Pulled Pork and Beer-Cheese 

The tangy meat of this sandwich is what gives the meal so much dimension. You can pretty much use any kind of beer, pork, bread, and cheese you happen to have in the house, making it a good way to use those extra leftovers you weren't sure what to do with. Because the flavor combination is so rich, it's going to be really hard to go wrong. This recipe doubles as an appetizer idea that is sure to run out well before the game starts. 

Pumpkin Grilled Cheese 

For those who are still craving the flavors of fall, pumpkin grilled cheese can really take you back to the start of the season. The gruyere, pumpernickel, and signature puree all combine to create a bite that's loaded with savory goodness and just a hint of sweetness. If you're planning to make this particular sandwich for a more picky member of your household, it's worth noting the pumpkin flavor is not especially strong. 

Grilled Apple and Swiss Cheese

There's something about the combination of apples and cheese that can put a smile on anyone's face. The richness and the acidity blend together to create a perfect bite. This recipe uses gooey Swiss cheese, seeded bread, and Granny Smith apples. It's a simple recipe with very few ingredients that delivers a huge blast of flavor to your taste buds. 

Cooking this winter is a great way to celebrate the chillier temperatures with all the comfort food you were craving over the summer. If you're looking for a kitchen that can keep up with you, consider Carrington at Barker Cypress. Call us today to learn more about our amenities, floor plans, and facilities, or to schedule a tour for yourself. 

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Easy and Delicious Pasta Recipes

Smoked Salmon Pasta

Both heartwarming and healthy, this is a great recipe for a chilly winter evening or any other day of the year. Cook spaghetti according to directions and set aside. Saute 1/2 chopped red onion until tender. Toss in 2 cloves of minced garlic and cook for another minute. Pour in 1/4 cup of white wine and cook until almost evaporated. Add 3/4 cup of heavy cream and the juice of 1/2 lemon and cook until thickened. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook 1/2 cup smoked salmon, 1/4 cup capers and 2 tablespoons chopped dill until warm. Add pasta and toss together. Sprinkle with dill on top and serve.

Fettuccine Alfredo

This dish is so good you can eat it by itself, or add sauteed shrimp or chicken. Cook fettuccine according to the package directions and set aside. Cook 1/2 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup butter in a skillet until the butter is melted. Add 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Combine with pasta and top with parsley.

Pasta Marinara

Like fettuccine Alfredo, pasta marinara makes a good base dish that can be eaten on its own or served with meatballs on top. Cook 1/2 diced onion until tender. Stir in 4 cloves minced garlic. Pour in a 28-ounce can of whole tomatoes and break up the tomato chunks with a spoon. Pour filtered water into an empty tomato can and add to the skillet. Add 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 2 fresh basil leaves, a pinch of pepper flakes and salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the basil leaves before serving. Serve on top of the noodles or mix them into the sauce.

When you have a chef's kitchen like the kind at Carrington at Barker Cypress Apartments in Cypress, it's easy to whip up delicious meals in no time. Contact us today to find out more about how our many luxury amenities can make your life easier. 

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Black Bean Chili 

If you're looking for something fast and simple, this recipe can't miss. The ground turkey may change the flavor profile from its traditional beef counterpart, but the fixings pull the meal together to ensure everyone will be satisfied. It's easy to overeat in the wintertime, so you might as well make your indulgence a little easier on the body by swapping out a few of the full-fat ingredients for something a little more healthy. Plus, this recipe takes just 30 minutes to make!

Pumpkin, Beef, and Bean Chili

Pumpkin is a great flavor for both fall and winter because it can instantly add a new dimension to traditional flavors. In this recipe, the pumpkin flavor is very mild, but it's enough to amplify the more standard seasonings of this chili recipe. This dish may take a little longer to make with its extra ingredients, but your guests will surely notice the extra effort you put in. 

White Bean Chicken Chili

For football fans who like their chili on the spicy side, this dish is perfect. This chili recipe is a much lighter version of one made with beef and kidney beans, but it doesn't sacrifice on flavor. When the group is getting tired of the same old, same old, white bean chicken chili can swoop in to break the monotony and give everyone a new lease on what chili can be. 

From nachos to franks, football celebrations call for food that can hold up for a few hours as everyone cheers their way through the game. Luckily, these chili recipes taste even better after their flavors have had a chance to marry. If you're looking for a kitchen that can accommodate all of your game day plans, consider Carrington at Barker Cypress. We have all the space and amenities you need to make every celebration a success. 

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The Countess

For Downtown Abbey fans, you can count how many times Violet Crowley burned someone on the popular British series. The good news is you won’t get burned by this amazing cocktail. This recipe serves one, but you can double or triple up for eager party guests.

What to Gather

• 1 ½ ounces of Gin
• 1 ½ ounces of sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes of bitters
• 1 ½ ounces of club soda
• 1 orange garnish

Fill a shaker halfway with ice. Pour in gin, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Shake thoroughly. Pour into a champagne glass and splash with chilled club soda. Now run the orange garnish along with the full rim of the glass to flavor it. Place it in the beverage and cheers!

