If you’re looking for a way to keep temperatures and cooling costs down in your home this summer – take it outside. Outdoor grilling will keep you from having to heat up the house by cooking in the kitchen and the need to offset that extra heat by turning down the thermostat. A simple charcoal grill is all that’s required but for those that prefer a complete outdoor kitchen there are many options. From stone and brick layouts to various countertop surfaces and a huge selection of grills and cooktops, you can have a gourmet kitchen right in your backyard. If you’d like more information on how to plan and create your Outdoor Kitchen please give us a call at 714-558-1094.

To get your outdoor cooking started, we’ve included the recipes below to create a meal that’s sure to please the entire family!

Grilled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce
(recipe courtesy of California Olive Ranch)

Ingredients:

• 1 (packed) cup fresh cilantro
• ¼ (packed) cup fresh oregano
• 1 (packed) cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
• 1½ tsp kosher salt, or to taste
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar, or to taste
• 2 Tbs freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¾ cup California Olive Ranch EVOO
• 1 (1¼-pound) skirt steak

Directions:

For the Chimichurri Sauce:

1. In a blender, combine the herbs, garlic, pepper flakes, salt, pepper, vinegar, lemon juice and California Olive Ranch EVOO.
2. Process to make a thick, textured puréed sauce.
3. Taste, and adjust the seasoning as needed with salt, pepper, pepper flakes and vinegar.

For the Skirt Steak:

1. Combine the skirt steak and 1/3 cup of the Chimichurri in a plastic zip-top bag; remove as much air as possible. Place in the refrigerator and marinate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight. Reserve the remaining Chimichurri to use as a sauce.
2. Remove the steak from the marinade, and discard. Shake off the excess, then pat dry with paper towel; allow to come to room temperature for 30 minutes.
3. Preheat the grill to medium-high. Clean and oil the grates to prevent sticking. Grill until the meat is seared and crusty on the outside and medium-rare on the inside (internal temperature 130° to 135°F), about 3 to 4 minutes per side. For medium, cook to 140° to 145°F.
4. Allow the steak to rest for at least 5 minutes, then slice across the grain on the diagonal into thin slices. Serve with Chimichurri Sauce.

Grilled Avacados

Ingredients:

• 8 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, and halved
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grilling
• 2 lemons, juiced
• S & P, to taste

Directions:

• Preheat the grill
• Place peeled and pitted avocado halves in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice and sprinkle with salt & pepper
• Place avocados on the grill, cut side down. Grill for 1 full minute on each side.  That’s it!

Grilled Cheese Bread:

Ingredients:

Over the past few months I have found that there are endless possibilities for internet marketing and client communication. We have implemented many of these options not only in an effort to increase our sales but also to improve our communication with clients, trade partners and colleagues.

In a previous post we announced that we were now available on Twitter, Facebook, Flicker, Linked In and more. Now I would like to find out what social media services you all use. I will be the first to admit my embarrassing social media addiction – I am a Facebook junkie. I love being able to keep up with friends, family, colleagues and companies that I’ve done business with in the past. I love that it’s so easy to use and that I can tell everyone at once my latest adventures in Motherhood on my personal page and share new products and Remodeling news on the Burgin Construction business page. So there, it’s out in the open now…Hi, my name is Shannon and I’m a Facebookaholic!

Now that I’ve kicked this off, I want to know where you spend your online time. Are you a Facebook nut like me? Do you spend your time networking on Linked In? Or are you more apt to be found Tweeting every hour about anything and everything? Please post in the comments which you use the most and please add/follow/network with us.  If embarrassment is still an issue for you feel free to email me at shannon@burginco.com or just visit one of our many pages below and add us so that I don’t feel so lonely out here in this gigantic world of social media. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me!

Burgin Construction was featured in this month’s issue of Builder and Developer Magazine. Owner Brad Burgin discussed the current state of the Remodeling Industry and future of the company as well as some of the current trends in the industry. Click on the image below to go directly to the magazine’s website and read the article on page 50.

Dacor’s Get It While It’s Hot promotion extends through December 31, 2009 with enhanced appliance packages that everyone will love! With the purchase of Dacor’s qualifying package models, you will receive a FREE eligible reward model. You can save up to $4,760!

Call us at 714-558-1094 for details on qualifying package models.

The Burgin Construction family would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Independence Day holiday. As we spend the weekend with our family and friends in celebration of our freedom, we will be keeping in mind all of those who have served our Country in order to secure that freedom. To our troops serving at home and abroad as well as their families who sacrifice so much – THANK YOU!!!

For anyone planning to handle their own fireworks shows this weekend, the link below from Kids Health provides safety tips for staying safe:

Fireworks Safety