Author: Barbara Stroud

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!

Art quote weekend… Mark Rothko

On By Barbara StroudIn ARTLeave a comment
Image via sfmoma.org

I’m not an abstractionist. I’m not interested in the relationship of color or form or anything else. I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions: tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on.

–         Mark Rothko

Quote via artquotes.net

Visit my photo blog if you get a chance! 

Have a great weekend… catch you back here tomorrow…!

Who gets so excited about something like this?

On By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment
Image via Rubbermaid.com

Who gets so excited about a container to put flour and sugar in? ME, that’s who. My last set broke. Who has canisters break? Ugh. I’ve had it since September… it’s GORGEOUS lucite that is a site to behold… but, the latch broke, then the seal broke all within six months… *SIGH* so I’ve been on a quest for something to replace it. Up until yesterday…

I. FOUND. NOTHING.

I was bopping down the grocery store aisle when low and behold I saw this 16 cup container, rectangular and rather slim, whoa… this will give me ROOM in the cupboard. LUCKY. ME.

I got home, washed and dried it, opened a new bag of flour and tossed it in… and guess what… it fit… PERFECTLY! So if by some small chance you need a canister (I didn’t buy a set, just bought one, but went back today for another, my lucite sugar canister latch is on it’s way out as well!), go get yourself a Rubbermaid Modular Canister…  Mine is a 16 cup. They recommend a 21 cup for flour, but 16 works perfectly.

If you get a chance, check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com !

Happy Friday to y’all! Catch you back here tomorrow…

Artist to watch… SHANNON SMITH…

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
Fresh Catch by Shannon Smith

Charleston, SC artist Shannon Smith can catch the light in a painting like nobody’s business… whenever I see the sun behind the trees I think of Shannon’s paintings. Very versatile, this artist can paint anything! And she does!  If you aren’t familiar with Shannon’s work, check the Smith Killian Gallery . You will notice there are a few other artists with the last name of Smith. Betty Anglin Smith and her triplets, Shannon, Jennifer and Tripp – All. Amazing.

My sister and I took a workshop from Shannon a while back and it was SO INFORMATIVE. Just the opportunity to watch her paint helps so much! It was a great workshop and I highly recommend it! If YOU are in the market for a workshop in the May timeframe, Shannon Smith and Laurie Meyer will be giving one in ITALY… click HERE for more information. More than just a workshop, it looks like quite the adventure!
If you get a chance, check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com – I’ll catch you back here tomorrow…
Image via SmithKillian.com

Bake away the craving – Oatmeal Cookie Recipe!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies

 A craving for something sweet. Ugh. You know how it is when something pops into your head, like a nice warm oatmeal cookie fresh out of the oven. The wonderful smell of cinnamon permeating the room… ohhhh and a nice cold glass of milk to go along with it… Ahhh, let me get ahold of myself! That’s what happened to me the other day. OATMEAL. COOKIES. This thought popped into my head and would not escape. Finally I gave in. I’ll take some to a neighbor, saving myself from eating too many! So off I went. Armed with a NEW oatmeal cookie recipe, I started measuring… then all of a sudden something didn’t seem right with the recipe… Hmmm, let me check online and see if there were any comments on this recipe… duh. Something I always do BEFORE I try a recipe, not while I’m almost done measuring all the ingredients! TRAGIC COMMENTS. Eek, how can I save these cookies now that I have most of the ingredients comingled? I popped the lid off the Quaker Oat cannister and TADA staring back at me is the Vanishing Oatmeal Cookie recipe everyone knows and loves. I tried to adjust to get the ingredients measured to the new recipe and without hesitation popped those babies in the oven. Worst case? The baked cookies don’t taste good… Silver lining? Yep, the dough is awesome! Ha… Thankfully they turned out. I ate too many (it was lunch) and now I’m done with them for a while… Next time I may substitute cranberries for the raisins and add walnuts. If these cookies are sounding good to you, you can get them via the Quaker website OR off the lid on your cannister of oatmeal. Otherwise, here it is! Happy day! Catch you back here tomorrow…

Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (QuakerOats.com)

Ingredients

  •  1/2  cup (1 stick) plus 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 3/4  cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2  cup granulated sugar
  • 2  eggs
  • 1  teaspoon vanilla
  • 1-1/2  cups all-purpose flour
  • 1  teaspoon baking soda
  • 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2  teaspoon salt (optional)
  • 3  cups Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
  • 1  cup raisins

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats and raisins; mix well.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Yield:  4 DOZEN

Remember to visit my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com – thanks for stopping by!

