Brownie Trifle -- sounds and looks decadent, but is lighter than you think

Here's a dessert that's fit for company, including for the just-around-the-corner holidays. If you make these brownies rather than buying ready-made ones, the result will be significantly healthier. But let's not kid ourselves about the health profile of the recipe, another contribution by my friend Mary Ann Barnes, who has a raging sweet tooth. (She seems to spend a lot of her time figuring out dessert recipes that substitute healthier ingredients for the fats and sugars in standard sweets.) Like most desserts, this is a once in awhile indulgence!

Recipe: Chocolate, Banana and Peanut Butter Trifle

Serves 8

Ingredients:

2 pounds baked brownies (store bought, or see recipe below)

1 16-ounce container sugar-free, fat-free frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 4-serving box sugar-free, fat-free vanilla instant pudding mix

1 ½ cup fat free or lowfat milk

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2 – 3 bananas, sliced

Chocolate covered peanuts for garnish, if desired

Instructions:

Combine instant pudding mix and fat free milk, whisking until thickened.  Add thawed whipped topping and peanut butter, stirring until smooth.  

Layer ½ brownies on the bottom of a large glass bowl, pressing to fill any holes.  Arrange slices of bananas on brownie layer.  Spoon ½ peanut butter mixture over bananas.  Repeat layers.  Sprinkle chocolate covered peanuts on top, if desired.  Refrigerate until served.

Recipe: Dark Chocolate and Black Bean Brownies

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked black beans, rinsed

½ cup whole grain pastry flour

3 eggs

¼ cup cocoa powder

¼ cup strongly brewed coffee

2/3 cup brown sugar

¼ cup Smart Balance (or other spread with plant stanols)

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 tablespoons grapeseed oil

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350.

Lightly brush an 8 inch by 8 inch baking pan with oil

Pulse black beans in a food processor until smooth.  Add flour, eggs, cocoa, sugar, Smart Balance, vanilla and grapeseed oil; process until smooth.  Pour mixture into a medium bowl.  Add baking powder and chocolate chips, stirring until blended. 

Pour mixture into baking pan, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out cleanly. 

Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting.

Rue Dumaine and Rookwood Restaurant -- Excellent Dining

I had a couple of very good dining experiences this past weekend, and I'd definitely recommend both of these restaurants: Rue Dumaine in Centerville (near Dayton) and Rookwood Restaurant in Mt. Adams (Cincinnati).

Appetizers & Negroni Cocktail at Dumaine

Fish Special at Dumaine

Rue Dumaine was a surprise, basically because I was ignorant of its existence. I drove up from Cincinnati with two friends, and all I knew in advance was that this is a French restaurant one of my friends had tried once and liked.
Well, Rue Dumaine is indeed a marvelous French restaurant with a female chef-owner who made a splash in the much larger culinary pond of New Orleans. She moved back to her Ohio hometown and opened this serious eatery in a growing suburb southeast of Dayton. We were impressed by the artisnal cocktails, interesting wine list, lively ambiance and -- best of all -- very good food. Pictured are my Negroni cocktail and one of the featured salads (top), and the grilled amberjack special that two of us enjoyed. (The third had duck breast.)


Then on Sunday I went with my husband and another couple to Rookwood Restaurant so that we could enjoy their terrific deck while the weather is still warm enough. Once again, a highlight is their interesting cocktail list. There's a wood-burning grill on the deck that imparts amazing flavor to whatever comes off it -- mostly burgers and skewers of different meats and seafood. I indulged in a burger, which was excellent. Also pictured, the haricots verts salad and a sampler of Jeni's ice cream, that stellar stuff out of Columbus OH.

Haricots verts salad at Rookwood

Wood-grilled burger @ Rookwood

Jeni's ice cream at Rookwood

Tres Leches Cake

Is it really possible to make a healthy -- or at least, healthier -- version of this indulgent cake? According to my friend Mary Ann Barnes, who sent me this recipe, the answer is yes.

Mary Ann is a master at having her cake and eating it too. That is, she's figured out healthy substitutions for so many of her favorite dessert recipes, enabling her to feed her sweet tooth without too awfully much guilt.
This one is fantastic!

Recipe : Tres Leches Cake

Serves 12

For the cake:

¾ cup egg substitute

2/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar, divided

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons baking powder

Dash of salt

½ cup fat free milk

2 cups whole grain pastry flour, or a mix of white and whole grain flour

¼ cup dried egg white

¾ cup water

For the sauce:

1 14-ounce can fat free sweetened condensed milk

1 12-ounce can fat free evaporated milk

½ cup fat free milk

2 tablespoons rum

For the meringue topping:

½ cup dried egg whites

1 ½ cup water

dash of salt

1 cup sugar

¼ cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Coat a 13 x 9 inch cake pan with cooking spray and dust with flour.

