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House of the Week – 6/3/22

Beautiful Craftsman with an open floor plan and upgraded kitchen! Offering 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and a finished walk-out basement with an in-law suite. Main level complete with high ceilings and hardwood floors throughout. Gourmet kitchen boasts quartz counters, stainless steel appliances including a double wall oven , a center island and a pantry. Additional main level highlights include the gas fireplace in the living room and a drop zone/pocket office- perfect for working from home! Upper floor hosts your inviting primary suite with a tray ceiling, a spacious walk-in closet and attached bath. Three additional bedrooms, two full baths and the convenient upper level laundry area round out the top floor. Fully finished lower level hosts the in-law suite which includes a kitchenette, living room, bedroom and full bath with a walk-in shower and laundry hookup. Exterior highlights include the large front porch, a pergola with a movie screen and a fire pit making an ideal setup for outdoor entertaining and movies under the stars! Enjoy beautiful mountain and farmland views in a welcoming neighborhood which offers a community center and swimming pool. Convenient to Downtown Frederick and offering easy access to 15, 270 and 70. This fantastic home just awaits its new owner…will it be you?
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MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What’s The Difference Between Black Pepper & White Pepper?

Black pepper can be found on just about every table in both homes & restaurants…but did you know that that pepper shaker is hiding a secret? What we call “pepper” isn’t actually from a pepper, nor is it actually black (at least, not in its natural state). And that’s just black pepper. Could the same be true for white pepper, too? What are black pepper & white pepper really? And how are they different from one another?

Black & white pepper look different…they taste different…they’re used for different reasons…but they do have some things in common. They both start out as berries from the same plant, the Piper nigrum, a plant that originally hails from India. To get black peppercorns, farmers harvest small berries from the Piper nigrum when they’re green & not yet ripe, then they cook & dry them until the berries’ outer layers shrivel up & darken. White peppercorns, on the other hand, are totally ripe berries from the same plant as “black” peppercorns, but they get soaked in water & fermented so that the inner seeds separate from their skins before the seed portion gets dried, which ultimately produces “white” peppercorns.

Those two different processing techniques draw out very different flavors from the berries: black pepper is bold, floral, and spicy; white pepper is mellower & has a more earthy flavor. Their uses are different, too: black pepper is a staple in most of our American foods, while white pepper is favored more in Asian foods. White pepper does get used in European recipes, though. However, it’s usually used mostly for its visual characteristics. (One example would be French chefs using white pepper in creamy sauces, mashed potatoes, and other whitish dishes so that black specks won’t be visible in their fancy food.)

White pepper & black pepper are very similar, while also being very different spices. But you can successfully use one in place of the other in most recipes with tasty results. That’s exactly what I like to do, and I encourage you to do so, as well. Because, hey…as they say: “Variety is the spice of life!”

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via Twitter (@AndyWebbRadio), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Berryville Graphics

House of the Week – 5/27/22

Prepare to be wowed! Exquisite custom built Colonial offers high end finishes and breathtaking views. Built in 2019, this stunning property is situated on 1.9 cleared acres and is just a short drive to downtown Frederick. The spacious interior boasts a 2 story entry with high ceilings throughout the main level, including a tray ceiling in the dining room and a stately coffered ceiling in the family room. The main level is highlighted by luxury vinyl plank flooring along with custom light fixtures, upgraded trim detail and a home office with French doors and built-in shelving. The impressive gourmet kitchen features an oversized center island, a double door pantry, gorgeous granite counters and stainless steel appliances including a double wall oven. Truly an entertainer’s paradise with an open concept layout, a 20×20 covered rear patio with a ceiling fan and a sprawling finished lower level with a large rec room and a wired theater room with tiered seating. The upper level hosts the primary suite which includes French doors, a walk-in closet and attached bath with a soaking tub and walk-in tiled shower. Rounding out the top floor are 3 additional generously sized bedrooms, a full hall bath and a convenient upper level laundry room. Convenient to Route 15, just a short drive to the PA line and an hour drive to either Washington, DC or Baltimore. Don’t hesitate, this home checks all the boxes and won’t be around long! 
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MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What Is Monkeypox?

Europe is dealing with a monkeypox outbreak right now, and a handful of cases have popped up here in the US. The spread of monkeypox is all over the news right now, but just what is monkeypox? Here’s what you need to know.

1.  What is monkeypox?  It’s related to smallpox, which was eradicated worldwide in 1980.  But in general, monkeypox is less serious.  It’s called that because it was first seen in lab monkeys in Denmark in 1958.  (It’s not related to chickenpox though, which is actually a herpes virus, not a “pox” virus.)

2.  Is monkeypox contagious?  We wouldn’t be talking about it if it wasn’t, but it’s much LESS contagious than covid.  The average person who gets Omicron will spread it to around eight other people.  But with monkeypox, it’s less than one.

3.  How is monkeypox transmitted?  It’s mainly spread through close contact with people and animals that are infected.  It can enter through a cut, or you can get it from coughs and sneezes.  But they think it’s mainly being spread through sex right now.

4.  What does monkeypox look like?  Kind of like chickenpox.  But before that happens, early symptoms include a fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion.

5.  Is monkeypox deadly?  It’s usually mild but CAN be deadly.  The fatality rate they’ve seen is between 3 and 6%, but that’s mainly in Africa where healthcare isn’t great.  And as usual, it’s more serious for people with compromised immune systems.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via Twitter (@AndyWebbRadio), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Berryville Graphics

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