What’s in the kitchen? Pear & Fennel Salad

I figured that since I like to cook and that I remodel kitchens quite frequently, I should share some of the recipes I find enjoyable. So that’s what I’m doing. The recipes will not be exclusively mine, but rather my version of someone elses creativity. So here we go….stay tuned for more….( to steal a line from a Food Network Star)…good eats.

Pear & Fennel Salad: Recipe courtesy Food Network Magazine

This is a recipe I’ve made twice now, I have to admit that I wasn’t sure how it would taste based on the ingredients. Initially, I had no idea what a fennel was. Wikipedia says fennel is:

“Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a plant species in the genus Foeniculum (treated as the sole species in the genus by most botanists). It is a member of the family Apiaceae (formerly the Umbelliferae). It is a hardy, perennial, umbelliferous herb, with yellow flowers and feathery leaves. It is indigenous to the shores of the Mediterranean, but has become widely naturalized in many parts of the world, especially on dry soils near the sea-coast and on riverbanks.

It is a highly aromatic and flavorful herb with culinary and medicinal uses, and, along with the similar-tasting anise, is one of the primary ingredients of absinthe. Florence fennel or finocchio is a selection with a swollen, bulb-like stem base that is used as a vegetable.”

And it looks like this:

The recipe goes as follows: Whisk 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar with ½ teaspoon anise seed, salt, and pepper in a serving bowl, then whisk slowly in 1/3 cup olive oil. Add one thinly sliced fennel bulb, two thinly sliced pears, and some parsley. Season with salt and pepper and toss. Top with shaved pecorino.

This is a great summer recipe and goes well with other citrus-themed meals (i.e. fish). I use extra virgin olive oil instead of regular olive oil. I also found that using pears that are on the green side is actually better. (I found that out by accident- there were no ripe pears available when I made this the first time.) The firmness of the pears adds crispness and the pears hold up better for tossing and eating. I let the salad rest at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving. Do not let the salad rest too long though or the fennel will start to wilt.

Enjoy

Good Luck

Jason Myrlie- J Carsten Homes & Remodeling

What is Soapstone?

Soapstone (staetite) is a naturally occuring metamorphic rock made up of mineral deposits created by nature and quarried from the earth.  The main mineral components in soapstone include talc, chlorite, dolomite and magnesite, giving a warm, soft feeling to the touch.  When cut, it oxidizes from light grey to dark charcoal in color. A light coat of mineral oil or soapstone wax makes its color and subtle flowing veins even more dramatic.

Durability
Practically indestructible, soapstone is an excellent alternative natural stone to use in place of granite or marble. Soapstone is naturally antibacterial, will not burn or stain and requires very little maintenance. Acids and alkalis will not etch soapstone as they will other stones. Soapstone has been a part of American homes since the early 1800’s; many homes today still contain working soapstone sinks and wood stoves built over 100 years ago!

Soapstone is a perfect choice for countertops, backsplashes and islands.
Its durable and dense surface possesses all the beauty of granite or marble with none of
the drawbacks. Acidic food and wine won’t etch soapstone as they will other stone surfaces. Hot pots can be placed directly on the surface, and soapstone is non-porous making it naturally antibacterial.

Customers choosing soapstone should be aware that while soapstone is very dense and non porous it is still likely that it will scratch.  Soapstone is best used in a setting where the distressed look is desirable.   The good news is that if you don’t like the scratches, they can be buffed out with fine grit sandpaper.  It is stongly recommended to mineral oil or wax after the scratches are buffed.  After the mineral oil or wax application the area should be much less conspicuous or completely gone.  Often what appears to be a scratch is actually the mineral oil or wax being removed from the surface.  Usually the “scratch” can be removed just by applying mineral oil to the area.  Many of our customers like the patina that develops over time with their soapstone countertops.  The mineral oil and wax will not rub off on your clothes or other material if wiped clean.

