Childhood Christmas Memories … Grammy’s Chocolate Cake

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, December 23rd, 2011

Image: Analia Valeria Urani/Shutterstock

Chrystal’s Chocolate Cake

Image: Jut/Shutterstock

Cream Cheese Frosting

Taco Soup for the Soul

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, December 8th, 2011

My new winter favorite!

Two words: taco soup.

It’s a concoction that I adopted from my father, who got it from his brother, who stole it from Mr. Tumnus in the magical land of Narnia after falling through the wardrobe.

It’s magical. A recipe passed down from generation to generation; a culinary treasure so fine that it must be guarded, cherished and kept close.

Ok, here’s the deal. It’s probably the best soup you’ve ever had because A.) It’s tasty and 2.) It’s so easy that even a half-man, half-goat from a fictional, bureau-inspired world could make.

Here’s what you do.

Throw whatever you want into a pot. Those kidney beans that have been sitting in the cupboard for 2 years? Throw ‘em in. That can of diced tomatoes you bought but never used? Into the pot. Canned corn, black beans, refried beans- oh my! They all go into the pot.

Now cover with chicken stock and bring to a boil. Once it’s boiling, throw a box of pasta in with any seasoning you like. I like Mexican chili powder, cayenne, garlic, powdered ranch seasoning packets, taco seasoning… even curry powder.

Now cook all that together until the pasta is tender and voila! You’ve got a hearty, delicious soup and just gotten rid of all those cans of food you never know what to do with.

I like to sprinkle the top of mine with fresh green onion and shredded cheese. And this soup will last forever! Lunch for days!

For those of you who like to have a recipe (my boyfriend goes absolutely bonkers when I just throw stuff into a pot without guidelines. “But how do you know how much to use?!” he cries.) I’ll just write down what I used last time but keep in mind- there is a lot of creative freedom with this soup so don’t feel like you need to follow it exactly!

Ingredients:

1 can of refried beans
1 can of black beans
1 can of cannellini beans
1 can of corn
1 can chopped black olives
1 can of diced tomatoes
½ jar of spicy salsa
2 cans of chicken (they look like tuna cans)
2 boxes of chicken stock
1 box of pasta (ditalini or macaroni works really nicely!)
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 packet of powdered ranch
Any seasoning you like: cayenne, garlic powder, salt, pepper, curry, Mexican seasoning, etc…
Suggestions for garnish: chopped green onions, shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips

To make:

Put everything except the pasta into a large pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, dump in the pasta and cook until tender. One little tip- once you add the pasta, it will absorb a lot of liquid so keep the chicken stock on hand and add more as needed until it reaches your desired consistency.

It can also make a great vegetarian soup! Just swap the chicken stock for vegetable stock and leave out the chicken. Bam!

That may not have been much of a recipe but it works and it’s perfect for a chilly winter night at home! Make it and pass it on…

Enjoy!

– Jennie Whistler

Oktoberfest-fest!

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, September 30th, 2011

(Image: Kzenon/Shutterstock)

Guten Tag, Gut Checkers!

This weekend, don’t miss out on your chance to put on your lederhosen and polka your eyes out! Here’s a guide to all the Oktoberfest events going on:

Fort Belvoir Oktoberfest
September 29 – October 2 - Fremont Field, Fort Belvoir; (703)879.4088; Prices and hours vary

Octoberfest at Sweetwater Tavern in Sterling
October 1, Noon - 5 p.m. - Sweetwater Tavern, 45980 Waterview Plaza, Sterling; (571)434.6500; Free

Vienna Oktoberfest
October 1, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.  - Historic Church Street in Vienna; (703)281.1333; Free

I am planning to head to the Vienna Oktoberfest myself, where I’m promised there will be lots of great German food, live music and beer gardens galore. I can’t wait to go get my bratwurst on!

I’ll see you there!

– Jennie Whistler

Fear Factor

Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Monday, September 26th, 2011

Social anxiety does not have to follow the child throughout life.

