HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM GRAPEFRUIT with amaretto INGREDIENTS ›4 LARGE GRAPEFRUITS › 1.8 OZ/50 G BUTTER ›4 TBSP SUGAR ›AMARETTO, TO TASTE ›MARSHMALLOWS, TO TASTE ›FRESH MINT LEAVES, TO GARNISH PREPARATION 1.Wash and dry the grapefruits. Cut in half and brush the pulp with melted butter. 2. Sprinkle the pulp with sugar and drizzle with Amaretto. 3. Place the grapefruits on the hot grill with the pulp down. Grill for a few minutes, until browned and tender. 4. Serve the grapefruits in a bowl, with grilled marshmallow brochettes. Garnish with fresh mint leaves. A light, refreshing dessert, ideal to be served after for an abundant meal. SERVES 4 DIFFICULTY: LOW DESSERT 40 MINUTES
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 K53 FRUIT and marshmallow brochettes INGREDIEN T S › 12 MARSHMALLOWS › 2 PEACHES ›8 STRAWBERRIES PREPARATION 1.Wash and dry the fruit. Cut in pieces the same size as the marshmallows. 2. Thread the fruit and marshmallows on previously wet brochette skewers. Put the brochettes on the hot grill and cook rotating them to brown all around. Cut the fruit right before assembling the brochettes so that they maintain their texture and moistness. SERVES 8 DIFFICULTY: LOW DESSERT 40 MINUTES
K54 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 PEARS with ice cream and rum INGREDIENTS ›4 PEARS › 2 TBSP RUM › 1 TBSP LEMON JUICE › 1 TBSP MELTED BUTTER ›WHITE CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM AND WALNUTS, TO SERVE ›FRESH MINT LEAVES, TO GARNISH PREPARATION 1.Wash and dry the pears. Cut them in half and remove the core. 2.In a bowl, mix rum, lemon juice and melted butter and add the pears. Mix well and allow them to rest for 15 minutes. 3. Put the pears on the hot grill previously brushed with melted butter, and cook on both sides until slightly golden. Brush with the rum and butter mixture frequently while cooking. 4. Serve the grilled pears with a white chocolate ice cream scoop and walnuts. Garnish with fresh mint leaves. For a non alcoholic version, replace rum with apple juice. SERVES 2 DIFFICULTY: LOW DESSERT 15 MINUTES
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM BANANA hazelnut sandwiches INGREDIEN T S ›4 SLICES WHITE BREAD ›4 TABLESPOONS NUTELLA › 2 BANANAS, SLICED › 2 TABLESPOONS COCONUT FLAKES ›COOKING SPRAY, AS NEEDED PREPARATION 1.In a grill, lightly toast bread slices. Spread 1 tablespoon of nutella on each slice of bread. Spray the other side with cooking spray. Sprinkle coconut on top of each slice of bread. 2. Arrange bananas onto two slices of bread in a single layer. Sandwich slices together. 3. Place sandwiches back in the grill. Grill each side for about 2 minutes, or until you see grill marks on the bread.Cut the sandwiches in half and serve immediately. Cut the fruit right before assembling the sandwiches so that they maintain their texture and moistness. SERVES 4 DIFFICULTY: LOW DESSERT 40 MINUTES
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM MONKEY tails INGREDIENTS › 10 FIRM RIPE BANANAS › 14 OZ/400 G DARK CHOCOLATE, CHOPPED ›4 TABLESPOONS OIL › 2 CUPS FINELY CHOPPED MIXED NUTS PREPARATION 1. Toast nuts on oven tray in moderate oven for about 5 minutes, cool. Peel bananas, cut in halves, insert stick into each banana. 2. Melt chocolate over hot water; stir in oil. Place nuts on a sheet of greaseproof paper. Dip bananas in chocolate mixture, 1 at a time, using a spoon to coat them evenly; sprinkle thickly with nuts, place on oven tray, refrigerate until set. These will keep covered and refrigerated for up to a week. Use lollipop wooden sticks. SERVES 2 DIFFICULTY: LOW DESSERT 15 MINUTES
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 K55 CHOCOLATE strawberries INGREDIEN T S ›9 OZ/250 G DARK CHOCOLATE, CHOPPED ›4X9 OZ/250 G BASKETS STRAWBERRIES ›CHOCOLATE CHIPS, FOR GARNISH CRÈME FRAÎCHE › 10 FL OZ/300 ML CARTON HEAVY CREAM › 10 FL OZ/300 ML CARTON SOUR CREAM PREPARATION 1.Chocolate Strawberries: Melt chocolate in bowl over hot water. Holding onto strawberry stems, dip half of strawberry into chocolate, hold over chocolate to allow excess to run of. Place onto foil-covered tray, refrigerate until set. 2.Crème Fraîche: Combine cream and sour cream, cover and let stand at room temperature (about 70°F) from 8 to 24 hours, or until very thick. Refrigerate until required; will keep up to 1 week in refrigerator. 3. To serve, place strawberries and chocolate chips on dessert plates, serve Crème Fraîche in a separate bowl for dipping. Fruit can be dipped up to a day ahead and refrigerated. Crème Fraîche can be made up to 10 days ahead. MAKES 20 DIFFICULTY: LOW DESSERT 10 MINUTES
K56 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 PECAN brownies INGREDIENTS › 7 OZ/200 G BUTTER › 5½ OZ/150 G DARK CHOCOLATE, CHOPPED › 2 CUPS BROWN SUGAR › 2 EGGS, LIGHTLY BEATEN › 1 TEASPOON VANILLA ESSENCE › 1 CUP PLAIN FLOUR ›¼ TEASPOON BAKING POWDER ›¾ CUP CHOPPED PECANS ›EXTRA PECANS, FOR GARNISH ›CARAMEL SAUCE, FOR GARNISH PREPARATION 1. Grease deep 7 inch cake pan. Combine butter and chocolate in a large saucepan, stir over low heat until chocolate is melted. Add sugar and stir until dissolved; remove from heat, allow to cool. 2.Combine eggs and vanilla and stir into chocolate mixture, add sifted flour, baking powder and pecans. Pour into prepared pan, bake in moderate oven for about 30 minutes. 3.Cool and cut into small squares. Top with chopped pecans and drizzle with caramel sauce, if desired. Pack brownies in a covered container or in the pan (washed and dried) they were baked in, then cover with foil or plastic wrap. Pack in a single layer if posible to preserve their nice shiny surface. In hot weather, store pecans in a covered container in the refrigerator. SERVES 6 DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM DESSERT 10 MINUTES
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM HONEY and apricot ice cream INGREDIEN T S ›8 OZ/250 G DRIED APRICOTS › 3 CLOVES ›½ TEASPOON GRATED NUTMEG ›4 OZ/125 G BROWN SUGAR › 2 OZ/60 ML HONEY › 10 FL OZ/315 ML CUPS WATER › 27 OZ/800 ML UNFLAVORED YOGURT ›8 FL OZ/250 ML SOUR CREAM PREPARATION 1.Combine apricots, cloves, nutmeg, sugar, honey and water in a saucepan. Cook over a low heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until apricots soften. Drain apricots, strain liquid, and reserve. 2. Place apricots and reserved liquid in a food processor or blender and puree. Stir in yogurt and sour cream. Spoon into a freezerproof container and freeze. The perfect dinner party dessert, refreshing and easy to make. Homemade ice cream is best if used within a couple of days of making. Remove ice cream from the freezer and place in the fridge for about 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavor to develop and makes it easier to serve. MAKES 15 DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM DESSERT 30 MINUTES
