Skillet Tortilla Casserole Recipe – Cooking Light

On March 11, 2014March 11, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HOME, Recipe4 Comments

Skillet Tortilla Casserole. All made in the same pan. Too good!!

Let me start off by saying this is a horrible photo… almost didn’t post it because it’s not appetizing at all by the looks of this. But this is so tasty you won’t believe it! A great meatless meal. Fills you up, easy to make, tastes great! And… all made it one pan!

Here are the ingredients… the only thing missing is the sour cream (we used Greek yogurt, tasted fabulous)… Olive oil, onion, frozen whole kernel corn, oregano, cumin, garlic, flour, can of tomatoes, black beans, chopped green chiles, corn tortillas, green onions, cilantro (WHICH I FORGOT!), sharp cheddar cheese, paprika (optional: radishes).

This is a recipe by Cooking Light magazine. It’s one that I’ve been making since 1997 – Here is a link to the recipe from the MYRECIPES.COM website (Cooking Light and several other magazines).

Here is the recipe from that website:

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/skillet-tortilla-casserole-10000000640234/

To recap:

It’s easiest if you prep your ingredients first. Chop, measure and get it all ready to go!

Heat oil in a 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and saute 5 minutes.

Add the corn (to the onions), and saute another 5 minutes or until corn begins to get lightly browned.

Add oregano, cumin and garlic… saute 30 seconds.

Add flour, and cook one minute, stirring constantly!

Next… add the tomatoes, beans, chiles, and cook 2 minutes or until thick.

Once you’ve cooked this and it starts to thicken, remove from heat…

Spoon mixture into a bowl…

Spread 1/2 cup of the bean mixture over the bottom of the skillet.

Then arrange half of those tortilla’s that you cut in quarters to cover the bean mixture, overlapping slightly…

Spread half of the remaining bean mixture on top…

Sprinkle your green onions (all of them)… this seems like a lot of green onions, but its not!

The final layer of tortilla’s…

The rest of the bean mixture…

Sprinkle the cheese… whoa? Is this 1/2 cup? Oops ;) Sprinkle with paprika.

Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until throughly heated. Remove from oven and LET STAND 10 MINUTES.

Notice what photo is missing?? Sigh… when will I learn? I’m so excited when it comes out of the oven. I dish it up, make it look beautiful… and then… EAT IT!

Next time… ;)

Catch you back here tomorrow!

F L A S H B A C K !

O n e Y e a r A g o: Featured Artist… Tom Hughes!

T w o Y e a r s A g o: Meggett Sunset

T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: Taco Boy – Charleston, SC

Featured Artist… Tom Browning!

On March 10, 2014March 7, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments

: Mending by Tom Browning
14×18 Oil – Available at Insight Gallery

Tom Browning has amazing paintings, and the more you look at his website the more you find. This painting above “Mending” is quite splendid, isn’t it? I love the warm glow of the fire reflected on the woman. She looks so content. It looks cold outside, but looks so nice inside. Wonderful!

Tom paints mainly western paintings. Fabulous cowboys – truly amazing, and worth checking out! One thing I discovered was that Tom Browning is THE Santa painter! This man’s depiction of Santa Claus is so wonderful. It brings back every memory of Santa that you ever had! The images are so wonderful, warm and just like you remember from your youth! Check out the Santa’s! He also sells them in various formats!

Read a blip about Tom from the Insight Gallery website:

2009 was a big year for Tom. In January the mural (The Adoration of the Christ Child) for St. Mary’s in Boise, Idaho was installed. In June he was awarded the prestigious Prix de West Award at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum for ‘Dawn of a New Day’. In October he was elected into the COWBOY ARTISTS OF AMERICA (CAA).Born in Ontario, Oregon in 1949, Tom Browning has been painting professionally since 1972. Starting out with wildlife as a choice of subject matter, Tom worked primarily in black and white using a medium known as scratchboard. This gave his work an appearance of laborious detail, however, his technique permitted him to become quite prolific and at the same time learn the most important concept of values. Learning to properly see values and creating such a convincing sense of light have been instrumental to Browning’s success.

Now working primarily in oils, Tom’s subject matter takes in a wide scope that knows no boundaries. Still life and figures, however, make up the majority of his work, and are always the subjects in his workshops that he teaches around the country each year. And of course teaching how to see values is Tom’s main focus during these seminars. In 1994 Tom wrote an instructional book for Northlight entitled Timeless Techniques for Better Oil Paintings which was acclaimed by many schools and painting students as one of the best ever out on the market.

