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While our Charlotte NC community at Ashford Green apartment homes enjoy moderate winter temperatures, they still crave the warm and fulfilling foods that are popular when the thermometer starts to plummet. Today, we look at how you can make winter grains a nourishing part of your everyday meal plan.
3 Nutritious Winter Grains
Benefits of Buckwheat
Buckwheat is really a seed, but it is most often consumed as a cereal grain. Even though wheat appears in its name, it is a non-gluten alternative that is not related to wheat. Add buckwheat to your diet whenever possible, using buckwheat flours, noodles, and even buckwheat tea to take advantage of better control over blood sugar and its high antioxidant and mineral content. Try these tasty Buckwheat Pancakes for breakfast.
Rye Bread instead of Wheat
Rye is a cereal grain with a sharper and more intense flavor than wheat. While rye bread is a must for a great corned beef sandwich, you should definitely give it a try as a quick and healthy snack that is packed with heart-healthy nutrients, and rye has a lower glycaemic index, which means it won't spike your blood sugar. Top a few slices of your favorite style of rye bread with these delicious combos for a filling snack or lunch:
- Cream cheese, smoked salmon, and thinly sliced cucumber
- A light spread of ricotta and a drizzle of honey
- Top with sautéed spinach, chopped boiled egg, and minced garlic
Add Wild Rice to Dishes
Wild rice is a nutty, whole-grain alternative to brown rice. Traditionally, it has served as an add-on to create rice mixtures, but today it is standing on its own as a nutritious grain that is high in protein, fiber, and vitamins. This low calorie, high nutrient rice can be added soups early in the cooking process, or simply keep some cooked and refrigerated to toss into salads, sprinkle on roasted veggies, or make casseroles like this Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole with Butternut Squash and Cranberries.
Choose Rolled Oats This Winter
Old-fashioned whole oats are rich in antioxidants, can lower blood sugar, and can better assist in weight loss than instant oats. A great way to use rolled oats in the winter is for home-baked muffins, cookies and granola bars. You can also use them in your morning smoothie to fight off hunger cravings through the morning. For smoothies, rolled oats are best because you don't have to cook them first and they blend better than steel-cut oats.
We hope these delicious and nutritious grains will delight your culinary tastes this winter as you enjoy the Ashford Green apartment homes in Charlotte, NC. Enjoy the best of local shopping, entertainment venues, and breathtaking views while relaxing in a spacious apartment with all the amenities you need to make a home.
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Nothing tastes better than a delicious pie after a family meal. That’s why we hope our Ashford Green community members in Charlotte, N.C., find this recipe enjoyable.
Key Lime Pie to Die For
The smell of a pie baking in the oven adds to the experience. But sometimes our fast-paced lives require precision time management. This Key lime pie delivers deliciousness while you sleep.
Gather These Ingredients
For the Crust
- 3 cups Nilla cookie crumbs
- 3/4 cup butter (melted)
For the Filling
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons icing sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 10 large egg yolks
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 20 ounces condensed milk (sweetened)
- 1 cup lime juice
- 6 tablespoons lime zest
For the Topping
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
How to Make the Pie Crust
Blend the vanilla crumbs and melted butter together in a mixing bowl. Line the bottom of a 10-inch pie pan with parchment and grease the sides. Form-fit the pie crumbs on the bottom and three-quarters of the way up the sides of the pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
How to Make the Pie Filling
In a large mixing bowl, whip two teaspoons of vanilla extract, icing sugar and one cup of whipping cream thoroughly. Place the mixture in the refrigerator. Next, use a powered mixer to whisk the egg yolks and granulated sugar in a separate bowl. Do this at a high speed for about 5 minutes. The mixture should appear foam-like and light yellow when ready. Add the lime juice, lime zest, and condensed milk. Whisk and fold the mixture together gently, but completely. Pour the full mixture directly into your pie crust and place it in the freezer.
How to Make the Topping
Place 1 cup of whipping cream, the powdered sugar and one teaspoon of vanilla extract into a mixing bowl. Beat the ingredients together, cover and set the mixture in the refrigerator overnight.
By the next morning, you will have an utterly delicious Key lime pie dessert that can be garnished with items such as lime or orange slices. There are some creative ways to make your presentation impressive. Consider scooping round balls of the topping and inserting a thin lime or orange garnish into each slice. There’s nothing stopping you from making the dessert as visually incredible as your homemade Key lime pie tastes!
