Basic Biscuit Recipe 

Makes approximately 24 biscuits.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 stick salted butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Add flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
3. Using a pastry cutter or a fork, cut the butter into the flour until your mixture looks like coarse crumbs. 
4. Add milk and stir until a dough forms. 
5. Pat the dough out to approximately three-quarter-inch thickness.
6. Use a 2-inch round cutter to cut the dough into circles.
7. Place the biscuits with their sides touching on a sheet pan. Refrigerate for approximately 20 minutes.
8. Take biscuits out of the refrigerator and place them in a preheated oven. Bake for approximately 10 to 14 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown on top. 

Elevated Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich

Ingredients:

• Raspberry jam
• 1 slice country ham 
• 1 slice cheddar cheese 
• 1 fried egg

Directions:

1. Slice a biscuit open and spread raspberry jam on the bottom half.
2. Add the ham and the cheese and top with a fried egg. 

Easy BBQ Chicken Biscuit Sandwich

Ingredients:

• 3 cups shredded deli rotisserie chicken
• 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
• Shredded cheddar cheese

Directions: 

1. In a bowl, stir together the chicken and barbecue sauce. 
2. Microwave for about a minute or two to warm up the mixture. Cover the bowl with a paper towel to prevent splatters.
3. Cut a biscuit open and top with a small pile of chicken.
4. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the chicken and cover with the other half of the biscuit.
5. Repeat with the rest of the biscuits until the chicken mixture is completely used. 

Do you love to cook and have been searching for an apartment home with a chic kitchen? Then please come check out our lovely apartments in Cary, North Carolina. They boast black stainless steel appliance packages and beautiful subway tile backsplashes. Our apartment community also features a gorgeous pool.  

The post 2 Delicious Biscuit Sandwiches You’ll Want to Try appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.

Many of the residents of our Cary, NC, apartments prefer to eat healthily, but like most busy people, they know it's not always easy to get the vitamins and nutrients their bodies need. When it comes to a well-rounded diet, leafy greens are essential, and broccoli — with its power-packed offerings of beta-carotene, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc and vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B6 — is the perfect accompaniment to any meal. However, it can be tough to fit this fine vegetable into everyday meals. 

With this in mind, we've taken the challenge of helping you find different ways to embrace broccoli.

1. High-Fiber Broccoli Smoothie

Whether you have kids who won't eat their broccoli or you're just trying to figure out how to integrate this veggie into your own diet, this smoothie will hide the vegetable elements while giving you a sweet, thirst-quenching smoothie that'll leave you wanting seconds. For extra texture, freeze the bananas, cherries, and avocado. You can also freeze the pomegranate juice in an ice cube tray.

2. Broccoli and Feta Pesto Sauce

You don't have to eat whole raw broccoli if you don't want to. A little olive oil and feta cheese will transform steamed broccoli into an outstanding sauce that you can pour over any pasta. It's also great for many types of meat, particularly grilled chicken breast.

3. Broccoli Cheddar Crackers

Stop feeling guilty about your late-night snack cravings. When you sit down to binge on your favorite Netflix shows, put the popcorn down and leave the ice cream in the freezer. These scrumptious little chips are filled with healthy ingredients, including broccoli. While they're great all by themselves, they're even better when dipped in hummus. Of course, you can purchase store-bought hummus, but if you're feeling really crafty, consider making your own. This broccoli hummus recipe brings your veggie efforts full circle with very little effort.

4. Roasted Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

Soup is an easy item to take to work so you don't feel the need to eat out or munch on unhealthy frozen food. This rich and creamy recipe is thick enough to satisfy your midday hunger pangs while giving your body more of the nutrients it needs.

Great eating starts with a beautiful kitchen. Stop by our Audubon Parc Apartments so we can show you our chic kitchens with white shaker cabinets, subway tile backsplashes, white and charcoal gray countertops, and black stainless steel appliances today!

The post Embracing Broccoli: How You Can Get More of This Green Garden Veg appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.

Baked Apple Butter French Toast

This one requires a little time in the oven in the morning, but French toast enthusiasts agree that it's well worth the wait. It'll also fill your apartment with the heavenly aroma of apple butter, which you can sit back and enjoy with coffee or tea. Simply prepare the French toast using your favorite recipe, place the individual pieces of bread flat in a baking pan, cover them with apple butter and bake for about 30 minutes. This recipe is best during the weekend or on other mornings when you don't need to rush out the door. Try plum or pear butter for a delicious variation.

