Opus2Cafe: November 2012

Sunday, November 25, 2012

XgivingXmasXshping
tentative menu
11/26/12 thru 11/30/12
Mon.    Vegetarian Chili, Chinese Velvet Corn Soup, Peanut Noodles, Hummus Wraps, Cheddar-Tomato-Red Onion Pickle Panini, Black Bottom Cupcakes, Gluten Free Walnut Brownies
Tues.   Vegetarian Chili, Chipotle Tomato Soup, Pesto Tortellini, Hummus Wraps, Spinach and Feta Quiche, Cranberry Bliss Bars
Wed.    Vegetarian Chili, Masala Root Soup, Wasabi Slaw, Hummus Wraps, Baked Cavatappi and Aged Cheddar Au Gratin, Whoopie Pies
Thurs.   Vegetarian Chili, Southwestern Corn Chowder, Dragon Noodles, Hummus Wraps, Garden Panini, Raspberry Fudge Brownies
Fri.    Vegetarian Chili, Curried Pumpkin Soup, Caesar Salads, Hummus Wraps, Chipotle Vegetable Wrap

Music Menu

Requests II . . . just kidding

The low down on this week's menu - Going on a comfort-carb over load this week. Aside from that, things are looking genuinely tentative. Tuesday and Wednesday might see a switcheroo of soups. That'll be based on whim. On the off chance that whole almonds arrive earlier than expected, the Caesar salads might move from Friday's menu to Tuesday's. Dragon Noodle dressing is based on pickled ginger juice. Pickled ginger is coming in the delivery with the whole almonds.

News from the dark side - 'Opus 1 is thankful for all of our lovely frequenters and hopes this week of relaxation has left you all craving some caffeine fixes!'
Last week's employee of the week was Libby Hummus, another self-starter. Sensing a trend?
Last week we lauded the return of our beloved iced coffee/tea 'fridge. 9 1/2 weeks. Whoa.
Last week we relayed Fx Nws election results of the week.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Good-bye Ginko Tree Leaves
tentative menu
11/12/12 thru 11/16/12
Mon.   Vegetarian Chili, Cream of Tomato Basil Soup, Peanut Noodles, Hummus Wraps, Pizzettes, Becca's Blondies, Gluten Free Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Tues. Vegetarian Chili, Pumpkin Asiago Soup, Moroccan Couscous, Hummus Wrap, Cheddar Apple Panini, Black Bottom Cupcakes
Wed.   Vegetarian Chili, Chipotle Black Bean Soup, Mixed Grain and Grapefruit Salad, Hummus Wraps, Avocado Hero, Whoopie Pies
Thurs. Vegetarian Chili, Curried Spinach Soup, Pesto Tortellini, Hummus Wraps, Pickled Peppers Sub, Volcano Brownies
Fri.      Vegetarian Chili, Minestrone Soup, Mediterranean Corn Salad, Hummus Wraps, Quesadillas

Music Menu

Getaway Day, Hay, Ay?

The low down on this week's menu - pizzettes on Monday will probably be pesto-tomato-baby spinach-mozzarella. Tuesday will be either BBQ with cornbread, slaw and baked beans or cheddar apple panini, not both. That will be determined Monday morning, posted Mon. afternoon. Avocados are looking good this week. Thursday's Sub will have our house made pickled peppers, arugula, and I'm not sure what else. Cheese, natch. Tomatoes, prob. Something else, hopefully.

News from the dark side - Official sources say: 'Open mic night in O1 had a huge turnout! Music, coffee, and good people - what better for a brisk Thursday night?'

Touched base with my very unofficial source Thursday. He confirmed my suspicions.

Last week we shared our secret recipe for Wasabi Coleslaw.

Last week's editorial endorsement was for the Bull Moose [happy 100th]. We miss you, Teddy.

Last week's presidential thread: Lake-Tear-of-the-Clouds; Newcomb; the North Creek Railway Depot.

Last week's historical drill team, E Clampus Vitus, is needed now more than ever.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Agitas Electoratorum
tentative menu
11/5/12 thru 11/9/12
Mon.    Vegetarian Chili, Roasted Red Pepper and Coconut Soup, Wasabi Coleslaw, Hummus Wraps, Chili Relleno Torta, Cayuga Mud Cake, Gluten Free Raspberry Fudge Brownies
Tues.    Vegetarian Chili, Red Lentil Mulligatawny, menu change in place of Mulligatawny, White Bean Soup with Fresh Rosemary Caesar Salads, Hummus Wraps, Sicilian Kale Calzones, Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies
Wed.    Vegetarian Chili, Roasted Cauliflower Soup, French Lentil Salad, Hummus Wraps, Chevre and Fig Baguette, Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
Thurs. Vegetarian Chili, West African Peanut Soup, Moroccan Carrot Salad, Hummus Wraps, Santa Fe Veggie Wrap, Chocolate Cheesecake changed to apple cake
Fri.   Vegetarian Chili, Mexican Split Pea Soup, Calypso Bean Salad, Hummus Wraps, Pear and Blue Cheese Focaccia

Music Menu

Thank You, Thank You Music Lovers

The low down on this week's menu - this week's menu relies on staff requests.

The H.C. community farm will supply the beautiful kale for the calzones on Tuesday. Or Thursday.

News from the dark side - official sources say 'This Thursday night in Opus 1 there will be a student organized Open Mic Night with free Opus snacks and beverages.'

Last week we shared a recipe for Amblongus Pie.

Last week's short story of the week, The House of the Dead Hand by Edith Wharton is a horror must read.

Last week's CNY haunted venue of the week, The Beardslee Manor, has a copper topped bar in its below ground tap room. Check it out.

Last week our halloween posting included two pictures of chain saw wielding sisters. Some times it's the ones that you'd never expect.

