I started the ArtFoodHome.com daily (now 4 times/week) blog 1/1/11 (easy to remember, right?) and have kept it going since then. Come back each day - I share with you:
ART: featured artists, art events, workshops, etc.
FOOD: recipes, restaurants, and good finds along the way
HOME: house plans, home design, places here in Charleston...
On year 14 of artfoodhome.com - share this site with anyone who you think might enjoy it!
Have you had a chance to listen to a Bose radio? It’s impressive. How can that much sound come out of such a small body? Incredible! Instead of having speakers and wires (we are becoming a society obsessed with getting rid of wires, ha ha… I agree wholeheartedly!) you have a compact sounds system that you would think would be coming out of a large system.
The Bose system we have is many years old and still plays like a charm! So if you’re in the market for a new radio/CD player/alarm… take a look at it! Nice thing they do is they divide the payments on your regular credit card (at 0% interest!!). You don’t have to get a special card to take advantage of the offer… check it out… www.bose.com!
Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.
–Edgar Degas
This morning as I was looking for a quote I liked and then finding a painting to go along with it by the artist I had a deja vu moment… big time!
This piece was done by Edgar Degas in pastels, it’s entitled SINGER WITH A GLOVE – It created a flashback from this past fall in Maine. We had rented a cabin in Port Clyde and this must have been printed in the newspaper years ago, someone tore it out and stuck it behind something on the wall. It had such presence. It was hard to leave it behind, there was something about it that I really liked. You can feel the movement and almost HEAR her sing. Amazing.
Yeah, I know… Awesome, isn’t it? Fred and I first met Tim on Monhegan Island, ME in 2006. When we first ran into him he was set up in front of the Island Inn. Gutsy! Then I watched him paint… wow. I told him that I was just starting to paint and he gave me tips and explained what he was doing and gave me many many book titles to read. I had so much information, I scribbled my notes inside the pages of Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Paintingby John F. Carlson that I had run to the Lupine Gallery to buy! This painting, Monhegan Evening was from that trip. The sun was setting, and Tim was sitting on a big rock, talking and painting away… WHOA!
Congratulations to Tim, he appears in PLEIN AIR magazine, Spring 2011 – It’s on the stands NOW… Barnes & Noble, etc. etc. I’m going to run out and get one this weekend!
Tim Bell is a painter in the American Impressionist tradition. His work reflects the influences of painters such as John Twachtman, Charles Hawthorne, Hovsep Pushman and Henry Hensche.
A graduate of Frostburg State University, Tim conducted his post-Graduate studies at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis, Maryland and the Cape Cod School of Art in Provincetown, Massachusettes.
This is a recipe I found in Cooking Light magazine years ago… it’s a keeper! Quick and easy too… if you get a chance, give it a try! It’s a nice alternative the otherwise heavy St. Patrick’s Day meal.
This recipe is fabulous! UPDATE: Cooking Light removed the link to this recipe… am going to write a new post about this because it’s truly that good. Will add a link here to access once it’s written!
Was I right? Isn’t this the most beautiful kitchen faucet you’ve ever seen? We’ve had it for years and I. LOVE. IT! Recently we’ve been having some problems with the lack of pressure coming out of our kitchen faucet. Our water company is flushing the lines and there is no way to get the sediment out of the faucet head. We called customer service and spoke to the nicest, most knowledgeable woman (Thank you Deborah!). Case closed. Problem solved. You don’t mind spending money on something so beautiful when you know that there is a company behind it that backs it up. It’s not just a pretty face folks… hee hee. This company stands behind their products and they want to be sure it works well for you.
If you’re in the market for a kitchen faucet, I highly recommend ELKAY, their faucets are beautiful… so are their sinks for that matter. We have a large stainless sink that is perfect for large pans, etc. This faucet is the LK7420.
With all the options out there, it’s nice to find something modern that works well, great design AND backed up with great customer service!
Timothy Horn, a California artist that can paint “normal scenes” such as a street with a stop sign, and make it come to life. Much like Colin Page, where he can paint something I wouldn’t dream of painting and it turns out to be awesome! A true talent. Timothy Horn is a great artist, if you haven’t been to his website lately check it out! Check out the workshops, the many gallery links as well as the available paintings.
