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Month: September 2016

October has Finally Arrived! Give Me Some Apple Butter!

October has Finally Arrived! Give Me Some Apple Butter!

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Finally, my favorite month of the year is upon us!  Ahhh, October, I do love thee.  Cooler weather, changing leaves, and fall foods abound.  One of my favorite seasonal condiments/spreads at this time of year is apple butter. So what is apple butter?  Well, it’s kind of like a jam or jelly, made by stewing down apples, apple cider, sugar, and spices until it becomes a golden brown, smooth, and buttery consistency.  Slap a swath of it on your morning…

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Fall Getaways: Savage River Lodge

Fall Getaways: Savage River Lodge

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Fall is the perfect time of year to take a short “getaway” vacation.  Whether it be a weekend or just for a day or two during the week, a few days away from work and home can relax and rejuvenate even the most stressed out soul.  At this time of the year, there are few better places I can think of to relax and unwind than the Savage River Lodge (near Frostburg, MD). Just getting there is therapeutic.  You leave…

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Roasted Vegetables: ‘Tis The Season

Roasted Vegetables: ‘Tis The Season

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Now that the summer weather has officially “broken” into cooler fall temperatures, there are many seasonal things I look forward to at this time of year, like sleeping with the windows open to catch the cool night air, listening to the leaves crunch under my feet as I walk, sweatshirts, and in the kitchen – roasted vegetables. Almost any vegetable will do (although “root” vegetables work best), and it’s so easy.  First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Chop up…

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Fall Foliage: Time to Plan Your Travel for Peak Color this Autumn

Fall Foliage: Time to Plan Your Travel for Peak Color this Autumn

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Autumn officially began on September 22nd.  The sun is arcing lower across the sky every day.  Soon, the evenings will be cool, the mornings crisp, and the trees will respond with their annual show of beautiful fall color. But when will that perfect weekend be to take a drive to see it all?  Fear not, dear friends – for I am here to help.  The internet is a glorious place, full of all kinds of useful information.  Believe it or…

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The Kitchen Shoppe: A Wonderland of Gadgets and Gizmos

The Kitchen Shoppe: A Wonderland of Gadgets and Gizmos

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As someone who loves to cook, I love to putz around in a well-stocked kitchen shop.  I never know what new tool or utensil will catch my eye and have me longing for yet another addition to my kitchen arsenal.  Now, I’ve found a new spot to get lost in for hours and dream of culinary possibilities. The Kitchen Shoppe in Carlisle, PA. Located just off of Exit 52 from I-81 (about 20 minutes from Harrisburg), this unique store has…

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Experience Fall Color and Autumn Surprises in Western Maryland: A Three Day Road Trip

Experience Fall Color and Autumn Surprises in Western Maryland: A Three Day Road Trip

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Autumn is such a glorious season.  There is no better way to enjoy the beauty of nature’s annual colorful splendor than embarking on a long, leisurely drive to nowhere.  The air is cool and crisp – sweeping vistas are filled with a kaleidoscope of reds, oranges, and yellows, and the adventure of the open road beckons the curious traveler.  What sights, sounds, and tastes wait around the next bend?  Does it seem like a far-away fantasy? Western Maryland has what…

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Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

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Man, I love to make (and taste) a big pot of soup.  It’s so warming, welcoming, and homey – especially as the season turns from summer to fall.  You can’t go wrong with a pot of soup, and most are very easy to make.  Here’s my recipe for chicken noodle (one of my kids’ favorites).  I just made a pot of this yesterday and it’s gone already.  Try it out at your house and see how many fans you create….

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The Slow Cooker: The Solution for a Busy Family’s Dinner Dilemma

The Slow Cooker: The Solution for a Busy Family’s Dinner Dilemma

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It happens every fall all over the four-state area.  The kids are back in school and sports and your calendar now looks like a jumbled mass of dates and times.  One goes here, one goes there – oh, and don’t forget your church meeting or club gathering.  When will you ever find the time to make dinner when everyone is going in ten different directions? Ahhh, but there is hope.  A kitchen gadget you no doubt already have in your…

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Get Out and Walk – It’s Good For You

Get Out and Walk – It’s Good For You

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From the looks of the weather forecasts, it appears that the oppressive heat of this summer will finally take a break in the next week or two (hopefully for good this year), so it’s time to start thinking about fall-weather activities. The Four-State area is blessed with many pristine and beautiful spots to do the simplest form of exercise imaginable – walking. Whether it be on the C&O Canal, the Western Maryland Rail Trail, a city or county park, or…

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The Honeycrisp Apple: Back For Another Delicious Season

The Honeycrisp Apple: Back For Another Delicious Season

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Ahhh, September.  You mean so many things.  The kids are back in school, the summer is ending, and my favorite month – October – is just around the corner.  September also signals the return of my favorite fruit – the Honeycrisp apple. You can have your Red Delicious, your Granny Smith, and your Fuji.  For my money, there is no better apple out there than the Honeycrisp.  It’s sweet, firm, crispy, juicy, and wonderful to eat all by itself. The…

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