Blog Posts

The Top 5 Apps to Use in the Kitchen

It should come as no surprise to hear that 28% of Americansor nearly a third say they dont know how to cook. But according to research, those who cook meals at home usually eat healthier and consume fewer calories . Plus, we already know how much time and money you can save by cooking at home. If youre one of the many who resolved to use your apartment kitchen this year, you might not know where to start. But fear not! Weve compiled a list of our five favorite apps to help you make the transition from PB+J novice to master chef a breeze. 1. The Photo Cookbook . This app provides a beautiful visual walkthrough that takes the linguistic interpretation out of cooking. No more wondering what they really mean by venting potatoes. No more wondering which direction to cut a tomato. Youll have a guided tour thats just as much fun to look at as it is to bring to life. 2. Escoffier Cooks Companion . Weve all been there before. No matter how much we prepare, our precious Pyrex container disappears the moment our back is turned. This app features a built-in timer and unit converters. It even features a handy equipment database so youll always know how to use hundreds of kitchen utensilsno matter how intimidating they are. 3. Gojee . In the mood to cook but too cozy for a run to the grocery store? This app finds recipes that match the ingredients you already have. So if youre trying to figure out what the heck you can do with a bag of cereal, a salmon, and kale, this app is a great resource. 4. Allrecipes Dinner Spinner . Wouldnt it be nice if there was an app that could just scan what you already have and then make a shopping list of what you need for your recipe? Thankfully, someone had an idea. Just scan the barcodes of what youve already got and youre ready to get the rest. 5. Substitutions . From allergies to food preferences, this comprehensive app gives you substitution ideas whenever you need them the most. Whether you want your recipe to be low-sodium or gluten-free, just flat out hate cheese, or want to switch things up, this is the app for you.

Keeping Your Dog in Shape in the Summer Heat

Living in the Arizona desert means you get used to hiding from the heat, especially during the summer months. It's a great time of year to swim in our refreshing pool or relax in your air-conditioned apartment. But while you're curled up on the couch with a good book, your dog still needs to keep an active regimen. If you're looking for ways to keep them more physically engaged in the summer heat, here are some of our favorite seasonal tips. 1. Play Fetch Indoors Though a game of fetch is more dynamic outdoors, you'll still be able to get their muscles moving indoors. To avoid any injuries or apartment calamity, be sure to use a softer ball, a more controlled toss, and to move any fragile or dangerous objects out of harms way. 2. Laser Pointer Chase This is a typical favorite of cats, but dogs are just as likely to follow the high-tech leader as their feline counterparts. The same rules as above apply when engaged in a laser pointer chase. Be sure to utilize more floor space. Avoid pointing the laser at any walls to minimize potential airborne injuries. 3. Agility Class If you're looking for something indoors but away from home, call around to different shelters or dog trainers to research available aerobic routines. Shelters will often offer agility classes to help your dog get the indoor run they need. With a little creativity, you'll be able to right fit for you and your furry friend. For those of you that have a pet, what have some of your favorite summer routines? What's been helping your dog or cat get the daily exercise they need? Let us know in the comments below!

Planning Out a Perfect Home Theater

Have you been wanting to take that courageous first step of making your own apartment home theater? If youre one of the brave souls that wants the entertainment ecosystem you fully deserve, you might not know where to start. Add to that the desire to keep things under budget, and maybe that wonderful dream of yours starts to slip away. But hold on a sec! Thanks to trending DIY hackery, that dream is now more feasible than ever. So where should you go to map out your master plan? Here are some great resources to help you out! 1. IKEA Hackers IKEA is well known for their stylish and modular furniture thats sold at affordable rates. And youre not the only one thats seen the inner Lego in their design. This website is perfect for taking advantage of the hidden flexible nature of even their available furniture. Whether you want to turn a bookcase into a projector mount, or transform a coffee table into a speaker stand, a simple search on their site will provide you with some highly useful results. 2. Instructables Looking for something outside the realm of IKEA? This site provides a more comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach. Everything from acoustic panels to projector shelves is featured on this site . And because its a part of the DIY scene, most of their projects often utilize items you might already have in your home. Plus, once youre done with your theater, youll even be able to find the perfect recipe to accompany you on your theaters maiden voyage. If youre looking for tips on how to set up projectors, speakers, and what to look for in equipment, lists like this can also be resourceful. Just remember to take out any of their suggestions that wouldnt work in your apartment! Do any of you have experience with building your own at-home theater? What tips and tricks worked best for you? What advice do you have for our readers? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

