella and orchid, for garnish

Instructions

In your tiki glass (any other glass will work as well) add a cup of ice cubes. Stir in the light rum, lime juice, pineapple juice, orgeat syrup, grenadine and simple syrup. Float a splash of dark rum on top. Garnish with a pineapple wedge, cocktail umbrella, and an orchid. Enjoy!!

Eli Pascon’s Hummus!

On our first episode of Norcom Cooks, ValueQuest’s, Eli Pascon, shares his recipe for his famous hummus. It’s a simple and healthy, yet delicious, recipe that is sure to be a hit at any get together! Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 can of chickpeas

¼ cup tahini paste (or sesame paste) *

1 clove peeled garlic

Juice of 1 lime

Salt and pepper to taste

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Drain some of the water from the can of chickpeas into a glass. You can use the water to change the consistency while making the hummus.

Put the chickpeas, tahini paste, garlic, and lime juice in a food processor, blend until you produce a smooth puree. Add salt & pepper to taste.

Drizzle some olive oil on top and serve with pita chips or Naan bread.

* Can be found in the international isle at your local grocery store.

Selling your home during the holiday season can be stressful, but it does have its advantages. Homebuyers will take the process a lot more seriously and competition won’t be as tough as in other seasons of the year because there aren’t as many houses on the marketing during the holidays or winter months.

Here are some tips to help you sell your home quickly and easily:

Since the holidays are here, most of us will have our homes decorated a little more with trees, wreaths, and garland. Make sure you don’t go overboard with the décor because it can overwhelm a buyer and might make them move onto another home. If there are too many distractions, your home will probably not sell as quickly as you hoped.

If your home feels welcoming, buyers will be willing to buy. Cold winter months along with the holidays is a perfect set up for making your home feel cozy and warm. This will attract buyers and help them picture themselves living in that home.

Find a real estate agent who will be available all throughout the holidays and will do anything they can to help you sell your home. You’ll feel less overwhelmed if the listing agent takes over the process and lets you enjoy your holidays without the stress.

During the winter months, those searching to buy a house are mainly doing it in the comfort of their own homes. When it’s cold out or even snowing, not many homebuyers want to go out and search for a home in person. Try to take photos that will impress a buyer online. Make these photos appeal to the buyer and if they see what they like online, they might make the trip out of their home to come see yours. It might even help if you made a video tour of your home. It’s simple and easy and it lets the borrower walk through your home without actually being there in person.

Your listing agent should be able to help you find buyers who are motivated to purchase a home this time of year. The best homebuyers to search for are college students, anyone relocating for a job, and even military personnel, if you happen to live near a military base.

If it’s that time of year where the leaves have fallen off of trees, your home is exactly what will be catching everyone’s eye. Try to keep up with maintenance around the home. Clean your gutters of any leaves and even paint the outside of your home if it needs to be updated. Also make sure your walkway and driveway are clear of snow or ice especially during those cold winter months.

Fall has officially started and although this marks the beginning of shorter days and colder weather, there is also a lot to look forward to! Connecticut shows off nature’s beauty, especially during the Autumn months. Many state parks and forests allow visitors to enjoy a beautiful view of the fall foliage that Connecticut has every year.

Below is a list of some of the best viewing areas in Connecticut:

Macedonia Brook State Park – Kent

Take a hike on the Blue Trail across Cobble Mountain where you can view the Catskill and Taconic Mountains. The trails are narrow and include rocky terrain which becomes challenging for some but once you make it to the top, you’ll come across breathtaking views.

Pachaug State Forest – Voluntown

Pachaug is known as the largest State Forest in Connecticut with 24,000 acres of land within six towns. There are miles of roads and hiking trails through the forest, where you get to enjoy all the beauty that nature has to offer.

Peoples State Forest – Barkhamsted

Located in the Pleasant Valley section of Barkhamsted, this State Forest has amazing views and includes other attractions, such as the Barkhamsted Lighthouse.

Sleeping Giant State Park – Hamden

This State Park includes two miles of mountaintop of the south central Connecticut skyline that resembles the “sleeping giant”. You can take a 1.5 mile walk up to the stone observation tower of Mt. Carmel and also get a view of Long Island Sound.

Mohawk State Forest – Cornwall

Once you hike to the top, you will get spectacular scenic views of the Catskill and Taconic Mountains as well as The Berkshires.

Talcott Mountain State Park – Simsbury

Take a hike up to the Heublein Tower where you can see the beautiful view of the Farmington River Valley.

Mt. Tom State Park – Litchfield

Here, you can hike up to the stone lookout tower to take a look at the amazing views this State Park has to offer. Mt. Tom is one of the oldest state parks in Connecticut.

Dennis Hill State Park – Norfolk

Checking out fall foliage in this State Park is like walking through an autumn wonderland. Hike up to the top where it’s 1,627 feet above sea level and you can enjoy a nice picnic while looking out at the view.

The best time to check out the fall foliage in Connecticut would be in the middle of October. At this time, the leaves have reached their peak and the amazing views will take your breath away. 

With Summer finally present, cookouts are a great way to get friends and family together to enjoy the beautiful weather and relax. Here are some tips to a successful cookout that will keep guests wanting to come back for more.

Lawn Games

Lawn games are an essential addition to a successful cookout. They help to break the ice between guests who may not know each other, and can also create some great memories. Cornhole and horseshoes are fun games for all ages that you can play as teams or individually. They are also great to help pass the time while food is on the grill!

Beverages

Requesting that your guests bring their own beverages can ensure everyone has exactly what they want to drink. It can also lower the amount you’re spending and lower the chance of running out of drinks before the party is over. Remember to get plenty of ice to keep all of those beverages nice and cold in a cooler.

Music

Music always helps get the party started. Try making a playlist ahead of time, or finding the right playlist on Spotify or Pandora, to help set the tone for the evening! Pop music, or throwback songs are always a great go-to.

Don’t Light the Grill Too Late

Lighting the grill too late could mean hungry houseguests. Have the grill started just as the guests are arriving, giving them time to settle in and relax. A charcoal grill takes much more time to heat up than a gas grill does, so allow at least a 45-minute window for when you wish to start cooking.

Menu

When most people think of cookouts, they think of hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. Don’t be afraid to spice things up! Adding a few chicken legs with barbeque sauce to the menu is a great choice that people are sure to enjoy if they aren’t in the mood for the standard cookout foods. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Hosting a party is stressful enough without having to worry about preparing all of the food. Ask your guests to bring a few different desserts or sides for dinner. This can be helpful in time management, as well as expanding your variety of food.

Cookouts are awesome for when you want kick back, relax, and make great memories with friends and family. If you want it to be as successful as possible, try using some of these tips and see which ones work best for you!