Have you ever wanted to relax on a nice summer day without being exposed to all those outdoor nuisances? Do you ever have the desire to sit in a rocking chair and relax…Read more about Screened-In Porch

Grilled Rib Eye with Arugula

Pre-heat your grill to about 350-375 degrees.

I think rib-eyes are best served very simply, rub them with a little olive oil, sea salt and fresh ground pepper on both sides, place on a clean grill, about 2-3 minutes turn the meat ¼ to the right or left to create a hatch mark. When the blood comes to the surface turn over to finish, I like my thermometer to read about 137 degrees. Remember this is a tender cut of beef, do not over cook it, best if served rare. The rule is if it’s a tender, cook it hot and fast. If it’s tough, low and slow.

Serve with Arugula greens, Arugula can be found just about any where now, but you can buy them at their freshest at the farmer’s market. Toss with a little good balsamic (I know that’s a little old hat, but it’s still good) and a good olive oil, sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Slice the rib eye across the grain thinly, laid across the green. Shave a little Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese on top. This will serve two guys easily.

Enjoy!!! If you would like to contact me, Cathie Mooers, about information on Viking, recipes or cooking classes. e-mail me at cmooers@kimballinc.com

Have a great summer.
Cathie

Cold Soup is great this time of year…. Gazpacho being one of my favorites….grill what you can and you will have a great smoky flavor. I would double this, it will go fast. If fresh corn is in season I would throw that in too.

Smokey Gazpacho Recipe by Cathie Mooers
Because we are going to grill the vegetables, do not cut too small before you grill. You will be using a food processor to blend.

2 pounds vine-ripe medium tomatoes, cut in half, seeded and lightly oiled
1 hot house cucumbers, cut length wise, seeded, and lightly oiled
1 red or yellow bell pepper, cut in half, cored, seeded, and lightly oiled
1 medium onion, cut in half and lightly oiled
2 garlic cloves, chopped
3 cups spicy tomato juice
1 to 2 tbs chili powder
1 tablespoon sugar
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup sherry wine vinegar
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 handful fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
1/2 lemon, juiced
Garnishes:
Chopped tomato
Chopped cucumber
Chopped bell pepper
Chopped onion
Lemon wedges
Grill the tomatoes till soft, peppers until the skin has blackened, onion until soft. Take off the grill and cool. Using a food processor; add the tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Puree the ingredients until almost smooth, leaving a little texture. Pour the vegetable mixture into a large bowl; stir in the tomato juice, sugar, chili pepper, salt, pepper, vinegar, oil, cilantro, and lemon juice until well combined. Refrigerate the soup for at least 2 hours until very well chilled; the flavors will develop as it sits. Season the gazpacho again with salt and pepper before serving. Serve in bowls with desired garnishes.

If you would like to contact me, Cathie Mooers, Culinary Director for Kimball Distributing. cmooers@kimballinc.com

Close your eyes, breath deeply, just relax……….picture this!!!!

It’s HOT, everyone is here, nice little jingle playing on your I-Pod, people are dangling there feet in the pool, there is umbrella for some shade, the grill it’s loaded, rib-eyes, chicken on skewers and nice assortment of veggies cooking, you already have the strawberries and pineapple ready to hit the grill for dessert, with the homemade ice cream. Everything the best and freshest you can buy, and of coarse it is on your Viking Grill with the roasteries you used last week for the prime rib you cooked, along with the smoker box and the infared burner to just sear those rib eyes to perfection…whoever wants a cold one can just reach into the beverage cooler and pull it out for themselves…The sink is ready for preparation and clean-up. Garbage is in the stainless steel cabinets, along with a multiple drawers for storage. Can life get any-better. Yea…I going to give you some great recipes too.

Summer time is a GREAT time for cooking, there are tons of fresh fruits and vegetables ready to buy from local growers. Everything just taste better, plus it’s okay to over eat, did I say over eat, yes. It’s okay to over eat your fruits and veggies, just make the meat the side dish.

You can grill anything, vegetables-fruits that are grilled are very sweet, the heat makes the sugar come to the surface. So go ahead grill mushrooms, squashes, onions, cabbages, carrots, that goes for fruits too. The trick is don’t cut everything too small, cut tomatoes, squashes, onions in half. Large mushrooms, strawberries whole. When you are looking at what you are going to cook, if you can cook it whole and still be able to slice it and serve, go for it. If it needs a little preparation, them maybe one cut with the knife will suffice. Also remember to add a little oil to every thing you cook, it will help with it not sticking.
Recipes to follow.