Brown Buttered Rum

This large batch recipe serves 8 to 10 guests and is perfect for intimate gatherings. Once it has been prepared, you are free to mingle and answer questions about the extraordinary twist on the traditional Hot Buttered Rum cocktail.

What to Gather

• 1 stick of unsalted butter
• 1 ¾ cups of brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons of nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 1 750-ml bottle of Meyer’s dark rum
• 24 ounces of boiling water
• 3 cinnamon sticks

Place butter in a large saucepan on medium heat until it starts to turn a shade of light brown. Be certain to remove from heat if it begins to burn or shows signs of black spots. Add in the nutmeg and brown sugar and stir for about 1 minute or until fully melted.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and gently blend in the vanilla and Meyer’s rum. Now pour in the boiling water and cinnamon. Simmer and stir gently. Serve warm.

This recipe can also be tweaked by substituting apple cider for the water, brown sugar and vanilla. 

We hope our Carrington at Barker Cypress community members enjoy these cocktail recipes. If you or a friend would like more information about our Cypress apartments, call us today.

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No-cook Dishes You Can Easily Prepare

Muffuletta Sandwich: In a bowl, stir together 3/4 cup olives, 3/4 cups artichoke hearts, 1 grated carrot, 2 tbsp fresh basil, 1 tbsp fresh oregano, 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 minced garlic clove, salt, and pepper. Cut ciabatta loaf in half to make two long halves. Scoop out the inner part of one slice, leaving about 1/2 inch of bread shell. Take olive mixture and spread on hollowed out half of the bread. Spread 3 tbsp coarse-grained Dijon mustard on the other half of bread. Layer porchetta or other deli meats with provolone, Italian chorizo, and prosciutto. Add sliced red onions and arugula to the top. Add another bread slice on top. If you want to make this ahead, just wrap tightly in plastic wrap, store in the refrigerator and add a heavy weight on top for up to 8 hours.

Smoked Salmon Bagel: Bagels are not just for breakfast. You could eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — it's that delicious. Slice pumpernickel, plain, or another flavor bagel in half. Spread each side with chive cream cheese. On one half of bagel layer English cucumber, smoked salmon, thinly cut red onion rings, and 1/2 teaspoon drained capers. Top with remaining bagel half and enjoy.

Mango Avocado Shrimp Salad: Stir together 3 tbsp fresh lime juice, 2 tbsp grapeseed or extra virgin olive oil, and 1 tbsp sugar. Dice 2 mangoes and 2 avocados. Add to lime mixture in a bowl and toss gently with 1 pound cooked shrimp. Top with sliced green onion, freshly chopped cilantro, 1 tbsp minced fresh red or green chile pepper. Serve immediately or chill for one hour before serving.

At Carrington at Barker Cypress Apartments in Cypress, Texas we cater to busy lifestyles. From gourmet kitchens to the car care center, we make sure you have what you need to be able to attend to the busy details of your work life while being able to relax at home. Contact us today to find out which floor plans are currently available.

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Vanilla Sky

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces vanilla rum

A splash of Blanc de Noir champagne

1 ounce fresh strawberry puree

Sugar

Directions:

• Rim a martini glass with sugar
• Add the rum and puree into a cocktail shaker
• Shake and then strain your ingredients into the martini glass
• Add the splash of champagne and serve

Cherry Vanilla Rum and Coke

Ingredients:

1 cup cherry cola

3 tablespoons vanilla rum

1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice

Maraschino cherry

Directions:

• Pour the cherry cola, vanilla rum and the cherry juice into a tall glass over ice
• Garnish with a maraschino cherry and serve

Palermo

Ingredients:

2 parts vanilla rum

2 parts pineapple juice

1 1/2 parts dry white wine

1/3 part simple sugar

Directions:

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes
• Pour in your ingredients
• Shake and then strain your drink into a cocktail glass

Vanilla Rum Mojito

Ingredients:

2 ounces vanilla rum

1 ounce simple syrup

7 mint leaves

Half of a lime, cut into quarters

6 ounces seltzer

Directions:

• Muddle the mint leaves and the lime at the bottom of a cocktail shaker
• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice 
• Add the simple syrup and the vanilla rum
• Shake well 
• Pour into a glass and top with seltzer

Cheesecake Martini 

Ingredients:

2 ounces vanilla rum

1 ounce pineapple juice

1 ounce cranberry juice

Directions:

• Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker that is half filled with ice cubes
• Shake, then strain into a cocktail glass

After a long day at work, what can be more relaxing than sipping one of these cocktails? How about enjoying your cocktail in the privacy of your own patio or balcony? If your current home doesn't offer you a beautiful private space for relaxation, come check out our apartments in Cypress, Texas. Each has either a private patio or balcony. Our gated community also boasts a resort-style pool and a gourmet grilling area. 

