Deck Worthy Snacks: Homemade Soft Pretzels
Ingredients 1½ c. warm (110-115°) water 1 tbsp. sugar 2 tsp. kosher salt 1 package active dry yeast 22 oz. all-purpose flour (about 4½ cups) 2 oz. unsalted butter, melted vegetable oil, for pan 10 c. water 2/3 c. baking soda large egg yolk beaten w/1 tbsp. water pretzel (or other course) salt Directions Combine water, sugar and kosher salt in mixer bowl. Sprinkle yeast on top. Let sit for 5 mins. or until mixture begins to foam. Add flour and butter. Using dough hook attachment, combine on low speed. Knead on medium speed until dough is smooth and pulls away from sides, about 4-5 mins. Remove dough, clean bowl and coat with oil. Return dough to bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let sit in warm place for 50-55 mins. or until dough doubles in size. Preheat oven to 450°. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper. Lightly brush with oil. Set aside. Bring 10 cups of water and baking soda to rolling boil in 8-qt. sauce or roasting pan. Place dough on slightly-oiled work[...]
My Scary Personal Story: What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been
I’ve never liked horror movies or scary movies of any kind. But like most everyone, I’ve had to face some pretty scary things in my own life. When someone once asked me about the scariest thing I’d ever experienced, I told him, “When you have a wife and three small kids and no job, let me tell you, it doesn’t get any scarier than that.” Thirty years ago, before DeckTec, that was me. Broke and scared, I launched DeckTec on a prayer and a maxed-out credit card. It all started back in the late 80s, during one of Denver’s infamous energy-related bust cycles. The economy was so bad at the time that when I cold called people as part of my job selling prefabricated cedar homes, my leads would call me back not because they wanted to buy a home, but because they wanted me to buy their land from them. I wasn’t getting any traction. And this was after having been laid off from a company selling prefabricated curved glass aluminum sunrooms. It wasn’t looking[...]
Oktoberfest In September?
Ever wonder why Oktoberfest happens in September? Well, true to name, Oktoberfest was originally held in October – or Oktober, in German. The first Oktoberfest, held on October 12, 1810, was a wedding celebration and parade honoring the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen . Six days of festivities took place on the outskirts of Munich on fairgrounds named “Theresenwiese” (Therese’s meadow) after the princess, concluding on October 17 with a horse race. The festival was such a hit that it was repeated in following years. Additional features such as a Bavarian agricultural show and carnival booths were added as the festival grew. In 1819, Oktoberfest became an annual event run by the city fathers. This year marked the 211th anniversary of the world’s largest beer festival, with more than six million attendees consuming more than one million gallons of beer. Oktoberfest still takes place on those original festival fields and now runs for 16-18 days. The last day of the festival is always held on the first Sunday of October.[...]
Deck Worthy Snacks: Fresh Homemade Dill Pickles
Ingredients 1-quart jar with lid 2-3 pickling cucumbers (as many fit in jar) 5 sprigs fresh dill (or 1 tbsp. dry dill) 2-4 cloves of garlic crushed and minced 3 tbsp. white distilled vinegar ½ – 1 tbsp. kosher salt, to taste distilled or filtered water 20 black peppercorns, optional ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes, optional Directions Cut cucumbers into your desired pickle (discs, spears, sandwich slices, etc) and add to jar with all ingredients except water. Fill jar to very top with distilled or filtered water. Screw lid on very tightly. Shake jar to distribute flavors and leave on countertop for 12 hours. Shake again and turn upside down for additional 12 hours, making sure lid is screwed on tightly to avoid leakage. Refrigerate and enjoy within a month for maximum freshness. Recipe adapted from DIYNatural.com
Down Old Durango Way
Why not grab Fido and Spot and your family and friends and get off the Front Range for a change of scenery? Colorado doesn’t stop at Rocky Mountain National Park or even the Vail Valley, y’know! If you time it right, you might even catch some autumn colors along your six-and-a-half-hour Denver to Durango trek. Not too far from the New Mexico border, Durango is a perfect place to start exploring the area. Home to the liberal arts-oriented Fort Lewis College and 18,500 local residents, Durango is an interesting mix of college town and Old West in a setting of stark southwest beauty. The old downtown offers quaint and charming amenities, from brew pubs to coffee shops and galleries. Be sure to leave time for window shopping and wandering. When you’re in town, consider staying at the historic Strater Hotel on Main Street. The red brick hotel dates to 1887 and is referred to as “Durango’s living history museum.” Visit www.strater.com for information. The lobby boasts historic displays and old-time craftsmanship, and is worth seeing even[...]
