The Door Store & Windows Blog

Posted on December 30, 2011

New Year Holiday Hours

We will be closed Saturday, Dec. 31. (Usually we are open on Saturdays, closed Sundays!) But we are open for business today and again on Monday, January 2. Come in and see us!

Posted on December 27, 2011

Biblical Lamps, Singing Coal Miners Video, Redneck Wine Cups

What do these three things have in common? Christmas at The Door Store and Windows!

Every year at our company Christmas party, we exchange White Elephant gifts. Specifically, we search our closets, basements and garages for special items that we’d really like to pass along to a dear associate. The idea is to “pass the trash” – so to speak!

After five years, we have become very good at this game. The “presents” have become more unique and cornier – everyone vying for the biggest laugh. The funny thing is – during the gift exchange, we have the choice to pick new OR to steal an already unwrapped gift. More often than not, we are stealing gifts. It only goes to show that one man’s trash is indeed another man’s treasure.

We had special gifts this year! A couple of years ago, someone brought a plaster statue of Queen Esther (of Old Testament fame.) Queen Esther languished in the basement until Kevin decided to regift by making it into a lamp! Michelle opened the lovely lamp which Dena promptly stole. Dena wanted that lamp bad! Apparently Queen Esther was a favorite Bible character of Dena’s 21 year old daughter Candace. On Christmas Day – as a joke – Dena presented the lovely lamp to Candace as her first gift, something she needed for her new apartment. The Shoemaker family got a big laugh out of the gift.

We owe a big shout out and thank you to The Cheddar Box in St. Matthews who catered this year’s meal. It was delicious. Listen to this menu: beef tenderloin with mushroom gravy (flavored with sherry), Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, green beans almondine and spinach gratin. The cake choices included Chocolate Ecstasy and Carrot Cake. (I had a sliver of both, and can confess that I couldn’t pick a favorite.) We are still talking about our meal.

So check out our pictures and the fun we had!

Posted on December 27, 2011

Comfort Food: Timothy’s White Chili

One of our favorite recipes for comfort food is Timothy’s White Chili. You may remember Timothy’s, the East Broadway restaurant noted for its meatloaf sandwiches and the restaurant’s signature dish, white chili.

Here’s the recipe that was published in the Courier Journal and Bon Appetit magazine. I’ve already made a batch this week. In our household, we serve it with fresh cornbread and sliced apples or a Waldorf salad. Yummy!

Ingredients:

Servings: 8-10

1 lb large white beans (sorted, rinsed)
6 cups chicken broth
2 garlic cloves , minced
2 medium onions , chopped
1 tablespoon oil
2 (4 ounce) cans mild green chilies , chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 cups diced cooked chicken breasts

Directions:

Combine beans, broth, garlic, and half the onions in a large soup pot.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer until beans are soft (2 hours or more), adding more broth if necessary.
In a skillet, saute remaining onions in oil until tender. Add chiles and seasonings; mix thoroughly. Add to bean mixture. Add chicken and simmer 1 hour.
Serve topped with grated Monterey Jack cheese, salsa, and sour cream.

Posted on December 13, 2011

New Case Study Idea: 50s Ranch Update

Another new case study!

In this one, the homeowners asked Carl Baker with Sterling Development Group to renovate much of the living space including a completely remodeled master bedroom and master bath, raised ceilings, enlarged family room, and a redesigned kitchen with breakfast area. In addition, Carl’s team transformed a glassed-in porch to an all-season sunroom. They also replaced their windows - changing from double hungs (raise and lower) to casement windows (the crank kind). Click here to see our before and after pictures.

We work with some excellent builders and designers. So take a look at the other case studies while you are there.