Top 5 Easter Sides

Roasted Asparagus

Recipes for St. Patty's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Try some green recipes. How about my spanakopita,  guacamole or my spinach balls... or check out our fried green tomatoes from the American Classics episode, or spread a minted pea mash onto crostini.

Recipe: Enchiladas with Seasonal Roots

My favorite home delivery box – Seasonal Roots – curated another great box for me to make some delicious Enchiladas! The veggie fairies brought me fresh meat from Ovoka Farm’s and a spicy sauce from Clark & Hopkins. 

A Few Of My Favorite Things: Seasonal Roots Online Farmer’s Market

Who doesn’t love farmers markets? I love getting the freshest ingredients, buying local, helping the agri-business community, and knowing that what I am eating was farmed sustainably. However, living in the city and juggling multiple jobs means a lot of the time I end up picking up some OK groceries at the Giant down the street. Ugh…

Order "The Evolved Eater: A Quest to Eat Better, Live Better, and Change the World.”

Need a perfect Foodie stocking stuffer? Order “The Evolved Eater: A Quest to Eat Better, Live Better, and Change the World.”

Our Most Popular Recipes of 2018

Sopa Levanta Muerto

This year, our readers loved comforting recipes.  Enjoy some of these if you haven't already.  

Thinking of Drinking: Christmas Cocktails for Sinners and Saints

Who still needs a great stocking stuffer for the saint or sinner in the family? Holiday drink recipes, beer, wine, and cider recommendations, and witty instructions on how to honor the saints are all included in these fun cocktail books! This is the perfect gift to celebrate the holiday season.

10 Cranberry Recipes You Didn't Know You'll Love

Since fall is here, you might be looking for the perfect recipe to add cranberries to your meal. Tired of the canned cranberry sauce? Try my Cranberry Salad, Cranberry Apple Sauce, Cranberry Margarita or my Cran-Apple Cobbler Cocktail!

Recipe: Cooking Wide Net Blue Catfish Catties with John Shields

The "Culinary Ambassador of the Chesapeake Bay", Chef John Shields, has created a new take on the ubiquitous Baltimore “coddie,” with a delicious salt-catfish cake. John shared this recipe with me over the weekend in honor of #NationalSeafoodMonth.

Top 7 4th of July Recipes

Bomb Pop Shot

The 4th of July is almost here.  Can you believe it?  Check out these recipes to make your party perfect.

3 Kid-Friendly Memorial Day Dishes

Fresh Fruit Salad

Recipes: Wildfire Meal Kits with Peapod

Peapod, America’s leading online grocer, has partnered with the classic steakhouse Wildfire, creating new chef-inspired meal kits that can be delivered right to your door. 

4th of July Recipes

One of the cool things about the Capital Cooking Cookbook is the Menu Planning section in the back.  I provide you with 10 menu ideas to create the perfect meals.  For the 4th of July, try the BBQ options.

Menu Planning: Baby Birthday Bash

Previously, our fall pairing dinner was an adult-only feast turned drunk fest that lasted late into the evening. (With 10-12 guests) This year's fall feast was a little different than the past.  This year we celebrated the first birthday of #babycapcook with 35 adults and 10 baby friends. 

Menu Planning: Seasonal Fall Supper

Happy Fall! We celebrated the season with a menu worth sharing. A special thank you for our partners: American Lamb Board, Logan's Sausage, California Figs, Crave Brothers Cheese, Fermin Iberico Pork, Sweet Tango Apples and Ommegang and Boulevard Breweries. It also happened to be my birthday... such a fun way to celebrate!

Recipe of the Month

LAMB 3-CUP “POT AU FEU”

Serves 2

Ping by Charlie Chiang’s

1 lb leg of lamb

2 oz fresh Thai basil

3 slices ginger, lightly smashed

2 scallions, chopped in 1-in segments

1 garlic clove, lightly smashed

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp red table wine

1 tbsp oyster sauce

1 tbsp sugar

2 cups vegetable broth

1 tbsp canola oil

1. Dice the lamb 1” x 2” cubes and add to boiling water for 30 seconds. Discard water.
2. Heat a deep pan or wok first. Once the pan is hot, add 1 tbsp canola oil and then add the ginger, garlic, and scallion, quickly stir-fry for 30 seconds to release the aromas.
3. Add the lamb dices. Immediately, add red table wine, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, and vegetable broth. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes so that sauce will reduce and the flavor intensify.
4. Add the fresh thai basil, stir for 15 more seconds and serve.

This recipe is from the Asian-Fusion Cuisine episode airing in Fairfax this month. It is delicious!

Filming: A Rustic Roman Afternoon

We've been on a little summer break from filming since June, but yesterday, we started filming again. Filming is lots of fun, but I forgot about how much work it is to plan each episode and coordinating the crew, studio time, etc. I also forgot about the nervous feelings that I get before filming each episode. 

Yesterday we filmed "A Rustic Roman Afternoon" with Patricia Sanitate. We had a great time making the Italian cuisine and sharing stories. During the show we made an Italian Kiss Cocktail, Involtini alla Romana, Gnocchi al Forno, Insalate Fine Estate, and a raspberry tart. All of the recipes will be available on my website soon. 

It is rewarding to finish filming each episode and even more so once we complete the editing. Thank you to the fabulous crew for all of your hard work. (Wendy Murphy, Mary Diaz, Corey Then and Roxy Harbitter). The episode should air in the DC area in a few months and we will continue distribution from there.

Photo by Mary Diaz