Not just any pie. Mom’s Apple Pie Company’s RASPBERRY AND PEACH PIE!
YUM.
Mom’s Apple Pie Company, located in Occoquan, is nestled in the quaintest of riverfront areas and is housed in…well…an old-school house.
Their pie is banging.
My girl Emily hooked me up with a pie from them to do a little taste testing.
The taste testing will commence this evening and the detailed resulted will be posted on here tomorrow.
Stay tuned for the pie taste-off.
“But Paulie, It’s your favorite!” — Paulie Bleeker’s mom in Juno
Yes, it may be Paulie’s favorite, but its mine as well. I just devoured some chocolate-chip pancakes and now have inspiration to share with you a simply delicious easy-to-make breakfast dishes.
Crepes
A favorite of Le French, its a super simple recipe that can be put in the fridge for about a week. They’re so easy to make you might as well keep some batter around for comfort food or when you don’t feel like cooking.
Next, whisk all the ingredients together while heating up a pan on medium heat. Pour about 1/3 a cup into the hot skillet and do a little 180 with the pan to evenly coat its surface. Cook for about 2 min on each side and top with strawberries, Nutella, or powered sugar.
photo courtesy of flickr user Luke H
There are very few comfort foods that rock my word.
That being said, I have a few favorites.
Pancakes.
Steak and Mashed Potatoes.
Steak and Cheese.
Quiche.
oh, and French Toast.
There are some very good places to get all of these, especially in the Fairfax, VA area.
And a really great website, The Loop, is a perfect solution for a food quandary
Hint: this where you should go check out the website.
But, to save you the clicking, at least for right now….
Pancakes and French Toast (I would say IHOP but we’re talking quality here…)
– Metro Diner
– The Sweet Life Cafe
Steak and Mashed Potatoes
For Budgeters:
– Outback Steakhouse
– Damon’s Grill
– P.J. Skidoo’s
For Splurgers:
– Coastal Flats
– Ruth Chris Steakhouse
– Longhorn Grill
Steak and Cheese:
– Steak n’ Things
– Elie’s Deli
Quiche…well, for quiche you’re kind of out of luck but there are simple recipes to follow.
Are you looking for a fast breakfast on your way to your 10:30 am class and you’re already late?
Ooohhh, that was a little Alanis Morrisette. I apologize.
Regardless, there’s one thing you need to know: mini frittatas.
Better than fried egg with cheese, better than microwaving your scrambled eggs (gross), and better than frying some bacon on the side.
It’s all in one.
A frittata is an unfolded omelet that has veggies and meat in it.
In my version, I use eggs, cheese, and bacon. AND cook them in bite-size eatable pieces by putting them in a mini muffin tin!
Here’s the ingredients:
The steps are really easy, make these frittatas ahead of time and zap them in the morning for a good-to-go meal. To start: preheat oven to 375 degrees
To get a little fancy try adding different ingredients like bell peppers, spinach, and ham for a low-fat option.
photo credit: Me!
Yes. Brownie. Muffins.
To finish off this week’s guilty delights features I’m giving you the recipe that 
will be melt in your mouth delicious.
There are two ways to make this happen — the box way or the homemade way.
I fancy the box way, just because you add your own little touches here and there and essentially cut the prep time in half. Oh how Sandra Lee would be SO proud!!
But here’s the basics for the easy peasy way to brownie muffins. Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees F
To top it off….make a simple chocolate ganache by melting dark chocolate bars in the microwave but be careful! Chocolate, like butter, burns very quickly. Once the brownie muffins are done, dip the tops into the ganache and let it set.
And a pat of butter and you’re in for a muffin that looks like its from Willy Wonka’s factory.
photo credit: twisted_karolina
What is the perfect end note to a Chinese food meal?
If you’re old school and ordering take-out, its usually fortune cookies (that may or may not be stale).
But, with some simple steps you can have a nice twist on a Chinese favorite: the wonton
.