Care and Maintenance
There is actually no special maintenance required for soapstone.  Most of our customers choose to apply mineral oil or soapstone wax to the surface of their soapstone countertops, but it is not necessary.  These products are applied to the surface only to darken the stone and enhance its natural beauty.  Soapstone appears naturally as a light grey, chalky looking surface (see photo to right).  When mineral oil or wax is applied to the soapstone, the surface will darken to dark charcoals and black, and the veining in the soapstone will really come to life.  Neither the mineral oil nor wax are sealing the soapstone or protecting the soapstone, but merely darkening it.

We recommend applying a light coat of mineral oil or soapstone wax to all sinks and countertops upon installation. These products can both enhance the inherent natural veining characteristics and crystallization detail of the stone.  Mineral oil can be found in any drug store and the soapstone wax can be purchased through Stone Countertop Outlet. 

Versatility of finish is one of the great pluses of soapstone. Not everyone chooses to color enhance their soapstone. Some homeowners love the natural, untreated soft-gray look. Others choose to bring out the color with mineral oil or wax.  Some treat it with mineral oil weekly, others monthly and some treat only when company is coming. However, when treating with mineral oil, the more often you treat after installation, the sooner you will not have to do it as often.  Waxing the surface will require less applications than the mineral oil and will need to be reapplied less often to keep the stone dark.

Nothing negative will happen to your soapstone if you choose not to apply mineral oil or wax, or if you forgot to apply either of these products.  Over time the stone will darken naturally on its own.  You will notice the soapstone darkening quicker around the high use areas, such as the sink, stovetop, prep areas, etc.  If initially you leave your countertops in their natural state and months later you want to oil or wax them, that is fine.  You do not have to commit to oiling or waxing soapstone the day it is installed.

Daily Cleaning
We recommend using mild soap and water to clear your soapstone countertops.  Soapstone is dense and non-porous, it is very germ and bacteria resistant.  Soapstone is a naturally clean surface. That being said, you can use any common household cleaners on your soapstone counters.  You do not have to worry about using ammonia based cleaners like you with other natural stones.  Setting hot pots or pans directly on your soapstone countertops will not affect the surface.  In Europe, soapstone is used primarily for the manufacturing of masonry heaters and wood burning stones.  Setting hot objects on your stone will not crack, discolor or harm the stone.

Information provided by Green Mountain Soapstone and Midwest Specialty Products via Stone Countertop Outlets.The slab shown above is Mirasol Spyder Soapstone.

Good Luck

Jason Myrlie

J Carsten Homes & Remodeling

Perefect time to update your kitchen with a Free Cambria Upgrade

Now is the perfect time to remodel your kitchen. J Carsten Homes & Remodeling is offering a Free Cambria Upgrade on qualifying Kitchen Remodels. This is up to a $1500 value.

Take a closer look at the benefits of Cambria.

• Strength & Durability- Cambria Natural Quartz Surfaces™ are stronger than granite. Cambria is a surface that is truly everlasting.
• Maintenance Free – No sealing, polishing or reconditioning is needed. Simply wash with warm water. It’s that simple. Plus, unlike granite, Cambria will resist stains from common food items such as wine, coffee and tea.
• Food Safe – Unlike granite, Cambria has been certified by NSF International as safe for use as a food preparation surface. Cambria is nonporous; therefore, food and moisture cannot penetrate the surface — the main source of growth for harmful bacteria.
• All Natural – Cambria is created from pure natural quartz, an extremely hard stone. In fact, quartz is the hardest non-precious stone that can be found in the earth’s surface.
• Everlasting Value – With its beauty and performance advantages over granite, a Cambria kitchen countertop or bathroom vanity will add value to your home.
• Guaranteed – As the only producer of quartz surfaces in the United States, Cambria is covered by a Lifetime Limited Warranty.

Safety and Performance

Today’s busy families demand products that stand up to rigorous use. With Cambria, you can be assured of a product that is not only beautiful and elegant, but also strong, durable and safe for food preparation.

