The Veggie Option

Review: The Elusive Cow

2013-03-24T17:21:00.000-04:00

The Elusive Cow
519 Fairfield Avenue
Bellevue, KY 41073
tel: 859-291-0269
www.theelusivecow.com

I know, I know. It's been awhile since my last post. It's not that I haven't been trying new places, it's just that I either don't have my camera (the one in my phone is crappy) or I'm not wowed enough to bother with a review, and sometimes life just gets in the way.

However, I wanted to make a point of reviewing The Elusive Cow because it has such a good selection of vegetarian AND vegan items, and more people need to know about it. The restaurant is located on the Fairfield Avenue strip in a tidy but unassuming red brick building near Schneider's Sweet Shop and Virgil's Cafe.

We stopped in on a cold, blustery day, hence the lack of outdoor shots of the building, and were welcomed warmly by staff. We sat at a table in a small side room, away from the bar, which we wrongly imagined would be filled with fans watching March Madness games. There was a game on the TV, but the sound was turned down and patrons weren't interested. Thankfully, the Elusive Cow isn't a sports bar kind of place; instead, the vibe was set to cool jazz. Niiice!

There are quite a few veggie-friendly items on the menu, and the meat-based fare is locally-sourced from farmers in Brown, Adams and Oldham counties. It's nice to see vegan cheeses offered alongside "regular" cheese, and tempeh included in the veggie sandwich fillings.

I opted for the falafel pita sandwich, which came with hummus, vegan tzatziki and a choice of sides; I opted for cabbage slaw, but other choices include salad, hand-cut fries, or a vegetable of the day (which was sauteed kale with onions and mushrooms on the day we visited).

Falafel Pita sandwich with a side of cabbage slaw
I really liked the fact that the falafel patties at The Elusive Cow were baked instead of fried, even though baked falafel is usually a bit drier than its fried cousin. I would have liked a choice of vegan or regular tzatziki, because the croquettes certainly needed a bit of moisture, and I found the flavor of the vegan tzatziki lacking. It wasn't bad by any stretch, just not as tasty as yogurt-based tzatziki. The sandwich is big too - I was expecting the croquettes, lettuce, tomato, and briny olives to be stuffed inside a pita pocket, but the pita came loaded with the items on top. Don't even try to tackle this monster with your hands - unless you want to end up wearing this delicious dish instead of eating it.

The slaw, also vegan, was very gingery. Oddly, both my and my husband's menus had different ingredients listed for the slaw (mine listed cabbage, dates, chipotle peppers, honey and Mexican lager, while his listed shredded carrot and sesame oil) and the one I got was different yet, so be sure to ask what type of slaw they have on hand, since it apparently varies.

Other veggie-friendly menu listings include a veggie burger, a gluten-free veggie burger, a portabello sandwich, a veggie wrap, flatbread pizza, a couple of vegetarian soups, parsnip chips, and even a vegan chili.

The Elusive Cow really caters well to those of us who adhere to meat-free and cruelty-free diets, and is well worth seeking out.

Superfood Salad

2012-09-03T19:13:00.000-04:00

While visiting family recently in the U.K., I had the opportunity to try some of Marks & Spencer's to-go salads and ready-meals, all of which were excellent. I was really taken with one in particular - the "superfood salad." It was so tasty that I decided I would try to recreate it when I returned home.

I should have written down the ingredient list, as by the time I got home I couldn't remember exactly what all went into it. I decided to experiment a little and see what I could come up with on my own. So this isn't an exact replica of the M&S recipe, but it's a decent attempt. Their salad included a tiny pot of yogurt-mint dressing, which I didn't think was anything special, so I've left it out, but feel free to add a little of your own dressing if you like. This makes about 8 1-cup servings.

Ingredients

Superfood Salad

Ingredients

1 Cup Red Quinoa
2 Cups Water
1 tsp Salt
1/2 Cup Green Lentils
1 Bay Leaf
2 Cups Broccoli - fresh or frozen
1 Cup Edamame
1 Cup Bean of choice - I used heirloom goose beans from the garden, but M&S used a mixture of kidney, pinto and mung beans
4 oz. Feta Cheese (optional)

Cooking Directions

Add quinoa to 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add salt, cover and turn heat to low.
Simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off heat and let sit another 5 minutes. Drain off any excess water, place in a large container and fluff with fork.
Place lentils in small pot and add just enough water to cover. Add bay leaf. Heat to boiling, then turn down to low and let simmer 20 minutes.
Drain, discard bay leaf, and add lentils to quinoa.
Prepare broccoli according to package directions. Add to quinoa mixture.
Cook beans according to package directions. If using canned beans, drain and rinse, then add to quinoa mixture. I boiled fresh green beans for about 20 minutes, or until the water is nearly evaporated.
Stir in edamame
Just before serving, sprinkle a tablespoonful of feta cheese over each serving.

Superfood Salad
Please note that red quinoa works better in this recipe because it stays crunchy after cooking, unlike regular quinoa. Likewise, it is best to use French/green lentils because other types of lentil get mushy, and you don't want that. This salad should be chewy.

