The post What You Can Do With Winter Veggies appeared first on Element Deer Valley Blog.
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When winter falls upon our Phoenix, AZ apartment community, we get excited about all the fruits and veggies that come into season. All the colorful produce is such a welcome change that brings new flavors and recipe ideas to the dinner table. If you're looking for the best way to utilize winter vegetables, we've got some great ideas.
Make Soup
Soup is the quintessential winter-weather food, and it provides a channel through which you can enjoy many of this season's fresh vegetables all in one place. Consider making a vegetarian kale soup or imbibe on some creamy carrot soup alongside a grilled cheese sandwich. The following winter veggies work great in soups and stews:
- Parsnips
- Collard greens
- Radishes
- Red cabbage
- Rutabagas
If you're looking for a boost of protein, look for recipes that incorporate meat, beans or lentils into the mix.
Make Sassy Side Dishes
Forget boring, bland side dishes. This season's vegetables are ripe for a little creativity in the kitchen. Brussels sprouts, for example, love being served with panko breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. If you want to put potatoes to use in a way that'll blow standard spuds out of the water, try your hand at making homemade latkes. Roasted beets pair well with feta cheese and make for a great complement to meaty main dishes.
Try Something New
Have you ever heard of celeriac? It's a greenish-white root vegetable that's not known for its looks, but it makes up for its appearance by offering a healthy dose of daily fiber, vitamin C and phosphorus. You can make it in many of the same ways you'd make potatoes and other root veggies. Have you been turning up your nose at turnips? Perhaps this will be the season in which you step out of your comfort zone and sprinkle a little cheese on these winter vegetables.
Get Gourmet With Your Salads
Leave boring lettuce and dressing for another day. This time of year, embrace cabbage, winter squash and carrots in new and exciting ways.
Are you searching for a Phoenix apartment that features the kind of kitchen you'll want to spend time in? Our Element Deer Valley community features designer kitchens that are a dream for any amateur chef. Stop by so we can show you around today!
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One of the best things about early autumn is that a huge variety of fruits are beginning to ripen — and few things are more luscious than a well-crafted dessert made with fresh fruit — after all, fruit is considered to be nature's candy, and most people can't help but love it. Fortunately, almost countless ways exist to use fruits in desserts. The following are just five of the many creative ways that residents of apartments in Phoenix can enjoy desserts using seasonal fresh fruit.
Poached Pears in Wine
This classic autumn sweet treat only takes a few minutes to prepare on the stovetop. You can use any type of wine for this except for deep, rich red wines — their flavor profile is just too overwhelming to pair well with pears. Sparkling rose is an excellent choice.
Blackberry Mousse
Pureed blackberry mixed with a pinch of cinnamon and vanilla makes an excellent after-dinner delight. Adding egg whites ensures the desired thickness. Refrigerate for several hours before serving.
Ginger-Rhubarb Crisp
Simply replace the apple with rhubarb in your favorite apple crisp recipe, sprinkle with powdered ginger, and bake as usual. You'll love the way your apartment smells while it's in the oven almost as much as that first warm bite served with French vanilla ice cream.
Cranberry-Pecan Pie
Stir in a couple of handfuls of ripe cranberries the next time you make a pecan pie for a delicious and nutritious variation of an old classic. Serve warm from the oven with ice cream or freshly whipped cream.
Plum Buckle
New England's answer to traditional cobblers, you can make buckles with almost any type of firm fruit, but there's something about plum buckle in autumn that's excellent. Simply place the plums in the bottom of a baking pan, pour on the buckle batter, and let your oven do the rest of the magic.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to us for more information on enjoying life in our Phoenix apartment community. We've got several floor plans to choose from, and our designer kitchens are equipped for whipping up anything your taste buds desire.
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If you’re looking for ways to eat healthier, it all starts with meal preparation. Being more prepared when hunger strikes or you’re on-the-go can turn your entire diet upside-down (in a good way).
If you’re not used to meal prepping or you’d like to improve your “skills” at meal preparation, here are some tips:
Invest In Quality Storage Containers Of All Sizes
Resist the urge to just “use the dishes you have” with some plastic wrap or aluminum foil on top for meal prep. You want sturdy storage containers (ideally made out of glass), and you want every one to have its own durable lid as well. This allows you to go faster during your preparation and to stack your dishes once they’re ready for the fridge or freezer.
Designate A “Meal Prep Day.”
To keep yourself on track every week, designate a specific day for meal preparation. Start by making a list of all the foods you want to prepare. Next, make a grocery list of what you’ll need for each meal.
Once you've finished your grocery shopping, make sure your kitchen is nice and clean and all your dishes are done. Put on a movie or a podcast to make the time go faster, get out your storage containers, and start cooking and prepping!
Don’t Make More Than You’ll Eat In A Week
You might be tempted to create meals for the entire month, but resist this urge. It's better to stick with the week ahead to ensure that everything remains fresh and enticing.
Choose Foods That Save Well
Whether you plan to store the food you've prepped in the refrigerator or the freezer, make sure you choose the right types of foods. That is, keep in mind that sandwiches and wraps won't store very well in the refrigerator (the bread or wrap tends to get soggy). Salads, meat and rice/pasta dishes, and soups tend to store better.
Similarly, only some foods (such as lasagna or certain soups) store well in the freezer.
Start making delicious meals of your own in your brand-new Phoenix apartment! Floor plans in our Phoenix apartments are currently available. Call our office today to learn more!
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We see a lot of pups at our pet-friendly apartments in Phoenix, AZ. While it's never a good idea to give your dog table scraps, there are a few foods that are good for you and Fido, too. When you're giving your dog "people food," make sure you're preparing it in a way that's healthy for your four-legged family member.
