Our Favorite Picks for Outdoor Kitchens
Posted: March 25, 2013 Filed under: Outdoor Kitchens, Outdoor Living 2 Comments »With the grilling season on the horizon, we gathered some of our favorite products for outdoor kitchens to share with you.

Nothing quite makes an outdoor kitchen like a beautiful brick oven (1) perfect for making pizzas with that wood-fired taste. Of course, we can’t list our favorite picks for outdoor kitchens without a grill! The Big Green Egg (2) takes the cake when it comes to grilling up some mouthwatering favorites like steaks, hot dogs and veggies. Wash that food down with a delicious beverage from these acrylic wine and beer glasses (3). Don’t worry, they can take a tumble outside and won’t break! In the mood for seafood? Infuse your Atlantic salmon with the delectable flavor of these cedar grilling planks (4) or add a kick with roasted garlic sea salt (5). Plus, this adorable picnic table condiment set keeps popular add-ons within easy reach. (6) Lastly, what outdoor kitchen is complete without a spot for entertaining and mixing drinks? We love this pre-built, modular island bar from our Elements Collection (7).
1. Belgard Elements Collection Chicago Brick Oven
2. Large Big Green Egg
3. Crate & Barrel Laela Acrylic Wine Glass and Acrylic Beer Glass
4. Target Camerons Cedar Grilling Planks
5. DEAN & DELUCA Roasted Garlic Sea Salt
6. Target Mr. Bar-B-Q Picnic Table Condiment Set
7. Belgard Elements Collection Island Bar
Contractor’s Corner: Belgard Ultimate Contractor Contest
Posted: March 18, 2013 Filed under: Belgard News, Contractor's Corner Leave a comment »Contractors play a pivotal role in helping homeowners bring their outdoor living visions to life. Each month, we’ll offer a Contractor’s Corner post to share tips to help our contractor partners offer even more to homeowners and their landscapes.

Calling all contractors! We’re looking for the best of the best during the Belgard Ultimate Contractor Contest. Enter for a chance to win a $15,000 business improvement package.
How It Works
Visit Belgard.biz/ultimate and share a new sales or marketing approach that will grow your business in 2013. Submit your idea by May 15, 2013.
For complete rules and regulations, visit Belgard.biz/ultimate.
Outdoor Entertaining Tip of the Month: Enter to Win a $9,000 Outdoor Living Makeover!
Posted: March 11, 2013 Filed under: Belgard News, Outdoor Living, Tip of the Month 14 Comments »This month we’re bringing you an extra special outdoor entertaining tip of the month where you can enter to win a $9,000 outdoor living makeover that will make you the host with the most when friends and family visit.
In conjunction with Meredith Corporation, publisher of Better Homes & Gardens, Traditional Home and Midwest Living, we’re launching an outdoor living style quiz and backyard makeover sweepstakes running March 8, 2013 through May 27, 2013.
The questions at Belgard.biz/StyleQuiz will help you explore your tastes and preferences in outdoor living and entertaining, generating a profile that identifies your outdoor living style. Offering inspiration and education, the quiz matches you with the Belgard pavers that capture looks that are classic, transitional and natural. Upon receiving your outdoor living style type, you will be entered to win a $9,000 backyard makeover.
The randomly selected grand prize winner will receive a personalized landscape plan specifically tailored to the winner‘s outdoor lifestyle, up to $4,000 worth of Belgard pavers and wall product and up to $5,000 towards the cost of installation.
For full contest rules and regulations and to enter, visit Belgard.biz/StyleQuiz.
Spring Forward
Posted: March 4, 2013 Filed under: Outdoor Kitchens, Outdoor Living Leave a comment »As we prepare for the start of Daylight Saving Time and set our clocks one hour forward next weekend, the evenings will become darker earlier and spring’s temperatures will be calling you outdoors.
Get more out of that outdoor time with a fire feature that adds an attractive light source and warmth during the unpredictable temperatures of March. Here are some options for incorporating a fire feature in your outdoor space:
Fire pit
A fire pit is one of the most versatile fire features available because it can accommodate both an intimate evening for two and also a large gathering of friends and family. Varying sizes ensure there’s an option to fit every backyard.
Fireplace
A fireplace is a great choice for homeowners looking to create a statement centerpiece to their outdoor living space. With options to create a custom-designed fireplace or choose from a variety of pre-built modular choices from the Belgard Elements Collection, you’re sure to find just the right fit for your home’s style.
Fire table
A fire table is a lesser known option in fire features, but it certainly creates a contemporary and cool atmosphere to light up the night. Fire tables create visual interest and are often a topic of conversation when gathering outdoors with friends. When not in use, a cover over the fire element creates additional table-top space.
Outdoor kitchen
Bring on the heat with an outdoor kitchen that not only provides light and warmth, but does triple duty in cooking a delicious meal you can enjoy in your outdoor living space. Outdoor kitchens range from modest to gourmet and the choice is yours!
What fire feature would you most like to add to your patio?
Did you know?
Most areas of the United States currently observe daylight saving time, the exceptions being Arizona, Hawaii, and the overseas territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.
Daydreaming of Summer: Our Favorite Pool Decks
Posted: February 25, 2013 Filed under: Outdoor Living, Pavers Leave a comment »While the temperatures outside in many places aren’t quite calling for pool season, we can’t help but daydream of warm summer days and relaxing by the pool. Now is the perfect time to start planning your Belgard pool deck so it’s ready in time for cannon ball season. Here are a few of our favorite pool decks to help you get in the summer state of mind.
Contractor’s Corner: Belgard University
Posted: February 18, 2013 Filed under: Belgard News, Contractor's Corner, Events 2 Comments »Contractors play a pivotal role in helping homeowners bring their outdoor living visions to life. Each month, we’ll offer a Contractor’s Corner post to share tips to help our contractor partners offer even more to homeowners and their landscapes.
Staying ahead of the learning curve is essential to growing your business and Belgard University offers contractors an opportunity to expand their hardscape knowledge with both classroom and hands-on industry training.

