Watermelon Sorbet

This one's much easier to prepare than it sounds. You won't need an ice cream maker — you can make this right in the freezing compartment of the refrigeration unit in your apartment. Just bring agave nectar, lime or lemon juice, crushed mint leaves, and sugar to a boil in a saucepan on the stove. After the mixture has cooled, stir in pureed watermelon, pour the mixture into a shallow baking pan and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Spoon the mixture into sorbet cups and freeze for a minimum of three hours. This makes a great grand finale to a cool summer salad when outdoor temperatures are soaring. 

Watermelon Fruit Bowls

Watermelon fruit bowls make charming accents for casual summer parties, particularly if you use mini-watermelons. Simply hollow them out and fill them with the fruit of your choice, such as berries, grapes, peaches and, of course, watermelon chunks. You can also fill them with fruit juice or cocktails for a variation of this idea. 

Watermelon Salsa

Traditional tomato-based salsa is a staple of summer snacks, but if you're in the mood for something different, consider making watermelon salsa instead. All you really need to do is replace the tomato in your favorite salsa recipe with watermelon pieces chopped up with onions, peppers and lime juice. If you want to give it an extra burst of summer flavor, add items such as pomegranate arils and fresh herbs.

We've got stunning city views, on-site restaurants, barbeque, and picnic areas and a 37,000 square foot fitness center. Please don't hesitate to contact us today to find out more about enjoying life in the Windy City.

The post Three Delicious Ways to Use Watermelon This Summer appeared first on Presidential Towers Blog.

Goji Berry Smoothie With Strawberries

The Goji berry packs an impressive antioxidant punch and it’s also full of essential minerals. A single cup of strawberries can deliver an upwards of 149 percent of your daily vitamin C needs. The pairing provides powerful health benefits that include battling diseases by giving your natural immune system the resources it requires. 

Ingredients

3 tablespoons of dried Goji berries

1 cup of ripe strawberries

2 teaspoons of local honey

2 cups of almond milk (non-flavored)

Ice

Place the dry Goji berries in a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of water and let soak for 20 minutes. Once soft, place all of the ingredients in a blender and liquify.

Tropical Kale Super Smoothie

Kale ranks among the big names in superfoods. It delivers high concentrations of vitamin K, calcium, antioxidants, and even fiber. But a kale smoothie alone can be a tad bland. That’s why mixing kale with delightful tropical fruits filled with vitamin C can be a winning combination.

Ingredients

2 cups of stemless, chopped kale leaves

¾ cup of whole milk

1 frozen banana

¼ cup of plain yogurt

¼ cup of frozen pineapple cubes

3 tablespoons of smooth peanut butter

2 tablespoons of local honey

Ice

Simply place the ingredients into a blender with a suitable amount of ice and combine until liquified.

Blueberry Smoothie with Flax Enhancement

Blueberries are considered among the best heart-healthy superfoods you can eat. Their fame is due to the quantities of fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6, among others. While a blueberry smoothie would undoubtedly qualify as a superfood recipe on its own, adding flax enhances the cardiovascular benefits. Some resources claim it helps prevent cancer and other ailments.

Ingredients

1 cup of frozen blueberries

2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed

½ cup of fresh spinach

¼ cup of plain yogurt

1 cup of coconut milk

Ice

Place all of the ingredients in a blender with an adequate amount of ice. Mix until liquified and pour into a large glass.

We hope our Presidential Towers community members enjoy these smoothie recipes. If you or a friend would like more information about our Chicago apartments, call us today!

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Fruit Salad 

Fruit salads aren’t just a summer side dish at barbecues and picnics. Get your morning off to a great start with a breakfast fruit salad. Just make plain instant oatmeal, and set it to the side. Add sliced pieces of strawberries, peaches, bananas and any seasonal fruits you like to the oatmeal. Drizzle lemon juice on it, then add a mixture of plain, low-fat yogurt and orange juice as a coating for your breakfast fruit salad. 

Raspberry Green Summer Breakfast Smoothie

If you need to make breakfast to take with you when you leave or when you don’t have time to cook breakfast, consider making a smoothie that’s perfect for summer. Get out your blender, and combine chopped peaches, frozen bananas, chopped kiwi, lemon juice, mint, spinach, and milk. Mashup raspberries in a small bowl, and add low-fat maple syrup. You can add passion fruit to the raspberry sauce for added flavor. Put your smoothie in a tall cup to go, and add the raspberry sauce to it. 