My favorite treat from delivery places like China Garden or Eastern Cafe is a crab wonton (sometimes call rangoon) which is essentially a deep fried concoction of crab meat and cream cheese. This is NOT a low-fat dish, but it’s well worth the calories and the hour you’ll spend at the gym the next day.
The dessert version is the same concept: Nutella Wontons
**NOTE: Nutella is a chocolate hazelnut spread that’s from Europe but can be found in any grocery store. The French typically spread it on croissants for a chocolatey breakfast.**
Psst! For an extra treat, sprinkle powdered sugar on top to give these a little more sweetness.
I have decided to indulge this week in confectionery delights in the D.C. Metro area.
What comes to mind when you think about Easter? Gigantic chocolate bunnies? Oozy Peeps that have been out in the sun too long?
I think about one thing: cupcakes.
And the best cupcake shop ever. These ain’t your grandmas cupcakes either.
Located in a quaint corner of M Street in Northwest D.C. (a block away from The Shops at Georgetown)
Described as “happiness in the palm of your hand” boasts the most picturesque, ideal, fluffy, creamy, buttery, and all 
other mouth-watering adjectives you can think of, cupcakes.
There’s a special daily cupcake menu depending on what day of the week, as well as monthly specialties. However, no matter what day of the week you visit this little shop of heaven you can find these favorites
My favorite?
By far the Lemon Blossom cupcake: light lemon cupcake with a lemon cream cheese frosting topped with a candied lemon peel.
photo by Serena McClain
Bernie’s Deli, Noodles & Company, Foster’s Grille
Bernie’s Deli
Location: intersection of School St. & Chain Bridge, Fairfax, VA
Offers: deli sandwiches, hot meals, desert fare
Noodles & Company
Location: 10296 Main St., Fairfax, VA (next to TJ Maxx)
Offers: Wisconsin Mac & Cheese, Indonesian Peanut Saute, Pad Thai
Foster’s Grille
Location: 1
0427 North St., Fairfax, Va
Offers: “mouthful” monster charburgers, hand-cut fries, hot wings, beer.
photos by: James M. Thresher, Noodles & Co., Foster’s Grille
Have some extra time this week?
Want to make a delicious dinner that’s no hassle?
Try this: make some chicken enchiladas when you’ve got a spare 45 minutes, stick ’em in the freezer and pop ’em in the oven once you want to nosh on some cheesy goodness.
Seriously. It’s that easy.
To make a pan of chicken enchiladas that yields 8 servings, here’s the recipe.
The steps to make this easy meal are just as simple:
Pop in the freezer or eat them right then.
To re-heat, put uncovered baking dish in oven @ 350 for 15 minutes.
photo credit: B. Crocker
Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Wizards
Yesterday, President Obama went to the Bulls vs. Wizards game. The typical working man, who just happens to be our president, visited the Verizon Center. Which makes me think, would Obama prefer a Verizon Center hot dog, or a big old salty pretzel? (I’m sure the kid has utterly NO idea who he is sitting next to.)
Personally, as a Washington Capitals hockey fan — I’m an advocate for the jalapeno nachos. But, that is only because jalapeno nachos and hockey hold the same sentiments for me. They’re both spicy, can get a little bit heated, and always finish with a bang.
Different sporting events call for different foods.
Soccer games make me think of juice boxes and orange slices, but that’s because I was 5-years-old when I played soccer. At a professional soccer game I would assume that you would eat fries or something. I wouldn’t know.
At a baseball game, its hands down a hot dog and a over-priced beer.
However, at a basketball game I think there’s an even tie between hot dogs and soft pretzels.
Verizon Center has some of the juiciest hot dogs and the saltiest of pretzels. The two reign supreme when it comes to indulging in gluttony that is a sporting event.
While we know Obama’s preference (Bulls over Wizards). Perhaps he’ll demonstrate bipartisanship with the two fan favorite basketball treats?
photo credits: girlychimp, zachstern
