Designs by BSB

Kitchen & Bath resources for consumers

Archive for February, 2010

What’s Cookin? Chicken Saltimbocca

Feb 22

Posted by Becky Sue Becker, CKD, CAPS in What's Cooking?

To print/save recipes, click on the red arrow

Surely you have enjoyed this dish at your favorite Italian Restaurant?  Well here is a simple recipe for you to enjoy at home ~ your family will love it!  Recommended side dishes:   Fettuccine Alfredo, fresh steamed green beans or broccoli

chicken saltimbocca

view~print~save recipeChicken Saltimbocca

  • 1/2 Cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 Cup dry vermouth or white wine
  • 2 Tsp juice from 1 lemon
  • 8 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, -Pound To Even Thickness
  • 4 Tbl unsalted butter, Chilled
  • 1 Tbl minced fresh parsley leaves
  • 1 Tbl minced fresh sage leaves
  • 8 thin slices prosciutto
  • 8 Large Sage Leaves, Optional
  • 4 Tbl olive oil
  • Table salt & Ground black pepper

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. Combine flour and 1 teaspoon pepper in shallow dish.
2. Pat cutlets dry with paper towels. Dredge chicken in flour, shaking off any excess. Lay cutlets flat and sprinkle evenly
with minced sage. Place 1 prosciutto slice on top of each cutlet, pressing lightly to adhere; set aside.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until beginning to shimmer. Add sage leaves (if using)
and cook until leaves begin to change color and are fragrant, about 15 to 20 seconds. Using slotted spoon, remove sage to
paper towel-lined plate; reserve. Add half of cutlets to pan, prosciutto-side down, and cook until light golden brown, 2 to 3
minutes. Flip and cook on other side until light golden brown, about 2 minutes more. Transfer to wire rack set on rimmed
baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Repeat with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and cutlets, then transfer to oven to keep
warm while preparing sauce.
4. Pour off excess fat from skillet. Stir in vermouth, scraping up any browned bits, and simmer until reduced to about 1/3
cup, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in lemon juice. Turn heat to low and whisk in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Off heat, stir in
parsley and season with salt and pepper. Remove chicken from oven and place on platter. Spoon sauce over cutlets before
serving.

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eco™

Feb 18

Posted by Becky Sue Becker, CKD, CAPS in Counter Tops, Product Reviews

A counter top that won’t melt—or scratch, stain or scorch.
And it is one of the most GREEN products on the market !

eco by cosentino2

Glass never wears out – it can be recycled forever. Every month, American´s throw out enough glass bottles and jars to fill up a giant skyscraper.  A glass bottle can take up to one million years to breakdown.  On the other hand, Americans recycle nearly 13 million glass jars & bottles every day.

eco countertops polar capEco™ by Cosentino is ahead of their time, and prove to be GREEN at best. Production of their counter tops is expected to reuse the equivalent of 60 Million glass bottles every year!  The only use products that have reached the end of their lifecycle – this means materials being used in ECO™ by Cosentino cannot be incorporated in to any other industrial product that would otherwise collect in landfills.

-mirrors salvaged from houses, building and factories

-glass from windshields, windows and bottles

-granulated glass from consumer recycling practices
porcelain from china, tiles, sinks, toilets and ECO by Cosentino elements

-an eco-friendly resin with 22% of its composition coming from vegetable origin (mainly corn)

    The Green Collection is composed of colors containing 75% post-industrial recycled raw materials.  Polar Cap, Crystal Ash and Starlight are made mainly from recycled mirror. While the colors Luna and Crystal Sand are composed mainly from recycled glass and porcelain. The color Black Forest is composed mostly of recycled glass and quarried stone.

    The Revive Collection is composed of 75% post-consumer recycled raw materials.  The colors Terra, Riverbed and Iron Ore are mainly composed of from recycled glass, mirrors and industrial furnace residuals and White Diamond is mainly composed of recycled glass.

    Eco Colors

    Click on the logo below to learn more.

    logo-eco-by-cosentino

    recycled surfaces

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    Caring for your Granite

    Feb 17

    Posted by Becky Sue Becker, CKD, CAPS in Counter Tops, Editorials

    Natural stone counter tops are known for their durability, some more than others, but they are mainly known for their natural beauty. To keep them looking great, they must be cleaned and well looked after.

