Our recipe of the month is always tested, approved and most importantly, they are always delicious!  We have done everything from grilled pizzas to grilled peaches, wings to watermelon… cocktails to beer drunk chicken.  This month we are focusing on the most important meal of the day… breakfast!  We are putting a savory spin on a traditionally sweet breakfast favorite.

Savory French Toast Breakfast Sandwich

Here are some more incredible choices to break that fast on a beautiful Saturday morning on the patio!

Avo-Cottage Cheese Toast 

Bacon and Egg Grilled Cheese

Cheesy Pancetta Buttermilk Waffles 

Cinnamon Roll Frozen Yogurt Muffins 

Grilled Pears with Honey Whipped Ricotta 

Granola Yogurt Tarts

The exterior of your home often gets forgotten about in the winter months, and sadly spring cleaning isn’t just meant for the inside of your home…  so you know what the means! Rain, wind, sun… all of these things can be dirt’s best friend when it comes to sticking to your patio furniture, flooring, and your grill.  We have some easy and affordable ways to spruce up for spring.

Fabric

All fabric (think cushions, pillows, even umbrellas) needs to be rinsed, scrubbed and rinsed again!  It’s best to use a soft-bristled brush and a little laundry soap.  Some mild scrubbing and a good rinse will do the job!

Wrought Iron

Wrought iron is strong durable and will stand the test of time except when it comes to staying nice in moist climates… hello Houston humidity!  To get the algae and rust away, use a stiff-bristled brush and dishwashing detergent.  Fill a bucket (1/2 gallon) with warm water, add 1 Tablespoon of liquid detergent and 1/2 cup of vinegar and get to scrubbing.

Wicker Furniture

Less durable than wrought iron, but twice as annoying.  All the grooves can make it hard to get out the grime.  Firstly, wipe down the furniture with a wet soapy soft cloth (use a mild soap), then run a toothbrush through there lightly (shaking out the dirt in between swipes).  When completed, let dry in the sun.

Aluminum

Simply rinse with a hose, wipe down with a mild dish detergent, rinse again and let dry!

Outdoor Tile

Power washers can sometimes do more harm than good, so we suggest a little dishwashing detergent (if you haven’t notice by now, this is the one ingredient wonder), warm water and a push broom!

Stamped Concrete

If it’s good for tile, it’s good for stamped concrete!  Use the same method.

Deck

It’s a 5-step process, visit here!

Gas Grill

This is a little more detailed, visit here!

Lighting

And last but not least, let there be light, look around for any empty sockets or burned out bulbs… replace and light!

Weekend get-together weather is here!  That means it’s time to spruce up the patio, fire up the grill and get ready to entertain.  Our most recent project of the month was built with a Big Green Egg, so we thought we would include some tasty recipes that can be smoked.  Below are a few ideas that are tried and tasted, loved and approved!

Texas Caviar

Georgia Peach Chicken Wings

Sea Salt and Vinegar Chicken Wings

Maple Glazed Smoked Pork Belly

 Strawberry Jalapeño Pork Tenderloin 

Ham with Orange Apricot Glaze

Grilled Rosemary Sweet Potato Fries

Cheesecake filled Pears with Champagne Drizzle

Click the image below to discover details of this stunning outdoor living space in the DFW area!

An enjoyable outdoor living space is a must-have for most people here in Texas – we are able to spend just about every day outside without too much trouble.  Of course it does get a little toasty in the summer, but with the right design and ample shade even the summer heat can be beat.  For many, the singular thing that holds us back when making big decisions is something called … moolah.  But with the right budget, a good plan and the perfect builders, your outdoor oasis is actually within reach! Not to mention, tax returns are just around the patio corner!

We now offer many financing options making it even easier to start building now versus later.  For more information on our financing options, visit here!  

Budgeting for your outdoor living space is actually easier than you may think.  We have built outdoor living spaces with just about every single budget in mind.  We put together a quick guide that will you have you well on your way to building out your outdoor space.  So get ready to start planning, building and living (outside)!

How to budget for your outdoor living space …

How big of an area is considered ample?

Whether you are wanting a covered patio, a pergola, a sunroom or a screened in porch about 300 square feet is average. If you go much smaller than that, you will feel cramped and will not have enough room for both a dining area and a sitting area. The cost for something that size would start around 25K – Sunrooms would be more due to windows and inside wall finishes.

What are items that would affect this budget?

* Type and configuration of your home – 1 Story homes usually run more because the roof tie-in is more complicated.

* Do you have concrete already? Having an existing patio or other flat surface will lower your cost… unless you want something more than a standard brushed concrete surface. Upgraded surfaces – stamped concrete, tile, travertine, stone pavers means your cost will increase.

* Type of columns – do you have any existing columns on your home? If so, you may want to match them – are they brick or stone? That will be an added cost because a standard column is wrapped with hardie board and painted to match your home’s paint color.

*Ceiling finish – Like the columns a standard ceiling is just hardie plank painted to match your home’s soffit. If you want a different look, you can go with cedar or stained tongue and groove, you will need to add some to your budget.

* Electrical matters – a basic project does include running electricity for recessed lights and ceiling fans as well as wiring for a TV and sound system.

So, what does a 300 SF project with some of the upgraded options cost?

* With additional items such as those listed above, your 300 SF project would start around 30K -35K.

