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18 Sep

3 Delicious Grilled Fruit Recipes

Categories Grills, Recipes

Have you ever tried grilled fruit recipes before? If not, now is the perfect time to do so. Grilling fruits is a great way to harness their natural sugars. They become juicier, sweeter, and even retain a smoky flavor. Rest assured that you’ll love the grilled fruit recipes we’ve prepared for you. Discover how you can make your fruits more delicious.

Experiment with sweet and smokey flavors by trying these grilled fruit recipes! #CreekstoneOutdoors Share on X

Try These Fruit Grilling Ideas

Grilling can make your favorite fruit tastier, especially when it’s fresh, ripe, and firm. However, you should note that some fruits grill better than others. Some great choices include pineapples, bourbon peach, blueberries, apricots, and plums. Let’s take a look at some grilled fruit recipes for the first three fruits mentioned.

  1. Pineapple teriyaki sliders
  2. Blueberry dump cake
  3. grilled pork tenderloin w/bourbon peach BBQ sauce

1) Pineapple Teriyaki Sliders

While the smoky scent of beef and bacon in this burger is enticing, the grilled pineapple makes it sweeter.

Ingredients

  • 4-8 slices of cooked bacon
  • 2 pounds medium ground beef
  • 8 COBS Gourmet slider buns
  • ¼ cup Club House La Grille 30 Minute Teriyaki Marinade and a ¼ cup for basting
  • Extra old/sharp cheddar cheese

Directions

  • In a large bowl, mix Steakhouse Onion Burger Seasoning, Teriyaki Marinade, and ground beef by hand. Place patties that are a bit larger than slider buns onto a sheet of waxed paper. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes
  • As the slider patties chill in the fridge, make the pickled onion. Use this recipe to prepare quick pickled onions.
  • Preheat your grill to 450°F, and place the bacon on a foil-lined tray and onto the grill as it preheats.
  • Once the temperature has risen, grill the slider patties and pineapple over direct heat. Baste the patties using teriyaki marinade and flip the sliders and pineapples after forming grill marks.
  • Place the cut sides of COBS Bread Gourmet Slider Buns onto the Warming Rack Baking Stone to toast.
  • Grill the sliders up to an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove everything on the grill and top the sliders with cheddar while preparing the pineapple sauce
  • Cut the pineapple into pieces then remove the core portion. Mince the pineapple cuts, leaving a few pieces for garnish. Stir the fruit in the sour cream.
  • Assemble the burgers with the sauce on the bottom bun. Top it with a patty, then with pickled onion and some sauce on top. Garnish it with a pineapple piece on a toothpick through the bun’s top.

2) Blueberry Dump Cake

Blueberry dump cake can be a great dessert for everyone. Thankfully, it’s easy to prepare and cook in no time.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 4 cups fresh blueberries
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 package yellow cake mix

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F
  • Mix sugar, berries, and cinnamon at the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch pan. Then, cover the berries with dry cake mix. Pour melted butter over the cake mix, but don’t stir.
  • Bake for 30 minutes, or until it turns light brown. You can serve warm or cold and even top with ice cream.

3) Grilled Pork Tenderloin w/Bourbon Peach BBQ Sauce

You can serve this flavorful and juicy grilled pork tenderloin with a unique barbecue sauce prepared using fresh peaches and bourbon.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup bourbon
  • 1 cup peach preserves
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon garlic chopped
  • Bourbon Peach Barbecue Sauce
  • 1/4 cup French’s® Tomato Ketchup
  • 2 pork tenderloins (about 2 pounds)
  • 1 tablespoon OLD BAY® Seasoning
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons OLD BAY® Seasoning

Directions

  • Rub pork with vegetable oil then season it with one tablespoon of OLD BAY and garlic
  • Mix peach preserves, bourbon ketchup, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of OLD BAY in a small bowl to form a barbecue sauce
  • Grill pork over medium heat for 25-30 minutes. Brush it with sauce during the last two minutes of cooking. Finally, slice and serve with the remaining sauce

Pro Tip: Pair this dish with your favorite iced tea or use leftover fruit for a cocktail of your choice!