Bakersfield OTR

2012-08-03T15:57:00.000-04:00

Bakersfield OTR
1214 Vine St.
Over-the-Rhine
Tel: 513-579-0446
www.bakersfieldotr.com

We decided to drop by Bakersfield OTR recently to sample their Mexican-influenced street-fare tacos, two of which are vegetarian-friendly. The restaurant is smack in the middle of the busy, buzzy Gateway Quarter, housed in a lovingly refurbished brick building next to Lavomatic Cafe.

Bakersfield OTR
The restaurant focuses on tacos, tequila, and whiskey, with special emphasis on Kentucky bourbons. As much as we love our bourbon, the gloriously fine weather begged for something light and fruity, so I opted for a sangria, and it didn't disappoint.

Sangria served in a Mason jar
We ordered a basket of chips and salsa ($3) to nibble on; other options include chips and guacamole ($5) and chips and queso ($5). They also offer two salads, both of which can be made vegetarian.

Chips and salsa
A nice touch is that Bakersfield makes all their tortillas in house, and they are far superior to the store-bought variety. The restaurant's two vegetarian taco selections are Huitlacoche ($4) consisting of corn, corn truffles, roasted poblano, onion, cotija cheese and cilantro, and Rajas ($3) which subs out the corn and corn truffles for portobello mushrooms, and swaps the cotija for queso fresca. Both are tasty. Those lime wedges aren't just for show either - be sure to squeeze them over your tacos for a bright burst of added flavor.

Huitlacoche taco on left, Rajas on right
Steve chose the fish taco ($4), which is topped with shredded cabbage and Tabasco lime sauce, and the Pastor ($3), consisting of marinated pork, pickled onion, pineapple and cilantro. He misread the menu and wasn't expecting the fish to be fried. He didn't care much for it, but was wowed by the flavor-packed pork selection.

Colorful fish taco in foreground, Pastor taco on right
Bakersfield isn't a large place and I can only imagine how packed it gets at night, but it's a tasty place to while away a Sunday afternoon.

Bakersfield bar

Smashburger

2012-07-25T06:27:00.000-04:00

Smashburger
2515 Wilson Road
Highland Heights, KY
859-441-2800
www.smashburger.com

smashburger
We were lured into Smashburger by a BOGO coupon included in a recent issue of The Enquirer. The menu looked promising - a black bean burger, several vegetarian salads, unique veggie sides like fried green chilies, fried pickles, flash-fried carrots and green beans, and sweet potato fries. Intrigued, we stopped in to check it out.

a bright, inviting entrance
The interior is clean and inviting, and staff were friendly and very helpful. While customers order at a counter similar to any of the myriad fast food joints dotting highway exits, Smashburger reminded me of the burger equivalent of Chipotle, especially when I noticed that the restaurant, like Chipotle, offers bottled beer in addition to the standard soda fountain drinks. Kentucky locations also offer popular Ale-8-One, the only soft drink invented in Kentucky still in existence.

Clean design
We shared a side of fried pickles ($2.29) to start, and I opted for the Spicy Baja Black Bean Burger ($4.99), which certainly lived up to its name. Chock full of freshly sliced jalapenos and red onion, then slathered in guacamole and spicy chipotle mayo and finished off with melted pepper-jack cheese, this sandwich isn't for the faint of heart. It will light you up - if you can actually figure out a way to eat it. Since we were both curious about their Smashfries (rosemary, olive oil, and garlic, $1.99), I added them to my order as well.

Fried pickles

The wire serving trays may look stylish and bang-up-to-date, but the paper lining does little by way of containing drippings and juice. Messy, messy, messy.

Spicy Baja Black Bean Burger with Smashfries
Steve chose the Mushroom Swiss chicken sandwich ($5.99), which comes with your choice of grilled or fried chicken. He added chili cheese fries to his order for an extra $2.99. Unlike my sandwich, which was packed with flavor, his was limp, bland, and disappointing. Neither of us was impressed with the shoestring fries, which tasted freezer burnt.

Mushroom Swiss chicken sandwich with chili cheese fries
The problem I had with Smashburger is that everything seems thrown together sloppily. From the over-sized patty on a buttery-slick bun to the lashings of condiments, I found it a struggle to handle my sandwich and not end up wearing half. Messy doesn't even begin to describe it. As it happened, I had several napkins in my lap and something still seeped through and ruined a pair of my good trousers. Epic fail!

Even though Steve and I both drank water and used a buy-one-get-one coupon, our meal still clocked in at over $16.00. There are scads of restaurants we can eat at for that price, and have a much more pleasurable experience. Eating should be enjoyable - Smashburger is not.

Orzo Tomato Salad with Feta

2012-07-19T19:49:00.000-04:00

Orzo Tomato Salad with Feta
Serves 8

A coworker passed along this recipe to me. It was originally published in Bon Appetit in the April 2006 issue. I have tweaked it to comply with a vegetarian diet. I tend to err on the side of caution with the seasoning. I use McKay's instant broth, which is a little salty, but because the orzo is drained and rinsed, much of the salt is washed away. I normally do not season the vinaigrette but instead adjust to taste at the end. Ideally this recipe is to be served at room temperature.

