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Eating shouldn't just be about food alone; it should be about the entire experience. Our Chicago apartments are equipped with beautiful kitchens that make food fun! If you're ready to try your hand at being an amateur chef, start with the simple stuff.
Need some ideas? Check out these recipes!
1. Mixed Mushroom and Pea Risotto
Risotto can be scary, but if you put away your preconceived notions of this classic Italian favorite, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy this rice-and-veggie dish can be to prepare. If you're afraid of pan-frying at first, forego that process and skip right to the baking. You can work your way up to the skillet.
2. Easy Chicken Pot Pie
This isn't your grandmother's pot pie! Made-from-scratch dough is easily replaced with biscuit baking mix. For the filling, frozen veggies and condensed soup mixes do most of the work. Simply combine everything together and make sure your oven's set to the right temperature. This filling entrée is ultra-impressive with minimal effort.
3. Beef Tortilla Taco Casserole
This is a filling meal that only requires a few ingredients. Once you've browned the ground beef, the rest essentially takes care of itself in the oven. The end result is a satisfying meal that's sure to please. Round it out with a salad before you serve your entrée to fulfill the food pyramid's requirements.
4. Slow-Cooker Louisiana Ribs
Real ribs require hours in a smokehouse … or do they? This recipe will turn your idea of rib-making upside down by utilizing one of the most fantastic kitchen inventions known to mankind: the slow cooker. With only a few ingredients and a full day's time worth of cooking, you can enjoy delicious baby back ribs — a dish you may have once avoided making that's now an item you want to put on everybody's plate.
5. Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups
Don't let the idea of lasagna scare you away; this recipe really isn't all that intimidating. Most of the ingredients can be found in the freezer or dairy aisle of your grocery store. After you boil the noodles for a few minutes, the filling is up to you!
Inspired dishes start with a great kitchen. The Montrose is a premier Uptown Chicago apartment community, which offers state-of-the-art appliances, outstanding views and so much more. Give us a call or visit our office to learn more about our community!
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There are certain tastes that remind us of summer, and corn on the cob is one of them. Fresh ears of corn are available from local farmers markets starting in July through late fall. You can have the freshest-tasting corn with an added zip whether you prefer your summer corn cooked on the grill or indoors in your oven.
Summer Corn on the Cob Tips
Cooking Corn on the Cob in Foil
While, traditionally, corn on the cob is boiled in water on top of the stove, a better way to cook it is wrapped in foil. Boiling can reduce flavor that is kept inside when using foil. Corn wrapped in foil can be cooked directly in a campfire, on a grill or in the oven. Just clean the cob, add any spices or herbs; then wrap it fully in foil, overlapping and folding in the ends, so nothing leaks out. If you are cooking in a campfire, use double layers and close it in thoroughly. Then, you can put the corn directly on the coals. At home, place it directly on the oven or grill rack to cook. Corn takes about 20 minutes and should be turned if heat source is a grill or campfire.
Adding Herbed Butters or Dry Marinades
A simple way of adding flavor to corn on the cob is to add herbed butters or dry marinades inside the foil while cooking. This cooks the flavor into the corn through steam heat. The foil keeps moisture inside the package that steams the corn inside. There are many herb combinations that taste great on corn. In fact, grocery stores are starting to stock herb mixtures in shaker bottles to add to your summer corn. Suggested herbs and spices to include:
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Oregano
- Chili pepper
- Jalapeño pepper
- Italian spices
- Lemon juice
- Lime juice
- Salt/herb combination
Adding Sugar to Your Corn
Another trick is to add a little sugar to your corn on the cob, or mix it with a spice you like such as a cinnamon and sugar rub. That combination goes very well with chicken or pork. You can use the same foil method and rub the cinnamon/sugar mixture on the corn before putting it in foil. Two parts sugar to one part cinnamon is perfect for this recipe. For those with a sweet tooth, you can have your corn and "sweet" it too.
For those who can't eat corn from a cob, you can still do everything above; then slice the corn off the cob onto your plate before eating. You still get the fresh corn taste without the hassle. To learn about our apartments in Chicago, please stop by our office or give us a call.
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Soup. It’s that yummy hot stuff in a bowl. But when it’s summer, try it cold. We at The Montrose in Chicago, Illinois, want to share a few cold soup ideas for you to experience.
5 Chilled Soups for Summer Main Course Meals
1. Watermelon Gazpacho With Corn
What doesn’t say summer more than watermelon and corn? This soup has it all. Cool down a hot summer day with this soup made with ginger, vinegar, and fresh mint. As a main course meal, this soup will fill you up, but it's not too heavy—just enough to let you relax.
2. Red Pepper Soup
Red bell peppers are combined with sumac, verbena leaves, and Greek yogurt to create a soup that explodes with taste like the crackle of a late afternoon thunderstorm. A little zesty and a little sweet, you’ll smack your lips together enjoying it (and the thunderstorm).
3. Curried Carrot Soup
Creamy, sultry, slightly spicy, this soup—though chilled—will warm you up. Carrots blended smooth like silk with coconut milk and topped with crunchy pine nuts or pumpkin seeds. Healthy, soothing, ultra-mesmerizing, it’ll be the talk of dinners to come.
4. Beet Soup With Horseradish Sour Cream
This deep maroon-colored soup is festive and easy to make. A dollop of this and that, and you're done. Easy, healthy, tasty. Pair it with a nice bottle of wine and some roasted leftover chicken and you have a full meal.
5. Cucumber and Dill Soup
Who says dill is only for potato salads or pickled veggies? You can enjoy it in your chilled cucumber soup. Combined with fresh herbs, this soup is tangy, creamy, and refreshing—perfect for a hot summer’s day. Garnish it with some buttery shrimp to transform it into a meal.
Transform Chilled Soups Into Beautiful Main Course Meals
Unlike hot soups, you don’t have to feel restricted serving these colorful soups in a bowl. Get crafty. Choose jars or wine glasses to serve these soups as main course meals. Make it fun, and make it tasty.
If you want to learn more about our apartments in Chicago, stop by our office or give us a call today.
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Living in our Chicago apartments gives you the opportunity to invite guests into your home. When you decide to entertain, you want to offer your guests a tasty snack. Here are a few easy snack ideas that can help you entertain without leaving your guests waiting.
Cheese and Crackers
Cheese and crackers are a great snack when you have a limited time frame. Grab Ritz crackers or a similar type of cracker, place them neatly on a plate and cut up some cheese. You want to offer a variety of cheese, so put together two or three different options. Place the slices of cheese on the opposite side of the plate. An alternative is putting cheese directly on the crackers. Your guests can then easily pick up a cracker while socializing.
Simple Skewers
Skewers with toothpicks are a great idea for a simple snack. You can put together a Greek salad-style skewer with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and olives. A bit of mozzarella cheese adds flavor and texture to the skewer. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half, push them down on a toothpick and then pick up an olive. Cut it in half and push one half onto the skewer. Slice a small square of cheese and repeat the process. Finish it off with a cucumber at the bottom and a light drizzle of olive oil. You can use other vegetables for a different experience.
Guacamole and Chips
Guacamole and chips are a simple way to enjoy a snack with your guests. Cut up and mash avocados. Dice one small onion and one small tomato, creating small pieces. Mix the tomato and onion into your mashed avocados. Cut a lime in half, squeeze the juice into the bowl and mix all of the ingredients together. Season your guacamole with salt and pepper. You can also add chopped cilantro to add flavor to your guacamole.
Preparing snacks for guests in your Chicago apartment gives you the opportunity to enjoy your evening with company. The key is ensuring that you have a variety of snacks to appeal to the different tastes and preferences of your guests. To learn more about our amenities and available floor plans, contact us today.
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Making meals at home is often cheaper and healthier than eating out, but even cooking at home gets expensive when you don’t shop wisely. Stock up on versatile, low-priced staples to create tasty meals on a budget. While canned goods are one type of staple, these often take up a lot of space and limit your menu. Residents of our Chicago apartments who are looking to make delicious, low-cost meals, consider these staples.
The Basics
Pasta, grains and beans offer an amazing variety of choices and are suitable for numerous dishes and types of cuisine. They also have a long shelf life and can be spiced up with other essentials. Stock several different shapes of pasta, lentils, beans of various flavors and grains like white and brown rice, quinoa and couscous.
Oils & Sauces
You can easily add flavor and a little pizzazz to any dish with a variety of oils and sauces. These staples can be used independently or combined to create tons of dressings and sauces to liven up boring fare. Most don’t require refrigeration, but some must be refrigerated after opening. Include soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, hot sauce, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup and a variety of oils and vinegars.
Spice It Up
Another way to add unique flavor to bland dishes is by experimenting with spices. While cheap spices aren’t as good as more expensive versions, you can still make amazing meals with generic store spices. Buy spices in bulk to save money and keep a varied collection on hand. Besides salt and pepper, some basics to stock include garlic powder, chili powder, curry powder, cumin, turmeric, cayenne pepper, oregano, paprika, rosemary, thyme and vanilla extract.
Save Even More
Dry goods like flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and cornstarch are typically the least expensive ingredients to stock. Save money by purchasing these and other staples in bulk, instead of pre-packaged. Store items in heavy-duty zipper storage bags to save money on fancy storage containers.
The Montrose in Chicago’s historic Uptown neighborhood offers studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments with outstanding city and Lake Michigan views. We also have an on-site Jewel-Osco Grocery Store to make shopping for your essentials even easier. Call (866) 659-3593 to tour our available floor plans today!
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