Karen's Home

This is EASY and DELICIOUS!!!

I spotted the recipe in the Sentinel and Enterprise on June 30th and knew I had to make it for the 4th of July!  I have made it twice this summer and it was an enormous hit both times!  I had never attempted to make a fruit tart before and assumed it would be difficult, but this recipe has been simplified.  It calls for a 9 inch removable bottom tart pan, but I used my springform pan (with removable bottom, this is important) and it worked very well.

For the crust:

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 stick COLD unsalted butter, cut up in cubes

2 TBLS COLD water

In a food processor, pulse together flour, sugar and salt.  Add the butter, then pulse together, adding cold water as needed, until a meal forms that sticks together easily when you squeeze it.  Press the mixture in to the tart pan, making sure to press the dough up the sides about an inch.  With a fork, prick the bottom of the dough about 15 times.  Bake @ 375 degrees (preheat oven) for 15 to 20 minutes, until the edges just start to turn golden brown and the center is slightly firm to the touch.  Cool on wire rack.

For the filling:

Two 8 ounce packages of cream cheese, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract (always use the good stuff, not a place to skimp with baking!)

1 TBLS lemon juice

1/2 cup of powdered sugar

Fresh Berries (I used strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, but any combination of fruit will do)

Use an electric mixer to beat together all ingredients except for the berries, of course!  Spread evenly in the shell, top with berries and serve!  I made this a day ahead, refrigerated, took on my sailboat, and we ate it for 2 days!  Lasted perfectly!

Anything I can think of to make use of the garden tomatoes which we are picking like CRAZY!  It’s so nice to have a Real Summer!  Our Eggplant is doing extremely well also, and we picked a really nice one the other day….so……here is how I make it:

The one thing I learned last year is that you should slice the eggplant and then lay it down on a cooling rack and sprinkle with salt which draws the excess moisture out of it.  Tonight I let it sit for about a half hour with the salt, dry it off with paper towels, and do the same to the other side……

1 or 2 Eggplant depending on size, sliced in 1/2 inch slices

2 eggs beat with a splash of milk

Breadcrumbs ( I used whole wheat breadcrumbs)

Flour sprinkled with fresh ground pepper

Tomato Sauce (Bryan made homemade with garden tomatoes and fresh herbs from the garden, too!)

Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese (amounts at your discretion and taste)

Vegetable Oil to Saute eggplant

Dredge each slice of eggplant in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs.  Place in hot oil in saute pan and saute each side until browned.  I find this part tricky because you want the eggplant to cook in the center, but the oil must be hot enough to get a sizzle when the eggplant hits the pan.  Drain the slices on paper towels and work in batches.  Layer the eggplant with mozzarella, parmesan and the sauce.  Bake 30-40 minutes at 350!  Let rest 10 minutes and DEVOUR!

What exactly is going on in the Leominster MA, and Central MA market?

You listen to the news and read the papers and what you hear is sobering. Interest rates are down, but so is buyer interest. Home ownership is at its lowest percentage since 1999.

In the past four months, Towne & Country, Realtors – a small independent office that is allied with anationwide referral network, has placed 20 properties in either “Sold” or Under Agreement” status. Of these, the average days on market (DOM) was 99 for multi-families, 49 for condominiums, and 102 for single family residences. 16 were off-market in less than 120 days, and 11 in less than 2 months.

What does this mean to you, if you are thinking about listing your home? Clearly, it is important to align with an office that brings skill and experience to the table, that will help you set a realistic price, and help you to present your home so that it appeals to the broadest range of buyers. And that will market the heck out of your property.

All real estate markets are local, but we would go one step further. Local markets can be leveraged so that you can have the best chance of selling.

Ask us how. We are proud of the records of our real estate sales agents and brokers – see this list for their names and specialties.

