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Ingredients 1 large loaf French or Italian bread 1 whole head of garlic 1 tablespoon olive oil ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, softened 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan ¼ teaspoon salt, if needed ¼ teaspoon black pepper Optional: ½ cup shredded mozzarella for cheesy garlic bread How to Make It Roast the garlic. Heat your oven to 400°F. Slice about ¼ inch off the top of the garlic head to expose the cloves. Drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil and roast for 35 to 45 minutes, until the cloves are very soft and golden. Make the garlic butter. Let the garlic cool slightly, then squeeze the roasted cloves into a bowl. Mash them into a paste and...

Mortgage rates have moved higher again, with the average 30 year fixed mortgage recently moving above 7%. So what happened, and where could rates go over the next year? The answer involves the Federal Reserve, inflation, the economy and, most importantly, the 10 year U.S. Treasury yield. The Fed Does Not Directly Control Mortgage Rates One of the biggest misconceptions is that mortgage rates move directly with the Federal Reserve. They don’t. Mortgage rates tend to follow the 10 year Treasury yield much more closely. When Treasury yields rise, mortgage rates typically rise. When Treasury yields fall, mortgage rates generally have room to move lower. Recently, the 10 year Treasury moved above 5%, putting additional pressure on mortgage rates. What Do We Expect Over the...

When someone asks, “How is the real estate market doing?” the answer depends on where you look. National and Austin area statistics provide a broad overview, but they may not accurately reflect what is happening in your neighborhood or even on your street.   One of the best ways to measure current market conditions is the absorption rate.   The absorption rate measures how quickly available homes are selling. It is calculated by dividing the number of homes sold during a specific period by the number of homes currently available for sale.   For example, if 10 homes sold and 50 homes are currently for sale, the absorption rate is 20%. At the current pace, that represents approximately five months of available inventory.   What...

Perfect for football season and feeds about 8–10 people. Ingredients 2 cups cooked shredded chicken—rotisserie works great 8 ounces cream cheese, softened ½ cup ranch dressing ½ cup buffalo wing sauce, such as Frank’s RedHot 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese Optional: sliced green onions or blue-cheese crumbles Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix the cream cheese, ranch and buffalo sauce until smooth. Stir in the chicken, ½ cup cheddar and mozzarella. Spread into an 8-by-8-inch baking dish. Top with the remaining cheddar. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until hot and bubbling. Garnish with green onions or blue-cheese crumbles.   Serve warm with tortilla chips, celery, carrots, crackers or toasted bread. Tip: For a bigger football crowd, double the recipe and bake...

The need for skilled tradespeople in this country is real, and the numbers are pretty eye-opening. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, our economy is projected to have around 81,000 electrician openings, 44,000 plumbing and pipefitting openings, 45,600 welding openings, and 40,100 HVAC openings every year over the next decade. That’s more than 210,000 opportunities annually in just four trades. The American Welding Society also estimates that the U.S. will need approximately 320,500 new welding professionals by 2029. This topic is personal to me because my son is currently attending trade school in Waco, and I couldn’t be prouder of him. He is learning a valuable skill, building a career path, and working toward his goal of eventually owning and growing his own...

Ingredients 1½ pounds rockfish fillets (if you can’t find Rock Fish, Cod is a good substitute) 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika 1 teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon cumin ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper Juice of 1 lime 1 tablespoon olive oil 8 small corn or flour tortillas For the slaw: 3 cups shredded cabbage ¼ cup chopped cilantro Juice of 1 lime 2 tablespoons mayonnaise Pinch of salt Optional toppings: Sliced avocado Pico de gallo Cotija cheese Jalapeños Lime wedges Directions Pat the fish dry and cut it into taco-sized pieces. Mix the smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Coat the fish with olive oil, lime juice and seasoning. Heat a lightly oiled skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the fish for about...