Opus2Cafe

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Robbie Burns
tentative menu
1/27/14 thru 1/30/14
Mon.     Vegetarian Chili, Onion Cheese Bisque, Peanut Noodles, Hummus Wraps, Artichoke Hero, Gluten Free Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Tues. Vegetarian Chili, Southwestern Corn Chowder, Caesar Salads, Hummus Wraps, Thai Tofu Rice Bowl
Wed.     Vegetarian Chili, Gingered Butternut Squash Soup, Orzo Fattoush Salad, Hummus Wraps, Chevre And Fig Hero
Thurs.   Vegetarian Chili, Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup, Green Salad, Hummus Wraps, Cheddar Avocado Panini
Fri.       Vegetarian Chili, Masala Root Soup, Ginger Noodles, Hummus Wraps

Music Menu

NRBQWXYZ

The low down on this week's menu - the green-salad-of-the-week for Thursday will be a spinach and cranberry salad. This salad will have baby spinach, feta, craisins, red onion, peppered pecans and a citrus cranberry vinaigrette.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Dark Days Done
tentative menu
1/21/14 thru 1/24/14
Tues.    Vegetarian Chili, Roasted Red Pepper and Coconut Soup, Pesto Tortellini, Hummus Wraps, Cheddar-Tomato-Red Onion Pickle Panini, Gluten free Fudge Brownies
Wed.    Vegetarian Chili, Pumpkin Asiago Soup, Mango and Basmati Rice Salad, Hummus Wraps, Fontina and Zippy Bits Hero
Thurs. Vegetarian Chili, Black Bean and Sweet Potato Stew, Greek Lentil and Bulgar Salad, Hummus Wraps, Yukon Gold-Spinach-Goat Cheese Quiche
Fri.     Vegetarian Chili, Chipotle Tomato Soup, Green Salad with Toppings, Hummus Wraps, Artichoke Calzones

Music Menu

Accordion Conjunto Champs yet again

The low down on this week's menu - easing back into things with a minimum of simple carbs. Found some beautiful red globe grapes, made some great candied pecans and ordered some mild blue cheese crumbles for the green-salad-of-the-week.
News from the dark side -

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Last week, last month
tentative menu
12/16/13 thru 12/20/13
Mon.    Vegetarian Chili, Cream of Tomato Basil Soup, Caesar Salads, Hummus Wraps, Baked Cavatappi and Aged Cheddar
Tues.    Vegetarian Chili, Portuguese Kale and Potato Soup, Peanut Noodles, Hummus Wraps, Avocado Hero
Wed.    Vegetarian Chili, Pumpkin Asiago Soup, French Lentil Salad, Hummus Wraps, Mixed Cheese and Herb Panini
Thurs. Vegetarian Chili, French White Bean Soup, Pesto Tortellini, Hummus Wraps, Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burritos
Fri.     Vegetarian Chili, Roasted Winter Squashes Soup, A Salad, Hummus Wraps, Peanut Butter and Jelly Panini

Music Menu

Ho, Ho Oh No

The low down on this week's menu - I know, peanut noodles three weeks in a row. Fact or fiction? Fact! PB & J on sourdough, panini? Oh yeah. Leftovers coming in to play toward the latter part of the week? Indubitably.
Annual Opus gingerbread people decorating will be taking place all week. Arms and legs will be available to our customers.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
tentative menu
12/9/13 thru 12/13/13
Mon.    Vegetarian Chili, West African Peanut Soup, Peanut Noodles, Hummus Wrap, Swiss Melt
Tues.   Vegetarian Chili, Curried Spinach Soup, Massaged Kale Salad, Hummus Wraps, Artichoke Heart Hero
Wed.    Vegetarian Chili, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Black Bean and Corn Salad, Hummus Wraps, Pizzettes, Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
Thurs.   Vegetarian Chili, Acorn Squash with Roasted Garlic and Spinach Soup, Ginger Noodles, Hummus Wrap, Pear and Pepper Jack Panini
Fri.    Vegetarian Chili, Cuban Black Bean Soup, Falafel Salads, Hummus Wraps, Chickpea-of-the-Sea on a Bagel

Music Menu
Dressed in my Finest Polyester

The low down on this week's menu - comforting carbs abound. Whooie pie Wednesday features -as requested- red velvet whoopies.

