Chef Cal Peternell's easy method for cooking grilled leg of lamb results in tender, flavorful meat in only 20 minutes after it's finished marinating.

Ingredients

1 (4- to 5-pound) boneless leg of lamb, not butterflied

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

8 large garlic cloves, smashed and coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Spread the lamb on a work surface. With a boning or paring knife, cut between the muscles and separate them using your fingers. Trim away any excess fat and gristle.

In a large, shallow dish, combine the olive oil, garlic, and rosemary. Add the lamb and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 12 hours, turning a few times. Let stand at room temperature for 1 hour before grilling.

Preheat grill to high (450°F to 500°F).

Season the lamb with salt and pepper; do not scrape off the garlic or rosemary. Place lamb on oiled grates; grill, uncovered, turning often, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in each piece registers 125°F to 130°F for medium rare. The times will vary according to the size and shape of the lamb leg, anywhere from 8 minutes for a 6-ounce piece to 20 minutes for a 1 1/2-pound piece.

Transfer the lamb to a carving board as each one is done. Cover loosely with foil and let rest for 15 minutes. Thinly slice the lamb and serve.

Image & Recipe: foodandwine.com

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If you want to add a fireplace to your existing home, ask yourself what value it brings to you and your property.

For homeowners considering adding a fireplace to their existing home, here are answers to the key questions you need to ask to determine if a fireplace is right for you.

1. Is It Possible?

With the variety of fireplace options available today, from traditional wood-burning masonry to wall-mounted ventless units, it would be difficult to imagine a situation in which it would be entirely impossible to add a fireplace of some sort.

There’s also the question of fuel: If you’ve got the space to safely store stacks of wood (not against the house--a fire hazard--but within convenient proximity) or an existing source of natural gas or propane, then you’ll increase your options.

2. How Much Will It Cost?

Costs for materials and labor to add a new fireplace can run the gamut from several hundred dollars to several thousand. Among the most popular options, a factory-built gas/propane fireplace unit runs about $2,000 for a basic materials package; add to that at least another $5,000 for the cost to hire professional tradespeople to cut a hole in an exterior wall, frame and build a chimney, install the fireplace, and add a surround and mantle.

Figure on spending about half that or less for a fireplace that vents horizontally through the wall--called a direct-vent fireplace—which eliminates the costs of building a vertical flue and chimney extension, and for simpler finishes around the fireplace opening.

The installation and finishing costs of such units, however, is about the same as the natural gas fireplace.

For those powered by electricity, they are significantly less.

3. Will I Recoup My Up-Front Costs?

A fireplace generally isn’t calculated separately in a professional home appraisal, though real estate salespeople often consider it to be a hot button among potential buyers. According to the National Association of Realtors, 46% of homebuyers said they would pay extra for a house with at least one fireplace, the most popular “desired feature” in the survey.

4. Where Will It Go?

If you’re thinking payback, put the new fireplace in the most-used room in the house (besides the kitchen). That’s usually the family room or great room. But if your goal is personal enjoyment or perhaps the more practical goal of space heating, the best place is where the unit best serves those purposes: to enhance the sitting area of the master bedroom, to heat an office or guest room at the far end of the forced-air system’s duct run, or for holiday ambiance in the lesser-used living room.

And don’t forget the backyard: About 3 million outdoor fireplaces are installed every year as part of an overall trend toward more extensive outdoor living spaces. Expect to pay about the same for an outdoor unit, installed, as you would a comparable indoor fireplace, though don’t expect the outside unit to be an efficient heating source; rather, more so for ambiance.

5. Is a Fireplace Energy-Efficient?

It’s true that a traditional, wood-burning fireplace in a big, open room--while romantic and impressive to guests--is an energy hog by continually sucking conditioned indoor air for combustion and losing most of its heat up the chimney. But sealed units (including those that burn wood) have the mechanics, controls, and venting systems to use outdoor air for combustion, reduce thermal loss, and effectively supplement the home’s primary heating system. A fireplace used for “zoned” or small-area space heating can lessen the energy demand on the furnace and reduce utility bills by allowing you to turn down your thermostat when the fire is going.

Theoretically, a series of well-placed and right-sized fireplaces might completely replace an existing home heating system. A direct-vent gas fireplace is much more efficient as a per-room space-heating option than a traditional central forced-air system (using a furnace). It’s very wasteful keeping your whole house at 70 degrees all the time. If everyone used one of these fireplaces to heat just the rooms they use, when they use them, it would cut the residential heating load by 20%-25%.

Are you interested in updating your fireplace? Contact The Fireplace Shop and Grill Center at West Sport in Sudbury.

Source: houselogic.com

Spacious living room showcases a roaring fire within a prominent fireplace, flanked by comfortable furniture and tasteful decorations on a herringbone wood floor.

