Butternut Squash Soup: Guest Blogger, Pinzimini Restaurant

With the busy holiday season upon us, local restaurant Pinzimini offers seasonal specialties to inspire you to recharge. Located in The Westin Arlington Gateway, Pinzimini will entice your taste buds with menu selections such as their seasonal Butternut Squash Soup or specialty Falling Leaf Martini, helping you to feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

The chefs at Pinzimini encourages you to “wow” your guests this holiday season by offering their recipe for their Butternut Squash Soup.

Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients :
1 lb. butternut squash
8 oz. carrot
8 oz. onion
8 oz. celery
1 clove of garlic
2 quarts chicken or vegetable stock
2 cups heavy cream
½ tsp cinnamon
⅓ cup honey
½ cup butter
⅓ cup pomace oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation
Peel the butternut squash and cut into wedges.
Toss squash with pomace oil.
Roast at 350ºF until light golden and tender.

In a soup pot, sauté garlic clove, 8 oz. carrot, 8 oz. celery and 8 oz. onion with ½ cup butter.
Add the roasted butternut squash.
Add 2 quarts of chicken/vegetable stock.
Simmer for about 10 minutes.
Add 2 cups of heavy cream.
Simmer for 5 minutes.
Add ½ tsp. cinnamon, ⅓ cup honey, and salt & pepper.

Blend all ingredients using a hand mixer. Add additional seasoning as needed.

Pinzimini will be featuring a special three and four course menu on Thanksgiving Day for both lunch and dinner. The menu will include seasonally-inspired dishes to start the holiday season off on the right foot. For Pinzimini dining reservations, please call 703.537.4200, or visit http://www.pinzimini.com/.

Market Extended until October 26th!

The Ballston-VA Square Partnership is pleased to announce that we've extended our market to run through the end of October (last market: friday 10/26).

That gives you shoppers two extra weeks to get your glorious fall produce, baked goods and gourmet sauces and spreads.


Both of our farm stands will be selling an array of pumpins and gourds for your halloween/fall festivities. Also pickup acorn squash, corn, figs, concord grapes and eggplant.


Tysons farm has over 7 varieties of apples..tis the season for baking apple pies!

Also stock up on Hondo coffee. If you're addicted like I am, keep in mind that after October, the market doesn't reopen until May 2008!


and Lunchgoers can continue to picnic with fresh fruit, veggies and yummy empanadas from Grace's pastries..

see you at the square!

recipe time!

I bought a couple of small eggplants at the market last week and came up with this quick and super-easy recipe for a curried eggplant dish. Total cooking time including prep: 30minutes..move over Rachael Ray!

Curried Eggplant:

(serves 2)

1 large or 2 small eggplants

1 medium onion

2tbsp. olive oil

1 cup chicken broth

1tbsp. curry powder

1/4 cup raisins

1 cup couscous (or rice)

Cut off the top of the eggplant(s) and cut the remainder into 1" cubes. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Toss the eggplant in to get it started.

Chop onion and throw that into the skillet. Let the two sautee together until the onion is clear and the eggplant is tender (7-10 minutes).

Next toss in the raisins and the curry powder and sautee for 1-2 minutes. Add half of the chicken broth to start to create a simmering sauce.

Prepare 1 cup of couscous or any type of rice as directed on the package.

While the couscous or rice is cooking, continue stirring the eggpant mixture and add the remainder of the broth gradually.

Serve the curried eggplant mixture over couscous or rice and you're done!

Lunch Eats Under $5 At The Market!

Feeling guilty about the $9-$15 lunches you've been buying lately? Well, for those of you who work in offices in Ballston, you should DEFINITELY check out the Friday lunchtime offerings at the Ballston Farmer's Market in Welburn Square.

Rounding the circle of vendors you can find a wide array of lunch items:

-at Grace's Pastries, pick up a freshly baked empanada filled with chicken or veggies (rice, kale, tomatoes, spices) for $2.50 each. Or pick up a gigantic slice of freshly baked focaccia (tomatoes, spinach, onion + peppers) for $3

-The European Gourmet Bakery offers filled croissants (ham or turkey+cheese) and savory
vegetable tortes in the $2-$4 range. They also sell fresh baked cookies and sweets for about $1

-Grab a loaf of bread from Great Harvest, and some olive tapenade from Dick's Kitchen for a more picnic-y type of feast with friends.

-Round out your meal by picking up a fresh peach, apple or other fruit from either of our two farm stands.

-thirsty? the small deli on the plaza sells bottled water for $1 a pop post-tax (a rarity these days!), or for a post-lunch jolt, sample a small cup of Hondo Coffee and pick up a bag to take home for those lazy weekend mornings.

So, this Friday when you're heading out for yet another $10 salad, think different. Enjoy the nice weather, free live music and some healthy (and cheap!) eats in Welburn Square.

(Fridays from 11am-3pm through October)

Welcome to the Ballston Farmers Market!

Come see us every friday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. through October 12. Enjoy live music at noon and a great lineup of vendors selling farm fresh produce, baked goods and gourmet treats!

We're located in Welburn Square in the heart of Ballston, right across from the Ballston Metro stop.

Check out the list of vendors on the right hand side for inspiration.

It's a great way to kick off the weekend. Pick up some goodies to bring home, or spice up your regular lunch routine by grabbing something fresh and enjoying the free concert during the lunch hour.

The market is sponsored by the Ballston-Virginia Square Parternship

see you there!