Blog Posts

National Eggs Benedict Day

Welcome back to the Cavalier Court Blog! Did you know that April 16th is National Eggs Benedict Day? If you’ve never had eggs benedict before, you are missing out! This delicious and classy dish is perfect for breakfast or anytime of the day. To help residents of our Fairfax, VA apartment community celebrate this tasty holiday, we are sharing a few different ways to enjoy eggs benedict. Classic Eggs Benedict from Simply Recipes You can’t go wrong with the classic! For the traditional recipe, you will need bacon or Canadian bacon, chopped parsley, eggs, white or rice vinegar, English muffins, butter, and hollandaise sauce. Make the hollandaise sauce using unsalted butter, egg yolks, lemon juice, salt, and a dash of cayenne or tabasco. Eggs Benedict con Queso from The Brewer & the Baker What’s even better than the classic eggs benedict? Eggs benedict smothered in queso, that’s what! For this recipe, you will need the following: seeded and chopped roma tomatoes, red onion, chopped jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, salt, toasted English muffin, sliced avocado, cooked bacon, poached or fried eggs, and warmed chile con queso. Eggs Benedict Burger from Cooking for Keeps Turn traditional eggs benedict into a hearty and savory burger with this recipe! Ingredients include lean ground beef, onion, salt, English muffins, eggs, Canadian bacon, and hollandaise sauce. Country Style Eggs Benedict from Spoon Fork Bacon This country version of eggs benedict includes biscuits and gravy! Here are the ingredients you will need: all-purpose flour, garlic powder, onion powder, eggs, buttermilk, steak cubes, salt, pepper, and vegetable oil. Eggs Benedict Huevos Rancheros Style from I Adore Food Spice things up with this Mexican-inspired version of eggs benedict. You will need eggs, grated cheddar cheese, English muffins, cooked black beans, salsa, egg yolks, butter, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, chipotle powder, salt, thick bacon slices, and white vinegar. What is your favorite version of eggs benedict to make? Share your ideas and recipes with us in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!

The History Behind National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month! If you’ve never heard of National Poetry Month or you would like to learn a little more about it, then this Cavalier Court Blog post is for you! In it, we will be sharing some of the history behind how National Poetry Month came about, who started it, why it is celebrated when it is, and the goals behind it. Read on to expand your knowledge about National Poetry Month without having to leave the comfort of your Fairfax, VA apartment. What is National Poetry Month? National Poetry Month is the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, bloggers, and, of course, poets marking poetry’s important place in our culture and our lives every April. Who started it? Inspired by the successful celebrations of Black History Month (February) and Women’s History Month (March), the Academy of American Poets established National Poetry Month in 1996. Along the way, they enlisted a variety of government agencies and officials, educational leaders, publishers, sponsors, poets, and arts organizations to help. National Poetry Month is a registered trademark of the Academy of American Poets. Why was April chosen for National Poetry Month? In coordination with poets, booksellers, librarians, and teachers, the Academy of American Poets chose a month when poetry could be celebrated with the highest level of participation. April seemed the best month of the year to turn attention toward the art of poetry—in an ultimate effort to encourage poetry readership year-round. What are the goals of National Poetry Month? The goals of National Poetry Month are to: — highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets — encourage the reading of poems — assist teachers in bringing poetry into their classrooms — increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media — encourage increased publication and distribution of poetry books , and — encourage support for poets and poetry. How do you plan on celebrating National Poetry Month? Share your ideas with us in the comments. Thanks for reading our post about National Poetry Month! *Info about National Poetry Month taken from the Academy of American Poets website .

Getting Your Apartment Ready for Spring

The first day of spring is Tuesday, March 20th! The Cavalier Court Blog is here to help you get your apartment ready for the season with a few tips and ideas. Read on to find some tips on how to get your Fairfax, VA apartment ready for spring. Declutter Your Apartment During the winter, it is normal to spend more time indoors, but this can often lead to an increase of clutter in your apartment. Clean up the clutter and make your space feel more breathable. Put your winter clothes, blankets, and snow gear into storage until next winter. Add Spring Colors While you are putting away your winter gear and decor, bring out spring decorations in pastel colors. Swap out your heavy winter drapes for light, airy curtains. Set out festive spring throw pillows and light throw blankets to replace those warm wintery ones. Clean Carpets, Rugs, and Floors Winter can leave your apartment feeling stuffy, but as the weather warms up and spring starts to move in, a great way to eliminate the stuffiness is to deep clean all your carpets, rugs, and floors. Remove any ground-in dirt, get rid of any stains left by dirt or tracked in mud, and shake out all the dust from any rugs. Clean the Windows Now that the weather is no longer freezing, go ahead and crack open a window. Wash those windows so they once again let the light shine in. Spring is here and the sun has returned! You’ll be amazed by how much cleaning the windows and letting the spring air and some light into your apartment lifts your mood! Add a Houseplant Get a houseplant and add it to your apartment to bring a little life inside your home. The greenery will be a welcome addition, and watching the plant grow and sprout will both surprise and fascinate you! Not to mention, the plant will help you breathe easier with the oxygen it produces and releases into the air. How do you prepare your apartment for spring? Let us know in the comments and feel free to share any additional tips and ideas. Thanks for reading our post!