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM RUM& ricotta tiramisu INGREDIENTS › 10½ OZ/300G LOW-FAT RICOTTA CHEESE › 7 OZ/200 G LIGHT CREAM CHEESE › 1 TABLESPOON RUM OR COGNAC ›¼ CUP CASTER SUGAR › 1½ CUPS/123⁄4 FL OZ/375 ML VERY STRONG ESPRESSO OR GOOD QUALITY COFFEE, COOLED › 16 SAVOIARDI SPONGE FINGER BISCUITS (LADYFINGERS) ›TABLESPOONS UNSWEETENED COCOA, FOR DUSTING PREPARATION 1. Beat the cheeses, rum and sugar with electric beaters until light and creamy, set aside. Pour the cofee into a large shallow dish. Quickly dip one side of half the sponge fingers into the cofee and lay closely together with the dipped side down over the base of a large flat-based serving dish. Spread half of the cheese mixture evenly over the biscuits. 2.Dust with half the cocoa then repeat layers with cofee-dipped biscuits and cheese. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight. Dust with remaining cocoa just before serving. For a special liqueur touch, add a tablespoon of Kahlua, Baileys Irish Cream or other cofee liqueur to the cofee. Cream or other cofee liqueur to the cofee. SERVES 6 DIFFICULTY: LOW DESSERT 25 MINUTES
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 K57 CHOCOLATE mousse INGREDIEN T S › 10½ OZ/300 G DARK CHOCOLATE (70% COCOA) › 3½ OZ/100 ML OF PLAIN MILK OR MILK ›MILK SOY › 10½ OZ/300 G OF NATURAL YOGURT › 1 PINCH OF SALT › 1 TEASPOON VANILLA ESSENCE ›STRAWBERRIES, FOR GARNISH PREPARATION 1.Cut chocolate into chunks and melt in a double boiler. Heat soy milk until the first bubbles appear and pour over chocolate. Mix to combine. 2. Once the temperature has dropped, add natural yogurt, salt and vanilla. Place mousse in glasses and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Serve garnished with strawberries. An imposing dessert, with a velvety texture, and a delicious flavor. A great healthy alternative to crown a formal dinner or an evening with friends. SERVES 8 DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM DESSERT 20 MINUTES
K58 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 COSMOPOLITAN INGREDIENTS › 1½ OUNCES LEMON VODKA ›½ OUNCE TRIPLE SEC › 1 OUNCE CRANBERRY JUICE ›½ OUNCE LIME JUICE ›ICE ›FROZEN CRANBERRIES, FOR GARNISH ›LIME WEDGES, FOR GARNISH PREPARATION 1.In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, lime juice, and ice; shake until well combined. 2. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with cranberries; serve immediately. Lipsmackingly sweet and sour, the Cosmopolitan cocktail of vodka, cranberry and citrus is a good-time in a glass. Perfect for a party. SERVES 1 DIFFICULTY: LOW DRINKS 5 MINUTES
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM NEGRONI INGREDIEN T S › 1 OUNCE GIN › 1 OUNCE CAMPARI › 1 OUNCE SWEET VERMOUTH ›ICE ›ORANGE SLICES AND ROSEMARY, FOR GARNISH PREPARATION 1. Add the gin, Campari and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice, and stir until well-chilled. 2. Strain into a rocks glass filled with large ice cubes. 3. Garnish with an orange peel. The key to a great Negroni is finding a gin-vermouth pairing that complements, rather than overpowers, the bitter, bold flavors of Campari. SERVES 1 DIFFICULTY: LOW DRINKS 5 MINUTES
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM SAKETINI INGREDIENTS › 2½ OUNCES GIN, OR VODKA ›½ OUNCE SAKE ›CUCUMBER SLICE, OR GREEN OLIVE, FOR GARNISH PREPARATION 1. Gather the ingredients. 2.In a mixing glass filled with ice, pour the gin or vodka and sake. 3. Stir well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. 4. Garnish with a slice of cucumber or add a green olive. Serve and enjoy. For a sweeter alternative, add a hint of orange liqueur (½ ounce or less) to the standard or inverted vodka version. SERVES 1 DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM DRINKS 5 MINUTES
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 K59 ROASTED pineapple gin & tonic INGREDIEN T S › 2 PINEAPPLE WHEELS, TINNED OR FRESH › 1¾ OUNCES GIN › 2⅓ OUNCES PINEAPPLE JUICE ›TONIC WATER, TO TOP UP › 1 LIME, OPTIONAL ›MINT LEAVES, FOR GARNISH PREPARATION 1. Grill, griddle or BBQ one pineapple wheel for 5 minutes before turning it over. Continue grilling until it is lightly browned, smoky and caramelized. Thinly chop grilled pineapple wheel and muddle it into your cocktail shaker. Add ice, gin and juice. Cut remaning pineapple wheel into wedges to use as garnish. 2. Shake for two minutes. Strain into a glass with ice. Top up with tonic water (prosecco is also delicious as an alternative to tonic here) and garnish with the remaining pineapple wedges, lime wedges, or a mint leaf. You can add a squeeze of lime if the drink is a little sweet for you. Tinned pineapple chunks are probably too wet to grill, but you could use them in the recipe without grilling! SERVES 1 DIFFICULTY: LOW DRINKS 3 MINUTES
K60 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 INGREDIENTS › 1¾ OUNCES GIN ›4¼ OUNCES TONIC WATER ›½ OUNCE ELDERFLOWER LIQUEUR ›HALF A LIME ›HALF A CUCUMBER › 2-3 FRESH BASIL LEAVES, FOR GARNISH PREPARATION 1. Slice thin ribbons of cucumber and place in a highball glass. 2. Gently add a handful of ice cubes. Squeeze half a lime’s juice into a cocktail shaker (or separate container) and add your gin, a splash of elderflower liqueur, and a few leaves of basil. Muddle the ingredients well, and then add ice. 3. Shake well, then strain into your glass. Top with tonic and garnish with a few more basil leaves. Did you know gin and tonic came about as a medicinal tonic during the 1700s? You can also include 2 or 3 mint leaves and ½ oz ginger syrup. SERVES 1 DIFFICULTY: LOW DRINKS 5 MINUTES CUCUMBER gin & tonic
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM INGREDIEN T S › 3 STRAWBERRIES (FRESH IS BEST; DEFROSTED ONES WORK TOO!) ›FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER, TO TASTE › 1½ OUNCES GIN (GO FOR A NEUTRAL OR CITRUSSY ONE) ›TONIC WATER PREPARATION 1.Wash and hull the strawberries. Slice in half, or into quarters if they’re big. Muddle the strawberries with a good twist of freshly ground black pepper in a shaker, then pour into an ice-filled glass. 2. Stir in the gin and top with tonic. Garnish with a strawberry and serve! Instead of tonic water, you could also use elderflower tonic, for a sweeter drink. SERVES 1 DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM DRINKS 5 MINUTES STRAWBERRY black pepper gin
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM FROZEN strawberry margaritas INGREDIENTS ›4 CUPS FROZEN UNSWEETENED STRAWBERRIES › 2 CUPS ICE CUBES › 1 CUP SILVER TEQUILA ›¾ CUP FRESH ORANGE JUICE ›⅓ CUP GRAND MARNIER ›⅓WW CUP LIME JUICE ›SUGAR OR SALT, AS NEEDED (OPTIONAL) PREPARATION 1. To a blender add frozen strawberries, ice cubes, tequila, orange juice, grand mariner and lime juice. 2. Blend until smooth and serve immediately. Garnish each glass with a fresh strawberry. 3. Optional: garnish glass rims with salt or sugar. Place sugar or salt in a shallow bowl. Dip your glass rim into the mixture. The Ultimate Frozen Strawberry Margarita Recipe at home! Quick and easy in a blender with minimal fresh ingredients. Enjoy these frozen margaritas right away or store them in the freezer as a make ahead cocktail that’s ready for your next party! SERVES 1 DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM DRINKS 10 MINUTES
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 K61 MOJITO INGREDIEN T S › 10 FRESH MINT LEAVES ›½ LIME, CUT INTO 4 WEDGES › 2 TABLESPOONS WHITE SUGAR, OR TO TASTE › 1 CUP ICE CUBES › 1½ FLUID OUNCES WHITE RUM ›½ CUP CLUB SODA PREPARATION 1. Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. 2. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water. Stir, taste, and add more sugar if desired. 3. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge. Tonic water can be substituted instead of the soda water but the taste is diferent and somewhat bitter. SERVES 6 DIFFICULTY: LOW DRINKS 5 MINUTES
