What Are You Doing For Labor Day?

This weekend is Labor Day Weekend and I can’t wait! I always wait for this weekend to roll around because I spend it at home in my apartment at Carlyle Station. While that may sound a little boring it’s not. Why?

I invite some friends and neighbors over and we all celebrate the holiday weekend together. It’s a lot of fun actually. We do something different each year, last year we hung out by the pool one day then cooked together the next. Actually every year we cook, we create a Labor Day menu and everyone brings an item for the meal.

This year we’re  having a Portobello and Asparagus Salad with Fried  Chicken and for dessert we’re making a Lemon Ricotta Granita!

What are you doing for Labor Day?

Beer Week in DC!

This week you can learn about beer culture or just celebrate it! DC is having their celebration to Beer…it’s Beer Week in DC! It’s a 10 day event and it started this past weekend. No worries if you weren’t aware, just fall into step! You can enjoy any night of this week!

Please be responsible and don’t drink and drive. You can simply take the Commuter Rail!

Tuesday	8-24
Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe “Brooklyn Brawl” Beer and Cheese Tasting.	1517 Conn. Ave., NW Washington DC 20036
Wednesday	8-25
DC Bread and Brew presents Lagunitas Beer Dinner: ” Six beers and Six Plates”	Call 202-466-2676 for reservations
Thursday	8-26
The Reef presents “Rogue Ales Oyster Fest”	446 18th Street, NW Washington DC, 20009
Friday	8-27
The Black Squirrel Get yourself to Adam’s Morgan and meet the brewer of Flying Dog	2427 18th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20009 (202) 232-1011
Saturday	8-28
RFD FIRKIN SPECTACULAR!!!	810 7th St. NW Washington, DC 20001

Guac anyone?

Chipolte Mexican Grill has quickly become a favorite of mine. With their good tastes and inventive ways too , they are definitely a restaurant not to be reckoned with.

My  favorite dish at Chipolte are their burrito bowls. I enjoy their black beans and steak in my burrito bowl, the season on the steak is very good. Being opened for now17 years, you must know that Chipolte is doing something good.  What’s your favorite dish at Chipolte?

Chipolte

7311 Sudley Manor Dr.

Manassas VA, 20109

Photo by tastymeat

Keeping those Portions under Control!

Since I’ve moved into my apartment at Carlyle Station Apartment Homes I’ve really tried eating healthier. I’ve bought more fruits and vegetables also I’ve been using better techniques when I cook (grilling, steaming, etc.).

Eating healthy doesn’t always include eating healthy foods. One needs to remember to keep their portions under control. You can trying having “6 small meals” throughout the day but if you overload yourself 6 times you’re not eating healthy.  You could also try for 3 meals only but if you do the same by overloading yourself, what’s the point?

I’ve found a great reference for portion control that you should try!

• 1 teaspoon = tip of your thumb
• 1 tablespoon = 1/2 ping pong ball
• 1/2 cup = 1/2 baseball or rounded handful
• 1 cup = about the size of a closed fist or baseball
• 1 to 2 ounces of nuts or snack food = one handful
• 1 ounce of cheese = size of your thumb or four dice
• 3 ounces of meat = a deck of cards, a cassette tape or the palm of your hand
• 1 medium piece of fruit = tennis ball or your fist
• 2-inch slice of melon = width of three fingers
• 3-ounce bagel = hockey puck

Photo by cproppe

Support Battalion 504

Are you a Car or Truck show fan? What about bikes? Applebee’s on Liberia Ave will have a Car, Truck, and Bike Show show on Saturday from 9 AM – 3 PM. Lake Jackson VFD is hosting this event to help Battalion 504. Give your support to Battalion 504 and let’s go to the show!

The LJVFD will provide hot dogs and refreshments!

Are you planning on going to this event?

Address:
9501 Liberia Ave.  | Manassas, Virginia | 20110

6th Annual Manassas Wine & Jazz Festival

Mark your calendars because June 20th is a big day in Manassas! 19 Virginia wineries will be at the 6th Annual Manassas Wine and Jazz Festival on June 20th from 11 AM to 6 PM at the Harris Pavilion.

So many Manassas residents have made this a Father’s Day tradition. The festival encourages you to bring lawn chairs or a blanket for the day to relax. Lunch will be available from different vendors and jazz music will be playing all day. Historical Manassas Inc. sponsors this event and a favorite pianist, Marcus Johnson, will be here.

