VB in the city

Heart Shaped Pavlova 

White Chocolate Raspberry Tart

Cookies and Cream Bark 

Chocolate Cream Cups 

A Gooey, Decadent Chocolate Cake

• Chocolate-Hazelnut Drop Cookies
• Chocolate Truffles
• Made Over Deep Dish Brownies
• Moist Mocha Cake
• Chocolate Dipped Clementines
• Hot Chocolate Cake
• Chocolate Fondue
• Chocolate Hazelnut Smooches
• Chocolate Covered Strawberries
• Dark Chocolate Bark
• More Loveable Treats
  If chocolate isn’t your thing, these sweet treats contain a good-for-you ingredients like fruit or nuts.

  • Devilish Angel Cake With Wine Soaked Berries
  • Perfectly Poached Fruit
  • Almond Snowballs
  • Mini Upside Down Cakes
  • Mascarpone Mini Cupcakes With Strawberry Glaze (above)

Turkey Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich With Cranberry Mustard – Get the recipe HERE

One of my favorite eats of the holiday seasons is a plump Provisions-like sandwich, jam packed with our families holiday favorites from the night before- turkey, stuffing, cranberrys, mashed potatoes, and more stuffing. EVERYTHING goes in the sammie. This holiday tradition came about when Anne Black, told me about the famed turkey terrific sammie, from one of my now favorite sandwich shops in all of the world, Provisions.  Provisions is  located on the small island of Nantucket, MA – and is one of the must stop eat spots when on the island. Also, another amazing sammie shop on the island is Something Natural. Now back to the Turkey Terrific – the Turkey Terrific is a smoked turkey/stuffing/ cranberry sauce & mayo on Portuguese bread, and really is as amazing as it sounds. If you’re not on the island in the Winter, check out some of the recipes below. Try them as a homage to our Provisions turkey terrific favorite from afar.

Enjoy, indulge, and happy Holidays!

Peace + Love,

V

Leftover Turkey, Brie, Bacon, and Cranberry Sandwich – Get the recipe.

You’ll want to pinch yourself after tasting how good this yummy panini is.

Get the recipe at Pinch of Yum. 

Vegan loaded Holiday Panini – CLICK HERE 

Andrew Scrivani for The New York TimesSweet Potato Grilled Cheese

Sandwich King Jeff Mauro’s
Sweet Potato and Toasted Pecan Grilled Cheese

Since sweet potatoes are a staple of most Holiday tables, Chef Mauro thought it was important to make them part of a leftover sandwich. The combination of melted cheese, toasted pecans and mashed sweet potatoes creates a gooey treat that will quickly become a favorite holiday tradition.

8 slices country white bread
2 cups toasted pecans, crushed
Leftover mashed sweet potatoes
8 slices aged Swiss cheese
Leftover French-fried onions from green bean casserole
Chili powder, to taste
4 tablespoons butter, softened

1. Heat nonstick skillet over medium heat.

2. Layer on the bottom slice of bread one slice of Swiss cheese, a schmear of sweet potatoes, crispy onion, a tablespoon of crushed pecans, a couple of pinches of chili powder and another slice of cheese. Place slice of bread on top.

3. Spread both sides of bread with softened butter and griddle each side slowly, until the sandwich is golden and insides are melted and gooey.

Yield: 4 sandwiches.

1. “Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over” by Alison Roman

This year there are so many amazing cookbooks to put on the holiday cookbook Gift Guide, that I am considering writing a part deux, to feed all of your must-have cookbook appetites for 2019. Even though there are countless recipes posted online and on instagram, there is something wonderful and special about cooking, reading along the steps while flipping through the pages of a solid thick cookbook. Even with hands doused in flour while flipping through pages, it somehow makes the recipe more memorable. I personally recount each dish that I have successfully whipped up while looking at my old cookbooks, it even reminds me to attempt the recipes I need a little more practice on. I adore a good Sunday filled with attempting new and old recipes. Enjoy some of my favorite cookbooks below, happy almost Sunday + happy cooking!

Peace + Love,

V

‘

2.“Antoni in the Kitchen” by Antoni Porowski and Mindy Fox

3.. “Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African-American Cooking” by Toni Tipton-Martin

4. “Sababa: Fresh, Sunny Flavors From My Israeli Kitchen” by Adeena Sussman

5. Asma’s Indian Kitchen: Home-Cooked Food Brought to You by Darjeeling Express

6. Life Is a Party: Deliciously Doable Recipes to Make Every Day a Celebration

7.Oven to Table: Over 100 One-Pot and One-Pan Recipes for Your Sheet Pan, Skillet, Dutch Oven, and More

8.The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook, Expanded Edition: From Lady Mary’s Crab Canapes to Christmas Plum Pudding-More Than 150 Recipes from Upstairs and Downstairs

