No-Oven-Needed Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cookie

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder, unsweetened
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Add the sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa powder to a medium-sized saucepan.
• Over medium heat, bring the ingredients to a boil for approximately 1 minute, stirring on occasion. 
• Remove from the heat. Stir in the rest of the ingredients.
• Drop mixture in walnut-size spoonfuls onto the lined baking sheet. 
• Allow cookies to sit at room temperature until they harden, approximately 30 minutes.

The cookies will now be ready to eat or to be stored in the refrigerator. 

No-Bake Chocolate Rice Krispies Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Rice Krispies or other crisped rice cereal
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 2/3 cups white chocolate cut up into chunks
• 2 2/3 cups dark chocolate

Directions:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
2. Add the cereal, coconut, and white chocolate chunks into a bowl and stir.
3. Microwave the dark chocolate in a bowl for approximately 20 seconds, stirring occasionally, until melted.
4. Add the melted chocolate to the other ingredients and stir until well mixed. 
5. Drop tablespoonfuls of the mixture onto the lined baking tray. 
6. Refrigerate for one hour or more before serving. 

Do you love to bake or cook? Then please come and check out our apartments in Flagstaff. The kitchens in our apartments each have a refrigerator, oven, stove, and dishwasher. Plus, each of our apartments comes equipped with an in-home washer and dryer. You'll also find many great amenities in our pet-friendly community. Contact us today to learn more! 

The post 2 Delicious No-Bake Cookie Recipes appeared first on Country Club Vista Apartments Blog.

Crustless Pumpkin Pie

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees, then grease a 9-inch pie pan or plate. Mix pumpkin puree, heavy cream, packed brown sugar, 3 eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, cloves, ground ginger, and nutmeg together in a bowl using a whisk. Pour the pumpkin pie mixture into the pie pan or plate, then make it smooth. Bake the pumpkin pie for about one hour. Let your pumpkin pie cool in the oven for another hour while propping the oven door open slightly. Refrigerate for four hours or more before serving it.

Apple-Cranberry Crisp

Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees, then grease an 8-inch baking dish. Mix sliced apples, white sugar, nutmeg, cranberries, and cinnamon together. Pour this mixture into the baking dish, and spread it evenly. Mix oats, brown sugar, and flour together in a bowl with a fork, then add pecans. Sprinkle this mixture over the apple mixture. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes.

Cinnamon Cake

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees, then mix cinnamon and brown sugar in a bowl. Mix sugar and butter in a separate bowl, then add eggs and beat. In another bowl, mix baking powder, baking soda, salt, and flour. Add the dry ingredients and a mix of milk and lemon juice to the creamy mixture. Add vanilla, then mix together. Spoon the batter into a greased 8-inch springform pan, then sprinkle with half of the cinnamon mix. Add another third of the batter, then the rest of the cinnamon mix. Add the rest of the batter, then bake for about one hour.

Try these recipes in the comfort of your own kitchen at our apartments in Flagstaff, AZ. Contact us to find out more about our apartment amenities and floor plans.

The post Fall Dessert Ideas appeared first on Country Club Vista Apartments Blog.

Best Holiday Cookie Recipes for Self and Sharing

• Monster Cookies You know what they say—go big or go home—and these cookies definitely do the former. These are billed to be saucer-sized and filled with all the sugar and salt (yes they can be baked to include salty pretzel chunks) that make the holidays tasty. 
• Polish Kolaczki If you've never had these Polish treats then you are surely missing out! While the best family recipes are kept under lock and key, this public recipe is a pretty good version. 
• Buckeye Balls Okay, these might not technically be cookies, but they are sweet and decadent all the same. If you love peanut butter and chocolate, then these are a must-try holiday treat.
• Snowflake Macarons If you hate the typical red and green holiday colors and are nostalgic for childhood winters in a more snowy locale, then you'll appreciate this unique holiday cookie. White and blue and delicately delicious!
• 5-Minute Cookies Don't have a lot of time on your hands? Invited to a last-minute holiday gathering with friends or classmates? Then you will really appreciate this five-minute recipe (yes, really, it'll take you just five minutes!) that shows your creativity and is better than slinging in some store-bought sugar cookies. 

On the Hunt for a New Place? Visit Country Club Vista

If you are on the hunt for a new apartment this season where you can craft all your favorite holiday cookies, then look no further than our Country Club Vista apartments in Flagstaff, AZ. 

The post Best Holiday Cookies appeared first on Country Club Vista Apartments Blog.