This festival is a favorite and great place for visitors to buy artwork and really experience the wines of Virginia. You can purchase tickets at the Old Town Visitors Center in the train depot or the Opera House Gifts and Gourmet.

Are you going to the Wine and Jazz Festival?

Reference:

Scarton: It’s My Town

Happy Hour

Treat yourself to a nice treat. It’s “Happy Hour” this week at Starbucks. Stop in and get yourself a Starbucks Frappuccino for half the price between 3 – 5 PM until May 16th.  They even let you make your own flavor…so I might be getting 2 this week!

What’s your favorite Frappuccino flavor?

• Mocha Frappuccino
• Java Chip Frappuccino
• Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino
• Caramel Frappuccino
• Coffee Frappuccino
• Espresso Frappuccino
• Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino
• Chai Frappuccino
• Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino
• Green Tea Frappuccino
• Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino
• Syrup Flavored Creme Frappuccino
• Soy Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino
• Mocha Light Frappuccino

Our Starbucks near Carlyle Station…

Manassas
8329 Sudley Road
Manassas, VA 20109
(703) 331-0066

Old Town Manassas Farmers’ Market

Many of you enjoy this… Old Town Manassas Farmer’s Market! It’s almost here! The first day of the market starts on Thursday, April 29th until November 4th (7am – 1pm). The Saturday Market will start on May 4th and run every Saturday until October 30th (7:30am – 2:30pm).

For 24 years, this market has carried fresh and local produce! The Thursday market is located inside the Harris Pavilion and the Saturday Market is located in parking lot B (next to the Train Depot).

Free parking is available at the new parking garage on Prince William Street! Some of the vendors include: Becky’s Pastries, Hondo Coffee, C & T Produce, Garden Gate Farms, Melissa’s Sweets, Jose’s Produce, and many more.

I can’t wait to get my fresh veggies! What’s your favorite vendor at the market?

Reference:

• Historic Old Town Manassas

Mac & Cheese Lovers!

Need a quick and easy dinner? Try Rachael Ray’s Mac and Cheddar Cheese with Chicken and Broccoli! This recipe takes 25 minutes to make. So look out mac & cheese, you’re being replaced!

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
• 1 pound chicken breast tenders, chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 pound macaroni elbows or cavatapi corkscrew shaped pasta twists
• 2 1/2 cups raw broccoli florets, available packaged in produce department
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 3 cups yellow sharp Cheddar
• 1 tablespoon prepared Dijon mustard

Directions:

Place a pot of water on to boil for macaroni.

Heat a medium pan over medium to medium high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil and chicken and season with salt and pepper. Saute a couple of minutes then add onion and cook another 5 to 7 minutes until onions are tender and chicken is cooked through. Turn off heat and reserve.

To boiling pasta water, add pasta and salt to season the cooking water. Cook 5 minutes, then add broccoli and cook 3 minutes more or until pasta is cooked to al dente and florets are just tender.

While pasta cooks, heat a medium sauce pot over medium heat. Add butter and melt, then add flour, cayenne and paprika and whisk together over heat until roux bubbles then cook a minute more. Whisk in milk and stock and raise heat a little to bring sauce to a quick boil. Simmer sauce to thicken about 5 minutes.

Drain macaroni or pasta and broccoli florets. Add back to pot and add chicken to the pasta and broccoli.

Add cheese to milk sauce and stir to melt it in, about a minute or so. Stir in mustard and season sauce with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over chicken and broccoli and cooked pasta and stir to combine. Adjust seasonings, transfer to a large serving platter and serve.

A Guide to the Best of Manassas

Thanks to its rich history, there’s a great deal to explore in Manassas.

First, a visit to historic Old Town Manassas is a must. You’ll find wonderful art and antique shops, as well as great restaurants and sidewalk cafes such as Okra’s Louisiana Bistro and La Capilla.

The Manassas National Battlefield Park is another must-see attraction. The park preserves the site of two major American Civil War battles. Be sure to see the famous Stone House, used a hospital during both battles.

Touring the Ben Lomond Manor House & Rose Garden, located at 10311 Sudley Manor Drive, is another great way to spend an afternoon. The house dates back to 1832 and boasts a spectacular rose garden featuring varieties developed before the 20th century.

Last but not least, check out The Manassas Museum. The 7,000-square-foot building houses temporary and permanent historical exhibits and artifacts from the Northern Virginia Piedmont area.

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