How to Get the Most Storage Space Out of Your Freezer

If you’re looking for a way to add extra storage space to your current freezer, these smart tips may be of service.

  1. Know what to freeze. Start streamlining what you freeze in the first place by knowing what will last and what won’t. In general, leafy vegetables, dairy products, and fried foods are not meant to freeze.
  2. Separate items into portions. If you’re freezing something that would otherwise stick together after freezing, such as chicken breasts or soup, separate it into serving-sized portions so that you can easily thaw only the part that you need.
  3. Use containers. Instead of piling all of your food into one large pile in the freezer, invest in freezer-safe storage containers from the local home goods store.
  4. Use labels. Label everything in the freezer, from individual food items (unless they’re still in the original packaging) to your storage containers.
  5. Mind the door. The door of the freezer is the warmest part, so don’t store things that can easily melt on its shelves. Save this space for less delicate foods, such as nuts, alcohol, or frozen fruits.

Fridge and Freezer Organization [The Container Store]
The Best Way to Organize Your Freezer [The Kitchn]
8 Better Ways to Keep Your Freezer Super-Organized [Good Housekeeping]

Check Out What’s New at the Round Rock Public Library

Curling up with a good book can be a great way to spend a lazy weekend afternoon, and what better place to do so than at Round Rock Public Library? This local branch is cozy and well-maintained and offers thousands of books to choose from on its shelves, from spine-tingling mysteries and instructional manuals to self-help books and children's reads. What's more, books are available in both traditional hardback and digital formats.

Round Rock Public Library also offers plenty of community programming, including local orchestra concerts, teen-centered craft and science sessions, family film screenings, and storytime hours for kids. And don't forget that the librarians are happy to assist with open-ended homework and research questions in addition to helping you locate specific books.

Check out the Round Rock Facebook page to see what's happening at this bustling community resource!

Round Rock Public Library
216 East Main Avenue
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 218-7001

www.facebook.com/RoundRockPublicLibrary
www.roundrocktexas.gov/departments/library

Happy Fall!

With Autumn just arriving, we hope everyone enjoys all of the fun this season has to offer! Happy Fall!

Three Fun Halloween Decor Projects

Who said that Halloween is just for kids? From spooky cocktail parties to elegantly scary decorations, there are a number of ways to celebrate the year’s scariest season in a truly grown-up manner. Here are three Halloween decor projects that even the adults will love.

Cocktail Clip-Art Labels [Martha Stewart]
If you’re having a Halloween party for your of-age friends, they’ll certainly get a kick out of these cocktail labels. Sure, you know that your drinks are perfectly safe for human consumption, but with labels like Toxic Tonic, they might give your guests a bit of a fright.

Illuminated Pumpkin Topiary [DIY Network]
For something a bit more elegant than the usual stringy faux cobwebs, this pumpkin topiary makes a festive centerpiece on the kitchen table or mantle. Cover a few carving pumpkins with chic metallic spray paint, then drape them with beaded strands and white twinkling lights for a beautiful look that’s still a bit haunting.

Spooky Terrariums [Country Living]
Instead of filling a terrarium with plants and moss, place some spiders, dead branches, and even a creepy crow figurine inside. Place the terrariums on a shelf and you'll have a spooky decoration for a party.

Don’t Miss the Sausages at The Salt Lick

Margaritas, Music, and Meat. That's what you can expect at The Salt Lick on the weekend. Oak trees stretch out over the stone patio, offering some shade from the glaring Texan sun while live musicians play tunes, customers suck down margaritas, and servers bring out plates full of The Salt Lick's signature barbecue fare at each week's Margaritas, Music, and Meat event.

There's really no bad time to visit this beloved Round Rock eatery, though. No matter when you do, you'll be able to indulge in its smoky food, including the wildly popular sausages. More than 200 Yelp reviewers rave about the sausages, which you can get alone on a platter with potato salad, coleslaw, and beans or combined with other barbecue fare such as brisket or pork ribs. You can also order the sausage in sandwich form. But some people wouldn't mind skipping the main course all together for The Salt Lick's classic sides: beans, coleslaw, and potato salad. You can get them by the pint, quart, or even the gallon.

The Salt Lick
3350 Palm Valley Boulevard
Round Rock, TX 78665
(512) 386-1044
www.saltlickbbq.com/pages/Round-Rock.html
www.yelp.com/biz/the-salt-lick-bbq-round-rock

These Luxury Websites Celebrate the Finer Things in Life

You prefer to live life beautifully and have a well-developed sense of style to show for it. We’ve found a few websites to help you acquire the finer things in life, whether it’s in your home, kitchen, closet, or office. Find out about style icons you admire, view galleries of beautiful places to travel, and discover ways to make your lifestyle a little more chic.