Stocking Your New Pantry at Liv Ahwatukee

One of the more surprising difficulties of moving into a new apartment can be filling that big, empty pantry. Since most people tend to buy food and ingredients on an as-needed basis, it can be tricky to remember all the items that you need to purchase when youre buying them en masse. At Liv Ahwatukee, weve got your backweve gone through and put together a list of the necessities youll need to cook just about whatever you want. Grains, Rice, and Pasta: Cornmeal, rolled oats, cous cous, and bread crumbs are some handy grains to have around (panko bread crumbs make great breading!) in addition to your favorite flours; rice options include wild, brown, and white Jasmine; and some of the most common and useful pastas include spaghetti, fettuccini, and penne. Baking Essentials: Beyond flour, youll want to consider baking soda, baking powder, yeast, vanilla, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, and any of your favorite sweetenerssugar (brown, white, or powder), honey, molasses, maple syrup, or chocolate chips. Herbs and Spices: Some of the most useful include the classic salt and pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary, sage, paprika, chili powder, cumin, dill, coriander, parsley, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and any of your favorite seasoning blends. Dont forget the bullion, either. Nuts and Beans: These are great for some extra protein and energy in any dish, as long as you dont have any nut allergies. Peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, and almonds are all common in recepies; for beans, theres pinto, black, kidney, garbanzo, and baked brown. You can also check out useful seedssunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, as well as lentils and green split peas. Canned Goods: Beyond your favorite fruits and vegetables, there are also sauces, broths, and spreads. Tomato sauce, tomato paste, chicken broth, vegetable broth, beef broth, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, peanut butter, and salsa are all great for baking. Oils, Sauces, and Vinegars: Pick your favorite oilsolive, peanut, coconut, vegetable, grapeseed; your favorite vinegarswhite, balsamic, white wine, red wine, apple, or rice; and round it off with your favorite saucesworchestershire, ketchup, mustard, tabasco, hot sauce, or sriracha sauce. What do you keep in your pantry that we forgot? Let us know in the comments!

Best Hiking Trails around Ahwatukee

One of the best things about living in Arizona is that you can go out to exercise and enjoy nature all year round. Whether you like to walk, hike or ride your bike, you will find great urban and mountain trails within a short distance from Liv Ahwatukee. To get you started, here are a few great trails near Liv Ahwatukee: (these will have links) South Mountain Park is close to Liv Ahwatukee, with plenty of trails for both easy and difficult hikes. The Superstition Mountains are to the east, full of exciting hiking trails. Camelback Mountain is further north in the Scottsdale area. Piestewa Peak is just beyond that. and the San Tan Mountains are to the southeast beside the San Tan Valley. Before you go out, make sure that youre prepared for your trip! Wear good walking or running shoes no sandals, heels, or flip-flops. Be nicer to your feet than that! Stay hydrated get plenty to drink throughout the day before you leave and be sure to take a water bottle with you. Even if it doesnt seem warm out, you can still get faint and dehydrated. Make sure someone knows where youll be The last thing you want is to slip and fall when youre all alone. Let someone know where you will be or better yet, take a friend along. Good company and beautiful hikes go together like peanut butter and jelly. Dress for the weather Sometimes, Arizona weather can surprise you. Bring a long sleeved shirt for higher elevations with unexpected drops in temperature during your hike. If it looks like it might rain, bring a jacket along and be sure to wear appropriate clothes to keep you dry and comfortable. Have any favorite trails around Liv Ahwatukee that we didnt mention? Tell us about them in the comments!

Healthy Treats to Bake for your Dog

We all know how expensive dog treats can get, especially if your pup has any food sensitivities or allergies. Here are a few great homemade treat recipes you can make for your dog! All of these recipes are simple, easy to make and healthy alternatives to store bought snacks. Frozen Popsicles Ingredients: cup peanut butter (unsalted/no sugar added) cup plain yogurt 1 ripe banana 1 teaspoon ground flax seed (optional) Splash of unsweetened almond milk Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into ice cube trays or small bowls Freeze until solid. Remove from freezer 5-10 minutes before serving to soften. Chicken Wild Rice Treats Something a little more savory: Ingredients: 1 cup wild rice, mashed (may sub with another rice) 1 cup chicken, diced fine or shredded 3 Tablespoons rice flour (I used Bob's Red Mill) 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, diced 1 egg, beaten Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 deg F. Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and stir until well incorporated. Using a spoon, press mixture into each cavity, packing tight and filling nearly to the top. Bake for 25 minutes or until top begins to turn golden brown. Let cool completely before serving. Notes: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days (or freeze). Mint Buckwheat Dog Biscuits Ingredients: 1 cups buckwheat flour 4 Tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped 2 Tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped 1 Tablespoon pure honey 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 egg, beaten water (approx. 1-3 tsp) Instructions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, stir buckwheat flour, parsley and mint leaves together until combined In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil and honey. Pour olive oil-honey mixture into the flour and stir. Add egg and stir until well combined. Knead dough with hands to thoroughly mix the ingredients together. Add a teaspoon of water at a time to help the dough come together. This should take about 3-5 minutes. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to approx. " thick. Cut into desired shapes with cookie dough cutter. Place biscuits onto a nonstick baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Notes: Store biscuits in an airtight container in the fridge to keep fresh. These recipes were made by Sarah Lukemire; you can find these and more at her site lolathepitty.com . If you have any more great doggy treat recipes, let us know in the comments!