Blueberry Dream Cheesecake

Ingredients:

For the Crust:

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

For the Filling:

• 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 11 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 3 tablespoons milk 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 16 ounces of whipped topping

For the Blueberry Topping:

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cups fresh blueberries (you can use frozen if fresh ones are not available)
• 1/2 cup water

Directions:

For the Topping:

1. Add cornstarch and sugar into a medium-sized saucepan. Whisk together until mixture is lump free.
2. Add the water and blueberries.
3. Cook over medium heat. Stir frequently until mixture is thickened. 
4. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Set aside.

For the Cheesecake:

1. For the crust, add melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, and sugar in a bowl, then stir ingredients together.
2. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9"x13" baking dish.
3. For the filling, add cream cheese, milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar into a bowl. Beat ingredients together until smooth. 
4. Spread the mixture on top of the crust. Be careful not to break your crust.
5. Top cheesecake mixture with whipped topping (if you prefer, you can use real whipped cream.)
6. Spread the blueberry mixture very carefully on top of the whipped topping.
7. Chill overnight or for at least 7 hours before serving.

Have you been searching for a new fully equipped kitchen where you can make all of your favorite desserts? Then, we would love for you to visit our beautiful apartments in Flagstaff, AZ. Our apartments feature several lovely places where you can enjoy a slice of blueberry cheesecake, including either a patio or a balcony. Give us a call to learn more!

The post Beat the Heat with a No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake appeared first on Butterfield Apartments Blog.

Garlic Parmesan Pasta

Enjoy this simple and easy pasta dish that can be served at any time!

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp butter, unsalted
• 4 cloves of minced garlic
• 1 cup of milk
• 8 ounces of uncooked fettuccine
• 2 cups of chicken broth
• 2 tbsp of fresh parsley leaves, chopped
• ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese
• Kosher salt and ground black pepper for taste

Melt your butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Stir in garlic for one to two minutes until you get a fragrant aroma. Add the milk, broth, and fettuccine along with your salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower it to a simmer. Let it cook for 18-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in your Parmesan and serve with the parsley for garnish.

Zucchini Mushroom Pasta

Here’s a tasty way to increase your vegetable intake for the day.

Ingredients

• 1 pound thinly sliced cremini mushrooms
• 1 pound of spaghetti
• 2/3 cup of peas
• 2 thinly sliced and quartered zucchini
• 2 thinly sliced garlic cloves
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 sprigs of thyme
• Salt and pepper for taste

Add the mushrooms, spaghetti, peas, zucchini, thyme, and garlic to a stockpot or Dutch oven containing 4 ½ cups of water. Stir in the salt and pepper for seasoning. Bring everything to a boil, then lower it to a simmer and let it cook uncovered for 8-10 minutes. Add in the Parmesan and cream, then serve immediately.

Spicy Parmesan Shrimp Pasta

Liven things up with this tasty shrimp dish!

Ingredients

• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
• 8 ounces penne
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
• 1 tbsp brown sugar

Whisk olive oil, garlic, brown sugar, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes together in a medium bowl. Add the shrimp and olive oil to a gallon Ziploc bag and marinate for at least 30 minutes. Cook your pasta in a pot of boiling water. Add your shrimp and sauce to a medium saucepan and cook for two minutes. Stir in the pasta and season with salt and pepper.

Let us know how much you enjoyed our pasta ideas by contacting Butterfield, and we'll be happy to help you or someone you know find a new Flagstaff apartment home!

The post Three Delicious Pasta Ideas appeared first on Butterfield Apartments Blog.

Luckily, you don't need to have much of a green thumb to grow an indoor herb garden in one of our Flagstaff apartments. All you need are some basic gardening supplies, a sunny surface, and a bit of TLC. 

Know what to plant

Low-maintenance herbs including basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, mint, and chives all do very well indoors. It's recommended to start an herb garden from seeds, which you can find at your local home improvement store.

Pick a planter

Herbs can be grown in almost any container but will need to be re-potted if they start to outgrow it. The soil also needs to be able to drain, so be sure your container has holes on the bottom and a saucer for excess water.

Soak up the sun

Herbs need six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive, so find a sunny spot for the plants. Windowsills or patios are ideal.

Just add (a little) water

One of the reasons people like herb gardens is that they require very little water. The soil should be just visibly moist. Watch for yellow or wilted leaves, which are signs the plant is being over-watered.

Enjoy fresh herbs

Once your herbs have started to grow, it's time to harvest them. Pay attention to when their flowers begin to bud and cut herbs just before they bloom. Use shears and never take more than a quarter of the plant at once.

At our apartments in Flagstaff, spring is the perfect time to plant an indoor herb garden. Contact us today to check out our newly renovated apartment homes!

The post How to Create an Indoor Herb Garden appeared first on Butterfield Apartments Blog.

1. Mediterranean Pinwheels

Tortilla shells are good for more than just making tacos. When they’re slathered with cream cheese and stuffed with spinach, they turn into these fun pinwheels that are sure to be a hit at your next get-together.

2. Extra-Crispy Honey-Teriyaki Cauliflower Bites

If you’re craving a robust flavor that’s accompanied by a great crunch, these crispy cauliflower bites are sure to hit the spot. You can easily transform a go-to garden veggie into a work of appetizer art by dredging it in a bit of batter and soaking the florets in teriyaki sauce. Even people who run away from vegetables are sure to enjoy these crispy creations.

