Posts about Food and Entertaining

Summer Desserts, No Oven Required

Welcome to summer in Williamsville, NY! It’s time to cool down, right? Summer is the perfect time for making fun, tasty and refreshing treats, but turning on the oven can heat up your apartment pretty quickly, so here are a few tasty recipes that you don’t need to use the oven to make. Summer Treats with No Heat Watermelon Rice Krispie Treats These fun treats look like watermelon slices, but taste like the homemade Rice Krispie treats you know and love, with the ingenious addition of chocolate chips to look like watermelon seeds. Click on the link for the recipe. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches A refreshing and creamy treat to cool you off this summer and satisfy your sweet tooth. The cookie dough for this recipe doesn’t require eggs, so you don’t need to worry about getting sick. Go ahead indulge with no remorse. Banana Split Ice Cream Pie from Will Cook for Smiles This banana split ice cream pie is our favorite summer treat. Use the recommended strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate ice cream or substitute any of these flavors with your favorites. Specialize the toppings to your tastes or use whipped topping, chopped strawberries, hot fudge topping, nuts, and cherries. Swirled Meringues with Blueberry Sauce A light and refreshing dessert is perfect for summertime. These sweet treats will satisfy your sweet tooth without weighing you down. Not a blueberry fan? Use a different fruit like strawberries or peaches. Peanut butter cookie ice cream If you’re feeling a bit more ambitious for making this ice cream and the accompanying peanut butter fudge sauce and peanut butter sandwich cookies, go for it! The hard work will definitely pay off. Of course, you can always use a store-bought fudge sauce and some pre-made cookies or cookie dough to make it easier on yourself, too! Just be sure you include the sauce and cookie chunks in your ice cream so you can be happily surprised with some delectable tastes and textures. Strawberry Cheesecake Bites Mix the sweet and tart flavor of fresh strawberries with the rich creaminess of cheesecake to make this perfect summer treat. You won’t be able to stop eating them. For more delicious summer dessert recipes visit Country Living and check out their list. We hope your summer is as refreshing as these tasty treats. Thanks for reading the Renaissance Place Apartments Blog! Have a great month here in WNY!

Host a Barbeque at Renaissance Place

May is National BBQ Month, and Renaissance Place Apartments makes celebrating easy! Head to our picnic area with charcoal grills to make the most of the warmer days just steps from your apartment in Williamsville, NY. Try these tips for throwing a successful barbeque for Memorial Day (or any day this month!). Plan it out. Having a set plan and even a bit of an agenda for the day of your barbeque will make planning and executing your ideas easier for you and more stress-free for your guests. Set a date now and reserve the area or find a time when it will most likely be free and clearly communicate your thoughts with your guests so they can have plenty of time to make time for it. Invitations Whether you are inviting a few close friends or planning a big blowout, e-invitations make it easy. We like the variety you can find at Punchbowl . When you are doing the invitations is a good time to ask about food allergies and preferences. When you are planning your guest list, take care to make sure that everyone you invite will know a few other people who will be there. Be creative with the food. Juicy hamburgers and perfectly grilled hot dogs are always sure to hit the spot, but if you want to mix things up a bit, try any of these 22 unexpected foods to make on the grill . They are sure to please vegetarians and even those with the highest taste. Comfort Items Just as much as plates, napkins, silverware, and drinks shouldn’t be forgotten, items like blankets and bug repellant are must-haves if you’ll be eating outside — especially if you’ll be outside as the weather cools and the bugs come out. Pack them up as soon as possible so you don’t forget! Plan a Few Activities Activities are great for keeping the energy high when people are feeling lethargic from the heat and from being filled with good food. Plan a couple of activities for before or after the food is served. Games like Capture the Flag, Kick the Can, frisbee, or catch go over well and can be great ways to work off the food. We hope you are able to take time out for a barbecue this month! Thanks for stopping by and reading our post today!

