IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL.

Say Farewell to Winter With These Slow-Cooker Recipes

Warmer weather is on the way! And chances are, you’re probably already enjoying the spring sunshine. But there are some good things about winter—like its hearty comfort food. Close out the cold season with these warming dishes.

Crock Pot Chili [Dinners, Dishes and Desserts]
There’s nothing like a big bowl of chili to bring the cozy vibes on a chilly evening. This slow-cooker chili makes use of pantry staples like canned beans and crushed tomatoes, combined with ground beef (or turkey, if you have that on hand). Add everything to the crockpot with spices such as cumin, coriander, and, of course, chili powder, and then simply wait for dinner to be done!

Winter Vegetable Soup [A Beautiful Plate]
Spring may be known for its bounty, but the winter months also bring their fair share of fresh veggies. This colorful soup showcases a medley of them! Carrots, Yukon gold potatoes, and zucchini join forces with celery, onion, and tomatoes to create a hearty soup. Split red lentils add a punch of protein.

Beef and Vegetable Stew [Simple Seasonal]
When all else fails, this classic never will. Tender pieces of beef chuck star in the comfort food dish, alongside supporting players like potatoes, carrots, button mushrooms, and sweet onion. Combine these ingredients with beef broth and a few herbs and spices from your pantry, set the slow cooker, and go about your day until dinnertime.

Fun Facts About the Spring Equinox

If you’ve been looking forward to spring for months, great news: it’s finally here. Or at least, it’s almost here. The Spring Equinox falls tomorrow—earlier than it has in more than 100 years! In the northern part of the world, the equinox can fall any time from March 19th to the 21st, but it’s typically on the 20th or 21st.

What does this mean? Simply that we will start to enjoy longer days even earlier this year. The Spring Equinox is the longest day of the year, when the day and night are just about “equal.” And this happens all across the globe. To celebrate the Spring Equinox, consider rising with the sun tomorrow or push back dinner a bit so you can enjoy the sunset. What are you looking forward to the most about the spring season?

Toast to St. Patrick’s Day at McGinty’s Public House

This St. Paddy’s Day, experience the tastes of Ireland without the trip across the Atlantic at McGinty's Public House.  Located right here in Silver Spring, McGinty’s has been serving traditionally inspired foods and drinks in the atmosphere of an authentic Irish pub since 2006.  

McGinty’s Public House offers an array of old Irish favorites, of course, including fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, and bangers and mash. But they also have a wide range of other specialty dishes, including salads, burgers, and even spaghetti! Paired with a cocktail such as the “Irishman’s word” (Laphroaig scotch. luxcardo maraschino, green chartreuse, and lemon and lime juice) or “good tidings” (Tito's vodka, spiced rum, triple sec, homemade sour, and cranberry juice), you’re certainly in for a treat. 

With menu options available for brunch, lunch, dinner, and more, it’s the perfect stop for a meal any time, but especially as St. Patrick’s Day approaches. 

Taste What Makes All Set a Popular Restaurant in Silver Spring

If you’re in the mood for a New England-style nautical meal experience, look no further than All Set Restaurant & Bar, right here in Silver Spring. Known for putting a “contemporary twist” on seasonal ingredients, All Set truly creates an experience from a meal.

Winner of the 2017 Diners’ Choice Award, All Set offers menus for  lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch, as well as for kids, dessert, and happy hour. The average diner can choose between a variety of salads, sandwiches, and entrees, not to mention the raw bar—practically a requirement for a place with such a maritime theme. 

On the bar side of things, All Set features an assortment of house cocktails and fishbowls, plus dessert drinks, beer, and wine. Come Happy Hour (Monday through Saturday 3 pm to 6:30 pm and Sunday 1 pm to close), you can order from your choice of beers, $6 cocktails, and light fare such as a cornmeal-crusted fish taco or fried calamari.

In addition to these standard meal options, All Set also offers private dining and catering services.

Valentine’s Day Recipes for a Sweet (and Savory) February 14

A bouquet of red roses, a day at the spa, a framed photo of the two of you… Any of the above would make a fine Valentine’s Day gift, but everyone knows that the most direct way to someone’s heart is through their stomach! So if there’s one day out of the year to get in the kitchen, roll up your sleeves, and start whipping up something delicious for your S.O., it’s February 14.

Below, find unique recipe ideas to help you craft the perfect Valentine’s Day menu. Spanning sweet to savory, heart-shaped to just plain hearty, these recipes are a delicious way to say “I love you” on the most romantic day of the year.

Go with your heart. Any food can take on a Valentine’s Day theme when it’s shaped like a heart. You could treat your sweetie to breakfast in bed and serve them heart-shaped pancakes or French toast. And for dinner, you could whip up heart-shaped pizzas (if you have kids, invite them to join in on the fun!). All you need is a heart-shaped cookie cutter or pastry bag to get started.

Sate a sweet tooth. Valentine’s Day isn’t complete without something sweet! There’s no shortage of candies and desserts that you can make at home without a ton of fuss—think chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate-dipped pretzels, and chocolate truffles. Stock up on pink, red, and white sprinkles to give your desserts the proper Valentine’s Day flourish.

Sharing is caring. The most intimate meals are ones that are designed to be shared, like cheese fondue and chocolate fondue. Snuggle up close to your sweetie and take turns feeding each other bites of cheese-dipped bread and chocolaty fruit.

