The post 5 Uses for Giardiniera appeared first on River North Park Apartments Blog.
]]>If you want to buy some or whip up your own in your new gourmet kitchen in your Chicago apartment, here are five uses for giardiniera that extend beyond sandwiches.
1. Spice up breakfast sandwiches and egg dishes.
If you like putting peppers in omelets and scrambled eggs to give them a little kick, especially if you had a few too many the night before, giardiniera and fresh eggs are a match made in heaven. A tablespoon or two in an omelet can take its flavor to a whole other dimension, and you can also layer it on a breakfast sandwich for something new.
2. Jazz up a casserole.
Casseroles are a great way to cook just once a week and have healthy ready-made food to come home to or take to work. If your casserole game is starting to get a little dull, add some giardiniera to the other ingredients prior to baking to give it a little kick.
3. Spicy, pickled avocado toast.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to spreading avocado slices on toast. Sriracha and pickled onion have become popular accompaniments, so the pickled goodness of giardiniera is a natural match.
4. Giardiniera-infused cornbread.
Cornbread isn't just for sopping up chili anymore. It can stand beautifully on its own as a side dish, and you can make delicious fresh cornbread by throwing a few tablespoons of giardiniera in with the batter prior to baking.
5. Burger toppings.
Giardiniera is the perfect match for vegan soy burgers and all-beef sliders alike. Since it's traditionally eaten with Italian beef sandwiches or with sausages and bratwurst, it only makes sense that it tastes great as a burger add-on as well.
Whether your taste veers toward spicy or mild, you can cook up all types of delicious dishes with state-of-the-art appliances in the River North community you'll be excited to call home. Contact us today to speak to a leasing agent.
The post 5 Uses for Giardiniera appeared first on River North Park Apartments Blog.
]]>The post 5 Recipes That Are Perfect for Amateur Chefs appeared first on River North Park Apartments Blog.
]]>
Did you resolve to eat out less in 2019? Many of the residents of our Chicago, Illinois, apartments did, so in honor of all things great in the kitchen, we've found a few recipes that are perfect for amateur chefs.
1. One-Pot Turkey Chili
This one is perfect because a) chili makes everything better in the Midwest in the winter and b) you won't have a ton of dishes to do when it's over. It's a win-win! With only a few simple ingredients, you'll transform ground turkey and a lonely carrot or two into a feast that's made for kings (or queens).
2. Fall-Off-the-Bone Ribs
These guys take a while, so they're not going to be your go-to meal when you need something right now. But if you've got some extra time in the evening, a few minutes of prep time is all it takes; your oven will do the rest. With just a little bit of attention and a few ingredients, these ribs will wow your guests and keep them coming back for more.
3. Sweet and Spicy Sausage Farfalle
Pasta dishes may look complicated, but they don't have to be. This dinner is ready to go in 20 minutes, and you can make it as mild or spicy as you want it to be. If you're having a romantic evening in, serve up a glass of wine. You've earned it!
4. Baked Salmon Dijon
Sounds fancy, doesn't it? It'll certainly impress your guests or give you a belly full of goodness if you're dining alone, but it really doesn't take a ton of effort. Once you've purchased your salmon filets and made sure you have some butter and breadcrumbs standing by, the rest of the dinner takes care of itself. Serve it with asparagus and a baked potato to round out the meal.
5. Shrimp Tacos
Who doesn't love a great taco? With a little help from a good recipe, you can transition seafood into me-food, courtesy of a few pre-ready ingredients like canned beans and pre-cut coleslaw.
If you're ready to get cooking in a beautiful kitchen that has everything you need, we're ready to show you around our River North Park apartments. We'd love for you to stop by for a visit so we can show you around!
The post 5 Recipes That Are Perfect for Amateur Chefs appeared first on River North Park Apartments Blog.
]]>The post 4 Salads That are Sure to Please Everyone appeared first on River North Park Apartments Blog.