Four Pie Recipes to Celebrate National Pie Day

With Thanksgiving in November and Pi Day in March, there are plenty of great excuses to eat pie throughout the year. If you want another, we’re about to give you one more: National Pie Day is on January 23rd! To prepare you for this holiday and any other occasion you want to eat this delicious confection, this week’s Renaissance Place Apartments blog is dedicated to pies. Read on for four recipes to try any time this month, or stop by your favorite Williamsville, NY bakery to pick up a pie for a tasty dessert. 4 Pie Recipes to Try from Renaissance Place Apartments Triple berry pie The blogger of this recipe says this pie is perfect for any time you crave a fruity pie, whether it’s a holiday dedicated to pie or not! It has less sugar than most berry pies, she says, so it’s not overly sweet. If you love the sweet, tart taste of berries in a flaky, buttery crust, you’re in for a treat once you make this pie! Caramel banana cream pie If you like bananas, caramel, graham cracker crusts, and custardy delight, this recipe is for you. The graham cracker crust is easy to make, and so is the rest of the pie. The finished product, infused with caramel and layered with soft, thick bananas, will have everyone you share this with asking for more. If you want another banana cream pie-inspired recipe, scroll to the end of the post to check out the banana cream pie yogurt parfait one. Cranberry cheesecake pie This layered cheesecake pie is a great way to get a taste of cranberry, whether you like it with your Thanksgiving turkey or ham or not. The crumble topping it is a beautiful and deliciously sweet contrast to the cranberry and lemony flavors in the filling. Peanut butter cup pie You get the best of every sweet world with this peanut butter cup pie. The vanilla wafer crust is a new way to experience a homemade crust. The ganache and peanut butter cup layers are just the tip of the iceberg to this scrumptious pie. Once you dip your fork or spoon into the finished product and the melted chocolate and peanut butter cups ooze out, you’ll be smitten! What are your favorite pie recipes? Leave a comment so we can try them out! Thanks for reading. Happy pie baking, and more importantly, eating in your WNY apartment!

Apples and Pumpkins Creating the Perfect Fall Dessert

Bobbing for apples is one way to get a taste of their crunchy goodness this October, but we think they taste better served up in a delicious dessert. This month Renaissance Place Apartments Blog is bringing members of our community here in Williamsville, NY apple- and pumpkin-based recipes to try out. Invite folks over for dinner and feature one of these desserts. Apple-Based Dessert Recipes Apple Cider Cream Pie from Food & Wine A creamy and luscious pie infused with apple cider! For the crust: flour, cornstarch, sugar, salt, unsalted butter, cold milk, and apple cider vinegar. For the filling and topping: apple cider, sugar, sour cream, salt, eggs, heavy cream, and cinnamon. Apples never tasted so good! Apple Tart with Almond Cream “The thin, crisp pastry shell is filled with a layer of almond cream made from both finely ground and coarsely chopped nuts that give the tart layers of texture. The thinly sliced apples on top caramelize as the tart bakes.” Pumpkin-Based Dessert Recipes Pumpkin-Gingersnap Tiramisu This seasonal take on a traditional Italian dessert will blow your mind. This frozen treat is creamy and flavorful with all the spices of ginger snap cookies and pumpkin pie. Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies from Leelalicious Much like a granola bar, these healthy pumpkin cookies are perfect for breakfast or an easy on-the-go snack. Not only are they made with whole grain, they are also gluten-free. You will need coconut oil, honey, old-fashioned oats, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, ground flaxseed, pumpkin pie spice, sea salt, and pumpkin puree. What are your favorite recipes featuring apples or pumpkins? Are you a fan of pumpkin-spice everything? Please share your favorite recipes in the comments so we can all try something new this month. Thanks for taking the time to read our post today! Happy Halloween to everyone here at Renaissance Place Apartments.

