You don’t need a box of overpriced chocolates or roses to make Valentine's Day special. Instead of spending your money on Godiva, a fancy flower shop, or dinner out, here are some ideas to make Valentine’s Day memorable — at home. For breakfast or brunch, kick up your usual eggs a notch by making a frittata. One of my favorite recipes is Giada De Laurentiis’ Egg White Frittata with Lox and Arugula. I like the taste of the salty lox with the tangy arugula. First, I combine and whisk together four egg whites with 1/4 cup of whipping cream, 2 ounces of lox, a touch of lemon zest, and pinches of…
Santa's back at the North Pole, and he's left a bunch of toys, games and a whole lot of food. Don't let those leftovers go to waste. Here are a few quick ideas to use what's left of your holiday feast. Make a grilled ham and cheese sandwich. Use your favorite cheese like Swiss, gouda, or gruyere. Add a fried egg for a filling breakfast, or pair leftover cranberries with ham and brie. Make basic ham and split-pea soup. Here's a simple recipe from the Food Network. When serving, spoon a small amount of leftover mashed potatoes in your bowl and ladle the soup on top. The potatoes add …
You're a bona fide carnivore. And a vegetarian family member and/or friend is coming to your holiday dinner. What to do? Don't panic… here are a few tips and recipe ideas to make your gathering a vegetarian friendly success. First, the obvious: ask your guest(s) what their dietary restrictions are. For example, some vegetarians incorporate dairy and egg products into their diet, others do not. If you can't find out, be cautious and skip these ingredients all together. Depending on how many vegetarians will be at your dinner table, make one or two extra vegetable dishes. This will not …
You've eaten your way through several plates of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and cranberry sauce, drank a glass – or three – of wine and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or your favorite college or NFL team play. Now what? While your holiday shopping list may come to your mind, I'm thinking about all of the turkey and side dishes left over from your Thanksgiving feast! Here are a few ideas to use those yummy holiday leftovers.For a filling breakfast, spread butter on toasted bread. Top with a sunny-side-up egg and pour on a bit of gravy. Add a slice of turkey if …
Thanksgiving is a week away, folks! Maybe you've been planning for weeks and are finalizing the last details of your gathering. Or, maybe you're a procrastinator and just getting started. Either way, we all know the turkey is one of the most important ingredients of hosting a successful Thanksgiving. So, here are a few suggestions on where to buy your turkeys in Bethesda:Balducci's offers two types of turkeys, both from neighboring Pennsylvania. The first is a fresh natural turkey from Plainville Farms and the second is a fresh certified organic eberly turkey from an Amish farm. Both …
The other day, with the cold weather and Thanksgiving on my mind, I was in the mood to make a recipe that warmed my body and spirit. So, I bundled up and visited the Bethesda Central Farm Market. In my quest to find the perfect ingredient, I came across a wonderful assortment of winter squashes, including sweet dumpling, delicata, butternut, and spaghetti from Bending Bridge Farm.Co-owner, Cameron Pedersen, gave me a quick lesson on squash. Cameron explained that sweet dumpling and delicata are just that: sweet, delicate, and good for roasting or baking. He described butternut squash as…
I've often wondered if cheeses, like fruits and vegetables, have seasons. To satisfy my curiosity, I recently visited cheese vendor Cowgirl Creamery at the Bethesda Central Farm Market. I met Lynn Foster, a local resident and chef who was helping run the stand. Growing up, Lynn frequently rode the same city bus to school with the owners of Cowgirl Creamery, Sue Conley and Peggy Smith. Although Sue and Peggy both grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, they did not cross paths until their college years at the University of Tennessee. A friendship blossomed over a shared love of food and …
Every Tuesday from May through November, Jesse King packs up his truck with the freshest fruits, vegetables, and other in-season ingredients from his father's farm in Orrtanna, Pennsylvania and treks over 70 miles to sell his products at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase YMCA. I stopped by recently and chatted with Jesse, who grew up working at Twin Springs Fruit Farm. Jesse's father, Aubrey King, and a friend, Jim Frazee, founded the farm in 1974. When they started with 25 acres of land, there were a few peach trees, but the area was primarily used to cut trees for firewood. They now utilize 95 …
With the first sight of leaves changing colors and the chill of fall in the air, my taste buds start craving the crispness, sweetness, and tartness of orchard fresh apples. A couple of Saturdays ago, I explored the FRESHFARM farmers market in Bethesda. The first thing I noticed was the abundance of vivid colors: red and green peppers, large bunches of carrots, deep red tomatoes, and apples galore in light and dark green, red, and gold. I headed straight for the apples at a stand for Carroll County-based Black Rock Orchard. I met Emily Schaefer, a family friend, who was running the stand …
There's nothing like the smell of a homegrown, vine-ripened tomato. You can almost taste the sweetness and freshness. When I am searching for the perfect tomato, I steer clear of the grocery stores and instead head to one of the numerous Bethesda farmers markets. On a recent day, I stopped by the Potomac Farm Market's Bethesda location at 8804 Old Georgetown Road. They share this spot with the Bethesda Community Store and Deli on the corner of Old Georgetown and Greentree roads. The Farm Market has three Bethesda locations, although the one at 8215 Old Georgetown Road is closed for the season…
