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Apples Are Ripe for the Picking And Baking
Did you know that the Commonwealth of Virginia ranks sixth in the nation in apple production? According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture, "approximately $30 million will be added to the state's economy this year through the sale of fresh market apples and products such as applesauce, processed apple slices, apple butter, apple juice and cider." Apples are more than just a farmers market item; they are big business for Virginia farmers and farmers markets.
E-mail Nancy Loughin

Pass the Homemade Salad Dressing
Bottled dressings have improved in selection and taste in recent years, but they still do not compare with homemade salad dressings. In an attractive glass bowl, a salad brimming with fresh crisp greens, red and green peppers, red cabbage, ripe tomatoes, diced avocado and cucumber, topped with grated cheese, croutons, and creamy homemade dressing is the perfect end-of-summer evening meal. A hearty green salad is the perfect accompaniment to any grilled meats or fish.
E-mail Nancy Loughin

The Smart Start—Eating Breakfast
According to Fairfax County Public Schools, breakfast is the most important meal of the day—"it 'breaks' the night's 'fast' by replacing the energy reserves our body used overnight." However, according to FCPS, school-aged children, especially teens, often skip their breakfast.
E-mail Nancy Loughin

Champion Recipes at the Fairfax 4-H Fair
All of the entries for horticulture, interior design, photography and crafts were assembled last Friday night for the judging to begin at the Fairfax County 4-H Fair at Frying Pan Farm Park. This was my 11th year as a judge, and the most delicious part of the evening was judging the entries in the foods section. The judges assembled in the historic schoolhouse to taste entries, award ribbons for place finishers, and select a grand-prize winner.
E-mail Nancy Loughin

Recent Recipe Box Archives

• Prepare a Summer Treat—Fresh Fruit Pie
  Let's Go to the Farmers Market
• These Recipes 'Take the Cake'
• A Taste of Ireland for St. Patrick's Day
• Tangy Valentine's Day Treats for Your Sweet
• Remembering A World-Class Cook
• Holiday Cookies Offer a Special Treat
• Recipes Spice Up Leftover Turkey
• Winter Squash: Rich in Flavor and Nutrients
• End of Summer Brings Juicy, Ripe Tomatoes