Orzo Tomato Salad with Feta

Ingredients

1/4 Cup Red wine vinegar
2 Tbs Fresh lemon juice
1 tsp Honey
1/3 Cup Olive Oil
6 Cup Vegetarian broth
1 Lb. Orzo or riso
2 Cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 7 oz. package feta cheese
1 Cup basil, fresh
1 Cup green onion, chopped
1/2 Cup pine nuts, toasted

Orzo Salad ingredients

juicing the lemon

1. Whisk together vinegar, lemon juice, and honey in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Whole Foods 365 brand of feta cheese is vegetarian.

2. Bring broth to a boil in a large heavy saucepan. Stir in orzo, reduce heat to medium and stir occasionally, until al dente, about 8 minutes. 3. Drain and rinse. Transfer to a large wide bowl and toss frequently until cool.

4. Toast pine nuts. Toasting pine nuts is easy - just heat a dry skillet to medium-high, add pine nuts and stir for a minute or so, just until they start to turn color and are fragrant. Place on a paper towel to cool.

5. Mix tomatoes, feta, basil, and green onions into orzo. Add vinaigrette and toss to coat. Stir in pine nuts. Season with salt and pepper.
For a printable copy of this recipe, click here.

Copper Blue

2012-07-14T19:36:00.001-04:00

Copper Blue (A Grub Shack)
900 Main St.
Milford, Ohio 45150
tel: 513-239-8450
www.grubatcopperblue.com

Named after the fantastic LP by Sugar (in my mind*), this locally owned restaurant is housed in a former Shoney's. They've tinted the windows with a coppery film, spruced the interior up with a bold color scheme, and added music selections right out of the old 97X handbook. We heard Barenaked Ladies playing as we walked in, and they offered up lots of good WOXY-style bands during our visit, including some deep catalog stuff. Nice.

The menu selections are standard American fare - similar to the big "TGI O'Chilibee's" chain restaurants (think burgers, steaks, huge appetizers etc.), except that most everything is made fresh in-house. I ordered a spicy black bean burger ($7.99) and was surprised to find that it was actually hand-made, rather than a previously frozen patty. It had a nice flavor and was really thick, if a little gummy. While this is the only vegetarian entree on the menu, they offer several good-sized veggie appetizers (black bean dip & chips, or veggie flatbread, each around $6) and a handful of salad options that could stand-in for an entree if desired.

Others in our party ordered the fish tacos ($8.29), a steak salad ($10.79), and buffalo mac & cheese ($13.99). Portions were large but not belt-busting crazy big like Cheesecake Factory, and everything was plated nicely. Service was excellent; friendly and efficient. Props also for the small but decent selection of craft and imported beer. They stock several from Mt. Carmel Brewing Co. and Bluegrass Brewing Co. as well.

Their hand-cut fries are probably the best we've had around here - even better than those from Five Guys. In fact, the only ones we've had stateside that are better were at Emmon's Dublin Chipper in Alexandria, Virginia. We'd return just for the fries - but everything about the place was inviting. It's not the sort of place we'd go out of our way to visit, but on the off chance that we are in the Milford area again in the future, we'd go back.

Sorry for the lack of photos - my camera battery was out of juice.

*The restaurant is actually named Copper Blue in homage to the owners' respective native lands (the 'Copper' Country of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and the 'Blue'grass of Kentucky). But I wouldn't be surprised to hear Sugar on the restaurant's playlist.

2012 Vegetarian World Summit

2012-07-10T07:52:00.002-04:00

The 2012 Vegetarian World Summit, Veganpalooza, runs July 11-15. The free online conference promotes veganism to awaken the mind, body and spirit. To register, visit http://veganpalooza.com.

Asian Food Fest runs May 19-20

2012-05-04T11:09:00.000-04:00

The third annual Asian Food Fest will be held on May 19 & 20, 2012 on Freedom Way at The Banks, located between Paul Brown Stadium and the Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati. The festival will feature food from various countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, India, Indonesia, and many more. There will also be local craft and Asian beer, live entertainment, children games, and fireworks by Arthur Rozzi Pyrotechnics on Saturday night.
There will be no entrance fee, but donations are encouraged. Vendors will be selling sample size portions from $2-$6. The food festival will be the first weekend-long event held at The Banks and the first festival of its kind in downtown. The event runs Saturday 11 a.m. -Midnight, and Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
All proceeds from this year’s festival will be used to host future Asian cultural events and to help build a medical center for the indigenous people in Pleiku, Vietnam through Care2Share.

VeganEarth potluck and program announced

2012-04-01T13:19:00.004-04:00

VeganEarth is hosting their monthly potluck and program on Sunday, April 15 at Clifton United Methodist Church, 3416 Clifton Ave., Clifton. The potluck begins at 2:30 p.m. with "Table Discussions" following.

All attendees are encouraged to bring a vegan dish to share, as well as compostable or reusable plates and utensils.

For more information, call 513-929-2900 or visit www.veganearthUS.org".