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New Dish of the Week Profile -Acorn Squash with Roasted Garlic Soup - so o.k., this isn't very new to us here, but it hasn't been profiled yet. Do we have any curious cooks in the house? Both the squash and the garlic are roasted. The shallots and celery are sauteed. The spinach is tossed in raw. Dry sherry and whatever extra dribs and drabs of milk we have are added towards the end. Seasonings are exactly what you'd expect. Mom approved. nutritional info per 8 oz. serving, based on the assumption that I'm going to find mainly skim milk dribs and 1% drabs -cal. 197, fat - 8.7g, carbs - 27g, pro - 4.3g, choles. - 22mg, sodium - 135mg

Here's the Opus 2 recipe for clumping granola - melt 1/2 c butter, stir in 1/4 c honey and a splash of vanilla, set aside. In a large bowl, mix 4 c rolled oats with 1/2 c sunflower seeds and 2 cups almonds (whole or sliced). Toss butter/honey mix with oat mix. Add a bit of water if it seems too crumbly. Spread granola out on a parchment lined half sheet pan. Press firmly. Seriously. Cover with foil and bake at 250 degrees for about 70 minutes, or until you can smell the granola. Remove the foil and continue baking until desired shade of medium brown, anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Cool in pan, and when totally cool, break up into clumps. Mix in some dried cranberries or raisins. Some times we add wheat germ and/or pepitas,

Wild Grape Pie
We at O2 spent a pleasant day making a wild grape pie. Here's the recipe.
Harvest at least 2 pounds worth of wild grapes. Wash and dry them carefully. Measure out 6 cups worth, and gently peel them. Put the skins in a bowl, the pulp and seeds into a saucepan. This will take a couple of hours if you have help, but it'll be a fun couple of hours.
Bring the saucepan of pulp to a full, rolling boil, and boil vigorously for 5 minutes. Strain the seeds away from the pulp, discarding the seeds. Mix the pulp in with the skins, and between 1 and 3 tablespoons of tapioca. Place this mix of skins and rapidly thickening pulp into a refrigerator to chill for about 2 hours. While this is chilling, make a pie dough recipe of your choosing. We are fond of a basic pate brisee, heavy on the butter.
When the pie dough has relaxed sufficiently, roll it out and fit it into an 8 or 9 inch pie pan. Remove the grape filling from refrigeration, and stir into it about a cup's worth of sugar. Scrape this filling into the bottom crust, top with a full or latticed top crust. Bake as any fruit pie, making sure you have a pan underneath it in your oven. Enjoy cool.

O2 Onion Cheese Bisque.
really.
Cook up a big bunch of onions in butter over a low flame. When they are just starting to caramelize, stir in some flour. Cook off the raw flour taste, and add in milk. Lots of milk. We use an assortment of fat levels. Add in some grated cheese. We use an assortment of types. Stir, taste, season. Add in some vegetarian worcestershire sauce and dijon mustard. Partially puree with your wand of chaos.
nutritional facts based on 2% milk and medium sharp cheddar - calories for a 12 oz serving - 315.4, fat - 21.2 g, carbs - 19.1 g, protein - 13.5 g

Dear Charlotte [crispy];
Thank you for being such a loyal customer. I hope that this will help.
1. Acorn Squash, Roasted Garlic and Spinach Soup -
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut 2 acorn squash in half, scoop seeds out. Roast squash, cut side down for about 45 minutes, until it feels tender. Roast 4 heads of garlic at the same time. In a pot, saute 2 onions in butter until starting to brown. Add 4 cups of water or vegetable broth and 2/3 c dry sherry. Add in the flesh from the squash and the roasted garlic. Puree. Add in 1 bunch of clean, chopped spinach. Heat and add salt, pepper, a little bit of fresh nutmeg, and 2/3 cup half and half or heavy cream.

2. Chinese Velvet Corn Soup
In a splash of oil, saute 4 cups of diced onions. Cook until caramelized, then add 6 cups of corn kernels and 8 cups of water. Cook a bit, then add 1 teaspoon of szechuan peppercorns, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, 1/2 cup dry sherry, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 4 teaspoons sugar, a good dollop of sambal oeleek, and some chopped chives. Remove about a third of the soup and with an immersion blender, coarsely puree what's left in the pot. Add the unpureed soup back. Dissolve 1/2 c of cornstarch in about 1/3 cup of cold water. Pour this into the hot - but not boiling- soup. Taste for and add salt.

3. Chipotle Sweet Potato and Fresh Sage
4. Masala Root Soup
5. Onion Cheese Bisque
6. Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup
7. Roasted Cauliflower Soup
8. Roasted Red Pepper and Coconut Soup
9. Sherried Carrot Soup
10. West African Peanut Soup.
Let me know if something really important to you is missing.

Pesky Wild Violet Invasion
It's that time of the year again, wild violets marring the new lawn. Spraying is so politically incorrect.
'Violets contain rutin, a phytochemical with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may help strengthen capillary walls'. Eat them.
Clean violets carefully. Dry thoroughly.
Beat a couple of egg whites, then strain into a small bowl.
Work with one violet at a time.
Using a clean paintbrush, paint egg white on all surfaces of the violet. Don't get excessive, egg shouldn't be dripping.
Immediately sprinkle superfine sugar over all coated surfaces.
Place violet on a wax paper covered wire rack to dry.
Repeat process.
Flowers are extremely perishable and should generally be served fresh. Candied flowers like these wild violets will last up to a year. Do not store in the refrigerator.
Today's important [p.c.] disclaimer here;
Introduce flowers slowly to your diet to avoid any potential upset or allergic reaction, especially important if you have allergies to pollen.
Next week - dandelion jelly.

Opus2Cafe

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Sunday, November 4, 2012

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