K62 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 CAIPIRINHA INGREDIENTS › 1 LIME, CUT INTO WEDGES › 2 TEASPOONS SUGAR › 2 OUNCES CACHAÇA ›LIME WEDGE, FOR GARNISH PREPARATION 1.In a double rocks glass, muddle the lime wedges and sugar. 2. Fill the glass with ice, add the cachaça, and stir briefly. 3. Garnish with a lime wedge. Muddling the limes with abrasive sugar helps to release not only the fruit’s juice, but also the rich, aromatic oils from the peel. SERVES 2 DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM DRINKS 5 MINUTES
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM MICHELADA INGREDIEN T S › 12 OUNCES LIGHT MEXICAN BEER CORONA IS GOOD, AS IS SOL, TECATE OR MODELO › 12 OUNCES CLAMATO JUICE (OR USE TOMATO JUICE) ›¼ CUP FRESHLY SQUEEZED LIME JUICE RINDS RESERVED › 1 TABLESPOON WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE › 1 TABLESPOON SOY SAUCE (OR MAGGI SAUCE) › 2 TEASPOONS HOT SAUCE ›ICE, TO TASTE FOR THE RIM › 1 TEASPOON CHILI POWDER OR TAJIN SEASONING FOR RIMMING THE GLASS ›SALT FOR RIMMING THE GLASSES ›LIME WEDGES FOR GARNISH IF DESIRED PRE PARATION 1. Place enough salt and Tajin seasoning or chili powder in a wide, shallow dish to cover the bottom. 2. Rub the rims of two glasses with the lime wedges (or use the reserved lime rinds) and dip them into the spicy salt mixture. 3. Fill the glasses with ice and set aside. 4.Divide the Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, hot sauce, lime juice, beer and Clamato juice into each glass. Mix well. 5. Garnish with a lime wedge. You don’t have to mix your Micheladas. You can pour everything but the beer in first, then top with beer and serve them up. Let your guests mix as desired. Also, you can make a Michelada with tomato juice or Clamato juice. SERVES 1 DIFFICULTY: LOW DRINKS 5 MINUTES
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM • Start by choosing a fuel type. Grills come in a range of different budgets, so start by narrowing your search according to fuel type. Gas grills, popular because of their convenience, light with the touch of a button and the turn of a few dials. If you want a gas grill, you’ll also need to decide between natural gas and propane. Natural grills plug into your existing natural gas line, which means you’ll never run out of fuel. Propane grills use a cylinder that will need to be refilled. However, if you don’t already have a natural gas line at your home, propane will be significantly cheaper. Basic charcoal grills or specialized ceramic grills give you greater control over cooking temperature. The bigger you build a fire, the higher the temperature. Charcoal grills offer more of a classic grilled flavor than gas grills, but they do have a steeper learning curve. Wood pellet grills are designed to make food taste like it was cooked over a wood fire. They often have digital thermostats that allow you to be very precise with the cooking temperature. • Do your research and set a budget. Check out businesses selling grills at BBBHouston.org and read complaints or customer reviews. Grill prices range from hundreds to thousands, so be sure to set your budget and know how much you can spend before you start shopping. • Choose the right size. If you are cooking for a family of four at your home, a two-burner gas grill or most small to medium charcoal grills will work fine. Many grills are measured in square inches. Grills around 400 to 500 square inches are a good choice for most families. If you intend to host events at your home and are grilling for a crowd, you may need something larger. • If you are new to grilling, start simple. A basic starter grill that only costs a couple of hundred dollars will allow you to improve your grilling skills and decide if you want to invest in something fancier. • Check for solid construction. The more solid the grill, the more grilling seasons it will last. Give assembled Choosing a grill? Follow thBY LEAH NAPOLIELLO | BBB In the Houston area, grilling season is always on, with many hosting backyard barbecues at their homes, but before you can invite guests over to your house for a fantastic meal, you will need a barbecue grill that meets your overall entertaining needs. The Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas offers some tips for purchasing grills:
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 K63 grills a jostle to see if they feel shaky or unstable. Grills with welded joints are usually sturdier and more stable than carts assembled with nuts and bolts. Check the wheels as well to see if the grill is easy to maneuver or if it could present a tipping hazard when moved around. • Get to know the grill materials. Different grill materials require different methods of care and cleaning. For example, cast-iron grids (surface where food cooks) require curing to prevent rust, but are very durable. Stainlesssteel grids are resistant to rust, but they may allow food to stick and are more difficult to clean. Porcelain-coated steel grids are suitable for nonstick cooking. However, the glaze can chip, and the steel can rust if the grids aren’t properly maintained. • Read the warranty. Every grill warranty is different, so read the fine print for what is covered. Some grill manufacturers only offer warranties on their burners, which generally last for two to 10 years. You can expect burners with a 10-year warranty to last longer than a grill that offers no burner warranty. Visit www.bbbhouston.org or call 713- 868-9500. Leah Napoliello is BBB VP of operations. Send questions to Leah Napoliello, Better Business Bureau, 1333 West Loop South, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77027, or e-mail lnapoliello@bbbhou.org with address and phone number. hese sizzling suggestions Shutterstock
ON THE MARKET Hot area listings to discover…..6 YOUR GARDEN Lure area butterflies…..4 REMODEL How to make the best changes…..6 SPACES houstonchronicle.com | Sunday, May 5, 2024 | Custom Publishing Group Custom-built five-bedroom on 19,980 sq. ft. (HCAD) lot. Open living spaces. Kitchen with honed Calacatta marble countertops, island with bar seating, custom cabinetry, GE Monogram appliances. Covered back patio, whole-house generator. Pool. $2,436,824 Sherry Barker | 713-299-2323 | greenwoodking.com sherrybarker@greenwoodking.com MLS# 79961489 | Greenwood King Properties FONN VILLAS/MEMORIAL WEST Remember that house you couldn’t imagine yourself living in — the one where you told your agent a person would have to be crazy to buy a place with a kitchen that small? Someone just made a full-priced offer on it. Turns out the buyer is single and almost always dines out. Sure, that’s a hypothetical, but my point is that every buyer brings his own perspective and needs. The characteristics you desire in a home may be slightly — perhaps drastically — different from the next buyer. The good news is that there are homes out there with big kitchens and tiny ones, large yards and no yards, four sides brick, three sides stone and even all-glass walls. But here’s where it gets tricky. Although homes come in all sizes and locations with varying amenities and styles, most