Here are a few ideas:
Eggs
These protein-packed pockets of goodness can stave off hunger and keep you energized throughout the day. If you want to share your bounty with your canine, set some time aside to hard boil a dozen.
Humans: Chop hard-boiled eggs and add to salads.
Dogs: Hide medicine inside the egg whites, or simply set a whole hard-boiled egg on top of his food.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is filled with healthy beta carotene (that's where it gets its vibrant orange hue). Beta carotene is converted into vitamin A, which is tasked with helping living organisms produce healthy skin cells and solid immune systems.
Humans: Go for a pumpkin-infused smoothie.
Dogs: Bake ready-to-eat pumpkin dog treats.
Salmon
Salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which support positive immunity, healthy skin and luscious hair (or fur, as the case may be). Although it's probably not a protein you'll have on your daily menu at home, it's a great item to share with your pooch when the occasions arise.
Humans: Glaze the fish with honey and garlic to create a taste that's perfect for a full dinnertime meal.
Dogs: Be sure to set aside some salmon before you put the other ingredients to work. Baked or broiled salmon with nothing else on it is perfect for a dog that's deserving of a special treat.
Chicken & Rice
Chicken's a great protein that can make any almost any dish heartier. Pair it with rice and you've got a meal that'll last for dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow.
Humans and dogs: Boil thin chicken strips in water until they're thoroughly cooked. Prepare rice in the same water so it's already infused with the flavor of the chicken. Add barbecue sauce or interesting ingredients to your own plate. Your pet's treat won't require any additional seasoning.
Element at Deer Valley is a stunning apartment complex that comes complete with all the conveniences you'll need to feel comfortable, whether you're working from home or enjoying time off with your pooch. Take a look at the awesome amenities our Phoenix apartment community offers!
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Mason jar salads have many benefits. They can take the boredom out of your lunchtime routine, they're packed with nutrient-dense foods, and they can give you the opportunity to use your lunch hour for a brisk walk or a yoga class.
Here are some tips for prepping your vegetables and packing a mason jar to keep salads fresh for up to seven days when you start with market fresh ingredients. So pull out the jars and let the cutting and layering begin!
Prep Tips
- 32-ounce mason jars are preferred over the 16-ounce size because it's easier to fill and easier to dump out.
- Mason jars seal tighter so delicate salads stay fresher, longer and won't absorb odors which plastic may.
- If you don't have mason jars, any glass jar with lids that fit tightly will do the trick.
- Squirt lime or lemon juice on avocado before packing to keep it's fresh color, texture, and taste.
Layering Tips
- Layering is the key to crisp lettuce and great taste, making it crucial to put the 1-4 tablespoons of salad dressing at the bottom
- First, add the heartier veggies like carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, peppers, red onion, etc.
- Softer veggies are next — so add a mix of beans, zucchini, corn, mushrooms, asparagus, and sprouts
- For a more filling salad, add a grain or pasta layer — brown rice, orzo, couscous, quinoa are great choices
- Your protein layer will usually be cubed or crumbled cheese, diced roasted chicken, shrimp, or boiled eggs.
- The final, top layer is lettuce, nuts, and seeds – far away from the dressing to stay crispy and crunchy.
3 Unique Mason Jar Salad Combinations
Taco Salad in a Jar – Crisp corn, black beans, diced tomatoes, and romaine lettuce make a great base for a Mexican-inspired salad from Delish.com
Mediterranean Jar Salad – Epicurious brings the Mediterranean diet to an easy to assemble mason jar version of a Greek salad featuring tomatoes, orzo, olives, red onion, and cucumber; and salty crumbles of feta cheese.
Shrimp and Feta Salad – This unique salad will gather your favorites into a refreshing summer-time feast, including savory thyme, cooked shrimp, and chopped avocado.
Martha Stewart Salad Dressing – Explore this list of easy and tasty salad dressings that will kick your mason jar salads into high gear. Just a few ingredients are shaken in a jar and added to the bottom of mason jar salads.
Looking for a new apartment home in Phoenix, Arizona. Element at Deer Valley features a wide choice of floor plans from studio to four-bedroom apartments. Enjoy making your own mason jar salad creations in our lovely, designer kitchens that feature stainless steel appliances and professional flooring.
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There is so much to do around the holidays, and it can really become overwhelming fast! One area that can be difficult is managing all of the food for holiday dinners. Even if you are not planning the entire thing and are just bringing a side, it can be a lot to manage. Luckily, there are a lot of things that you can make in a crockpot that do not take a lot of effort and are still delicious. These are a few recipes to try this year and make your holiday cooking that much less stressful.
Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
Everyone loves a good dish of mac and cheese around the holidays. This recipe is super easy, and you do not even need to cook the noodles before you throw everything into the pot. This is a very cheesy recipe and one that everyone will love this year. The best part is that it is so simple to make for the whole family.
Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a staple around the holidays, but they can be very difficult to make because of all the work that goes into them. Luckily, it is now a lot easier because you can make creamier mashed potatoes and add a bit of cheese for less than half the work as traditional recipes by using this one instead.
Yummy Cinnamon Apples
This can be a side dish or part of the dessert menu. This is an easy recipe, and it is also one that results in better flavor because it is the best way to bring out the natural flavors in the apples with less effort.
These recipes are just a few to get you started. There are a lot more that you can find online if you are looking for a different variation of the ones above or if you are looking for something completely different. If you are looking for a new place to call home and make these delicious recipes, be sure to check out these apartments in Phoenix. Stop by today to take a tour of the apartment and the property as well as to find out what we have available to see if it meets your wants and needs.
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