The Live Oak Grill offers casual dining, with picnic tables both indoors and out. Order at the counter, find a table, and enjoy the “down-home atmosphere”—augmented by the massive Texas-shaped art piece made of Texas license plates. The menu focuses mostly on classic Southern dishes, sandwiches, and burgers; however, you’ll also encounter specialties such as chicken fried steak, grilled ribeye, and quesadillas. Salads and soups round out the casual menu.

This is a great place for families thanks to the kids’ menu. Outside under the big oak trees, your brood can run off excess energy at the playground while you enjoy your beer, burger, and onion rings. If you’re feeling especially hungry, order some pecan pie, too!

Live Oak Grill can be easy to miss as it’s just off the freeway, so keep your eyes peeled.

Live Oak Grill
12935 Dairy Ashford Road
Sugar Land, TX 77478
(281) 491-5253
www.liveoakgrills.com
www.yelp.com/biz/live-oak-grill-sugar-land

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Stu Spivack

You use your kitchen knives almost every day, from slicing your morning banana to chopping vegetables for dinner at night. Because good knives can be expensive, you likely want to keep them in top working condition. Here are a few simple tips for properly caring for those important cooking knives.

• Don’t let them soak. It may be tempting to simply toss your knives in with the rest of your soaking dishes, but avoid doing so. This can cause the knife to bend or get scratched, and it can also be dangerous if someone reaches their hand under the water.
• Don’t run them through the dishwasher. Likewise, the dishwasher can also dent or ding your knives. Instead, wash them thoroughly by hand after every use.
• Don’t store them in a silverware drawer. This is especially important for renters who might not have much extra space in the kitchen. Instead, invest in a small wooden knife block that you can keep on the counter, or at least use a knife sheath to keep the blade safe.
• Keep them sharp. In order to get the best results from your knives, you need to sharpen them frequently. Use a honing steel or a knife stone if you’re comfortable doing it yourself, or if you’re not, you can always send them out to be sharpened by a professional.

Caring for Kitchen Knives: Dos and Don'ts [About Food]
How to Take Care of Your Knives [David Lebovitz]
How To Care For Kitchen Knives: 6 Common Mistakes [Huffpost Taste]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr r.nial.bradshaw

We hope everyone enjoys a fun and relaxing time with family and friends as we celebrate America's freedom.