recipes

Once summer arrives, it seems like the last thing we want to do is standing around and cooking over a hot stove, right? (Although having someone else slaving over a hot grill in the back yard is another story entirely!) So we started putting together a new list of summer salads that we think look fabulous, and these photos just looked too good not to share. (Feel free to make an extra batch of any of these and send it over to our office, by the way!)

Chickpea Tex-Mex Salad
from DinnerThenDessert.com

Seriously? Does this not just scream of cool-and-spicy all at once? According to Sabrina at Dinner Then Dessert, this summer salad “has a ton of flavor like most Tex-Mex salads, but with far less of the heavier and more caloric ingredients that would weigh you down. Having this lunch option will help you avoid falling into the normal restaurant salad trap where similar Tex-Mex salads are filled with cheese and sour cream and mayonnaise based dressings.” We’re totally on board with the whole idea.

Grilled Vegetable Nicoise Salad With Salmon
from HummingbirdThyme.com

Okay – so let’s say we do have that guy out working the grill in the back yard. That’s perfect! All they need to do is grill us up some sliced eggplant and this amazing hunk of salmon, and we’re on our way to nirvana. Oh sure, a couple other items in this recipe might take a couple minutes on the stove (blanching green beans), and a few minutes in the oven (roasting beets) – but wouldn’t you say the end result is absolutely worth it? We would. We’d like to give a shout out to Laura at Hummingbird Thyme for sharing these mouthwatering photos along with her amazing summer salad recipe on her blog.

Sweet ‘n Savory Wild Rice Salad
from GreatEightFriends.com

Wild rice, grapes, cranberries and pecans (and Anna of Great Eight Friends says that adding some grilled chicken breast makes it even better). Seriously: YUM. Light, flavorful, savory, and sweet all in one dish – with a refreshing and simple dressing that is simply to die for. Bring it on.

Shaved Asparagus Spring Salad
from DelishKnowledge.com

Minimal ingredients, maximum flavor – just the way we like to prepare our meals. Alex of Delish Knowledge created this fabulous vegetarian recipe (just throwing that part in because, hey – it matters!) – and even though it’s got the word “spring” in the title, we’re pretty sure it’s good-to-go anytime around here. Some tips from Alex: “This salad works because of the layering of flavors. If it grows in the spring, I put it in this salad. Thinly sliced radishes, mint, slivered almonds, couscous and a lemon-mustard dressing. Cooked couscous almost clings to the shaved asparagus like pasta, so I don’t recommend subbing out another grain in its place.” This one is worth investing in a mandolin, if you ask us.

Purple Cabbage, Orange & Walnut Salad
from Teczcape

A huge part of our dining experience comes from the visuals, as we all know. And we think this summer salad recipe is simply perfection for the eyes. (Not a bad experience for the taste buds, either!) Quick to prep and pull together, it offers a simple, fresh, and light meal solution on its own, or makes a great accompaniment for whatever that guy has on the grill tonight. Presented on Hui Leng Tay’s blog, we’re happy just looking at this one for the moment!

If you have a favorite summer salad recipe that’s your Go-To meal, we’d love to hear about it! (And taste it – so hey, share, okay?) Summer Rules All!

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with all of their Las Vegas real estate needs. Whether your preference is for property management, a newly built home from a local builder, or a resale property in just the right location, a New Home Resource Realtor® is here to provide the service you’re looking for. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or visit www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

You know how sometimes you just need a change? And not just a personal change – but sometimes for your business, too. Especially if your business is in Las Vegas, because there’s always something new happening in this city – and the real estate market is no exception. At New Home Resource, we thought it was time for us to mix things up a bit– and the next thing you know, “Voila!” We have a whole new look for our website!

But not just a new look – a whole new way to navigate to find the things you need. Like what? Well, we thought you’d never ask! Allow us to give you a guided tour:

Easier to Find Exactly What You’re Looking For

• Search our gorgeous current New Home Resource property listings
• Search the MLS listings through our site
• Inquire about the value of your existing home
• Learn more about our stellar Property Management Services

Easier to Learn About Us

• You should want to know more about the people you’re doing business with. Fortunately, we’re not shy – we’re happy to tell you who we are, our experience, how to contact us, and let you know where to find us on Facebook, too.
• See what our customers have to say about New Home Resource on our Testimonials page. (May as well put your feet up, because there’s lots of reading to do!)

Helpful Information About Buying, Selling, Leasing, Owning, and Enjoying Your Home

• In our blog articles, we cover pretty much every topic from the local housing market to what to look for in a Realtor, how to shop for a mortgage lender, information for keeping your home maintained, insider tips for both buyers and sellers, statistics, interior design, landscaping, holiday décor, great recipes . . . you name it, and we’ve probably written about it. (Anything you’d like to see that we don’t have? Just send your topic suggestion to Joanna@NewHomeResource.com – we’ll be happy to explore it!)

Our goal – as always – is to make reaching your real estate goals – whether buying, selling, or renting – as smooth and worry-free as possible. We think our website now does a better job of reflecting that goal, too.

For more information about how New Home Resource may be the perfect match for your real estate needs, give us a call as 702.365.1000. Or <nudge/wink!> – you can visit our new website, too!