Most people associate traditional hot toddies with the beverage made from whiskey, hot water, lemon and honey, but there are many other excellent ways you can enjoy a hot drink. The following are four hot toddy recipes designed to provide you with inspiration for staying cozy on chilly nights.

Black Tea Toddy

A black tea toddy is simply a traditional toddy that uses strong black tea in place of hot water. You can make it even more interesting by adding your choice of spices, such as cloves and cinnamon.

Apple Cider Toddy

In this variation, replace the hot water in a traditional hot toddy with your favorite apple cider, but be careful when you warm the cider on the stove that you don’t allow it to come to a boil—this will reduce the alcohol content.

Old-Fashioned Toddy

Not to be mistaken for the traditional hot toddy, the Old-Fashioned toddy is a hot take on the classic whiskey cocktail known as the Old-Fashioned. After mixing it up in the usual way, with bitters, sugar, orange liqueur, and your favorite whiskey, gently mull it on the stove until warm—but don’t let it boil.

Gin Hot Toddy

This one is the simplest. Just mix your favorite gin with hot water and garnish with a lemon. Gin contains aromatic botanicals that release an amazing aroma when warmed.

We’ve got one- and two-bedroom apartments to suit a variety of lifestyles, whether or not they involve crafting cocktails. Call us today to find out more about life in our Flagstaff apartment community. 

The post 4 Recipes to Welcome Hot Toddy Season appeared first on Country Club Vista Apartments Blog.

Apple Margarita

Ingredients:

1 cup of ice

1 ounce of tequila

1 ounce of apple liqueur

1 ounce of apple juice

1/2 ounce of sour mix

1 apple slice

Cinnamon sugar (1 part ground cinnamon and 2 parts white sugar)

Directions:

• Combine all of the ingredients, except for the apple slice and cinnamon sugar, into a blender and mix until smooth.
• Use a little apple liqueur to moisten the rim of your margarita glass, then rim with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
• Pour the margarita into a glass and garnish with the apple slice.

Apple Martini

Ingredients:

1 ounce apple schnapps

1 ounce vodka

1 ounce apple juice

1 slice of Granny Smith apple

Directions:

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Next, add the schnapps, vodka and apple juice.
• Shake well.
• Pour the mixture into a glass.
• Garnish with the apple slice and serve.

Washington Apple Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 ounce Canadian whisky

1 ounce sour apple schnapps

1 ounce cranberry juice

1 slice of Granny Smith apple

Directions:

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Add all of the ingredients, except for the apple slice, and then shake well.
• Strain your drink into a champagne coupe glass.
• Garnish the glass with the apple slice and serve.

Do you love having friends over, but are unhappy with your current living quarters? Then, please come check out our beautiful apartments in Flagstaff, AZ. We offer spacious floor plans with beautiful views of the surrounding area, and our community is located close to NAU and downtown Flagstaff's great shopping and dining options. Our beautiful community is also pet friendly.

The post Brighten Your Fall Day With These 3 Apple Cocktails appeared first on Country Club Vista Apartments Blog.

3 Healthy Food Swaps

1. Reduce the salt and increase the herbs and spices. Substitute herbs and spices, which include the bark, seeds, roots, berries, flowers or buds of plants, that have proven medicinal and nutrient benefits. The most powerful of these plant-based foods are cinnamon, sage, turmeric, cayenne pepper and Holy Basil.

2. Substitute fruits, nuts, seeds and veggies at snacktime. Your healthy snacks don't have to be boring! Consider these 29 healthy snack substitutes recipes, such as Red Peppers With Guacamole and Greek Yogurt With Mixed Berries. Even if your goal is not to lose weight, substituting healthy foods at snacktime can help you get your Five-a-Day veggies.

3. Consider Meatless-meal Days. Reducing your intake of meat products is one of the healthiest food swaps you can make, and your GI tract will love you for it. It's much easier than you think to eat meatless twice a week. Think of recipes for Veggie Burgers, Grilled Portobello Mushrooms, Mediterranean Salads, and Zucchini Spaghetti With Marinara Sauce.

A plant-based diet is linked to reduced blood sugar levels and improved kidney function. These foods are also associated with a healthy heart and digestive system. You don't have to go all-out vegan to enjoy the health benefits of a vegan-inspired diet!

Consider Country Club Vista apartment homes in Arizona for luxury living that is close to downtown Flagstaff and hiking trails, which includes a fitness center, swimming pool, and an outdoor fitness course to help you on your journey to wellness.

The post Healthy Food Swaps appeared first on Country Club Vista Apartments Blog.