Pursuitist
Pursuitist is dedicated to bringing you only the best of the best when it comes to life and style. Browse articles and galleries pertaining to luxury fashion, auto, culinary, and travel.

Robb Report
Stay informed on the latest news of your favorite luxury brands at Robb Report. Bringing you the most current information about fashion, properties, and travel, you’ll never miss an opportunity to get the goods as soon as they're available.

Just Luxe
Just Luxe is a fabulous guide to living life with impeccable style. Find out where the best spots for luxury are in each city you visit with the City Guides feature, then read reviews of the hottest trends in autos, fashion, and home.

Luxury Design
Enjoy first class access to the luxury lifestyle at Luxury Design. Read suggestions on which private jet to fly, which high-end perfume to purchase, and what designer watches will make the passing of time a beautiful event.

Fuse Glass or Paint a Masterpiece at Ceramic Lodge

Whether you just have an afternoon to spare or you're interested in a unique night out with friends, Ceramic Lodge in Round Rock can oblige. This painting studio welcomes folks to walk in and start painting or attend one of the structured classes to learn a little bit more about crafting with their fellow pupils.

You don't need to make reservations ahead of time to handpaint one of the bisque pieces at Ceramic Lodge. They line the shelves, everything from mugs to picture frames, and they start at just $12 each. Pick one, decide on a color scheme, and get to painting. Once your masterpiece is completed, leave it behind to be fired and swing by a week later for the finished product. You can also attend a fused glass class (held twice a month) to learn the ins and outs of the process. Classes are only $18 a head, and that's including everything you need to make your own work of art. If you've already attended a class, you can stop by any time to create a colorful plate or coaster with your own two hands.

Ceramic Lodge
18 Chisholm Trail Road
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 248-2100
www.ceramiclodge.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ceramic-lodge-round-rock

Happy Labor Day!

Wishing everyone a happy and relaxing Labor Day!

Sink Your Teeth into a Sausage Kolache at Sarena’s Breakfast and Donuts

Don't let its name fool you; Sarena's Breakfast and Donuts is good for more than just its sweets. In fact, according to Yelp reviews, some of the best eats on the menu fall on the savory side of breakfast fare. The kolaches, in particular, earn raves. Kolaches have roots in Central Europe, but Sarena's brings them to Round Rock in the form of pastries stuffed with sausage and various complements. While most locals call the straight-up sausage kolache the best, you can order one filled with sausage plus cheese or cheese and jalapeno. They come in regular and jumbo sizes.

Don't overlook the doughnuts, though. They're just as fresh as the kolaches and the breakfast croissants, which come stuffed with eggs and other ingredients. Grab a classic glazed or chocolate doughnut for just 54 cents apiece. Or opt for the more decadent eclair, cinnamon roll, jelly-filled doughnut, or apple fritter. If you want to make your morning treat really last, grab a dozen doughnut holes for $1.

Sarena's Breakfast and Donuts
1732 N. Mays Street
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 238-6601
www.yelp.com/biz/sarenas-breakfast-and-donut-shop-round-rock

Miso: Inventive Japanese and Korean Fare in Round Rock

Soft lighting, neutral tones on the walls, and black countertops and tables create a chic atmosphere at Miso. It's fitting for this popular Round Rock eatery, given that it serves gourmet Japanese and Korean cuisine to eagerly awaiting customers. Although its offerings are eclectic, chefs strongly emphasize seafood, so get ready to try something that's probably outside of your normal comfort zone at Miso.

Regular customers highly recommend the bulgogi, a stir fry that features Korean sweet or spicy sauce. Beef, pork, and chicken are all available, but the beef bulgogi gets the most love online. You can also enjoy beef as galbi, a dish of grilled and sliced beef ribs steeped in a sweet Korean sauce with onions. If you're interested in the inventive seafood creations, try the baby octopus salad with sweet potato noodles or the Miso mussels. Seafood cheese dukboki is another unusual eat, a dish of stir-fried rice cake with squid, shrimp, mussels, veggies, and mozzarella cheese drizzled in a sweet-spicy chili sauce.

Miso
2400 S. Interstate 35
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 465-2754
www.facebook.com/misocuisine
www.yelp.com/biz/miso-round-rock-2

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