Prepare the cake batter:

In a large mixing bowl, mix egg substitute, sugar and vanilla until light and creamy, about 3 minutes.  Add baking powder, salt and sugar.  Alternately add milk and flour, about 1/3 at a time, mixing after each addition. 

In a small bowl, whip dried egg white with water until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes.  Fold into cake batter.  Spoon cake batter into prepared pan and bake for 20 – 25 minutes, until wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes, then invert onto cake platter. 

Prick bottom of cake many times with a fork. 

Prepare the sauce:

In a medium bowl, combine condensed milk, evaporated milk, fat free milk and rum.  Whisk until smooth.  Slowly pour milk mixture evenly over cake.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.

Prepare topping:

In a medium bowl, whip dried egg white and water until stiff peaks form.  Meanwhile, combine salt, sugar and water in a small saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until sugar is dissolved.  Continue cooking until mixture boils for 4 minutes, without stirring.  In a steady thin stream, pour syrup into egg whites while beating.  Add vanilla.  Frost cake.  Refrigerate until served.

Corn Pudding-- Lightened Up, Still Scrumptious

Autumn Comfort Food

One of the best gourmet-to-go dishes at Fresh Table (Findlay Market) is corn pudding. But it is not a guilt-free indulgence. This version lightens things up by using nonfat dairy products and less oil, but you still get the vitamins and fiber -- not to mention delightful taste -- of the corn.

Recipe: Corn Pudding

Serves 6 – 8

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons margarine spread with plant stanols added, such as Benecol

One-half cup whole grain cornmeal

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

One-half teaspoon sea salt

1 ½ cup fat-free buttermilk

One cup fat-free sour cream

8 ounces eggs or egg substitute

3 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 7 x 11 inch baking dish with cooking spray. 

Blend cornmeal, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. 

Process buttermilk, sour cream, egg substitute and spread in blender until smooth.  Add corn and process about 10 seconds more (mixture will be lumpy). 

Whisk buttermilk mixture into cornmeal mixture.  Pour into prepared baking dish.  Bake 35 – 40 minutes, until edges are browned and center is set.  Cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

Eat more of this superfood -- for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner

Eggs really do qualify as a superfood. A partial list of their health benefits includes: high-quality protein and all nine essential amino acids; protects your eyes from macular degeneration and cataracts; good for your nervous system thanks to their choline content; they contain Vitamin D...and they are inexpensive, easy to prepare and amazingly versatile.

I love this preparation, which has the added enhancement of including another superfood, spinach.

Recipe: Eggs on Creamy Spinach with Crunchy Bread Crumbs

(Serves 2)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coarse fresh breadcrumbs made from crustless country-style bread
• 5 teaspoons Dijon mustard, divided
• 2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 9-ounce package fresh spinach leaves
• 3 tablespoons half and half or milk
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 2 large eggs
• Fresh thyme sprigs (for garnish)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss crumbs with 2 teaspoons mustard, 2 teaspoons oil, and mustard seeds in medium bowl to coat.

Scatter on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden and crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Meanwhile, add enough water to deep large nonstick skillet to cover bottom. Add spinach; toss over high heat to wilt, about 2 minutes. Scrape into sieve set over bowl; press out liquid. Wipe out skillet; reserve.

Transfer spinach to medium saucepan. Add 3 teaspoons mustard, half and half, and chopped thyme. Stir over medium heat until thick, about 3 minutes. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Remove from heat.

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in reserved skillet over medium-high heat. Crack eggs into skillet, spacing apart. Fry until whites are cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Divide spinach between 2 plates, spreading out as base for eggs. Top with eggs, crumbs, and thyme sprigs.

Source: Epicurious/Bon Appetit 

Demystifying French Wine

Un grand chateau en Bordeaux

In the realm of wine, for me it just doesn't get any better than vin francais.  At home this week I've enjoyed a 2009 Sancerre (Loire Valley sauvignon blanc) and delighted in a 2009 Fleurie (a cru beaujolais). And if I were stranded on a desert island with only one type of wine, it would be French Burgundy -- the reds made from luscious pinot noir, the whites the best chardonnay in the world.
Of course, sparkling wine from Champagne out-classes sparklers from anywhere else, and it's very high on my list of favorite wines.

