A food truck with a name dear to our chicken-loving hearts opened recently in close proximity to our house. Alex visited first, took pictures, and wrote this review: Clintonville is seeing an influx of food trucks recently.  Despite the objections of various stick-in-the-mud types, the diversity is only growing. The Coop is the latest truck to arrive on the Clintonville scene.  As the name suggests, it is a poultry-themed establishment and happens to have thrown [...]

When you think of squirrel, what comes to mind? Do you picture a cute fluffy tailed animal, some backyard wildlife? Or  is your vision something more sinister? Are your squirrels tomato thieves, bird feeder destroyers, and dog taunters? Is anyone thinking savory and delectable? I am. About Squirrel Meat While squirrels are ubiquitous in most American neighborhoods, they are almost never on the dinner table. Why? It has nothing to do with the outstanding dark [...]

Apples are abundant in our house after our trip to Lawrence Orchards. When the oven was on for family dinner roasted potatoes last night, I couldn’t help but whip up an apple crisp. I use a simple crumble topping ratio that is adaptable to the ingredients I have on hand and needs of my guests. I can use white flour, white sugar and butter for a traditional crisp. More often I choose oats, whole wheat [...]

Top left: kefir,  top right: beer, bottom left: sourdough starter, bottom middle: chamomile and hop flowers in honey, bottom right: vanilla   Want to learn harness the power of yeast and bacteria at home? Come to my Fermented Foods class Sunday at Franklin Park Conservatory from 4-6 pm. $35 per person, register by calling 614.645.5923.

They say it was too cold or windy to warm the little bees’ wings. Or the apple flowers blossomed just before a storm and their white petals marbled the ground before they could attract pollinators. Perhaps it was Colony Collapse, A frightening name for the frightening idea that we humans or weather or something mysterious is killing the bees on which we depend. The only certainty is that apples are few this year. Then last [...]

Combine interest in the inaugural Easton Farmer’s Market, an empty store front, and a community of local producers and what do you have? Celebrate Local, a pop-up holiday shop of all-Ohio goods. Celebrate Local opens October 1 and will continue sales through the winter holidays at Easton where Harry & David’s previously resided. The shop offers frozen, refrigerated and fresh local foods, handmade pantry items, and locally made crafts. Customers can select items from around [...]

Like many central Ohioans, I grew up with a pan of Johnny Marzetti on every church potluck spread. The concoction of elbow pasta, meaty tomato sauce, and cheese held little appeal to me but I do recall it being a favorite of many others. When John of Jarsloth approached a group of Columbus bloggers to write about this cowtown classic, I aimed to create a homegrown and local version. That mine happens to contain far [...]