Adding the Sweet Flavors of Fruit

Now that you know some grilled fruit recipes, you can quickly grill the fruits to make them sweeter and have some delicious summer dinners. Whether it is pineapple teriyaki sliders, blueberry dump cake, or grilled pork tenderloin with bourbon peach BBQ sauce, all grilled fruit recipes are incredible.

Connect with us for more easy fresh fruit recipes!

11 Sep

5 Gorgeous Outdoor Lighting Ideas for Your Backyard

Categories Custom Features, Design Inspiration

Nothing can make your outdoor living space more charming at night than elegant lighting in the backyard. As you relax at home on warm autumn nights, try these incredible lighting ideas for patios and other outdoor living spaces.

Kick back and enjoy a warm autumn night in your magical backyard! Try these beautiful backyard lighting ideas for a sparkling touch to your outdoor space. #Creekstone #backyarddesign Share on X

A Glowing Backyard Design

Few things are more inviting than a gently lit backyard after sunset. Even if darkness creeps in, you can comfortably extend your stay outdoors, whether in the garden, pool, or an outdoor room. Here are the backyard lighting ideas to make your yard look beautiful at night.

  1. Twinkling fairy lights
  2. Lit stairs
  3. Electric lanterns
  4. Inset pergola lights
  5. Illuminating trees or pillars

1) Twinkling Fairy Lights

If you’re planning a party or any other gathering in your backyard at night, illuminate the trees by adding twinkling fairy lights.These lights can be the best bet for your outdoor space. Use contrasting colors for an even more beautiful effect. You can also add evening effects, like moonlight, to develop a feeling of romance.

2) Lit Stairs

Another way to liven up your backyard is by lighting the stairs. If your home has outdoor staircases, install light fixtures on the stairs to allow residents to move into and out of the house with ease. Besides beautifying your backyard, it also helps your guests avoid tripping on the stairs in the dark.

3) Electric Lanterns

Hanging beautifully-designed electric lanterns around your backyard gives the area a bit more light without sacrificing aesthetics. The lamps are safe as they don’t produce any heat. You can also wire them with a timer to automatically light up at dusk. You can use fluorescent, incandescent, or LED, depending on the amount of light you want.

4) Inset Pergola Lights

If you have a pergola in your backyard, consider inserting some lights on the frame to light up the area. If there’s no electricity access near the pergola, you can light up the spaces around it with decorative solar-powered lights or a similar setup. Alternatively, hang a few battery-operated lanterns from your pergola for better lighting.

5) Illuminating Trees or Pillars

Small spotlights focusing on trees, pillars, or especially pretty plants in your backyard give the area an appealing glow. Better yet, since the lights are aimed away from your guests, they provide softer ambient light rather than blinding anyone. This setup also ensures your guests are far less likely to run into any obstacles in the dark!

Pro Tip: Whether you’re illuminating trees from the ground or wrapping them in light strands, different species or shapes will look better in different lighting. Talk to an expert for the best approach for your trees.

Choosing Ambient Lighting

It’s time to transform your yard into an elegantly illuminated masterpiece at night! All you need to do is select ambient lighting that matches your outdoor space. Experiment with different combinations of twinkling, ambient, or bright lights to find the right style for your hangout spot.

Connect with us for more backyard lighting ideas, tips, and tricks.

04 Sep

Labor Day 2020: How to Host a Backyard Barbecue Safely

Categories COVID-19, Outdoor Safety, Special Events

The first Monday in September is Labor Day, a federal holiday, and a time when we all grab our aprons and head outside to sizzle up some delicious barbecue and other treats. This year has been different, to say the least, with COVID-19 and the social distancing protocols we have all had to adhere to. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t have a safe backyard barbecue!

