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10 Minute Dinners For Busy Apartment Residents

Before, we told you about three 10 minute meals to make for dinner, and we’re back with three more for the New Year. It’s a busy time of year for 1st Lake’s New Orleans apartment residents. Super Bowl and Mardi Gras are just around the corner and whether you’re busy working or playing, there may not be much time left over for cooking. That doesn’t mean you can’t whip up a quick, healthy and above all, delicious meal. Try these three recipes that take 10 minutes or less.

Spicy Grilled Shrimp – New Orleans is known for its unparalleled seafood, so residents of New Orleans apartment rentals that 1st Lake offers will be able to take full advantage of this regional bounty! The shrimp will need to brine for about 30 minutes and then marinate in a savory mixture, but the cook time will take no longer than 10 minutes. You can’t go wrong with fresh Louisiana shrimp, and a winning combination of zesty smoke and spices! Make the delicious and easy dinner with this recipe.

Fried RiceFried rice is one of the easiest meals to make and also one of the most delicious. It’s made by throwing veggie and protein leftovers together and mixing with some rice and beaten eggs. The trick is to cook the protein and eggs first and set aside, then cook the rice, then throw in the vegetables, cooked protein and seasoning. Delicious!

Apple-Arugula Salad Wraps – This wrap takes hardly any time at all to make and is full of flavor. All you have to do is combine arugula, chickpeas, cheese, apple and dressing together then wrap up in a tortilla. Cooking easy never tasted so good! Use this recipe to make these quick and easy wraps for lunch or dinner.

Recipes courtesy of thekitchn.com.


Quick Preparation Tips For Last Minute Guests

Hosting An Impromptu Gathering: The Cleaning Short List

It’s Friday afternoon, and you just found out that your friends are coming to visit tomorrow! If your home is not company-ready, check out this cleaning short list of must-dos to keep you sane, and ensure your space is looking its best before your guests arrive.

Short List (stuff to handle the day before or day of): Time Needed: 60 – 90 minutes
Dust mop floors and vacuum rugs.
Dust/wipe all surfaces.
Clean kitchen.
Clean bathroom.
Do a final clutter sweep to make sure all surfaces are clear, all beds are made, and all clothes are put away.

Handling these few items will make your entire house look pulled together, and will keep you from feeling like you’re inviting people into a mess!


Super Bowl XLVII In New Orleans

The biggest sporting event of the year is coming up soon in New Orleans! Fortunately for 1st Lake residents of the Metairie, River Ridge and Kenner communities, they are in an ideal location to enjoy all the exciting events surrounding Super Bowl XLVII, and Northshore residents aren’t far away! Among the multitude of entertainment and activities that the Super Bowl will bring to New Orleans, here are the main events we’re looking forward to!

Super Bowl Boulevard – If there’s one thing New Orleans knows how to do, it’s putting on a festival, and that’s exactly what this four day long Super Bowl soiree will be. From Jan. 31 to Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 3, there will be music, food and fan activities at Woldenburg Park right along the Mississippi River in the French Quarter. The musical entertainment will no doubt be impressive with Quint David in charge, whose portfolio includes producing the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

NFL Experience – This long-running NFL event will give Super Bowl visitors the opportunity of a behind the scenes look into pro football with an interactive theme park including games, displays, kids’ football clinics, free autograph sessions, a huge football memorabilia show and much more. The tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for children 12 and under, and includes all games and attractions. The NFL Experience is open daily from Jan. 30 through Feb. 3.

Super Bowl Gospel Celebration – Some of the biggest names in gospel music will be performing at the New Orleans Lakefront Arena for the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, including Fantasia, Marvin Winans, Lecrae, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Donnie McClurkin and host Kirk Franklin. This will no doubt be a night of incredible, uplifting faith and music two nights before the big game on Friday, Feb. 1.

Super Saturday of Service – On Super Bowl XLVII eve, the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee will hold a city-wide community service event with the NFL, New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC), Young Leadership Council (YLC), the Urban League of Greater New Orleans Young Professionals (ULGNOYP) and the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. The Super Saturday of Service entails the renovation of five NORDC playgrounds and their surrounding neighborhoods. Those who want to participate in Super Saturday of Service can register to volunteer on the Host Committee website.

Super Bowl XLVII – Of course the whole reason for the aforementioned events is the big game – the 47th annual Super Bowl in New Orleans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The two best NFL teams of the year will go head to head for the Lombardi trophy starting at 5:25 p.m. with Beyonce and Destiny’s Child headlining the half time show.


1st Lake Community Spotlight: Brewster Commons

Start fresh in the New Year by renting a brand new apartment in a completely new community in Covington! Everything about the Brewster Commons apartments in Covington is modern, state of the art and flawlessly designed for the new wave of residents in 2013.

Brewster Commons is located in the River Chase subdivision in Covington, LA. It’s a location that is bright and welcoming and is within walking distance to shopping and entertainment of the Northshore. The Northshore is a wonderful place in Louisiana to live, full of sporting, activities and local charm. Plus it’s just across the bridge from New Orleans, so residents can enjoy the best of both worlds.

Arguably, the most important and exciting time of year in Louisiana is just around the bend. Carnival season is fast approaching and the Northshore is host to several fantastic Mardi Gras parades. Residents of Brewster Commons will have a convenient location close to where the Krewe of Lyra and Krewe of Olympia parades roll. Also nearby is the Krewe of Tchefuncte parade, the only boat parade of Mardi Gras that makes its way down the Tchefuncte River.

Besides its beautiful surroundings and access to New Orleans and many festive Mardi Gras parades, Brewster Commons offers excellent amenities like a resort style swimming pool, hot tub, 24 hour modern fitness center, Wii & yoga room and much more. Check out what one, two and three bedroom floor plans are available and consider Brewster Commons for a new place on the Northshore to call home!


Moving To New Orleans in 2013 New Orleans Named Best American City

Moving To New Orleans In 2013? New Orleans Named Best American City

Are you planning a move to the Big Easy in 2013? You’re in luck – for two consecutive months, New Orleans has been named the “Best American City” by Travel + Leisure.

Wondering what other cities made the list? Well, Santa Fe, Nashville, New York, Minneapolis, San Diego, Savannah, Charleston, West Virginia, San Francisco, and Chicago all made appearances, but none outshone New Orleans!

Back in October 2012, New Orleans came in 8th on Conde Nast Traveler’s list of Top 10 Cities in the United States. And praise, such as this could not come at a better time as the city gets ready to host the Super Bowl in February 2013. But, no matter which team wins the Super Bowl, New Orleans is the clear winner, scoring in the top five in more than half of the magazine’s 66 categories, including fine dining and music scene. In total, Travel + Leisure asked readers to rate 35 metropolitan areas, and New Orleans still came out on top.

What makes New Orleans so special? It’s a well-rounded city that still knows how to have fun. There’s delicious find dining, amazing architecture, great shopping, and amazing music. Plus, the locals are friendly, and there’s tons of history everywhere you look!