For a truly unique adventure, visit Frying Pan Park. This Herndon park preserves a historic farm as it would have been between the years 1920 and 1950. Interpretive programming helps visitors understand the agricultural processes that were used nearly a century ago, as well as experience the rhythms of rural community life.

You'll be able to see (and probably even touch) pigs, horses, sheep, and lots of other barnyard animals. If you're lucky you might even catch a glimpse of a family of peacocks who make their home at Frying Pan Park. There's an on-site farmer's market and country store so you can take home locally grown fresh farm produce, as well as scrumptious baked goods and potted herbs for your kitchen garden.

Remember that this is a working farm, so wear clothes and shoes that are appropriate for the barnyard environment. But above all, come prepared to enjoy yourself!

Frying Pan Park
2709 W. Ox Road
Herndon, VA 20171
(703) 437-9101
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/fryingpanpark
www.yelp.com/biz/frying-pan-park-herndon

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/misskei

If you love to cook, you know how important it is to use the proper cutting techniques in every recipe. Many people don't know the proper names of these techniques, however, which often leads to using the wrong one. Here are three important types of cutting that are essential for everything from entrees to desserts.

1. Julienne. To julienne, you want to cut vegetables or other food items into stick-shaped pieces that are long and thin. Start by cutting the item into a square, then slice it into rectangular-shaped pieces lengthwise. Repeat the same step on each of the rectangles until you're left with pieces that resemble matchsticks.
2. Chiffonade. This type of cut sounds fancy, but it actually just refers to cutting herbs or thin leaf vegetables. Roll the herbs up into a tight tube, then roughly chop across with a sharp knife. It doesn't matter how the cuts look, just that the pieces are small enough to sprinkle throughout a dish.
3. Dice. Dicing is similar to chopping, but it creates entirely uniform pieces for dishes like stews or fruit salads. Begin with a rectangular shape and continue to cut it both directions until you're left with uniform pieces in the size that you desire.

Knife Skills: Different Types of Cuts [The Culinary Cook]
Top 10 Knife Skills [How Stuff Works]
Perfect Your Knife Skills With This Chef's Guide to Knives [Lifehacker]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Joy

When you think of the easiest baked goods to make at home, pies usually aren’t top on the list. After rolling the dough, making the filling, and adding all that elaborate crust decoration, making a pie seems downright difficult. This delicious Black Forest Ice Cream Pie recipe is so simple, it will put all of your pie-baking fears to rest.

Black Forest Ice Cream Pie

12 sugar ice cream cones, broken into pieces
5 tablespoons butter, melted
1 pint chocolate chip ice cream
1 pound fresh or thawed frozen cherries, pitted (about 3 cups)
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch

For detailed instructions on preparing this Black Forest Ice Cream Pie, visit Oprah.com.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/cookbookman17