The Counters Blog

A stainless steel pharmacist’s cabinet fashioned into an island is topped with honed blue limestone. You can never go wrong decorating with what you love! Two oak corbels with burl inlays support each of the four corners. This handsome kitchen opens to a great room and an adjoining breakfast room. The raised island also shields the great room’s views of dirty dishes.White woodwork, cabinetry, and backsplash tiles provide classically neutral good looks. The elegant refrigerator cabinet is character butternut with a burnished bronze finish, while the island is crafted from hand-scraped walnut with a granite countertop. Bar stools with cream-colored backs and seats offer comfortable perches for homework or casual dining. Plus, the maple cabinets, concrete countertops, and stainless-steel appliances command attention without detracting from the lush landscape outside the wall of windows. A rugged marble-topped island with old wood legs comfortably shares space with modern stainless-steel cabinets and appliances. And we love looking down at the magnificent “rug” on the floor that’s actually an ornate tile mosaic.
Top 5 Best Countertop Burners | Duration 3 Minutes 51 Seconds And the massive pot rack hovering over the island is an architectural marvel. Custom cabinets are built with certified sustainable lumber. Whether your style is sophisticated or rustic—or your color preference is for earthy neutrals, cheery brights, or gleaming white—you’ll find not only loads of inspiration but also practical ideas here from some of our favorite kitchens. Cabinets and trim painted a deep charcoal contrast with the marble countertops and backsplash. Windows on each side of the range and transoms above the hood invite sunlight. Vintage church light fixtures and hand-forged iron straps were combined to make a distinctive and functional pot rack and light source. A two-level island allows for seating at one end, so guests and family members can chat with the cook. Plus, we love the transparency of the open shelves flanking the vent hood and the contrast between the stools’ luscious tan upholstery against the cool gray island. A decorative painter layered custom-mixed gold-toned paints on the walls, then combed the damp paint to create a subtle crosshatch pattern. Weathered nickel hardware and champagne-silver painted accents on the cabinets give the room a touch of glitz. Warm white accents make a creamy backdrop for all of the rich wood tones throughout the space. And the vaulted ceiling and gargantuan chimney hood take our breath away. The range hood is made from a plasterlike material that was finished to look like concrete (but without the corresponding weight). We love looking up at the plaster-relief medallions and deep crown moldings that add detail to the ceiling. And we admire the mirrored doors in a central shelving unit because they look like muntined glass, but actually conceal a dumbwaiter and stairs to the basement. Reclaimed hickory floors are accented with colorful antique rugs. Premium natural materials such as marble, pewter, and oiled wood were added to the mix.

10 Ways To Create A Backyard Getaway by bhg.com

Multiple levels carve out spaces for dining and relaxing on this deck. With a little planning, you can make your patio a comfortable seasonal room. If you opt for concrete, consider adding texture and color to imitate stone for a more natural look. You don’t need a fancy grill, but a countertop for food prep and conveniences such as closed storage and a separate side burner will greatly enhance your outdoor cooking experience. Make your outdoor oasis even more inviting with this expert advice. Choices for providing shade include mature trees, umbrellas, retractable awnings, or even pergolas and arbors planted with vines. Use them to create focal points, separate areas according to function, or provide transitions from one area to another. A typical round hot tub is 6 feet in diameter and takes up about 30 square feet. You’ll also need additional room for sitting and walking around the tub. For outdoor kitchens, you’ll need good task lighting over the grill and work areas. Combine a mix of lighting sources to make your backyard getaway a magical place after dark. Fountains add the soothing sound of trickling water and can serve as the focal point of an outdoor space. A pergola covered with luxurious vines and an abundance of plants in containers bring the surrounding garden up onto the deck and help blend the structure into the landscape. Add a refrigerator and sink to make preparation and cleanup even easier. You’ll enjoy your deck or patio more if you can provide relief from the sun. Wrought iron and cast iron, wrought or cast aluminum, and traditional wood are classic options. There are even weatherproof floor lamps and table lamps that match their indoor cousins for stylish good looks.

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8 Best Portable Cooktops 2016 | Duration 4 Minutes 6 Seconds Pergolas, trellises, and arbors can also be used to define activity zones in your backyard paradise. For the dining and conversation areas, candlelight, wallmount downlights, or dimmable electric lamps create a relaxed mood. Fire pits, whether built-in or moveable, also serve to draw people together and can extend the usefulness of an outdoor living room into cooler weather. These touches will turn an ordinary patio or deck into a welcoming, personal space for outdoor living.

How To Cook Brisket by bhg.com

Here’s how to cook brisket for the best results, plus a few of our favorite beef brisket recipes. Beef brisket is a cut from the breast section of the animal. Avoid packages with tears or liquid in the bottom of the tray.

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10 Best Portable Induction Cooktops 2017 | Portable Induction Cooktops #Portableinductioncooktops | Duration 4 Minutes 29 Seconds Be sure to use whichever style of brisket is called for in your recipe. This recipe produces brisket sandwiches, but you can serve smoked brisket any way you like. Soaking the wood in apple juice, beer, or even wine will add another layer of flavor, if desired. Sprinkle dry rub evenly over both sides of brisket; rub in with your fingers. For a charcoal grill, arrange medium-hot coals around a drip pan. Add additional coals and water as needed to maintain temperature and moisture. Place brisket on a rack in a roasting pan; place pan on a grill rack over burner that is turned off. In a large saucepan cook 1 cup chopped onion in 1 tablespoon hot oil over medium heat about 8 minutes or until golden brown, stirring frequently. In this preparation, the cooking liquid becomes a smoky barbecue sauce to serve alongside the brisket. Note that you may need to cut the brisket in half to fit into the slow cooker. Stir 1/2 cup whipping cream and, if desired, 2 tablespoons dry vermouth and 1 tablespoon vodka into the cooking liquid.Top the sliced brisket with 1/2 cup pimiento-stuffed green olives and pass the sauce at the table. If serving the cooking juices alongside your brisket, use a tablespoon to skim fat from the cooking liquid. It requires a long cooking time at a low temperature, but the wait is worth it for this tender, boldly flavored beef. Unless you’re serving a crowd, you’ll probably have plenty of leftovers for sandwiches or future meals. Often, fresh beef brisket is specified in a recipe to differentiate a regular beef brisket from a corned beef brisket. Before preparing brisket, trim this away using a sharp slicing knife.

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Mainstays Single Burner From Walmart $9.99 | Duration 4 Minutes 1 Seconds Unless otherwise specified, you do not need to brown the brisket before cooking. Place 1 to 2 cups wood chips and enough water to cover them in a container; let soak for at least 1 hour before grilling. Add 1 inch of water to a drip pan; set pan on grill rack directly over heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened, stirring occasionally; cool slightly. For the sauce, crush 2 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca using a mortar and pestle (or place the tapioca in a resealable plastic bag, and crush with a rolling pin). No special equipment is needed—all you need is a baking pan. Discard the cooking liquid and, if desired, serve the sliced brisket with bottled barbecue sauce. Heat 1 tablespoon cooking oil in a large heavy skillet with a tight-fitting lid. Simmer brisket, tightly covered, for 3 hours or until brisket is tender. Meanwhile, use a soup spoon to skim the fat from the top of the sauce in the skillet. Bring the mixture just to boiling, then immediately remove the pan from the heat. Using a slicing knife, thinly slice the brisket across the grain, as shown. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze (in freezer containers) for up to 2 months.