Benefits include:
• Learn about innovative new products
• Earn industry certification
• Network with other industry professionals
• Participate in hands-on demonstrations
• Get insider tips on installation and industry trends
• Learn about business and marketing programs to help you succeed
New this year, a number of Belgard University events will feature Design Workshops hosted by industry leading expert and television personality Haig Seferian. Presentation topics include Design Principles and Elements, Form Composition, “Do’s and Don’ts,” and the “Golden Rules of Landscape Design.” Gain a thorough understanding of the design process and put those skills to work by creating individual designs while working directly with Haig and Belgard reps.
Registration is open for Belgard University events across the country:
Belgard University – Phoenix, AZ
Date: February 19, 2013
Venue: The Waterfront
5350 South Lakeshore Drive
Tempe, AZ 85283
Belgard University – Las Vegas, NV
Date: February 21, 2013
Venue: University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
8050 Paradise Road, Suite 105
Las Vegas, NV 89123
Belgard University – Southern California
Date: February 26, 2013
Venue: Sierra an Oldcastle Company
10714 Poplar Avenue
Fontana, CA 92337
Belgard University – Northern California
Date: February 28, 2013
Venue: Sierra an Oldcastle Company
4202 Gibraltar CT
Stockton, CA 95206
Belgard University – Overland Park, KS
Date: March 5, 2013
Venue: The Ritz Charles
9000 West 137th Street
Overland Park, KS 66221
Belgard University – Cleveland, OH
Date: March 14, 2013
Venue: Cuyahoga Community College
TBD
Cleveland, OH 44115
Belgard University – Addison, IL
Date: March 21, 2013
Venue: Medinah Banquets
550 N. Shriners Drive
Addison, IL 60101
Belgard University – Chaska, MN
Date: March 26, 2013
Venue: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Drive
Chaska, MN 55318
Belgard University – Menomonee Falls, WI
Date: March 28, 2013
Venue: Wacker Nueson
N92 W15000 Anthony Avenue
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
Visit BelgardUniversity.com for more information.
Outdoor Entertaining Tip of the Month: Chocolate Raspberry Shortcakes
Posted: February 11, 2013 Filed under: Recipes for Company Leave a comment »With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we wanted to share a recipe we love, Chocolate Raspberry Shortcakes. These are a great treat to make whether it’s for your other half, your kids, or even just for yourself!

Ingredients
About 2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1/4 lb.) cold butter
2 large egg yolks
3/4 cup buttermilk
4 cups fresh raspberries
Vanilla crème fraîche or lightly sweetened whipped cream
Powdered sugar
Preparation
1. In a food processor or bowl, combine 2 cups flour, 2/3 cup granulated sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; whirl or mix until blended.
2. Cut butter into 1/2-inch chunks and add to flour mixture. Whirl, cut in with a pastry blender, or rub in with your fingers until mixture forms fine crumbs; pour into a bowl if using processor.
3. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks with buttermilk to blend; add to flour mixture and stir just until evenly moistened.
4. Turn dough out onto a floured board and, with lightly floured hands, knead just until it comes together. Pat out to about 1 1/4 inches thick. With a 3-inch round cutter, cut out shortcakes; gather dough scraps and pat out again as necessary to make all six shortcakes. Set 2 inches apart on a 14- by 17-inch baking sheet.
5. Bake on the middle rack in a 375° regular or 350° convection oven until tops look dry and feel firm when pressed, about 25 minutes. Transfer shortcakes to a rack and let cool completely.
6. Meanwhile, rinse raspberries. In a blender or food processor, whirl half the berries with the remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar until smooth. Press through a fine strainer into a bowl; discard residue.
7. To assemble shortcakes, slice each in half horizontally; set bottoms on plates. Spoon vanilla crème fraîche over bottoms, top with remaining berries, and drizzle with raspberry sauce. Place shortcake tops over berries and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
From Sunset June 2002









