the houk group Archives - The Houk Group

Cooking Picadillos Houk Style

Welcome to the best online recipe for cooking Picadillos Houk style. Call (225)-234-0022 for more information!

One of Tim’s military friends taught him the perfect Picadillos, see below for the recipe! Check out this video to be taken back to Cinco De Mayo! We want to see your creations, so post a picture on your Facebook or Instagram and tag us on it!

Ingredients:

2 medium sized potatoes
2 jalapenos
1 onion
1 lb ground beef
Salt and pepper
2 cloves garlic
Home made taco seasoning OR
1 small can of green chilies

Instructions:

Cube the potatoes & dice the onions and jalapenos.
Saute the potatoes in olive oil for 10 minutes on medium heat. Make sure to toss and not let them get too brown.
Add the onions, garlic, and jalapenos & saute until soft. Add water if necessary to keep veggies moist.
Add the ground beef and cook until well and browned, drain meat and return to pot.
Add ¼ cup taco seasoning (or can of green chilies), ¾ cup water, and bring to boil. Reduce heat and cook for 5-7 minutes.

If you have any questions on buying, selling, or investing in real estate, call (225)-234-0022 or click here!

The Houk Group’s Favorite Local Restaurants

The Houk Group's Favorite Local Restaurants Welcome to the best resource on The Houk Group’s Favorite Local Restaurants. Call or text (225)-234-0022 for more information!

During these times, we want to do our part to support local businesses, so we chatted with Realtor Chris Galloway to see what his favorite local restaurants are! Dive into Chris’ world and see what his top 5 local restaurants are!

1. Gino’s Restaurant:

A staple of the Baton Rouge Restaurant Community, Gino’s specializes in traditional Italian food, seafood, and steaks. Growing up, Chris and his family would always eat at Gino’s for his birthday, and it was also where he went on his first date with his girlfriend! Chris loves to start with the Arancine, then order the Seafood Cannelloni as his entree!

2. Mestizos:

Featuring modern, Mexican cuisine in a festive atmosphere, Mestizos is the perfect spot for lunch or dinner! Chris loves that Mestizos offers a Keto friendly menu, although sometimes he will order from the regular menu! He loves the Crabmeat Queso and the “Cancun”, which includes a shrimp & crab enchilada, crawfish & spinach enchilada, and a crawfish taco.

3. Albasha:

Serving delicious Greek & Lebanese food since 1992, Chris’ favorite meal to order from Albasha is the Spinach Salad with Chicken Shawarma! When he really wants to indulge, Chris will get the Combination Platter with Gyro and Chicken Shawarma!

4. Rouj Creole:

Located in Baton Rouge, Rouj Creole likes to make their menu as innovative as possible, including tastes of Italy, Spain, Germany, France, the Caribbean, and New Orleans!

5. Reginelli’s:

Chris’ final local eatery is the amazing pizza place that takes great pride in providing memorable meals in a comfortable atmosphere since 1996!

Click here for a list of more, amazing local restaurants, or here for additional ways to help local restaurants during these times.

Here are list of homes in Baton Rouge if you are looking to move closer to these restaurants. If you have any questions on buying, selling, or investing in real estate, do not hesitate to reach out, we would love to help!

Moving During Covid-19: Helpful Tips

Welcome to the best online resource for helpful tips on moving during Covid-19! Call or text (225)-234-0022 for more information. Moving into a new house in the middle of a pandemic can be very nerve-wracking, so we wanted to give a few helpful tips to keep in mind while making the move!

How Covid-19 Might Affect Your Move

Know what the CDC considers “social distancing” – click here to see those guidelines!
Plan around CDC travel restrictions that might affect your move – click here to see how your move could be affected.
If traveling long distance, plan your drive out and determine which restaurants or gas stations that are open and you will want to stop at.
If you are hiring movers, choose them carefully! Ask lots of questions and check their Covid-19 protocols before deciding who you want to use.

How To Prepare For Your Move

Avoid getting free boxes from businesses that provide them.
Buy all your moving and cleaning supplies at once – and get more than you think you will need!
Clean each room thoroughly as you pack it up so you do not have to clean everything all at once.
If you hired movers, make sure you finished packing and cleaning at least 24 hours before they arrive.
Provide cleaning supplies and protective gear for your movers.
Most importantly, if you have been feeling sick with Covid-19 symptoms – let everyone who will be near you know!