Arpino offers these pros and cons of wood-burning fireplaces:

Pros:

• Wood is entirely renewable and when burned “is super warm. You can heat your whole home.”
• It’s economical.
• The smell of wood smoke and the crackle of burning wood create the ultimate romantic ambiance.
• The newly certified wood-burning fireplace products — a fireplace or a stove that burns wood or pellets — emit less particulates in the wood smoke per hour than one cigarette.

Cons:

• The heavy lift involved in stacking, loading, and carrying wood, and doing cleanup, isn't for everyone. “It’s not as fun to do these things as you age.”
• Countering those drawbacks are products like pellets, which look a bit like pretzel nuggets. They’re created from compressed dried wood or other biomass, and they burn like logs. They come in bags and are easier to bring into your house than a load of logs. They can produce “an aggressive flame. It’s not a sit-and-gaze kind of fire, but they’re incredible for warmth.” While you can retrofit your wood fireplace to one that burns pellets, you do need a pellet-burning appliance. You also need electricity, since pellets pour into a hopper that feeds them into the stove; the stove then blows out the hot air. EPA-certified pellet stoves are 70% to 83% efficient.

Are you interested in updating your fireplace? Contact The Fireplace Shop and Grill Center at West Sport in Sudbury.

Source: houselogic.com

Whether you have a wood-burning fireplace, a gas fireplace, or an electric fireplace, it will quickly become a room’s focal point. You can choose to make it pop or blend into the surroundings. If you don’t like what you see, you can reface, paint, stain, or remodel the fireplace. But before starting the project, you'll want to answer some questions to make sure you get what you want:

What design options do you like? You can choose from surround materials ranging from stone to tile to brick. Do you want painted or unpainted? Mantel or no mantel?

What design fits with your home style? Shiplap or reclaimed wood pair well with a modern farmhouse style home. Or do you prefer something sleek and modern — maybe white with a black insert and marble surround? If you don’t have a fireplace and like mid-century modern design, a freestanding fireplace with glass and metal may be a good option.

What are your options if you're moving into a home with a fireplace? Get help to inspect and service the fireplace. A home inspector can do a thorough check. A hearth professional will look at the firebox and the damper and make sure the bricking inside is not cracked. Inspectors will look at any steel for buckling and check the chimney for creosote. They'll scope out the roof, including the chimney top and rain cap, and send a camera into the flue to make sure it's clear. Your best option is a hearth dealer. Many are chimney sweeps. They can do installs and service. They’ll check the chimney and can discuss remodeling options.

What are your goals? Adding or updating a fireplace may or may not add value to your home. Don’t make a fireplace purchase based on what you think the return is going to be. It is 100% impossible to say. Instead, install a fireplace because it will make you happy.”

Are you interested in updating your fireplace? Contact The Fireplace Shop and Grill Center at West Sport in Sudbury.

Source: houselogic.com

You might love the authentic crackle of the fire and the warm ambiance that fills your rooms. But that romantic hearth is costing you money. Almost all the heat generated by an open fire goes right up the chimney -- often as much as 90%.

The remedy? A wood-burning fireplace insert keeps the good vibes while driving down your energy costs.

What Is a Fireplace Insert?

An insert is a cast iron or steel box that fits inside your existing masonry fireplace opening. In essence, making it work much like a wood-burning stove.

A decorative flange fits around the outside edges so that no gaps appear between the unit and the sides of the fireplace. You’ll be required to install a chimney liner to carry combustion gases and smoke up through your chimney.

Fireplace inserts have clear, heat-proof glass doors. The best designs circulate air within the firebox in a way that helps keep the glass clean.

Inserts heat 1,000-3,000 sq. ft., depending on their size. You’ll want to size your insert to the square footage you need to heat.

Cost: $3,000-$4,000, including installation and a chimney liner.

How Much Energy Do Inserts Save?

You’ll cut your other heating costs by 10%-40% with an insert.

Because of the enclosed design, an insert increases the efficiency of burning wood, helping you extract the most heat for the least cost.

Most wood-burning inserts also include a fan to circulate the warm air around the firebox back into the room for even more efficiency.

Improvements in the designs of wood-burning fireplace inserts over the past few years mean almost all new units now meet the guidelines for fuel efficiency set by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of 60%-80%.

Other Advantages of an Insert

1. They can burn for three to five hours before you need to add wood.
2. Firewood is an economical fuel in many regions, costing just $922/year to heat a typical home when the wood is burned efficiently. If you cut the wood yourself, it might even be free. If you buy, you support local jobs.
3. Efficient combustion reduces the amount of noxious gases and particulates produced by an open fireplace.

Are you interested in updating your fireplace? Contact The Fireplace Shop and Grill Center at West Sport in Sudbury.

Source: houselogic.com

With costs ranging up to $30,000 for a traditional brick hearth and mantel, adding a fireplace can be a considerable investment. If you’re wondering if you’ll get a return on that investment, the answer is: maybe.

