Spring Pasta Salad

The Longer it Sits, the better it gets!

Just because we’re stuck at home, doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy seasonal eats! Most farmers markets are still open, and you can even source directly from some farms in the area. Check out Future Harvest’s interactive map of both options here. The markets are practicing safety by enforcing social distancing in lines and picking the items for customers instead of the serve yourself method. Grab some spring things and make a big bowl of this pasta salad to have for lunch during the week, which gets even better the longer it hangs out in the fridge!

Snap. Crackle. Crunch. Quarantine.

Well, we are two weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic self isolation in Washington, DC. It’s been a very traumatic time for the DC food industry, and the food industry worldwide. I urge you to order take-out or delivery from your favorite restaurants, if they are offering it, or consider buying a gift card to those restaurants and businesses forced to close. Additionally, you can find an online tip jar for our service industry friends here, and an aggregated list of all food and beverage delivery/take-out options in your area here.

For the soul

Ah, chicken soup. It’s a comfort classic with powers of healing and nostalgia. I grew up on Campbell’s Chicken and Stars, and I still find myself reaching for the can when cold season takes me victim. Better than Chicken and Stars? Homemade. If you set yourself up for success, homemade chicken soup is simple and oh so satisfying. I always have homemade stock and some kind of chicken in my freezer, and some sort of hearty vegetables in my crisper. I replaced noodles with zucchini for this version because I find that when I store chicken noodle soup in my fridge for leftovers, the noodles soak up all the broth and I’m left with mushy pasta and no broth. More on this later.*