You are here: Home / Archives for greystar

Party Safe: Tips for Serving a Safe Food Buffet

September 18, 2014 by

When you have a large group of people over for dinner, serving food buffet-style ensures that everyone gets exactly what they want. But how can you be sure that everything stays fresh, from appetizers to dessert? Here are a few tips for serving a safe food buffet.

  1. Buy foods at the proper temperature. Things like fried chicken, casseroles, and ice cream should be kept at the same temperature from the store to the buffet table, as changing their temperatures too much can cause food to spoil.
  2. Know the proper temperatures. Hot food should be kept between 140° and 165° Fahrenheit, while cold food should be kept at 40° Fahrenheit and lower.
  3. Don’t leave food out for longer than two hours. Be sure to include preparation and serving in your count.
  4. Use the proper tools. To ensure that food is kept at the proper temperature, use things like slow cookers, warming trays, and nesting dishes in bowls of ice. To prevent guests from mixing foods, make sure that you provide a separate spoon, spatula, or tongs in each dish. Also provide individual bowls for dips to discourage guests from double-dipping.

Serving Up Safe Buffets [FDA]
Serving Prepared Foods Safely [Whole Foods]
Holiday or Party Buffets [USDA]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Enjoy Shopping and Strolling in Old Town Spring

September 15, 2014 by

Spend an afternoon strolling the streets of Old Town Spring, a historic shopping and entertainment district near Spring’s century-old rail yard. The Victorian era buildings house many shops that sell everything from clothing to collectibles. Favorites include Asian Antiques by Eastwind and Harpers Fabulous Finds.

If your stroll causes you to work up an appetite, you can refuel at one of the district's many restaurants, cafes, and sweet shops. Stop by the Little Dutch Girl, a specialty import shop featuring treats from Holland, for a sweet snack of homemade fudge. For refreshments of a different sort, Wimberly Valley Winery offers reasonably priced bottles at their Old Town tasting room, and the Loose Caboose serves frozen margaritas and barbecue from its rail car restaurant.

Keep your eye out for festivals: Old Town Spring regularly hosts events that celebrate wine, crawfish, and art.

Old Town Spring
405 Main Street
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 353-9310
www.oldtownspring.com
www.yelp.com/biz/old-town-spring-spring

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: , ,

How to Prepare Asparagus Like a Trained Chef

September 4, 2014 by

Asparagus likely isn’t at the top of your list of favorite food indulgences, but if prepared correctly this nutrient-rich vegetable can be quite tasty. Here are 4 simple tips for cooking asparagus that will make you excited to eat your veggies.

  1. Peel thick asparagus before cooking. Thin asparagus can be prepared as-is, but thick asparagus contains hard, wood-like areas on the exterior that must first be peeled off. Use a standard vegetable peeler and start from about 2 inches from the bottom of the stem.
  2. Cut off the hard base. If you’ve ever bitten into the hard, sour base of the asparagus, you understand why this step is so important. Before cooking, take a sharp knife and chop off an inch or so of the bottom of each piece.
  3. Choose a cooking style. Roasting asparagus with olive oil creates a crunchy exterior and tender interior, while steaming it or simmering it creates a softer texture that’s also a bit lower in fat. No matter which cooking technique you choose, be sure to add simple herbs and spices for added flavor.
  4. Add a topping or sauce. If you prefer even more flavor on your asparagus, there are a number of different sauces or toppings for every type of meal. A sweet chili sauce perfectly complements the earthy taste of the asparagus, while a creamy Hollandaise is ideal with fish, chicken or even your morning eggs.

How to Cook Asparagus [Better Homes and Gardens]
Asparagus [BBC Good Food]
How to Cook Asparagus [Asparagus-Lover.com]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , ,

The Olive Oil Restaurant: Enjoy Greek Fare and the Sounds of Live Bouzouki

August 28, 2014 by

Located just a short trip from Avana Woodridge, The Olive Oil Restaurant is an authentic dining experience in the heart of the Woodlands. The dimly lit, rustic interior is full of comfortable tables large enough for the whole family, and guests are always greeted warmly at the door by one of the friendly servers.

The wine list is very impressive, and the menu is just as large. Specials change daily, but traditional favorites like grape leaves, moussaka, gyros, and cheese pies always stay the same. The Olive Oil Restaurant serves a number of beef, lamb, and seafood platters with your choice of traditional sides like arakas or bamies. Best of all, the restaurant hosts live music and belly dancing evenings on weekends complete with the tradition of breaking plates and shouting “Opa!”

The Olive Oil Restaurant
373 Sawdust Road
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 367-0114
www.oliveoilgreekrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-olive-oil-restaurant-the-woodlands

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

Three Websites to Buy Modern Furniture Online

August 21, 2014 by

With its clean lines, bright pops of color, and timeless look, there’s a lot to love about modern furniture. This style has seen a major resurgence among design enthusiasts, and lucky for you, there are a number of affordable websites that offer stylish modern furniture. Here are some of the best:

West Elm
Fans of modern furniture look to the expertly arranged displays in West Elm stores for design inspiration, but if you don’t have a location in your area, the retailer's online store is just as inspiring. From tufted headboards to mid-century inspired buffets with slim wooden legs, West Elm is a fairly affordable option for modern furniture pieces and home decor items.

Design Within Reach
Design Within Reach aims to reintroduce the iconic styles of designers like Herman Miller into today’s furniture market. The online shop carries beloved pieces like Eames chairs, and it even offers items from up-and-coming modern furniture designers.