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Healthy Ideas for Energizing Breakfasts

• Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats. Normally steel cut oats take a while to cook, and you have to keep an eye on them to make sure they don't boil over or burn. With the Instant Pot, you can just add 1 cup of steel cut oats and a dash of cinnamon to 3 cups of water and press the porridge button. It really is that easy. Decorate your oatmeal with your favorite topping of choice. Nuts, peanut butter, fried eggs, maple syrup, berries, and granola are all healthy options for adding a bit of crunch and flavor. Add extra-healthy organic goat yogurt to your oatmeal for a delicious tangy flavor.
• Make-Ahead Green Smoothies. If you are short on time, it's good to have something easy and quick to make. Buy your favorite ingredients for smoothies and experiment. Purchase dark leafy greens like spinach or kale, various fresh or frozen fruits and berries, and any nuts or seeds you like to have in your smoothies. Sort them into individual freezer bags, making enough to create one smoothie. Mix and match different berries and greens, and enjoy the variety each day. Just add milk or a dairy alternative and blend for delicious and nutritious green smoothies on the go.
• Spinach Feta Wrap. Take out six whole grain tortillas and microwave for 10 seconds each to soften. Saute 10 cups of fresh spinach in a pan with garlic salt until thin and wilted. In a small skillet, cook 1/3 cup egg whites to make thin omelets. Do this six times. Spread cream cheese across each tortilla. Add spinach, chopped roasted red peppers, one omelet, feta cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes. Roll up each burrito and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Place in the freezer. Remove plastic wrap and cover with paper towels. Place the open side down in the microwave and heat for 2-4 minutes.

There's no better place to enjoy a healthy homemade breakfast than at Carrington at Barker Cypress Apartments in Cypress. Make lots of new and interesting recipes in our chef's kitchens with cable TV where you can watch any cooking show at any time. Call us today to find out which apartments are available.

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Make Smooth, Tasty Cold Brew at Home

Cold brew uses a higher ratio of coffee to water than drip coffee. Grind 8 ounces of coffee coarsely. Mix the coffee with 8 cups of water and put it in a large container. Refrigerate overnight. The next day, strain the grains slowly with cheesecloth. You’ll end up with a rich, smooth cold brew.

Make Your Own Simple Syrup

The pump containers in coffee shops are filled with flavored simple syrup, which is just an easy-to-make mixture of 1 part sugar and 1 part water. Mix 1 part sugar and 1 part water and heat until the sugar dissolves. Allow for cooling. You can add herbs, vanilla or cinnamon. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Make a Cold Brew Iced Latte

Mix 1/2 cup of your cold brew with 1 cup milk (can use almond or soy). Add simple syrup to taste. Two to three tablespoons are sweet enough for most.

Try a Lightened Frozen Mochaccino

Put two to three ice cubes in a blender along with 1/2 cup of cold brew. Add maple syrup, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and a dash of vanilla extract. Blend and enjoy.

Add Sugar and Spice With a Honey-Cinnamon Iced Latte

Instead of sugar-based simple syrup, sweeten this latte with cinnamon and honey. Heat 3/4 cups of honey with two or three cinnamon sticks. Allow to cool and mix with 1/2 cup cold brew and 1/2 cup water. Pour over ice.

When mixing cold brew with dairy milk, nut milk or water, a 1-to-1 ratio usually produces the tastiest results. If you’re blending your drink, three ice cubes are equal to about 1/2 cup of water.

If you like your coffee hot, then simply dilute the cold brew with your favorite dairy or alternative milk, add simple syrup, and you’ve got a delicious hot latte. No more daily coffee shop visits. Schedule a tour to see our Cypress, Texas, apartments and enjoy.

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Dip Recipes Everyone Will Love

Million Dollar Dip

• 5 green onions
• 8 ounces shredded cheddar
• 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup bacon bits
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds

Add all ingredients in a small bowl. Mix until combined and chill for 2 hours. Serve with crackers, tortilla chips or bagel pieces.

Spicy Queso Blanco

• 8 ounces white American cheese, cut into pieces
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 4 ounces shredded Monterey Jack
• 1 4.5-ounce can of diced green chilies, drained
• 1/4 cup chopped jarred pickled jalapenos (and 3 teaspoons of the juice)

Combine American cheese and half-and-half in a small pan. Cook over medium heat, constantly stirring until mixture is smooth. Whisk in the Monterey Jack cheese. Add green chilies, jalapenos, and juice. Cook for 2 minutes. Queso will be thin but will thicken as it cools.

Dijon Artichoke Dip

• 1  8-ounce package cream cheese
• 1 1/2 cups sour cream
• 6 ounces shredded Havarti cheese
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach
• 1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained/chopped
• Dippers – vegetables, tortilla chips, crackers, flatbread

Beat cream cheese, mustard, sour cream, Havarti and Parmesan cheese with mixer until combined.

Fold in spinach and artichoke hearts. Spread mixture into 1 1/2-quart casserole dish. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Plenty of Room for Entertaining in Your Carrington at Barker Cypress Apartment Home

If you’re looking for a spacious apartment home near Houston where you can entertain your friends and family, Carrington at Barker Cypress should be your next home sweet home! Check out our spacious floor plans to see which best fits your needs and contact us today for a tour!  

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