Mayberry

2012-03-29T19:38:00.003-04:00

Mayberry
1211 Main Street
Over-the-Rhine
Tel: 513-381-5999
www.mayberrycincy.com

Mayberry has moved from it's location across from the public library on Vine Street to the building formerly occupied by Courtyard Cafe in Over-the-Rhine. The building has been given a fresh facelift inside and out; it's amazing what a lick of paint, some minor remodeling, and comfortable furnishings can do for a place. The one feature left untouched in the renovation is the lovely old wooden bar. Yes, Mayberry now has a liquor license.

Mayberry
It is nice to have some elbow room at Mayberry; their former space could be downright unbearable during the lunch rush. The new location is vibrant yet relaxing.

The spring lunch menu includes two vegetarian items: Romaine Salad (beets, feta, cucumber, sunflower seeds, balsamic vinaigrette $7), and Veggie Wrap (marinated veggies, mushrooms, and feta $7). Fans of their tater tot casserole ($3) will be pleased to know it is still on the menu, as are sweet potato fries ($4) and mac 'n cheese ($3). They offer pure cane sugar sodas too; a big plus for those of us who shun high fructose corn syrup.

Veggie Wrap with a side of couscous salad and tater tot casserole
My friend chose the Monte Cristo (turkey, ham, bacon, cherry date compote) and I opted for the Veggie Wrap. The light, tangy marinade reminded me of the sweet rice vinegar mixture I use for pickling radishes. It is a very tasty sandwich. All orders come with a side of couscous salad delicately flavored with raisins and walnuts.

Monte Crisco
The restaurant is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and dinner service runs from 6-9:30 p.m. I'm glad to find Chef Josh Campbell's delicious fare in this new location. It's a plus for Main Street, for the neighborhood, and for Cincinnati.

Moerlein Lager House

2012-02-29T19:21:00.008-05:00

Moerlein Lager House
115 Joe Nuxhall Way
Downtown
Tel: 513-421-2337
www.moerleinlagerhouse.com

As much as I love beer - and Christian Moerlein in particular - I cannot recommend the new Moerlein Lager House to readers of this blog because of the abysmal vegetarian selections on the menu. We eagerly visited on opening day Monday, and what a disappointment! Vegans get diddly - not even a salad, and vegetarians are relegated to appetizers: parmesan garlic fries ($7), a plate of soft pretzels with a gloppy Velveeta-style cheese sauce (not vegetarian!) and horseradish sauce ($7), deep-fried pickles ($8), or lager bread ($7). The caprese flatbread ($9) is the lone veggie entree on the lunch menu; there isn't anything at all on the dinner menu. It's a real shame that the signature restaurant at The Banks didn't take us into consideration.

The building is lovely, the view amazing and the beer is awesome. Just don't plan on having a meal there if you don't eat meat.

Sky Galley

2012-02-19T17:54:00.004-05:00

Sky Galley
Lunken Airfield
262 Wilmer Ave.
East End
tel: 513-871-7400
www.skygalley.net

Steve and I are once again training for the Flying Pig Half Marathon and have been scouting out a few new routes to add a little variety and give us a change of scenery. On the advice of a friend, we headed out to historic Lunken Airfield to check out their fitness trails. While there, we happened across Sky Galley, a restaurant and lounge located inside the airport terminal.

Sky Galley
We really weren't expecting much out of an airport diner, but were pleasantly surprised. On the Sunday afternoon we stopped in, the place was buzzing with a good mix of local old timers, pilots, well-groomed elderly ladies, families with small kids, and fitness fans finishing their workouts. We nabbed a table next to the large bank of windows overlooking the runways and settled in to perusing the menu.

Entrance to Sky Galley
There aren't many vegetarian options. I was bemused that they don't even offer a veggie burger, since that is usually the one thing vegetarians can rely on when dining out. The vegetarian entrees offered are a cheese & veggie quesadilla ($8.95), and linguine in garlic wine sauce with a side salad ($12.95). I opted for the latter, while Steve chose a grilled chicken sandwich with Swiss cheese, mushrooms and a side of fries. He was frightened off of his first choice, the Jack Daniels grilled chicken with bourbon hot sauce ($7.95), because the server warned him that the sauce had a "real kick" to it. Fair enough.

Linguine in garlic wine sauce
I thought the garlic wine sauce on my linguine was really nice, if a bit salty. I was glad that the dish came with shredded Parmesan on the side instead of topping the pasta, because it wasn't needed. The pasta came with sauteed onions, red peppers and mushrooms, and several over-boiled chunks of broccoli. Not bad, but not great. Steve was noncommittal on his sandwich but had better things to say about the hand-cut fries.

Grilled chicken with Swiss and mushrooms
While Sky Galley doesn't serve up anything out of the ordinary, there are extraordinary things afoot at Lunken. Flamingo Air offers an hour of sexy time in the air with champagne, chocolates and one very discreet pilot for $425. The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) also calls Lunken home. Flamingo Air's president, David McDonald, is the organization's national director. And if all this crazy sexy stuff is a little too much for a city renowned for its stodgy sensibilities, the terminal itself - a paean to Art Deco - is oh so cool and well worth checking out.

Recipe: Potato Soup

2012-02-12T18:20:00.001-05:00

There is nothing quite like the warming quality of a hearty, home made soup on a cold winter's day. This potato soup recipe is dead easy, cheap as chips and utterly delicious. It comes courtesy of my mom; she has been whipping up batches for over 60 years. I am hesitant to say how many servings this recipe makes because it depends on the size of the potatoes, but we usually get around 12 servings out of it.

