Ed Neir Construction wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving - planks of wood with pumpkins, fall leaves, and grapes

Newsletter – November 2025

In this newsletter, learn ways to winterize your home, the reasons to remodel your kitchen, why organic modernism is boosting home values, and how to avoid “imposter” contractors..

Ed Neir Construction wishes a Happy Thanksgiving to all - image of wooden planks in background and pumpkins with Fall leaves, grapes and pine cones in foreground.

Dear Clients, Partner Vendors, Family, and Friends,

We hope you had a VERY Happy Thanksgiving! We’re so grateful for your support and the trust you’ve placed in us this year, and for the past 16+ years, since our founding. We wish you a wonderful holiday filled with warmth, gratitude, and time with beloved family and friends.

As with every year, over the Thanksgiving holiday, we (my wife, son, and I) enjoy taking in a great movie or two, This year we very much enjoyed “Wicked: For Good” on Wednesday evening and then saw “Zootopia 2” on Thanksgiving Day. On Thanksgiving morning we watched the parade in our pajamas, ate a lovely brunch prepared by my amazing wife, and then enjoyed a delicious, homemade feast, as we caught up with one another – sharing stories from our individual lives, and identifying the things for which we are most grateful. We began preparing for the holiday ahead, pulled out some of our decorations, and began our search for those special gifts we want to get for our family members and most cherished friends.

These are the things we like to do every Thanksgiving that help us reconnect and deepen our bonds despite living miles apart and leading busy lives. What are your most cherished holiday traditions?

Below, for your reading pleasure, is a compilation of our most recent and highly informative blogs, as well as few fun recipes for your enjoyment. Be watching in the year ahead for our new and enhanced newsletter content with valuable news and information any property owner can use, and especially key strategies for those high ROI property improvements (or additions) that we’ve researched for the benefit of our clients and prospective clients!

‘NAILING IT’ BLOG

FOUR WISE WAYS TO WINTERIZE YOUR HOME!

THE THREE BEST REASONS TO REMODEL YOUR KITCHEN

HELPING HOMEOWNERS TO FIND THE RIGHT CONTRACTOR (BEWARE OF IMPOSTERS PART 3 OF 10)

WHY IS ORGANIC MODERNISM BOOSTING HOME VALUES?

FINDING THE RIGHT CONTRACTOR FOR YOUR HOME CONSTRUCTION PROJECT (PART 4 OF 10)

ENJOY A FEW RECIPES FROM THE NEIR KITCHEN:

NeirKitchenRecipes Picture 600

Franny’s Spinach Parmesan Chicken Rollatini

This main dish serves 6 and is perfect for when entertaining company.

Neir Family Kitchen Recipe - Spinach Parmesan Chicken Rollatini on a plate with a side of salad

Ingredients:

  • 6 (4-6 oz.) chicken breasts
  • 1 bunch fresh spinach or 1 bag of baby spinach
  • 8 oz. grated Reggiano parmesan cheese
  • 4 oz. grated Monterey jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup sundried tomatoes
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 shallots (sliced) or 1 sweet onion
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Himalayan Salt & black pepper to taste
  • Handful of sweet Italian basil leaves for garnish

Cooking Instructions:

  • Pre-heat oven to 375°F. Finely chop sundried tomatoes, garlic and shallots and mix with the parmesan and monterey jack cheese and olive oil, then set aside.
  • Gently pound each chicken breast to 1/4 inch thickness and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Place a layer of spinach then a layer of the cheese mixture over ⅔ of each breast.
  • Roll into a cylinder (you can use a wooden tooth pick to secure each roll) and place on a lightly greased (spray with ghee or olive oil) baking sheet. Cook at 375°F for 23-35 minutes or until thermometer registers 165°F.
  • Garnish with fresh sweet Italian basil leaves and serve.

Chewy Maple and Brown Butter Pumpkin Cookies

Neir Family Kitchen Recipe - Chewy Maple and Brown Butter Pumpkin Cookies in white bowl with pumpkins in background

Follow this recipe closely for best results! Makes 10-12 large cookies.

Ingredients:

Pumpkin Cookie

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar, packed
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Cookie Coating Mix:

  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

  • First, brown the butter by melting the butter over medium heat, stirring continuously until it reaches a rich amber color.
  • Pour the melted butter into a measuring cup, scraping all the brown bits from the bottom of the pot. It will be a bit short of 1 cup. Place in the refrigerator to chill for about 20 minutes, but check often so it does NOT solidify.
  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a glass bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients except the brown sugar and then set aside.
  • In a larger mixing bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and cooled brown butter. The mixture should look clumpy like wet sand.
  • Whisk in the egg yolk, maple syrup, vanilla, and pumpkin until smooth.
  • Add in all of the dry ingredients and use a rubber spatula to fold into the dough. If your dough appears too thin (it should hold its shape when scooped), chill it for about 20 minutes until thickened. If the butter is too warm at the start, it can thin the mixture so chilling is the solution.
  • In a small bowl mix together the coating ingredients.
  • Use a 1/4 measuring cup to scoop out the dough.
  • Drop the cookie dough into the coating mixture and toss lightly to coat. The dough will be very soft but not sticky. Try to keep it in a ball.
  • Place the cookie dough ball onto the baking sheet, spaced about 3 inches apart. Bake no more than 4-5 cookies at a time. Leave the rest of the dough out at room temperature.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are darkened and the center looks puffed and slightly soft and underdone.
  • Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for a couple minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Continue to bake the rest of the cookie dough.
  • Allow cookies to cool then enjoy!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our November newsletter and that you’ll share it freely with family, friends, and neighbors!

If you’re interested in discussing any upcoming remodeling plans, needed home repairs, or construction of an ADU, please give me a call (or send a text) for a free consultation and estimate at (707) 999-5878, or (408) 368-7162.

Ed Neir, BBB A+ rated licensed general contractor, serving home, commercial, and Ag construction needs in Northern California and the Bay Area.

Ed Neir, General Contractor
License #: 928715

Copyright © 2025 Ed Neir Construction, All rights reserved.

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