Food & Wine is featuring wines from France, with lots of info about the seven major wine producing regions from that lovely country, on its website this week. Below are a few excerpts, or go here to read more.
See also this impassioned essay about why French wines are still unparalleled.

Seven Top French Wine Regions by Acres of Vines

• Languedoc-Roussillon 528,000 Acres
• Bordeaux 306,000 Acres
• Rhône Valley 188,700 Acres
• Loire Valley 158,000 Acres
• Burgundy 125,000 Acres
• Champagne 75,000 Acres
• Alsace 34,000 Acres 

 Champagne:
The Champagne region's wines are usually blends of different grape varieties (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier) from different years and different vineyards, combined to create consistency, vintage after vintage. The result is that despite this northern region's marginal and unpredictable climate, Champagne is incredibly reliable.

Burgundy, in north central France, is home to the world's most frustrating, unpredictable and—when everything goes right—glorious wines.

The unpredictability of Burgundy wine is largely due to variable weather; it's hard to think of a region with as much difference between vintages. But people who love Pinot Noir (red Burgundy) or Chardonnay (white) owe it to themselves to investigate the Burgundy wine region—and not to forget Beaujolais, whose Gamay-based reds are some of the world's best wine values.

The Wonders of Tea: Home-Brewed, and a Bottled Tea I Like

I've been a tea drinker all my life, and couldn't appreciate coffee at all until I reached my 30s. To this day, I brew a pot of loose-leaf black tea every morning -- there are no tea bags in my pantry, but many tins of various black tea leaves. I love to buy tea on my travels, especially at famous teahouses such as those in Paris or Boulder CO. But the main sources for my breakfast teas are Essencha Teahouse and Tea Shop in Oakley (Cincinnati) or the terrific mail-order tea supplier, Upton Tea. 

Being such a purist, I haven't tried bottled teas very often, and those that did pass my lips were nothing special.
Recently, however, I learned about Ohio-based Tradewinds bottled tea, operating out of Carlisle, just south of Dayton. They make eight flavors of iced tea, from sweet tea to lemonade tea, raspberry tea, unsweetened tea and green tea with honey. To my surprise, my favorite so far has been the green tea (which also comes in diet). It tastes like honey, not green tea -- which I don't care for, as a rule.
Most of the sweetened teas have 70 calories per serving; however, as is often the case with bottled drinks, the fine print on the bottle confesses that it contains 2.5 servings, so I wouldn't drink the whole thing at once. 

Here's some information about the health benefits of tea (source: Tea Association of the U.S.)

Tea contains flavonoids, naturally occurring compounds that are believed to have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals, which scientists believe, over time, damage elements in the body, such as genetic material and lipids, and contribute to chronic disease.

Recent research has explored the potential health attributes of tea through studies in humans and animal models, and through in vitro laboratory research. For the most part, studies conducted on Green and Black Tea, which are both from the Camellia sinensis plant, have yielded similar results. Recent research suggests that tea and tea flavonoids may play important roles in various areas of health and may operate through a number of different mechanisms still being explored. Recent findings include:

• The antioxidant properties of tea flavonoids may play a role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease by decreasing lipid oxidation¹ , reducing the instances of heart attacks and stroke^2,3, and may beneficially impact blood vessel function , an important indicator of cardiovascular health.
• Tea flavonoids may lower the risk of certain cancers by inhibiting the oxidative changes in DNA from free radicals and some carcinogens¹. Tea may also promote programmed cell death, or apoptosis⁵, and inhibit the rate of cell division, thereby decreasing the growth of abnormal cells¹.
• Tea-drinking has been associated with oral health⁶ and bone health⁷.
• Compounds in tea other than flavonoids have been shown to support the human immune system⁸.

Luscious French Wine for less: Food-Friendly Cru Beaujolais

The shoulder season between the dog days of summer and the nip of full-on autumn is a perfect time to explore lighter red wines such as pinot noir, sangiovese or (a rediscovered delight) cru Beaujolais.

The Beaujolais area of France lies between two more widely known wine regions, Burgundy and the Rhone Valley. Almost all of the red wine produced in this 30 mile-long valley comes from the gamay grape. And the best wines carry the "cru" designation, meaning they each hail from one of ten villages (a list of which I'll post below). In these small towns and rural areas, winemakers turn out carefully crafted table wines that often achieve a pretty balance between fruitiness and depth. I've found that they pair wonderfully well with anything from shrimp cocktail to turkey or bison burgers, roast chicken, or a hearty vegetarian stew heavy on winter squash or mushrooms.