Breakfast Tacos

If you’re in the mood for eggs, consider making breakfast tacos. All you have to do is make scrambled eggs, then add them to flour or corn tortillas with a few other ingredients. Put sliced avocado, sliced cherry tomatoes, sliced green onion and low-fat shredded cheese on the tortilla with the eggs. Then top it with your favorite salsa! 

Blueberry Mug Pancakes

Put your microwave to use for a quick and filling breakfast. You can use pre-made pancake mix to save time or combine flour, milk, maple syrup, vegetable oil, an egg and baking soda in a microwave-safe mug. Add blueberries to the mug, then microwave this for about one minute. Put a bit more maple syrup on top for added flavor. 

Our apartments in Chicago, Illinois, have renovated kitchens with plenty of space for preparing breakfast. Contact us to learn more about our apartment amenities!

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Pasta Primavera and Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is a bright wine with enough acidity to cut through the creamy sauces used in pasta primavera. Choose one with a fruity bouquet to go nicely with the fresh spring vegetables in the dish! 

Grilled Salmon and Pinot Noir

The first wild salmon runs begin in spring, and this is one fish with a robust enough flavor profile that it doesn't need to be paired with a white wine per traditional custom. Pinot noir is an ideal wine for pairing with a grilled salmon dinner because it's got a bolder flavor than white wine yet isn't so rich that it overpowers this popular fish's taste. 

Fruit Salad and Moscato 

The first fruit salad of the season is definitely a special treat, particularly when it's enjoyed al fresco on a warm summer evening with a deliciously cool glass of Moscato. With just the right combination of sweetness and acidity, this beverage pairs excellently with fresh fruits! 

Trout Almandine and Sparkling Rosé

Trout almandine is an ideal entree for an elegant romantic dinner for two, and bringing a sparkling rosé to the picture adds a classy finishing touch that provides a celebratory accent. Sparkling wines go with everything, but this one's particularly suited to complementing the light, delicate flavor of freshly caught trout. 

Roast Lamb and Merlot

Spring lamb is another seasonal delight that's suitable for special occasion meals. Like salmon, it has a strong enough flavor profile to pair well with red wine rather than white, but it needs something more substantial than pinot noir. Merlot is an excellent choice for serving with roast lamb.

Our renovated kitchens feature oak cabinets, updated appliances, breakfast bars, and granite countertops perfect for any meal you want to create this spring. Call us today to schedule a tour! 

The post 5 Wine and Food Pairings Perfect for Spring Meals appeared first on Presidential Towers Blog.

Quick & Easy Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Most pooches love peanut butter. Be sure, however, to steer clear of peanut butter that contains xylitol. This common sugar-replacement sweetener can be harmful to our four-legged friends. 

Beyond peanut butter, you just need some eggs and a few cups of flour and water. You can shape your treats into various sizes if you have cookie cutters on hand. Otherwise, just use the open end of a cup to produce proportionate treats.

Chicken Dog Treats

If peanut butter just won't do it for your dog, you might want to switch to a meatier protein. This recipe enables you to bring chicken and rice into the mix with only a few other elements including ingredients your pet will be most interested in. If your pooch has allergies, opt for alternative meats like bison, quail, or venison. You might even want to experiment with different types of fish like salmon.

DIY Frozen Apple Dog Treats

Soon, the temperatures will kick it into high gear in the Windy City, and your pup will need some extra mechanisms to help him cool off. Forego store-bought dog ice cream in favor of these homemade frozen apple treats that are rich in fiber and flavor.

Presidential Towers is proud to be a pet-friendly apartment community in Chicago, but that's not all we have to offer. Check out our list of outstanding amenities!

The post How to Make Homemade Pet Treats appeared first on Presidential Towers Blog.

Perfect Pancake Batter

Whisk together 1 ¼ cups of whole milk, 1/2 stick of melted butter, 2 large eggs, and a dash of vanilla extract. Add 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, 4 tablespoons of sugar, and a pinch of salt to mix together thoroughly.

Perfect Waffle Batter

Thoroughly blend 2 large eggs, 1 ½ cups of whole milk, 5 tablespoons of melted shortening, 5 tablespoons of melted butter. Whisk together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 4 teaspoons of baking powder, 3 tablespoons of sugar and a pinch of salt. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together into a smooth batter.  