This painting is entitled LOOKOUT and is under the RESPINI tab on his website. Here’s a quick explanation – more detail on his website: Since 2003 I have been participating in the annual exhibit “Ranches and Rolling Hills” which is a benefit for the Marin Agricultural Land Trust. As a participant in this show I have access to approximately 40 ranches in Marin. I have visited many of them and painted on maybe a dozen.
If you get a chance, check out Tim’s website… enjoy your day, it’s going to be a beauty!
SIMPLY. BRILLIANT. I saw this and now I want it…! I love to bake, and I have measuring cups and measuring spoons, but look at this… made by TOVOLO, the handles of the measuring cups are measuring spoons! Brilliant! Then… the part that I love the most that makes you think WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?!!! is the little rubber ring that the measuring cup can sit on. I have a silicone spoon from these people and I LOVE IT. Bought it at a little kitchen shop in Mount Pleasant, SC. I use it daily and each time I reach into the drawer to pull it out I think WHAT A GREAT PURCHASE THIS WAS!
Ok, maybe I’m a bit dramatic? Humph!
Happy Monday everyone! I’ll catch you back here tomorrow…
BEEP BEEP BEEP… this is a public service announcement… A reminder that at 2AM it’s Daylight Savings Time… so before you go to bed tonight (or if you’re like me, you’ll do it now so you won’t forget and then you’ll be early for everything… ugh) set your clocks ONE HOUR AHEAD… (and YES, if you’re wondering… I did have to say… “Spring forward/Fall back” to be sure I had that straight. Otherwise this would be a very very bad public service announcement, now wouldn’t it?) Other than the alarm clock, remember the microwave, the stove and every other gadget in the world that doesn’t know how to miraculously change the time all by itself!
Are you one of those people who for weeks after the time change keeps thinking… “but it’s really…”” (i.e. it’s 8pm, but it’s really 7pm)? I’m curious… am I the only one?
Does anyone know why we change the time? Well I did some reading on this and there doesn’t seem to be a clear definition as to why. There are many theories but they don’t all agree. Which can only mean the reason we have Daylight Saving Time is BECAUSE… THAT’S WHY! My very professional opinion and I’m sticking to it!
BEEP BEEP BEEP… This ends the public service announcement. Good day…
MMMMM, I am thinking of a Taco Boy salad right now… sure sounds tasty, it’s much more than “just a salad”, it’s an experience! Really. Oooolala, with those tasty thin tortilla chips and a side of guacamole, ohmygosh! A treat that can’t be beat!
We took a break last night, sat down, and turned on the TV… what does Tivo have to offer us on this fine evening? Hmmm, Army Wives… Cool! First show of the season. Guess where part of it was filmed?? INSIDE TACO BOY! YAY! Good for them!
If you haven’t been to Taco Boy yet… RUN… don’t walk! I’ll probably see you there sipping on my half sweet half unsweet tea (It’s DESSERT!), munching on those oh so wonderful thin tortilla chips dipped in guacamole, salsa or for the heavenly treat… QUESO! Take a peek at their menu, it’s too hard to decide which tasty dish to order! Did I mention how cool the place is? They took an old run down building and transformed it into an ultra cool place to hang out with friends, or just your sweetie. Don’t take my word for it, head on down to Taco Boy. We have yet to visit the one on Folly Beach, but it just won the BEST OF CHARLESTON 2011 for best restaurant on Folly Beach! Congrats to ya man!
CHARLES SOVEK, great artist, super nice guy… I can’t remember who stumbled across his website first, me or my dad… It was FULL of information. An artist that SHARES his knowledge, WOW! I devoured his information, he made it look so easy. I ordered the BASICS book and received the nicest postcard from him and a note written inside. How truly thoughful was that? I will treasure that always. Charles Sovek passed away June 8, 2007. While his website remains full of the information he provided years ago, we will miss his constant updates and wonderful paintings!
This painting entitled “Backyard Vignette” is 9×12 gouache on board. It’s one of our treasures… Fred surprised me with this painting one day. We always looked at his website and picked the ones that we would buy if we could… and tada… one day, there it was! If you get a moment check out his website www.sovek.com , you can still order books and DVD’s and SEE all his wonderful work. There are so many paintings on this website it will boggle your mind!