Cambria’s nonporous surface:

• Is certified by NSF International for both Splash Zone and Food Zone
• Is nonporous, reducing the potential for bacterial growth
• Is as food-safe as a stainless steel countertop
• Resists stains caused by common food items such as coffee, tea and wine
• Is stronger than granite
• NEVER needs sealing or refinishing to keep its natural luster
• Is maintenance free – simply wash with warm water
• Comes with a limited lifetime warranty

Green Story:

Quartz is a mined product. It is mined through a pipe, one vein at a time and then is back-filled to preserve the integrity of the environment. Seventy percent of the material that is taken out of that vein is used in the finished product.

Granite is also a mined product. It is mined by destroying an entire area of a mountain, rain forest, etc. Approximately only 35% of the initial material becomes the finished product.

Pricing:

Same price for any of the 96 colors. Same price for any of 9 edge profiles.

Good Luck

Jason Myrlie

J Carsten Homes & Remodeling

The Sky is not falling!!

Just left the transmission shop after getting some good news. It wasn’t a leak, just a loose plug. That’s great, especially since on Friday I had to spend nearly $800 to fix my truck do to electrical issues. In the whole scheme of things though, even if there had been a leak, the relative cost wouldn’t have been that bad considering how blessed I am.

It made me think about my current work and financial situation. It’s not ideal, but it’s been worse. Much worse. The sky isn’t falling and most likely it never was. It is more likely that my reaction to my situation that made me think the sky is falling.

As I look at my life, the people around me, and my faith in the Lord, it’s clear to see that I am truly blessed. So I will stop complaining and be thankful for what I have and continue to pray for those who are less fortunate than me.

Good Luck

Jason- J Carsten Homes & Remodeling

Cherry stained kitchen cabinets- Poplar in the kitchen?

I was recently asked about using Poplar as a wood species for kitchen cabinets. Apparently there are several builders who are promoting “Cherry stained cabinets”. They are staining Poplar in colors that make the cabinets look cherry-like. Is this a good idea?

Let’s look at a couple advantages.

1. Poplar will definitely be cheaper than Cherry cabinets. My custom cabinet maker charges 40% more for the Cherry material than he does for his standard cabinets made from Oak.
2. Poplar is good material for paint-grade projects. I will commonly use poplar for mouldings or crown moulding where there is little chance of being damaged.

 Disadvantages

1. Poplar is a softer wood than oak or cherry. Hardness of a wood is measured via the Janka rating. The Janka rating is a measure of the amount of force required to push a .444″ diameter steel ball half way into a piece of wood. In laymans terms, it is a way to measure a woods resistance to denting. The higher the number the greater its resistance to denting. Here are some Janka Hardness ratings for commonly used wood species:

• Balsa- 100

• Poplar- 540

• Alder (red)- 590

• Southern Yellow Pine- 690

• Red Maple- 950

• Cherry- 950

• Red Oak- 1290

• White Oak- 1360

• Hickory- 1820

• Brazilian Cherry/ Jatoba- 2350

• Ipe/ Brazilian Walnut- 3684

2. As a softer wood, Poplar has a tendency to stain unevenly or blotchy if not treated correctly.

3.  Over the life of the cabinets, Poplar cabinets will be less likely to hold up to wear & tear and dents. There may also be issues with screws stripping out of the wood over time.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend using Poplar for kitchen cabinets. For painted cabinets, we use Maple. It is much harder and holds up better. For stained cabinets, I recommend the real stuff, whether it be cherry or some other wood. It may be a little more money, but if you factor in the cost of the cabinets with the cost of installation and finishing, the cost of the upgrade is relatively small.

Good Luck

Jason

J Carsten Homes & Remodeling

Featured Project- Mahtomedi Kitchen Remodel

From the day she moved in, Paige hated her kitchen. And, yes, that’s the word she used. Paige loves to cook and entertain, but the design of her existing kitchen left everyone huddled around a tiny cooking area. Paige also had a seldom used dining room and an almost never used front sitting area. On top of that, the current layout had little in the way of kitchen storage space.

