As summer comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to create memorable adventures this fall in and around El Paso, Texas! Check out these fun activities below and watch for our next Blog later this month with more ideas on what to do in El Paso, Texas in the fall.
 

Plan a Fall Stay-cation

Weekends are a call for adventure, and Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso is the perfect launch pad for an action-packed staycation where  hiking, biking, and rock climbing await. For those who love a bit of daring, tackle the challenging cliffs or traverse the winding paths with breathtaking views.
 

Take A Stroll at Sunset

If you're looking for a more relaxed adventure, the El Paso Scenic Drive offers the best of all worlds. Take a stroll at sunset and watch for the stunning city lights of both Texas and Mexico from high above. History buffs can dive into their own exploration by hitting the Mission Trail and uncovering the mysteries of the Hueco Tanks Historic Site, where you can experience a blend of culture and adventure.  
 

Savor the Seasonal Fruits & Veggies

After you have selected some of the season’s finest fruits, it’s time to savor and save the flavors for those holiday feasts to come. From plums to peaches to all the prunes in season, preserving those seasonal favorites is a classic way to spend a fall day. It’s also a great way to get kids excited about math, as measuring the goods comes with tasty rewards!

To get you started, we found a super simple website that lays out the basics of canning from the folks at SeriousEats.com.

Some of the best recipes can be found at BallMasonJars.com. Some of our favorites that are a little out of the ordinary, yet ideal for fall feasts include:

Habanero Apricot Jam
Carrot Cake Jam
Spiced Tomato Jam

And this ‘must-make’ seasonal favorite: Apple Butter

Attend An El Paso Ghost Tour

Uncover the city's shadowy secrets, hear about its tragic past, and meet the quirky spirits that are said to still roam the streets. This isn’t just any ghost tour; it’s a thrilling journey through the heart of one of America’s eeriest cities! So grab your friends, hold onto your hats, and prepare for a night of ghostly adventures.

The post THINGS TO DO IN THE FALL IN EL PASO (Part One) appeared first on Cantera Apartments Blog.

Several years ago, we published a few of our family-friendly super-easy Easter recipes that were a great hit. That edition was so popular, we thought we would dive into our recipe box and find some new ideas to help you have a festive and stress-free Easter Bruch to come at our apartment community in El Paso, Texas.

And as with all our favorite recipes, we rely on the very talented and passionate chefs of TasteofHome.com.

From our family at Cantera apartments in El Paso to yours, may you have a very blessed Easter season.

Super Easy Easter Coffee Cake

Recipe by Eleanor Harris, Cape Coral, Florida

Tested by Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2-3/4 cups sugar, divided
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sour cream
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Super Easy Directions:

In a large bowl, cream butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; add alternately with sour cream, beating just enough after each addition to keep batter smooth.

Spoon a third of the batter into a greased 10-in. tube pan. Combine cinnamon, nuts and remaining 3/4 cup sugar; sprinkle one-third of mixture over batter in pan. Repeat layers twice. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 60-65 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before removing from the pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

Asparagus, Bacon & Shallot Tart

Recipe by Paula Nolan, Granite Bay, California

Tested by Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ingredients

• Dough for single-crust pie
• 1-pound fresh asparagus
• 6 thick-sliced center-cut bacon strips, coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 shallot, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1-1/4 cups half-and-half cream
• 1-1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup shredded Gruyere cheese

Directions

• Trim tough ends from asparagus. Reserve 12 spears; cut the remaining asparagus into 1/2-in. pieces.
• In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, 6-8 minutes; remove and drain. Add olive oil to skillet, then red onion, shallot and chopped asparagus; cook and stir until softened, 6-8 minutes. Stir in vinegar; cook 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Return bacon to pan; stir in tomatoes, parsley, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Spoon into crust.
• Whisk eggs and cream; stir in cheddar cheese until blended. Pour over top. Arrange reserved asparagus spears in a spoke pattern with tips facing outward. Sprinkle with Gruyere cheese. Bake until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

Sugar Glazed Ham

Recipe by Carol Strong Battle, Heathsville, Virginia

Tested by Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1 fully cooked bone-in ham (5 to 7 pounds)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons prepared mustard
• 1 to 2 tablespoons cider vinegar

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°. Place ham on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Using a sharp knife, score surface of ham with 1/4-in.-deep cuts in a diamond pattern. Cover and bake until a thermometer reads 130°, 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

The post Easey-peasy Easter Brunch Recipes appeared first on Cantera Apartments Blog.