Since becoming a member of the Northwest Rendezvous Group in 1986, Browning has been a four time recipient of judges’ merit awards, and in 1994 received an Award of Excellence from the NWR Group. Tom is a member of the Portrait Painters Society of America, which chose him as a finalist in a 2000 competition in New York City, and has been a guest artist’s at the National Academy of Western Art and the Plein Air Painters of America. He currently shows with Wilcox Gallery in Jackson, Wyoming, and Lahaina Galleries in Bend, Oregon. He also participates in the Prix de West at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, and Quest for the West at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian & Western Art in Indianapolis. His work can also be seen in Settler’s West Gallery in Tuscon, Arizona.

For twenty-two years Tom and his wife Joyce owned and operated a publishing business of the Tom Browning Collection a decorator print and greeting card business that carved a permanent niche in the gift market. Tom’s unique Santa designs along with his painting style earned him the reputation in the industry as the premiere Santa painter in the country. In 1997 a successful children’s book, Santa’s Time Off was published using Tom’s Santa’s as the illustrations. Over the years these wonderful images of Santa have found their way onto numerous manufactured products, and for more than fifteen years have been among the top selling designs in clothtique figurines by Possible Dreams.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

F L A S H B A C K !

O n e Y e a r A g o: Marston House – Wiscasset, Maine!

T w o Y e a r s A g o: Spring ahead AND change your smoke detector batteries!

T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: Charles Sovek… a great artist!

Brightest Sunset Ever… and an important reminder…

On March 9, 2014March 4, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Last Saturday evening we saw the brightest sunset I think we’ve ever seen in our lives. It almost blinded you. It was hard to look at, but it was even harder to NOT look at. I took this photo coming off the James Island Connector (Fred was driving, for those of you who are wondering). What you see is the flag pole for California Dreaming (on our way there to pick up a few salads!). Spectacular isn’t it?

For those of you who live in areas of the country who “participate” in “Daylight Savings Time… it begins today! So hopefully before you went to bed last night you set your clocks ahead one hour?! This is the dreaded “lose an hour of sleep” time that seems to take me a week or two to get over… hopefully this year will be different, ha ha… They also say now is a good time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms/Carbon Monoxide Detectors and anything else of importance!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

F L A S H B A C K !

O n e Y e a r A g o: Time Change!

T w o Y e a r s A g o: Featured Artist: Julia Ralston!

T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: Le Creuset French Oven

Badeep badeep badeep, we interrupt for a public service announcement…

On March 8, 2014March 3, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment

Spring forward, at least in this part of the country… Tonight before you go to bed, set your clocks ahead one hour… also, now is a good time to change batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors!

I usually set one clock (microwave) ahead when I get up, then by evening I will notice that the microwave and the oven don’t match (pet peeve) and that will remind me to change the rest of the clocks…

Happy Saturday to you! Catch you back here tomorrow!

F L A S H B A C K !

O n e Y e a r A g o: Bring on the sunshine!

T w o Y e a r s A g o: Vanilla Bean Infused Honey…

T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: Artist to watch… Geer Morton!

French Quarter Art Walk – Charleston, SC this evening!

On March 7, 2014March 7, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn ARTLeave a comment

: A sampling of artists at Galerie on Broad

The French Quarter Art Walk is this evening in Charleston, SC from 5-8PM. Art galleries in the French Quarter will have a lot to offer. It’s been a rainy and cold few days, but tonight, the rain (should) be gone and although the temps will be cooler, that is nice for popping into one warm gallery after another! I think there will be a great turnout this evening!; Click HERE for a map of the local galleries!; FLASHBACK!; O n e Y e a r A g o: GO LOGIC 1,000 Square Foot Home!