Just Peachy Peach Filled Summer Treats

Welcome to summer season at Renaissance Place Apartments where everything is just peachy! This month, we’re sharing four recipes featuring peaches as the main ingredient. Stop by our local farmer’s market or take a quick walk to Wegman’s and pick up some peaches soon. Then, head back to your apartment to make a peach-alicous treat. Peaches ‘N Cream This sweet and creamy smoothie is naturally sweet and low in sugar. Combine 1 cup frozen peaches, 1 cup coconut milk, ½ cup water, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a handful of ice. Add a scoop of protein powder if you’d like. Fresh Peach Lemonade Lemonade is a summer classic, so if you haven’t already poured yourself a glass of some, try this peach lemonade recipe. All it takes is a few basic ingredients: three large peaches, ½ cup of sugar, a cup of real lemon juice, and water! The tartness of the lemonade is sure to mix well with the sweetness of your ripest peaches for a drink you won’t forget. Honey Roast Peaches Head to your local farmers’ market for fresh peaches to make these delicious honey roast peaches. Pit your peaches, place a pad of butter on each, drizzle honey on top of them, and then finish off these peaches with mascarpone cheese and almonds. Not a fan of mascarpone cheese? Try this recipe with ice cream instead. Click on the link to learn more about making this delicious treat. Peach Sherbet If you want a dessert to combat the heat and cool you down, try out this peach sherbet recipe. It’s another dessert to make you feel like you’re having the perfect summer. Plus, all it takes is frozen sliced peaches and sweetened condensed milk! Just practice your patience while you wait for the peaches to freeze and for the blender to cream it all into your favorite sherbet consistency. What is your favorite way to enjoy peaches? Feel free to share your recipe with everyone in our apartment community by posting a comment! Have a wonderful July here in New York!

Get Your Grill On & Create the Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Grilled cheese sandwiches are a comfort food, for sure. What’s not to love? Creamy cheese and toasted bread is a combination that says home, love, and comfort. Pair grilled cheese with a salad or soup and you have a satisfying lunch. Grilled cheese is also a go-to on those nights when you have a minimum amount of time to get something on the table before you have to head out for the evening. We get that, and today the Renaissance Place Apartments Blog is bringing you some variations on the grilled cheese sandwich theme with five recipes that take them to a whole new level. Put your apartment kitchen to good use and try all five recipes this month! Ultimate Gourmet Grilled Cheese from The Chunky Chef Herbed caramelized onions, rosemary butter, and creamy cheeses combine in this gourmet grilled cheese sandwich to light up your palate with gooey goodness. You’ll never want to go back to regular grilled cheese! Crab and Avocado Grilled Cheese from Foodie Crush Invest in some flavorful sourdough bread and a ripe avocado for this delectable recipe! The only other ingredients it calls for is Havarti cheese and crab meat (and butter for cooking). Make this for a classy way to sneak in some nutrition with your carbs. Monte Cristo Style Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Allrecipes.com This Monte Cristo sandwich combines a cheesy, meaty filling sandwiched between to slices of bread, which are dipped in an egg-batter then grilled to perfection. Dust it with powdered sugar and add preserves for dipping to turn it into a dessert. Blueberry Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Simply Stacie For another dessert-inspired sweet grilled cheese sandwich, try this recipe! It will always catch our eye when we’re scrolling through Pinterest and looking for something fruity sweet. All you need is honey wheat bread, brie, and blueberry pie filling to create a masterpiece you surely won’t forget. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto from Once Upon a Chef Reviewers agree this is a delightful twist on an old favorite. Sun-dried tomatoes and pesto turn this sandwich into a stroll through an Italian herb garden. The author’s son calls them “pesto paninis” because they are rather like a “hot crispy pizza sandwich.” Pair with tomato soup for lunch. Making grilled cheese at your apartment isn’t the only way to enjoy this sandwich; getting grilled cheese for lunch makes a nice change from tacos or burgers. Where is your favorite place to get a good grilled cheese in the Williamsville, NY area? Let us know in the comments. Happy cooking! Thanks for reading today’s post.