It’s that time of the year when packing that lunch box at the crack o’ dawn is at top of my mind. To help our neighbors at Cantera apartments in El Paso have an easier start to this busy season, we clicked into our favorite site “Taste of Home” to find some of the healthiest and easiest lunches that we think you kids will love. And you will, too!

Got more ideas? Swing by our apartment community in El Paso and we’ll pass them along! 

Peanut Butter, Apple and Raisin Sandwich

Taste of Home’s Top Review: Love the combination of texture and flavor. It’s an easy way to make a healthy, tasty treat.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon creamy or chunky peanut butter
• 1 slice crusty white or wheat bread
• 1/4 medium apple, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon golden raisins
• Ground cinnamon

Directions: Spread peanut butter over bread. Top with apple and raisins; sprinkle with cinnamon. 

Fruity Peanut Butter Pitas

Taste of Home’s Top Review: “My kids ask for these pita sandwiches all the time. They haven’t noticed that as good as the pitas taste, they’re good for them too”

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/8 teaspoon each ground allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg
• 2 whole wheat pita pocket halves
• 1/2 medium apple, thinly sliced
• 1 firm banana

In a small bowl, blend the peanut butter, allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg. Spread inside pita bread halves and fill with apple and banana slices. 

Spinach and Turkey Pinwheels

Taste of Home’s Top Review: My kids love these easy four-ingredient turkey pinwheels. Go ahead and make them the day before, they won’t get soggy!

Ingredients:

• I carton (8 oz) spreadable garden vegetable cream cheese
• 8 (8 inch) flour tortillas
• 4 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1 pound thinly sliced deli turkey

Directions:

Spread cream cheese over tortillas. Layer with spinach and turkey. Roll up tightly. If not serving immediately, cover and refrigerate. To serve, cut each roll crosswise into 6 pieces.

This variation is delicious, too:

• 8 thin slices cooked turkey
• 4 flour tortillas (6 inches), room temperature
• 1 large tomato, thinly sliced
• 1 medium green pepper, cut into thin strips
• 1 cup shredded lettuce
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/3 cup ranch salad dressing 

Taste of Home’s Top Review: “This recipe features the flavors of your favorite pie but only takes a few minutes to make – and there’s no cooking or baking required.”

Directions:

• 1 package (8 ounces) sliced pepperoni.
• 4 flour tortillas (8 inches), room temperature
• 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes.
• 1/4 cup each chopped sweet onion, chopped fresh mushrooms and chopped ripe olives.
• 1/4 cup chopped green pepper, optional.
• 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Ingredients:

Arrange pepperoni in the center of each tortilla. Top with remaining ingredients. Fold sides and bottom over filling and roll up. 

​​​​​​​Wagon Wheel Pasta Salad

Taste of Home’s Top Review: This dish is amazing! I did nothing different, and everyone loves it. Thank you for providing us with delicious ideas that are so easy to prepare!

• 3 cups uncooked wagon wheel pasta or elbow macaroni
• 1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained.
• 1 cup cubed cheddar cheese
• 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 small green pepper, julienned
• 1 small sweet red pepper, julienned
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup picante sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water. In a large bowl, combine the pasta, beans, cheese, tomatoes, peppers and onions.

Directions: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, picante sauce, salt and cumin; pour over salad and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. Place it in a container with a fork or spoon and send your kids on their way! 
Need more ideas to keep you and your kids eating well. We always recommend Taste of Home to our friends and encourage you to do so as well! Need more ideas? Click into our blog later this month for more easy and tasty ideas for lunch on the go!

The post Easy, Peasy Back to School Lunches Kids Will Actually LOVE! appeared first on Cantera Apartments Blog.

Ahh, springtime! A time when we put our winter recipes to bed and look forward to light and healthy meals to share with family and friends down by the BBQ!

To get you in the mood, our team at Cantera apartments in El Paso, Texas is sharing some of our favorite easy BBQ recipes with you!

Be sure to check our Blog later this month for Delicious and Simple Picnic Recipes

Bon Appetit!

