Home Cooking

In our home, the kitchen is the center of life. It's where we are nourished, inspired and comforted. To me, cooking is about more than feeding my family. It's about building memories and strengthening bonds. I developed this recipe two years ago on a rainy day with my daughter, Annie, who was 7 years old. We looked in the kitchen and it was like, "Oh, let's put this in, and this, and this ... " and the rest is history. It has become a staple in our home, by both family and friends.

Paskha is a Russian, cheese-based dessert similar to cheesecake. It is traditionally molded in a pyramid shape and served on Easter. It is decorated with resurrection symbols such as a cross and the letters XB, an abbreviation of Cyrillic words which mean "Christ is Risen. " The dessert is called pashka by some local residents. Ann Lochbaum makes a version using gelatin to help the dessert set up. Her husband, Bob, a former counselor at North Hagerstown High School, brought the recipe home to her. "It's very simple to make.

Donna Litton operates Litton's Produce & Berries at the City Farmers Market on Saturdays and at Market Faire, the city's outdoor market on North Potomac Street Parking Lot on Thursdays. Litton and her husband, Charles Litton, grow produce on their farm in St. James. The Littons have seven kids, whom they homeschool. Berry cobbler 1 stick butter or margarine (see cook's note) 1/2 cup sugar 4 cups blueberries (see cook's note) 1 cup water, if using fresh berries 2 cups flour 1 cup sugar 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 cup milk Heat oven to 400 degrees.Donna Litton operates Litton's Produce & Berries at the City Farmers Market on Saturdays and at Market Faire, the city's outdoor market on North Potomac Street Parking Lot on Thursdays.

I am third-generation Serbian, and I was born into the Orthodox faith. This traditional Serbian recipe, cicvara (pronounced "SEETS-vuh-ruh," rolling the R), can be found as a side dish at any special meal to celebrate a festive day at church or at home. This recipe was given to me by a Serbian family at our original home parish of St. Luke Serbian Orthodox Church in McLean, Va. Every year I would delight to see my favorite dish on the buffet line at church. I finally remembered to get the recipe.