Good Day Atlanta viewer information story December 13, 2016

ATLANTA - Hidden Treasures with antiques expert Paul Brown. For more information on Paul Brown tweet him @auctionkingatl .

 

"Modern Pressure Cooking"  with Bren Herrera.  For more information click here.

For today's recipe click here.

Fig and Syrah Lamb Shanks

I have a childhood friend whose mother has a healthy fig tree but doesn’t like them at all. However, it works really well for me. When in season, he drops off baskets filled with black Mission figs. I eat them as snacks, chop them up for salads, slice them and pour Madeira balsamic vinegar over them and enjoy with cheese. The list goes on. For bigger dishes, they work well to add sweetness and texture. I love how they work with these lovely shanks. This is an exquisite option for family dinners or impressing your guests during the holidays.

Serves 6 to 8

 

4 lbs (1.8 kg) bone-in lamb shanks

7 cloves garlic, mashed

1 tbsp (18 g) kosher salt

2 tsp (1 g) ground dried sage

1⁄4 cup (60 ml) plus 1 tbsp (15 ml) extra-virgin olive oil

1 ½ cups (355 ml) Syrah wine

1 ½ cups (355 ml) Herbed Beef Stock (page 167), or store-bought

12 sprigs thyme

3 bay leaves

4 shallots, thinly sliced

3 carrots, cut into 1" (2.5 cm) slices

1 handful dried black Mission figs, left whole

1 tsp (2 g) freshly ground black pepper

Salt to taste

Fresh sage leaves, for garnish

 

Rinse and pat dry the shanks. Place them on a parchment paper–lined baking sheet. In a medium wooden or marble mortar, add the garlic, 1 ½ teaspoons (9 g) of the salt, the sage and the tablespoon (15 ml) of olive oil. Mash, using the pestle, until you have a semithick paste. Rub the seasoning mixture all over the shanks, covering them fully. If you have time, cover them with aluminum foil and chill for 1 hour.

 

Heat the stovetop pressure cooker over high or use the browning setting for the electric pressure cooker. Add the remaining ¼ cup (60 ml) of olive oil. Using large tongs, place the lamb shanks in the cooker and brown, turning once, about 4 to 5 minutes total.

 

Pour in the wine and beef stock and add the thyme, bay leaves, shallots and carrots. Reduce the heat to low for the stovetop pressure cooker or cancel the browning function on the electric pressure cooker and reset to the simmer setting, and cook for 5 minutes. Add the figs and pepper and season with salt to taste. If you can, stir very gently, using a small-headed wooden spoon. Cancel cooking for the electric cooker,

and close the lid.

 

Stovetop: Set to high pressure (15 PSI) and set the timer for 30 minutes. Cook over high heat until the pressure point is reached, about 15 minutes, then turn down the heat to medium and continue to cook for the remaining 15 minutes.

 

Electric: Set to high pressure (10–12 PSI) and 35 minutes.

 

When done, remove from the heat or turn off the cooker and allow the pressure to release on its own (natural-release), about 10 minutes. If the pressure is not fully released after 10 minutes, apply auto-release. If you’d like to reduce the sauce, remove the shanks and cook over medium heat for 6 to 10 minutes for the stovetop cooker or use the simmer or sauté function for the electric cooker, or until desired consistency is reached.

 

Using tongs, remove the shanks and arrange on your serving platter or on individual plates. Ladle the sauce all over. Garnish with fresh sage.

 

How To Pick A Great Landlord:

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GREAT LANDLORD

How To Pick A Great Landlord with real estate expert John Adams.  For more information on John Adams click here.

Notes By John Adams

 

You’ve found the perfect apartment or rental house - it’s in the right school district and you can just afford the rent - and it’s got everything you need, all for a fair rent!

 

But there is one serious problem: you met with the landlord and he is an obnoxious jerk. It’s his way or the highway. So the questions becomes this: should you skip this place and keep looking, or swallow your pride and hope for the best?

 

Here with the answers is, as always, our own Fox5 Real Estate Expert: JOHN ADAMS.

 

John, we’ve all heard stories from who claim they have the LANDLORD FROM HELL. Is there a secret to finding a great landlord?

 

A:  Yes, there is. In fact, there are five secrets, and the more you know about them, the more likely you are to be happy in your new home:

 

Let’s do a countdown from 5 to 1:

 

5.  REPUTATION

 

Find out what other properties are operated by this landlord, and talk with current residents about their experience. If it’s an apartment complex, that’s easy: just talk to other occupants. If it’s a single family home, ask the landlord what other properties they handle.

 

4.  TENANT RETENTION

 

Try to find out how long the average tenant has stayed in the past. Frequent turnover reveals a landlord with poor customer services and a bad attitude when it comes to maintenance and repairs.

 

3.  PROFESSIONALISM

 

Is the landlord a licensed real estate professional?  Georgia landlord-tenant laws impose higher standards on licensees than on the public in general. Also, is the landlord a member of a trade organization such as the REALTORS or the REALTISTS? If so, they will likely be more customer oriented.

 

2.  FLEXIBILITY

 

Know that your landlord will expect you to pay your rent on time. But if a property manager has authority to display some level of flexibility, it can be extremely helpful to you in an emergency situation. If you get the impression that there is absolutely no room for adaptability to circumstances, you might want to move on.

 

1.  CONSUMER FOCUS

 

Some landlords, especially professional management companies, have adopted a customer oriented approach that aims to please the tenant in every situation possible. They take pride in their customer service, and demonstrate it in their actions. They are obviously organized and efficient in their operation, and genuinely want their residents to be happy in their new homes. If you find a landlord like this, just SIGN THE LEASE!

 

The BOTTOM LINE:  

 

While a “mom and pop” landlord situation may sound appealing, it more often than not leads to frustration and poor service when you need it most.  Look for professional management that wants you to stay forever, and treats you with respect. You’ll be happier in the long run.

 

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If you have any questions about leases or anything related to real estate, John Adams will be hosting a live chat on the Fox5 FACEBOOK page for the next hour. That chat will start in just a couple of minutes.