BBQ Chicken with Springtime Herb Salsa

Ingredients:

• •    ¼ Olive Oil (or Olive Oil infused with Lemon or Garlic)
• •    1 T Red Wine Vinegar
• •    ¼ C Fresh Orange Juice
• •    1 Tsp Grated Lemon
• •    ½ C Fresh Mint, chopped
• •    1 C Italian Parsley, chopped
• •    ½ C Cilantro, chopped
• •    2 Large Garlic Cloves, mashed
• •    1 Small Serrano Pepper, quartered
• •    ¾ Tsp Kosher or Regular Salt
• •    4 Skinless Chicken Breasts
• •    1 Medium to Large Onion, cut in half (use to coat the grill)

Directions:

• •    Score the Chicken ¼ inch in several places on the smooth side of the Breast and set aside
• •    Blend the rest of the ingredients in a blender  – processing into a Pesto-type consistency
• •    Place the Chicken and 1/2 Cup of the herb mixture into a medium shallow bowl; save the rest of the herb mixture for basting
• •    Coat both sides of the Chicken, place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours
• •    Prepare the Grill down by the pool :0) by brushing the grates and rubbing ½ slide of the onion on the grates (this helps to keep the chicken from sticking       on the grill); heat to 400°F
• •    Remove the chicken from the bowl, letting the excess marinade drip back into the bowl (discard after use)
• •    Flip the chicken twice, marinading lightly with each turn
• •    Cook until the middle section reaches 165°F

BBQ Garlic Shrimp

Ingredients:

• •    1 Pound of Shrimp, cleaned
• •    BBQ Skewers (if using wood, pre-soak)

For Marinade:

• •    1/3 C Olive Oil
• •    2 Tsp Fresh Lemon Juice
• •    1 T Tomato Paste
• •    4 Cloves of Garlic, mashed
• •    ½ Tsp Salt
• •    ½ Tsp Pepper

For Garlic Butter:

• •    ¼ C Melted Butter
• •    1 Clove Garlic, mashed

Directions:

• •    Clean and prepare the Shrimp
• •    Soak skewers (if using wood)
• •    Set aside
• •    Place marinade ingredients in a blender, or whisk/ mix until combined
• •    Warm Garlic Butter for basting consistency
• •    Place shrimp and marinade in a deep bowl. Let sit for at least 30 minutes
• •    Pre-heat grill to 400°F
• •    Place shrimp on skewers, threading through the tail and main body
• •    Grill for 2 – 3 minutes
• •    Serve with Garlic Butter

BBQ Grilled Vegetables

Ingredients:

Our favorite choice of veggies that are ideal for the Q:

• •    Zucchini
• •    Carrots
• •    Onions
• •    Asparagus
• •    Bell Peppers
• •    Mushrooms
• •    Egg Plant
• •    Red Onion

Ingredients for Marinade

• •    ¼ Fresh Parsley, chopped
• •    3 Cloves Garlic, minced
• •    1 Tsp Pepper & Salt
• •    ¼ Olive Oil (simple, or infused with lemon or garlic)
• •    ¼ T each: Fresh Basil, Oregano (or ½ Tsp dried)
• •    Red pepper flakes to your preference

Directions:

• •    Clean the vegetables, cut into large pieces (so they don’t fall through the grates)
• •    Prepare Marinade by mixing all the ingredients (in a jar or small bowl)
• •    Pre-heat grill to 400°F
• •    Place veggies on the grill (suggested times, will vary according to size:

• –    Zucchini, Asparagus, grill 2 minutes on each side
• –    Onion, mushrooms, grill 3 minutes on each side
• –    Eggplant, Bell Peppers, Carrots, grill 4 minutes on each side

• •    Remove from Grill
• •    Toss with marinade and serve

The post Quick and Simple BBQ Healthy Spring Recipes appeared first on Cantera Apartments Blog.

With fall in full swing, our family at Cantera Apartments in El Paso  is spending lots of time in the kitchen preparing some of our favorite fall recipes. We think they are so tasty that we’ve chosen our second blog of the month to share them with you.

Cheers!