Since we desert dwellers seem to have this love affair with green grass and lush lawns, it should be mandatory for all home owners to pay a visit to the newly opened Central Utah Gardens, just off the University Parkway in Orem.

Built by the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, this incredibly well thought out Garden is the perfect place to come and learn how to save more precious drops of water while creating a beautiful landscape at home or the office.

Along with the tall grasses and native plants, there are wonderful displays featuring plants that do well in the shade…or the hot Utah sun. There are two miniature model homes, each featuring different landscapes…one which conserves water, and the other??? Not so much! You need to learn more about water sprinklers? There’s a great demonstration area for that. And so much more…get the picture? If you need advice, Megan Guenther, the conservation horticulturalist, and her staff, will be happy to show you around and answer your questions.
Central Utah Garden has a great layout that makes it easy to get around…identify plants…and get ideas you can take home for your own landscaping project. If you are disabled, don’t worry. The walkways and ramps make Central Utah Garden accessible to you too!

So if it’s time to start saving water in your yard…first, watch Joy Bossi’s Water Wise segments Sundays on ABC4’s Hot Homes of Utah. Then, come visit the Central Utah Gardens in Orem. And that my friends…is how to have joy in YOUR garden!

We see it on the shower curtain. We witness it growing in the basement. We notice it whenever we enter into a moist area of the house–that mildew-y smell. But what exactly…Read more about Mildew Removal

I like saving energy. And I like saving money. And I likethe idea of doing both of those things at the same time. But I guess I never thought the whole subject could be interesting…or entertaining. That was before Johnny Biscuit took over the Energy Star beat for Hot Homes of Utah.

Thanks to “The Biscuit”…I now know the definition of fenestration. I am now an expert on blown insulation…blower door tests…low E glass and yes, the sticky subject of mastic! And it’s not just about me saving my money. At the risk of being overly dramatic, it’s also about saving the planet.

O-k…I’m done preaching. Suffice to say, kudos to Johnny B…one of the quickest wits in the West. He’s taken what could be considered a “dry” subject and injected a little life…a little humor…into the Energy Star features he’s been doing on Hot Homes. You can actually watch his stuff…and learn something. And then, go shop for an Energy Star rated home, built by Energy Star rated builders. Not all of ‘em are, which is something I didn’t realize till Mr. Biscuit brought it to my attention.

Sooo…if you’re in the market for a new home…make sure you ask the builder what he or she knows about fenestration, low E glass, blower door tests and…last but not least…mastic! If they give you a blank expression (which is something I’ve gotten from some supposed high end builders when I’ve asked them these questions) then go find a builder with the Energy Star sticker in the window. As Johnny Biscuit says…the comfort and savings are in the details!
Energy Star Videos

After growing up in the mundane Midwest, I never cease to be amazed by the amazing settings in which people live out here in Utah. You can choose from a mountain, desert or waterside setting. But where do you find the best of all worlds? Summerhill by Bangerter Homes in nearby Saratoga Springs.

Just got a sneak peak at this great development that sits on the western shores of Utah Lake. Let’s see…you’ve got the boat ramp 3 minutes away…the golf course, just across the street. And when you open you’re garage door, you ride right into the rugged terrain that’s perfect for ATV’s and motorcycles.

Don’t get the wrong idea though. The great lifestyle at Summerhill isn’t the only reason to buy a Bangerter Home. Yeah, I know…they’re not exactly the least expensive home on the market. But I figure that means this is a builder who’s actually being up front and honest with you…and actually building you a quality home. It’s about value…and the Bangerter brothers have got that going for them. All day.

As for the location…it’s not as far as you think. Seriously. I timed it. 34 minutes from Summerhill to the 6th South off ramp. About 25 minutes to Provo. There’s plenty of shopping out this way…with a new strip mall just 5 minutes up the road. And you know there’s more to come. Business follows the people and people are moving out this way in droves. They must know something…like the early bird gets the worm. Buy now and watch land values (and the value of your own home) increase all around you.

Prove it to yourself. Take the short drive out to Saratoga Springs and discover the active lifestyle…golf, boating, dirt-biking…at Summerhill by Bangerter Homes.