After nearly six months and dozens of revisions, plus numerous visits to existing home kitchens, a plan was laid out. It was decided to move the dining room to the front sitting area and double the size of the kitchen.

There were a few obstacles that the new design had created. One of the walls that was scheduled to be removed housed the intercom system, a heat run, and the plumbing vents and wastes from the upper level. The new walls to rerun all these items into, were two- 20” walls. That left almost no space for light switches or structural backing to hang the new cabinets. In addition, the basement was finished, so all the electrical, plumbing, and heating had to be run from the main floor by pulling up the existing sub floor.

The end result is spectacular.

• Guests can easily place their shared dishes on the expansive island while engaging in casual conversation without crowding the host’s working area.
• Custom cherry cabinets, Cambria countertops, and the tile backsplash are all contrasting in color, yet are uniquely harmonized with each other.
• The island – while sizable – symmetrically balances the main wall of cabinets to create a wonderfully spacious work area.
• An elevated seven foot breakfast bar allows guests to sit and watch the master chef piece together the ingredients for a gourmet meal.
• Two – three foot lower sections on either side of the elevated bar allow Paige’s two boys to stand and help her make cookies.
• An ample pantry with pullout shelves houses all the canned goods, breakfast cereals, and baking supplies.
• A hidden pullout puts the needed spices quickly into chef’s hands to complete the meal.
• The buffet area, complete with a Wolf warming drawer, is flanked by the existing windows where natural light compliments the new bench seats and open book shelves which give ample room to house cooks books and kitchen knickknacks.
• The bar area creates a subtle break between the kitchen and the living room, allowing guests to mingle effortlessly from one room to the other.

Paige loves her new kitchen!

Good Luck

Jason- J Carsten Homes

Featured Project- St Paul Bathroom Addition

This month’s featured project is a St Paul bathroom addition. This bathroom won the COTY Award 2011 for Residential Bathroom under $30,000 Honorable Mention.

Since the house only had one bathroom, Johnell thought it was time another one. She met with me to discuss the plan: Add a spa-quality bathroom in the storage space. The challenge was to maximize the space which included the shower, toilet, and vanity while also leaving room for plenty of storage.

Behind the scenes many things needed to happen:

• Remove the existing wall separating the storage room and bedroom to add two feet to the new bathroom area.
• Frame a new wall. Add a glass block window.
• Modify the current plumbing dividing the room and add a toilet, a sink, and a full shower.
• Install a heat run from the basement through a main floor linen closet and into the bathroom, while still keeping the linen closet functional.
• Spray foam the angled ceiling to maximize R-value without sacrificing head room.

Then we got to the stuff that the transforms a cramped storage space into a luxurious bathroom:

• Install custom storage cabinets at two different angles for a seamless appearance.
• Install vanity and granite countertop.
• Tile the shower, floor, and the remaining wall space.

The result for Johnell is a spa quality bathroom where the cabinets blend into the angles of the ceiling and transform this uneven, dark and slanted space into a functional, spacious, and royal setting.

Good Luck

Jason- J Carsten Homes

J Carsten Homes wins ACE Award

2012 Achievement in Consumer Excellence Award

National Association of the Remodeling Industry, MN Chapter

NARI of MN is proud to announce the newest recipient of the Achievement in Consumer  Excellence (ACE) award. The ACE award recognizes companies that provide outstanding service in quality, responsiveness, meeting deadlines, professionalism, and communication. JCarsten Homes is a recipient of the NARI of MN Achievement in Consumer Excellence award.

What is the ACE Award? ACE – Achievement in Consumer Excellence is a consumer rated award program that recognizes NARI MN members who provide exemplary service. All members who provide products or services to consumers are eligible. Member companies of all types and sizes can be recognized as ACE Award recipients based on consumer evaluations of their work.

The ACE Award recognizes members who receive an average score of 4 (out of apossible 5) on five criteria: quality, responsiveness, meeting deadlines, professionalism, and communication. Consumers who have directly worked with the NARI member rate them in each of the five areas. To qualify members must receive an average score of 4, with no score in any individual category lower than a 3. Members who receive the required scores on a minimum of five surveys are recognized as a NARI MN ACE Award recipient.

