As Good As It Gets
I have something to admit – I’m going to be a Grandfather soon and I have never been outside the United States. Yes, I have a passport, but I’ve never been to Mexico, Canada, or any other foreign country. I’ve been very lucky, though, to have traveled to many parts of this country and to have stayed at some very luxurious hotels and resorts. In addition, in over thirty years within my profession, I’ve been in many incredibly beautiful homes throughout the Denver metro area and Colorado. As spectacular as these places are, what strikes me most are the professionally[...]
Gazpacho Soup with Beer and Jalapeno (Vegan)
A tangy, chilled summer tomato soup with extra punch from your favorite light craft beer. (Serves 4) Ingredients 4 c. diced red tomatoes 1/2 c. chunk baguette or sourdough bread 1 tbsp. olive oil 2 tsp. salt 1/2 green pepper, seeded and diced (about 1/2 c.) 1/2 English cucumber, diced (about 1 c.) 1/4 c. red onion 1 garlic clove, peeled and chopped 2 tbsp. lime juice (or juice of 1 lime) 1/2- 1 jalapeno, diced, depending on desired heat level 1/2 c. beer freshly ground pepper to taste cilantro leaves, to garnish Directions Place all ingredients, except pepper, cilantro,[...]
Container Tomatoes
Imagine picking a ripe, juicy tomato right on your deck! All you need are some starts, and pots of various sizes. You can extend the season by covering plants, or taking them in overnight, as the weather cools. Pick a spot with good sun, but don’t overdo – tomatoes can wilt or burn under the hot Colorado sun. Test out and adjust locations as needed. Grouping pots together provides some shade and wind protection. Tomatoes need plenty of water and good drainage. Soil should be evenly damp to the touch, not dry, hard, or soggy. Transplant tomatoes in a timely[...]
Deck Worthy Beer Pairings
Sunset Classic Barbecued Ribs with a Quadrupel Beer Pairing: Quadrupel No fat, no flavor. Properly seasoned and grilled pork ribs satisfy some of our most primal urges, and nothing less than a bold beer pairing is called for. Wine lovers would likely reach for a brawny Zin or Barbera. The beer pairing you need for ribs is a quadrupel, the Belgian abbey brew that marries huge layers of rich, stonefruit flavor with peppery yeast strains without the astringent tannins of big red wines. Look for Apis IV from Elevation Beer Co in Poncha Springs, CO; Elevationbeerco.com. Grilled Seafood and Chorizo[...]
Why Design Matters
It’s officially spring now, and the demand for custom decks and outdoor living additions has never been higher! The combination of the booming housing market and Colorado’s incredible climate is leading to tremendous interest in custom outdoor living spaces. I’m sure you understand the importance of Design. Design motivates just about every major purchasing decision anyone makes! However, it often seems that when we bring up the subject of design, it scares people. Design shouldn’t be a scary word though. For some reason, most people think design adds to the cost. Actually, an experienced deck designer will help save you[...]
