I have strong feelings when it comes to burgers.  And when I say “burger” I mean the meat – everything else should complement the meat, not be the show.  So let’s talk about burgers… Within the last couple years the DC area has become a burger city with new burger joints popping up seemingly everywhere.  [...]

Chili was one of those things that always intimidated me.  I don’t know why.  I guess because people always talk about their “special” chili or their “secret” recipe.  People make a big friggin deal about making chili.  Sure, there are many different ways to make it and there is no one right way (hear that, [...]

By Naomi McGinnis I’m a foodie.  I make a weekly menu for our home-cooked dinners, eat organic food and pride myself on the fact that my daughter has never had a jar of baby food. Ever.  Sure, I’ll eat out for lunch or order takeout for dinner on occasion and love Red Baron frozen pizza, [...]

Oh my gosh, y’all… I found the most amazing recipe.  It is amazing for so many reasons and I want to tell you all of them! 1. It is a pasta recipe but it isn’t all heavy and boring and doused in a sauce from a can or jar. 2. It is fresh and light [...]

My friends over at the WEBstaurantStore, the #1 restaurant supply site on the web, have given ME a food mill to give to YOU!  Now… you might be going “A food mill?  BO.RING!”  You’re wrong about that and I’m going to tell you why.  In fact, you should be PSYCHED to enter to win this food mill!  PSYCHED, [...]

(This was originally written for and posted on the Association of Public Health Laboratories‘ (APHL) blog.) Ah, the holidays… whatever holiday it is that you celebrate (or just the holiday called “Quiet Time in the Office”), I think it is safe to assume that your holiday is overflowing with deliciousness.  Friends hosting parties; family gathering for dinners; [...]

I don’t like to bake.  You know that about me.  It requires following directions very closely and that’s something I’m just not good at.  My husband always has to supervise.  I do it because it leads to delicious treats, but honestly I’d rather not.  This time of year that puts me in a difficult position… [...]

For my birthday this year, my wonderful husband got me a gift certificate for a class at L’Academie de Cuisine, a professional and recreational cooking school in the area.  What a great gift!  I had never taken a hands-on cooking class before and have been wanting to, but I couldn’t get my act together.  Plus [...]

(This was originally written for and posted on the Association of Public Health Laboratories‘ (APHL) blog.) Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate family and friends, enjoy the fall harvest, and to stuff our faces full of delicious food.  No matter your specific traditions, I’m certain the stuffing-of-faces is common across all Thanksgiving tables. I must [...]

I’m not a vegetarian nor is my husband.  We both love a good hunk of steak.  I cook my fair share of meat, but I also try to cook as much as I can without it.  Skipping the meat is definitely healthier plus I think it is easier — no marinating for hours, no worry [...]