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Our Orchids are blooming like crazy; we are enjoying an explosion of pink, orange, white, purple, and yellow blooms, and they are just beautiful. We feel lucky to live so close to BOK TOWER. The secret reason our orchids are so prolific is last year we enrolled in an Orchid Class at BOK TOWER. You know how it goes, you solve one problem and another problem crops up. Our current Problem, we need to expand the lanai to accommodate the abundance of tender, but strong, beautiful orchids that are blooming. We are Feeling Lucky that we have been so successful in our quest for color. I feel an affinity to orchids, as they are tender yet strong, two qualities that are attractive in life, flowers, and people. So, we pot, we plant, and we enjoy every bloom. BOK Tower has so much going on, between the classes, the gardens, the Farm to Table Dinners, the garden concerts, and the Terrace Events, BOK will keep you busy. I am glad it is a quick 25 minutes to the gardens, and even on a hot day, you can usually find a cool spot under the trees. Unfortunately, we did not have time to visit Pinewood Estate this year to see the Holiday decorations, but there is still time for you to visit. Go to Bok’s Website and see what tickets, events, activities are available, enroll or buy a ticket, I know you will enjoy whatever you choose to do in the garden. Bok’s website is: www.boktowergardens.org If you have time, BOK is also a great place to volunteer and learn about gardening from the masters.

The Team of Realtors at Bella Verde have been working hard writing listings and selling homes. Our Real Estate Brokerage is consistently “THE LEADER OF THE PACK” in Solivita. Stop by our office, go to our website, check out our featured listings, and look through every home for sale in SOLIVITA AND OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, they are all on our website. One easy click is all it takes. If you are interested in a new home, we will be happy to show you new homes too. Remember, when buying a new home, if you do not have your own realtor represent you, you are working directly with the builder and your best interests may not be represented. It DOES NOT COST YOU ANY COMMISSION to bring in your own realtor. I am sure you are a sharp negotiator, but a skilled realtor knows the builder, the builder’s issues, and how to negotiate a contract to the BUYER’S BEST ADVANTAGE. Reach out to anyone on our team with questions about your real estate needs, we are always happy to help.

BAR HARBOR SEAFOOD at 2000 Premier Row, Orlando 407-447-6455 has a fresh assortment of seafood in their market. My brother in law Gregg was introduced to this fish market, in the middle of an industrial park, by one of his buddies. Since we have been making a regular run to this NOT Fancy, but spotlessly clean, fresh seafood market. For Christmas Eve, Gregg will be filling his cooler with ice and getting ready to make a run to the fish market to pick up the fresh catch of the moment for our Traditional Christmas Eve Dinner. With seafood in mind, I am passing along this simple but delicious recipe for fish. This recipe works with all white fish but is especially good with COD.

TOP DRESSED BAKED COD

4 6 Oz Cod Fillets

1/3 Cup Panko Breadcrumbs

1 TBSP Parsley Fresh Chopped

2 TBSP Mayonnaise

1 TBSP Dijon Mustard

¼ TSP Cayenne Pepper

Extra Virgin Olive Oil to drizzle on pan

1 Lemon

Position a rack 6 inches from the heat and preheat the broiler. Combine the panko and 1 TBSP Parsley on a plate. Mix the Mayo, Mustard, and Cayenne and a squeeze of lemon in a small bowl. Season the cod on both sides with salt; brush the top with the mayo mixture, then invert into the panko mixture, pressing to help it adhere.

Drizzle a baking sheet with olive oil and top with the cod, panko-side up. Broil until the fish is just cooked through and the panko is crisp and golden, about 6 minutes.

I always serve this COD over Greens. My green recipe follows:

1 head escarole, chopped

1 bunch kale, stems removed, leaves chopped

Lemon

1 red onion, halved and sliced

1 TBSP Parsley

Meanwhile, heat a large pot over medium high heat. Add 3 TBSP, olive oil, then add the red onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the escarole, kale, ½ TSP salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the greens are wilted, about 3 minutes. Stir in some lemon juice to taste and the remaining 1 TBSP Parsley. If you make these greens for Christmas, it is nice to add some Grape or Cherry Tomatoes and cook them with the onions.

Serve the cod over the greens and add lemon wedges.

Whatever you do, we hope you do it with a full heart, love and joy. We wish you all a Bright Holiday Season filled with love, laughter and good health. Lee and I are taking a trip to see the lights in St. Augustine this year. It should be beautiful and fun. We will only be away overnight, but it will be a nice break and a great kick off for the 2019 Holidays.

Last week we enjoyed the Sunset & Symphony Holiday Music Concert at BOK Tower Gardens. This concert is a beautiful evening filled with amazing music, joy and a great start to the Christmas Holiday. We Packed a picnic, a blanket, some chairs and a bottle of wine. Grabbed our friends and family and got down in front of the stage on the great lawn at BOK Tower. This concert never disappoints! The music starts at 4 pm and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra began to play at 6 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity to listen and enjoy classical and holiday music performed by the World Famous Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.

Our other Holiday Plans are all easy. A traditional fish dinner on Christmas Eve, followed by a casual Christmas Day enjoying leftovers, plus a few new items, shared quietly with our family. There are so many things going on in December in Central Florida, it is hard to choose just one or two, but we are going to keep this year easy. Thanks to you, we have been very busy at Bella Verde Realty and a quiet holiday seems like the perfect opportunity to recharge our batteries and make our business plan for 2020.

Bella Verde is the proud Sponsor of the ONE PLUS ONE GIVING PROGRAM for the Guardian ad Litem & Foster Children of Osceola County.

We are proud and thankful for each of our clients, friends, family and neighbors that added to the bounty collected for the Children in the GAL Program. This was our third successful year of gift gathering for the GAL Organization and we had a ton of fun receiving, shopping, gathering and shopping again before delivering the gifts to the GAL Offices in Downtown Kissimmee. We hope you watched our Giving Tree grow AND spill over into our great room, on our Facebook Page and our Twitter feed. This year we delivered 3 carloads and two vans filled with toys and gifts for the GAL Program. Upon delivery, we were greeted by social workers, friends, and volunteers who graciously received all of the generous donations. Our delivery day is always the best day of the year for Bella Verde Realty and for our team of helpers.

Bella Verde Realty matched every gift and every gift card donated and this year, thanks to you, we matched lots. We shopped, counted, shopped, and counted again.

Thank you for your generosity and your business. We are truly grateful for each of you!

An inspirational quote: We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill