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During this time of year, we spot peppermint at all sorts of places near our Oceanside, CA apartments. Some people put it in their lattes while others combine it with chocolate to make delicious desserts. There are dozens of ways to play with peppermint that you might not have even considered, so we've done a little digging and come up with some creative ways to enjoy this ingredient.
1. Peppermint Meltaways
Meltaway cookies are soft, shortbread-butter cookies that literally seem to melt right in your mouth. With this recipe, a bit of peppermint gets added to the mix, giving each bite a breath of freshness. These cookies are a great dessert to take with you if you're heading to someone else's house for a get-together. They also make excellent gifts when they're packaged in decorative tins.
2. Peppermint Bark
There's something kind of magical about the way peppermint and chocolate get along so well together. One pound of white chocolate and another pound of bittersweet chocolate serve as the foundation for a divine dessert that's worthy of second helpings.
3. Peppermint Whipped Cream
When homemade hot chocolate isn't enough to stand alone, put a frothy helping of peppermint whipped cream atop your coffee cup. Making this topping from scratch only requires a few ingredients, and the satisfaction you'll have from knowing you made it all by yourself will be worth the effort.
4. Peppermint Marshmallows
If whipped cream isn't really your thing, opt for peppermint marshmallows instead. These little treats offer a fun way to flex your baking muscles without actually baking anything. Every marshmallow will be as unique as you are, making this a fun treat to share with family and friends.
5. Peppermint Mocha
Skip the $10 cup of coffee and give this recipe a shot instead. Loose-leaf peppermint leaves are a great way to make your morning mochas in the comfort of your own kitchen. You can create this cup of joe using a French press or a coffee maker that uses paper filters.
Are you searching for an Oceanside apartment where you can get creative in the kitchen? Stop by our River Oaks community so we can show you why we were voted Top Resident Satisfaction in 2018!
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Many people agree that there's nothing quite like a nice hot cup of tea to get their morning started right, and afternoon tea is a pleasure no tea lover wants to go without. However, there are times when preferences and palates call for something besides a plain cup of tea. Milk, sugar, honey, and lemon are common additions designed to provide tea with extra flavor, but did you know you could bring a whole new taste dimension to the table by adding a drop or two of culinary grade oil to your tea? It's exceedingly easy, and there are pairing combinations to match any personal preference.
Here are five tea and culinary grade oil pairings designed to help residents of apartments in Oceanside, California, get the most from their favorite cup of tea.
Rose Oil and Earl Grey Tea
A couple of drops of culinary grade rose oil adds depth and complexity to any cup of tea. But it really shines when added to Earl Grey, because the rose flavor blends so well with Earl Grey's trademark top notes of bergamot.
Honeysuckle Oil and White Tea
Honeysuckle oil has a light, delicate sweetness that pairs perfectly with white tea. It shouldn't take more than one drop — adding too many drops increases the risk of the oil overpowering white tea's graceful flavor profile.
Cinnamon Oil and Black Tea
Although cinnamon sticks are a common addition to a hot cup of tea, they really don't impart much flavor. Cinnamon oil provides an ideal partner for black tea's complexity and depth.
Lavender Oil and Lemon Tea
Lavender oil added to lemon tea provides a highly aromatic experience that's suitable for elegant occasions, as well as for solo sipping with a good book.
Peppermint Oil and Rosehip Tea
Brimming with vitamin C and featuring a strong, tangy taste, rosehip tea tastes even better with a drop or two of peppermint oil. As an added benefit, peppermint oil may soothe an upset stomach.
Our apartments feature patios with stunning mountain views perfect for relaxing with a cup of your favorite tea. Please don't hesitate to contact us at your convenience for more information about enjoying life in beautiful Southern California.
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Halloween is a busy night in most households. People are coming in from work or school and hurrying up to go trick-or-treating, to a Halloween party or to another fun themed event. But before you can do anything, you need to eat dinner. Here are a few Halloween meal ideas that are not only spooky but are fast and easy as well.
Hot Dog Mummies
Hot dog mummies are a festive take on pigs in a blanket. Grab your favorite hot dogs and your favorite ready-to-bake crescent rolls. Open the crescent rolls and slice the dough into thin, mummy-like strips. If desired, roll the hot dog in a thin piece of cheese for added taste. Then begin to place your mummy strips all around the hot dog. Make the strips go in different directions to enhance the mummy look. Bake them in the oven for 13 to 17 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown. You can also add eyes to your mummy using mustard or ketchup.