    This guide will give you a general idea of how to care for your counter tops and how to maintain their beauty.

    Granite Island Top

    The easiest way to keep your stone looking great is to avoid bad habits that will damage it. All stones are different and their differences require varying degrees of maintenance, but if you use proper cleaning procedures and follow general stone care you’ll eliminate most potential problems.

    The Do’s

    • Clean up spills immediately. Wine, fruit juices, coffee, and sodas will leave stains if left alone for long periods of time. Cooking oils will also stain if not wiped up. Absorption of stains depends on the condition of your sealer.
    • Use hot water with a soft cloth or sponge for quick clean-ups. Soapy water will work but use a mild soapy water, as harsh detergents or oily dirty water can cause build up.
    • Use coasters under all beverages, bottles and cans. They will not scratch the surface and if using coasters on dense and/or properly sealed granite is not an absolute necessity but on marble it is critical. Coasters are just a good practice to protect all surfaces.
    • Use trivets and hot pads under hot pots and pans. It is impossible to burn or melt granite or marble countertops but the sealer can be damaged from excessive heat. Extreme heat can cause natural stone to crack or pieces to pop out.
    • Use cutting boards. This is more for the protection of your knives but also just to avoid the possibility of scratching the surface. Cutting on stone will dull your knives quickly. Heavy pressure on a good knife may mark the surface of granite and will mark marble.

    The Don’ts

    • Do not use bleaches, glass cleaners and degreasers contain acids that will harm your countertops over the course of time. It will also degrade the sealer leaving the stone more prone to staining.
    • Do not use bathroom, tub and tile or grout cleaners. The powders and even the “soft” creams have abrasives that will scratch and dull surfaces.
    • Do not place toiletry products directly on your countertops. They can stain or etch the polish (especially on marble) leaving a ring. Protect your countertop by placing these items on decorative protective tray.
    • Do not stand or sit on top of your countertops. Natural stone countertops are very hard but they do not have any flexibility, so too much weight in one spot may cause the stone to crack.

    Granite Island Painted Blue Kitchen

    To sum up, clean your countertops with hot water and a sponge to wipe up spills and debris. Use a stone cleaner in the most heavily used areas, which will adequately clean d protect your countertops.

    On a weekly basis, use a stone cleaner over the entire surface. Good habits and general knowledge of how to care to for your countertops are the best way to maintain and keep your counters looking great.

    Seal your counter top annually to maintain the protection and to minimize the potential for stains. Sealer is easily applied at home and is available at most big box stores such as Lowes or Home Depot. Follow the directions on the container.

    If you are interested in a lifetime warranty for your Granite, visit my post regarding Granite Shield!

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    What’s Cookin? Pork w/Apple Sage Sauce

    Feb 15

    Posted by Becky Sue Becker, CKD, CAPS in What's Cooking?

    To print/save recipes, click on the red arrow

    Once upon a time I knew pork as only one thing:  pork chops ‘n applesauce!  It was such a staple in my childhood years that I say that with a ♫ slight tune ♫ to the words!  But it lacked flavor, was dried out and often times I grabbed the ketchup bottle to make the last bites tolerable.

    Over the last 5 years I have been cooking with them once again.  It did not take me long to realize that pork is very versatile and can be quite fun to cook with!   Apples with pork is by far one of my favorite combinations! This recipe is straight forward and sure to be a pleasing to even kids!   This low carb style dish will be much more pleasing using fresh sage.

    view~print~save recipe Pork Medallions with Apple Sage Sauce

    1 Tsp table salt
    1/2 medium onion, sliced thin (about 1/2 cup)
    1/2 Tsp ground black pepper
    1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound), cut into 1″ slices
    1/3 Cup apple cider
    3 Tbl applejack or brandy
    2 Tbl olive oil
    1/2 Cup Chicken Broth
    1 Tbl unsalted butter
    2 Tbl FRESH sage leaves, Minced  (or 1T dried)
    1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored & cut into 12 slices
    1/4 Cup heavy cream  (or Half & Half works well too!)
    Table salt and ground black pepper