By Renee Sklarew

Shutterstock/Qushe & Daniel Gale

When the new school year approaches, your child seems anxious. When faced with a new situation, s/he doesn’t engage with others, clings to you, or even cries when you leave. But what is wrong? And how can you help?

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports 5.2 percent of American adults have “social phobia”—people who feel uncomfortable speaking to others beyond their own family members and are fearful of new things—a psychiatric disorder that usually manifests in childhood and early adolescence.

Some common physical symptoms include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, nausea and difficulty talking. People with social phobias may seek therapeutic environments to overcome fears and anxiety.

One option is the Social Anxiety Support Group of D.C., Maryland and for SASG, says she was an extremely shy child, but today she supports adults who are nervous dealing with new people and new situations. Sunny believes parents play a key role in helping shy children gain social confidence. “How parents treat other people, and how they handle new situations, teaches children how to behave. Children learn behavior from their own parents. Social anxiety is partly genetic and partly environmental,” explains Sunny (full name withheld).

George Mason University professor Koraly Perez-Edgar, Ph.D., is an internationally known researcher studying temperamentally shy children and their psycho-physiological traits. Her research looked at children from 4 months to 19 years of age, whom she followed for exhibiting “early negative reactions”—they expressed a strong fear response to new settings and were more likely to withdraw in social situations. Perez-Edgar found that without early intervention, shy children often develop anxiety disorders.

What did parents of shy children do to successfully intervene? Perez-Edgar says, “Children who entered social environments—like daycare or frequent, manageable playdates—usually figured out how to navigate social situations for themselves.” The children who were isolated at home with a nanny or parent were more likely to remain socially inhibited.

When school starts, Perez-Edgar explains, it’s easy to identify the shy kids, because they hold back at first. Fortunately, she says, as long as a shy child makes at least one friend, s/he will likely learn how to cope and work through her/his initial anxious response. Perez-Edgar’s studies show children with the worst outcomes are those whose parents either “swooped in,” or “threw them into the deep end instead of working through it little-by-little.”

Some recommendations Perez-Edgar makes: Parents should take their shy child to visit the classroom before the first day of school, “so they can imagine themselves there before adding other kids. It’s less overwhelming.” She also suggests arranging a meeting between the shy child and other children from the class in advance. The team of researchers notes that the gradual practice of facing fears, like encouraging shy kids to ask questions in a store, helps them overcome inhibitions and gain confidence.

From personal experience, Sunny adds: “If shyness persists into the teenage years, try cognitive behavioral therapy.” Now, for the easy part: “And try telling them you love them. Giving them a hug now and then helps their self-esteem and may provide a basis for bonding with other people.”

(September 2011)

Gaylord National Resort Presents ICE! 2011 Merry Madagascar

Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

On Saturday, the Gaylord National Resort & Conference Center announced this year’s ICE! theme at its “Christmas in July” exclusive media preview. ICE! is Gaylord National’s annual attraction, featuring a life-sized, walk-through winter wonderland hand-carved from two million pounds of colorful ice. It always includes some extremely cool activities that you won’t find anywhere else, especially not this close to home. ICE! 2011 will feature DreamWorks’ “Shrek,” “Kung Fu Panda” and “Madagascar” with its “Merry Madagascar” theme. The kids will love this! Santa and his reindeer crash on the island of Madagascar and the penguins have to save Christmas by delivering all the presents. King Julien learns the true meaning of Christmas after getting on Santa’s naughty list.

Yours truly attended the media preview this weekend and had a marvelous time, as I’m sure you can see from the slideshow below. Gaylord National is an almost indescribable place, with a fancy shmancy interior and a gorgeous Potomac overlook visible through the huge glass walls of the resort. Even though I was only at the resort for a few hours, I left feeling like I had taken a weekend vacation. Although Gaylord is just on the other side of the river, it seems like a getaway spot much farther away than that.