Single Family Listings MLS # Status Address Town Description DOM List Price Sale Price 71074534 UAG 125 North Main Street Leominster, MA 6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath Colonial 65 $139,900 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 38     List Agent: Laurie Howe  70781349 SLD 126 Park St Gardner, MA 8 room, 3 bed, 2 bath Victorian 660 $185,000 $175,000 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 22     List Agent: Gerald Bourgeois Sr.  Sale Office: Keller Williams Realty North Central  (978) 840-9000 Ext. 22     Sale Agent: Paul Collette  71079335 SLD 15 Marita St Leominster, MA 6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath Ranch 44 $187,500 $185,000 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 29     List Agent: Karen Shattuck  Sale Office: Century 21 Realty Team  (978) 537-5100 Ext. 15     Sale Agent: Heather Carbone  71033002 SLD 180 Willow Street Leominster, MA : West Leominster 5 room, 3 bed, 1 bath Ranch 38 $188,500 $188,500 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 24     List Agent: Gerry Bourgeois Jr.  Sale Office: RE/MAX Property Promotions  (978) 874-1551 Ext. 821     Sale Agent: Leah Mullin  71059226 SLD 30 Dillon St Leominster, MA 6 room, 2 bed, 1 bath Ranch 23 $194,500 $187,500 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 29     List Agent: Karen Shattuck  Sale Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 29     Sale Agent: Karen Shattuck  71061842 SLD 199 Highland St Lunenburg, MA 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath Ranch 9 $200,000 $192,500 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 24     List Agent: Gerry Bourgeois Jr.  Sale Office: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – Groton  (978) 448-2311     Sale Agent: Barry C. Brown  71055339 SLD 414 Burrage St Lunenburg, MA 8 room, 3 bed, 2 bath Split Entry 13 $212,500 $212,500 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 24     List Agent: Gerry Bourgeois Jr.  Sale Office: ERA Morrison Real Estate  (978) 614-1600     Sale Agent: Christine D. Beaudry  71034699 SLD 18 Hickory Rd Leominster, MA 8 room, 3 bed, 2 bath Cape 27 $225,000 $225,000 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 24     List Agent: Gerry Bourgeois Jr.  Sale Office: Pristine Homes Realty, LLC  (978) 649-7345     Sale Agent: Donna Bursey  71073046 UAG 21 Morse Ave Templeton, MA 6 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath Cape 149 $230,000 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 51     List Agent: Diane Haley Brooks  71103678 UAG 10 Arch St Leominster, MA 9 room, 3 bed, 2 bath Colonial 23 $235,000 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 24     List Agent: Gerry Bourgeois Jr.  71043509 SLD 782 Turnpike Road Ashby, MA 7 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath Colonial 164 $250,000 $255,000 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 24     List Agent: Gerry Bourgeois Jr.  Sale Office: Central Mass Real Estate  (877) 537-9997 Ext. 701     Sale Agent: Shawn Bernard  71061613 SLD 63 Rindge State Rd Ashburnham, MA 7 room, 4 bed, 2.5 bath Colonial 73 $274,900 $274,900 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 24     List Agent: Gerry Bourgeois Jr.  Sale Office: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – HQ  (781) 684-6300     Sale Agent: Marcia Hastbacka  71066144 UAG 77 Cumberland Rd Leominster, MA : West Leominster 10 room, 4 bed, 3.5 bath Colonial 99 $285,000 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 24     List Agent: Gerry Bourgeois Jr.  70966140 SLD 26 Jewel Drive Leominster, MA 7 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath Colonial 207 $305,000 $295,000 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 24     List Agent: Gerry Bourgeois Jr.  Sale Office: Acres Away Realty, LLC  (978) 840-2696     Sale Agent: Kenneth Terrell  71091208 SLD 101 Legate Hill Rd Leominster, MA 8 room, 3 bed, 3.5 bath Colonial 20 $367,000 $350,000 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 24     List Agent: Gerry Bourgeois Jr.  Sale Office: StartPoint Realty, LLC  (978) 422-3999 Ext. 10     Sale Agent: Kate Nolan 71049704 SLD 27 Commonwealth Cir Leominster, MA 10 room, 4 bed, 3.5 bath Colonial 7 $434,900 $435,000 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 29     List Agent: Karen Shattuck  Sale Office: RE/MAX Property Promotions  (978) 847-0800 Ext. 813     Sale Agent: Susan Clark  Single Family Listings: 16     Average List Price: $244,669     Average Sale Price: $247,992     Average Market Time: 101.31

Condominium Listings MLS # Status Address Town Description DOM List Price Sale Price 71023507 SLD 25 Berrington Road U:25,4 Leominster, MA 4 room, 1 bed, 1 bath Garden 85 $128,500 $125,500 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 24     List Agent: Gerry Bourgeois Jr.  Sale Office: Sullivan Real Estate Group  (508) 832-2262 Ext. 13     Sale Agent: Eric Hamel  71066283 SLD 14 Phillips St U:14 Leominster, MA 5 room, 2 bed, 2.5 bath Townhouse 13 $229,900 $220,000 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 29     List Agent: Karen Shattuck  Sale Office: Team Realty (978) 772-5555     Sale Agent: Lisa Fox Condominium Listings: 2     Average List Price: $179,200     Average Sale Price: $172,750     Average Market Time: 49.00    Average List Price per Square Foot: $128

Multi-Family Listings MLS # Status Address Town Description DOM List Price Sale Price 70982698 SLD 89 Adams St Leominster, MA 3 unit, 15 total room, 8 total bedroom 3 Family 178 $229,900 $206,600 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 38     List Agent: Laurie Howe  Sale Office: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – Westford  (978) 692-2121     Sale Agent:Louise Thibodeau  71073491 SLD 38 Webber Street Leominster, MA 2 unit, 12 total room, 6 total bedroom 2 Family 21 $259,900 $239,000 List Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 37     List Agent: Mary Ann Bonneau  Sale Office: Towne & Country, REALTORS ®  (978) 537-6401 Ext. 37     Sale Agent: Mary Ann Bonneau  Multi-Family Listings: 2     Average List Price: $244,900     Average Sale Price: $222,800     Average Market Time: 99.50