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with all of their Las Vegas real estate needs. Whether your preference is for property management, a newly built home from a local builder, or a resale property in just the right location, a New Home Resource Realtor® is here to provide just the service you’re looking for. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or at www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

Did you ever feel like you just spend all year dieting to prepare for….(dum, Dum, DUM!) …. The Holidays? Yep – we do, too. And in the spirit of convincing you to focus on all things wonderful and tasty about this season, to encourage you to bake with abandon in your Home Sweet Home – and better yet, to let you know you’re free to share the spoils with us! – here’s a list of some pretty delicious and gorgeous recipes that we think will help get you in the spirit (if you’re not already there, that is).

Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies

What screams “Christmas” more than the tradition of shortbread cookies? These sweet versions add the most delicate of holiday touches in the form of two tiny holly leaves and a red berry for a minimalist “under-the-top” look. The recipe from Sweet Lavender Bake Shoppe is melt-in-your-mouth fabulous (and easy to make, too). And because it took us awhile to hunt down those simple touches of decor, we’ll just let you in on a secret: We found ours in the $1 section of our nearest Target store! (but it’s a simple cake/cookie decoration item to find, too.)

Stained Glass Christmas Cookies

You’re seriously not going to believe how easy it is to make these beauties – or the simple ingredient that it takes to create that “stained glass window” effect. Think: Life Savers or Jolly Ranchers. Yep –it’s that simple. But, we’re going to let Martha Stewart explain how to do it right in her classic recipe.

Checkerboard Cookies

Want to step up your game a bit? If you’re looking for something a little more challenging – and a cookie that makes a bold statement on your platter – try these vanilla and chocolate Checkerboard Cookies. Not a walk in the park – but not as hard as you would think, either. This Cook and Be Merry recipe provides step-by-step instructions, complete with images to help you get there.

Pomegranate Jeweled Cheese Ball

Sometimes, you need a little “real food” sustenance to get you through the baking chores – or perhaps to add something a little more on the “savory” side for your holiday gathering. So give this a shot: Pomegranate Jeweled Cheese Ball recipe for your from How Sweet Eats. White cheddar, toasted almond, and crispy sage – decorated with the prettiest fruit of the season. Beat that.

Sparkling Cranberries

You. Are. Simply. Not. Going. To. Believe. This. One. These Sparkling Cranberries couldn’t be easier to make or more enjoyed by your guests. Not to mention they taste great and you can trust us on that, because we don’t even like cranberries! (unless they’re prepared like this) This is actually a great recipe to let the kids handle – and you are SERIOUSLY going to want to have these on-hand as a “quick-attitude-pick-me-up” – available at your fingertips each time you walk past the table where you keep them on display. (We’ve noticed that location seems to move depending on which room we’re spending time in.) They’re pretty and cute at the same time – festive as the holiday itself – and taste so darn good you’ll find yourself making them more than once this season (we bet). Here’s the recipe from 30 Pounds of Apples.

Mini Gingerbread Houses for Your Mug

Can’t pass up an opportunity to bring gingerbread into the mix. And speaking of, are these the sweetest additions to any coffee cup EVER? A big thanks to Tablespoon for bringing this too-cute-for-words Mini Gingerbread House recipe to the table. Our only complaint? They’re too adorable to eat!

Strawberry Santa Poppers

These are so adorable and so easy! You’ll just need strawberries (the bigger, the better), whipped cream or frosting, and black icing or candy to form the eyes. Simply slice the top of the strawberry off (to make the hat) and place a big dollop of whipped cream or frosting on the flat part of the strawberry. Then top that off with the top of the strawberry “hat”, and bring the Santa to life with eyes and buttons. (For even more fun – figure out how to put a belt on him, too!) Easy-Peasy – and just the right touch of whimsy for your table spread. Plus, you can always say “Hey – it’s fruit! It’s healthy! Have more!”

Holiday Cranberry Syrup

Anyone who loves to entertain during the holidays knows that “themes” are important. You can find all sorts of awesome cranberry-flavored drink recipes online (both alcoholic and non) – and now, there’s no need to run out to find those bottles of expensive drink syrups (that can taste a bit chemical-ly anyway, we think.) Cranberries give this syrup its rich color and characteristic tang in this recipe from Midwest Living. Use the sugar mixture as a base for drinks – or other ideas include as a topper for ice cream, cake or pancakes. Heck, you can even give it away in decorative bottles for food gifts (and add the recipe on the card for that special touch). Bottoms up!

Soft Pretzel Bites

(Because after all that sugar – you need a little salt!)

Keeping that holiday table filled with a variety of tidbits is easy when you keep in mind the main food groups: Sugar, Fruit, Pretzels. (Or maybe that’s just our motto?) Anyway – Two Peas and Their Pod have created this easy-to-follow recipe for Soft Pretzel Bites (dare we say they’re as good as Auntie Anne’s?). We’ll probably just have a separate plate full of these for ourselves. Thanks!

Rudolph-Tini

Yes, Virginia – grown-ups enjoy the holiday season in grown-up ways, too! Although with enough martini glasses on-hand, you can also whip up a non-alcohol version of this Rudolph-Tini for the kids – just because they’re so adorable. Get the recipe here: All Recipes link for this fun cocktail, and while you’re there, you can discover a whole world of other drink recipes for the holidays, too!

We may return our blog to its regularly-scheduled helpful homeowner and home buying tips soon…….but we’re having a little too much fun this month with all our personal favorites for enjoying the holidays – and a few new ones we’ve found. Hope that’s okay with you!

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with all of their Las Vegas real estate needs. Whether your preference is for a newly-built home from a local builder, or a resale property in just the right location, a New Home Resource Realtor® is here to find the perfect property for you. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or at www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, Lance Partin and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!