    1. Sprinkle salt and pepper over both sides of pork slices. Heat oil until shimmering in heavy-bottomed pan, at least 10
    inches across bottom, over medium-high heat, swirling pan to distribute oil. Working in batches of no more than six slices
    to avoid overcrowding, sear medallions without moving them until brown on one side, about 80 seconds (oil should sizzle,
    but not smoke). Turn medallions with tongs to avoid scraping off the sear; sear until meat is mostly opaque at sides, firm to
    the touch, and well browned, about 80 seconds. Transfer pork to plate.
    2. Melt butter in pan in which pork was cooked over medium-high heat, swirling to distribute. Add apple and onion; saut
    until apple starts to brown, about 4 minutes. Add cider and applejack or brandy; boil, scraping pan bottom with wooden
    spatula to loosen browned bits, until liquid reduces to a glaze, about 2 1/2 minutes. Increase heat to high; add stock or
    broth, sage, and any accumulated pork juices; boil until liquid reaches consistency of maple syrup, about 3 minutes. Add
    cream; boil until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.
    3. Reduce heat to medium; return pork to pan, turning meat to coat. Simmer to heat pork thoroughly and blend flavors,
    about 3 minutes. Adjust seasonings, adding salt and pepper to taste. Transfer pork to serving plate and spoon sauce over
    meat. Serve immediately.

    Recommended sides:  Steamed green beans, Broiled Asparagus and/or Mashed Potato.

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    10 Commandments of Design

    Feb 12

    Posted by Becky Sue Becker, CKD, CAPS in TRENDS

    From space-saving designs to the latest in sophisticated style, our design tips are made with you and your dream kitchen in mind.

    1.   Learn what inspires you.

    No longer do we need to classify ourselves into a particular design style. Design today is about bringing together a variety of elements that inspire you. Maybe you’re mostly traditional, but a sleek-lined contemporary faucet really inspires you. Don’t be afraid to mix and match-just make it your own unique style.

    2.   Don’t settle on decorative items just to fill space.

    The decorative elements in a room should be functional and inspirational. When searching for these items, don’t settle on something that you are not sold on just because it fits your room or budget. If you can’t afford to purchase the items that you love and will make you enjoy the room-be sure to wait. Leaving walls bare or rooms empty for a while will be worth the wait to have the perfect room.

    3.   Make a plan.

    It’s like the saying “measure twice, cut once.” Be sure that you have a plan before you start designing any room. This will ensure that the room will function the way that you need it to and it will help to make the entire design more cohesive.

    4.    Invest in quality.

    With more homeowners interested in design be wary of discount retailers. Just because it’s pretty, doesn’t mean it’s quality. Buy brands that you know and trust. It may cost you a little more initially, but will provide you better results in the long run.

    5.    Embrace color.

    Color is a great way to infuse your personality into a room, so don’t be afraid to use it! Find what shades make you happy and add some life to your room. Especially in smaller rooms that you don’t use as often, such as a powder room, let your creativity run wild and express your personality through color.

    6.   Decorate for you, not your neighbor.

    While styles and trends are great ways to get new ideas to spruce up a room, don’t base your entire design around what you think will impress your guests. Make sure that your style is uniquely yours. Remember-you have to live with your design choices every day, not your neighbors!

    7.   Pay attention to lighting.

    In addition to the functional aspects, lighting also helps to set the mood or add design to a room. Try different types of lighting, such as incandescent or halogen, or use lighting fixtures, such as sconces and chandeliers as part of your design theme.

    8.   Incorporate art.

    Many homeowners think expensive price tags when they think of art. However, art doesn’t have to have a high monetary value as long as it has high personal value. Framing personal photographs of your favorite vacation can add a beautiful statement to a room, while making it uniquely your own. Even a unique faucet and sink as the focal point of a room can be considered art!

    9.   Be sure to utilize all six room surfaces: four walls, a floor and ceiling.

    If you’re like most homeowners, when it comes to decorating, you only think about the four walls and floor of a room. But don’t forget the ceiling. If there is no crown molding in a room, there is no reason to not extend the color on the walls into the ceiling to create a cohesive, never-ending look to the room. Just be sure to choose a ¼ lighter shade of paint on the ceiling since horizontal planes tend to look darker than vertical planes. Also, be sure to choose quality surfaces for your flooring. As the most used surface in a room, quality that will withstand foot traffic is essential.

    10.   Be sure your room design fits with the rest of your home.

    With open floor plans becoming more popular, it is important that you consider how your new design will fit or flow into the other rooms of your home. Consider how the color schemes or design styles fit together. Pull your favorite elements from one room into another, such as coordinating the metal finishes of the faucets and hardware of the kitchen into the metal surfaces of the lamps and coffee tables of the great room.