Cinnamon Swirl French Toast

Using cinnamon swirl bread for French toast provides an instant flavor upgrade. Use thick, brioche-style cinnamon swirl bread that you either buy at a bakery or bake yourself. This French toast variation is so good that it can be enjoyed absolutely plain, with no butter, syrup or any other embellishments. However, many people appreciate at least a drizzle of real maple syrup over their cinnamon swirl bread, while others appreciate a dusting of powdered sugar and a light sprinkle of cinnamon.

You can also experiment with making French toast using other types of bread, such as pumpkin bread, apple bread, and banana bread.

Peaches and Cream Cheese French Toast

This is best when you use a thick, eggy brioche bread. Simply prepare the French toast in the usual fashion, spread your favorite cream cheese over it instead of syrup or butter and top it off with fresh slices of peaches and a small amount of freshly whipped cream.

Our spacious kitchens are perfect for preparing all sorts of wonderful meals. Please reach out to us at your convenience for more information on living life to the fullest in our apartment community.

The post Not Your Grandmother’s French Toast — Three Timely Twists on a Classic Convention appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.

Blue Lemonade Frosty

A perfect summer cocktail has to be icy cold and smooth drinking. So, it goes without saying that having a blender with ice-crushing abilities will be a must during the dog days of summer. With a trusty blender on your counter, this delicious cocktail ought to take the edge off.

Gather These Ingredients

• 1 cup of quality vodka
• 1 cup of inexpensive Champagne
• ½ cup of Blue Curacao
• ½ cup of instant lemonade
• 3 cups of ice cubes
• Orange wedges
• Cocktail rimming sugar (white)

Combine all the liquid ingredients and ice in your blender. Blend thoroughly until all the ice is adequately crushed for drinking purposes. Run an orange wedge around the rim of your glass and quickly dip into sugar. Pour in your frosty blue beverage, garnish with an orange wedge and enjoy.

Strawberry Tequila Blush

Keeping things simple is a key ingredient to summer relaxation. That’s why including this four-ingredient beverage on your go-to cocktail list may be worthwhile.

Gather These Ingredients

• 4 fully ripe strawberries
• 1 ounce of Blanco tequila
• ½ of a lime
• 2 ounces of seltzer or tonic water

It’s essential that your four ingredients are pre-refrigerated. No one wants a warm tequila surprise! Muddle the strawberries in a glass. Add the seltzer and tequila and then squeeze the lime over it. Stir and indulge yourself.

Peach Spiked Arnold Palmer

While this recipe is not quite as simple to make as some others, who can resist a perfectly balanced Arnold Palmer on a warm summer night? Anyone? Okay then. A classic AP requires equal portions of iced tea and lemonade. The unusual twists make it unique.

Gather These Ingredients

• 1 frozen whiskey ball
• 2 ounces of lemonade
• 2 ounces of iced tea
• 1 teaspoon of simple syrup
• 1 ounce of bourbon
• 1 ounce of ounce peach liqueur
• Slices of a fully ripened peach
• 1 mint sprig

Place the whiskey ball in a cocktail glass and pour all liquid ingredients. Add peach slices to your liking and the mint sprig. Stir gently and sip slowly.

We hope our Audubon Parc community members enjoy these summer cocktail ideas. If you or a friend would like more information about our Cary apartments, call us today.

The post 3 Simple Summer Cocktails appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.

Single Serving Gluten-Free Bread

This recipe for single serving gluten-free bread is so simple to make you’ll want to keep the recipe on hand for last-minute bread cravings.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg, medium
• 3 tablespoons buttermilk
• 1/3 cup gluten-free flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon water

Directions:

1. Combine the egg, water, and buttermilk in a bowl with a whisk.
2. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and honey until combined.
3. Pour the mix into a shallow saucer.
4. Place in the microwave on high for about a minute and a half.

Gluten-Free Bread Loaf

This bread comes out looking just like a regular loaf of bread, except that it’s totally gluten-free. Use it to make sandwiches, toast or anything else you’d make with “regular” bread. First, make the brown rice flour blend.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups brown rice flour
• 1 1/2 cups tapioca starch
• 1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Use a whisk to combine thoroughly. Set aside.

