How can one go wrong with a classic? You can’t, and especially when the recipe comes from my grandma, Mrs. Laura Hess. Grandma was a seasoned wedding cake guru and was locally known for her baking. If you were going to a wedding in the DC metro area, you could bet that the cake was [...]
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Perfect Pork Pot Roast
Do the words “pot roast” intimidate you? Don’t be afraid! Embrace the challenge and we promise, once you try this recipe you will feel like a super hero in the kitchen (and your family will be super impressed too). Pot roast can be an amazing addition to your weekend dinner repertoire when made according to [...]
Roasted Roma Tomato and Red Pepper Soup
Rainy, lazy days deserve comforting food. My roasted tomato and red pepper soup is perfect for the occasion, even during the spring and summer. What we love most about this recipe is that we got almost all of the ingredients at our local farmers market. Of course our awesome Grown up Grilled Cheese would be [...]
Garlic and Herb Chicken
This classic recipe is a staple in our house. We probably end up making our Garlic and Herb Chicken about once a week. We love it because it’s easy, which makes it the perfect weekend dinner. We pair it up a thousand ways – sometimes with a simple veggie, like our Wilted Baby Spinach, or if [...]
Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies
What do you get when you combine all-natural peanut butter, sugar, eggs, and chocolate? Only the most incredible cookie you’ll ever eat! Jason’s Grandmother, who doesn’t like peanut butter, couldn’t keep her hands out of the cookie jar. These soft and decadent cookies are super easy to make with just a couple of simple ingredients. [...]
Broccolini Crunch
The broccolini in this side dish is vibrant. It’s roasted until just a little tender, but still fresh, with a little crunch. Add some salty cashews or pine nuts to the mix and you have one incredible dish. I love to serve this up as a special side during the holidays; it’s really delicious with [...]
Red Velvet Cheesecake Bites
Every woman (and man) loves a good cheesecake. However, many of us steer clear of cheesecake with worries of the calorie count behind a huge slice. My solution is portion control – turn the big slice of cake into small bites. This allows you to enjoy the creamy, sweet deliciousness of cheesecake, but without the guilt of eating a full slice. I made these cuties for a recent girl’s night out and they were a hit. Our waiter even begged us for one.
Mini Caprese Salad Skewers
Entertaining can be really easy when you are using Tastefully Simple products. This simple but elegant salad only took me about 5 minutes to put together.
Lime in the Coconut Chicken
We all know the song, “You put the lime in the coconut and you drink them both up.” Well, I don’t even know how or why, but somehow I got the song in my head. Thankfully, it inspired me to create this really awesome chicken dinner that impressed the both of us. The rich flavor [...]
Rustico – #28 Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top 50 Restaurants
Tinsley’s Take Hiding behind the scenic drive of the George Washington Parkway in Alexandria, VA is where you will find Rustico, #28 on Northern Virginia Magazine’s top 50 restaurant list. Is the food good? Yes, it’s incredible. And I have to say that this unpretentious restaurant is quickly becoming my new favorite joint for pizza, burgers and beer. What [...]
Olive Oil Vases
Have you ever noticed how manufactures are making bottles of olive oil super sleek and eye popping? They’re really coming up with cleaver ways of making their product stand out besides the actual label. Looking at these bottles and then looking at the price that I pay for quality olive oil got me thinking - these [...]
Brown Butter Couscous with Pepitas
Okay, I already know what you’re thinking. “What? I can’t make couscous. It’s too difficult and it takes too long.” Right? So many people are afraid to make couscous, but we are here to solve this dilemma by making it easy and absolutely delicious. Pair this with our Buttery Salmon Fillets for a perfect, healthy [...]
Seed and Cheese Salad
The ingredients in my Seed and Cheese salad may sound exotic to some, but don’t worry, they’re easy to find at your local market. Pepita is just a fancy name for baby pumpkin seeds. If you can’t find pepitas, sunflower seeds make a perfect swap. Either seed would be delicious and add the perfect crunch [...]
Buttery Salmon Fillets
Salmon is an absolute favorite fish of ours. It’s protein-packed and full of heart-healthy Omega-3s. What we love the most about this fillet of fish is you really can’t mess it up. It’s a sturdy fish that can take some “abuse”, so if you’ve never made or served fish, start with salmon. Our favorite side dish [...]
Härth – #35 Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top 50 Restaurants
Tinsley’s Take: When we arrived at Härth, I was completely wowed. Finally, a restaurant that is noteworthy of being on Northern Virginia Magazine’s top 50 list. I am not going to hide it – I loved everything about Härth – from the ambiance, to the décor, to the food. The atmosphere was warm, intimate and cozy. [...]