Spider Pizza
Grab your favorite pre-made or ready-to-make pizza dough. Put some sauce on it, and then add the cheese. The fun part is decorating the pizza. Lay one olive slice on your pizza to create a body, and then cut up another olive into thinner slices to use as the eight legs. Continue to add spiders onto the pizza for a creative and fun treat. And if your family loves meat, consider cutting up pepperoni or ham into the shape of a spiderweb and layering that on the pizza for added effect.
Eyeball Tacos
Make tacos as you normally would. You can use chicken or beef. Then add lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, and cheese. What turns this dish from normal to creepy are the small "eyeballs" you are going to add peering out of the shell. Add two small dollops of sour cream side-by-side at the top of the taco, and then put a sliced olive on each dollop. You now have two eyeballs atop your tacos, for a fun twist on regular tacos.
Spooky is good at Halloween, but it should not be a word you use to describe your current living situation. If you're unhappy with your current residence, you may be looking for apartments in Oceanside, California. Here at River Oaks Apartment Homes, we are proud of our beautiful, well-maintained and safe community. Stop by today to take a tour of our complex.
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It’s the back-to-school season in Oceanside, California, which means parents everywhere are scrambling to adjust to new schedules and pressures. One thing that can get trickier during the school year is finding the time to cook meals at home. We’re here to help you with this! Check out these slow cooker meals that are perfect for busy parents all school year long.
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
Everyone loves a good bowl of chili! This white chicken chili is a lighter, more refreshing take on the dish that’s still plenty hearty. This white chicken chili substitutes chicken, green chiles and jalapeños for beef and tomatoes. It uses white beans in place of traditional kidney beans as well.
This slow cooker recipe can be prepared the night before and can cook throughout the day. You’ll have minimal prep and cleanup at dinnertime, giving you freedom during the evening.
Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
It doesn’t get much easier than this. Slow cooker chicken noodle soup is the easiest way you could imagine to make this classic, heartwarming soup. The original isn’t exactly difficult, but this slow cooker twist makes it even simpler. You don’t even need to cook the chicken ahead of time; it can cook along with the soup. After the chicken is cooked (at least six hours in the pot) you’ll need to pull out the boneless, skinless breasts and shred them. But that’s as extensive as the prep gets.
Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs
Spaghetti and meatballs is another classic dish that’s not especially difficult to make. Here, too, the slow cooker version simplifies it even further. Place your raw meatballs at the bottom of the slow cooker. Cover in sauce and cook for hours. Add spaghetti and chicken broth for the final hour, then enjoy.
These slow cooker recipes are perfect for saving you time during the school year, letting you spend more time with your kids in the evening hours. Of course, another thing that helps is living in a great location that you love. If you’re considering upgrading your Oceanside apartments lifestyle, give us a call. We’ll walk you through the great amenities available here, and we can fill you in on which units are available.
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The lazy days of summer have officially been in full swing for a while at our Oceanside, CA apartments. With many toasty days still on the horizon, we thought we'd find some fun cocktails that are inspired by summer fun.
1. Watermelon-Tequila Cocktails
Anytime you can get watermelon into a cocktail, you've got a summer winner on your hands! This recipe incorporates fresh mint, which is a notable summer-cocktail accessory, alongside pureed watermelon, muddled blueberries and tequila for a flavorful surprise that could get a little dangerous if you're not paying attention!
2. Classic Strawberry Daiquiri
With this cocktail, fresh and frozen strawberries come together in perfect harmony when you hit the magic button on your blender. A classic strawberry daiquiri only requires a bit of rum and lime juice to finish the concoction the way nature intended.
3. Spiked Ombre Lemonade
Nobody said you had to outgrow lemonade just because you're not a kid anymore. This adults-only version adds vodka to the mix, bringing the freshness of strawberries and mangos together with that beloved taste of lemonade.
4. Jonn the Beach Bomber
If you're looking for a trip to the Islands, a bit of rum and pineapple juice should do the trick. This fun cocktail is ready and waiting to be sipped poolside. Be sure you pick up a few of those tiny umbrellas so you can really top your drink off in style.
5. Lavender White Sangria
Get your pitcher ready because there are lots of flavors that are ready to make your mouth happy with this lavender sangria. The fun part is the DIY simple syrup you'll make using a combination of fresh and dried lavender. Once the syrup's finished, brandy, white wine, and Grand Marnier get poured together. Some sliced strawberries and frozen peaches finish the look, transforming it from a drink to a summertime masterpiece.