Good Luck

Jason- J Carsten Homes

The Houzz- A great resource for design ideas

I was recently introduced to www.Houzz.com. The Houzz is a leading destination site for home design enthusiasts– professionals and homeowners. The Houzz site and mobile apps feature nearly 250,000 high quality interior and exterior photos, thousands of highly-engaging articles written by design experts, product recommendations and social tools to manage the remodeling and decorating process.

On the Houzz platform:

Design professionals showcase their portfolios, sharing their work with a community dedicated to home and landscape design. 25,000+ professionals have uploaded nearly 250,000 inspiring photographs, making Houzz the Internet’s largest database of design and decorating ideas.

Homeowners collect their favorite photos, find design professionals in their areas, upload photos of their homes and gardens, and swap tips and questions with other members. 800,000+ ideabooks have been created by Houzz members, and new ones are added every minute.

Site visitors can browse by 7 different styles and 21 different spaces such as kitchen, bathroom, or wine cellar.

Check it out.

Good Luck

Jason- JCarsten Homes

 

 

 

Featured Project- Bloomington Condo Kitchen Remodel

This month’s featured project is Bloomington condo kitchen remodel. This kitchen won the COTY Award 2011 for Residential Kitchen $75,000-90,000 Honorable Mention.

Fred and Nancy bought their Bloomington condominium with the intention of remodeling the kitchen. I met with them at a folding card table in an empty room. They charged me with creating a design that eliminated the choppy floor plan to make the kitchen feel bigger, but not intrude on the living room or dining room. Fred also wanted a place to grill steaks. Nancy wanted a pantry for storage and added lighting to brighten up an otherwise dark and dated kitchen.

But that is only the beginning of the challenge: Fred and Nancy wanted the main bearing wall gone. The problem – Fred and Nancy live on the first floor of three-story condominium. In addition to supporting the weight of the upper levels, the plumbing for the two floors above them runs directly through the middle of the wall Fred insisted on being removed. On top of that, the condo association had minimal knowledge of how the building was constructed and only scattered, random blueprints from 30 years ago.

In the mean time, Fred researched every aspect of construction and wanted to be involved at every step of the transformation. He didn’t want seams anywhere on the countertops, which was a lofty request that was initially met with resistance. Our design called for a 125” wide arched, elevated countertop. The maximum width of most granite slabs is 126” or less, which left little room for cutting. In addition, the cabinet wood species changed from maple, to hickory, to cherry, back to maple, and finally settled on lyptus, a special order wood that would take three weeks to get in.

The Plan-

• Remove the entire kitchen and set up a temporary workstation using the cabinets and countertops we removed and reconnect the microwave and refrigerator in a new location for the duration of the remodeling.
• Support the 2^nd & 3^rd floor units with a temporary beam and remove the bearing wall.
• Temporarily shut off the plumbing to the entire wing of the building and reroute the plumbing.
• Install a new beam to support the upper floors. Install arches in the new opening and on the ceiling.
• Maintain the fire protection and sound deadening qualities of the original construction.

The final result gives Fred and Nancy the openness they desired. The custom lyptus cabinets add an aesthetically pleasing contrast to the black walnut floors. The new island with the arch and pillars picture frame the main wall of cabinets, which is centered with a new range and a custom wood hood that draws your eye to the beautifully designed slate backsplash. The new Wolf grill allows Fred to stay indoors to grill his steaks. The corner pantry with a frosted glass door provides Nancy with abundant storage for canned goods, oversize pots and pans, as well as miscellaneous appliances. The granite countertops on the island are perfectly seamless and provide a spacious area for their guests to gather. Recessed lighting in the main kitchen and in the ceiling arch brighten up the work space, yet are dimmable for more intimate entertaining.

In the end, the kitchen portrays the flare and style that complimented Fred and Nancy’s taste!

Good Luck

Jason- J Carsten Homes