9.Milk Street: Tuesday Nights: More than 200 Simple Weeknight Suppers that Deliver Bold Flavor, Fast

10.Between Harlem and Heaven: Afro-Asian-American Cooking for Big Nights, Weeknights, and Every Day

Looking to entertain this Friendsgiving? If you are like me, the Holiday months are your time to really give back to your family and friends. Whether you enjoy gift giving, cooking, shopping local, or donating your time and energy to helping those less fortunate, the magical months to do so are upon us. I love the Holidays, and really can’t pick which holiday is my favorite, during the colder months. Give me a table to decorate, put on some Bing Crosby, let me create hours of goodness in the kitchen, throw a little snow into the mix with a perfect dress, and goodness you’ll just find this happy girl singing fa lalalala, all the way to the New Years. Enjoy some of my favorite tablescapes just in time for you to throw a hearty decor filled Friendsgiving, with whomever is your family.

VEGGIE POT PIE RECIPE

These pot pies are loaded with veggies like sweet potatoes, peas and lentils so they’re still packed with protein! They are then topped off with a puff pastry crust, which makes them feel a little more *special* and indulgent, without the fuss of having to go and make a crust.

Butternut Lasagna with Wild Mushrooms and Sage– a hearty, delicious vegetarian lasagna is perfect for the weeknights (make it ahead) and special enough for your holiday table!

French Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwich with caramelized onions, melty Gruyere and toasty bread. A cozy vegetarian dinner perfect for the colder months! Serve with a green salad and call it dinner!

A soothing and comforting North Indian Butternut and Potato Curry hailing from Rajasthan, featuring winter squash and potatoes, using whole spices and ghee, served over fluffy basmati rice.

Sweet Potato, Gruyere, and Rosemary tart – sweet potatoes with the nuttiness of Gruyère and the pungent flavour of rosemary. The recipe itself is a variation of an Italian tart with potatoes and fontina, so you can play around with the ingredients depending on your taste.

Roasted Butternut Enchiladas with Quick Mole Sauce – topped with cilantro, avocado and toasted sesame and pumpkin seeds. A fast and delicious vegetarian dinner recipe full of amazing flavor!

The Pumpkin Feta Tart is absolutely gorgeous and a perfect centerpiece at any Fall Harvest Gathering. 

This fall-inspired recipe for Roasted Butternut Tikka Masala can be made vegan with chickpeas. The fragrant tomato coconut sauce is infused with Indian spices. Vegan & Gluten-Free! A healthy delicious dinner recipe, perfect for fall! 

Tunisian Chickpea Stew with Carrots (and their tops), turmeric, harissa paste and Yogurt! A healthy vegetarian dinner recipe, perfect for fall!

Savory Pumpkin Lasagna perfect for those nights in, have one, two, or three pieces of this amazing comforting vegetarian dish. 

This Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup is full of hearty seasonal vegetables and wild rice (plus chicken, if you would like), it’s wonderfully creamy and comforting, and easy to make in the Instant Pot, Crock-Pot or on the stovetop.

I am loving that it is finally getting cooler for Fall. If you have been out and about downtown in Cincinnati and in Covington, KY this weekend, you probably have been enjoying the lights and wonder from Blink. Below is a simple recipe to add a little energy into your diet for this jam packed weekend. Enjoy a taste of Fall, while also being energized, enjoy and happy cooking and Blinking art lovers.

Peace + Love,

v

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This Saturday, October 5th, find me heading into the woods to discover the SAN—DOO—LEE Music Festival. A local ONE DAY, ONE NIGHT MUSICAL EXPERIENCE IN MOSCOW, OHIO. FEATURING CINCINNATI’S MOST BUZZ-WORTHY BANDS. JOIN FOR A NIGHT OF CAMPING, DRINKING, AMAZING MUSIC, AND LASERS TO LIGHT UP YOUR NIGHT + YOUR SENSES. START OCTOBER RIGHT, WITH A NIGHT IN MOSCOW at Sandoolee. 

Buy TICKETS HERE 

Current Sponsors / Non Profits:
Absolut Vodka
Keep Cincinnati Beautiful

Date : Oct 5 at 10 AM – Oct 6 at 12 PM

Location
523 MAPLE CREEK ROAD, MOSCOW, OH 45153

Line Up:
Ernie Johnson From Detroit
Quicksilver Daydream
up+dn
Young Colt
Willow Tree Carolers
Muus
Ski Patrol

Hosted by Mecca OTR

Ticket Price: $35

Tickets include:
GOOD PEOPLE / BANDS! / LIGHTING & SOUND THAT WILL MELT YOUR FACE / WATER STATIONS / SECURITY / MEDIC / BATHROOMS / CAMPING AREA

Facebook Event Page // CLICK HERE 

For tickets and more information
http://mecca-otr.com

Socials
http://instagram.com/meccaotr
http://instagram.com/sandoolee