Mom's Potato Soup

Ingredients

10-12 potatoes, peeled and diced
water to cover
2 small onions, diced
2 tsp salt
2 ribs celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Cup half and half
1 Cup vegetable broth (I swear by McKay's)

Potato Soup ingredients

1. Place potatoes, onions, garlic, and celery in a large pot or Dutch oven. Pour in just enough water to cover the potatoes. Add salt and simmer about 30 minutes.

2. Remove 3 cups of potato mixture and mash thoroughly, then return to pot. This thickens the soup while still leaving lots of satisfying chunks. If you want a creamier soup, go nuts with the immersion blender.

3. Stir in half & half and broth. Heat through.

Enjoy!

After running out of McKay's seasoning recently, I realized that it is not an easy item to locate in the Cincinnati area. I came away empty-handed from all area groceries, including Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Jungle Jim's International Market, and the shipping fees on the company's website are simply too high. I ended up stopping by Health Foods Unlimited while visiting family in Dayton, as it is the only place I have been able to find it consistently. Before we moved to Newport, Health Foods Unlimited was my go-to grocery for all things vegetarian and healthy, and I'm quite happy to continue giving them my custom - but if anyone knows where I can buy McKay's seasoning in town, please let me know!

Want to try Green B.E.A.N Delivery?

2012-01-15T11:42:00.018-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to try out the Green B.E.A.N. Delivery Service, a food distribution company providing healthy, organic and sustainably-grown local foods to the community at affordable prices. It works like this: users sign up with a credit card and go the website to create an online standing order, which consists of the produce bin of your choice (minimum charge $35), and delivery frequency, such as weekly or biweekly. Each produce bin is 100 percent customizable, and you can add local dairy, meats, bread and other grocery products on top of your minimum produce order. Members can choose from over 400 products, which are guaranteed all-natural and free of additives and preservatives.

Would you like to try it too? Read on for a special promo code for readers of Veggie Option!

Customizing my produce bin was fun; there are so many interesting fruits and vegetables to choose from that it is easy to get carried away. The list is a drop-down menu that is mix & match to a price point. I tried to choose as many seasonal items as I could, even ones that I usually shy away from in the grocery store (kale, I am looking at you).

My bin arrived on the front porch Friday afternoon - Northern Kentucky's designated delivery day. The produce is well-packed inside an insulated liner that includes a large, reusable ice pack.

Green B.E.A.N. produce bin
There was one hiccup with my order: as I crossed off each item on the invoice, I discovered that I was shorted two apples but didn't know which ones were missing because the apples I received weren't marked or labeled. Was I missing two organic Pinatas, or two organic Pink Ladys? I contacted the company, but since they were already closed for the weekend this issue hasn't yet been resolved.

Always double-check your invoice
To gauge the value of the service, I visited my local Kroger (a Kroger Marketplace at Newport Pavilion) and tallied up the prices on their organic produce and compared it to that of my Green B.E.A.N produce bin. Kroger didn't carry either of the organic apples I'd chosen from Green B.E.A.N., so I used their standard organic apple price, which is $1.69 per pound. The Kroger order came to $29.47 compared to Green B.E.A.N's $35. I think $5.53 is a fair price to pay for the convenience of having the order delivered directly to my doorstep, so in that respect Green B.E.A.N. Delivery is good value for money - especially if you don't live close to a grocery that carries a lot of quality, organic produce.

Veggies are well-packed in the insulated cooler

The haul: Russet potatoes, red potatoes, carrots, yellow onions, cabbage, cauliflower, lime, Cara Cara orange, apples, Concorde pears, Butternut squash, Romaine heart lettuce and one bunch red kale.
Interested in giving Green B.E.A.N a try? Readers of Veggie Option can use promo code VOnkAB for 50 percent off their first order (this does not apply to any grocery items added to the first order). Also, the promo code expires on January 22, 2012 and is for new members and reactivations only. For more information or to sign up, visit www.greenbeandelivery.com.

Vegan gathering at Amma's Kitchen

2011-12-28T21:08:00.003-05:00

VeganEarth invites those interested in veganism to a meet-up at Amma’s Kitchen, 7633 Reading Road, Roselawn at noon on Saturday, January 21. Order and pay for your meal off the menu. Amma's is an all-vegetarian restaurant, and most menu items can be made vegan.

The group will also host a seminar and vegan lunch buffet on Sunday, Feb. 26 at The Loving Hut Cafe, 6227 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge. The event costs $15 and is limited to 50 people. It begins at noon with a viewing of the movie "Forks Over Knives." Reservations are required and can be made by calling 513-591-3003.

Scandinavian Pastry Bars

2011-12-11T18:47:00.001-05:00

This recipe is one of my favorites. The sweetness of the crust and meringue is offset by slightly tart raspberry jam, and the almonds lend a nice crunch. These bars are delicious any time of day, but are especially nice with a cup of tea or coffee in the morning.

