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Valentine’s Day Recipes

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By Olivia Truesdale (Martial Thevenot  Editor)

Before we get to today’s article, we have a question: Do you love new things? We do! New years, new days, new starts, new determination, and new ways to solve problems- We love all of it! And now we’ve got a very special announcement about a “new” journey that we are about to begin! We are ecstatic to be launching a new “Team Perka” website. Read all the way to the end to get a sneak peek of what will be happening on the new site. (But for now, we bring you back to your regularly scheduled article.)

Valentine’s Day is almost here, and we all know what that means: Chocolate. Lots and lots of glorious chocolate. But chocolate is not the only special food for this February, and it is not the only way to win someone’s heart, either.

Today, we’ll be sharing with you our top 3 favorite romantic foods that you can enjoy with all your loved ones or eat all by yourself! (There’s no judgment if you eat them all by yourself because these recipes are super tasty!)

#1: Fondue- We are all acquainted with those classic chocolate fountains, but we’re actually going to start the night off with something savory. That’s right- cheese fondue! You may be wondering, “Don’t I need one of those fancy chocolate fountains? What if I don’t have one? And how can you even make fondue if it doesn’t contain chocolate?” Don’t worry! All your questions will soon be answered. (Well, maybe not all of them, but all the questions you have that pertain to this recipe.)

In a large saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and one and a half cups of milk and a three fourths of a cup of cooking wine (or wine of your choice). Bring the mixture to a boil. Then turn the heat on low and stir in 3-4 cups of cheese until they are fully melted. Add 5-7 tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to thicken. Now you are ready to dip your favorite foods into the mixture! Bread is one of the most-used choices, but many people also use vegetables, chicken, or even pasta! For more dippable ideas, check out this article.

Typically, fondue is made with European cheeses like Swiss or Gruyère, but feel free to mix it up! Muenster, gouda, provolone, parmesan, cheddar- it’s up to you! Have no qualms about trying new things; this recipe is super versatile. Feeling spicy? Try it with some chili powder, oregano, or garlic.

#2: Cake pops- Yum! This simple treat is sure to please your friends and family. You can make cake pops either from a store-bought or homemade cake. If you are following this recipe “from scratch” and are making your own cake, go ahead and frost it. However, you do not have to make it look nice because you are going to place it in a bowl and MASH IT UP! (Yes, you read that correctly.) Mix the cake and frosting well and roll the mixture into 1-inch balls. Now you are going to need something to dip them in. Melt a cup of dark, milk, or white chocolate chips with two tablespoons of butter or coconut oil. (You may need to melt more later; that’s OK.) Take a small skewer and dip it in the chocolate. Then place one of your cake balls on the end of the skewer and dip the cake ball in the chocolate mixture. Let it dry and enjoy!

#3: Box of chocolates- This one may be the easiest recipe of all. All you have to do is get in your car, start the engine, drive to the store, find the chocolates, and pick out a box. Voilà! You’ve got this Valentine’s Day covered.

 

Now, as promised, you are going to get a glance at “what we’ve got cooking” here at Team Perka.

Our new site will focus even more on what we as a company are doing to keep you safer and happier. We’re constantly discovering new ways to “Keep It Simple and Stress-free (K.I.S.S.)”, and we can’t wait to share our evolutions with you! We will be venturing above and beyond our typical buildings to bring you high-quality metal roofs and fencing. (Did you catch that pun?) It will be “out with the old and in with the new” as we repair, reuse, and repurpose some of our old designs and products. It’s all coming soon on our new site. You won’t want to miss it!

Like what you see? We would love for you to connect with us further. Check us out on Facebook, our new website is coming soon, for now take a look at our current website, and let us know what you think! We are so glad to be able to partner with you for all your building needs. Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

 

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Ahead of Success

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By Olivia Truesdale (Martial Thevenot  Editor)

Former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, has been attributed to saying, “Success is not final; failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”

While the facts are such that he never actually said anything of the sort, it would have been very fitting to his reputation if he had!

Many of us know him for the position he held during World War II, but it is a little-known fact that he also was actively involved in the first World War. History probably wants you to forget about that part because it did not go very well.

He actually helped plan several *UNSUCCESSFUL* battles. Of course, today we only remember him for the leadership position he held during the early 1940s and the important role he played in helping the Allies win World War II. So how did he go from a seeming failure to a national (and international) hero and inspiration?

In a simplest of ways, he “had the courage to continue”. He didn’t let his failures define him. If he had, we would not likely be living in the world we know today.

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true, as expressed by this (misquoted) quote: “Success is not final.” Often, after succeeding in something, we find ourselves “coasting”.  After a “big win”, many people tend to slow down, relax, and “celebrate”. Now, there is nothing wrong with congratulations when they are in order, but it becomes a problem when we use our success as a reason to take our foot off the gas. “Oh, I finished that yesterday. I don’t have to worry today.”

Of course, it’s perfectly acceptable to take a break after a big success, sharpen the axe so to speak… unless it becomes a constant excuse. Sometimes we push ourselves so far backwards after a success that we wind up worse than before!

The easiest and most common example of this can be found in dieting. “I was really healthy yesterday. I did all my workouts; I ate well. I guess that means that I can have junk food and skip my workout today!” And when that attitude drags on for days, we can end up undoing all of our hard work. Yikes!  Sound familiar?

So how do we overcome this?

While the answer can be simple, it can also be much easier said than done. “Just do it.” (Huh, that sounds coincidentally like the motto for a popular brand of athletic wear.) I know it’s cheesy, but hear me out.

No one can force you to persevere after you succeed. Others can motivate you, but you are the biggest determiner of whether or not you are going to continue to evolve after a big success (or a big failure, for that matter).

You are the only one who has control of your actions. All that to be said, it is helpful to have a strong support system surrounding you, encouraging you to keep going and persevere towards reaching your next goal and your next success. This could be friends, family, or anyone else who has the same goals as you.

At Team Perka, we would love to be a part of helping you achieve your building goals!

Whether you need a building for your new startup business, are looking to build your dream home, or trying to find a place to store animals or equipment or toys, we can help. While we can’t say that we have seen everything, we can say that we have definitely seen a thing or two! 

Contact us for a consultation! Even if you don’t purchase from us, we love to help, as we know that good begets good.

(Of course we would also love it if you did purchase from us, because we want to get to know all the super cool we can and collaborate on great dreams and successes!)

Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook, visit our website, and let us know how we can become part of your next big triumph, as we would are always happy to support and help ensure that you keep succeeding in whatever is important to you!