    Source: Moen Incorporated

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    What’s Cooking? Blue Cheese Chips

    Feb 3

    Posted by Becky Sue Becker, CKD, CAPS in What's Cooking?

    Looking for a new dish to dazzle your friends at the Super Bowl this coming weekend?   This is it!   I first discovered this dish at one of my favorite restaurant on the Square in Downtown Lawrenceville, McCray’s Tavern.  Thereafter, I had tried them at Taco Mac in Suwanee!  But, hands down McCray’s Tavern served up the best plate ~ mounded high!  Taco Mac lacked several of the ingredients and their toppings were rather sparse.  So, the foodie I am I decided to tackle this dish at home … my diet plan has took a hit every since! :}

    So go out, test for yourself … then come back download (see red arrow by recipe name) & print this recipe and EnJOY in the privacy of your own home too!

    Blue Cheese Chips

    Blue Cheese Chips red-white-pearl-download-arrow

    Requires no fancy prepping or cooking, simply layer the dish in the order below!  Serves 4-6 people as an appetizer. 2-4 people as a meal :D

    • 1 bag of Kettle Chips – spread evening over a large platter
    • 1 cup of your favorite blue cheese dressing – WARM in microwave
    • 6 slices of bacon, cooked & crumbled
    • 5 scallions, sliced thin
    • 4 oz crumbled blue cheese (Gorgonzola is my favorite)
    • 2 medium tomatoes, diced small

    ENJOY !!

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    Bathroom Color ~ Popular Palettes

    Feb 2

    Posted by Becky Sue Becker, CKD, CAPS in TRENDS

    Sage green bathroom
    Sage green has become a popular choice for Zen-themed bathrooms.

    Whites
    Plenty of articles and television shows implore you to make a bold color statement in your bathroom, yet most people still prefer soft and neutral tones.

    “If I sold 50 bathrooms last year, 48 of them were either white or bisque,” says Mark Karas, a certified master kitchen and bath designer and 2008 Vice President of the National Kitchen & Bath Association. “There are usually a couple of people who will say something like, ‘I really want that cobalt blue.’ But my average customer is still using white or the bisque.”

    The small size of the typical bathroom is one reason light colors are favored, says Quinn Larson, a color trends specialist with paint manufacturer Behr. “Color- or neutral-tinted whites have expansionary qualities that create a more open, airy feel in a small space,” explains Larson.

    In addition to using soft colors and whites on the walls, white plumbing fixtures—toilets, tubs and sinks—are often used. While different colors are available, white tubs, toilets and sinks tend to be less expensive than their colorful counterparts. A 2008 NKBA style barometer survey of 200 kitchen and bath dealers and designers showed that white was the most popular plumbing fixture color for 84 percent of the panel’s clients.

    While fixtures usually come in a true white, using a true white paint is usually not the best choice, Larson cautions. “Though light and clean, they don’t create areas of comfort,” she says. “Use color-tinted whites, off whites or colors instead.”

    Beiges and Browns
    Outside of whites, the NKBA style survey found that beiges and bones were the most popular color scheme for bathrooms. Browns also ranked high.

    “The browns are safe,” says Denise Turner of Color Turners, a color consulting company. “[Consumers] are putting things into their home that are safe and are looking at things like resale value.”

    Bathroom cabinets made from wood will obviously come in many shades of brown, while popular flooring materials such as slate, travertine and porcelain ceramic often contain brown and beige earth tones.

    Greens
    If you think using white, beige and brown in the bathroom represents surrendering to the status quo, then consider a more colorful alternative: green. Colors found in the natural world, Larson notes, especially those in the green family, have become popular choices.

    “Lime greens in all values and intensities can be seen in almost every industry,” she says.

    The NKBA’s 2008 style survey revealed mints and greens as a popular bath colors, and Turner sees that as a trend that should stick around.

    “The greens have been good sellers for a while and we don’t expect that trend to go anywhere,” she says. “Green is historically a good seller when the economy is slow.”

    Sage green is a popular choice in Zen and Asian-style baths, which according to the NKBA’s style survey, was one of the three most requested bath styles by clients according to 17 percent of the polled dealers and designers.

    Source: IBaths.com

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