Great Labor Day Party Recipe!

 

 

Labor Day is this Monday! It may feel like it's the end of summer and fall is sneaking up on us but that doesn't mean you can still enjoy the flavors of summer!

Try this Strawberry Angel Food Dessert! Whether you are going to a BBQ or hanging out at home this dessert is a sure hit with anybody! Only takes 30 min. to make!

Ingredients

• 1 (10 inch) angel food cake
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 quart fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1 (18 ounce) jar strawberry glaze

Get the full recipe here.

Local Restaurant Recipes!

Get a Taste of Loudoun!

Try out this delicious recipe for Lacquered Salmon on Wasabi Whipped Potatoes with Stir Fry Vegetables. Courtesy of Chef Mark Marrocco at Magnolias at the Mill.

Click for the recipe.

10 Sweet Treats Your Must Treat Yourself To In Loudoun County for Valentine's Day!

Your sweet tooth called. It'll meet you in Loudoun.

Valentine's Day is not only the day for love, but also the day of filling up with something sweet.

Here are Loudoun's County top ten sweet spots:

1. Virginia Blackberry Crumb Pie Mom's Apple Pie, Leesburg Mmmmmm...If you can't eat a handful of tangy big blackberries right off the vine, this is the next best thing! Named of of the South's Best Pies by Southern Living (June 2010).
2. Cinnamon Roll Little Apple Pastry Shop, Aldie Arguably the best cinnamon roll you'll ever taste, made from scratch daily.
3. Sticky Toffee Pudding Hunter's Head Tavern, Upperville The name of this traditional English favorite says it all. Think warm, gooey, and satisfyingly sweet.
4. Cow Puddle Cookie The Upper Crust Bakery, Middleburg A disk of pure indulgence, made with caramel and butterscotch, that melts in your mouth. It was Jackie O's favorite cookie. Need we say more?
5. Milkshake Leesburg Restaurant, Leesburg A simply delicious, creamy, old-fashioned shake. Some vigorous shopping at the nearby shops will burn off the calories!
6. The "Lola" Cookie Lola Cookies, Leesburg A cross between a fluffy gingersnap and a classic chocolate chip cookie, the Lola has an unforgettable chewy center and a slightly crispy sugary shell. It was a blue ribbon winner at the 2004 Virginia State Fair.
7. Any One of 37 Pies Hill High Country Store, Round Hill Choose your favorite, then choose from 36 more. If you're wondering, we're partial to the Caramel Apple Walnut. Slices are available but why not take home a whole pie?
8. Chocolate Dipped Marshmellos Mello Out, Middleburg Homemade marshmellos in peppermint, lemon, orange, vanilla, and almond - some dipped in chocolate!
9. World's Smallest Sundae Lightfoot Restaurant, Leesburg A mini-version of the traditional - vanilla bean ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and chopped roasted peanuts, perfectly topped with a cherry.
10. Warm Flourless Chocolate Waffle Sweetwater Tavern, Sterling This decadent chocolate waffle contains just the right amount of richness, served warm, and topped with vanilla ice cream. 

Candy Cane Leftovers? We have the perfect recipe!

The Holidays are over and 2012 is here!

Have lots of candy canes leftover from the holidays? Need to get rid of them? No problem! Check out this wonderfully delicious Candy Cane Cocoa Recipe! The best part is...it's easy and takes no time at all! YUM! :)      

Candy Cane Cocoa

Original Recipe Yields 4 (1 cup) servings

Ingredients

• 4 cups milk
• 3 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 4 peppermint candy canes, crushed
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 4 small peppermint candy canes

Directions

1. In a saucepan, heat milk until hot, but not boiling. Whisk in the chocolate and the crushed peppermint candies until melted and smooth. Pour hot cocoa into four mugs, and garnish with whipped cream. Serve each with a candy cane stirring stick.          

     

Enjoy!

Local Loudoun County Recipes!

Check out some of the local Loudoun County Chef's recipes!  

My personal favorite...Market Salamander Signature Crab Cakes courtesy of Chef Vaughn Skaggs.

Market Salamander Signature Crab Cakes

Ingredients

• 3 lbs jumbo lump crab meat, drained on cheese cloth, hold very cold
• 1 lb back fin crab meat, drained on cheese cloth, hold very cold
• 1/3 cup chives, chopped fine
• 3/4 cup crab cake dressing, chilled (recipe follows)
• 2 TB Panko
• Salt and pepper to taste

Crab Cake Dressing

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 Tsp Old Bay seasoning
• 1 TB whole grain mustard
• 1 oz lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Pick all crab meat, separating lump and jumbo lump crab meat.
2. Add all ingredients to lump crab meat.
3. Season jumbo and lump crab meat separately.
4. Taste both mixtures, adjust seasoning according to taste.
5. Combine meat mixtures by gently folding them in together, being careful not to break the jumbo lumps.
6. Form cakes into 4 oz patties.
7. Pan sear in clarified butter or grape seed oil.

Enjoy and don't forget to check out more local Loudoun County recipes!