Art and ideas for creative living
Merry Christmas eve and happy winter solstice! As we dive deep into these dark winter days Dave and I live by twinkly light to remind us of springtime yet to come. It lights our spirits and helps keep our creative spirits alive. Part of my winter tradition is to light the exterior of our property… Continue reading Decking the halls and the walls and the tiniest of details. PART FOUR FINAL: Outside
The center of our home is both literally and figuratively the kitchen. Besides being in the studio, the kitchen is my most favorite place to be. It's here where my creative nature takes hold and blend color and flavor to tickle our taste buds and add ceremony to our lives. In our reproduction Cape-style home… Continue reading Decking the halls and the walls and the tiniest of places. PART TWO: the center of the home
In my opinion, the only thing that separates everyday cooking from epicurean restaurant fare is the layering of flavors. That is to say, that the mouth-watering, sense-inspiring mystery of a well prepared dish is that it includes many, many flavors added bit by bit to create an entirely new flavor. In high cuisine those flavors… Continue reading Cooking with Condiments
No doubt the kitchen is the center of our home and this time of year is self-decorated with all the specialties of the season. The stove top starts our day with fresh-ground, slow dripped coffee, in-between is baking bread & hand-prepping meals then ends at the butcher block with the pouring of a day-clearing beverage.… Continue reading Decking the halls. PART THREE: the Center of the Home.
Although it is officially fall here in the Northeast, we have not had a frost yet so the vegetable garden is still running its course. And if your garden is like most long-run gardens, you may have found yourself with some forgotten, very large and very tough zucchini. I came up with this unique idea… Continue reading Putting away summer’s end; Zarmalade
The center of the home is where our heart lies, so they say. And in our home the kitchen is truly where all the action is. Since we spend so much time there, I always make sure it is dressed festively for the season because it lifts our spirits. Here are my creative twists on… Continue reading Decking the halls and the walls and the tiniest of places. PART FOUR: The center of the home.
I started making English-style chutneys years ago because they are such a versatile condiment. Both savory and sweet, both tangy and complex, to my palette they are a great touch of umami to be used with any dish. My daughter and I worked out this Holiday version when she was just 11 years old. We… Continue reading Cranberry Orange Chutney
It’s that time of year when I gather in the last of the herbs from my garden. The plants are nearly spent with autumn on its way. The first spring harvest of culinary herbs before they blossomed has long ago been dried and put away bearing their early tender flavor. Now is the time for… Continue reading End of summer tinctures; rose geranium
It’s been a nice morning here at my home and studio. Everything seems to know that summer is almost here. New babies emerged from their nests… …and their cocoons. And the peas are pea-ing…. …the beans are beaning… …and the rhubarb is standing tall with its hands towards the sun. It was time for me… Continue reading Morning musings
I routinely ask myself why I even bother to make artwork that hangs on a wall simply to make our rooms look nice. Really. When some folks have barely enough coins to feed themselves and others with no walls at all to hang things on, I question my motives. But the reality is that, like… Continue reading Why make art and coconut cake.
The Autumn chill is really late in coming this year here in my tree surrounded property and much of my summer garden is still perky. So I have had a creative impulse to see if I could keep it that way until my Open Studio this year utilizing some frost gardening tricks gleaned from my… Continue reading Fooling mother nature: Autumn color study
I got to Canterbury Farmers Market late last week, but in time enough to grab the last small basket of local sweet cherries: half to eat, and half to pickle. The season is fleeting—and our own Sour Cherry tree was loaded—so I got busy with all things cherry. Here is one unusual way I came… Continue reading FOR THE LOVE OF PRODUCE: pickled cherries
The last of the spring asparagus, the largest wintered-over beets: I just had to grab my final taste before they disappeared at my Canterbury Farmers Market. As part of my self-imposed summer challenge* of preparing fruits and vegetables in a way I have never done before, I came up with this recipe. Grilled beets—sugars caramelized,… Continue reading FOR THE LOVE OF PRODUCE: grilled beets with asparagus salad.
Although here in New England it is technically spring—a time when we think about body cleansing rituals—there is still a chill in the air that beckons warmth and comfort. So while all my west coast & southern friends are chugging their chilled green smoothies, we northeasterners can feel more comfortable downing soups for the same… Continue reading Creamy cream-less broccoli “cheddar” soup
The last of the dishes are washed, my guests are gone and I am still reveling in the scent of green. Today I held a Cooking with Herbs class celebrating the multi-cultural traditions of eating the first herbs of spring and it was s o m u c h f u n! When living from… Continue reading A day in the herb garden and kitchen
The week before last was a week of good-byes for me, so a feast was called for. My daughter went back home after a nice long stay, my husband & I enjoyed our last stay at our Portsmouth Pied-a-terre, winter had melted away in our yard AND it was the final episode of Downton Abbey… Continue reading A farewell feast; vegetarian recipes
When was the last time you had a really good peanut butter cookie? Really nutty, totally satisfying, not the bland-fake-beige-too sweet version? It took some creativity but my daughter came up with this very unusual version of peanut butter cookies that have a healthy twist. I am never going back. Happy baking...day one of two… Continue reading Snow-day baking; Peanut Butter Twist cookies
In case ANYONE is checking their emails today, Merry Christmas from my place to yours! Here is a last-minute recipe for amazingly delicious cheese spread made from left over bits in just a couple of minutes. Enjoy! LAST MINUTE CHEESE SPREAD Soften all cheeses to room temperature or microwave until soft. Blend all ingredients together… Continue reading Merry Christmas last minute cheese spread!
Its fall and the gardens are winding down here at my country home and studio. This time of year is always settling to me as though the plants and I have run a long, hot race through summer and now we can rest on our laurels. Artistic inspiration always comes. Here is what I am thinking...… Continue reading Change of season creative inspirations
Amsterdam, Viet Nam, Italy and Greece... all on a day off. Just for fun, David and I recently took the Downeaster Amtrack train out of Durham, New Hampshire to Brunswick, Maine and what a pleasant surprise to have our senses tickled with artistic influences from all those continental destinations. First stop upon arrival; Vietnamese food at the restaurant… Continue reading Around the world on a day off