Supplies You Will Need

Cleaning supplies including hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and/or spray, etc. Make sure to wipe down all frequently touched objects like door knobs, light switches, handles, counters, faucets, etc.
Protective gear including masks and gloves (disposable and/or rubber gloves). Make sure you are washing your hands and avoid touching your face.
Moving supplies including, boxes (again – do not use free boxes), packing tape, bubble wrap, dollies, sharpies, etc.

Donating Items You Don’t Want

Many organizations are still taking donations either as pickups or drop-offs, but some are handling it differently. Make sure to check the website for where you would like to donate your items to and see what their guidelines are with taking donations.
Check any shelters in your area and see if they are accepting donations.
Sell or donate your items on Facebook marketplace.
If you are donating your items, make sure they are cleaned very thoroughly no matter who you donate them to!

Moving With Kids During Covid-19

Establish systems and routines before and after the move, this will help not only your kids with processing the move, but it will help you as well. Also, make sure your children understand and are comfortable with the move.

Finally, enjoy your new house!

Once you are finally moved in, enjoy it! Throw a virtual housewarming party, because even though it is not quite the same, you deserve to celebrate and show off your new home to your family and friends.

Click here for additional tips on buying a home, or here for selling your home!

If you have a question that is not addressed in this article, ask us here! If you would like to virtually tour any of our homes, click here!

Our top summer Gulf Coast getaways!

5.) Ship Island, MS
Ship island is just a ferry ride away from Gulf Port Mississippi! This makes for the perfect day trip to breathe in a little salty air. The ferry ride is just under an hour, and if your lucky, you will be able to see dolphins swimming on the ride over. The island rents beach chairs and has a snack bar, but you are welcome to bring an ice chest full of snacks if you want!

4.) Orange Beach, AL
Orange Beach is a beloved family vacation spot! There is something for everyone here from fine dining to enjoying the day on the beach. The Wharf offers restaurants and shopping. If you are looking for something different than a typical beach day, try spending the day at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. This zoo is unlike most and offers up close encounters for most of their animals. You can play with the baby tigers or slow things down with the sloths. Don’t miss this great opportunity while you are there!

3.) Fairhope, AL
This Gulf coast vacation spot features beautiful antebellum homes, large oak trees, and a walkable downtown area that is packed with character. Fairhope sits on Mobile Bay and has a calm laid back vibe that is sure to lower your stress levels. If you decide to visit, we reccommend stay at The Grand Hotel!

2.) Cape San Blas, FL
Voted on of the best locations to snorkel outside of the Caribbean, Cape San Blas offer a unique experience! Be ready to walk away with a treasure trove of large shells from just one day on the beach! If the beach is not your style, St. Joseph bay offers calm waters to kayak or paddle board instead!

1.) Seaside, FL
The moment that you step into the town of Seaside, you will feel like you just stepped into paradise. The beaches in seaside are about as beautiful as they come. Crystal blue water and soft white sands are all you find find along this 30A beach! The town features lots of great dining spots and eclectic shops to find the perfect gift or souvenir! Come for beach or come for the food – either way you won’t be disappointed!

How To Sell Your Home With Pets

Selling your home with pets can be challenging. While our furry family members are really important to us, additional steps are often necessary to get your home ready to list on the market. We’ve compiled the best tips to make preparing your home a bit easier!

Start by cleaning up the exterior

Ensure that you are picking up after your pet if they use your backyard as their bathroom. Fill any holes and replace any damaged landscaping. Having your home in tip-top shape on the exterior will ensure that you make the best first impression on potential buyers.

Make interior repairs
Start by assessing the flooring. Not all pets damage the carpet and wood flooring, but it’s definitely the best place to start. Other items to check for damage are cabinets, baseboards, window screens and furniture. Repairing these items ahead of time will ensure that you are presenting a home that is move in ready!

Put away your pet’s belongings
De-cluttering is the best way to get your home market ready and this includes pet items! Put away toys in a basket or pile that is out of the way. Other items to tuck away are litter boxes, pet beds, and cat trees.

Give your home a deep cleaning
A deep clean is going to be the finishing touch that helps to seal the deal with potential buyers. On top of your regular cleaning tasks, clean underneath all furniture, baseboards, have carpets shampooed, and wipe down cabinets.