6. Arcimboldo's Garden
If you're feeling adventurous and looking for a drink that steps out of the box a little bit, this might be the perfect summer sip for you. It combines gin, apple juice, rhubarb cordial and Chambord, along with a few other ingredients such as lemon juice and rhubarb bitters. It's certainly not your everyday cocktail.
River Oaks Apartment Homes is perfect for every season. If you're looking for a beautiful community to call your very own, we're ready to show you around. Stop by soon!
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Has your morning cup of brew become a little boring? When the residents of our Oceanside, California, apartments get tired of the same old cups of joe, they use regular kitchen ingredients to spice up their coffee. Here are a few ingredients you might want to use, too:
Before You Brew
Some flavorings work best if you impart them into the coffee before you brew it. Cardamom, cinnamon and nutmeg pair perfectly with coffee and fit easily into the basket after you've ground your beans. As the hot water moves through the coffee maker into the pot below, it'll bring with it the delightful aromas and flavors of the spices you introduced atop the grinds.
If you're not sure how much to add, start with just a little at first and adjust each time you make a new pot. To err on the safe side, you could always brew one cup at a time and then add more spice until you find the amount that's just right.
You can also add a few drops of food-safe essential oils before you grind the beans. (However, make sure to consult with a professional aromatherapist before experimenting with consuming any essential oils. Not all essential oils are fit for internal consumption, and you don't want to create homemade concoctions with those intended only for external use.)
Storing Your Beans
Toss a couple of cinnamon sticks in with your beans while they're stored in your cupboard or freezer. This will infuse flavor right into the beans so they're ready to be enjoyed as soon as you ground them up. If you use coffee that's already ground, you can stick cinnamon sticks inside those containers, too. Whole nutmeg and cloves are also great accompaniments to beans that are waiting to be enjoyed.
After It's Brewed
Having an evening cup? If you're feeling a little frisky, add whiskey. You can also add a plethora of other adult-only beverages to the mix. Bailey's Irish Cream is a go-to for many people, especially when the weather starts getting chillier. If you're up for a more chocolatey appeal, opt for Kahlua.
Are you looking for an apartment where you can enjoy spectacular canyon views while you enjoy your morning brew? River Oaks Apartment Homes has everything you need to wake up on the right side of the bed. Take a look at our amenities today!
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Residents who love living in Oceanside apartments know what makes Oceanside, California, a great place to live. It’s everything people love about coastal living, yet it’s so close to the city of San Diego. Of course, residents also know how hot it can get in San Diego in the summertime. To offset some of that outdoor heat, here are a few cold desserts you can prepare and serve to guests. Stay cool with these cold summer desserts.
Paletas
Paletas are Mexico’s version of a standard summer classic: the Popsicle. These sweet treats are infused with fruit, and milk or coconut milk is often added for creamy flavor. Some even include spices or chilies.
These are available at just about any Hispanic grocery, but you can also make them yourself. Use a Popsicle mold, or, if you don’t have one, shot glasses will do.
You can’t go wrong with these strawberry coconut paletas, the perfect balance of sweet and creamy. And if you’re up for something a bit more complex, check out these chili paletas, which combine spicy flavors like jalapeño with cool cantaloupe, cucumber, and lime. Delicious!
Strawberry Pretzel Pie
A favorite at potlucks across the Midwest, San Diegans will appreciate this cool summer classic just as well. Strawberry pretzel pie starts with a crust of broken-up pretzels, butter and sugar. After that’s baked and cooled, add the cream layer, which is traditionally made from Cool Whip, cream cheese and sugar. Dress up the dish by subbing in real whipped cream. Spread that mixture evenly over the top of the crust.
The top layer is just strawberries in strawberry Jell-O. Nothing too fancy there! But the combination of the salty, crunchy pretzels, the smooth creamy filling, and the bright, sweet Jell-O is something special.
For an adults-only gathering, spice things up with boozy Jell-O.
Agua Fresca
Our last cool summer treat is agua fresca. Just drop water, a favorite fruit, a bit of sweetener and possibly some mint into your blender. Serve over ice.
If you’re ready to embrace coastal apartment living in Oceanside, give us a call. We can review the amenities offered as well as which units are currently available.
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