home buyers must make trade-offs. After all, the house with the perfect dual home office may also be on a steep lot that isn’t ideal for your kids. So what do you do? Prioritize You can start to narrow down your choices before you ever look at a house for sale. How? Give some thought to what you really want in a home. Start with the must-haves. For example, if you decide you have to live in a one-story home with at least three bedrooms that’s in a certain school district, you can eliminate certain properties from consideration. (Must-nots also go in this category, like if you will not consider buying a home with a pool). Next, list the characteristics you would really like, but may not be dealbreakers in an otherwise fabulous home. Finally, write down things that would be nice if you can get them — perhaps a three-car garage or a backyard deck. Once you’ve prioritized your goals, don’t ignore them. A spacious walk-in closet might tempt you to forget about the third bedroom you said you needed. Don’t let it unless you truly can be happy with two bedrooms. Likewise, don’t discount a home because it doesn’t have a feature from the bottom of your list. Understand the trade-offs Unless you have unlimited financial resources, you likely will need to make a compromise or two. For instance, if you want a larger house but can’t afford one in the neighborhood of your choice, you will either have to choose a different neighborhood or a smaller home. Perhaps you feel more secure in a gated community but do not want to pay monthly homeowner-association fees. You have a choice to make. The key is to weigh these compromises and trade-offs in the context of your overall objectives. After you consider the pros and cons, you might decide to re-evaluate your list of priorities. However, don’t simply ignore your initial goals without consideration of how you will ultimately enjoy that particular home. Investigate If you find a great home with one undesirable feature, do you reject it out of hand? That depends. If the item at the top of your list is a home that works well for someone with limited mobility, you won’t give further consideration to a multilevel house. But say you tour a home that has everything you want. Everything, that is, except a half bath. You want 21 ⁄2 baths, and this almostperfect home only has two. This is the perfect time to get additional information. How hard will it be to add a half-bath to this home’s existing layout? What will it cost? Can you get the work done before you move in? Don’t ignore your intuition The process I’ve described so far relies heavily on logic and reason. But home buying also involves emotions. Don’t totally ignore your gut feelings about houses. Sometimes, even though a house doesn’t quite match up with your list of desired features, there’s just something about it you really like. Or a house that meets your every need just doesn’t feel right. If you can, take a little while to let the emotions settle. Go over your priorities again. Visit the house one more time. Your Realtor can help you sort through the many factors involved in locating a home that meets your needs. It can be beneficial to share your selection criteria with someone who has an outsider’s view of your goals and an insider’s understanding of the process. For more tips on finding the home of your dreams, visit HAR.com. Thomas Mouton, with Century 21 Exclusive Properties, is 2024 chairman of the Houston Association of Realtors/HAR.com. REALTOR VIEW Navigate the waters to find your dream home THOMAS MOUTON PRIME PROPERTY These days it seems like everybody wants a tiny house. But what if your home isn’t adorably tiny? What if it’s just sadly small? Don’t worry — it’s not your square footage that matters most; it’s how you present it. Even if you’re tight on space, you can fool buyers into thinking things are bigger than they appear—you just have to have some smart tricks up your sleeve. Keep reading for our experts’ savviest and sneakiest tips for seeing big returns on the petite place you currently call home. 1. Throw a reverse housewarming party. The less clutter, the bigger your home will look and feel to potential buyers. To get rid of your unwanted items, throw a party before your first open house, suggests Laura McHolm, co-founder of NorthStar Moving. “Instead of having your friends bring a gift, have them pick one of your items and take it home with them,” says McHolm. 2. Go down to the bare minimum. Still feel like your home is full of stuff? “Box up everything you don’t need on a daily basis and anything that’s smaller than a football,” suggests home staging expert Lori Matzke. Sift through your glass cupboards and built-ins, and clean off your countertops. “Leaving just the bare minimum will create the feeling of more space,” she says. That goes for your beloved tchotchkes, too. “A smaller space tends to favor a more minimalist design, so having all of your collectible figurines on display on the shelves, side and conA PETITE PLACE One continues on R2 Cinematographer/Shutterstock To minimize, sift through your glass cupboards and built-ins, and clean off your countertops. 14 sneaky staging tips for selling a small home By Stephanie Booth PROVIDED BY REALTOR.COM “Instead of having your friends bring a gift (to your party), have them pick one of your items and take it home with them.” Laura McHolm, NorthStar Moving Keeping pests at bay By Leah Napoliello | BBB Before hiring a pest control company, it’s important to ask questions to ensure you’re choosing a reputable and effective service. The BBB of Greater Houston and South Texas has tips on what to look for in a pest control service: Check with the BBB. Search for BBB Accredited pest control services on BBBHouston.org to ensure that you choose a company that values trust, transparency, professionalism, and ethics in the marketplace. Verify the company’s experience in the industry. Learn about the company’s experience and track record in pest control services Check for licensing, insurance, and certifications. Verify licensing via the Texas Department of Agriculture at www.texasagriculture.gov and also ask for proof of insurance. This helps protect you from liability in case of accidents or damages during treatment. Inquire about the training and certification technicians. Ask for references. Check if the company can reference previous clients with similar pest problems. Contact these references to get insights into the company’s service quality. Confirm that they follow IPM practices. Integrated Pest Management focuses on a holistic approach, including prevention, monitoring, and targeted treatments. Ask about treatment methods. Understand the methods they use for your issue. Ask about both chemical and non-chemical options. Understand any potential health risks or side effects associated with the treatment methods. Check their safety protocols for during and after treatment. Request a detailed estimate and inspection report. Request a written estimate that includes cost of treatment, ongoing maintenance, and additional charges. Also, ask for a detailed written inspection report outlining the extent of the pest problem, affected areas, recommended treatment plan, and an estimate of how long the treatment process will take and when you can expect results.