Make it YUMMY … all season-long!
Squash Soup with Curried Brown Butter Recipe
Ingredients:
•    3 slices bacon, diced
•    1 sweet onion, diced
•    4 garlic cloves, minced
•    kosher salt and pepper
•    4 to 5 cups cubed butternut squash
•    4 cups stock chicken or vegetable stock
•    ½ cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
•    creme fraiche or plain yogurt, for topping
•    chopped fresh cilantro, for topping

Curried Brown Butter:
•    4 tablespoons unsalted butter
•    1 teaspoon curry powder
See the full recipe here from HowSweetEats.com.

Roasted Vegetables
 
Ingredients
•    2 cups cubed butternut squash
•    2 cups halved Brussels sprouts
•    2 cups cauliflower florets
•    2 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
•    1 to 2 turnips, cut into 1-inch pieces
•    1 small red onion, cut into wedges
•    1 cup halved red radishes or cubed daikon radish
•    Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
•    Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
•    2 tablespoons chopped rosemary or 12 chopped sage leaves, optional
•    Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing, optional
•    Lemon wedges, for serving, optional
Click here for the complete recipe from LoveandLemons.com.
 
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Ingredients
•    3 cups grated fresh zucchini, about 3-4 medium zucchini
•    1 ½ cup granulated sugar
•    2 large eggs
•    2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•    1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
•    3/4 cup butter melted¹
•    3 cups all-purpose flour² properly measured
•    2 teaspoons baking soda
•    1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•    1 ½ cups mini semisweet chocolate chips
These make super delicious hostess gifts for the holiday to come.  Get the full recipe from Ihearteating.com.

The post Fabulous Fall Recipes appeared first on Cantera Apartments Blog.

Earlier this month, we shared a list to start this season off right.  The list was so well read that we decided to continue the trend.

To ease you into the Autumn season, our family at Cantera Apartments in El Paso are sharing some additional ideas to prepare for the changing of the season. 

Try Canning!

After you have selected some of the seasons’ finest fruits, it’s time to savor and save the flavors for those holiday feasts to come. From plums to peaches to all the prunes in season, preserving those seasonal favorites is a classic way to spend a fall day. 

To get you started, we found a super simple website that lays out the basics of canning from the folks at SeriousEats.com.

Some of the best recipes can be found at BallMasonJars.com.  Some of our favorites that are a little out of the ordinary yet ideal for fall feasts include:
Habanero Apricot Jam 

Carrot Cake Jam 

Spiced Tomato Jam

And this ‘must-make’ seasonal favorite: Apple Butter

Make an Apple Pie

While we are on the subject of easing into Autumn, the seasonal aroma of a fresh baked apple pie is sure to set the scent that fall is in the air.  We have found that some of the best recipes for fall flavors are on TasteofHome.com; not just for the recipes, yet for the history and research that their team goes through to ensure each recipe is as close to perfect as it can be.

And just when you thought you only needed ONE recipe, the website offers 25, yes 25, recipes for the perfect apple pie.

Get a Head Start on that Halloween Costume

Although Halloween is a month away, some of the best values for Halloween costumes can be found right now.  Here’s a quick list of top spots to find the largest selection of ready-to-wear costumes in El Paso:
Spirit Halloween 

Party City – The Fountains at Farah 

Party City – El Paseo Marketplace

If you’re feeling a little more daring, hit the thrift or consignment shops to get your creative juices flowing.
Estella’s Thrift Shop 

Second Chance 

Family Thrift Center 

Girl Bye Vintage

Ride into the Sunset

Soon, the expansive lands of El Paso will be overflowing with the colors of the fall season.  And as soon as those temperatures cool off, it’s the perfect spot to head into the hills on horseback.  If you have yet to experience El Paso on horseback, this company offers one of the reasons to head to the trails this season.
El Paso Valley Trail Rides and Horseback River Rides

Nestled in El Paso’s beautiful Upper Valley, El Paso Valley Trail Rides will take you on a private guided stroll between its pecan orchards and the magnetic Rio Grand River – with no horseback riding experience necessary. They strive to offer a safe and memorable experience and provide “a lifetime of memories on horseback.”

Here’s a review from one of their guests: This was such an amazing experience. I wanted to find something that my kids would enjoy but would also be relaxing for me and my husband. The staff/owners and even their doggies were so sweet and made us feel at home. The views were breathtaking and the stories they shared were memorable.

The post How to Ease into Autumn in El Paso, Texas (Continued) appeared first on Cantera Apartments Blog.