Do you find yourself practically playing a game of Tetris to fit all of your groceries into your refrigerator? Whether you have a smaller fridge or just more refrigerated items than you know what to do with, don’t stress.
There are ways to create more space to make room for everything that needs to be refrigerated. Start with these fridge organization hacks, and read on for the best places to store everything inside your refrigerator:
There are ways to create more space to make room for everything that needs to be refrigerated. Start with these fridge organization hacks, and read on for the best places to store everything inside your refrigerator.
This is a quick and easy fix for products that are taking up more room than necessary. Many products like rice or prepared food come sealed in a bag inside a large, bulky box. By eliminating the packaging, less space will be needed to store the item in the refrigerator.
Chances are, you have a lot of products that have been sitting in your refrigerator, neglected for a long period of time. Most likely these items include salad dressing and condiments, wilting produce, half-empty bottles of flat soda, frozen popsicles or prepared meals, just to name a few. Make a habit of routinely cleaning out your fridge to throw out the items that have expired or spoiled.
To keep the surfaces of your refrigerator clean, lay down some easily removable cling film on each shelf of your refrigerator to catch spills and crumbs, and remove them and replace as needed.
Smartly utilize your refrigerator space by separating different types of food in designated baskets, like condiments, greens, dairy, fruit and meat. Label the containers to keep to a consistent system going and for quick and easy access.
Did you know that there is a correct method for organizing your fridge and making the most out of your groceries? Follow these tips to maximize your food’s freshness and save money in the process!
Store things like cookbooks, paper towels and appliances on top of your fridge. NEVER store bread, wine or produce on top of your refrigerator.
The door is the warmest part of your fridge, so use it to store products that aren’t as sensitive to temperature, such as confinements and sauces, juice, pickles, sodas and bottled water.
The upper shelves of your fridge have a consistent cold temperature perfect for storing leftovers, drinks, ready-to-eat prepared foods and herbs.
The lower shelves of your refrigerator are the coldest part of your fridge, which makes them ideal for keeping your milk, eggs, dairy products and raw meat safe.
Your refrigerator has two crisper drawers for a reason. These are made for storing fruits and vegetables separately.
There are certain things you NEVER want to refrigerate, including tomatoes, onions, squash and potatoes.
Many items in your kitchen pantry can be stored in your fridge if you prefer, like nuts, peanut butter and almond butter, flour and natural oils. Some medications and beauty products are also best when refrigerated.
1st Lake Properties offers spacious kitchens with modern appliances at our many convenient New Orleans area apartments that will make refrigerator organization a breeze.
As a long-time New Orleans company, we’re always excited to share good news about the Greater New Orleans area. We already knew NOLA was a star, and now we have STARs (Statistics, Testimonials, Awards and Rankings) to prove it. Greater New Orleans Inc., an economic development organization, released its 2015 STARs data on New Orleans, and we’re so proud to live in a city that has accomplished so much.
The distinctions and statistics collected by GNO Inc. come from a variety of sources. Whether from print and online publications (including everything from Forbes to Thrillist) or from government agencies like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, New Orleans has received praise across the board in areas like talent and workforce, entrepreneurship, quality of life, economic development, and more.
Here are just a few of the many stellar accolades bestowed upon New Orleans:
Visit GNO Inc.’s full list of STARs. Congrats, New Orleans!
When you have a dog, they’re part of the family. And just as you want the very best space for yourself and loved ones, you also want the best apartments for dogs in New Orleans so your four-legged friend is happy at home.
1st Lake Properties is a pet-friendly company with thousands of apartments ideal for dogs across Greater New Orleans. We know how important it is to have a happy pet, which is why many of our communities are especially suited for pups with their proximity to sprawling outdoor spaces like Lafreniere Park.
Even better, several of our communities offer on-site dog parks and spaces for pups to run and play!
Learn more about our pet policies and the best apartments for dogs in New Orleans below.
The exclusive Bella Bark dog park at Bella Ridge North.
How great would it be to have a dog park right at your community? At several 1st Lake Properties communities, that’s the reality, with thoughtfully designed on-site pet parks that give pups space to run, play, and socialize close to home.
These on-site dog parks feature fenced-in areas, shaded seating, and in some cases, agility equipment and dog wash stations, making it easy for your furry friend to enjoy the outdoors — all without leaving home. Having a dog park at your community means less planning for trips to public parks and more time enjoying life with your pet.
Our newest luxury community, Alluvia, has a fully equipped on-site bark park with an unleashing area and a paw wash station. It’s a convenient spot for your dog to run, socialize, and enjoy the outdoors without leaving the community.
Bella Ridge North offers Bella Bark, a gated on-site dog park exclusively for residents. The park includes agility equipment, benches, and a covered pavilion so you and your pup can enjoy fresh air, exercise, and time together.
