How to Make the Most of the 2020 Colorado Garden & Home Show
At DeckTec, our favorite time of the year isn’t just between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but any time that it’s mild enough to live it up on your beautiful wood deck. One event that makes the wait for spring a lot easier is the Colorado Garden & Home Show. […]
Beer Battered Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Ingredients Buttermilk Soak 3 c. buttermilk 2 tbsp. kosher salt 1 tbsp. black pepper 2 tsp. cayenne pepper 4 lbs. medium chicken wings, thighs & drumsticks Beer Batter 2 c. all-purpose flour 2 tsp. onion powder 2 tsp. garlic powder 2 tsp. cayenne pepper 2 tsp. kosher salt 2 tsp. black pepper 2 ¼ c. lager or pilsner beer Directions In large bowl mix buttermilk, salt, black pepper and cayenne. Add chicken, turning to coat. Refrigerate 4 hours. In large bowl whisk flour, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, salt and black pepper. Whisk in beer, make thin batter. Drain chicken, thoroughly dry with paper towels. Transfer to batter, turning to coat. In large, deep skillet, heat 1 in. oil to 350°. Set rack over baking sheet, line with paper towels. Lift chicken, letting excess batter drip back into bowl. Fry in batches at 315°, turning once until golden and instant-read thermometer in thickest part reaches 160°, about 18 mins. for wings, 20 mins. for thighs, breasts and drumsticks. Transfer chicken to rack. Let stand for 5[...]
A Room with a View: Relaxing on Deck with Jim & Susan Judge
When it comes to Jim and Susan Judge’s deck, third time’s the charm. The Judge’s first deck, which came with their Highlands Ranch home, was a poorly constructed “builder deck.” On their next deck, they tried the “Trek type stuff,” as they put it. “We saw the commercials on TV,” Jim said. “We figured it was low maintenance ha-ha.” While the composite deck didn’t splinter like the first deck, that second deck didn’t work out so well either. “The floorboards warped and there were screws popping up. I was afraid to have our grandkids running around out there, I was afraid they’d trip and hurt themselves,” Susan said. “We never sat on it because it wasn’t appealing or comfortable. We wound up spending all our time below the deck where we have a concrete walkout from our finished basement,” Jim said. Outdoor living was about to take a turn for the better. The Judge’s neighbors down the street who had a DeckTec deck were hosting wine and appetizer parties and the rest is deck history. “We[...]
Where’s the Beer? A Toast to the Great American Beer Festival
As the story goes, during a visit to England for the Great British Beer Festival in the early 1980s, Charlie Papazian – founder of the Great American Beer Festival and considered by many to be the godfather of American home brewing - turned to his British hosts and said that he thought it would be a good idea if the United States had its own beer festival. To which famed British beer and whiskey writer Michael Jackson replied dryly, “But where will you get the beer?” Jackson had a point. At the time the United States was home to less than 100 breweries. The nation’s brewing industry had been largely decimated by the effects of Prohibition and industry consolidation. Experts believed that by the turn of the century the United States would be down to two or three massive companies producing Budweiser, Miller and Coors – pretty much the same type of beer brewed to appeal to the masses. Papazian, however, had a different vision. He knew of bold entrepreneurs and upstart breweries that were trying[...]
Announcing Fresh Deck Premium Deck Service Plan
DeckTec is introducing a new premium deck maintenance plan for its valued clientele. “The Next Generation in Deck Protection,” the new Fresh Deck program will formally launch at the Colorado Garden & Home Show in Denver in February. Fresh Deck plan offers a consistently beautiful deck, peace of mind protection for your home and lifestyle, proactive inspections, hassle-free communications, in addition to the convenience of automatic scheduling, easy payments, bonus services, and more! Fresh deck clients will enjoy reduced lead times, structural multi-point deck inspections, and referral rebates. To guarantee premium service Fresh Deck will be limited to our top tier of current DeckTec Customers. Interested deck owners should contact DeckTec’s service department at 303-277-1550 for information and special introductory offers. Quality custom decks are the most cherished and highest-returning home improvement investment along the Front Range. With wood decks increasing in value and sophistication, so has the demand for specialized expert care and service. Colorado is an ideal environment for year-round outdoor living enjoyment. However, the region’s weather can pose challenges for finishing and maintaining[...]
