Working on ideas

Now that Matthew and I are back home at our apartment, I'm mulling over 1,001 ideas for new art (I feel like I've said that a lot). The trouble is narrowing down exactly what I want to do right now. I'm a very fickle pickle.

To give an idea of what I like to do (a little bit of everything), here's some work from the past several years.

I love working with acrylic paints:

24x36


24x36


12x24


20x30


24x36


(Hand painted Munny for the Uberbot contest in 2006)



I love sketching:








I love using mixed media:








and I also love watercolors, but it's been so long since I used them I don't have any photos of them except this practice piece:




Maybe I should just dive into my pile of supplies and use whatever I find first...

5 Food Blogs You Should Be Reading

Here are five food blogs I consider to be some of the best places for recipes, photography, and all around charm. I know there are plenty of massively popular food sites not listed here (David Lebovitz, Matt Bites, Pioneer Woman Cooks, etc), but that's because I want to shed just a little more light on a few blogs that I believe deserve some more attention.

Hope you enjoy these tasty finds!


1. Feasting on Art

This blog is unlike any other recipe blog I've found.

She combines art, photography, and food. My three favorite things. And her name is Megan. Is it any wonder this is a favorite?

She starts with a painting:


Piet Mondrian, Composition No. 8, 1939-42
Oil on canvas, 74 x 68 cm, Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth


Then creates photographs and a recipe based off of that painting:







Pure awesomeness. Check out her archive of recipes and be blown away by her photography skills and creativeness.



2. Tartelette

If you want amazing recipes with breathtaking photogography, this is the blog for you.

Recommended to me by @partridge on Twitter, this food blog is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

Here are some of her photos from her recipe for Double Chocolate and Pear Cakes.









3. Food Beam

Fanny from the French Riviera shares a multitude of amazing looking recipes. I dare you to look at her photos and not drool a little.

Beautiful photography, classic french recipes, and all around fun and inspiring to read.

These are photos from her post on Charlotte aux framboises et au fromage blanc.









4. Honey & Jam

I just discovered this food blog last week and it has become an instant favorite. Hannah creates photos that have such a gentle and rustic beauty, every time I view them I feel like I've just sat in a hot bath, put on clean pajamas, and settled on the front porch with a hot cup of tea.

Here's a photo from her lovely recipe for Banana Bread Yeasted Waffles and a few other gorgeous shots.

(You can even purchase some of her photos in her Etsy shop at honeyandjamphotos.etsy.com)









5. Sugarcrafter

Tracy's food blog is bright, friendly, and updated almost every day. Her recipes are the kind of dishes you could make everyday with ingredients you already have on hand.

This is definitely the place to look when it's 4 o'clock in the afternoon and you want to bake something but you're not quite sure what to make. Sugarcrafter will have the answer.

Cinnamon-Raisin and Ginger-Cranberry Bagels


Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Brown Butter Sauce


Classic Napoleons



And that concludes my list. If you have a favorite food blog that's not listed here, let me know about it in the comments!

Broccoli & Potato Soup (Vegan)

Light with simple flavors, this makes the perfect lunch after a day of heavy holiday food. If you don't mind a little dairy, sprinkle some freshly grated parmesan on top for an extra zing.



Ingredients:
(6-8 servings)

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 (10 oz) packages frozen broccoli, thawed
1 large potato, peeled and cubed
4 C vegetable broth
salt and fresh ground black pepper

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and saute garlic and onion for several minutes. Add in the broccoli, potato, and broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes until all the vegetables are tender.

Ladle soup into a blender and puree (or use a stick blender while soup is still in the pan), then reheat in saucepan. Sprinkle salt & pepper on top of each bowl of soup and serve.

Thanksgiving Recipes

Do to our power being cut off, there will not be cooking or blogging of recipes like I had hoped.

Instead I'll share with you some past recipes that will be great for Thanksgiving :)


Breakfast Treats:
-Cinnamon Spice Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese filling
-Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting or
-Pumpkin Scones




Main Meal:

Ugliest Tastiest Upside Down Turkey or Herb Roasted Turkey Breast



(Use the leftover turkey to make some great Turkey Noodle Soup)


Vegan Options: (these are from several years ago with very poor photos, but the recipes are still yummy!)

-Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Rolls
-The BEST Vegetable Pot Pie
-Homemade Vegan "Stove Top" Stuffing
-Macaroni & "Cheese"

Mushroom Bruschetta

This is a really basic, almost "cheater", bruschetta made with regular sandwich bread when you're in a hurry. Makes for a very quick light lunch :)



Ingredients:
(Makes 4 -6 slices)

1 tbs vegetable oil
10-15 mushrooms, sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
salt & pepper to taste
4-6 slices sandwich bread
1/4 C pesto
fresh basil, chiffonade
1/4 C parmesan cheese, grated


Heat oil in a skillet over medium to medium-high heat then saute mushrooms, garlic, salt, and pepper until the mushrooms have cooked down and most of the water they released has evaporated.

Toast 4-6 slices of bread then spread a thin layer of pesto on each slice (and even though pesto IS basil and parmesan, I like to top it with fresh herbs and cheese because it's pretty and extra yummy - plus the pesto helps keep the bread from being too dry). Top with mushrooms and a little parmesan then broil in the oven on a cookie sheet for just a minute or two until the cheese is melty.

Sprinkle on a little fresh basil, cut each piece of bread in half, and serve.