R2 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM sole tables will bring the room in rather than opening it up,” says Bee Heinemann, marketing director and interior decorating expert at Vänt Wall Panels. 3. Take your doors off their hinges. OK, removing all your doors—and privacy- —may sound odd at first. But doors just block off spaces you want to open up. So remove all your interior doors, besides those that lead to bedrooms, bathrooms, and closets, suggests G. Brian Davis, director of education for SparkRental. “The farther the eye can see, the better.” 4. Ditch the heavy drapes. If your windows are hiding behind cumbersome drapes and other coverings, now’s the time to take them down. Leave your windows bare, or hang sheer linen curtains. Your house will instantly feel brighter and more cheery. And as Matzke says, “you’ll extend the view to the outdoors, which will automatically make your space feel larger.” 5. Use only one color. Painting every single room the same color isn’t an artistic cop-out in a small home, instead it actually serves an important purpose. “It prevents your space from feeling choppy and gives it more of a continuous feel,” Matzke explains. The same idea goes for your furniture and accessories. Try to reduce contrasting colors wherever possible, suggests Justin M. Riordan, founder of home staging company Spade and Archer Design Agency. Contrasting hues create definition, and definition will make it that much more obvious that your space is small. Instead, opt for similar tones. “If you have a room with taupe walls, walnut floors, a brown sofa, and milk-chocolate pillows—all various names for medium brown—the edges of each item will be less defined and, in turn, be perceived as taking up less space,” says Riordan. 6. Put away your prints. Similarly, if you’ve got an affinity for wild and colorful designs, it’s time to rein it in. To avoid making buyers feel claustrophobic, “keep prints to a minimum and offset them with solids drawn from the same palette,” Heinemann says. 7. Take down artwork. Don’t be afraid of blank spaces! Resist the temptation to cover your walls with artwork or other hangings. Blank space “gives a room a chance to breathe,” Matzke says. (It will also stave off any twinges of claustrophobia in potential buyers.) 8. Let there be light. Nothing makes a home feel bigger than lots of light. “Add the highest possible wattage bulbs to all the lights in your home,” suggests Nancy Haworth, a professional organizer in Raleigh, NC. Daylight-toned bulbs, in particular, “provide a naturallooking light that can help make a small space seem larger,” she adds. 9. Cut out the rugs. “The more you break up the flow of your flooring, the smaller your space will feel,” Matzke cautions. To prevent that from happening, limit rugs to only one or two main areas such as under your dining table. Just make sure the rugs aren’t too tiny—small rugs can actually shrink a space further. 10. Max out your use of mirrors. Mirrors can be a magical design tool. They can brighten a dark room and make a small space look much bigger by reflecting natural light, Heinemann explains. Before you go wild with mirrors, make sure you know where and how to hang them ( there are some things you shouldn’t do.) But generally, if you place a mirror next to—or directly across from—a window, it’ll trick visitors into thinking there’s more depth to your house than there actually is. 11. Watch your corners. We all know “no one puts Baby in a corner,” so don’t put your couch, bookshelf, or nightstand in the corner, either. “Leaving the corners of a room open extends the buyer’s view into a space,” Matzke says. “The more open space you can see, the larger the rooms will feel.” 12. Display glass and metal furnishings. This means you might have to send Aunt Esther’s dark walnut hutch to storage. Not forever, mind you, but until your home sells. “When it comes to furnishings, materials like glass and metal—which reflect light and feel airier—give more sense of space than dark, heavy wood pieces,” Heinemann explains. 13. Streamline your linens. “You don’t want a red bedspread with orange pillows and faux fur throws, all mixed together, in a tiny space,” Heinemann advises. “It’s just too much for the eye to take in.” Keep colors and textures on your bed uniform—and lighter weight is better. 14. Go high. Wherever you can, you want to raise the bar—of your shower curtains and window treatments, that is. “Hang it as high as you can,” Heinemann says. “Doing so gives the illusion of higher ceilings and greater space.” The post 14 Sneaky Staging Tips for Selling a Small Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. One color gives space a continuous look One from page R1 Sergey Maksienko/Shutterstock To prevent breaking up the flow of a small space, limit rugs to only one or two main areas such as under your dining table. Dear James: We have a dog who spends much of his time outdoors in our fenced yard, so we need to build a good doghouse for him. Is there an easy-to-build design? — Jay M. Dear Jay: Building a doghouse yourself can be much less expensive than buying one at a pet store, and you can customize it for the size and unique needs of your dog. The basic design concept is fairly similar to building a real framed house, but it will be smaller. You may want to add a water bowl or feeder holder. If you plan to build it in the comfort of your basement or workroom, keep in mind that eventually you will have to move it outdoors. Measure the size of your doors before completely assembling it. It is usually a good idea to do the final assembly in your garage. A shingled roof is most durable and weatherproof, just like on your house, but if you think your dog will sit on top of the house, don’t use shingles. They can get very hot in the summertime. Use an exterior plywood panel instead. If your dog is a chewer, avoid pressure-treated lumber, even for the feet. You should be able to get by with one 4-by-8- foot sheet of exterior siding for an average-size dog (under 50 pounds). Draw templates of all the pieces on the back of the siding first to make the best use of the material. Now, carefully saw on the lines. For this normal-size doghouse, plan on two 22-by-32-inch roof pieces (for a pitched roof ), two 16-by-26-inch side pieces, two 21-by-26- inch bottom pieces (double bottom for strength) and a front and back piece that is 16 by 22 inches with a 27-inch peak in the center. Cut the hole for the door just large enough for your dog to enter. The next step is to cut the lumber to build the base that the doghouse is built on. This raises the floor above the ground to prevent water from entering on rainy days. It keeps the house elevated from the cold ground in the winter months. Cut four 6-inch long legs, and two 23-inch long and two 21-inch base pieces. Doublecheck that the base is square and nail its four sides together. Nail the legs against the inside edges of the side bases. Place the first floor piece on the base frame. Make sure that it does not overhang any edges of the base. If the floor pieces weren’t cut straight, trim off the excess with a plane and nail both floor pieces in place. Now, before it is too late, head out into the garage with all your pieces. Use standard 2-by-2 lumber for roof and wall supports. Nail these to the inside edges of the top and sides. Recess them up 31 ⁄2 inches on the sides, front and back. This allows the sides to extend down and cover the base for a professional look. Put one of the sides in place and nail it to the base, and put the other side on and nail it, too. Line the back piece up with the sides and nail it to the base and to the 2-by-2 supports. Do the same with the front piece. Nail the first roof section into place. Before nailing on the last roof piece, check for any exposed nails and cut or file any edges that could hurt the dog. Nail the final roof piece on. Attach the shingles and paint the exterior if desired. Send your questions to Here’s How, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45244 or visit www.dulley.com. CANINE CASA Here’s a simple-to-build doghouse design By James Dulley CREATORS SYNDICATE HERE’S HOW HOME Do-it-Yourself Doghouse project A simple doghouse can be built with common lumber and tools. Take into consideration such factors as the size ofthe dog and the location and climate for the doghouse before you start. ROOF DESIGN High-pitched construction drains rainfall better. Flatsloped roofs enable the dog to rest upon it. WEATHER DESIGN Insulation can be added depending on your area's weather. Creators.com Bob Kast PLYWOOD PLATFORM MATERIAL Use exterior plywood for siding and roof. 2x2 FRAMING