Scandinavian Pastry Bars

Ingredients

3/4 Cup salted butter, softened
3/4 Cup confectioner's sugar
1 1/2 Cup all purpose flour
3/4 Cup seedless raspberry jam
3 Egg whites
6 Tbs sugar
1/2 Cup shredded coconut
1 Cup sliced almonds, divided

Ingredients

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar

until light and fluffy

Gradually add flour; mix well

Press dough into the bottom of a 13"x9" greased baking pan

Bake at 350F for 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned

Spread jam over crust

covering from edge to edge

In a large bowl, beat egg whites

until soft peaks form

Gradually beat in sugar, one tablespoon at a time, until stiff peaks form

Add coconut

and fold in gently

Add a half cup of almonds

and carefully fold in

Add egg white mixture over jam

and spread evenly

Sprinkle with remaining almonds

Bake at 350F for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown

Enjoy!

Click here for printable recipe.

Recipe: Holiday cookies

2011-11-29T19:49:00.000-05:00

My husband and I aren't really big on celebrating holidays. It's nice to have the time off work, and it's good to see friends and family that we don't get to see very often, but the whole out-of-control consumerism turns us right off. We prefer to give gifts throughout the year instead of concentrating on a single month, and some years we don't even bother to put up a tree.

We aren't all bah-humbug though; one of our simple pleasures is baking and decorating cookies to share with friends and co-workers. Here is an easy sugar cookie recipe that is sure to please.

Ingredients:
Sugar Cookies
3 Cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 C sugar
2 sticks salted butter, cold
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla bean paste (or 3/4 tsp vanilla extract)
1/2 pure almond extract

Royal Icing
4 Tbs meringue powder
scant 1/2 C water
1 lb. powdered sugar
1/2-1 tsp light corn syrup
a few drops of clear extract

Sugar cookie ingredients

Combine flour and baking powder.

Cream together the sugar and butter.

Add egg and extracts and mix well.

Gradually add flour mixture and beat until just combined; be sure to scrape down the bowl, especially the bottom.

The dough will be crumbly

Knead together with your hands

Roll out onto a floured surface

and cut into shapes

Place on a baking sheet and put into the freezer for about 10 minutes to chill. Chilling the dough helps the cut-out cookies hold their shape

Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack

Royal icing ingredients

Combine meringue powder and water, and beat until foamy

Sift in powdered sugar and beat on low to combine. Add corn syrup and extract

Increase sped to med-high and beat 5-10 minutes until icing is glossy, and stiff peaks form.
Separate the icing into bowls and cover with clingfilm, pressing the wrap onto the icing until ready for use. To color, use gel paste coloring, as it won't compromise or thin the icing.
To thin the icing for flooding, add a teaspoon of water to the icing and stir with a rubber spatula. If it is still too thick, add 1/2 tsp more, and if needed another 1/4 tsp. The flooding icing should be the consistency of thick syrup or glue.

Decorate by flooding with icing

Pipe design using stiff royal icing

Sprinkle with edible glitter, if desired.

Enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea

Click here for printable recipe

Abigail Street to open Nov. 1

2011-10-03T16:32:00.003-04:00

Polly Campbell reports that Abigail Street, owned by Dan & Lana Wright of Senate fame, opens to the public in Nov. 1. It's great news for vegetarians and pescatarians, because the majority of the menu is fish and vegetarian based.

Read her post here.

World Vegetarian Day

2011-10-02T09:52:00.002-04:00

October 1 is World Vegetarian Day! Join the celebration!

Vegetarian Chili

2011-09-24T09:00:00.001-04:00

I’m not sure why, but autumn always reminds me of R.E.M. I was saddened to hear that they split up this week after 31 years together. They were one of my college favorites and a staple at the radio station where I deejayed. I saw them at Wittenberg University on the Little America Tour (in support of Reckoning), at Vets Memorial on the Fables Tour, The Taft for Life’s Rich Pageant, and at Riverfront Coliseum on the Green Tour. After that I continued to buy their albums but stopped going to see them live because I missed the intimacy of those earlier, smaller venues. It seems fitting that they would disband now that the mornings are nippier and the leaves are turning “yellow like a geisha gown.”

How I remember them best
The change in the weather also signifies the start of football season. I was a member of the high school marching band, and every Friday before the game my Mom made chili for us. This is her recipe, modified for the vegetarian diet and tweaked ever so slightly over the years. It is thick, stick-to-your-ribs chili, and so tasty that even my carnivore husband goes back for seconds and thirds.

Vegetarian Chili
Ingredients
3 Tbs olive oil
1 large onion, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
4 ribs celery, diced
1 bag vegetarian or vegan crumbles (such as Boca or Morningstar Farms)
1-2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
2 (15 oz) cans diced tomatoes (I use fire roasted)
2 (15 oz) cans tomato sauce
5-6 bay leaves
1 Tbs Sambelolek
1 tsp ground cumin
1 (15 oz) can black beans
1 (15 oz) can red kidney beans
1 (15 oz) can pinto beans

Ingredients

Heat oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add onions, garlic and celery; sauté until onions are translucent.

Add crumbles and heat through.