3. Deep-Fried Deviled Eggs

There’s something so satisfying about finding the right finger foods when you’re hanging out with other people. These deep-fried deviled eggs certainly do the trick, because you can grab a whole serving with your hands, ensuring there aren’t extra dishes or messes to deal with. Because this recipe puts a new twist on an old classic, it’s sure to be a hit at your next soiree.

4. Beetroot Hummus

Say goodbye to bland food, and let bold, vibrant colors take over the table. Beetroot hummus offers an eye-catching appeal that tastes as good as it looks. Your blender or food processor will do most of the work. Simply toss some chickpeas, beetroots, tahini, olive oil, garlic, and cumin into the container and press the magic button.

Are you searching for an apartment where you’ll feel happy and relaxed every time you come home? Check out our Butterfield Apartment Homes in Flagstaff, AZ. Stop by, so we can show you around!

The post Easy Vegetarian Appetizers appeared first on Butterfield Apartments Blog.

Rosé Sangria

Ingredients:

1 750 ml bottle dry rosé wine

1/4 cup brandy

2 1/2 tablespoons raspberry liqueur

2 tablespoons sugar

2 cups raspberries

1 1/2 cups strawberries, quartered

Lemon and orange slices

1 1/2 cups seltzer

Directions:

• In a large pitcher, mix the rosé wine, liqueur, and sugar. Stir until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved. 
• Add fruit 
• Refrigerate for an hour or two before serving or until thoroughly chilled
• Add the seltzer water just before serving

Refreshing Frosé

Ingredients:

1 750 ml bottle of Moscato rosé (or another strong-flavored rosé as the ice will dilute the flavor)

1 pound (500 grams) frozen strawberries

1 1/2 cups of ice (more or less, depending on the consistency you desire)

Directions:

• Add rosé wine and strawberries into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth
• Add about a cup of ice to the mixture and blend
•  If you would like a thicker drink, add more ice

Rosé and Strawberry Spritzer

Ingredients:

5 ounces rose wine

2 ounces club soda

3 tablespoons fresh strawberries, chopped

2 lemon slices

Fresh mint leaves

Directions:

• Add the strawberries and lemon slices to the bottom of a double highball glass and muddle
• Fill glass with ice
• Add the rosé wine
• Top off with the club soda
• Garnish with a lemon slice and a mint leaf

Do you enjoy entertaining? Then we're sure you'll love our apartments in Flagstaff, AZ. Our newly renovated apartment homes have a patio or balcony, and our community boasts a clubhouse and an outdoor grill and picnic area where you can host a barbecue for your friends. Our community also has a sparkling resort-style pool and is located just minutes away from the Flagstaff Mall.

The post These 3 Pretty in Pink Rosé Cocktails Will Raise Your Party Game appeared first on Butterfield Apartments Blog.

Easy Weeknight Spring Dinners

Barbecue Pork Ribs

Although this mouthwatering meal may sound like it’s more of a weekend grilling option, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, supermarkets routinely put thick-cut boneless and semi-boneless pork rib cuts on sale. These can make a wonderfully easy protein option that's ready in under 45 minutes.

Ingredients

• Thick-cut pork
• Barbecue sauce
• Garlic powder
• Black pepper

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Place aluminum foil on a cooking sheet. Unpack the pork cuts and put a copious amount of barbecue sauce on one side. Lay the sauce side down on the pan. Once all the ribs are laid out, season with garlic powder. Now, douse them with barbecue sauce and then season with pepper. Let the pork bake about 25-30 minutes or until they are adequately cooked in the center. Then, put the oven on broil and sear the tops to suit. Baking pork ribs often makes them more tender and juicy compared to open-flame grilling.

Homemade Leftover House Fried Rice

Great Chinese restaurants often serve a signature house fried rice. Believe it or not, this ranks among the more straightforward dinner options to prepare. You may quickly discover that you prefer your own style after making house fried rice a few times at home.

Ingredients

• 2 cups white rice (prepared)
• 4 garlic cloves (diced thin)
• 1 stick of butter
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 carrot (sliced thin)
• 1/2 yellow onion (chopped)
• 2 large mushrooms (sliced)
• Assorted veggies (chopped)
• Leftover proteins (chopped)

Place a large skillet over medium heat and melt 1/2 stick of butter. Add the garlic and vegetables and saute them. The unique aspect of this fried rice dinner is that it opens the door for you to use veggies that are already in your refrigerator. There are no right or wrong ingredients, so go ahead and personalize it.  

On the protein side, you can utilize leftover chicken, beef, steak, bacon or pork. Using leftovers is one reason this makes sense mid-week. If no proteins are available, feel free to cook your favorites on the side and then chop them up. Once the veggies are nearly complete, add in the leftover proteins and season with salt and pepper. Once hot, add the already-prepared white rice and 1/2 stick of butter and mix thoroughly. Serve warm.

We hope our Butterfield residents found these weeknight dinner options helpful. If you or a friend would like more information about our Flagstaff apartments, call us today.

The post Easy Weeknight Spring Dinners appeared first on Butterfield Apartments Blog.