At Bella Ridge South, residents can enjoy Bella Bark and Bath Park, a fun, fenced space featuring agility elements, a shaded cabana with phone charging ports, and a dog wash station for easy cleanup after playtime.
Featuring a private, gated pet park, Clearwater Creek offers a dedicated space for your dog to enjoy fresh air and off-leash play within the community.
Artesia features an off-leash bark park with agility equipment and a pavilion for shaded seating, providing plenty of room for your dog to exercise and socialize right at home.
Brookstone Park offers a fenced, private dog park, allowing your pup to enjoy off-leash play in a secure and comfortable environment. The community is also near Covington Trailhead and Bogue Falaya Park, giving you and your dog plenty of opportunities to explore the beauty of the Northshore together.
Several of our Metairie apartment communities, like Sandpiper, Parktowne, Boardwalk, and Breakers, are all just a short distance from Lafreniere Park. This sprawling green space in Metairie features a dog park called the Bark Park, a 5-acre space just for pups.
The park is open on Tuesdays through Sundays from 7 a.m. until dusk. On Mondays, the park opens at 1 p.m. and remains open through dusk. Separated into two sub-parks — one for large dogs and one for dogs under 22 pounds — Bark Park features agility courses and scenic views.
It’s arguably the best time of the year in New Orleans right now. Yes it’s spring, but in addition to blooming flowers and pleasant weather, it’s officially festival season!
French Quarter Festival will bring four days of incredible New Orleans music and food to the entire historic French Quarter neighborhood. Take a look at what you can expect and reserve April 7-10, 2016 on your calendar for French Quarter Fest fun, just a short drive from any of our New Orleans area apartment communities!
Photo by Zack Smith
French Quarter Fest spans the entire downtown neighborhood, with more than twenty music stages scattered throughout. Enjoy some of the city’s best artists with genres ranging from blues to jazz, funk, rock, brass bands, Cajun and soul.
It’s hard to say if the music or the food is better at French Quarter Fest, but luckily, attendees can enjoy both to their hearts’ content. There are a variety of food options available at French Quarter Fest, each with delectable delicacies like jambalaya, meat pies, snoballs, alligator sausage, oysters, crawfish, bread pudding, po-boys and much more.
Swing dancing lessons are part of French Quarter Festival. (Photo courtesy Flickr user Ipung_zan)
Because New Orleans always takes their festivals to the next level, it doesn’t stop at the food and music. There’s just as many other events going on as the food and the music, including the second line kick-off parade, an entire family section with kid-friendly activities, a film fest, free dance lessons and much more.
Many of our properties, especially those in Metairie and River Ridge, are just a short drive from downtown New Orleans. However, be aware that French Quarter Fest brings in a lot of traffic, so you’ll want to avoid parking in the French Quarter itself and seek parking garages in the Central Business District instead.
With its meaty texture and family-friendly size, cabbage is a versatile vegetable for weeknight meals (bonus: it stores beautifully and has a long fridge life of up to two months!).
Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable that boasts anti-carcinogenic properties, so it’s a great food to incorporate into your diet. Whether you caught a cabbage in the St. Patrick’s Day parades or just picked one up on special at the grocery store, here are a few cabbage recipes ideal for a side dishes or entrees.
Sauteed Cabbage and Apples: A quick saute of green cabbage helps the vegetable retain its satisfying texture while also adding a touch of sweetness thanks to tart, crisp apples. Get this basic recipe from My Recipes.
Once you’ve mastered it, feel free to improvise! Try adding an egg on top for breakfast or stirring in some grainy mustard (and keep scrolling to learn how to transform this side into a main dish).
Cheesy Cabbage Casserole: Who needs mac ‘n’ cheese when there’s cheesy cabbage casserole on the table? This recipe from The Pioneer Woman is an instant comfort classic.
The green cabbage casserole pairs great with brisket or chicken, but as recipe author Ree Drummond points out, “Sometimes, this really feels like a meal in itself.”
Braised Red Cabbage: This dish from Bon Appetit can be made ahead and reheated — perfect for a busy weeknight! Pantry ingredients like vinegar and chicken broth are all you’ll need (bacon is optional).
“Unstuffed” Cabbage Rolls: Cabbage rolls are a beloved preparation of the vegetable, but they can be tricky. Get all the flavor without any of the persnickety rolling by cooking all the ingredients together in a skillet. About Food has the easy recipe.
Smoked Sausage with Cabbage and Apples: Remember the quick sauteed cabbage and apples recipe in our Sides section? Simply add in your favorite smoked sausage (we like turkey kielbasa) for an instant main dish.
Shortcut Choucroute: Chef Mark Bittman found a quick and clever way to prepare a whole cabbage with his shortcut choucroute recipe. This easy main dish requires just about 5 minutes of prep. Let the oven do the work — you’ve got better things to do!
For more recipe ideas, visit our Cooking Tips hub on the blog.
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