CB2
CB2 operates as the modern sister company of Crate & Barrel, and its price points are a bit lower, as well. Large-scale furniture pieces like bed frames, sectional sofas, and dressers are mixed in with industrial light fixtures, geographic-print linens, and other modern decor items on this easy-to-navigate site.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Peckinpaugh Preserve: Weave Your Way through a Maze of Hiking Trails

August 14, 2014 by

The Peckinpaugh Preserve is a wooded preserve in the Spring area that merged two areas of donated land to form 25 acres of hiking trails and green space. The preserve is located across Spring Creek and adjacent to the Riley Fuzzel Road Bridge, which makes it a convenient hiking spot for many Spring residents.

The trails wind around the preserve in a maze-like manner that makes them very interesting for even the most experienced hiker, and the terrain varies between sand and dirt. Many different animals and bird species frequent the wooded areas around the trails, so bird watchers and nature lovers alike frequently visit the preserve to catch a glimpse of these creatures in their natural habitats. The creek also provides an opportunity for fishing and for launching canoes into its flowing waters.

To help navigate Peckinpaugh Preserve’s complicated series of trails, there are colorful maps available at the small visitor center building at the entrance to the preserve.

Peckinpaugh Preserve
1209 Old Riley Fuzzel Road
Spring, TX 77386
(281) 367-3977
www.springcreekgreenway.org
www.yelp.com/biz/peckinpaugh-preserve-spring

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: , ,

Rudy’s Bar B Q: Classic Barbecue in Spring, Texas

August 7, 2014 by

Rudy’s Bar B Q is a popular Spring spot for enjoying tasty barbecue. The space presents a down-home setting with an old fashioned gas station theme that recounts the fact that the original in this chain of restaurants began at a Texas gas station.

Sidle up to the counter, place your order and sit down at one of their wooden picnic-style tables. Meat is sold by the half-pound. Choose from Brisket, Turkey Breast, Spicy Chop, Half Chicken, Turkey, Pork Loin, Pork Spare Ribs, Baby Back Ribs, Regular Sausage and Jalapeno Sausage. They slice your meat right at the counter and pile it onto white butcher paper. Choose from Spicy or Regular Sauce. Add on some tasty sides like Creamed Corn, Potato Salad, Spicy Beans, Coleslaw, and New Potatoes.

Rudy's is open every day in Spring, Texas

Rudy's Bar B Q
20806 Interstate 45
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 288-0916
http://www.rudysbbq.com/page/home
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rudys-bar-b-q-spring-2

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: , ,

You Might Be Surprised That These Common Foods Are High in Sugar

July 24, 2014 by

Some foods are obviously high in sugar, such as cakes, sodas, and ice cream. But did you know that there are sneaky high-sugar foods that may be sabotaging your diet without you even knowing it? Here are a few foods that are surprisingly high in sugar.

  1. Fat-free yogurts. Sure, fat-free yogurts don’t contain fat, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re low in sugar, too! In fact, the majority of low-fat and fat-free yogurts overcompensate by adding quite a bit of sugar to sweeten up the taste. Be sure to check the label on your favorite sweet side, because some 0% yogurts can contain as many as 20 grams of sugar.
  2. Marinara sauce. Marinara sauce is often viewed as a healthy alternative to creamy Alfredo sauces, but this savory pasta topping can be packed full of sugars. Beware of store bought cans and jars especially, as they’re the most common culprits.
  3. Bread. Even supposedly healthy breads, like whole grain and wheat, can contain about three grams of sugar per slice. Processed breads are usually much higher in sugars than freshly baked options, so opt for a loaf from the bakery or a sprouted wheat bread from the health food store.

6 Surprising Sources of Sugar [Eating Well]
6 Hidden Sugar Mines in Your Diet [Next Avenue]
Sugar: Five Foods Surprisingly High in Sugar [BBC]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Upgrade Bathtime With Handmade Soaps From Connie’s Bath Shack

July 17, 2014 by

Look for the giant yellow rubber ducky on the roof of Connie’s Bath Shack to guide you to a veritable bazaar of great items. Handmade soaps are made with the finest ingredients, like olive and coconut oils and shea and coco butters. Soaps come in a luscious array of colors and scents, including Chai Tea with goat’s milk, Carolina Jasmine, Herbal Chamomile, Honey Oatmeal Vanilla, Honeysuckle Rose, Peppermint Rosemary, and Luscious Lavender.

Scented bath salts make your tub soaking time luxurious, with great skin softening properties. Choose from Lavender, Eucalyptus, Sweet Jamaican Coconut, and Vanilla Sugar. Bath fizzies, salt scrubs, lotions, and creams are also on the menu of items. You'll even find a huge selection of rubber duckies!

Connie's Bath Shack
211 Midway Street
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 288-9595
conniesbathshack.com
www.yelp.com/biz/connies-bath-shack-spring

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: , ,

The Hen House: A Houston-Area Destination For Fiber Arts Supplies

July 10, 2014 by

If you’re in to quilting or knitting, or if you want to learn, The Hen House in Spring is the place for you. This 6,000 square feet retail store is packed floor to ceiling with quilting and fiber arts supplies. Those that enjoy knitting and crocheting will be amazed at the yarn selection with everything from simple skeins to luxurious wools. Quilters will love the sewing supplies and colorful selection of fabrics. The Hen House regularly offers classes for beginners and experienced crafters. For those that aren’t crafty themselves, but appreciate artisan goods, they sell handmade gifts like candles, cards, jewelry and knitted items.

The Hen House
6915 Cypresswood Drive
Spring, TX 77379
(832) 482-2591
www.yelp.com/biz/the-hen-house-spring

Public Domain/Public Domain
Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »

Pin It on Pinterest