With Labor Day 2020 coming up, here are some tips to host a backyard barbecue safely: 

  • Spend the Day Outdoors
  • Keep Your Party Small
  • Handle Food & Drinks Properly

Labor Day 2020 doesn’t have to be a lonely affair! Here’s how to host a safe, socially distanced backyard party. #Creekstone #LaborDay2020 Share on X

Spend the Day Outdoors 

Plan to spend this upcoming national holiday outdoors. Even if someone at your party has the virus, the virus gets diluted outdoors and scatters in the wind, so your body will have a better time tackling the smaller quantities of virus that may be in the air. Here are a few ways to plan for your backyard barbecue:

  • Sketch your outdoor arrangement on paper: Your outdoor space must allow guests to stay six feet apart. Will you be grilling at your party or will it primarily be conversation and drinks? It’s also important to consider where the shaded areas will be and identify optimal seating arrangements so people can enjoy themselves while also staying safe and socially distanced.
  • Prep the bathroom: The bathroom is a high-risk area for contamination if it’s not prepared properly. To have a safer bathroom experience for all your guests, leave rolls of paper towels so people can turn the faucet on and off, open and close the door, etc. so that no high touch objects become a source for the infection.  
  • Share the grill, but encourage guests to BYOB: The grill’s high temperature will kill viruses, so it’s safe to share the grill with your guests. However, it is better to encourage guests to bring their own drinks and sides. Additionally, set up a separate table for visitors with individual bottles of hand sanitizer to avoid multiple people touching the same object and increase the chances of infection.

Keep Your Party Small

For your celebration, it’s important to keep the party small. Small is a relative term, and it really depends on the size of the outdoor space that you will be using. As long as guests can stay six feet apart, wear masks, and are socially distanced, then you should be able to host your barbecue safely. Check with your state’s policy as well on the maximum number of people that can be at a gathering. 

Pro Tip: For the sake of protecting your loved ones, make a list of guests that are more prone to contracting COVID-19 based on age, health status, and comfort level. 

Handle Food & Drinks Properly

Even if the guests are socially distanced, the virus can still be transmitted if two people touch the same item. To mitigate this risk, avoid shared dishes like chips, dips, and platters. Opt for disposable dishes and utensils. Additionally, be mindful of what foods are exposed to the heat for too long. Mayonnaise, for example, when exposed to warm weather for an extended period of time, can go bad and cause food illness. Since emergency rooms are packed these days, making a trip to the hospital for any reason could be difficult. 

Labor Day Celebration Unlike Any Other

Although this year has been different, you can still celebrate Labor Day with your family and loved ones. Be sure to review the safety tips and structure your outdoor environment to keep everyone safe!

Get in touch with us for more Labor Day 2020 ideas.

28 Aug

Barbecue Seasoning for Beginners

Categories Grills, Recipes

No recipe will make your meat tastier than barbecue seasoning, whether it’s steak, rib, or burger. Barbecue seasoning dominates the food world, especially here in the southern US. However, this cooking art goes beyond meat and sauce.

If you’ve never tried out barbecue recipes, you’re missing a lot. No dinner is complete without some well-barbecued meat, chicken pork, seafood, or vegetables. Get ready to learn how you can prepare a flavorful chicken, tender lamb, succulent beef, and tasty veggies. We’ll share the tips for barbecue seasoning.

Do you love cooking? Here are the best barbeque seasoning ideas to help you prepare a savory meal. #Creekstone #BBQ #recipes Share on X

Barbecuing vs. Grilling

While most people use the terms “grilling” and “barbecuing” interchangeably, they have two different meanings. While both refer to outdoor cooking of foods over heat sources, the factors that differentiate the two terminologies are the total cooking time and type of heat used to cook.

Barbecuing

When barbecuing meat, you slowly cook it using a circumvented unit of low-heat air in a large grill or smoker enclosed with a lid. You can barbecue any food at a temperature of 225°F-275°F. Barbecuing takes longer than grilling, making it the best strategy for cooking large chunks of meat. But since it requires a high level of expertise and patience, some people tend to prefer grilling to barbecuing.

Grilling

When grilling pork ribs or other meat, you heat it over direct high heat to cook quickly. While barbecuing is slow and uses low heat, grilling is fast and uses high heat. Some other foods that you can grill include boneless chicken breasts, sausages, hot dogs, hamburgers, steak, and seafood. However, grilling is not ideal for cooking a large piece of meat because the inside might remain uncooked.

BBQ Dry Rubs

Barbecue rubs are a mixture of several BBQ seasoning and spicing ingredients that add flavor when barbecuing meat. Plenty of people also use BBQ sauce on grilled foods. The two primary flavors in any BBQ rub are a salty and sweet taste.