We hope our Ashford Green residents find this pie recipe delightful. If you or a friend would like more information about our Charlotte apartments, call us today.
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Apples are in season, and soon we'll see them all around our Charlotte, NC apartment community. If you've been wondering what you can do with this plethora of in-season apples, we've got some interesting ideas for you!
1. Apple Peanut Butter Smoothie
With only a few ingredients, you can transform this kid-friendly treat into an adult-ready breakfast food. All you need is a little almond milk, one small apple, a little peanut butter, and some honey. Once you toss it all into a blender, it'll quickly become a breakfast milkshake that's well worth the few minutes it takes to mix together.
2. Fresh Apple Salsa
You can never go wrong with a good salsa, but you've probably never thought about adding apples to your mix. Rest assured, this fruit pairs well with many traditional salsa elements, and the outcome is extraordinary. Use it as a dip with chips or bake some chicken and top your poultry with this homemade fresh apple salsa. It's a creative way to ensure you use all the products you purchased at the grocery store.
3. Apple Chips
Forego unhealthy potato chips in favor of these baked apple chips. Add cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg or pumpkin spice to make them more like dessert chips, or leave the flavorings off so you can dip your apple chips in your favorite hummus or homemade dip.
4. Cinnamon Apple Pie Bread
You don't have to have a bread machine to make an awesome loaf of bread. With a simple 9 x 5-inch loaf pan, you can create a cinnamon apple pie bread that'll keep guests and your family happy for days. This delightful use of apples ensures you have the kind of bread that's perfect for breakfast toast or will serve as a great dessert after you're done with dinner.
5. Apple Popcorn Balls
Bored with your normal, everyday popcorn? Turn dried apples into apple popcorn balls by adding some brown sugar, butter, light corn syrup, and popcorn together. This is a great fall treat that pays tribute to this season's favorite fruit.
If you're ready to jump into autumn with a beautiful new apartment, Ashford Green Luxury Apartments is ready to welcome you home. Check out our online photo gallery, and stop by when you're ready for a personal tour!
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The food pyramid makes perfect sense on paper, but in practice, it can be quite difficult for busy people to get all the nutrition they need. Since the residents of our Charlotte, NC, apartments are busy people, we're always looking for ways to provide helpful (and healthful) tips. With this in mind, we've come up with a few ways you can delve deeper into the food pyramid.
1. Make Smoothies
Smoothies are a no-excuse way to get superfoods like kale and blueberries into your body, even if you're constantly running from place to place. A quick tap of a blender's buttons will transform nearly any fruit, vegetable, nut and dairy item into a drinkable solution that you can enjoy when you're on the go. Experiment with different items because foods you may not enjoy all by themselves can suddenly become delicious when they're paired with flavors your palate prefers. Smoothies are also a great way to get rid of food that may otherwise go bad if it's not consumed quickly.
2. Do Salads Every Day
There's no reason your salad should consist of boring lettuce and a dash of oil as dressing. Salads are an awesome way to get creative with tons of ingredients, and they're another demonstration of the ways fruits, veggies and proteins play together perfectly when they're plated properly. Besides the benefits of leafy greens, you can utilize an assortment of proteins, such as salmon, tofu, tuna, hard-boiled eggs, deli turkey and beans to give your body the energy-boosting nutrients it needs. If you have leftover produce, do a quick search online to find recipes that will optimize those items.
3. Plan Your Menu Ahead of Time
It's hard to know how well you're adhering to the food pyramid if you're not actually tracking your dietary intake. By planning your meals ahead of time, you'll be able to allocate the essential food groups into small meals and snacks throughout your day, helping to ensure you hit the important points that will keep your body healthy and happy.
Eating well is a lot easier when you have a beautiful kitchen that deserves to be cooked in. Check out the stunning kitchens we offer at our Ashford Green luxury apartments!
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Toaster ovens offer convenience that regular ovens lack. They can bake pizzas and all sorts of snacks you might want late at night or for guests at your Charlotte apartments. But not all toaster ovens are the same. Often, it’s better to be a little discriminating in choosing a toaster oven to ensure you get all the features you’ll need. Here are a few tips for what you should look for in a toaster oven.
Variety of Settings
Depending on the brand and model, toaster ovens will have different settings. These may include a pizza setting, reheat, broil, toast, bake, warm and so on. The setting determines which of the heating coils heat up and how long they operate. The toaster oven may also have a convection setting. This setting makes air flow inside the toaster oven for faster heating. You won’t always use it, but when you’re baking uncovered dishes in the toaster oven, you’ll be glad to have it.