Anafre DC Brings Oaxacan Cuisine to Columbia Heights

Anafre DC recently opened its doors in the space that used to be Little Havana, near several other Mexican restaurants on 14th Street in Columbia Heights. Customers aren't complaining, however, as this place adds something fresh and new to the growing food scene here. While the neighborhood's other Mexican eateries tend to focus on street tacos, Anafre offers coastal Oaxacan dishes featuring plenty of seafood and fresh flavors. Popular appetizers include Yucatan shrimp tostadas and oysters al carbon con crab with jalapeno butter sauce. Main dishes range from pulpo a la parilla with chiptole sauce, to whole snapper Veracruzana. The restaurant also serves slow-smoked chicken, grilled over wood charcoal--order yours as a quarter, half, or whole chicken, depending on how many people you need to feed. 

Keep in mind that Anafre is Chef Alfredo Solis’s newest venture, so you can count on Anafre to uphold the quality and service standards you’ve come to expect from his other restaurants, Mezcalro and El Sol.

Cinepolis Gives New Meaning to ‘Dinner and a Movie’

A visit to Gaithersburg Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas shows that the movie theater experience is  still going strong. The Cinepolis team has given the building a full overhaul, refurbishing the lobby, theaters, screens, bathrooms and more. The result, according to regular patrons, is a top-tier movie theater experience at a price point well below some of the other local multiplexes. 

The Cinepolis has seven screens, meaning that there's room for multiple showings of the biggest blockbusters as well as smaller, more niche screenings. Each seat is a fully reclinable leather lounger, with in-theater waiter service at the touch of a button. And we're not just talking popcorn and soda—you’ll have access to a full bar, and food offerings ranging from pesto and goat-cheese flatbreads to Baja style tacos. Stop by on Tuesday for the theater’s Handpicked series, including classic Hollywood films, cult favorites, and more.

Simple Tips to Help You Follow Through on a New Year’s Resolution

Making a New Year’s resolution is easy—sticking to it is a whole lot harder! But with a little perseverance and a whole lot of planning, you can be on your way to making your goals for 2020 a reality, whether you’ve resolved to be more mindful of your budget, you’re seeking to stay active, or something else altogether. Now that January is almost behind us, read on for three tips to help you stick with your New Year’s resolutions.

Start small. By breaking your resolution down into smaller, more actionable goals, you can make your overall objective a little less daunting. For instance, if you’ve resolved to save $1,000 by December 2020, consider putting away $83/month or $19.23/week into a savings account. Your weekly successes will help keep you motivated, especially as you see your bank account balance grow.

Buddy up. If you’ve made a resolution to get active this year, enlist a friend or coworker to join you in your goal. Partnering with another person helps keep you accountable; you’ll be less likely to throw in the towel when you know someone else is counting on you for moral support and companionship.

Make a realistic goal. It’s okay for your resolutions to be ambitious, but they shouldn’t be so lofty that you’re setting yourself up for failure. Think of 2020 as the first year of the rest of your life. This year, you’ll be making positive changes that will set the groundwork for your future successes. Making changes to one’s lifestyle or habits should be seen as a marathon, not a sprint!

Sip and Swish at The Urban Winery in Silver Spring

Located in Silver Spring, the creative minds behind The Urban Winery believe that wine isn’t just a beverage, it’s a social occasion; it’s more than sitting back and sipping with friends and family, it’s an experience. The family-run business is open Tuesdays through Sundays and hosts a wide variety of events, from live music to sip-and-paint nights.

The Urban Winery also offers tastings and wine classes for novices to learn how to really sink into the drink and understand the complexities. They also offer wine-making events for small groups. They have a detailed wine list on their website, and if you find some bottles that sound interesting you can sign up for them to be delivered to you on a schedule. Host your private events at the Urban Winery.

DIY Holiday Gifts They’ll Be Delighted to Unwrap

They say it’s better to give than receive, but living up to the old adage can be expensive. This holiday season, keep your wallet full—and your stress level at a minimum—by going the DIY route with your gift-giving. You don’t have to be an expert crafter or pro chef to create a gift that’s memorable and meaningful, and these ideas are proof—even if you're putting them together at the very last minute! 

Put together a gift basket. Who wouldn’t want to receive a beautifully presented gift basket during the holidays? You can customize a gift basket for every recipient on your gift list, from the foodie to the spa-goer. After deciding on a theme, grab a few inexpensive wicker baskets from the craft store, then fill it with goodies that follow the theme. For the home chef, for example, you could fill the basket with a dish towel, oven mitt, gourmet non-perishables, and a cook book.

Whip up something sweet. The holiday season isn’t complete without a bite of a homemade treat, so pick a recipe that’s easy to make in large batches, and get to work! Fudge, caramels, brownies, and cookies are always welcome gifts, especially when presented in a whimsical tin or jar that can be reused after the treat is gone.

Treat them to a day at the (home) spa. Everyone could use some tranquility during hectic holiday season, so give the gift of R&R in the form of bath and body treatments. Sugar scrubs, bath bombs, and soaps are surprisingly easy to make, and the ingredients are inexpensive and readily available. Arrange the goods in a beautiful glass jar tied with a ribbon.

66 DIY Christmas Gifts to Add Heart to Your Holiday [Good Housekeeping]
85 DIY Christmas Gifts That'll Mean so Much to Your Friends and Family [Country Living]
60 DIY Christmas Presents Your Friends and Family Won't Re-Gift [House Beautiful]