For a basic dry rub, try this recipe from Allrecipes:

  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon salt

To prepare the BBQ rub, mix all the ingredients in a small bowl. Store the spice blends in an airtight container and keep it in a cool, dry place. This rub lasts up to three months when stored properly.

Pro Tip: If you’re using a dry rub that contains salt, cook the meat shortly after applying the seasoning. Salt draws moisture out of the meat, and if you leave it too long, the meat can start turning tough.

Marinades

A marinade is a liquid mixture of spices, herbs, and an acid (citrus or vinegar) that helps to tenderize meat and add flavor. All you should do is add some pieces of meat in the liquid and leave it to soak. The amount of time to marinate varies depending on the type of meat:

  • Chicken: Two hours and below
  • Fish: Between 30 and 60 minutes
  • Beef Meat: Around 24 or even more hours
  • Pork loin: About four hours
  • Lamb: Around four to eight hours

Preparing Savory Meals

Now that you know the basics of barbeque seasoning, you can prepare a scrumptious meal for your family, whether it’s meat, seafood, chicken, or veggies. Marinating and adding BBQ rub to your food will even make it zestier. Enjoy your upgraded cooking tactics!

Contact us to learn more about barbeque seasoning and outdoor grilling ideas.

21 Aug

Keep Your Pool Sparkling Clean with These Strategies

Categories Cleaning Pool, Maintenance

Would you want to swim in a dirty pool filled with algae, bacteria, and floating leaves? Of course not! A clean swimming pool keeps your backyard sparkling and more inviting. Discover why it’s essential to clean your pool regularly to enjoy swimming and minimize health risks for your family.

A clean swimming pool is fresh and more sanitary. Here are the tips to keep your pool sparkling clean and ready for fun. Share on X

In this guide, we’ll show you the strategies to keep your swimming pool clean. The good news is that cleaning a swimming pool is very simple and doesn’t require any expertise. Follow these instructions to minimize the dirt found in and around your pool:

  • Clear leaves & debris
  • Scrub the shell
  • Clean the water
  • Check the filters
  •  Enjoy your clean pool

Clear Leaves & Debris

Nothing is more disgusting than swimming in a pool full of debris like leaves, twigs, and dead bugs. Such contaminants will easily find their way into the pool when there are many trees around. If not removed, the debris can block the pool filters and damage the pool’s filtration system. Since leaves float on water, you can use a skimmer basket or leaf net to remove the debris. Skim the pool’s surface daily to prevent the trash from sinking to the bottom of your pool. 

Scrub the Shell

Failure to scrub the pool walls or shell regularly can result in a massive growth of algae. If you begin to see some algae growing, scrub the shell using a pool brush. The type of brush you use might depend on the material of the pool shell. Most brushes consist of stainless steel and nylon bristles. You can also use a robotic pool cleaner or a telescopic pole to clean hard-to-reach areas.

Clean the Water

As you remove leaves, twigs, and algae from your pool, don’t forget to check the water quality. Take samples of the pool water and test for chlorine levels and pH. Thankfully, there are many pH kits for measuring the pH in real-time. The pool water shouldn’t be too acidic or too high in alkaline. If that happens, neutralize the water by adding the right pool chemicals under professional guidance. 

Pro Tip: If your pool water appears to be oily, consider using a quality oil absorber to remove the excess oil from your swimming pool.

Check the Filters

Although removing leaves and debris from your pool can help to prevent the filters from blocking, it’s no doubt that some dirt will find their way into the filters. With the help of the manufacturer’s manual, backwash your clogged filters at least once every month. Consider washing it more frequently if your swimming pool gets dirty quickly. If a filter is too dirty to clean, replace it with a new cartridge filter.

Enjoy Your Clean Pool!

A clean swimming pool is not only visually appealing but also safe for your family. Remember to perform regular maintenance practices to keep the pool water crystal clear and your backyard looking fresh. Although cleaning the pool can be time-consuming, it will ultimately be worth the time in the long term as you’re able to keep using your pool.

Contact us for more information on maintaining a clean swimming pool.

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