News from the dark side - no news is good news.

Did you miss last week's limerick?

'A short order cook out of Rikers,

Worked the grill with her back to the bikers,

"I just like the 'hear-hears' as I go through the gears,"

Said that grease tender cook out of Rikers.'

Sunday, December 1, 2013

If We Make It Through December
tentative menu
12/2/13 thru 12/6/13
Mon.    Vegetarian Chili, Chipotle Tomato Soup, Pesto Tortellini, Hummus Wraps, Spinach Feta Quiche
Tues.    Vegetarian Chili, Pumpkin Black Bean Soup, Caesar Salads, Hummus Wraps, Cheddar-Tomato-Pickle Panini
Wed. Vegetarian Chili, Crimson Lentil Soup, French Lentil Salad, Hummus Wraps, Quesadillas
Thurs.    Vegetarian Chili, Sweet Potato-Chipotle-Fresh Sage Soup, Andean Quinoa Salad, Hummus Wraps, Cheddar Apple Panini
Fri. Vegetarian Chili, Chinese Velvet Corn Soup, Peanut Noodles, Hummus Wraps, Chevre Fig Hero

Music Menu

The Fabulous Thunderbirds

The low down on this week's menu - Comfort food abounds. A special guest will be taking the helm here at O2 on Wednesday.

Iron Mountain snow snakes

Sunday, November 17, 2013

First Dustings
tentative menu
11/18/13 thru 11/22/13
Mon.    Vegetarian Chili, Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, Pesto Tortellini, Hummus Wraps, Swiss Melt
Tues.    Vegetarian Chili, Red Pepper and Coconut Soup, Black Bean and Corn Salad, Hummus Wraps, Baked Cavatappi and Aged Cheddar Au Gratin
Wed.    Vegetarian Chili, Pumpkin Asiago Soup, Moroccan Couscous Salad, Hummus Wraps, Artichoke Hero, Whoopie Pies
Thurs. Vegetarian Chili, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Peanut Noodles, Hummus Wraps, Cheddar-Tomato-Red Onion Pickle Panini
Fri. Vegetarian Chili, Cream of Tomato Basil Soup, Marinated Tomato Salad, Hummus Wraps

Music Menu

The Year You Were Born

The low down on this week's menu - this week's requested whoopie pies are gingerbread. We continue our carb heavy offerings for your enjoyment.
News from the dark side - 'Opus 1 is thankful for all it's lovely frequenters and hopes that the caffeine fixes will get you through to a much needed rest week.'
Last week's limerick, in reference to the Leonids (did you see them?)
A wanderer from old Monticello,
Told a passingly curious fellow,
"I am answering my calling, to hear a meteor falling,
Which wrinkles the ol' cerebello."

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Leonids
tentative menu
11/11/13 thru 11/15/13
Mon.    Vegetarian Chili, Caribbean Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup, Asian Succotash Salad, Hummus Wraps, Pear and Pepper Jack Panini
Tues. Vegetarian Chili, Hungarian Potato Soup, Tunisian Carrot Salad, Hummus Wraps, Caesar Salad Wrap
Wed.    Vegetarian Chili, Chipotle Tomato Soup, French Lentil Salad, Hummus Wraps, Avocado Hero, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Whoopie Pies
Thurs. Vegetarian Chili, French White Bean Soup, Peanut Noodles, Hummus Wraps, Cheddar and Apple Panini
Fri.    Vegetarian Chili, Cuban Black Bean Soup, Hummus Wraps, Roasted Butternut Couscous Salad, Chevre and Artichoke Chop Salad Hero

Music Menu

Call Me Al

The low down on this week's menu - the assumption is that the avocados will be ripe enough on Wednesday.
News from the dark side - unofficial sources remind us not to miss the jazz combo at O1 this Tuesday. A good time will be had by all.
Last week's taxi tour of Utica included stops at Tiny's Grill, Bass Pro Shop and The Aud.

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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, January 26, 2014

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Sunday, November 10, 2013

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