Stone Patio Gourmet: Issue 3.12.10

With the changes in the economy, it has become a common occurrence to spend time at home with the family instead of everyone going out on their separate ways or even going out together to a restaurant. That’s just one of reasons that everyone is turning the backyard into an outdoor living area… it’s a great place for everything. Parties and dining on that beautiful pavers patio (designed to die for of course).

It’s quite the destination, beckoning guests as they arrive. That is after they have parked on your interlocking pavers driveway and ambled through the entry garden on a meandering pavers path. From the curb to your outdoor kitchen, who would want to leave? Lounging about is exactly what the backyard getaway is all about. Patio designs wrought in paving stones are no place for some average meal.

This weekend’s Stone Patio Gourmet dish puts a lot of kick and pizzazz in ordinary salmon by adding a great blueberry sauce that will get your family begging for your next paver stones grill night.

Sensual Blueberry Salmon ala Stone Patio Grill
Serves 4.

Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup of chicken stock
• 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup of orange juice
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
• Another cup of chicken stock, this time 1/4 cup
• 1 cup of fresh blueberries
• 2 teaspoons of chopped fresh chives
• 4 (6 ounce) salmon steaks
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• salt and pepper for a little bit more taste

Preparation:
Pour 1/2 cup of chicken stock, vinegar, orange juice, and honey into a saucepan. Bring these to a boil over a high heat and then reduce the heat to medium. Next, be sure to dissolve the cornstarch in 1/4 cup of chicken stock. When this has dissolved, you’ll want to stir the dissolved cornstarch and chicken stock into the simmering sauce. Once everything has been added to the sauce, you will want to cook and stir the sauce until the sauce thickens and turns clear. This can take between 1 to 2 minutes. After the sauce has turned clear, stir in the blueberries and chives and keep the sauce warm over a low heat.
After you’ve made your sauce, you’ll want to pop outside to your paving stones patio and preheat that wonderful paver stones grill to a medium high-heat.

Once the paver stones grill has warmed to a medium to high heat, you’ll want to put the salmon on. Be sure to brush the salmon with oil and then season the salmon with salt and pepper. After you’ve coated your salmon, you’ll want to cook each piece on each side for about 3 to four minutes. Once the salmon becomes flaky and easy to break up, you’ll know it’s ready to serve.

Unlike most recipes that have you baste the meat with the sauce, your blueberry sauce should be served on the side and used for dipping. You may want to add some vibrant greens to your meal to accent both the taste and the look. After all, one of the telling signs of a fine restaurant is the way the meal accents the atmosphere it’s being served in, just like your salmon meal can and will accent your patio design to a tee.
And there you have it, another fancy restaurant style recipe served in the stylish atmosphere of your paving stone outdoor living room. Dinner is served!

One of the best things about having a paving stones patio besides the amazing look of it is being able to grill in style on it. Whether you’re cooking solo or having a party, your paving stone patio will shine with its year round beauty. Rather than letting this beauty go to waste, here’s a great chicken recipe that screams to be made on your paver stones grill.

Note that this recipe yields 6 servings, but its easily adjusted to fit any sized crowd. It might be wise to plan on a few unexpected guests drawn in by the tantalizing smell of your exceptional talent for grilling. One look at your gorgeous paving stone patio outdoor living area and well... they'll probably crash the party.

Sensational Chicken ala Stone Patio Grill

Ingredients
6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
1 lime that should be juiced
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup honey
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 pinch red pepper flakes
1 pinch cayenne pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation:
• Whisk together the limejuice, the vinegar, the orange juice, the wine, and the honey until the honey dissolves.
• Once the honey has dissolved, add the salt, the pepper, the chipotle powder, the onion powder, the garlic powder, the paprika, the chili powder, the cinnamon, the oregano, the cumin, the ginger, the red pepper flakes, the cayenne, and the olive oil into the mix and whisk it together.
• Place the chicken breasts into a plastic bag, pour in the marinade, and coat the chicken well. You’ll want to marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or if you’re really aiming for some strong flavor up to 2 days.
• Once the chicken has marinated, you’ll want to preheat your paver stones grill to a medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Once the paver stones grill has reached the medium heat, you’ll need to remove the chicken from marinade. Be sure to shake off any excess marinade and discard remaining marinade.
• Cook chicken on the preheated paver stones grill approximately 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until the juices run clear and there are no signs of pink in the meat.

And there you have it! Delicious, exciting flavor from this entrée gives you a meal of seasoned chicken with that will excite and please, both you and your guests. If you really want to make this meal an evening to remember, be sure to add some southwestern style décor on your paving stone patio. This chicken will knock your socks off.

If you end up with more chicken than the crowd could eat, it won't go to waste. In fact, now that you've added this recipe to your paver stones grill recipes, you have a source for some of the tastiest salads this side of the Rio Grande. Dice or slice up the leftover chicken and put it with a salad. Add a little ranch dressing to a great mix of greens. A little onion and tomato, and its a southwestern salad sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.

Regardless of the season, there are a number of people who enjoy having guests over for various get-together events and dinner parties. More often than not we end up entertaining our guests in the backyard so we can show off out patio designs. It lets us share the company of friends and family while enjoying a warm breeze under the afternoon sun. If you plan on entertaining in the back yard, its best to create the ideal setting while beautifying the environment. You can certainly do this on any budget by utilizing patio pavers.

Patio Pavers exude a welcoming and charming aura for all of your guests, making them feel at home among the design you carefully planned to make your back yard a wondrous outdoor living space. When you decide to create an outdoor living space, the best choice you can make is to go with pavers because they last a lifetime. Your home will become a palace, your backyard will become a favorite destination among friends, and your outside home décor will scream about your character.

When selecting the type of pavers you want for your patio, consider two things: The kind of paver and the theme for your home.

Patio pavers can be made to mimic various types of stonework in their design. For those who want an elegant and rustic feel, brick-style pavers certainly provide an old American feel. This style is easily replicated. They're strong, versatile and the best choice for high traffic families and those with children. Certainly an ideal choice for patio pavers.

If you're looking for a more common look, consider the patio pavers that have been designed to replicate concrete designs. Unlike other forms of concrete, these are quick to install and come in a wide variety of designs. If you have a job that needs to be done immediately, pavers are the best choice. They install quickly, and are extremely easy to replace should you need to make repairs to your patio at a later done or want to change out part of your design.

Guests are sure to appreciate the time you spend installing elegant pavers that capture the appeal of classic landscaping. These paving stones are key to taking back your outdoor living space and extending your home into the outside world.

Try to keep the patio pavers design you choose in line with the theme of your home. If you have an Victorian style home with beautiful dark accents and white pillar work you wouldn't want to install an art deco design using your patio pavers with bright glaring color. Match color for color, and lean toward a design that compliments your home to maintain a seamless layout with your home.

Patio pavers are easy to work with in any setting. With some careful planning and a little imagination, you should have no difficulty in creating a remarkable design with a blueprint for the entire project. Consult your local professional installer for more information on creating the best patio designs in your immediate neighborhood using paving stones.