Artist to watch… Colin Page!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist, THOUGHTS, TRAVEL6 Comments
ColinPagePaintings.com

My husband and I met Colin Page several years ago while we were in Port Clyde, Maine. He was set up not far from Monhegan Boat Line and he was painting the ice cream shop. I still remember that painting, the colors, the composition… wow, all were perfect! Colin is someone who can pull off painting something ordinary like a street with a stop sign and a telephone pole AND make it look stunning! Whenever my husband and I see the white light on the water from the sun or a picturesque intersection, we always say… “ahhhh, a Colin painting!” so true!

Colin was one of the guys in the cottage down from us, in the PAINTAPALOOZA group, (I know I keep saying this will be a future story… I need to do it don’t I?) – it was so exciting to see so much awesome artwork in one house by all these amazing artists!
Colin gets an A+++ for keeping his  website so updated! It cannot be easy to be an artist AND keep up a website, blog, etc. etc. You must check out his website AND his journal. Valuable information. This guy is good. We have a painting of his that we absolutely love, lobster boats and the white light from the sun. Simply amazing!
Colin is in several galleries, we’ve only been to DOWLING  WALSH, very nice! If you’re in Rockland, Maine sometime, check it out!
Don’t forget to take a peak at my photo blog… http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com
Catch you back here tomorrow!

One sexy saucer…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS2 Comments
Image: dwr.com

And you thought a saucer couldn’t be sexy? Ha. Look at the lines of this Nelson Saucer Pendant Lamp. It’s a beauty. We’ve had one for years now, and it’s been moved from dining room, to dining room (ok, so we have a furniture moving around problem… ) and now it happily resides in the kitchen. Where it makes a nice quiet statement. It says… WE. AREN’T. OLD. YET.

I love lighting that makes a statement. This says hip but not crazy, a little funky and “with it” which is so nice paired with antique pine, traditional rugs, etc. A little of the unexpected amongst traditional (expected) is always a treat to the eye.
My opinion.
Happy Monday everyone… I’ll see you back here tomorrow…
Check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com !

Everyday Chocolate Cake…

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, RecipeLeave a comment

Happy Friday everyone! I have to tell you about this amazing chocolate cake recipe that I found on the Smitten Kitchen blog. If you’ve never heard of The Smitten Kitchen, ohmygosh, check it out, seriously. Excellent recipes, hilarious writing, AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHY and just a good time overall! You may consume a bit more butter than you should, but hey, it’s a treat! I wish I could make this cake every day!

I have made this cake a few times, Deb Perelman has this recipe down to using only one bowl… easy clean up… YAY! The fresh whipped cream and raspberries that I rolled around in sugar were a nice addition… It’s the weekend, INDULGE!

Check out the Smitten Kitchen blog if you get a chance!

Here is the recipe as shown on the Smitten Kitchen blog, I didn’t change a thing:

Everyday Chocolate Cake from the Smitten Kitchen blog…
Adapted from Magnolia Bakery At Home

1/2 cup (1 stick or 4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (6 7/8 ounces) firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup (4 ounces) granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups (6 3/4 ounces) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup (2 5/8 ounces) Dutch cocoa powder (see Smittenkitchen.com for a natural cocoa adjustment)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Butter and lightly flour a 9×5×3-inch loaf pan, or spray it with a butter-flour spray. In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugars and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and beat well, then the buttermilk and vanilla. Don’t worry if the batter looks a little uneven. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt together right into your wet ingredients. Stir together with a spoon until well-blended but do not over mix. Scrape down the batter in the bowl, making sure the ingredients are well blended.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool in pan on a rack for about 10 to 15 minutes, at which point you can cool it the rest of the way out of the pan. Serve with whipped cream and fresh berries, if you’re feeling fancy

Artist to watch… FRANK GARDNER

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
"Ben" by artist Frank Gardner

 

Frank Gardner… many of you have heard his name.