The ten names to look for in the French wine section of a moderately well stocked wine shop, listed north to south, are:

St.Amour: pretty, delicate wines
Juliènas: like St.Amour, but slightly beefier
Chénas: often keenly acidic, with notable minerality and fine tannin
Moulin-à-Vent: a top cru, very complex and muscular
Fleurie: aromatic, pungent wines of medium length
Chiroubles: at their best, these are raw, gamey, and delectable
Morgon: another top cru; powerfully ripe fruit, amazing depth
Regnié: fresh, clean wines; generous, not terribly complex
Brouilly: dark wines, with notable bouillon flavors and strong tannin
Côte de Brouilly: a top cru: intense minerals & richness on the palate

Note: the word "Beaujolais" is not required to be placed on the label of these wines.

Reliable top crus, year after year, are Morgon and Moulin-a-Vent, but any town of origin is worth a try.
 
Georges DuBouef is the beaujolais producer with the longest reach into the American market, and it's not hard to find their Morgon, Julienas or St. Amour, among others. Louis Jadot is another major producer with cru beaujolais distributed widely in the U.S.

In addition to these wines' versatility at the table and their pleasing mouth-feel, they tend to be moderate in alcohol content (around 12 or 12.5 percent) and inexpensive for the quality level.
You should be able to find a cru beaujolais you'll love for anywhere from $13 to $20, with some highly rated (by the wine press) Morgons inching toward $30.
The 2009 vintage was spectacular, so look for that. Because beaujolais tend to be underappreciated, your wine shop might have a couple of dusty bottles on the shelf.  That vintage produced wines with enough depth and structure to improve for a couple more years, although they're terrific now as well.
2010s should be widely available, and it too got good reviews, although these tend to be fresh and fruity -- at least compared to the 2009 wines -- and ready to pour with dinner tonight.

Light Fare: Grilled Shrimp (and/or Scallops) over White Bean Salad

Skewered shrimp over a summery salad

Before fall weather sets in for good, let's postpone the hot-oven dinners and stick with our grills. (I much prefer not to heat up my kitchen with the oven, or even a lot of stove top burners, until September goes.)

From Eating Well magazine -- a great favorite -- here's a recipe for grilled shrimp skewers served over a light, summery bean salad. Sea scallops work just as well as the shrimp, or you can alternate the two shellfish. Chunks of swordfish or other firm fish would be tasty, too.

Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Skewers over White Bean Salad

(Serves 4-6)

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons packed fresh oregano, minced
• 2 tablespoons packed fresh sage, minced
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, rinsed
• 12 cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1 cup finely diced celery
• 24 raw shrimp (21-25 per pound, peeled and deveined 

Instructions:

1. Combine lemon zest, lemon juice, oil, oregano, sage, chives, pepper and salt in a large bowl. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the dressing in a small bowl. Add beans, tomatoes and celery to the large bowl; toss well.
2. Preheat grill to medium-high or place a grill pan over medium-high heat until hot.
3. Thread shrimp onto 6 skewers. (If using a grill pan, you don’t need to skewer the shrimp.)
4. Oil the grill rack (see Tip) or the grill pan. Grill the shrimp until pink and firm, turning once, about 4 minutes total. Serve the shrimp on the white bean salad, drizzled with the reserved dressing.

Low-Alcohol Wines -- Benefits worth considering

Pay attention to how much booze is in your glass

Most people may not read the alcohol content info on the bottle of wine they're pouring with dinner, but in fact the trend among winemakers worldwide for the past decade or more has been to kick up the alcohol percentage in many if not most bottles. That's as true for everyday, low-cost chardonnays and cabernets as it is for cellar-worthy "investment" wines we save for special occasions.
However, for the sake of your health, it's not a bad idea to seek out lower-alcohol wines if you're drinking at home or in a restaurant. The difference between a pleasant night out and a DUI can hinge on whether the bottle you chose for dinner came in at 12% or 14-16% alcohol. It doesn't sound like much of a spread but in fact a couple can share a bottle of Sancerre (a French sauvignon blanc, about 12 percent) and not be intoxicated. If they'd downed a bottle of almost any California cabernet or zinfandel, however (at least 14.5 percent), they could be a danger to themselves and others if one got behind the wheel.

Another bonus: there are significantly fewer calories in lower alcohol wines. 

The Portuguese white wine, Vinho Verde, comes in as low as 8-9% alcohol, as do some Italian sparklers such as Asti Spumanti or Moscato. German rieslings also tend to contain only 8-10 %.