]]>
When the heat of the sun is blazing, you don't want heavy meals; you want something that's fresh, light and inspired by summer itself. Salads are the perfect accompaniment to hot, sticky days, but rest assured—you don't have to eat a bowl of bland lettuce to enjoy the fruits of Mother Nature's labor. The residents of our Chicago apartments are sure to love these favorite summertime salad recipes.
Here are salad options that are sure to please everyone:
1. Chimichurri Chicken Avocado Salad
This salad is a gigantic, filling meal, perfect for putting your salad naysayers to rest. It's filled with incredible amounts of flavor and contains elements from most of the essential food groups. The avocados are the icing on the cake (or the salad, as the case may be). If you have vegetarians in your crew, keep the chicken separate so everyone can partake in your veggie creation.
2. Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad With Poppyseed Dressing
The beauty of this salad comes by incorporating one of summer's most infamously favorite fruits and applying a plethora of other flavors that hit the taste buds just right. If you have someone who's not a fan of gorgonzola or blue cheese, you can leave it on the side, but these robust cheeses really do round out the marriage of flavors in the mix nicely.
If you have the oven going, toss on some salmon, shrimp or marinated tofu for a protein-packed addition.
3. Chopped Kale Power Salad With Lemon Tahini Dressing
Do you have vegan adversaries in your circle? Keep this salad's ingredients a secret until you've wowed the room. This protein-packed powerhouse of a salad is healthy, filling, comes with crunch and is served with a creamy dressing that skeptics will never suspect doesn't have dairy in it.
4. Lemon Rocket Pasta Salad
This salad adds an Italian twist, incorporating Fusilli pasta with a few simple ingredients that speak for themselves. Best of all? It can be served hot, right when the noodles are ready, or cold after it's chilled in the refrigerator for a while.
With a sparkling sun deck and private half-acre landscaped courtyard, our River North Park Apartments offer you an incredible way to enjoy the summer sun while you try out your new salad recipes. Stop by and take a tour of our community today!
The post 4 Salads That are Sure to Please Everyone appeared first on River North Park Apartments Blog.
]]>The post Enjoy Pasta Again With Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce appeared first on River North Park Apartments Blog.
]]>
Cauliflower is all the rage right now in Chicago, Illinois, and beyond, for good reason. It offers a low-fat and no-carb solution to some typically less-than-healthy dishes like cheesy Alfredo sauce. Nothing says "hearty" like pasta, so find out how you can make it guilt-free with cauliflower.
Why Cauliflower?
It’s firm enough to pass as rice and soft enough when cooked to make a tasty sauce. It’s also packed with fiber and vitamins C and B. Plus, no carbs.
Turning Cauliflower Into Alfredo Sauce
It’s easier than you might think, especially with an elegant kitchen like you'll find in our apartments in Chicago, Illinois. The ingredients you need:
- Sea salt and coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1 cup 2-percent milk
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 clove garlic, lightly smashed
- 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan
Start by cutting up the cauliflower into smaller pieces. The goal is to have at least 2 cups of florets.
Fill a large pot with water and add a pinch of salt. Bring the water to a boil and then add the florets. Let them cook until tender.
Spoon out the cooked cauliflower and put it into a colander to drain. Set aside the water you used to boil the cauliflower in, though. Do not discard it. You can use it to cook your pasta after the sauce is ready.
Put the drained and cooked cauliflower into a blender and add the 2-percent milk. Puree until smooth.
Place the butter and garlic into a large skillet and heat until the butter melts. Stir in the pureed cauliflower and cook the sauce for two minutes.
Take the pan off the heat, spoon out the garlic and then stir in the parmesan cheese. Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
With the cauliflower sauce complete, you can add whatever protein you choose, like grilled chicken or shrimp. It is also good without meat. For an added healthy bonus, use gluten-free noodles.
Nothing says "tasty" like good Alfredo sauce, so why not go a step further and make it healthy, too? Give us a call to tour our available apartments in Chicago and see your next chef-caliber kitchen.
The post Enjoy Pasta Again With Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce appeared first on River North Park Apartments Blog.
]]>