The Burriss Group

Jobs Exceeded Expectations, interest rates continue to ride the roller coaster

burrissgroup — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:23:44 +0000

Jobs Exceeded Expectations

Most of the news last week was not good for mortgage rates. The economic data was generally a little stronger than expected, and investor concerns about Europe decreased. As a result, after reaching new lows early in the week, mortgage rates ended the week higher.

Against a consensus forecast of 60K, the economy added 103K jobs in September, and the data for July and August was revised higher by 99K. The Unemployment Rate remained at 9.1%, as expected. Average Hourly Earnings, a proxy for wage growth, increased 0.2% from August. The good news for the economy is that the Employment report surpassed expectations and makes a recession look less likely. Still, stronger job gains are needed to bring down the Unemployment Rate.

In recent weeks, investor sentiment has been gradually shifting toward an increased likelihood for a Greek debt default of some sort. Investors have become less worried about the impact, though, largely due to the safety measures which have been implemented. Last week, European officials made available additional aid packages for struggling European nations and banks if needed. The effect on US markets was that investors were more willing to invest in riskier assets, which helped stocks and hurt bonds, including mortgage-backed securities (MBS).

burrissgroup — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:03:36 +0000

Minnesota gets national award for efficient traffic movement

By Joe Kimball | Published Thu, Oct 6 2011 10:13 am

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America is giving the Minnesota Department of Transportation an award for the state’s “use of cost-effective intelligent transportation systems to move people and goods more efficiently and improve the quality of life for Twin Cities’ motorists.”

So commuters stuck in rush-hour traffic shouldn’t grouse but should be glad MnDOT uses those systems or it would be even worse.

The award will be given to Transportation Commission Tom Sorel on Friday. There also will be mention of “Minnesota’s pioneering efforts to reduce traffic fatalities at rural intersections through the deployment of high-tech crash avoidance systems in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation.”

And we’re very thankful for that, too.

2 1/2 Webster Place, Hopkins & Sesame Chicken Salad

burrissgroup — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:31:27 +0000

1442 Homestead Trail and Chicken Pecan Salad

burrissgroup — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:45:09 +0000

Rolling acreage in a multi-million dollar neighborhood!

1795 Lucy Ridge Court and Chicken Pecan Salad

burrissgroup — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:26:58 +0000

Executive home in a well-planned neighborhood!

Recipe for Chicken Pecan Salad

Memorial Day Weekend

burrissgroup — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:08:00 +0000

Memorial Day Weekend

- Do you have any family traditions for Memorial Day?

- What are your plans this weekend?(Will you picnic rain or shine?)

- Do you have any specials, fun things you do with your employees, etc for Memorial Day?

Blog Topic: “Inside Job” – Have you seen this movie?

burrissgroup — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:30:15 +0000

- If you’ve seen this documentary give your opinion
- If you haven’t, tell what you’ve heard about it (Google it if you haven’t heard anything)
- Are you going to watch it after what you’ve heard?
- Would you recommend it if you have seen it?
- Are the points valid? Sources credible?

I haven’t see this movie yet (personally, I avoid movies that are likely to put me into a state of anger and resentment — but I don’t want to be ignorant of the facts. Should I see it? – Cathy

550 Oxford Road in Orono/Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin Recipe

burrissgroup — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:52:42 +0000

$1,395,000

8020 Ridge Court North, and Marinated Flank Steak luncheon recipe

burrissgroup — Tue, 03 May 2011 22:46:37 +0000

Introducing: 8020 Ridge Court North, Maple Grove, Minnesota.

Presented by: Aaron Ball and Meredith Howell, Coldwell Banker Burnet
Aaron: 952-475-9282
Meredith: 952-476-3692

Sponsored by: PHH Home Loans, The Burriss Group
952-475-5446

A MASTERPIECE!
Award-winning, European-influenced estate in Ridges of Rush Creek.
Built by Smuckler Custom Homes.
Unsurpassed amenities and sweeping vistas of Rush Creek Golf Course.
Landscaping that compares to the finest resorts in the world…. mind-blowing!
Luxury through and through.
Offered at: $2,295,000

Thank you, Aaron, for inviting us to be a part of your Broker’s Open House Tour today! Everything about this home dazzled us!

Today’s Recipe: Healthy and Delicious for any occasion!