Recipes for St. Patrick's Day

Are you excited for St. Patrick’s Day? To help you get ready for this fun holiday, the Cavalier Court Blog is sharing a few traditional Irish recipes so you can celebrate without too much green food coloring. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this month by making and enjoying a truly authentic Irish meal in your Fairfax, VA apartment! Corned Beef with Cabbage and Potatoes from Good Housekeeping You can’t go wrong with corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day! For this recipe you will need corned-beef brisket, whole black peppercorns, whole allspice, garlic cloves, bay leaves, all-purpose potatoes, carrots, parsnips, head of green cabbage, grainy Dijon mustard, pure maple syrup, white horseradish, and chopped parsley. Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy from The Spruce Bangers and Mash is a well-loved Irish and British meal. This dish comprises thick pork or beef sausages, mashed potatoes, and plenty of gravy. Here are all the ingredients needed to make this dish: vegetable oil, thick beef or pork sausages, potatoes, milk, butter, salt, ground black pepper, onions, balsamic vinegar, beef stock, cornstarch or corn flour, and water. Irish Fish and Chips from The Food Channel Ireland is known for their signature fish and chips. Being an island, the fish is always fresh, and cooks there have pretty much mastered the frying process. Here is everything you will need: russet potatoes, vegetable oil, salt, black pepper, malt vinegar, flour, baking powder, cod fillets, Guinness or ale beer, and a lightly beaten egg. Serve with this lemon & caper tartar sauce made from mayonnaise, dill pickle relish, red onion, lemon juice, and fresh chopped parsley. Real Irish Soda Bread from Serious Eats You don’t get much more traditional Irish than soda bread! Ingredients needed to make this dish include the following: all-purpose flour, kosher salt, baking soda, and low fat cultured buttermilk. Adjust the recipe based on whether you want the bread to turn out more fluffy or more chewy. What is your favorite traditional Irish dish? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below this post. Thanks for reading. Have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day and a hearty Irish meal!

Celebrate Presidents' Day!

Celebrate Presidents’ Day this month! The Cavalier Court Blog is here to help you out by sharing a few different ways that you can celebrate. Read on for a little bit of the history behind this holiday and a few suggestions for how you can celebrate it, both in or out of your apartment. About the Holiday Presidents’ Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February and is a National holiday set aside to honor both past and present Presidents of the United States. The holiday was originally established to celebrate George Washington’s birthday. Ways to Celebrate Build a Mini Log Cabin This fun idea from Martha Stewart Living is also edible! Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States was born in a one room log cabin in Kentucky. A National Park now exists at the Sinking Springs Farm where Lincoln spent the first few years of his life. Presidents’ Day Cookies Party Pinching shared this fun and inexpensive idea to make cookies that look like the presidents out of Nilla wafers, chocolate chips, squares of chocolate, an edible black marker, and mini marshmallows. This is a fun and simple craft to do with kids. Dress up as a President Dress up as your favorite U.S. president. These kids costumes from Amazon are pretty cool, but you don’t have to buy a costume. Just head to your favorite local Fairfax, VA thrift store to get all the props and clothing you will need. Red, White and Blue Popcorn This patriotic snack is perfect for enjoying while staying in and watching a patriotic movie such as Independence Day , The Patriot , or Pearl Harbor . Rekindle your appreciation for living in the U.S. by watching one of these great films concerning the fight for freedom. Visit D.C. Living in Fairfax, VA gives you quick access to the nation’s capital, where you will find countless ways to celebrate Presidents’ Day! Visit a monument, go to a museum, or take a historical tour of the city — the possibilities are endless! How do you plan on celebrating Presidents’ Day this month? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading and enjoy a great month here in Fairfax, VA!

Indulge this Valentine's Day

This month, the Cavalier Court Blog is bringing residents of our Fairfax, VA apartments ways to celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th. Check out local specialty shops like Sugar Mama's Ice Cream, Fran's Cake & Candy Supplies, and Godiva Chocolatier. Read on to learn more about these in today's blog post. Sugar Mama's Ice Cream Stop by Sugar Mama’s ice cream for fresh and delicious homemade ice cream. “It's the old fashion scoop-able kind we all grew up on. No soft serve or frozen yogurt here!” Local family owned and operated, they are open all year because ice cream is yummy at any time or season. You will also find a variety of specialty candy here to satisfy your sweet tooth! Sugar Mama's Ice Cream is about 1.3 miles from Cavalier Court. Fran's Cake & Candy Supplies Looking to make your own Valentine’s Day treat, but finding yourself in need of supplies? “Fran's has the area's largest supply of baking and candy-making supplies, and they are constantly adding inventory to stay current with modern trends. Recent additions include Russian tips, stencils, modeling chocolate and amazing new sprinkles of nearly every variety! “Since 1982, Fran’s Cake and Candy Supplies has been a cornerstone of the baking and candy-making community of Northern Virginia, offering high-quality products — and fun-filled classes — to aspiring and experienced chefs.” Fran's Cake & Candy Supplies is about 1.1 miles from Cavalier Court. Godiva Chocolatier Looking for high quality chocolate for your Valentine? Godiva Chocolatier is the perfect choice. At Godiva, all of their products hold fast to their Belgian roots . “For generations, Belgium has upheld a tradition of perfectionism, from Rubens paintings and gothic architecture to products made of intricate lace and glittering crystal to fabulous cuisine [...] Adhering to our heritage is serious business at Godiva. From our iconic European-style Gold Ballotins to our handcrafted seasonal packaging, Godiva’s reputation for excellence can be traced to our beginnings in Belgium.” Godiva Chocolatier is about 2.8 miles from Cavalier Court. How will you be celebrating Valentine's Day on Wednesday, February 14? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading and we hope you get a chance to indulge in something sweet this month!