T w o Y e a r s A g o: Hard to believe she would have been 12! Happy Birthday Isabelle! (2012)

T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: Beef Bourguignonne Recipe from Cooking Light!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

House Plan: Dewy Rose SL1842 by Southern Living House Plans

On March 6, 2014March 3, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn HOME, House Plans1 Comment

http://houseplans.southernliving.com/plans/sl1842 — Dewy Rose SL 1842 by Southern Living House Plans/Architect: Mitchell Ginn

Dewy Rose… plan SL1842 available at Southern Living House Plans – this house was designed by architect Mitchell Ginn from Newnan, GA. It’s a creative plan that is a good fit for many with a small lot. The house is approximately 2753 square feet. There are optional layouts, I’m just showing you one… click on the link to see others… This is a nice open floor plan with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. I like that this house has both a front and back porch.

It’s nice that the master bedroom is downstairs, and that there is a PANTRY in the kitchen, woohoo! Nice to screen the back porch and then have the french doors that open into your bedroom and eating area wide open with no bugs, a definite plus!

So nice that the upstairs has attic storage! I would also use maybe the vaulted bonus room as a place for the treadmill and storage of anything that can take the heat (Christmas decorations we learned the hard way…) what are your thoughts on this plan?

Catch you back here tomorrow!

F L A S H B A C K !

O n e Y e a r A g o: Poor Me, took a sick day… Lucky You… info from G.O.Logic blog!

T w o Y e a r s A g o: Indian Chicken Curry Recipe – Sounds good right now!

T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: Edward Hopper quote

Featured Artist… Sherrie Russ Levine!

On March 5, 2014March 4, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

The Breaking Storm by Sherri Russ Levine — *The Breaking Storm* by Sherri Russ Levine

I love the simplicity of this piece. There is a serenity to this despite the storm that’s about to break… very nice. The dark tree mass makes all the other colors stand out nicely.

Simplicity by Sherry Russ Levine — *Simplicity* by Sherry Russ Levine

I love Sherri’s roses. Absolutely beautiful. Her still life work is amazing, and you just might be in luck! If you’re in the Nashville, TN area this weekend… there are just a few spots remaining in her weekend workshop “TWO DAY STILL LIFE WORKSHOP”! I would act quickly if you’re interested!

Two Day Still Life Workshop

Event Dates: 3/8/2014 – 3/9/2014

Loosen up and learn to paint expressively with a limited palette, big brushes and a palette knife! Sherrie will give a brief orientation & demo of the principles of painting in the “Alla Prima” method from life while explaining her planning process of composition, values, edges and color harmony.Later students will paint their first response to simplified shapes with confident brush strokes. The goal of this workshop is to understand the solid foundation of a painting and take your work to the next level!

Click HERE for details!

Read a blip about Sherri from her website:

Sherrie Russ Levine was born in Georgetown, South Carolina and attended Ringling School of Art & Design in Sarasota, Florida where she received her degree in graphic design and illustration. After graduating she worked in advertising agencies and corporate art departments in Atlanta, Georgia for 10 years before making Nashville, Tennessee her home. Since 1995 she has focused her energy on paintings in oil and has shown in galleries and juried shows throughout the United States.

Levine is an artist noted for her loose impressionist paintings filled with evocative light and color. Her works capture the mood or atmosphere of any subject with expressive brushwork and just enough details to invite you to take a closer look. She often travels to find new inspiration and paints en plein air when on location, or always from life in the studio.

Levine’s paintings are gaining national recognition in private collections and painting competitions. Her painting “Capitalizing on Sunshine” has become a part of the Tennessee State Museum’s Permanent Collection. She has continued her studies of painting under the tutelage of renowned artists Barbara Flowers, CW Mundy, Kim English, Lori Putnam and Scott Christensen whom are among the most influential in her work.

ALL IMAGES VIA SherrieRussLevine.com

Catch you back here tomorrow!

F L A S H B A C K !

O n e Y e a r A g o: Facebook: Who knows about “Other Messages”? Do you?

T w o Y e a r s A g o: Featured Artist: Elizabeth Pollie!

T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: Mark Rothko Art Quote

Paint colors… part two… the winner is…

On March 4, 2014March 4, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn HOME5 Comments

And the winner is… Knight’s Armour by Olympic!

