san diego homeowner | october 2015

Oenophile ChallengeHome Wine Cellars

Morton’s DelightfulDouble Chocolate Mousse

The StanleyHaunted Hotel?

Body Perfect

Benefits of Pilates

Vol. 2 Issue 10

SAN DIEGO

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YOUR HOME

Amenities once considered a luxury for only the most expensive of mansions, are becoming more and more commonplace in today’s homes. Commercial grade kitchen appliances, fitness rooms, Jacuzzi-style soaking tubs and elaborate

media rooms were almost unheard of a couple of decades ago. However, homeowners today are outfitting their homes with these luxury appointments at an outstanding pace.

Today’s homes are larger, more elaborate and are used to reflect the lifestyle of the homeowners. If you’ve been following recent news reports, you’d know that wine consumption has recently surpassed beer consumption in America. More and more, people are enjoying drinking wine, learning about wine and collecting wine. For the casual wine drinker to the dedicated oenophile, an in-home wine cellar is becoming more and more popular.

If you’re considering adding a wine room to your existing home you can convert a closet-sized space or larger walk-in room into your own customized wine retreat. The process is simple. First, choose where in the home you’d like to place it. Although it’s initial purpose is as storage, a wine room’s real value comes when it’s built to enhance the home. Choosing an area that is easily seen and aesthetically pleasing is key.

Secondly, you’ll need to consider the type of refrigeration. Wine should be stored at 55-62 degrees, so a simple A/C unit will not suffice. There are two types of refrigeration: “self-contained” in which the unit will exhaust warm air into another room, or a “split-system” that has the evaporator or fan coil in the wine room, but the compressor is outside.

Next, you’ll decide on storage options. How many bottles will you store? What are your buying patterns? Do you tend to buy by the case, or collect individual bottles?

Lastly, you’ll want to determine the design elements of the space. Doors designed with view glass in either wood or wrought iron are fashionable. Lighting, artwork, furnishings and accessories can be manipulated to create the wine room of your dreams.

So, from a real estate perspective, how much value can a wine cellar add to a home? Although difficult to quantify an exact return on investment, it’s easy to agree that having a dedicated wine space is highly desired among today’s homebuyers.

DIRECTIONS

In a saucepan, bring ¾ cup of the cream to a boil over medium-high heat. Put the chocolate and cocoa in a heat-proof glass bowl and pour the hot cream over them. Let the mixture stand for about 1 minute and then whisk until blended. Break up any clumps of the cocoa. Set aside at room temperature for about 45 minutes, whisking occasionally to keep the mixture smooth. The chocolate needs to cool to 80°F.

In a chilled, dry bowl beat the egg whites on high speed for 10 to 20 seconds or until they begin to foam. Add the cream of tartar and salt and beat for about 1 minute longer or until soft peaks form. Sprinkle the sugar over the whites and continue to beat for 1 to 2 minutes longer or until the peaks are stiff but not dry. Fold the whites into the cooled chocolate (make sure it’s no warmer than 80°F before adding the whites). Pour the remaining heavy cream into the bowl of the mixer and beat with the whisk attachment on high speed for about 2 minutes or until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve the mousse spooned on dessert plates or in bowls. Top each serving with a little whipped cream. Enjoy!

It seems the buzzword in fitness lately is Pilates. Just what is Pilates, and how can you know if it’s right for you?

Pilates is a system of exercises that were developed by Joseph Pilates in the early and mid 1900’s. They were originally designed for physical therapy and rehabilitation but gained in popularity among the ballet community in New York. The innovative exercises build strength, improve flexibility, teach mind-body awareness and can dramatically transform the way your body looks.

There are two ways to practice Pilates: with specialized equipment or with mat exercises. Many Pilates enthusiasts prefer working on a resistance-based piece of equipment called a Reformer. Exercises are done lying down, sitting or standing and there are springs and ropes to provide the resistance. Mat workouts are popular too, for their ease of use and flexibility. They can be done at home rather than a studio and minimal equipment is needed.

Pilates exercises are based on the principles of building a strong “core” (or center of the body), using correct movements and in the quality of the movements rather than intense repetitions.

Because the movements in Pilates elongate the muscles, you’ll develop a sleek, toned body with slender thighs

and a flat abdomen. Rather than “bulking up,” you’ll build strength along with long, lean muscles. In addition to building a beautiful body, you’ll also gain

flexibility and joint mobility.

Many top athletes perform Pilates exercises to help condition their bodies and reduce the risk of injuries. In Pilates, your entire body is trained. All muscle groups are worked evenly; creating a balanced body that is a key to optimal health.

Many people who practice Pilates have found that their daily lives are improved. Learning proper breathing techniques can help reduce stress. By concentrating on their body’s movements, they have learned to move in a safer and more efficient manner in everyday life. Additionally, because Pilates focuses on building a strong “core,” many people who were prone to back injuries or have suffered with chronic back pain are finding relief.

If Pilates has piqued your interest, there are many ways to get started. You can have professional instruction at a dedicated Pilates studio. You can download a video on YouTube to work out to at home, or you can hire a personal Pilates trainer to bring the proper equipment for a supervised at-home work out as well. Whatever you decide, enjoy your newfound body and health!

Wine CellarsA Wise Home

Improvement?

The Perks of Pilates

In 1903, the inventor Freelan Oscar Stanley arrived, weak and underweight from the symptoms of consumption. One season spent in the refreshing climate of the wild valley was enough to restore his health to a formidable vigor, and he vowed to return each summer for the rest of his life. They resolved to build a beautiful grand hotel, the likes of which might only be found in the resorts of the wealthy.

By the 1970s the hotel’s splendor had faded and it had gained a reputation for being haunted. It might have continued to fade and eventually have succumbed to the wrecking ball, if not for a fortuitous visit by author Stephen King. A stay of one night was enough to inspire his third major work and first hard-cover bestseller—The Shining—which remains a landmark masterpiece in a long and well-known list of novels.

The hotel stands today as a beautifully-restored testament to its glory days, when it served as a holiday retreat for wealthy urbanites. A range of tours highlights the history and haunting of this magnificent historical structure while a tempting menu of amenities, culinary experiences and lavish spa treatments provides all the comfort and glamour required by even the most discerning of modern visitors.

Source: StanleyHotel.com

Double Chocolate MousseINGREDIENTS

1½ c heavy cream6 oz semisweet dark chocolate, in small pieces4 ½ tsp unsweetened cocoa powder½ c pasteurized egg whites

1/8 tsp cream of tartar1/8 tsp salt¼ c sugarWhipped cream, for serving

TIME FOR TRAVELThe Stanley | A Grand Heritage Hotel

Estes Park, CO