What if I want to add an outdoor kitchen? Several things need to occur …

*Size of the space – to have adequate space to accommodate the added kitchen area, we suggest an area that is closer to 400 SF. So, that is an added cost to build your covered area.

*A basic kitchen – this is a tough question – you can have a small, very functional outdoor kitchen area that is in the 8 – 10 linear foot area. To get lots of prep and serving space, you may want to consider something that is closer to the 14-15 linear foot option. Our kitchens include a custom built counter area with granite, stacked stone, brick, or stucco, stainless steel appliances (grill, fridge, storage). The 8-10 linear foot kitchens would start around 15-20K, the larger kitchen would start around 20-25K.

Can it be bigger?

* Absolutely! We have built kitchens that are as large as 20-25 linear feet.

* Why the 5K range in the cost?

Many things affect that – type and size of grill, choice of granite, propane or natural gas, raised bar top, type of side finishes, among other choices.

What about adding a fire feature?

*A fireplace – whether wood burning or natural gas – will generally add about 15-20K to your project. Your choice of stone, is there going to be a mantle, and how big will the hearth be all play key roles in the cost of the fireplace.

* A fire pit – again whether it is wood burning or natural gas – will add about 3-6K to your project. The size, shape and type of stone plays a part in the variance of the cost.

So as you can see … a lot goes into the prepping and planning when building something to any extent, but it CAN be done!  Take notes, let us know how we can help and we look forward to building something beautiful for you!

In Texas it’s all about the rodeo right now, Houston’s bulls are a buckin’, pigs are a squealin’, and the rest of us are eating!  BBQ, fried Oreos, big-as-your-face cinnamon rolls… anything we can wrangle, we will eat!  So for this month’s recipe of the month we thought we would do a rodeo version with Texas Beef Brisket, smoked coffee, deep fried cookie dough and more!  These recipes will have you saying, “giddy up!”

Margarita Shrimp – We start healthy before we go in for the kill!

BBQ Jalapeño Poppers – Well that didn’t last long!

Texas Beef Brisket –  The secret is in the fruit wood!

The Donut Burger – We warned you, anything goes when it comes to rodeo food!

Deep Fried Cookie Dough – In case the donut burger wasn’t enough.

Smoked coffee – the perfect ending to any meal!

Try these and let us know what you think, yeeeee-haw!

Click the image below to discover details of this gorgeous traditional project in Houston, Texas.

Part of the fun in game day is all the yummy food that you get to try!  Most save up their appetite all day so they can run a 40 yard dash to the grub hub a.k.a. the kitchen!  The Food Network has some tasty touchdowns that will have your party poppin’!  Who doesn’t like a good dip?  Below are 36 of the best recipes that can be served in a bowl, super big bowls!  Followed by sliders and snacks great for backyard tailgating!

Dips served in super bowls:

Tropical Guacamole

Hot Crab Dip

Mustard-Beer Dip

Bacon-Jalapeño Dip

Cauliflower Hummus

Buttery Herbed Nuts

Pizza Snack Mix

And of course the traditional favs like meaty queso and salsa!

For all of the recipes and more, visit here!  

This time last year Houston was all ramped up and ready for the big game.  Just being in the same state as the game of all games was electric for Texas.  This year the big battle of the pigskins is in Minneapolis, Minnesota February 4th at 6:30pm.   So unless you are planning to visit the 22nd most populous state in the country… you need to start thinking of the best seat you can get for super duper Sunday.

No better place to party for this football frenzy than your own patio!   After all, you’ll have the best seat in the house, comfortable seating, great food at your fingertips and you’ll always be close to a bathroom.  Many people have outdoor patios built just so they can either watch football outside or so they can entertain at a moment’s notice!  In fact, some of our customers called us back in August of 2017 and said, “Hey, Texas Custom Patios, we would like to have this ready by Super Bowl Sunday, is that possible.?” So we got to building and guess what, the covered patios, outdoor kitchens and living rooms were built and those watching parties are sure to be a touchdown now!  So go ahead, invite over your football-loving friends, fire up the grill and get ready to party.

Real Simple came up with your must-have checklist for your Super Bowl LII party … don’t miss a pass, make sure your party is a hit!

You can make your list and check it twice, but at the end of the day … there are three categories of “Super Sunday Party-Goers” and we have something for each one.

“The Super Sunday Snack Specialist”

The anticipation of sweet and savory delights to enjoy during the big game brings this fan to the table… literally, and probably more than once! For the Snack Specialist, we offer this list of Super Sunday party dishes that can be prepared outside.

Grilled Buttermilk Hot Wings
Grilled Pizza
Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Enchiladas – make ahead
Pig Candy
Cookies & Cream Football Dip 

“The Super Sunday Ad Aficionado”

This fan may talk through every single play, then shush everyone when the commercials begin. We get it. After all, advertisers pay huge dollars for these coveted spots and strive to put their most creative efforts out there. For the Ad Aficionado, we offer this list, which gives you a sneak preview of what companies are buying up ads this year and some hints at their plans.

The Big Game Ad Chart

“The Super Sunday Game Devotee”

When your team makes the Big Game, the intensity dials up even more! Be sure to use your outside voice on your patio when cheering on your team to victory. For the Game Devotee, here’s a great resource to keep up with the latest game news!

Playoff Picture

Enjoying the Big Game outdoors is better for everyone …

What’s your favorite part of the game? Is it the food, the ads or the football?  Comment on our Facebook page, we want to know!