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 R3 The Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas is warning homeowners about fraudulent property title transfers, also known as home title fraud. Home title fraud happens when someone obtains the title to your property and changes ownership from your information to theirs. The scary part is, you may not even realize it until it is too late. The scam will usually follow a similar pattern. Scammers will pick a house, sometimes a second home, rental or vacant house. Gathering personal information from the internet or elsewhere, they take over your identity and assume the role of property owner or claim to represent you. They file the necessary paperwork to transfer ownership of your property to themselves. using forged signatures and fraudulent identification. They then sell the home or borrow against the equity. You might not even know this has happened until a lender starts to send letters of foreclosure on your home due to failure to make payments. The Better Business Bureau offers the following tips to protect yourself against this scam: Be careful with your personal information. Treat your personal information like the valuable commodity it is. Make sure you shred any documents that have your bank account information, Social Security/Social Insurance number, or other personal information. Be suspicious of any unsolicited communication asking for personal information. Check your credit reports regularly for unauthorized inquiries and accounts. In the U.S., you have the right to check your credit report with each of the three major credit bureaus once per year at AnnualCreditReport- .com. This is the only free crediting reporting service authorized by the Federal Trade Commission. Space these checks out across the year, and you will know fairly quickly if something is wrong. Look for unexplained withdrawals, charges, and accounts. Review your bank account and credit card statements regularly. Look for unfamiliar charges, accounts, or withdrawals. Know when your bills are due; one tip-off for identity theft is when you stop receiving certain bills. This can happen because scammers have changed the address associated with your bank account or credit card. If bills don’t arrive on time, follow up with your creditors. Debt collectors may call you about debts that aren’t yours. You can also set up automatic alerts on your accounts so you are notified every time a transaction is made. Check with your local recorder of deeds. Look for deeds that you or anyone representing you did not prepare or sign, periodically. Make sure they have the correct mailing address for you. Some counties provide a consumer notification services anytime a document is recorded on your property. Scammers tactics are continually changing and evolving. If you have been the victim a scam or know of someone who has, report it at BBBHouston.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help others to avoid falling prey to similar scam tactics. For information, visit www.bbbhouston.org or call 713-868-9500. Leah Napoliello is BBB VP of investigations and public affairs. Send questions to Leah Napoliello, Better Business Bureau, 1333 West Loop South, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77027, or e-mail lnapoliello@bbbhou.org with address and phone number. Be on the lookout fortheft of home title BBB ON HOMES LEAH NAPOLIELLO Shutterstock
R4 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM Ready to add some carpeting to your home? Here are some tips. Q: The carpeting in our living room needs to be replaced. I know how to evaluate and select the carpeting, but what is the best padding type and thickness? — Sheryl T. A: Installing the proper type of carpet padding (called cushions professionally) is as important to the comfort and life of the carpet as the carpet itself. Intuitively it seems like thicker padding is better, but that is not always the case. It is not surprising that the padding selection is confusing because many of the carpeting ads highlight the thickness of the padding as an indication of value. In addition to the thickness, the padding material itself is important, perhaps even more so. First, you must understand the purpose of carpet padding and how it works to determine which type is best for your home and family. A properly carpeted house will have different thicknesses and densities of padding in various rooms and areas within rooms. Carpet padding is designed to absorb the impact of feet on the carpet, control the flex of the carpet backing, provide comfortable walking and to provide some insulation over cold floors. If a carpet pad is too thick and not very dense, it flexes a great deal as you walk on it. This may feel nice at first, but you will quickly begin to notice that your vacuum cleaner bag is getting full of carpet fibers. This excessive flexing of the carpet backing actually breaks it down and the carpet fibers fall out. On the other hand, if there were no padding, the fibers themselves would take the full impact of foot travel and they would break off and wear down quickly. In most areas of the home with moderate to heavy foot traffic, a relatively thin (3/8 inch maximum) high density carpet pad is best. This provides adequate cushioning for comfort and fiber life, but it does not allow the carpet backing to overflex and disintegrate prematurely. In other areas of your home, where there is little foot traffic and you want a nice “cushy” feel to the carpet, you may choose a thicker, less dense padding. Generally, you will have three basic material choices for residential carpet padding: foam, sponge rubber and fiber. They are all available in a range of thicknesses and densities. For a given thickness, you can compare the ounces per square yard to gauge the density of the padding. Foam padding, often urethane foam, is my favorite for most residential applications. There are several grades available, but you will usually see what is called bonded foam. It is made of multicolored small pieces bonded together. It typically has fairly good density. Fiber padding, which you often see under older carpeting, looks like animal hair. There are new types of fiber pads, and some are made from recycled fibers. Fiber pads produce a very firm foundation and may be a good choice for very high traffic areas. Sponge rubber pads are available in a waffled or flat contour. The waffled design is much more resilient than the flat design. If you choose this type, or can find it on sale, make sure to choose a thin pad. Rubber padding provides the least amount of insulation value for cold floors. If you want to make the best carpet padding selection for each room of your home, contact the Carpet Cushion Council, P.O. Box 546, Riverside, Connecticut, 06878, at 203-637-1312. They have some helpful literature on these topics. In particular, there is a pamphlet recommending the proper padding type for each room of your house. Send your additional questions to Here’s How, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com. Proper padding is as important as the new carpet Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock By James Dulley CREATORS SYNDICATE ers among native plants, perennial garden flowers, annuals, and even some trees and shrubs. For the most success, try to have plants blooming in all seasons. But even with plants blooming all season long , you will need a large area of flowers to attract butterflies. Some of the best nectar-producing plants are in the Compositae family, like coneflower, coreopsis and rudbeckia. Good prairie plants include liatris, monarda, goldenrod and milkweed. Good shrubs include butterfly bush, caryopteris, clethra, privet, spirea and lilac. Good annuals include cosmos, lantana, nicotiana, petunia and zinnia. Some butterflies are attracted to butterfly