Most people who know C.J. through real estate probably do not know that she is also a wonderful baker. 

She genuinely enjoys tempting my addiction to baked goods. 

We have a rule at home.

We can splurge a little.

Then the rest has to be shared.

That is probably why so much of C.J.’s baking eventually finds its way to friends, family, clients, and open houses.

She enjoys the process.

She takes pride in making something well.

But I think the part she enjoys most is watching other people enjoy it.

At our recent open house, she made one of her favorite recipes.

Snickerdoodles.

Warm from the oven, they gave us something simple to offer people as they walked through the door.

And that reminds us of something we have always known. 

Real estate is still a people business.

People share more when they feel comfortable.

They ask better questions.

They tell you what they really think about a home, what concerns them, what they are hoping to find, and what may be holding them back.

Sometimes a little hospitality helps create that moment.

For a seller, those conversations can provide valuable insight into how buyers are responding to the property.

For a buyer, they can become the beginning of a relationship with someone who takes the time to listen before offering advice.

So perhaps C.J.’s baking secret really is not in the recipe.

It is in the sharing.

And since she believes the good stuff should be shared, here is the recipe.

C.J.’s Snickerdoodles

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups plus 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, shortening, 1 1/2 cups sugar, eggs, and vanilla with an electric mixer.

In another bowl, whisk together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Slowly combine the dry ingredients with the wet.

Shape the dough by rounded spoonfuls into balls.

Mix the remaining 2 Tbsp. sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl, then roll the dough balls in the mixture.

Place on cookie sheets.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until set but not too hard.

Remove immediately from the baking sheets.

The recipe is simple.

The reason C.J. keeps making it is even simpler.

She enjoys creating something good.

She enjoys sharing it.

And she enjoys seeing other people enjoy it too.

That is probably why the cookies fit so naturally into the way we like to do business.

A little preparation.

A little hospitality.

A good conversation.

And something worth sharing.

Preparation. Positioning. Negotiation. Results.