Food is heart of St. George festival

When St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral holds its 27th annual Summer Festival July 10 to 13 on the church grounds at 3754 Woodley Rd., delicious Middle Eastern foods prepared by the parishioners will be featured.

On the menu are stuffed grape leaves, raw and baked kibee, green beans and meat over rice, meat pies, salad, french fries, all-American hot dogs with a Lebanese touch, chicken tawook, Lebanese gyros, falafel, hummus, kafta burgers, and a booth with homemade Lebanese pastries.

Shirley Razzoog, left, Joanne Eberflus, and Sharon Grzywinski make zalabee for the St. George festival.

One of the most popular specialties is zalabee, fried dough. “We use about 50 to 60 pounds of flour per day,” says Joanne Eberflus, one of the volunteers in the St. John Divine group who helps make this dessert. “Quite a few of us make this at home.”

The yeast dough rises and then is pinched off in pieces the size of a peach. Then the dough rests until it can be easily pulled into shape, dropped into hot oil, and fried until golden brown. Granulated sugar is sprinkled on top. Each zalabee is $2.

Volunteers of the St. George Benevolent Society make the Middle-Eastern specialties. The combo plate, which includes green beans with rice, a meat pie, baked kibbee, and a grape leaf, is $9.25. Items are also sold individually.

The $2 admission includes eligibility for door prizes. Middle-Eastern music and dancing will be featured. New this year is a camel ride and a petting zoo. Festival hours are 5 to 10 p.m. July 10; 5 to midnight July 11; noon to midnight July 12, and noon to 9 p.m. July 13. Proceeds benefit the church.

The deadline for registering to enter the Lucas County Fair Baked and Canned Goods division is July 14. Cookies, cakes, breads, and canned goods including vegetables, fruit, jelly, jam, and pickles will be judged at 1 p.m. July 22.

To enter any of these categories or other competitions, pick up a form at Lucas County Agricultural Society office at the Lucas County Rec Center/Fairgrounds. An exhibitors pass of $15 or a membership pass ($15) is required. Exhibitor passes provide daily fair admission.

The Lucas County Fair will be July 22 to 27. Information: 419-893-2127.

There will be three more distributions of coupons for the months of August through October for the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program at various sites.

The Ohio Department of Aging and the Area Office on Aging received a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to provide locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs to low-income senior citizens in Northwestern Ohio.

Those 60 years old or older, with an annual income of $16,613 or less for a single person or $22,422 or less for a household of two, are eligible for the program.

Applications are accepted and coupons distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible participants will receive four $5 coupons per month from August through October. Coupons can be redeemed by participating farms who sell produce at farmers' markets or roadside stands as indicated. Coupons cannot be redeemed at local grocery stores.

Coupons cannot be redeemed for flowers, potted plants, crafts, nuts, eggs, rice, popcorn, dried produce or herbs, baked goods, processed foods such as jams, apple butter, honey, apple cider, or maple syrup, or tropical or citrus fruits.

Contact your nearest senior center if you have not already applied. Information: Call the Area Office on Aging at 419-382-0624.