While intangibles such as crackling flames and romantic ambiance may make a fireplace worth the cost, consumer attitudes toward fireplaces have been in flux over the past decade. Here are the facts:

Fireplaces are Trending Up as Desirable Features

The National Association of REALTORS survey of homebuyers’ preferences listed fireplaces as one of the most-preferred home features. Almost 40% of homebuyers said they would pay extra for a house with at least one fireplace.

That's good news when it comes time to market your house.

Match Your Fireplace Budget to Your House

A fireplace isn’t calculated separately in a professional home appraisal, so it's tricky to assign value to your investment in flickering flames.

When you estimate how much a fireplace might add to the value of your house, take into account your home’s overall value. A $10,000 fireplace holds its value in a $1 million house because buyers expect this feature in an upscale home.

But a $10,000 fireplace won't be such a crucial component of a $100,000 house, especially if other essential features that potential buyers consider more important are lacking.

How to Max Out Value

To maximize your enjoyment -- and value -- put a fireplace where you'll get the most use from it: the family room, great room, or kitchen.

For smaller, easy-to-heat rooms such as an office, guest bedroom, or master bedroom, think about a small gas fireplace that's easy to maintain.

Equip your fireplace with energy-efficient glass doors and an exterior venting system that prevents heated air from being pulled out of rooms.

Are you interested in a fireplace? Contact The Fireplace Shop and Grill Center at West Sport in Sudbury.

Source: houselogic.com

Flip a switch; have fire. That’s the key appeal of a gas fireplace insert. You still enjoy real flames, but without the hassles of solid fuel. There is no firewood to stack, bags of pellets to dump, and no ashes to clean out. The air inside your house and in your neighborhood stays clean, too. No wonder that about 70% of all hearth products—fireplaces, inserts, and artificial log sets—now burn gas.

Unlike old decorative gas fireplaces, today’s gas inserts are heat-producing dynamos that use natural gas or propane to power a steady flame dancing on fake logs, decorative modern glass chips, or stones behind a sealed glass face.

Gas inserts are available as vented units or unvented units.

• Direct-vent units are safest. They draw in outside air to keep the flame burning and exhaust all the combustion gases and water vapor released by burning gas.
• Ventless inserts have a higher efficiency rating (92% to 99% vs. 60% to 80% for direct-vent inserts) because no heat escapes up the chimney. But the exhaust fumes and moisture released from burning gas stay in your house, which may be a cause for concern.

Most ventless gas fireplace inserts are considered safe for homeowners because they include an oxygen-depletion sensor that turns gas off before carbon monoxide reaches dangerous levels in the room. Nevertheless, some states don’t allow ventless gas units.

Upsides of a Gas Fireplace Insert

• Gas fireplace inserts can be used in masonry or prefab fireplaces; they can be vented through the existing chimney (or a wall for a free-standing unit).
• Gas inserts require little maintenance beyond an annual $75 to $125 checkup. Its best application is for zone heating—turning up the gas in the room you’re in and lowering the thermostat in the rest of your house.

There’s a definite green factor -- they burn with a 65% to 99% efficiency rating, which means very little pollution or smoke.

There’s no ash or creosote produced with a gas-burning unit.

Are you interested in updating your fireplace? Contact The Fireplace Shop and Grill Center at West Sport in Sudbury.

Source: houselogic.com

Today's gas inserts are heat-producing dynamos that use propane or natural gas to power a steady flame dancing on fake logs, decorative modern glass chips, or stones behind a sealed glass face.

Gas inserts can be used in masonry or prefab fireplaces; they can be vented through the existing chimney (or a wall for a free-standing unit).

Gas is the easiest insert to use and requires very little maintenance beyond the annual check. Flip a switch; have fire. Its best application is for zone heating—turning up the gas in the room you're in and lowering the thermostat in the rest of your house.

Green Factor: 58% to 85% efficiency rating, says HPBA; very little pollution, smoke, ash, or creosote. Zoned heating allows you to reduce overall fuel consumption.

Are you interested in updating your fireplace? Contact The Fireplace Shop and Grill Center at West Sport in Sudbury.

Source: houselogic.com

A wood-burning insert slides into your existing masonry or metal fireplace and burns real logs.

Your installer snakes a stainless steel liner down your chimney and fits a decorative flange made of black cast iron or steel or colored porcelain around the insert, hiding its steel sides and filling the gap between the box and your hearth.

A front door with ceramic glass radiates heat into the room. You open the door to stack the wood, then shut it, on most models, while your fire is burning. Most wood-burning inserts also create convection heat with a fan located underneath the firebox.

Wood-burning inserts can heat anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 sq. ft., depending on their size. Inserts are small enough to fit into most traditional masonry fireplaces.

An insert designed to heat 1,500 square feet will burn for three to five hours before you need to reload; for 1,500 to 3,000 sq. ft., you usually have an eight- to 10-hour burn window.

Are you interested in updating your fireplace? Contact The Fireplace Shop and Grill Center at West Sport in Sudbury.

Source: houselogic.com