For more details on this beautifully rustic project built in Kingwood, Texas… click here!

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

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

Texas Custom Patios!

We are proud to announce we are recipients of The Texas Association of Builders 2017 Star Awards.  We had two gorgeous projects make it to the finals and took the title for Best Outdoor Living Space Remodeler for our Project of the Month featured in July.

The Texas Association of Builders (TAB) announced and presented the 2017 Star Awards winners on Thursday, August 3 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. The highly-coveted Texas Star Awards are given annually in conjunction with the Sunbelt Builders Show™ to recognize excellence in all areas of the home building industry.

In 1992, the Texas Association of Builders launched the Star Awards – the only statewide tribute to excellence in the home building industry. The 2016 Star Awards recognized the outstanding work of builders, remodelers, architects, designers, sales professionals, marketing professionals, construction professionals and industry leaders in Texas and the Southwest.

Entries were judged by a distinguished panel of industry experts. Winners will be featured in the September/October issue of Texas Builder magazine. For more information about the Star Awards, please visit www.TexasBuilders.org.

If you are one of the blessed ones that did not lose everything, opportunities are open everywhere to help those that did lose it all.  A devastating amount of people in the Houston area are without homes, beds, clothing, but most crucially they are without nourishment.  While some shelters and disaster relief sites are at capacity and turning people and donations away, the Houston Food Bank is welcoming donations with open arms.

The Houston Food Bank has a history of providing disaster relief, but has never seen devastation on this scale.

They will provide food and supplies in the short term and for many months to come to residents in southeast Texas who will struggle to rebuild their lives.  The Food Bank will work closely with their network of partner agencies to ensure food is getting to those who need it most.  They also find ways to connect offers of help with those who are providing help.

If you need help
> Call our helpline at 832-369-9390
> Call 2-1-1

If you want to help those hit by Harvey

Donate Money
The best thing you can do to help the Houston Food Bank right now is to make a donation of money designated for disaster relief.

Our neighbors urgently need assistance.  The Houston Food Bank’s greatest need is for funds that will help us provide relief and continue recovery efforts.

Donations will be used for disaster relief until this year’s needs are met, and the remaining funds will support ongoing hunger-relief efforts.

Volunteer
> Please register first so we can make sure you have a productive
experience
> Regular volunteer shifts apply, open daily (including Sunday)

Donate Food and Supplies
Drop off curbside at 535 Portwall
Now through Saturday, September 9
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Saturday/Sunday

Most Needed Items

> Canned ready-to-eat items with pull tops: vegetables, fruit
> Protein in pouches or pull-top cans: tuna, beef stew, chili,
canned chicken
> Peanut butter
> Snacks: granola bars, breakfast bars, etc.
> Toiletries
> Paper goods
> Diapers
> Cleaning supplies: mops, mop buckets, brooms, bleach wipes,
bleach, garbage bags, bug spray

Patio and pool season are about to make a big splash, but have you been on your best bathing suit behavior?  We thought we would keep things light this month in honor of those goals you’re trying to reach.

So let’s kabob and give kudos to cocktails with fewer calories for this month’s recipes!

Grilled Brussels Sprouts with Sweet Balsamic Glaze

Ingredients

1 lb brussels sprouts, stems trimmed and cut in half

2 tbsp olive oil

4 long wooden skewers

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1 tbsp balsamic glaze

Directions

Place the brussels on skewers, and place skewers on a large enough piece of sturdy foil to cover the top.  Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper

Heat the grill, when hot lower the heat to low and put foil with skewers on the grill, tenting the veggies with the foil.  Cook about 30 minutes, turning every 5 minutes to keep them from burning.  When done, drizzle with balsamic glaze and eat right away!

Italian Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients

1 1/2lb chicken breast

8-inch skewers

Marinade:

1/4C olive oil

3Tb white wine vinegar

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dried basil

3/4 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp dried onion flakes

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1 clove garlic, minced

Directions

In a mason jar or salad shaker combine marinade ingredients. Shake to combine well. Set aside.

Trim chicken of any fat. Cut into 1-2 inch cubes. Transfer to a large bag or storage container. Pour marinade over chicken. Seel container and chill for at least 1-2 hours, or overnight.

Soak wood skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.

Divide chicken between 8-10 skewers. Discard remaining marinade.

Grill over low heat for 15 minutes, turning skewers after 3-5 minutes. Cook until no longer pink and showing some external color or grill lines.

Serve immediately.

Skinny Mint Mojito

Ingredients

Simple Syrup

4-6 packets stevia, depending on how sweet you want it

1 cup water

5-8 fresh mint leaves

Mojito

2 oz simple syrup with stevia

Juice of ½ a lime

1 oz rum

5 fresh mint leaves

Chilled soda water

Ice

Mint and lime slice for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Simple Syrup (serves 4)

1. In a small pot, bring 1 cup of water to a boil and add 6 individual packets (about 3 grams) of stevia (I used Sweet Leaf)
2. Stir in stevia to dissolve and remove from heat
3. Add the mint leaves. Cover and let steep* about 30 minutes (*To steep just means to let the leaves hang-out in the warm water so it soaks up all the flavor of the mint)
4. Remove mint leaves from liquid and store simple syrup in fridge until ready to use (will be tinted green from mint leaves)

Mint Mojito (Serves 1)

1. In a 12oz glass, pour in 2oz of the simple syrup, 1 oz rum, a few fresh mint leaves, and juice of half a lime. Muddle the contents using a pestle. You could also use a spoon to simply crush and grind the fresh mint into the liquid.
2. Top the glass with ice and fill to the top with soda water. Stir.
3. Garnish with fresh mint and a lime wedge

Pretty and practical Outdoor Room addition expands the usable living space of this 1,800-sq.-ft., 1929 bungalow home by nearly 25 percent. The soaring wood ceiling, painstakingly hand-cut and crafted from natural-finish, smooth cedar, makes a dramatic first impression upon entering the space.

Builder:

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The warmer weather inspires us all to sit on our back patio, sip something sweet and enjoy the view.  So we came up this Texas classic and gave it a tasty twist.  This two-step tea will having you doing the Texas Two-Step because it’s that good!  We promise!

 

Peach Basil Sweet Tea

Newsletter October 2015

Future newsletter signup (bottom righthand corner)!

October brings all sorts of sweetness to the season.  It’s National Dessert Month and Cookie Month!  So we thought it would be fun to bring some outdoor heat to some treats!  

Check out our boards on Pinterest for delicious recipes like chocolate chip cookies, banana s’mores and fruit kabobs on the grill!

The Grilled Chocolate Chip Cookie 

We also have seasonal ideas to spruce up  your outdoor living area with gorgeous, yet ghostly decor. Texas Custom Patios pinned away with fun centerpieces for your outdoor table, like taking a pumpkin and using to chill your vino, cheers!

It’s also fun to think about roasting marshmallows over a fire pit, get cozy with some of these fabulous fire features …

Happy October, hope it brings you warmth and sweet treats!