Add diced jalapenos

Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, bay leaves, Sambelolek, and cumin. Stir well and simmer for about 20 minutes

Rinse and drain beans (aren't they pretty?)

Add beans and continue to simmer, uncovered, for another 30 minutes

Discard bay leaves and enjoy!

Note: This chili tastes even better the following day, and also freezes well.
Click for printable recipe.

Buckhead Mountain Grill

2011-09-07T21:54:00.004-04:00

Buckhead Mountain Grill
35 Fairfield Avenue
Bellevue, KY
859-491-7333
www.eatatbuckheads.com

Buckhead Mountain Grill
Buckhead opened in Louisville around ten years ago and has had a presence in Bellevue for several years. The family-friendly restaurant is designed to resemble a mountain lodge. We have friends who live in Cripple Creek, Colorado, and Buckhead could seriously be their house - minus the large number of children and televisions. There are lampshades etched with silhouettes of moose and lonesome pine; there are antler chandeliers hanging from double height, A-frame ceilings with exposed rafters; and there are taxidermy critters cropping up in unexpected places. While not out of place in Colorado, in Bellevue Kentucky it's laughably tacky.

Lamp shade
They must be doing something right, however, because on the Monday evening we visited the place was absolutely packed: Families with small children, senior citizens, couples; you name it, they were there.

antler chandelier
Complimentary rolls arrived just after we were seated; they come with a delicious cinnamon-whipped butter spread. While the restaurant is primarily carnivore-heaven, there are a couple of vegetarian-friendly items to choose from. There is a veggie combo platter ($7.49) consisting of a choice of four side dishes - but several of the sides are not veg-friendly (the green beans are prepared with bacon, for instance), and four of the sides are potato-based, which limits options further.

They also offer a grilled portabello sandwich ($7.49) - ask to have the vegetables grilled on a separate surface to assure that meat juices don't mingle into the mix. I wasn't really in a grilled mood, so opted instead for the Nacho Mountain appetizer without the chili. They weren't kidding about the name - it really is a mountain of nachos, and certainly enough for a crowd. As nachos go, these were pretty good.

Mountain of nachos
Buckhead offers an impressive selection of draught beer, including many made locally, like Mt. Carmel, Rivertown and Christian Moerlein, and regional offerings like 3 Floyds, Bluegrass Brewing Co. and Bell's. Not sure what to order? Try several by ordering a "flight," which is basically a beer sampler of your choosing.

Mountain decor aside, there really isn't much to distinguish Buckhead from myriad other restaurants. The food doesn't rise above the ordinary, but it is affordable and plentiful, which probably goes a long way in explaining its popularity. The service was cordial and efficient to start, but refills were neglected and dessert wasn't even offered. To be fair, our server might have cottoned onto the fact that we were itching to get away. The reason? A child at a nearby table was sick all over the floor right next to our booth, which put us off our meals. The evening might have been rescued had the matter been attended to promptly, but it took nearly 15 minutes for someone to clean up the mess, even though the manager and three servers in our section were aware of the problem. If staff are that lax with front-of-house hygiene, I am loathe to think of what the kitchen might hold.

Farm Sanctuary's "Walk for Farm Animals"

2011-09-05T12:17:00.005-04:00

Farm Sanctuary’s Walk for Farm Animals will be held at Eden Park on Saturday, September 24, 2011. Join hundreds of compassionate people to raise money in support of Farm Sanctuary's work to stop cruelty to animals and promote compassion.
Registration begins at 10:30 am and the walk takes place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Highlights:
Free vegan food
Cute temporary tattoos for the kids
Walk with your dog

Farm animals everywhere are relying on your support.

Register today at http://events.walkforfarmanimals.org/event/cincinnati

Free appetizer with donation

2011-08-23T19:42:00.003-04:00

Steve and I adopted our beloved Maine Coon from SPCA Cincinnati a few years ago, and animal welfare is something that we are both passionate about. One of the easiest ways to show support is through a donation, and right now T.G.I. Friday’s is partnering with SPCA Cincinnati to celebrate the “Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer.” The restaurant is collecting donations of non-perishable items, pet toys, and treats for SPCA Cincinnati, and anyone making a donation through Sept. 8 will receive a free appetizer from the restaurant.
Locations are:
* Hyde Park - 3780 Paxton Ave.
* Tylersville - 7656 Cox Land West Chester
* Western Hills - 6320 Glenway Ave.
* Fields Ertel - 9141 Fields-Ertel Road
* Northgate - 9719 Colerain Ave.
* TriCounty - 11340 Princeton Pike
* Beechmont - 7500 Beechmont Ave.
* Kenwood - 8150 Montgomery Road

For details and to download the coupon, visit Dog Days of Summer.

New product: Birds Eye Chef's Favorites

2011-08-20T17:00:00.010-04:00

As a member of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program, my blog was recently chosen to sample four new Birds Eye Steamfresh Chef's Favorites side dishes, which will be available in stores next month. The parcel, packed in dry ice and shipped overnight, contained the following:

Lightly Sauced Creamed Spinach

Creamy Vegetable Primavera Risotto

Lightly Sauced Roasted Red Potatoes & Green Beans

Mushroom & Green Bean Risotto

All are vegetarian except the Mushroom Risotto, which contains chicken broth, so my husband volunteered to sample and review that one.