feeders, which are similar to hummingbird feeders. Some are also attracted to pieces of rotting fruit, which can be placed on the feeders. Until butterflies arrive, place the feeders within the butterfly garden. Afterward, you can move the feeder closer to the house windows a few feet at a time so you can enjoy them from inside. Some butterflies are attracted to mud puddles, where they get not only needed moisture but also extra nutrients. Lay a birdbath top on the ground, and fill it up with water and a quarter sand or mud. Keep the bath in a sunny spot. Butterflies fly best when the air is warm. To fly in cool air, they must warm themselves with the sun. They can open their wings and face them at the sun or use them as mirrors and reflect the sun at their body. Q: Last spring, my kids and I planted some perennials that were supposed to attract butterflies, but we haven’t seen any. What else can we do to attract them? A: If all you want to do is attract adult butterflies, then you need to provide them with food, water, shelter and a food plant for the caterpillar stage of their life cycle. Caterpillars eat plants, and adults drink nectar from flowers. They usually go to different species of plants in each stage. There are only a few plants that provide both food for the caterpillar and nectar for the adults. For North American gardens, the following plant groups can be used for both purposes: aster, cherry, clover, marigold, milkweed, Queen Anne’s lace and thistle. Many species only lay their eggs on a few types of plants, so if you want them, you need to find out the name of the proper plant. For example, fennel and parsley are both good for attracting black swallowtail butterflies. Birch and elm trees are good for attracting mourning cloak, white admiral and question mark butterflies. Remember that caterpillars only have chewing mouth parts and cannot walk very far, so they will eat as much of the plant as they can. Chewed-up plants are part of the butterfly game. Adult butterflies do not harm plants, they help pollinate them. There are many good nectar producGenerations born earlier in the spring are often darker, so they can warm up easier. A butterfly garden in the sun will be more successful than one in the shade. It can be very disappointing for kids to plant a garden and then not get the immediate success they expect. Successful gardening often teaches patience. Even easy crops like tomatoes take several months to produce a product. Take the kids on a butterfly field trip. Many locations now have butterfly gardens or greenhouse-type structures temporarily filled with butterflies. Use a butterfly field guide to identify the various kinds, and keep a list of what they see. Many bird watchers have kept lists. Butterfly watchers are beginning to do the same. Email questions to Jeff Rugg at info@greenerview.com. Shutterstock For the most success, try to have plants blooming in all seasons. But even with plants blooming all season long, you will need a large area of flowers to attract butterflies. A GREENER VIEW Add a butterfly garden to your home landscape By Jeff Rugg CREATORS SYNDICATE
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 R5 Q: I recently installed new weatherstripping on my old wood windows. On windy days, the curtains still move. How can I find and stop the other air leakage? — Rita T. A: Now that you have already installed the new weatherstripping, try to remember if you saw any discolored spots when you pulled off the old weatherstripping. Discoloration usually means some water was getting in past it. That results in warped or swollen wood that may not seal well against the strips. Just tug on some of the new weatherstripping where there might have been discoloration. If it is bad under it, you will notice it feels different. Once all that is fixed, if you still feel air leaks, the only other possible leaky areas are where caulk has deteriorated. People often get the terms caulking and weatherstripping confused. Caulk is used to seal areas that are fixed in place and weatherstripping is used to seal areas that move relative to each other. The most likely deteriorated caulk is where the window frames is sealed into the opening in the wall. For an effective caulking job, it is important to remove as much of the old caulk as possible. Ideally, you should remove it all so the new caulking adheres to the wall opening lumber and the window frame. You should never just try to spread some new caulk over a crack in the old caulk. I can guarantee it will be leaking again in less than a year. Start out by using a stiff putty knife to scrape away any of the old caulk that is loose. Carefully scrape deeper, trying not to damage the wood any more than necessary. A few small gouges will be filled with the new caulk. Heating the old caulk with a hair blow-dryer or an electric heat gun makes it softer and easier to remove. There are many different types of caulk to use as you will find when you visit the caulk aisle at your home center store. Since you will probably want to paint the frame and caulk, a siliconized acrylic latex caulk is a good choice. Most have a stated life of 25 years or more. Once the old caulk is cleaned out, inspect the wood for any signs of deterioration. Remove any bad wood. This may leave some fairly large gaps to fill with caulk. If any spots are wider than about one-quarter inch, stuff some foam backer rope into the gap first before applying the new caulk. Now you are ready to select a caulking gun. Don’t just buy the least expensive one even though they all look somewhat similar. A better caulking gun will have a smoother operating trigger to provide better control over the flow of the caulk. It is sometimes difficult to determine this before using the gun, so just buy a more expensive one. Cut the tube on a 45-degree angle. Cut up far enough to create a hole about the same width as the gap you are trying to fill. Always start at one end because a small blob is usually created where you start. Do an entire side of the frame without stopping or there will be a blob where you stop. Smooth the caulk bead with a wet finger or a plastic smoothing tool. Send your questions to Here’s How, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com. By James Dulley CREATORS SYNDICATE HERE’S HOW Seal home's window air leaks with caulk Caulk is used to seal areas that are fixed in place and weatherstripping is used to seal areas that move relative to each other. The most likely deteriorated caulk is where the window frames is sealed into the opening in the wall. dient in something has thrown me to the wolves. Who keeps buttermilk on hand? And when you need only a small amount, then what to do with the rest of it? This dry option is the answer. I keep it in the freezer, and it lasts indefinitely. I find myself reaching for it quite often. It’s so easy to use, following the chart on the label. 3. CANNED TUNA Always have a few cans of white albacore on hand. A good tuna sandwich is hard to beat, which makes it a great fallback. Mix with onWith the high cost of food these days, there are two options: Shop the sales, and eat at home. That means only putting items in the cart that are on sale (my benchmark is 30% discount), and preparing and eating that food at home. I know — it sounds so easy. And it can be if you make sure your kitchen pantry is well stocked. It’s annoying and expensive not to have basic items on hand. You don’t have what you need and don’t have time to go get it, which means, of course, you’ll have to go out for dinner. Again. Taking the time and effort to make sure you always have the following nine essential pantry items will save a lot of money, provided you pick these items up as they go on sale. Think of this as a project. 1. EVAPORATED MILK I detest evaporated milk because I had to drink it as a kid. But it’s fabulous for cooking and baking. Keeping a few cans in your pantry ensures you’ll always have milk on hand when the recipe calls for it. 2. DRY BUTTERMILK This is amazing. You can find it in the baking aisle as “cultured buttermilk blend.” I can’t tell you how many times buttermilk as an ingreions, pasta, canned tomato and some dried herbs to make a tuna casserole. Everybody should have one wickedly delicious tuna pasta bake recipe up their sleeve. 