Marinated Flank Steak on Greens

Ingredients:
2/3 c. lime juice
6 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. minced garlic
2 tsp. ground ginger
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 to 5 lbs. flank steak

Directions:

Combine all the ingredients (except for the flank steak!) in a food processor and pulse to mix.
Place flank steak(s) in a Ziploc bag and pour marinade over it (them). Place in the refrigerator over night. I made 3 flank steaks: $33 at Costco! Great buy!
Remove meat from marinade and place on a hot (gas on “HIGH”) grill (grilling tip: when preparing my gas grill, I turn it on, shut the lid, and allow it to heat all the way up to 500*F. Then I open, clean the grates with my wire brush, and place the steaks on. You should hear it sizzle!)
Grill for approximately 7 minutes per side. Do not over cook (even I don’t like my flank steak done well! And I like my steaks charred!)

Serve simply: on fresh spinach salad with a vinaigrette dressing, mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers and parsley garnish – a nice, soft roll of any kind is a nice side treat!

Enjoy!

Cathy Burriss
PHH Home Loans
The Burriss Group
201 E. Lake Street
Wayzata, MN 55391

952-471-2211

>1566 Eagle Lane and “Not Your Mother’s Meatloaf” Recipe

burrissgroup — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:59:00 +0000

Introducing:

1566 Eagle Lane

Mound, Minnesota

$649,900

Presented by:

Patty Morris

Coldwell Banker Burnet

952-292-7125

Sponsored by:

PHH Home Loans

The Burriss Group

952-475-5446

Charming lake cottage on premiere 90-feet of level, sandy shoreline – with big water views! Lovely, landscaped yard with wonderful outdoor entertaining spaces. Complete re-build in 1995. Perfect for a weekend get-away retreat or year-round home.

“Up North” feel on a quiet Lake Minnetonka peninsula.

3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 2436 sq. ft.

By request, I prepared my “Southern Meatloaf with Candied Yams” — but was advised to change the name to “Not Your Mother’s Meatloaf” – a great idea!

Not Your Mother’s Meatloaf

Ingredients:

(Vegetable Mixture)

2 Tbsp butter

1 medium onion (diced)

1 celery stalk (diced)

2 cloves of garlic

1/2 c. green onions (diced)

1/3 c. ketchup

2 tsp. salt

1+1/2 tsp black pepper

2 tsp. Tobasco Sauce

2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce

1/3 c. milk

(Meat Mixture)

1+1/2 lbs. ground beef

1 lb. ground pork

2 eggs (beaten)

1 c. bread crumbs

(Glaze)

2 Tbsp. molasses

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

4 Tbsp. ketchup

Preheat oven to 375* F.

In a large skillet, saute onions, garlic, celery and green onions in butter, over medium heat (about 8 minutes, until onions soften). Mix in salt, pepper, Tobasco, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup and milk. Set aside.

In an electric mixing bowl, combine the meat mixture ingredients: ground beef, ground pork, eggs and bread crumbs.

Mix vegetable mixture into the meat mixture.

Form into a loaf-shape (about 4 inches high) on a cookie sheet (make sure your cookie sheet has sides, as the meatloaf will release juices while baking).

Mix the glaze ingredients: molasses, brown sugar and ketchup. spread evenly over the meatloaf with a brush or the back of a spoon.

Bake the meatloaf for 90 minutes.

Allow meatloaf to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 10 to 15.

Candied Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

5 lbs. Sweet Potatoes (peeled and cubed)

3 c. dark brown sugar

1/4 c. orange juice

1 stick of butter

2 tsp. ground ginger

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

(marshmallows, cashews, pecans, or walnuts, if desired)

Preheat oven to 375* F.

Place cubed sweet potatoes into a 9″ X 13″ baking pan with high sides.

In a large sauce pan, melt butter, then add the dark brown sugar, orange juice, ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Bring to a rolling boil and stir until the dark brown sugar is dissolved.

Mix the baking soda into the hot mixture just before pouring over the sweet potatoes – - but watch out! The baking soda makes the hot glaze “foamy” and it expands. Watch and stir constantly so it doesn’t overflow your sauce pan! Pour over sweet potatoes, fold to evenly distribute. If you like marshmallows on your sweet potatoes, place them on top of the potato/sauce mixture before baking. If you are adding nuts, wait to top the final, cooked dish.

Bake for 90 minutes.

Serve a heap of the sweet potatoes over each slice of meatloaf. The spicy meatloaf with the sweet potato flavor… oh, my!

Serves 15.
-

Enjoy!

Cathy Burriss

Loan Officer, NMLS #340707

PHH Home Loans

The Burriss Group

952-471-2211