Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Fort Dupont Park in DC



  Open from dusk until dawn 365 days a year, Fort Dupont encompasses 376 wooded acres that make up one of the largest parks in Washington. Picnics, nature walks, a hiker/biker trail, scenic drives, a Civil War earthworks fort, Civil War programs, gardening, summer concerts, ice skating, sports, environmental education, and youth programs are among the varied seasonal activities at this spacious area east of the Anacostia River. Enjoy a day in the park!


 

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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Free Movie Night




The Crystal City BID hosts a free outdoor film festival every Monday in the summer. With the help of Moonflicks, a courtyard in Crystal City is transformed into a movie theater. There is no better place to meet friends, bring a picnic, and enjoy an evening under the stars. Past movie themes have included By the Numbers (number-related movies), Star Trek, and Superheroes. This is a cool place to check out a movie.

August 5        The Help
August 12      Jaws
August 19      Inception
August 26      Jurassic Park

Location: Crystal City Metro  1750 South Clark Street  Arlington, Virginia



It is our pleasure to provide this information. If you are traveling to the Washington DC area and require corporate housing in Washington DC or are in need of military housing Washington DC please consider Stay Attache.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Perseid Meteor Shower



Every year in August, Earth passes through a cloud of dust released off the Comet Swift-Tuttle.  Then, Perseid meteoroids will hit our atmosphere at break-neck speeds. This produces the annual light show that is a favorite of many sky watchers. The best viewing will be on August 12 and 13.  So, grab a comfortable lawn chair, maybe a blanket, and find a location away from the city lights to see the best show.  This year, experts are saying the shower could produce as many as 100 viewings per hour.


It is our pleasure to provide this information. If you are traveling to the Washington DC area for an extended stay or are in need of military housing Washington DC please consider Stay Attache.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Making Homemade Pasta



It's Italian night at home and there’s nothing better than the smell of garlic, onions and tomatoes simmering on the stove! Ladle the rich sauce on your favorite pasta and you’re in for a healthy treat.  Sure, you can pick up a package of fresh pasta at the grocery store, but trust me….it’s still not the same as making your own homemade noodles. The taste is amazingly different and the silky texture is incredible. Now, you may be thinking, “There is no way that I could ever make my own pasta, that’s for those experts! “. Don’t be intimidated…it’s really not that difficult to make your own pasta at home.  The ingredients are simple, so inexpensive, and in less than 10 minutes you’ll have the dough made.

Pasta

3 cups all-purpose flour
4 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2-4 tablespoons water as needed

I like to use a counter top mixer with a dough hook (it only takes about 5 minutes). If you make it by hand, you still put the dry ingredients in the bowl, then add beaten eggs and olive oil and mix until dough is almost formed, you’ll need to add water a couple of tablespoons at a time until the dough forms into a ball. Finish by shortly kneading it on a floured board and then wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes. Cut dough in 4 pieces and work one dough ball at a time. Make sure you recover the dough that is waiting so it doesn’t dry out. Roll through a pasta machine and cut with the noodle attachment or roll out with a rolling pin until about 1/16”, roll up the pasta like a pinwheel and then cut with a knife.  Drop the pasta into boiling salted water and it will be done when the noodles float. Drain and serve with your favorite sauce.



 

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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Easy Mexican Rice Recipe



If you’ve been out to your favorite Mexican restaurant and love the delicious rice, you can make the same dish in your own kitchen. Here’s an easy recipe that works as a nice side dish. Grill some fish, beef or chicken….make a few tacos, add a side of beans and you have a delicious meal!
Hint: This can easily be made in a rice cooker.  You still want to brown the rice on the stove. When it’s time to add the tomato sauce, broth and cilantro, you’ll then place all the ingredients into the rice cooker and cook as you would normally do for steamed rice.

Ingredients
  • 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 1 cup long grain rice, uncooked
  • 1 tsp. fresh minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp. cumin
  • 1/2 c. tomato sauce
  • 1 (14 oz) can chicken broth or stock
  • 3 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh cilantro

  • Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the rice and gently stir until rice begins to lightly brown. Add the garlic, salt, and cumin and stir the rice until it looks golden. Add the tomato sauce, chicken broth, and cilantro and turn the heat up to medium high. Bring the mix to a boil then turn the heat to low and cover the pan with a lid. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Serves 4.



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