Grocery shopping. Next to the home mortgage, it’s probably your family’s biggest monthly expense. According to the USDA, the average family of four spends $239 a week on what they call a “moderate” cost food plan. That’s almost $1,000 a month. Wow, that’s a hefty sum. Is there a way to save at the market? Well, you could diligently cut out, sort, and try to use dozens of coupons each week, but that often results in deals on items or…
My youngest daughter and I recently completed a Dulles airport run (to drop off my oldest daughter and my mother for a summer trip to London) and on the way home I suggested a dinnertime stop at the Barbara Fritchie Restaurant on the western edge of Frederick, Md. “Ohh, that place with the noodle soup – and the big candy cane outside?” asked my daughter. Yes. The very same. The invitation was excitedly accepted. As we sat in the diner…
There are some foods that instantly transport you to a specific place and time the moment you eat them. They trigger specific memories (both good and bad) the second that familiar taste hits your tongue. For me, one of those foods is Gibble’s potato chips. As soon as a bag is opened and I smell that heady aroma of lard and salt, I am an 11-year old kid again, sitting on my father’s front porch at a summer family reunion. …
Today I want to spend a few minutes to celebrate one of the luxuries and benefits of living in the four-state area – the local produce stand. I’m not talking about a once a week “farmer’s market” – set up in some parking lot or old warehouse building. Sure those are great, but I’m speaking now about hard working local farmers who offer up fresh and local produce on a day-to-day basis – usually right on site at their farms…
There are many topics that can polarize a family, a town, or even a nation into opposing factions. Unlike the presidential cycle (which happens every four years), I know of a particular conflict that erupts almost every year, beginning in late May and lasting well into September. That’s right, America, I’m talking about the debate over iced tea – “sweet” vs. “unsweet”. Each side has its ardent supporters, and the fight also seems to be regionalized, based upon where one…
There are few things in life more satisfying than a hot, fresh doughnut. You know the kind I mean. You pull it out of the box or bag – it’s still warm – and the glaze is still melting into a beautiful and sweet translucent coating that covers your fingers as they sink ever slightly into that soft and delicious dough. Your nose takes in that wonderful aroma and your mouth waters in anticipation as you lift it to your…
The return of hot, summer weather to Maryland means many things to me, but one of my favorite summer traditions is sitting down to eat some delicious Maryland Blue crabs. Pounding crabs is as Maryland as one can get. It’s more identifiable with the state than the Preakness, the Orioles, Ocean City, or National Bohemian beer (or “Natty –Boh” for those of you not in the know). Don’t get me wrong, I like all types of seafood. Mussels? Sure. Oysters? …
For most of us, I’m guessing that going to the grocery store is a weekly chore that must be done each week in order to ensure that there is food at home. You don’t hear a lot of people saying “I can’t wait until Saturday so I can see if the Bush’s Baked Beans are on sale” or any other such phrase that indicates great anticipation of a shopping trip. Listen to how we even express it – “I HAVE…
The news has been flooded lately with stories on the recent cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), better known as Food Stamps. Recently, a temporary boost to the SNAP program (enacted by the 2009 Recovery Act) ended, decreasing monthly assistance benefits to some 47 million Americans. 87% of these families consist of children, seniors, or people with disabilities. Following the recent cuts, a family of four eligible for the SNAP program now receives @ $632/month. That’s $5.20 per…