Design
You might want to be choosy in what kind of design and finish you want to have for your toaster oven, especially since it’s for your apartments in Charlotte. Less durable exteriors tend to sustain more damage over time from use, and while they may cost less, their wear and tear may mean buying a new toaster oven again in just a few years. If you plan to have your toaster oven out on the counter on display you might want to choose a more high-end finish for your toaster oven, since you’ll be looking at it every day.
Size
You’ll likely want to look at the size of the toaster oven and determine if it will fit your needs. It’s best for a toaster oven to be big enough to roast a chicken; that way, you’ll be able to save on energy costs, compared to heating a larger, standard-sized oven. If you’re a pizza fan, be sure the interior of the toaster oven will accommodate a standard-sized pizza. If you enjoy roasting a chicken every now and then, look for a toaster oven that can accommodate that size.
Toaster ovens are a great way to quickly cook up frozen goods, reheat dishes and bake pies and muffins. For more information about graceful living in Chicago apartments, please contact us.
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(And it's not just the media telling you what to eat either.) Your body will respond better to produce that favor the seasons of the climate you're in. Here are a few tips to help you knock off your shopping list.
Look for the Deals
You can certainly look up which produce is in season in Charlotte. The most famous spring stars are arugula, asparagus, carrots, green beans, and blueberries. But if you don't feel like keeping a list with you of what's in season, you can just look for the deals in the produce section. Things that are in season are grown locally, which means they cost lots less to transport. Now is a good time to look for all the beautiful green veggies and fruits that will lend themselves to the perfect salad (made in your very own kitchen).
Eat Better
Produce is good for you no matter when you eat it. As long as it's not spoiled, you'll still get some fiber and nutrients from the vegetable or fruit you consume. But you'll get the best taste of fruit when it's in season, which may inspire you to eat better on a regular basis.
If your memories of fruit are tainted by visions of its watery insides or limp exterior, then you're unlikely to buy fruit the next time around. You don't necessarily need to buy organic either. Grapes, strawberries, and spinach tend to be grown with more pesticides than other veggies or fruits. It may make sense to shop organically based on the produce as opposed to consistently buying organic foods.
Spring is a reason to celebrate the lift of winter's heavy clouds, so make sure you take full advantage of the new view at your local grocery store. If you're looking for an apartment that can keep up with your busy lifestyle (and store your produce), call Ashford Green to see our kitchens, amenities, and floorplans.
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Just because it's winter, it doesn't mean you have to forgo fresh, flavorful salads in favor of soups and cold-weather foods. In fact, this is a great time of year for soup-and-salad combos because there are some really great fruits and veggies in season. The residents of our Charlotte, North Carolina apartments always appreciate our fun recipes, so we thought we'd share these seasonal salad ideas!
Spring lettuce salad with roasted asparagus
The stalky green familiarity of asparagus is particularly bountiful from March to June. Asparagus is characterized by a high volume of vitamins A and C, both of which are great for your body. It also contains a substantial amount of folate, which has been shown to play a vital role in the overall health of human beings.
A little Dijon mustard and lemon juice always pair well against a plate of roasted asparagus. When placed atop a handful or two of spring lettuce — and accompanied by freshly shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, this vegetable takes on a tasty life of its own.
Strawberry salad
Everybody's favorite red fruit starts showing its face when springtime hits. For a lot of people, strawberries are awesome all by themselves, but when you figure out how to form them into a complete meal, they're 10 times better.
Strawberries play very well with spinach. To incorporate crunch, add some ramen noodles, almonds, and sunflower seeds.
Sugar snap pea salad with balsamic vinaigrette
A bit of crunch can make a big difference when you're eating ultra-fresh food. Sugar snap peas have a reputation for being super crispy when the spring season settles in. If you haven't considered subbing out lettuce for sugar snap peas, allow us to show you the way. These crunchy greens can really change the game when you're looking to add some texture to your plate.
Roasted beet salad
If you think you don't like beets, don't discount them just yet. When prepared just right, they're earthy yet tasty. Roasting them at home only requires some olive oil, salt, and pepper. From there, the greens and dressings you choose to put on your salad are chef's choice.
As spring approaches, you might be looking for a new-to-you apartment that checks all your boxes. Take a look at the amenities our Ashford Green Luxury Apartments offer our residents!
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