4. TOMATO SAUCE Turn it into pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce. Add it to soup. Many quick and easy casseroles call for tomato sauce. If you have a few small cans as well as regular size, you won’t waste a bunch when a recipe calls for just a small amount of tomato sauce. 5. FROZEN PEAS My favorite thing to keep on hand; frozen peas fix anything. Add peas to any pasta dish, stew or salad and you’re adding nutrition as well as visual appeal. 6. SHREDDED CHEESE You’ll save money if you buy bulk cheese and shred it yourself. But if you are not prone to do that ahead, buy it shredded. You’ll recoup the cost the first time you opt to fix a quick meal of quesadillas. And you’ll be good to go for a quick macaroni and cheese, too, and for pizza topping or to garnish chili. 7. FROZEN CHOPPED ONIONS Yes, you can chop it yourself if you happen to have an onion on hand. And you don’t have to buy them chopped. You can do this ahead and just keep a bag in the freezer. However you do it, having this on hand is such a great idea. You’ll see. 8. BOUILLON I think you need chicken, vegetable and beef. It comes granulated, cubed or as a very thick, concentrated base labeled “Better Than Bouillon,” which you keep refrigerated. I prefer the latter, but any bouillon will get you out of a jam when you don’t have chicken stock or beef broth on hand, or when a recipe calls for bouillon. Or you just want a nice, hot cup of chicken broth. It’s easy to use and simple to store. 9. CHICKEN BROTH Keeping a few cans on hand is a smart idea. Again, you can make it yourself, but will you? Canned broth or stock is an ingredient you will appreciate having on hand for bases, sauces, gravies and soups. Visit Mary Hunt at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived with links and resources. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, “Ask Mary.” This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary is founder of EverydayCheapskate.com. STOCKING UP Make sure you have these 9 essential pantry items By Mary Hunt CREATORS SYNDICATE VH-studio/Shutterstock Keeping a range of items on hand will assist you in your recipe preparedness. EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE
R6 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM When your life gets chaotic, you pay dearly in terms of stress and money. There are hundreds of things you can do to simplify your life and home. Here are four good tips. 1. Carry only the keys you use every day. Clean everything else off your key ring. If you don’t recognize what a key is for, toss it. If you have keys you use occasionally, keep them on separate rings in a safe place. Carry only three keys: house, car and office. 2. Thin your wardrobe. You will eliminate a lot of stress from your life by simply reducing the number of clothes you own. It is a simple step, but one that fills many with dread. Understanding the benefits is what helps keep a pared-down closet: Dressing with less saves money — and time, too. 3. Buy only white linens. Now everything matches, and that saves time and hassle. When everything is white, you don’t worry about fading, about matching up sets or if the linens match the room’s decor. Every top sheet goes with every fitted sheet, so you don’t have laundry-time hassles. Everything launders the same. White linens are classic, and they’re cheaper, too. 4. Handle the mail only once. Don’t carry all the junk mail to the table to only become more household clutter. Keep a tasteful waste can right where you open the mail and dump the junk the moment you identify it as such. Don’t rifle through the latest mailorder catalogs just to see what’s new. If you don’t need something now, you won’t need all the things that catch your eye. Visit Mary Hunt at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived with links and resources for products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at www.everydaycheapskate.com/ contact/, “Ask Mary.” EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE Simplify to save time, money By Mary Hunt | CREATORS SYNDICATE Shutterstock You will eliminate a lot of stress from your life by simply reducing the number of clothes you own. Whether by choice or by circumstance, there are many intergenerational families sharing living space today — but do those spaces serve everyone in the family? Let’s take a look at multigenerational living and universal design, and how universal design principles serve everyone residing in your home. Implementing universal design when you renovate a kitchen is a great way to make the most of the space, regardless of a user’s age or ability. Universal design helps keep things simple and streamlined to help you gracefully age in place, or more easily resell your home down the road. Create the conditions for comfortable living in your kitchen with thoughtful universal design principles. When updating cabinets and drawers, think about the following features to improve accessibility: Reduce pinching by choosing pulls and handles for drawers and cabinets that have enough space to accommodate hands and fingers. Upper-level cabinets can be challenging for shorter family members, or family members who use a wheelchair. Pull-out drawers are easier to access than upper cabinets; they are also more accessible than the bending and reaching required for deep, lower-level cabinets. Additional space is sometimes needed to accommodate a wheelchair or walker. A kitchen designer can help you consider clearance to maximize ease of use of your kitchen. Consider installing countertops at varying heights to accommodate individuals of different heights and mobility levels. Lower countertops allow for seated work tasks, while standard-height countertops provide options for standing tasks. The kitchen is the heart of the modern home, a place to both work and relax. Updating kitchen lighting with layered lighting is a great way to improve the ambience and workability of that space. Create “layers” of lighting to give you options: • Build flexibility into lighting with dimmer switches; not only does it give you control over lighting levels, but a toggle or touch switch is also more easily controlled by family members with limited hand strength and dexterity. • Create task lighting above countertop surfaces; undercabinet lights brighten a work surface for ease-of-use and safety. • Create ambience and add safety and security to stairs or hallways with wall fixtures. Designing a kitchen with universal design principles for aging in place involves creating a space that is accessible, safe, and convenient for individuals of all ages and abilities. By incorporating these principles into the kitchen layout and features, homeowners can create a space that is not only functional and accessible for aging in place, but also stylish and welcoming for individuals of all abilities. This article was provided by a member of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association. The Remodelers Council is dedicated to promoting professionalism and public awareness of the remodeling profession through education, certification and service to the Houston community. To reach the author directly, email maria@- cabinetsanddesigns.net. For information on this article, contact Lorraine Hart at lorraine@idealconsulting.net. To join the council or to find a remodeler, visit www.ghba.org. SEAMLESS ACCESSIBILITY Cabinetry solutions for aging in place with style By Maria Frank CABINETS & DESIGNS INC. GHBA REMODELERS COUNCIL Courtesy of Cabinets & Designs Inc. Layered lighting such as dimmable lighting for overhead lights and under-cabinet lighting at prep surfaces is a great way to improve the workability of a kitchen space.
SUNDAY SUNDAY, MAY CO 5, 2024 MICS ZITS By JERRY SCOTT & JIM BORGMAN CLASSIC PEANUTS By CHARLES SCHULZ BREAKING CAT NEWS By GEORGIA DUNN PEARLS BEFORE SWINE By STEPHAN PASTIS
U2 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM WALLACE THE BRAVE By WILL HENRY BABY BLUES By RICK KIRKMAN & JERRY SCOTT RED & ROVER By BRIAN BASSET
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U4 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM BALDO By CANTU & CASTELLANOS CURTIS By RAY BILLINGSLEY HI & LOIS By BRIAN AND GREG WALKER