In most regions throughout America, local Boards of Realtors® hold weekly "broker preview" days. At these, Realtors® host open houses showcasing their newest listings to other agents in their area. And the hosts often serve some form of food or drink.

Sadly, what they serve typically ranges from merely under-whelming (chips and commercial dip) to wretched (Don’t ask!). The abominable quality results from little imagination (or much cheapness) on the part of the host Realtor®.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Some Realtors even gain local fame from always serving killer-great chow at their open houses. And whereas touring agents may tend to skip some houses on "preview," they rarely miss one hosted by these gourmet cooking Realtors®.

Turns out that my wife, Broker Debbie Ferrari, is one of these, and a chili cook-off champion to boot. When Realtors® hear that she’s holding a broker preview, agents often call her to hear what scrumptious goodie she’ll be serving.

I asked Debbie for some recipes to share here with you. For most, you may have to multiply the ingredients. Try them and maybe you can become a "Preview Day" gourmet Realtor®, too.

Cream Cheese Spread

• 1 - 3 or 4 oz (90 or 120 g) package cream cheese
• 4 - 6 Tbs (60 - 90 ml) sesame seeds
• 3 - 4 Tbs (45 - 60 ml) soy sauce

Unwrap the cream cheese and coat all sides with sesame seeds. Place on a small serving plate and pour the soy sauce over. The soy sauce will form a small puddle on the plate, and can be mixed with the cream cheese mixture as diners serve themselves. Serve with crackers, Melba toast, or pita bread. Serves 6 to 8 as an hors d'oeuvre.

Hearty Beef Stew

• Use a 5 quart slow cooker
• 6 potatoes peeled and cut into bite size pieces
• 6-8 carrots peeled and sliced
• 3 medium onions coarsely chopped
• 2 lbs stew beef
• 1 can diced tomatoes (15 oz size)
• 1 can tomato sauce (15 oz size)
• 1 green pepper coarsely chopped
• 1 tbs minced garlic
• salt and pepper to your taste
• 1 cup water

Combine all ingredients in crock and cook on high setting for 1 hour then turn to low and cook all day. Give the stew a good stir when you turn it to low. Try deer meat for the stew beef. It gives the stew a much heartier flavor. Serve corn bread to crumble up in the juices. This fills a 5-quart bowl chockfull.

Hobo Stew

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1/2 lb. bacon (optional)
• 2 cups homemade onion gravy (or 2 pkgs. dry onion gravy mix)
• 3 med. sized potatoes diced
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• dash of pepper
• 1 16 oz can kidney beans (drained)
• 1 cup corn

In a large stew pot, cook the Bacon until crisp. Brown the ground beef in the bacon drippings (if you choose to. It add some calories, but is yummier). When the ground beef is brown, drain off the grease. Add potatoes, onion gravy, enough water to cover potatoes, chili powder, salt and pepper to the pot. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer until potatoes are almost done. Add beans, corn and green pepper. Add more water if needed. Simmer until green pepper is crispy tender. Crumble the bacon over the top and serve. Is really good with crusty bread and butter.

Lazy Lasagna

• 1 16 oz. box lasagna noodles (Try whole wheat or rice)
• 2 15 oz. jars spaghetti sauce
• 1 pound ground beef or turkey
• 1-2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 16 oz. container ricotta cheese
• 1 8 oz. package mozzarella cheese (sliced)
• grated parmesan cheese

Brown ground beef or turkey along with minced garlic. Drain and add spaghetti sauce. Pour about 1/2 cup of sauce in bottom of 9x13 dish. Cover with uncooked noodles laid side by side. Evenly distribute half the ricotta, half the mozzarella, and a third of the sauce over the noodles. Repeat this step. Top with a third layer of noodles and remaining sauce. Sprinkle liberally with Parmesan. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake, covered, for one hour at 350. Remove from oven and leave for 20 minutes covered. Then uncover and serve.