“Taste for the Cure”
(formerly “Cook for the Cure”)

Save this date!!!!! October 20, 2007
$40.00 per person

Exciting Demonstrations from Local Chefs”TOP CHEF” Competition with celebrity Judges

Tasting from Salt Lake’s Finest Restaurants

Silent and Live Auction

Location:

Kimball Distributing
2233 South 300 East
Salt Lake City

For more information call Diane @ 264-8692

Tickets on sale July 1 @ www.komenslc.org

Maybe it’s just me…

But after watching Hot Homes for all these years, it seems to me the most beautiful homes in the state…the most creative, most artistic, most innovative homes…are being built in the desert of Southern Utah!

Whether it’s Kayenta, or the Cliffs…the Palisades or The Ledges…the guys down south seem to consistently build the “wow” factor into the homes they build in red rock country.

Lately, I’ve become a big fan of Steve Dockstader…who prides himself on never building the same floor plan twice. Every Dockstader home is a custom home in the truest sense of the word. There isn’t another one like it…and there never will be. I love the enormous, panoramic windows…the welcoming court-yards…the light, bright kitchens accented with turrets…and the incredible backyard settings he creates. Did you catch the “cave hideaway” in the Facer home? Very cool…tucked under the rock cliffs created by the pool that overlooks Snow Canyon.

The Ledges is another location Steve Dockstader’s been building in. But he’s not the only builder at this premiere golf course community…which you’d better play now while you can. It will only be open to the public for a limited time. Great course, great clubhouse, excellent fine dining in the Fish Rock Grille. I hear Jimmy Zuffelt will soon be building patio homes for those of us who might not have a million to spend, but still want to enjoy the Ledges lifestyle! By the way, that lifestyle will soon include a world class spa…AND a Jack Nicklaus Golf Academy, complementing this Tom Fazio layout!
Two other builders down south who’ve got my attention…are Chris Hart with Signature Homes, and Kurt Thompson with KDT Construction. Kurt creates the most amazing homes in Kayenta, using green build construction techniques. His homes aren’t just beautiful…they don’t just fit in with the surrounding landscape…they’ll also last about 150 years!

Chris Hart’s homes are timeless in their own special way. If you’ve been through one of his Parade Homes in February, you know exactly what I’m talking about. “Magic” was this past year’s entry in the Southern Utah Parade and it lived up to expectations. Built for a client who is, honestly, a magician…Chris’ creation was customized for this special client. All the way down to the accommodations for the clients pets. There’s a special air conditioned room for the dogs, just off the master closet. The room has a dogie door leading to a fenced in yard with artificial grass and yes, a wading pool complete with a flowing fountain. I over-heard a woman wondering if the builder and his client had lost their minds. I offered that the word “dog” is G-d spelled backwards and that these creatures deserved a home like this. The woman wasn’t amused…but the dogs are happy!

Two other developments to consider down south. Trail Ridge Estates in Toquerville is just about done putting in the streets, utilities, parks, etc. Phase 1 is sold out…but Phase 2 is opening up. It’s only 15 minutes north of St. George…the lot prices are significantly lower and the terrain is incredible. In fact, Trail Ridge is aptly named, sitting at the trail head for 1,000’s of miles of ATV trails. You’ll be able to ride out of your garage, down the street, and into the rough & tumble desert landscape.

And last but not least…Zion Ridge, on the east rim of Zion National Park, is one of the best kept secrets in the country. Incredible high desert scenery, rustic luxury in the custom homes built on HUGE lots in the trees, and a full service resort just a mile or so away with all the amenities. Best of all, you’re sitting on the rim of Zion National Park, peering down into one of the world’s true treasures . The folks at Zion Ridge will pick you up and drive you home after your hike down into Zion National Park. Gotta love that…and the hot tub too! The Neeleman family (yes, David Neeleman of Jet Blue fame) has done an amazing job developing this community and preserving the natural landscape.

So, if you’re getting ready to retire…or looking for a new place for a fresh start for a new life…make sure you give Southern Utah a good, long look. You just might be pleasantly surprised by the builders, developments and lifestyle that await you in the red-rock country of the Beehive State…surrounded by mountains, lakes, deserts, ski resorts & national parks. And all of this…is just 2 hours from Las Vegas!