Fantastic Creme Brulee

4 – cups chilled heavy cream

2/3 – cup granulated sugar

Pinch of salt

1 - vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise and seeds scraped out

12 – large egg yolks

8-12 - teaspoons turbinado sugar

1. Adjust oven rack to the lower-middle position and heat the oven to 300 degrees.
2. Combine 2 cups of the cream, the sugar, and salt in a medium sauce pan. Add the vanilla seeds to the pan, submerge the pod in the cream, and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to ensure the sugar dissolves. Remove the pan from the heat and let steep 15 minutes to infuse the flavors.
3. Meanwhile, place a kitchen towel in the bottom of a large baking dish or roasting pan and arrange eight 4 or 5 ounce ramekins (or shallow fluted dishes) on the towel. Bring a kettle or large sauce pan of water to a boil over high heat.
4. After cream has steeped, stir in remaining 2 cups cream to cool down mixture. Whisk yolks in large bowl until broken up and combined. Whisk about 1 cup cream mixture into yolks until loosened and combined; repeat with another 1 cup cream. Add remaining cream and whisk until evenly colored and thoroughly combined. Strain through fine-mesh strainer into 2-quart measuring cup or pitcher (or clean medium bowl); discard solids in strainer. Pour or ladle mixture into ramekins, dividing it evenly among them.
5. Carefully place baking dish with ramekins on oven rack; pour boiling water into dish, taking care not to splash water into ramekins, until water reaches two-thirds height of ramekins. Bake until centers of custards are just barely set and are no longer sloshy and digital instant-read thermometer inserted in centers registers 170 to 175 degrees, 30 to 35 minutes (25 to 30 minutes for shallow fluted dishes). Begin checking temperature about 5 minutes before recommended time.
6. Transfer ramekins to wire rack; cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Set ramekins on rimmed baking sheet, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours or up to 4 days.
7. Uncover ramekins; if condensation has collected on custards, place paper towel on surface to soak up moisture. Sprinkle each with about 1 teaspoon turbinado sugar (1 1/2 teaspoons for shallow fluted dishes); tilt and tap ramekin for even coverage. Ignite torch and caramelize sugar. Refrigerate ramekins, uncovered, to re-chill, 30 to 45 minutes (but no longer); serve. Recipe compliments of Cooks Illustrated

Please let me know how it goes. I love to hear from you!!!!

Tobi Roberts

Each step is numbered based upon the priority. In other words, step one should be on track before moving on to step two, and so on. The problem is that many homeowners jump ahead before the prior step are mastered. This typically leads to living paycheck to paycheck, getting stuck in the consumer debt rut, or reaching retirement to find that you are equity rich and cash poor. By following the steps below, you can help ensure you reach retirement having achieved the long-term goals you desire.

Step 1 – Develop a Cash Reserve

The most important step is to have a reserve fund to cover short-term unplanned expenses. Without having cash reserve, shortages typically result in having consumer debt. Once consumer debt is established, it can lead to destructive long-term habits that are difficult to break. If you have a cash reserve, you should never have a need for unsecured debt.

Step 2 – Pay off ALL Consumer Debts

This is the step where you become consumer debt free, with the exception of your mortgage. Revolving and unsecured debts should be paid off first, with car loans and other secured loans being paid off second. Remember that cars are depreciating assets, and you will always have car expenses. If you are able to pay off your car, you can begin to save money to pay cash for your next car.

Step 3 – Create Significant Liquidity

One of the greatest gifts we have is the gift of compounding interest. This is the quadrant that grows and compounds. Even if you are not secure in steps 1 & 2, if possible, you need to develop the habit of putting cash into long-term investment accounts. Once you are secure in steps 1 & 2, make this quadrant your primary focus and watch your net worth rise over time.

Step 4 – Focus on Home Equity – Paying off your Mortgage

Once you have developed a cash reserve, have paid off all consumer debts, and are on track to meet or exceed your retirement goals, then you can put a focus on paying off your home loan.

Personal finance is most often a reflection of habits. If you develop good financial habits, and exercise them over-time, long-term you will likely do well. Not only can you use the four step plan to help you allocate cash flow in the budget, but you should also use the plan to help you to allocate cash and home equity net worth.

If you have specific questions regarding your personal situation, please call or send me an e-mail. Also, if you have a friend or family member in need of advice, I would be honored to help them as well. Having professional advisors to help you manage your investments, mortgage, taxes, and estate is the best way to protect your long-term results.

I look forward to your feedback. Feel free to email me at mike@citycreekmortgage.com

I know people are suffering. All too often I am having gut wrenching conversations with families who are hurting financially, relationally, and emotionally as a result of financial downfalls. Many of the people I have talked to ultimately find peace and acceptance and growth through the process of deleveraging and developing habits of living within their means. I have learned a great deal from those who have used their painful experiences to creat a better future. The lessons they have taught me are both powerful and insightful, and are certainly worth sharing. Below is a summary of the top ten lessons from my notes written during countless interviews:

1. Recessions cause you to be more creative and frugal.
2. Tough times force you to make difficult decisions and give up material luxuries.
3. You learn that the most important things in life are relational not material.
4. You realize that living beyond your means is not sustainable.
5. It reminds you that real wealth isn’t about the stuff you own.
6. You learn that cash flow management and cash reserves are the most important components in your personal finances.
7. If you are still employed, you appreciate your employer even more.
8. It is wise to spend less than you make and save at least 10% of your income.
9. Tough times can further develop a spirit of gratitude and appreciation for what you have vs. continually focusing on what you want.
10. At the end of the day, regardless of whether there is a paycheck each month, or money in the bank, family is what matters. Don’t sacrifice what you want most for what you want at the moment.

While you may not be able to control what happens with the economy, you can control your own mental focus. Usually, this determines whether you feel anxiety and fear or peace and hope. The many who have grown through tough circumstances have found that by releasing the pressures of living an unsustainable life, they discover the possibility of a new future. Difficult decisions must be faced. Rather than avoid making the tough choices, I encourage you to face them head on, without delay.

It is my hope that each of you who are hurting will find peace and comfort in your circumstance. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know. I appreciate your friendship and the trust you place in me as your mortgage planner.