Open House Beans

• 1 small can of Pinto beans
• 1 small can of Kidney beans,
• 1 small can of Pork-n-beans
• 1 small can of lima beans
• 4 Strips of Bacon cooked crisp and broken into bits or a bottle of Bac-O- Bits
• 1 pound of extra lean hamburger browned & drained
• 3 tablespoons of molasses
• 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 bottle of liquid smoke
• 1 medium size can of tomato sauce
• 1 small bottle of ketchup
• 1 large onion coarsely chopped

Put everything into a Electric Slow Cooker Crock Pot for about 12 hours on low. Serves 10 to 12

Oatmeal Scotch Chippers (makes 10 dozen)

• 1 1/4 c. Butter Flavor Crisco
• 1 1/2 c. light brown sugar
• 1 c. sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 c. crunchy peanut butter
• 5 - 5 1/2 c. old fashioned oatmeal
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 pkg. chocolate chips
• 1 pkg. butterscotch chips
• 1 1/2 c. chopped nuts

Combine Crisco and sugars. Blend well. Beat in eggs. Add peanut butter and beat until blended. Combine oats and baking soda. Stir into creamed mixture. Stir in chips and nuts.Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 – 11 minutes. Cool for 1-2 minutes before removing to rack.

GORP

1 part raisins

• 1 part peanuts
• 1 part M & M''s candy
• Add any: nuts, banana chips, carob chips, chocolate chips, chopped dried fruit, sunflower seeds

Combine the first 3 ingredients in equal parts and add your choice of the other ingredients. Mix and package in plastic bags.

Gulyas Soup (Hungarian soup)

• 1 lb ground beef (or stewing beef) salt & pepper
• 2 medium onions chopped
• 1 16 oz can tomatoes, cut up
• 1 clove garlic chopped
• 2 potatoes, diced
• 2 tsp paprika
• 2 carrots, sliced
• dash cayenne pepper
• 2 red/green peppers chopped
• 3 cups beef broth
• 2 Tbs flour
• 2 cups water
• 2 Tbs water
• 1/2 tsp marjoram
• sour cream
• 1/2 tsp caraway seeds (optional)

Brown beef until crumbled and remove from pan. Cook onions and garlic about 4 minutes. Add paprika, cayenne, stock, water, caraway, marjoram, salt, pepper and reserved meat. Stir well. Bring to boil reduce heat and simmer covered for about 45 minutes. Add tomatoes, potatoes, carrots and peppers. Stir well return to boil. Cover and cook for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Combine flour and water to form smooth paste. Add slowly to soup, stirring well until slightly thickened. Serve topped with sour cream.

Pasta Fagioli

• 2 Tbs. olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large -30 oz.- can Italian crushed tomatoes in puree
• 1 Tsp. dried oregano
• 1 Tsp. dried basil
• Pinch hot pepper flakes
• 2 cups low sodium broth, vegetable or chicken
• 2 16 oz. cans cannalini beans, drained
• 8 oz spaghetti, broken in 1 inch pieces, or
• 8 oz ditalini or elbow macaroni
• The dark leafy greens from a bunch of celery chopped, and a couple of the inner small ribs of celery chopped -about 1 cup packed total-

In large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, cook 2-3 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and hot pepper flakes, cook 1 minute more. Add the broth and tomatoes, heat through. Meanwhile in large pot of boiling water, place the celery and pasta, cook until the pasta is still al dente. Drain and add

Oriental Chicken Wings

• 1 lb (500 g) chicken wings, cut into individual joints
• 1 cup (250 ml) chicken broth
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) soy sauce
• 1 Tbs (15 ml) sesame oil
• 1 Tbs (15 ml) finely chopped fresh ginger
• 1 tsp (5 ml) molasses or brown sugar
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1 whole star anise*, optional

  * Available in the spice section of finer supermarkets and Oriental specialty shops.

Place the chicken wings in a large skillet or pot in a single later. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes uncovered, until the liquid is reduced to a syrup-like consistency. May be served immediately, or refrigerated and served at room temperature. The flavor improves after a day in the refrigerator. Serves 4 to 6 as a dinner buffet.

Debbie also said to give you this bit of general advice: "When it’s hot outside, serve lots of drinks, even if it’s only bottled water. This is also a good time to serve root beer floats, ice cream bars or Popsicles. Salad bars are also good for hot summer days. Everybody designs his or her own creation.

"When it’s cold outside, serve warm drinks, like coffee, spiced tea, or hot chocolate. You can also serve chili’s, stews, and soups so that while people are letting the item cool... you can pitch your property to them and be assured of a captive audience."

Ahah! I suspected there was an ulterior motive!

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