The Christmas in July preview began with the announcement of this year’s theme accompanied by shiny streamers very suddenly popping out at the audience (which made both me and my friend jump a little) and an introduction of this year’s ICE! characters. Here’s Shrek’s memorable entrance:

Then it was party time! The Gaylord had a sushi bar extravaganza for us, and my friend and I gladly did some damage on that. The movie “Madagascar” was playing on the big screen with an old-fashioned popcorn machine popping away for the audience. Santa sat in what I like to call the ‘winter wonderland forest’ with snow (tiny bubbles) falling all around. Shrek, Alex the lion, King Julien and Po the panda roamed the room, posing for photo after photo. (Yes, I got in line with all the 5 year olds, and I am proud of it). The Gaylord National really knows how to throw a party! They even had party favors at the door: Madagascar chocolate bars! Check out the slideshow for a preview of all the delish Madagascar-themed food and drinks you could be savoring the flavoring of this holiday season! I tried my very best to taste-test almost everything, and I can definitely say I approve! 

The DreamWorks Experience Package features festive interactive character meals, character passport meet & greets, gingerbread decorating with Gingy and a DreamWorks scavenger hunt. This year, Gaylord National is adding more two-story tall ice slides than ever before! Every night, guests experience the lighting of a 60-foot glass tree and a real-life indoor snowfall along Holiday Lane. With eight outdoor ice skating rinks, live entertainment every night  and a Northern Lights show featuring a 150-foot tall light curtain hanging from the 20-story atrium, you and the kids will both find something fun to do. ICE! runs from November 18 through January 8 this holiday season.

Early bird discount tickets are on sale now!

-Rebekah Lowe

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In the mood for some light-hearted fun?

Posted by clara / Monday, June 20th, 2011

Monday, June 20, 2011

Have you heard the good news?

Crystal City BID and Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse are bringing the famous Chicago Improv Group “Second City” to the Synetic Theater stage! Mark your calendars because they’ll be in town July 15 and 16. Tickets are now on sale for $40 www.arlingtoncomedy.com.

We’re told that the new partnership is pushing its efforts toward making Crystal City a suburban center of comedy. We couldn’t be happier.

Image: Shutterstock/Laurie Barr

Also, we wish congratulations to the 1st Stage Theater in Tyson’s Corner! Their production of “Jack and the Beanstalk” won the Helen Hayes Award. Written for children and adults by DC playwright Mario Baldessari, with music by Rex Daugherty and directed by Leslie A. Kobylinski – “Jack and the Bean-Stalk” is a fun-for-the-whole-family, comic, rollercoaster ride of quirky characters, including an irreverent Cow, a crafty, bean-peddling Stranger and a saucy Hen What Lays the Golden Eggs.  Aimed at younger audiences, but with lots of laughs built in for adults, it’s a perfect fit for families who want to share the joy of live performance theater. Tickets are $15, and the production closes this Sunday, June 26. For more information, visit www.firststagetysons.org.

Photo Courtesy of Georgetown Waterfront Festival

Don’t forget this weekend is the Georgetown Waterfront Festival! They’re hosting D.C.’s largest water balloon battle. Get your super soakers and swim trunks ready, because the festivities last from Noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 26 at the Washington Harbour. The water war starts at 2 p.m. But no festival would be complete without food. Tony & Joe’s and Nick’s Riverside Grill will be serving up fresh seafood and burgers. For more information, visit www.georgetowndc.com.

–Clara Ritger

National Parks Kick Off Summer with Free Admission

Posted by clara / Friday, June 17th, 2011

Photo by Sunny Reynolds

Friday, June 17, 2011

Summer officially begins Tuesday, June 21, and the National Park Service is celebrating the start of a new season with free admission all-day. National Park Service director Jonathan B. Jarvis says, “The longest day of the year is the perfect time to take a short trip. Celebrate an extended Father’s Day with Dad, the start of summer break with the kids, or a job well done with your favorite graduate.”