If you’re like me and you like to cook… a good pan is essential. One that has worked for me for years and years is my Le Creuset French Oven. I have the 7.5 qt and that puppy is heavy, but that’s why everything that is cooked in it does so well. It’s great for big pots of soup, stews, just about anything… I’ve used it over and over and over, and I think it has now bit the dust. Partly my fault (boo hoo) I guess… The finish started to come off the bottom mostly, or so I thought… I took it to a local kitchen store, where they told me to clean it with Bar Keeper’s friend, and it would be good as new. They also told me it was OK to use regular stainless spoons, etc. I started scrubbing, the thought disgusted me that this was hardened cooked on food stuck to the bottom of my pot. UGH. I scrubbed and scrubbed and it started to come off… OHMYGOSH, like a new pot… then I started up the sides where it was about an inch high of the same and then I stopped dead in my tracks. This isn’t hardened food, this is THE FINISH. Oh, boo… the pot is no longer non-stickish… it’s super stick’ish. So I’ll save for another one day. For now I’ll wish I would have visited the LeCresuet website sooner!
With that being said, I highly recommend this pot. You see all the chef’s use it, it’s quality stuff! Just don’t use Bar Keeper’s Friend or any other product that can scratch the surface INCLUDING stainless spoons… use wooden, ugh.
I love unique art, you know, a painting that’s different from everything else you see… The first year we stopped in Wiscasset Bay Gallery we fell in love with Geer Morton’s paintings. Such vibrant colors and nice loose style. LOVE IT! My husband surprised me with a painting of flowers that is just the happiest little piece. It brightens up our kitchen on a daily basis. If you get a chance, stop in Wiscasset Bay Gallery and check out his work, or visit his website! (Image and info: WiscassetBayGallery.com)
Here is a great blip that came from Wiscasset Bay Gallery website about Geer Morton:
Born in Damariscotta, Maine in 1935, Geer Morton began painting as a young man. He was drawn to California where he immersed himself in a movement of art now known at the San Francisco School–notably recognized through the work of Nathan Oliveira and Richard Diebenkorn, with whom Morton studied at the prestigious San Francisco Art Institute. Morton went on to become Chairman of the Design Department and an Instructor of Painting and Drawing, and to develop his own style of art. Morton’s paintings can be found in numerous private and corporate collections, and he has exhibited extensively throughout the United States. Morton is still actively painting from his homes in Lubec, Maine and San Diego, California.
The second image, not such a great photo of such a great painting… taken with my Blackberry… it’s the painting that hangs in our kitchen. LOVE. IT. This painting makes me happy… Our painting:
While the air still has a tad of a chill left to it, this is one HOT recipe to make… great when you have a group, or great to eat for a few nights. This is a Cooking Light recipe, therefore it’s not as fatty as the original recipe. I would never have known that it was lighter. My favorite part… the mushrooms! WOW!
Beef Bourguignonne (click HERE if you want to know how to pronounce it! Click on the little symbol that looks like a speaker and you will hear someone say it) is basically beef cooked in red wine with bacon, onions and mushrooms. It’s better if it sits a day… Click HERE if you want to be taken to MyRecipes.com to the actual recipe where it’s quick and easy to print, or here it is… You may want to rent Julie and Julia for more details… This was a dish made famous (in my eyes) by Julia Childs.
Yield: 9 servings (serving size: about 1 cup beef mixture, 3/4 cup noodles, and 1 teaspoon parsley)
Beef Bourguignonne with Egg Noodles
Yield: 9 servings (serving size: about 1 cup beef mixture, 3/4 cup noodles, and 1 teaspoon parsley)
Ingredients
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
2 1/4 pounds beef stew meat
3 bacon slices, chopped and divided
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup sliced carrot
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups dry red wine
1 (14-ounce) can less-sodium beef broth
8 cups halved mushrooms (about 1 1/2 pounds)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
1 (16-ounce) package frozen pearl onions
7 cups hot cooked medium egg noodles (about 6 cups uncooked noodles)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Preparation
Combine flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add beef; seal and shake to coat.
Cook half of bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan with a slotted spoon; set aside. Add half of beef mixture to drippings in pan; cook 5 minutes, browning on all sides. Remove beef from pan; cover and keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining bacon and beef mixture. Remove beef from pan; cover and keep warm.
Add chopped onion, sliced carrot, and minced garlic to pan; sauté 5 minutes. Stir in red wine and broth, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add bacon, beef, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper, mushrooms, tomato paste, chopped thyme, bay leaves, and pearl onions; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 45 minutes. Uncover and cook 1 hour or until beef is tender. Discard bay leaves. Serve beef mixture over noodles; sprinkle with parsley.
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