Ingredients:

• 4 1/2 cups of the rice flour blend
• 1 tablespoon gelatin powder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup powdered milk
• 3 eggs, medium
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons white vinegar
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 package dry yeast
• 2 cups warm water

Directions:

1. Add the yeast to the warm water. Set aside.
2. Grease two bread pans and set aside.
3. Mix the dry ingredients together with a whisk.
4. Mix the wet ingredients in a separate bowl.
5. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and blend.
6. Add the yeast to the mixture and blend.
7. Pour the dough into two greased bread pans.
8. Allow the dough to rise for one hour.
9. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
10. Turn out onto a cutting board and enjoy!

Keep these two gluten-free bread recipes on hand for guests who have gluten allergies, or anytime you want to enjoy gluten-free bread. To learn more about apartments in Cary, please contact us today.

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 Apple Cider Vinegar Rules

This common household item offers improved digestion and helps the body absorb nutrients at a more efficient pace. It also delivers anti-inflammatory benefits. Consider adding a little to your house vinaigrette salad dressing or over fish. A little goes a long way in terms of health benefits.

 Get Nutty With Your Diet

According to a variety of medical journals, nut consumption has a link to longevity. If cracking open a few superfood nuts will add time to your life, it seems worth the effort. Consider topping salads with favorite nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and others. Even in pine nut–based pesto, there’s room enough for a little extra dash. The point is that tree nuts not only enhance texture and flavor, but they’re also a nutritional upgrade. Go for it. Get nutty!

Blueberries Abound

This berry reportedly defends the body against the cell damage inflicted by free radicals. It’s a potent antioxidant that also happens to be readily available in most supermarkets. Put blueberries on your salad. Put blueberries in your smoothie. Put blueberries in your ice cream. No, ice cream is not a superfood, but you may as well put something healthy in it. Put blueberries everywhere you can!

Avocados on the Side

Besides a nice guacamole dip, avocados are one of the easiest and most delicious superfoods to infuse into your diet. They reportedly provide the body with significant help reducing bad cholesterol (LDL) and increasing good cholesterol (HDL).

We all know that you have to time them just right at the local supermarket, so they are just ripe. But once you’ve secured perfectly soft avocados, it’s not difficult to pair them. They make a lovely salad additive, go well with steamed veggies, and slice nicely into just about any sandwich. Pretty much anytime you are about to eat, a slice of avocado makes sense.

Trade up for Kale

One of the superfoods that burst out onto the scene a few years back, kale outpaces many others with its richness in iron, calcium, and vitamins A, C, and K. It’s the king of greens and a solid replacement for low-nutrition lettuce. Make the trade and don’t look back.

We hope our Audubon Parc community members enjoy these superfood ideas. If you or a friend would like more information about our Cary apartments, call us today.

The post 5 Ways You Can Add These Superfoods to Your Diet appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.

Grand Cayman Margarita

Straight from the white sand beaches of the Caribbean islands, this simple syrup frozen cocktail might be icy cold going down, but it heats up any party.

Gather These Ingredients

• 2 ounces of Tequila (Blanco)
• ½ ounce of Triple Sec
• 1 cup of Honeydew Melon (Diced)
• 1 cup of Sugar
• 1 ounce of Cointreau
• 1 ounce of Lime Juice
• 1 cup of Ice
• Cayenne Pepper

How To Make

Heat one cup of water in a saucepan. Add sugar and Honeydew Melon and muddle for 3 minutes. Let cool. Place 1 ounce of the sauce and all of the other ingredients in a blender, except for the Cayenne Pepper. Blend thoroughly and pour into rocks glasses. Garnish with a Cayenne Pepper kick!

Frozen Fruit Slushes

If you enjoy red wine and berries, this frozen drink party recipe may be exponentially yummy. You may also want to clip this recipe to the fridge for when local blackberries ripen.

Gather These Ingredients

• 2 ounces of Absolute Vodka
• 1 ounce of O.J.
• 4 ounces of Red Wine or Merlot
• 1 Tablespoon of Agave
• 1 cup of Ice
• Blackberries

How To Make

Set the blackberries aside for a garnish. Place all the other ingredients in a blender and mix thoroughly. Pour into wine glasses and garnish with Blackberries. Don’t let the sweet taste fool you. This frozen concoction has a kick to it!

