Growing herbs: The Best Idea I’ve Had This Spring
It began with a little basil. Last spring, I planted some in a window box on the side of our house. The side that apparently got more bugs than sun. It had a good run, providing me plenty to sprinkle into my scrambled eggs, but not quite enough for the giant batch of pesto I … Read more
An Ode to the Start of Farmers Market-ing
FARMERS MARKET SEASON HAS BEGUN! At least my Mount Vernon market opened today, on the oh-so-happy first day of May. It’s been a long winter folks, and I was so happy to see those familiar farmer faces today. Especially Jesús Ochoa, who I wrote about last year. I planned my meals for the week with a big question … Read more
Going online to buy local produce? Exploring Relay Foods
When I first met with Caesar Layton for a story about Relay Foods, a Charlottesville-based online grocery store and farmers market that recently expanded into DC and Baltimore, I didn’t quite get the convenience factor. I mean, I am one of those people who drives to three or four different stores and markets each week. I … Read more
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Baking and chocolate making are not my fortés, but I made an exception for a quick item that includes two of my favorite things — peanut butter and coconut oil — and my husband’s all-time favorite thing — chocolate. I know, I should be the one to be gaga for chocolate, but he is a diehard, … Read more
Ava’s deeply flavorful chili (with bacon & cinnamon to boot!)
This recipe comes to you all the way from Nashville, from a longtime family friend named Ava Parker whom we had the pleasure of staying with on our roadtrip to Kansas for the holidays. I remember Ava cooking a lot when her daughter Jenny and I were BFFs in grade school, but it was fun to connect with … Read more
pink grapefruit & avocado salad
It’s that time of year. When people show up at the gym for the first time in a year and decide that — yes — doing three cardio weight-lifting classes in a row is a good idea. As an instructor, I tell them — no — that is not a good idea. You need to … Read more
Let the eats begin: Christmas cookies
Welcome to December, the season of eating! While teaching my cardioblast exercise class this morning, I mentioned that we have plenty of reasons to work out this time of year, what with Christmas fast approaching. But a woman corrected me, “No, no, the holiday parties have already begun. It’s an entire season of eating.” How … Read more
Thanksgiving side dishes to bring — from the farm
Today was the last day for my ’round-the-corner farmers market in Mount Vernon, the last time I get to buy brussel sprouts and butternut squash from my favorite farmer, Jesús. But it’s also the day before Thanksgiving, the day for thanking God for the bounty before us — and boy did I come home with … Read more
Surviving #Sandy — cooking without power
I must start by recognizing the pain and hardship so many on the East Coast, especially in New Jersey and New York, are still experiencing from hurricane Sandy. The DC area and Alexandria, where we live, saw nothing compared to these other and more coastal areas. That being said, we did lose power for about … Read more
Weeknight dinners: shepherd’s pie, grilled cheese, pulled pork
After a weekend out of town and then one thing after another, I didn’t even make it to the grocery store until Thursday of this week. By the time Wednesday night rolled around, I was dying to cook something. Somehow I ended up making three photo-worthy dinners by Friday night, so I thought I would … Read more
