How to Make Your Own Mini Potato Skins

You don’t have to go out to enjoy the same savory finger-foods. Bring the party to your own kitchen by making miniature versions of classic potato skins. The ingredients and process are simple and the smaller size makes these snacks the perfect appetizer for a BBQ, picnic or other fun meal at home. Ingredients & Supplies 1 pound of small yellow potatoesOlive oilSharp cheddar cheese (shredded)Bacon (cooked and crumbled)Half a cup of sour cream2 tablespoons of fresh chives (chopped) Conventional ovenBaking sheetParchment paperKnifeCheese graterTongs or other long-handled utensil for safe and easy flipping Process Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. While it’s heating, clean and dry the potatoes. Put the clean potatoes in a large mixing bowl and slowly add the olive oil. Mix or toss the potatoes around to coat them in oil before arranging them on a single baking sheet. Use parchment paper for easier cleanup. Bake the potatoes for 18 minutes or until tender enough to slice. Then, take them out and let them cool for at least 30 minutes. Once your potatoes are cool, slice each one in half lengthwise. Use a spoon or fork to scoop out most of the potato flesh to create a thick shell or boat shape. You can set aside the unused potato flesh for something else like potato salad, mashed potatoes or a scramble. Turn the oven temperature up to 450. Arrange the potato skins onto a baking sheet with the hollow sides facing down and bake for 10 minutes. Flip the potatoes over and bake for another 10 minutes or until crispy. Take out the potato skins and carefully sprinkle with cheese. The skins might be hot enough to melt the cheese, but if not, return them to the oven (still at 450) for 1-2 minutes. Add the bacon crumbles. Add a spoonful of sour cream to each potato skin and then garnish with the chopped chives. Substitution Ideas Once you know this basic formula, you can get creative with the recipe. For a meatless version of these delicious potato skins, try adding chopped mushrooms. You can also use different varieties of cheese as long as you adjust melting time accordingly. Some other great substitutions include pepper jack cheese, chopped jalapenos, sun-dried tomatoes or shredded chicken. Customize this simple recipe for a savory, crowd-pleasing appetizer perfect for any home gathering.

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Benefits & Disadvantages of Disclosing Multiple Offers

When selling a home, it’s not uncommon to get offers from multiple buyers. This is especially true in a hot market with low inventory. If you’re dealing with multiple offers, the question can arise about disclosing those offers. If you’re unclear about how and why to factor this into your negotiations, here is some basic info to help. Why Disclose Multiple Offers? There are two benefits to disclosing offers to other buyers: It can encourage one buyer to increase their offer. Informing a buyer that there is another offer in play might result in a larger offer from another buyer. Sometimes, counter offers include more than a price increase. A buyer might offer better terms to sweeten the deal, like waiving appraisal or inspection fees. This is where seller contingencies come into play. It’s also common for an updated offer to be a larger deposit, quicker closing or even covering the closing costs. Why Not Disclose Multiple Offers? While there are definite upsides to disclosing multiple offers, there can also be drawbacks: Some buyers might be intimidated and walk away from the sale. Knowing that there are other, more competitive offers on the table could discourage them from pursuing the property. Dealing with multiple offer disclosures can get confusing. The communication involved might get tricky and even stressful. Keeping track of which offers are available might turn into more of a hassle than you want in your selling process. Disclosing offers can make the sale take a lot longer. Most home closings take a month or two, but if you’re dealing with multiple offers and counteroffers, disclosure could drag out the process. Each round of offers and counteroffers adds days to your total timeline, which can be especially inconvenient if you have a new purchase contingent on your current home sale closing. Overall, consulting with a real estate professional will help you decide whether disclosing multiple offers is the right move. Weigh the options carefully to determine what will get you the best results.

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The 4 Major Types of Geranium to Know

Geraniums are one of the most popular garden flowers in North America. They're fragrant, colorful and grow well in containers, hanging baskets and flower beds. They're easy to care for and have over 300 different species to choose from. To help you pick the best option for your garden, here are the four main types of geranium to keep in mind: Zonal Geraniums Zonal geraniums are the most common type grown in gardens. They grow with single or double blooms in a wide variety of colors including white, pink, red, yellow, orange, purple and burgundy. Zonal geraniums are some of the easiest to grow and thrive in many different climates. They're drought-tolerant and can be grown as perennials in regions with temperate winters. Regal Geraniums Regal geraniums are also called Marsha Washington geraniums. This type of geranium has large multicolored flowers compared to the smaller, single-colored zonal geraniums. Regal geraniums need cooler temperatures to thrive, and won't bloom at all in hotter weather. Ivy Geraniums Ivy geraniums aren't climbing vines, but trail beautifully out of containers or hanging baskets. They grow in long, cascading mounds of flowers and can grow up to three feet wide if given enough space to spread out. These geraniums love full sunlight and will bloom from early spring to the first frost when in optimal conditions. Scented Geraniums While you might expect the flowers of scented geraniums to be scented, it's actually their foliage. Scented geraniums have velvety textured leaves that give off pleasant scents in endless variations. Some popular scents are rose, apricot, mint and apple. Generally, you can glean the scent from the name of the cultivar, such as "Lemon Balm" or "Chocolate Mint." These geraniums don't bloom as much as other types, but their special foliage makes them a favorite among many gardeners.

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Another Property Rented - 7 Casey Avenue B4, Edison, NJ 08817

CONDORented List Price $1,399 Sold Price $1,399 7 Casey Avenue B4 Edison, NJ 08817 Courtesy of Fox & Foxx Realty, LLC MLS: Central Jersey MLS FavoriteSave search   1Beds 1Bath clean and ready to move in one bedroom apartment in a great location. Heat and hot water included.

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