Virgin Island Mojito

If you’ve every kicked back on the islands, you probably understand folks like to keep it simple. That’s why this breezy recipe makes sense for parties.

Gather These Ingredients

• 3 ounces of Simple Syrup
• 1 cup of Mint Leaves
• 4 ounces of White Rum
• 1 ounce of Lime Juice
• 2 cups of Crushed Ice

How To Make

Briefly boil two cups of water with mint leaves. Strain and place mint into a blender with simple syrup and puree. Blend other ingredients and add ¼-ounce of the syrup to each frozen cocktail and stir. This party treat is as laid back as a summer breeze on a tropical island!

We hope our Audubon Parc community members find these frozen drinks refreshing. If you or a friend would like more information about our Cary apartments, call us today.

The post 3 Frozen Party Drinks You Can Make With A Blender appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.

Slow-cookers are usually recommended for tougher cuts of meat, as the combination of the time and the heat turns it into a tender and juicy meal. But slow-cookers can do much more than that. Here are a few recipes that are sure to get your slow cooker working today. 

Ropa Viejo

You may not want to look up the exact translation of this meal if you're not familiar with it, but this beef stew is exceptionally delicious. The tomatoes, garlic, and pepper all lend their flavors to the flank steak for a mouthwatering result. Served over rice, this meal is as satisfying as it is comforting. Plus, it's easy to freeze and reheat in individual portions.

Lime Chicken Tacos

This recipe calls for very few ingredients, making it simple to both prepare and serve. You also won't have to spend a lot of time at the grocery store beforehand. The corn, lime juice, and chicken breast all meld together to create a filling for taco shells or tortillas that everyone will enjoy. Serve with sour cream, cheese, and salsa for the perfect bite. 

Championship Bean Dip 

If you're looking for an easy slow-cooker recipe you can make before you go over to a party, then this is definitely the recipe for you. Slow-cooker recipes are a little more effort because you have to take the actual crock over to the party, but this dip is easy to spoon onto plates with chips. After all the compliments, you'll be glad you made it. 

The apartments in Cary are better when there's something delicious cooking in the kitchen, and these slow-cooker recipes definitely deliver. If you're looking for a modern apartment that can accommodate all of your culinary aspirations, call Audubon Park today. 

The post 3 Slow-Cooker Meals to Try This Week appeared first on Audubon Parc Blog.

Goodnight Kiss

Nothing says you've had a good date quite like an impeccable kiss. A little champagne and Campari will turn a flute glass into a heart-warming cocktail that's fit for a toast any time. 

Billion Dollar Apple

If red represents the color of love, this regal drink is worthy of at least a few kisses on the cheek. The cranberry juice gives it just enough notes of love to symbolize a drink you'll want to share with your favorite people.

Basil Hayden's Dark Rye Toddy

When chilly weather is still hanging out outside, nothing warms a body quite like a hot toddy. This honey-and-bourbon infusion presents a cocktail that'll warm your insides and maybe give you a few sweet dreams after you close your eyes.

A Sweetheart's Toast

Soak marshmallows or candy hearts in Rosa Regale. Combine the following ingredients into a shaker:

• 1/2 ounce of your favorite tequila
• 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 ounce maple syrup
• 1-ounce almond milk

Add ice, then shake vigorously. Pour the final product into a martini glass, top with a bit of Rosa Regale, and garnish with a wine-soaked heart.

Berry Kiss Milkshake

Milkshakes may be cold, but when your heart is filled with warmth, the temperature of your drink doesn't matter. This milkshake comes complete with just enough brandy to give you that feel-good feeling. If you're sharing your shake with a significant other, pour it into a glass and add an extra straw. This is a throw-back to simpler days — adult-style.

Love Buzz

Chocolate always makes the heart grow fonder. With this martini, you can enjoy the natural aphrodisiacs provided by cocoa while getting a little bit of a buzz from the espresso imparted into the recipe.

When you're looking for a place that makes your heart happy, our Audubon Park apartments have everything you need. From an off-leash dog park to stunning apartments, our community was built to be the place you call home. Take a look at all the amenities we offer our residents!

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