Fillings and Additives

Now you have the foundation to make perfectly delicious pancakes and waffles. The next step in creating extraordinary pancakes is selecting tasty additives. These are some considerations:

• Chocolate Chips
• Blueberries
• Cranberries
• Peaches
• Bananas
• Bacon (pre-cooked)
• Strawberries

The trick to adding tasty bites to a perfect pancake is to sprinkle them on top while cooking before you flip the pancake. With waffles, you can blend them into your batter and pour into your iron.

Take Your Pancakes And Waffles To The Next Level

With your batter of choice in place, it’s time to do the extraordinary. This can be achieved by creating fancy toppings or tweaking your amazing batter. These are two examples of how to up your game:

Berry Topping

In a saucepan, mix 3 cups of ripe berries of your choice with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, ½ cup of sugar and a ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract. Simmer over medium heat while stirring. Reduce heat when berries become tender.  

Chocolate Batter

Reduce all-purpose flour amount by 1/3 cup and replace it with 1/3 cup cocoa powder. Then, increase the amount of sugar used to 2/3 cup. Add mini chocolate chips to make it decadent.  

We hope our Presidential Towers community members enjoy these pancake and waffle ideas! If you or a friend would like more information about our Chicago apartments, call us today.

The post Pancakes and Waffles, Oh My! appeared first on Presidential Towers Blog.

Honey Ginger Spring Cocktail

This sparkling wine-based cocktail brings together robust flavors to be expected from a vibrant spring beverage. It will require about 20-30 minutes of preparation time.

Gather These Ingredients

• 1 750ml bottle of prosecco
• 1 cup of local honey
• 3 cups of filtered water
• 2 pears (peeled, cored and diced)
• 1 large piece of ginger (peeled and diced thin)
• 15 sage leaves

How To Prepare

Bring water to boil in a saucepan. Add your honey, stir until melted into water, and reduce to simmer. Put in your sage, pears, and ginger and let simmer for 15 minutes or until one-third of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat for 10 minutes then strain into a mixing bowl or large jar. Place fruit slices into wine glasses, 2 tablespoons of the syrup mixture and fill with prosecco.

Simple Sweet-Tart Ginger Beer Cocktail

This tantalizing ginger beer recipe provides a fruity, tangy twist to some trending cocktails that have been circulating.

Gather These Ingredients

• 1 ounce of raspberry puree
• 1 ½ ounces of high-quality ginger beer
• Splash of limoncello
• 4 ounces of champagne
• Splash of lemon and lime juice
• Ripe raspberries

How To Prepare

Pour puree, ginger beer, and limoncello in a wine glass and stir. Add champagne, splashes of lemon, lime and garnish with fresh raspberries.  

Old School Mint Julep

This mint julep recipe is a classic spring cocktail widely associated with the Kentucky Derby. That race comes around in early May, but you can get a head start with this classy cocktail.

Gather These Ingredients

• 2 ounces of Kentucky bourbon
• ½ ounce of Simple Syrup
• Mint Sprigs
• Crushed Ice

How To Prepare

In a julep glass, stir 2 mint sprigs with the simple syrup. Add crushed ice until glass is ¾ full. Add Kentucky bourbon. Cheers!

We hope our Presidential Towers community members enjoy these spring cocktails. If you or a friend would like more information about our Chicago apartments, call us today.

The post Plan For Warm Weather With These Spring Cocktails appeared first on Presidential Towers Blog.

Riced Cauliflower Buddha Bowl

You can buy fresh or frozen cauliflower rice in many grocery stores, or you can do it yourself! Using the pulse setting, crush cauliflower florets in a food processor. Stop when you get a rice-like consistency, not a mash. Pre-cook the cauliflower rice to lower the water content, and freeze the extra for later. Dice and saute a medium onion along with 3 large minced garlic cloves on medium-high heat. Dice a medium sized bell pepper and jalapeño pepper and add it with the onion. As the onion becomes translucent and just begins to brown, add a can of full-fat coconut milk, your riced cauliflower, a touch of maple syrup, and either red curry paste or Sriracha sauce. Heat well and add 3/4 cup peanuts. Spoon into bowls and garnish with cilantro.  

Southwest Sweet Potato Skillet

This chili-like dish for four is ready in 30 minutes!