 Great artist, and a nice guy.

You may be familiar with the story where we met Colin Page, an artist in a cottage down the street from the one we were renting in Port Clyde, Maine. Colin invited us to their cottage on the last day to see all the paintings and WOW! I’ll save that story for another post, let me just say… what a group of amazing talent. (Frank was part of the Paintapalooza group of artists, like I said… future post)!

I have spent a great deal of time trying to find the ONE painting to post… all I can say is I can’t pick just one… this painting “Ben” is exquisite, and there are many more so you need to go check out Frank’s website. He’s in several galleries (website has links) and even a local gallery here in Charleston, SC the M Gallery of Fine Art.

Take a peak and see which your favorite is…

Remember to visit my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com ! Until tomorrow…

A big bold nice and not expensive wine…

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HOME, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
mcmanisfamilyvineyards.com

We were in Rockland, Maine at a neat little wine shop (future post). We asked for a nice Syrah that wasn’t too pricey and they suggested McManis Petite Syrah. Whew… it quickly became a favorite… very tasty, not in the under $10 category which is nice for everyday, well, the one glass a day, you know, for medicinal reasons… wish it was more than one glass though, hee hee… Fast forward to a few weekends ago, we went to Total Wine hoping to find this a tad cheaper, they don’t carry the Petite Syrah, but they did have Syrah… well, I’ll try it! And… YIPEE, it’s great, and it’s in the under $10 category. You could tell me it is an expensive bottle of wine and I would never know the difference. So if you like bold wines (at least in my book it’s bold) give this one a shot!

From the McManis Family Vineyard website:
 2008 Syrah
“Do not overlook this incredibly reliable and tasty Syrah as a great choice for everyday drinking. It is ripe and open, about mid-size in depth and full enough on the palate to let you know that you have a wine of reasonable substance in your mouth, and it will comfortably hold its own with burgers and other savory picnic fare when a wine that will go down in a gulp is in order.”   86 Points Good Value
Connoisseurs Guide to California Wine March 2010

Remember to visit my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com ! Until tomorrow…

Neat little shop in Charleston…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS4 Comments
Image: http://southofmarket.biz/

What a beautiful weekend in Charleston, SC! WOW! We got out and went to a few shops. Fred noticed that South of Market, a neat little shop in Charleston, SC had those wonderful cotton canvas throws that we love so much… ON SALE! This is a neat shop, but you really need to pack the plastic… it’s not cheap, and I can’t remember there being many sales, but woohoo… we bought a red throw ON SALE!  (I know, not a color we EVER would have picked, but this is a GORGEOUS washed red. It looks like an old favorite throw that you’ve had for years and perhaps left in the sunroom part of the time. I LOVE WASHED RED… ) .

This photo is from their website http://southofmarket.biz/ … this is a great room, I love all those windows! So if you’re in the neighborhood, pop in to South of Market on King Street downtown, and while you’re there pop into the Sylvan Gallery which is also right there… GREAT GALLERY!

Check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com Until tomorrow…

Artist to watch… KEN DEWAARD

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist, THOUGHTS2 Comments
KenDewaard.com

An artist friend of ours told us about an artist friend of his.

WHAT AWESOME WORK!

My husband surprised me last year with a painting and said that he was a great guy to deal with. Oh, what a GREAT surprise! I loved the panting and I LOVE IT WHEN ARTISTS ARE NICE! I don’t know about you, but if I really like the artist, I want to collect MORE of their work. I wouldn’t feel comfortable buying a painting from an artist who I didn’t admire or at the very least like…  I just really like Ken’s work, the colors, the light… ahhhh.

If you haven’t checked out Ken’s work, do so now! He’s got a great website (ugh, so frustrating when artists websites don’t get updated… BRAVO to those of you who do update regularly, it must be a real challenge to those of you who paint, blog and update websites! It is much appreciated, believe me)!  Check it out!

 http://www.kendewaard.com/

Until tomorrow… Remember to visit my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com!