Nothing beats cooking on an open flame. Whether you have a gas grill or a charcoal one, the smell of smoke and seasoning is always succulent and savory. But don’t learn grilling techniques by trial and error! Here are a few do’s and dont’s to keep in mind when you’re training to become the next grill master of the family!
Give your grill enough time to heat up: Avoid putting food on too early. Allow at least 30 minutes for a charcoal grill, and less for gas. Hot grates are necessary before you place your food on them.
Important: Allow your meats to sit out and drop to room temperature. This ensures an even cook on the inside and out. Most underestimate the importance of this step!
Try not to open the grill lid too often. Smoke will escape and that will rob your meat of some of its flavor. Maintain a constant temperature throughout and flip your meat only once.
Save your saucing for when the meat is almost done. Barbecue sauce, for example, should be added later in the cooking process and given just enough time to caramelize. If you sauce too early, most of it will fall off or burn.
When in doubt, use a meat thermometer. This is a surefire way to preparing the food accurately and properly.
With these tips in mind, your family will feast like kings every time the grill is fired up!
Source: Forbes
By Keith Loria | RISMEDIA, Wednesday, July 03, 2013
From increasing your property’s curb appeal to staging your home to attract a larger pool of potential buyers, the list of things that require attention before putting your home on the market may seem endless. While the bathroom may be the first area that gets overlooked, it’s often one of the most important spaces when it comes to helping your home stand out.
After all, a bathroom is a place where one starts each morning and ends each night. Not only is it a place for grooming, it can also be a homeowner’s sanctuary—a space for relaxing in a hot bath, escaping the stresses of daily life for a few moments.
In addition, studies have shown that updating a bathroom before putting a house on the market is one of the best ways to increase a home’s resale value. There are plenty of small fixes that are easy to implement, such as replacing the lighting with decorative fixtures or adding a new shower curtain, however, there are a few larger and not-too-expensive renovations that should be considered, too.
For instance, the bathroom is a prime place to start putting those environmentally friendly devices to work. Installing fixtures that save water, such as a low-flow showerhead, a low-flow faucet aerator, and a dual-flush toilet, can save thousands of gallons of water each year and attract an energy-conscious buyer. The addition of energy-efficient windows is another easy option, since bathroom windows are typically on the smaller side. Also, adding natural stone countertops and flooring, which help keep the space cool during the summer and warm during the winter, is another fix that is both decorative and energy efficient.
Even if your bathroom is on the smaller side, there are several things you can do to optimize the space and make it appear larger than it really is. One option is to replace the vanity with a designer pedestal sink, which will add intrigue to the room while taking up less space. You may also want to consider adding large floor tiles and painting the walls a light color to give the illusion of space. Switching out the current bathtub for one that is smaller, but more unique, is another quick fix that’ll add mass appeal.
If you’re looking for something really different, try hanging an entire row of plants along one wall. Or, incorporate multiple mirrors or even a chandelier into the space. Decorative glass, stone tile and extra-wide wall tiles remain popular options in 2013, according to home stagers.
Incorporating unconventional decorating themes will help your bathroom stand out while attracting a larger pool of prospective buyers.
For more bathroom renovation ideas, contact our office today.
Copyright© 2013 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished without permission.
Nothing beats cooking on an open flame. Whether you have a gas grill or a charcoal one, the smell of smoke and seasoning is always succulent and savory. But don’t learn grilling techniques by trial and error! Here are a few do’s and dont’s to keep in mind when you’re training to become the next grill master of the family!