Oooh, what a few weeks we’ve had! This paint color thing is starting to make me crazy. The room started out “Kuba” a Ralph Lauren paint color from the Safari Collection which was fabulous. But… like all things fabulous, it was then discontinued. We had it color matched at Benjamin Moore, but it didn’t come out quite right, so we tweaked, and tweaked and tweaked (great guy who helped us)… and it ended up being BETTER than Kuba! So that is what most of the walls in the house are painted. With the exception of our guest room, bathroom and kitchen. It was time for the study to get a fresh coat of paint. I wrote a post about this and there were several great suggestions… one being a coral/tomato red color… Hmmm, that intrigued me, and I couldn’t get it off my mind. So instead of just going with the dark gray “we” (ha ha, I bet you can decide which of us wanted to try this color, ha ha) well… I found a color in the rug that was a pinky coral, I didn’t want another dark room (or so I thought…) the color on the card (AMARYLLIS by Sherwin Williams).. looked good, the guy mixed it exactly right… Now… let me just say this… a coral/tomato color could have been awesome HAD I PICKED THE RIGHT ONE! Sigh… but instead… I picked this corally pink that was in the rug… why? I have no idea. This is what it looks like on the wall (one coat) – S U N G L A S S A L E R T !:

**G A S P **!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hmmmm, I knew when I opened the sample can…

That this probably wasn’t going to work, but he did say it dried darker… I don’t think it could possibly dry that much darker, but lets give it a whirl… ahhh, N.O.!

I painted a section (and was horrified the entire time… so why did I keep going??) – I thought this would be a nice happy color. Ha… no, this color is irritating and causes anxiety, make my gums feel like they’re swelling and makes me feel like I need some Pepto ;) So back to the grey it is! With one caveat… Fred wanted to paint trim, ceiling and walls all the same color… if we go this dark, I need some white… So we will paint the crown molding and ceiling white… then it will be nice and sharp. Art will look fabulous on this color… (the grey NOT the pink… I couldn’t find a piece of art that looked good on that… not at all). Ok… who has thought on this?? Paint the crown molding, walls and ceiling (leaving the trim around windows and white? Or leave molding and ceiling white and paint ceiling KNIGHTS ARMOR? Or…????

Luckily we still had some paint in those sample cans! Got that pink (notice I didn’t say coral/tomato) covered up… and now… all is well ;) So in the end, it will look like this… but with white molding… (that brown molding color was a previous color that we tried… ) – actually if you look closely, this is two different colors… from the window sill down is a different (but very close color). We’re going with the top color.

So thank you to all who sent suggestions. You never know until you try a color. I LOVE how you can buy sample cans of paint!

Anyway, thanks so much for your suggestions! Let me know what you think about painting the crown molding… the ceiling… thoughts??

F L A S H B A C K !

O n e Y e a r A g o: Elizabeth Pollie paints Charlie! Stunning!!!

T w o Y e a r s A g o: View from Marshall Point Lighthouse in Port Clyde, Maine

T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: Rubbermaid Modular Canisters = perfection!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Red Sky at Night…

On March 3, 2014February 28, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS2 Comments

Taking a day to catch up! Normally, I try to write my posts a few days a week and schedule them to post daily… but it’s been a busy week and I am, ahh-hemmm, a tad behind!

The other night we took Charlie for a walk around the block and down the greenway… he likes to do that after dinner… you know, say hi to his friends (sniff sniff), check his Facebook page (sniff sniff wee sniff sniff wee), hey, its how he knows whats going on with all his friends)! We started walking and the sky got brighter and brighter. It ended in a deep pinky red that was so amazing it made me wish I lived on a prairie where I could actually see it (or ideally on the water!)… still made for many, many, many good photos!

Have a great day! Be on the lookout for the beautiful moments in life!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

F L A S H B A C K !

O n e Y e a r A g o: Artist Ken DeWaard painting at Bowens Island!

T w o Y e a r s A g o: Charlie Photo: “This IS me being still!”

T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: Artist to watch: Shannon Smith

Second Sunday on King Street – Charleston, SC

On March 2, 2014February 26, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn HOME2 Comments

Paolo's Gelato - Charleston, SC — Paolo’s Gelato – Charleston, SC

I took this photo last month on Second Sunday on King. A great time to get out in Charleston and walk around King Street with the streets blocked off. Read more about Paolo’s! He’s got a great story! Did you know he was a veterinary surgeon in Italy before taking time off to travel and coming to the United States to discover… no gelato! Tada! Paolo’s was born!

Second Sunday on King is a big time… check it out! If you’re on Facebook, check out Second Sunday on King, it gives you the latest!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

F L A S H B A C K !