Here are a few lower-booze wines to look for:
  WHITE

• Ulrich Langguth Riesling, 10% abv. - Germany
• Domaine Hemelin Chablis, 12% abv. - France
• Dezzani Asti Spumante, 7.5% abv. - Italy
• Luna Argenta Prosecco, 11% abv. - Italy
• Grandial Blanc de Blanc, 11% abv. - France

RED

• Bardolino, 11.5% abv. - Italy
• George du Boeuf Beaujolais Villages, 12.5% abv. - France

For more suggestions, see The Kitchen blog (click on the link to go there).

Rating my recent fine-dining experiences: some surprises

Soft-shell crabs at Jean-Robert's Table

Thanks to an unusual set of opportunities, during just over a week I dined at four notable restaurants, at least 2-3 of which would be on most people's lists of the best in Cincinnati. Based on those four dinners and considering all factors but most especially the quality of the food (always my top rating criterion), here's how they ranked. Note that #4 is a brand-new wine bar/light-bites enoteca and doesn't have the same aspirations as the others. This was my one and only visit to Enoteca Emilia, while I've dined many times at Local, La Poste and Jean-Robert's.

1. Local 127

2. La Poste

3. Jean-Robert's Table

4. Enoteca Emilia

You might be surprised that the Table ranked as #3, but my dining companions pretty much agreed that the food was fine, but didn't knock us out. On the other hand, the same bunch had dined on separate, recent occasions at Local 127 and raved -- if not dreamed -- about at least one thing they ate there.
For me, what disappointed at Jean-Robert's was my entree, a seasonal special of soft shell crabs. I love those little devils when they are cooked properly -- flash fried and as crispy as popcorn -- but so many restaurants just don't deliver. I decided to trust Chef de Cavel, and alas, he (or whoever on his staff actually prepared them) failed. The crabs looked crispy when the waiter set them before me, but then he poured a sauce over them that did what I dreaded: made them soggy.
At La Poste just the night before, I had a light meal of melon/tomatillo gazpacho and a bowl of delicious mussels and clams. Clearly not as ambitious as what de Cavel does, but every bite was perfection.
I've written (below) about my terrific dinner at Local 127 a week earlier, where my friend and I oohed and ahhed our way through entrees and a cheese plate, accompanied by cocktails and wine.
I also blogged about Enoteca Emilia, so if you care, scroll on down to read about that.

On other criteria in addition to the food quality, here's how I rate my experiences:

Table service: Local 127 -- excellent; La Poste -- excellent; JR's -- very good; Enoteca -- very good.
Wine/cocktail service: Local -- very good; La Poste -- very good; JR's -- excellent; Enoteca -- excellent
Wine/cocktail selection: Local -- excellent; La Poste -- excellent (especially wine); JR's -- very good; Enoteca -- good.
Ambience/Friendliness of Staff: All excellent

Enoteca Emilia: New in O'Bryonville

Pasta, spiedini and insalata at Emilia Enoteca

It's all Italian, from the salumi and formaggi (cured meats and cheese) pre-appetizers through the spiedini (grilled skewers of meat and garnishes), pasta, artisnal pizza and wines ranging from soave to amarone. Enoteca Emilia at 2038 Madison Road has been open just since mid-August and it doesn't yet have a website, although you can find them on Facebook.
We dropped in for dinner the other night and tried a few items, beginning with a lovely Principessa Gavi 2010 (mine) and a glass of Abrigo Rosato Dolcetto 2010 for my companion. She ordered deviled eggs for a quick nosh -- three eggs each garnished with a tasty topping, a bit pricey she thought at $7. After that, we split three dishes: asparagus salad with an heirloom tomato vinaigrette -- the lightest and for my taste the best thing we ate. Again, she thought it was good but that $10 was too much for the portion.
Along with that we split a rich, buttery Bucatini pasta with prosciutto, white wine, a tiny bit of frisee lettuce (I wished for more of that) and a side of roasted cauliflower, also a bit too rich with olive oil for my waistline.
We spoke with owner Margaret Ranalli after we ate and found her open to our feedback. She also said the restaurant had started well and she felt good about the community's reaction thus far.
My friend and I agreed we would both return. I'd like to try the pizzas and more of the pastas, and would definitely order the asparagus salad again. There are enough interesting Italian wines -- not a strong suit in my wine knowledge -- to entice me back, as well.
The space -- formerly Brickyard Pizza -- makes for a pleasant, open ambiance. It's definitely a good addition to the neighborhood, and Cincinnati needs more wine oriented places to dine. Check it out!