The National Historic Park at Cedar Creek and Belle Grove will have their 45 minute Civil War event starting at 11:00 a.m. It will explore the effects of military campaigns on the local communities. They’ll also have their family-friendly, interactive Belle Grove in a Box Park Overview, a 30 minute program at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

In case you were wondering, the weather reports for Tuesday in the Northern Virginia area are looking up; you can expect a break from the thunderstorms with sunny skies and a high of 94 degrees! We might not be the nature gurus, but our survival guide instincts recommend that you dress in a tank top and shorts, and bring that reusable water bottle to quench your thirst.

Or, you can skip the outdoors and head to President’s Park in D.C. and see the paintings of Peter Waddell, whose artwork examines the lost world of the 19th century White House.

Plan your visit at www.nps.gov, or check out the NoVA Mag guide to Great Day Trips for more ideas on how to start your summer.

–Clara Ritger

Advice: Take It or Leave It?

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, July 12th, 2010

Monday, July 12th, 2010

While perfect moments occur in relationships, we know that perfect relationships don’t exist.

But there has to be some way of finding some type of romantic bliss, right?

As with every other subject matter, everyone always has an opinion when it comes to love and relationships, and there are always those who are all to keen on doling out the advice—even in unsolicited, mass quantities. That being said, occasionally we receive sound advice from friends, parents and experts. Still, oftentimes, we go against our better judgment and ignore it.

During my first year in NoVA, I worked for a congresswoman on Capitol Hill. It was an honest office (yes, those people exist on the Hill sometimes), and during that time, I gained valuable relationship advice from an unlikely source, my chief-of-staff.

He was frank and forthcoming, and I trusted him because he proved to be a faithful husband and a proactive father. In his position, he had countless opportunities to schmooze with lobbyists and attend event after event, but he always put his family first.

His advice: Look at my partner’s flaws, and multiply them by 10. Those small or big annoyances will only seem worse a few years down the road. Of course, people can change, but make sure I’m OK living with character flaws such as stinginess, a temper, jealousy or unresolved issues from childhood. Most of these things you can’t change.

You must have received sound advice or learned from your experiences. So share your words of wisdom by emailing me at littleredbook@northernvirginiamag.com.

–Katie

Got Dreams?

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

I teach communication courses at Northern Virginia Community College, which includes a class in public speaking. A few weeks ago I assigned a “life reflection” speech. My students were to imagine themselves at 100 years of age and reflect on their life’s accomplishments, successes, failures and regrets. Interestingly, as I heard them speak, I saw my students in a different light. Below is one of the speeches (paraphrased), which proved to be quite thought-provoking.

“I dreamed of being a singing and tap dancing star. However, my husband wanted me to live his dream, which was to raise a large family together. So, I let go of my dream of singing and dancing in order to make him happy, and we eventually had several children. Years later, he left me for another woman. Now, looking back at the age of 100, I regret letting go of my dream.”

As you can see, my student spent most of her adulthood fulfilling her husband’s vision and goals, but only by sacrificing her own dream. In every relationship, we make sacrifices both large and small. We may turn down a really great job, give up the opportunity to travel, or we might feel the urgency to establish roots and start a family. Some people locate to another city, state and or country for their partners, while others feel confined to a geographical area they may not like.

Do you believe we need to let go of our life’s goals and dreams in a relationship in order to make it work long-term? What have you sacrificed in order to sustain a relationship and to what extent? Are you prepared to make a decision that, ultimately, could affect your own goals and dreams and have no regrets at the end of the road? I’d like to hear what you think and your own experiences. Email me at littleredbook@northernvirginiamag.com.

–Katie

Xmas Wish #2

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, December 25th, 2009

Let us all remember that what’s on the table is far less important than those gathered around it.

Unless, of course, your name happens to be Clark W. Griswold:

(Video: YouTube)

Happy holiday eating, everyone!

–Warren