Primavera Vegetable Risotto
Veggie risotto
The first one we tried was the vegetable risotto. I really liked the convenience of being able to have a risotto ready in about four minutes. The cream sauce is flavorful, although I found it to have a slightly metallic aftertaste. The vegetables are of good quality; carrots are thickly sliced, peas are fat and juicy. I also like that the risotto is only 180 calories per serving. Although it is a side dish, I made it a full meal by adding diced chik'n to it after cooking.

Instruction arrows
The bag instructions are easy to understand and follow. The bag is placed seam-side up into the microwave, and red arrows show where to hold the bag when removing it. Another arrow points to a notch on the side, which notes where to begin tearing open the bag. While I followed the directions exactly, I could only get the bag to open halfway and I found it difficult to get the entire contents out of the bag. This wasn't a problem with any of the other sides we tested. I don't know the retail price so I can't say whether or not it is good value for money, but I give it good marks for quality and convenience.

Next we tried the Creamed Spinach. We tried it by itself, on top of buttered toast, and with Ritz crackers.

Creamed Spinach
Creamed spinach with crackers and buttered toast
I'm sorry to say that neither of us cared much for this one; the garlic-Parmesan sauce tasted "fake" - for want of a better word - and even after giving it a good hearty stir, it was still clotted, clumpy and unappetizing. We followed the microwave wattage cooking directions correctly, but perhaps if we had let it steam a little longer we wouldn't have had the clumping problem. About the only good thing going for this one is that it is only 90 calories per serving.

Later in the week Steve decided to try the Mushroom & Green Bean Risotto. His review is below:

Mushroom & Green Bean Risotto
Mushroom and green bean risotto
The Mushroom & Green Bean Risotto suffers in the same way the spinach does. I twinned it with some tiny chunks of chicken breast and whilst the risotto did allow the flavor of the chicken to come through, the overall experience felt 'fake.' Unfortunately, there was a strong aftertaste too. A buyer would have to balance taste against convenience and whilst the latter is undeniable - a mere five minutes from freezer to plate - the former remains very much the compromise.

Quite by accident, we saved the best for last. The Lightly Sauced Roasted Red Potatoes & Green Beans was by far the most natural tasting of the lot. It worked surprisingly well with falafel croquettes (shown in photo below), and in fact is probably the most versatile of all the packages we tried. I could easily imagine having this side with a wide variety of meals. The Parmesan-olive oil sauce was a tad salty but not overpoweringly so, and the veggies were of excellent quality. I'd certainly have it again.

Roasted Red Potatoes & Green Beans
This side serves two, but I ate it all
It was fun to experiment with these new Birds Eye Steamfresh offerings. I do not usually buy frozen meals and really didn't know what to expect when the box of goodies turned up. I wish I could have said that I liked all four, but one wasn't vegetarian and the other one just didn't do anything for us. The veggie risotto is worth another try, and the roasted potatoes with green beans was very good. I look forward to seeing both of them on my grocer's shelf.

Recipe: Slow roasted tomatoes

2011-08-15T15:27:00.022-04:00

Last year I picked up two organic cherry tomato plants at Whole Foods, and they were such prolific producers and the fruits so sweet that I saved the seed and started them indoors earlier this year. When it came time to plant them out, I couldn't just stop at one or two. Now my momentary lapse of reason has caught up with me and I'm picking a quart or more every other day, which is more than even a tomato lover like me can eat.

Ingredients
There are several ways to preserve tomatoes, but cherry tomatoes are so small that canning really isn't an option. Instead, these little guys get slow roasted. Slow roasting brings out their natural sweetness, and they are easy to put by for later use - if you can keep from eating them long enough to store.

Slice and drizzle with oil
Slow roasting is simple: slice the tomatoes in half and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; drizzle good quality olive oil over them and sprinkle with a tiny amount of salt, then pop them into the oven at a low heat (200-225F) for two or three hours. Two hours and the tomatoes are still somewhat plump but very sweet; three hours intensifies the sweetness and makes them slightly chewier. The garlic bulb is in the photo because I usually take the opportunity to roast some garlic at the same time.

So delicious
I know what you're thinking: "She's nuts to run an oven for hours at a time in the middle of August." While the jury is still out on whether or not I'm crazy, I can honestly say that slow roasting doesn't heat up the kitchen like higher temperature baking might, and the results are packed with so much flavor that it's worth having the oven on for a few hours.

They are especially good with cheese and crackers
I can hardly stop eating them once I start - they are as sweet and chewy as candy - but if you are able to save some, pack them into a small container with some olive oil and pop them in the fridge for up to two weeks. They can also be placed in zipper bags and frozen.

Oh yes
Use them anywhere you would fresh tomatoes. I especially like them as a cracker topping with a good quality cheese. I don't normally promote brands on this blog, but I have to say that Trader Joe's English Cheddar ($3.99) is amazing and works particularly well with slow roasted tomatoes.

Yay! Trader Joe's cheddar is vegetarian
I should also take this opportunity to stress that investing in a bottle of good quality olive oil makes all the difference. You really do get what you pay for.