Client Interviews: The Skibinski Family
Friends and family say that Mike and Korrie’s DeckTec deck has turned the already-beautiful Skibinski home into a luxury resort. But it’s not just about impressing others. The split-level Mahogany deck, which was completed in July, works for the Skibinski family on so many levels (no pun intended). Architecturally, the deck connects the house to the pool, creating a sense of flow that the Westminster property lacked. Korrie, who works in education, now has a place to relax after work and as she put it, “just listen to the rain.” For the Skibinskis’ 13-year-old daughter, the deck is a peaceful, quiet spot outdoors where she can concentrate better on her homework. And the deck brings people together. The family eats dinner together out there regularly and hosts large parties without it feeling crowded. In fact, the deck offers something for everyone – including the youngest Skibinski. “It’s not like the old deck. If the dog is on the deck, I can lay down and cuddle with her and it’s not all splintery and stuff. I can[...]
Off the Beaten Path
If you’ve been following this column with any regularity for the last two-and-a-half years, you probably know that I love nothing more than relaxing in the comfort of my own outdoor retreat. I am anything but a global traveler. In fact, I’ve previously made it known that despite traveling extensively around the United States, I’ve never been outside its borders. Last month, however, I did something I didn’t think I’d ever do again and took some road trips around Colorado. There’s a backstory here. I was an avid skier and camper in my younger days but couldn’t stand “sightseeing.” The reason for this aversion dates back to when my family moved to Colorado many decades ago and my father thought we should and could see everything there was to see in our first summer. Picture this – a family of six – two adults, four boys and a collie traveling hot, windy mountain roads in a station wagon, stopping at what seemed like every attraction, using rest stops and gas stations every time the dog or[...]
Still Time for the 3rd Annual Picture This! Contest
DeckTec's annual Picture This Contest is about to wrap up! Don't miss the September 30 deadline!! Don’t miss out! You’ve got ‘til September 30th to submit photos for our 3rd annual Picture This! contest. Great deck pics are coming into our office everyday – the only thing missing are photos from YOU! It takes just a minute to submit your pics via email to mail@decktec.com. What have you got to lose? With your help we can make this year’s contest the best ever. Here’s your chance to inspire others with your unique deck décor, furnishings and personal touches. Just do it! Take some shots of your colorful flowering plants, birdbath and birdfeeder, outdoor art and more. We love to see your greenery and artistry as well as those dinner party “glamour shots” of you and your loved ones out there “On Deck” enjoying yourselves. There’s great prizes for this year’s top submissions: Barbecue catering for 20 for the 1st prizewinner, an Ace Hardware gift certificate for the 2nd prizewinner, and choice of an outdoor[...]
Lions and Tigers and Bears in Colorado? Oh My!
You’re probably familiar with Colorado wildlife, from mountain lions and black bears to deer, elk, bighorn sheep, coyotes, moose, mountain goats and other furry creatures that share our beautiful state. But tigers? Yes, tigers. If you’re looking for something off the beaten path this summer, check out The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg at 2999 County Road 53, a wildlife refuge and educational facility 30 miles from Denver on the eastern plains. Believe it or not, this low-profile, Keenesburg nonprofit, home to more than 450 large animals, is the nation’s largest and oldest carnivore sanctuary, and the site of the longest elevated (1.5 mile) footbridge in the world. It’s one of the few places where visitors can witness prides of African lions and other large carnivores living out their lives freely in sprawling open space. In addition to “lions, tigers and bears,” the sanctuary is home to jaguars, wolves, leopards, coati-mundi alpacas, porcupines, ostriches, emus, a camel, and many other animals. While we Denverites are fortunate to have this unique resource so close to home, it’s[...]
Deck Worthy Recipes: Grilled Jerk Chicken
Nothing says dinner "On Deck" like grilled jerk chicken! Try this deck worthy recipe this weekend. Grilled Jerk Chicken Serves 8 JERK MARINADE 3 scallions, chopped 4 large garlic cloves, chopped 1 small onion, chopped 4-5 fresh habanero chilies, stemmed & seeded ¼ c. fresh lime juice 2 tbsp. soy sauce 3 tbsp. olive oil 1½ tbsp. salt 1 tbsp. packed brown sugar 1 tbsp. fresh thyme leaves 2 tsp. ground allspice 2 tsp. black pepper ¾ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg ½ tsp. cinnamon CHICKEN 4 chicken breast halves with skin and bones, halved crosswise 2½-3 lbs. chicken thighs and drumsticks PAPAYA SALSA 1 papaya 1/4 medium red onion, finely minced a handful of fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped juice of 1 large lime 1 hot green pepper thinly sliced, seeds and all salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS Blend marinade ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth. Divide chicken pieces and marinade between 2 sealable plastic bags. Press out excess air, seal bags, then turn over to distribute marinade. Chill for a day, turn[...]
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