Place 4 cubed sweet potatoes, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 small diced onion, and a teaspoon of cumin in a pot. Heat on medium with 1 Tbsp coconut or avocado oil. Cook while stirring occasionally until the vegetables have some give to them. Add two large, diced bell peppers. Drain a can of black beans and add them with a cup of canned or frozen corn, and a medium-sized can of diced tomatoes to the cooking mix. Stir in a teaspoon of taco seasoning and pepper combined. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on medium-low heat for 10 minutes until the sweet potato cubes soften as desired. For finishing touches, squeeze a small lime over the skillet dish and garnish with cilantro, sliced avocados, and green onions.  

Love your kitchen at Presidential Towers! We are pleased to include beautifully renovated kitchens among your apartment's amenities so that you can enjoy fine dining year-round, right at home. We're happy to answer any questions you might have!

The post 2 Healthy Recipes appeared first on Presidential Towers Blog.

Delicious Candy Cane Cocktail

This Sandra Lee inspiration is a good way to incorporate peppermint schnapps into a cocktail recipe for a nice holiday twist. Each serving should take around five minutes to prepare.

Ingredients list:

• 1 single shot of vanilla rum
• 1 single shot of peppermint schnapps
• 1 single shot of your preferred white chocolate liquor
• Candy cane for garnish

Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker full of ice. Shake well, then strain the mixture into a martini glass, adding the candy cane as a garnish when serving.

Santa’s Sleigh Eggnog Cocktail

Enjoy this new take on your typical eggnog drink. The ingredients listed below should produce four servings for your guests, and the recipe takes about seven minutes to prepare.

Ingredients list:

• 2 cups of chilled, store-bought eggnog
• Coarse white sugar crystals
• ½ cup of amaretto liquor
• ½ cup of brandy
• 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream
• 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 4 sticks of cinnamon

Dampen the rims of four martini glasses, then line each glass with the sugar crystals. Place everything except the cinnamon sticks into a blender, processing until you get a smooth consistency. Pour the mixture into the martini glasses, adding a stick of cinnamon in each.   

Festive Pomegranate Sangria

Your guests won’t be able to get enough of this delicious vegetarian drink. You should be able to get four to six servings from the ingredients list below.

Ingredients list:

• ½ cup of brandy
• 2 cups pomegranate juice
• ½ cup of triple sec
• 1 bottle of your preferred fruity wine
• 1 large orange, cut in half and thinly sliced
• ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
• 1 cup of halved red grapes
• 1 green apple that’s been cored, cut in half and thinly sliced
• ½ cup of simple syrup (made from equal amounts of water and sugar that have been heated and cooled)

Place all ingredients in a pitcher, cover, and refrigerate for four hours before serving.

Enjoy a Safe Holiday

We want all community members living in our Presidential Towers Apartments in Chicago, IL, to enjoy a safe and happy holiday. Let us know what else we can do for you by calling us at (866) 273-0973.

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If Mom isn't visiting or if you misplaced the dog-eared recipe from Nana, don't despair. You will find a way to satisfy your sweet tooth among the many recipes found, here. Following are a couple of suggestions that are sure to please you and impress your guests.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

You cannot go wrong with a good chocolate chip cookie. While you might save time by using a mix, available at most food stores, the homemade versions are worth the effort. The basic recipe calls for butter, brown and white sugar, eggs and vanilla mixed together; all-purpose flour, baking soda and salt are then added. Two cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips complete the recipe. Drop onto a cookie sheet and pop into the oven. Baking the cookies a little longer than suggested will create a crispier cookie, so judge baking time by your preference.

Snickerdoodle Cookies

Aromatic cinnamon really sets these cookies apart. The dough comes together easily as butter, white and brown sugar and eggs are mixed together and then joined by flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. After mixing the dough, use a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop to make 1 & 1/2-inch balls. The balls are rolled in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon and then placed on a parchment-lined cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. As they cook, the cream of tartar in the dough makes the balls rise and then flatten out on the pan, creating a crinkled top. Chewy and yummy even after cooling, these cookies are absolutely irresistible when eaten warm with a cold glass of milk. 

While enjoying cookies warm from the oven with friends and loved ones, don't forget to share the amenities and floor plans of our beautiful Chicago apartments. Give our office a call to learn more!

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