Crispy Cauliflower “Wings” from Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza
Steve loved cauliflower “wings” from Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza so much that we talked them into giving us the recipe! Breading Mix Start with equal parts cornmeal and either wheat or rice flour (gluten free). Add salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper to taste. Mix evenly and set aside. Prep You can start with cauliflower florets or cut a whole head into bite-size pieces. Place the pieces in a mixing bowl and add enough buttermilk to coat the cauliflower, but not pool at the bottom. Once the cauliflower is coated in buttermilk, continue tossing and sprinkle with breading mix. Add enough mix so cauliflower is coated and not sticking together. It should appear fairly dry. Bake Place in preheated fryer at 350 degrees for approximately 2-3 minutes. Dip in your favorite dressing or sauce. Enjoy!! Dip Suggestions Ranch mix and milk is easy dressing! Frank’s RedHot and butter makes yummy hot sauce! Try soy sauce, lemon pepper, or just plain! Special Thanks To: Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza 1305 Washington Avenue, Golden www.woodysgolden.com 303-277-0443
If It’s Labor Day, Why Don’t We Have to Work?
From startups to natural foods Colorado is a bellwether state and has been ahead of the curve in so many ways. Did you know that the Centennial State was one of the first to give women the right to vote? We were also one of the very first states to celebrate Labor Day. That’s right – Coloradans like a good day off when we see one! The very first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City in 1882. It was organized by the Central Labor Union and about 10,000 laborers marched in that first of many “workingmen’s” parades. There were some Labor Day holidays held at the municipal level in 1885 and 1886. In February 1887 Oregon was the first to make Labor Day a state holiday, after which four more states – our beloved Colorado along with Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York – followed suit later that year. Before long Connecticut, Nebraska and Pennsylvania jumped on the Labor Day bandwagon and in 1894, by which point 23 states had enacted their own Labor[...]
Don’t Neglect Your Deck
Schedule Now to Protect and Restore! Thank you for allowing us to service and maintain your deck. This year’s especially cool, wet and unpredictable Colorado weather diminished decks that haven’t been regularly and properly refinished or maintained. When summer hits, the hot and dry summer days and the classic monsoons can exacerbate the issue and reduce your deck’s life. Fortunately, deck neglect can be corrected with a quality refinishing or protective deck maintenance application by DeckTec. Be sure your deck is ready for whatever Colorado has in store. Call Adam today at 720.388.1210 or visit DeckTec.com/Deck-Refinishing before the hot and dry weather impacts the finish on your deck. Enjoy every summer opportunity, as well as the gorgeous fall season and protect your deck for winter!
DeckTec’s Guide to the Best Farmers Markets
Go local and get your fresh on! Farmers market season is happily upon us, and with so many great locations and schedules to choose from, the only problem is deciding where to go first! Each market has its own unique vendors and flavors, so go ahead and explore off your beaten path. Be sure to check out other great markets in Evergreen, Wheat Ridge, Berkeley Lake, Littleton, Highlands Ranch and to the north, Longmont, Louisville and Lafayette. Union Station 1701 Wynkoop Street Saturdays 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., May 11 – October 26 New! RINO Boxyard Park, 2500 Broadway Saturdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. June 15 – October 12 Old South Pearl Street From Buchtel to Jewell Avenues Sundays 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., May 19 – November 27 Cherry Creek Cherry Creek Shopping Center 1st Avenue and University Blvd. Saturdays 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., May 4 – October 26 Wednesdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., June 12 – September 25 City Park Esplanade Sullivan Fountain, 2551 E. Colfax Avenue Sunday 9 a.m. to[...]
Deck-Worthy Cocktails Watermelon-Tequila Cocktails
Ingredients 1/4 c. water 1/4 c. granulated sugar 8 c. diced seedless watermelon (1 lb.) 1/4 c. fresh lime juice 1 3/4 c. blueberries 3/4 c. lightly packed fresh mint leaves 8 mint sprigs for garnish 1 1/4 c. silver tequila ice Directions In small saucepan, bring water and sugar to simmer. Stir over moderate heat until sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Let sugar syrup cool. In a blender, puree watermelon until smooth. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and strain watermelon juice, pressing gently on the solids to extract maximum juice. Discard pulp. In a large pitcher, combine sugar syrup with lime juice, blueberries and mint leaves. Using a wooden spoon, lightly muddle blueberries and mint. Add watermelon juice and tequila. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. Pour cocktail into tall ice-filled glasses. Garnish with mint sprigs and serve.
Recent Works