Pecorino Chicken and Salad

This dish is elegant enough for a romantic dinner for two, but it's also appealing to the taste buds of children and can be considered family-friendly. Simply make a batter of bread crumbs, butter and grated pecorino, and sprinkle it liberally over cut-up chunks of chicken breast. Bake them in a preheated oven at 400 F for 15 minutes, and prepare the salad of your choice in the meantime. 

Pasta Primavera

Although some people associate this classic pasta dish with endless fuss and bother in the kitchen, it doesn't have to be that way. The trick to making this quickly is to use broccoli as the main vegetable and cook it in the same pot as the pasta. Add minced garlic and roasted red pepper, and let the mixture boil for 20 minutes. Toss with olive oil and serve on a bed of fresh greens. 

Spanish Frittata With Chorizo 

This single-skillet meal takes only about 30 minutes from start to finish, and although frittatas are a classic breakfast tradition, they're a great option for dinner any night of the week. Combine chopped baby red potatoes, diced yellow onions, chorizo sausage, eggs and your choice of seasonings, and fry them in a skillet. Round out the meal with a simple green salad and a piece of French bread. 

Our pet-friendly apartment community features a clubhouse, in-unit washers and dryers, a swimming pool and other sought-after lifestyle amenities. Please feel free to reach out to us for more information on enjoying life at Country Club Vista. 

The post Three Quick Evening Meals That Are Perfect After a Long, Busy Day appeared first on Country Club Vista Apartments Blog.

If you're like most busy residents of apartments in Flagstaff, you sometimes struggle with coming up with a delicious and nutritious weeknight meal. This is where breakfast for dinner can come to your rescue. Breakfast foods were designed to be cooked quickly, but there's no rule that says they can only be eaten in the morning. Having them for dinner allows you to have a hot, filling meal in minutes after a long day at work or school. Here are a few suggestions to provide you with inspiration.

Sausage Breakfast Pizza

Sausage breakfast pizza is an excellent choice for those occasions when you're craving a combination of breakfast and dinner foods. Roll thawed frozen pizza or whole wheat bread dough into a pizza pan and bake until golden brown. Cook the sausage along with some sliced mushrooms in a skillet in the usual way, and slice or crumble it when it's cooked through and set aside. Scramble some eggs in the same skillet. Sprinkle your choice of shredded cheese over the crust, top with the eggs and the sausage mixture, cover with more cheese, and bake for about eight minutes or until the cheese melts. Serve with your favorite salsa, if desired. 

Chicken Sausage and Sweet Pepper Hash

Preparing this in a slow cooker ensures it's ready when you walk in the door at night. Brown a package of sliced chicken sausage with sliced apples in a skillet and remove, and then brown some sliced sweet onions.  Place the chicken and onions in a slow cooker with cubed red potatoes, thyme, black pepper, chicken broth, and chopped sweet peppers. Set your slow cooker to begin about six hours before you're scheduled to come home from work. Serve with fried eggs and your choice of breakfast bread. 

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our office for more great advice on getting the most from life in your Flagstaff apartment. 

The post Best Breakfast-for-Dinner Recipes appeared first on Country Club Vista Apartments Blog.

Ranch

Combine four tablespoons of melted butter with a packet of ranch seasoning. Toss the mixture over popcorn and add salt if desired. 

Three Cheese

Mix popcorn with two cups of shredded cheddar, one cup of grated parmesan and 1/2 cup of grated pecorino. Spread out on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until the cheese is melted. Season with salt. 

Bacon

Cook six slices of bacon until the bacon is crispy. Drain the bacon with paper towels and chop it up. Mix two tablespoons of bacon drippings and two tablespoons of melted butter over popcorn. Next, toss in the chopped bacon and add in 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Add salt if desired. 

Buffalo

In a small saucepan, add six tablespoons of butter and 1/3 cup buffalo sauce. Once melted, toss it in popcorn. Sprinkle 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese on top with celery leaves and salt as desired. 

Herb

Melt six tablespoons of butter. Add in 1/4 cup each of chopped parsley, chives, tarragon and chervil. Toss the mixture with popcorn and top off with two teaspoons of kosher salt. 

Movie Theater

Melt a stick of real butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Pour over popcorn and finish with two teaspoons of kosher salt. 

One of the great things about living in Flagstaff apartments is the comfort of staying in and enjoying friends and loved ones while watching your favorite movies. If you are looking for an apartment home with a great sense of community, be sure to check out Country Club Vista today!

The post 6 Popcorn Recipes for Movie Night appeared first on Country Club Vista Apartments Blog.