O n e Y e a r A g o: Charleston Photo: Bowens Island Boat

T w o Y e a r s A g o: Featured Artist… Brian Blood!

T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: Delicious Oatmeal Cookie Recipe!

Charlie Photo – Sweet little beast…

On March 1, 2014February 26, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn ART, HOME2 Comments

Our sweet beast, Charlie! Just wanted to wish you a happy weekend! If you’re in Charleston, SC stop by Galerie on Broad this weekend. Rain or shine, warm or cool, the paintings always look spectacular! Look forward to seeing you…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

F L A S H B A C K !

O n e Y e a r A g o: Featured Artist: Matt Smith!

T w o Y e a r s A g o: The Reed Hanging Light from Circa Lighting!

T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: Artist to Watch… Colin Page!

Featured Artist: Anton Pavlenko!

On February 28, 2014February 25, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

Pacific Reflections by Anton Pavlenko — *Pacific Reflections* by Anton Pavlenko

Anton Pavlenko has some beautiful paintings on his website. Many are sold… and I do try to select work that is still available, which (as I write this) Pacific Reflections is available, but not sure for how long. I love the shadows and reflections in the water. Anton is not afraid to apply paint. I love the texture and the wonderful warmth that comes from this painting.

Read a blip about Anton from his website:

STATEMENT

When approaching a painting, I always strive to work from a state of flow; where every stroke is swift and effortless. This usually happens when I’m genuinely captivated by a scene and give a quick and intuitive response. For this reason, I work from direct observation and prefer to paint alone where I’m left with my thoughts, my paints and the landscape before me.

BIOGRAPHY

I was born in Ukraine in 1984 and have always felt artistically inclined since childhood. As a teenager, I took up oils and taught myself to paint by reproducing works of the old masters I admired. Though I was serious about my painting, I only considered becoming a full-time artist after a 7 year pursuit of a ‘real’ occupation after high school. Shortly after marrying the love of my life, Anna, the artist within me emerged once again. Today I live in Portland, OR and am inspired by the beautiful landscapes I see all throughout the world.

Anton has some events coming up for 2014, so be sure to check them out!

Thanks to artist Eric Bowman for listing “Friends and Inspirations” on his blog… a list of great website/blogs… it’s how I found Anton!

Image via AntonPavlenko.com

F L A S H B A C K !

O n e Y e a r A g o: Christophe Artisan Chocolatier!

T w o Y e a r s A g o: The news about coconut oil!

T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: Nelson Saucer Pendant Lamp – Classy and Modern!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Gina Brown!

On February 26, 2014February 24, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist3 Comments

Dreamscape I by Gina Brown — *Dreamscape I* by Gina Brown

What a sweet painting! So light and airy, with dreamy beautiful relaxing colors with the pops of orange and red really make this painting stand out. Fabulous color combination in this painting! I can see why it’s named Dreamscape… My eyes quickly went to this one. Love it!

Sunny Flowers by Gina Brown — *Sunny Flowers* by Gina Brown

Another striking painting! These sunflowers with their bright petals and abstract background. What a perfect combination! Very nice Gina!

Click HERE to read a blip about Gina from her blog, trust me, it’s worth the click! I think it’s so nice when artists tell us about their lives and what made them into the artists they are!

Gina is also in a gallery here in Charleston, Studio 151 Fine Arts, if you’re in the area, check them out and check out Gina’s work!

IMAGES VIA GinaBrownArt.com

Catch you back here tomorrow!

F L A S H B A C K !

O n e Y e a r A g o: Pasta with Chicken & Mushrooms in Garlic White Wine Sauce

T w o Y e a r s A g o: Feels Like Spring!

T h r e e Y e a r s A g o: Vincent Van Gogh Quote

REMODILISTA: A Manuel for the Considered Home – a beautiful design guidebook!

On February 25, 2014February 20, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn HOME1 Comment

Have you heard of the blog REMODILISTA? If you love home, design, remodeling or anything to do with a home you will love this blog. It showcases the best of the best (not necessarily the most expensive!), everything has been researched beyond belief and their finding are amazing! Read more about them here! Not only is this book beautiful, it is chock full (do people still say “chock full” anymore??) of resources from everything you can imagine. Paint colors, kitchen, garden, furniture, you name it! It is a happening book and I’m quite sure you will love it as much as we do! Click HERE to read more about the Remodilista Book!