New England Spider Cake – you’ve got to try this!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe2 Comments
Art Food Home | barbara stroud
New England Spider Cake

I received an email from Food52 the other day. Have you heard of it? Wonderful recipes, GORGEOUS photos (the one above is mine, sigh…) and once I saw this recipe for New England Spider cake I was intrigued. Interesting name. Cornmeal?! Doesn’t sound too sweet… and by pouring heavy cream on top of the batter you create the most wonderful custard-like layer to the cake. To. Die. For. (Well, not literally).

IMG_2483

You start by combining milk and vinegar in a bowl and set it aside for 5-10 minutes until it gets lumpy. Then you mix the dry ingredients: cornmeal, sugar, flour, salt, baking soda… Heat butter in a cast iron skillet – I swirled and got butter on the sides of the pan as well (cast iron skillet is key!), then pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and combine and pour into the skillet!

New England Spider CakeNow comes the magic… you pour HEAVY WHIPPING CREAM in the center of the batter and place it in the oven…

New England Spider Cake

Mine wasn’t quite as “spidery” as some I’ve seen. This cake cut like a dream. All it took was a tiny drizzle of real maple syrup. WOW!!! But it’s best eaten warm! So that first night is the best. Invite some friends over and make this quick and easy cake!

Here’s the recipe! Thank you Food 52.com and Jonathan Reynolds at the New York Times (Jonathan’s link below) (the link to the recipe on Food 52 where you can easily print) – if you just need to look at your screen, well, here you go…

NEW ENGLAND SPIDER CAKE

I N G R E D I E N T S 

2 cups milk

4 teaspoons white vinegar

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cups yellow cornmeal

3/4 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup heavy cream

Maple syrup, for serving…

I N S T R U C T I O N S

Preheat oven to 350F. Combine milk and vinegar in a bowl and set aside to sour (wait 5 to 10 minutes, you’ll see the milk get lumpy).

In another bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking soda and salt.

Whisk eggs into the soured milk. Stir into dry ingredients and set batter aside.

Melt butter in a 10 or 12 inch cast iron skillet. Pour in the batter. Pour cream into center, then slide the skillet into the oven and bake until golden brown on top, about 45 minutes.

Slice into wedges and serve warm, with maple syrup if you’d like.

Recipe comes from Jonathan Reynolds at the New York Times 

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist: Robert C. Moore!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment
ArtFoodHome.com | barbara stroud
Cottonwoods by Robert C. Moore
30×40″ Oil

Robert C. Moore. His paintings take my breath away. Cottonwoods is one of my favorite paintings. Just look at the light in the trees – and the background… WHOA! Gorgeous. The combination of colors, brushstrokes/palette knife and striking composition make this painting a WOW painting to me.

Read a bit about Robert from his website:

Tall and soft spoken, Robert Moore possesses a sincerity and courtesy reflective of his Idaho farm upbringing. Robert was born in 1957 in Burley, Idaho. He was raised near the Snake River which sparked his appreciation for nature.

Robert Moore is a contemplative, quiet individual. At a young age he discovered art as a way to freely express his feelings. His practical background and belief in discipline led him to earn a Bachelor of Science degree with teaching credentials in art from Eastern Oregon State College. 

He then received a full scholarship to attend The Art Center College of Design in California. He majored in illustration, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and graduating with honors.

Robert prefers painting on location to best express the immediate impression of each subject. His use of vivid colors and frequent high-keyed values reveal a spiritually inspired joy. His travels have taken him to China, Europe, Canada and extensively throughout the United States.

 Image via RMooreFineArt.com – used with permission…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo: Church Street Window Boxes…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, Photograph5 Comments

ArtFoodHome.com | barbara stroud

I love the homes on Church Street in Charleston, SC. I cannot seem to make it from my car to the gallery without snapping a photo! There is always something so beautiful that just stands out to me. These window boxes are stunning (even more so in person!), white hydrangeas, the light, the bicycle in front with the yellow basket… I mean HOW could anyone possibly walk by without snapping a photo? Charleston is one beautiful city! I need to get out with my real (non iPhone) camera and take some photos!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist: Wendy McWilliams!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments
Not Your Mamas Flowers by Wendy McWilliams
Not Your Mamas Flowers by Wendy McWilliams

Wendy McWilliams. Her paintings are so full of life. Abstract and with amazing color each painting makes you smile. Take time to read the titles of the paintings… such creativity! Ha ha…

Also, saw this on her Facebook page:

A Girls Gotta Do What A Girls Gotta Do by Wendy McWilliams
A Girls Gotta Do What A Girls Gotta Do by Wendy McWilliams

A Girls Gotta Do What A Girls Gotta Do is the perfect balance of WOW for me. The bright happy pinks and reds with that wonderful splash of creamy buttery yellow across with the dark accentuating each stroke. Very nice!

Read a great post (Q&A) about Wendy from The English Room – Love it!

From Wendy’s website:

I am an abstract painter that works from intuition and emotion. I create one of a kind paintings and every single one contains a piece of my world and my life experience.

Images via WendyMcWilliams.com, used with permission…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Houseplan: 461-6 from Houseplans.com!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, House Plans2 Comments

Image: Houseplans.com

House Plan 461-6. This arts and crafts style house plan has a nice layout for a smaller house. I can imagine sitting on this porch with an iced tea (or hot chocolate) and a book. It would be nice with a small table and lamp. Oooh, my imagination goes crazy! Nice details make this a plan that could be around for quite a while! I just love those windows upstairs, and the nice deep porch!

This Signature plan is by Home Patterns LLC, it is 1,589 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms and is offered by Houseplans.com!

Image: Houseplans.com

The main floor doesn’t have space that will go unused. Virtually every room in this house can become useful whether or not you have someone living in bedrooms. It’s nice how the kitchen, living, dining are all in close quarters. Since we aren’t big dining room people, I would borrow some of the dining room to use as the kitchen. Maybe extend the counter top into the dining room, then swivel the island in the kitchen (so it’s facing the living room), that way you would have plenty of room for barstools underneath it, it also leaves you enough room in the dining room maybe for a small table. It’s so smart that they took that space underneath the staircase and added a small powder room. Perfect for guests!

Image: Houseplans.com

Upstairs you could use one bedroom as a guest room and one bedroom for a studio/office/exercise room or maybe just a quiet reading room.

All images via Houseplans.com – this specific plan is House Plan 461-6 – images are used with permission…

 

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist: Mark Bailey!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist1 Comment
Sanctuary Specifics by Mark Bailey
Sanctuary Specifics by Mark Bailey    Oil    24×36″”

Mark Bailey. I think there is a great style to this artists paintings. Lucky for us one of the galleries that represents him is located near Charleston. If you’re in the area, check him out! Anyone who has been to the wonderful resort called The Sanctuary will immediately recognize it in this painting. Exquisite rooms one after another, each so grand. Mark captured that perfectly!

This painting is available at the Wells Gallery located at The Sanctuary Resort on Kiawah Island in SC.

Read a bit about Mark from his website:

Mark Bailey was born in 1982 into a family of art appreciators who encouraged creativity. He began to draw at a young age and went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree of fine art (BFA) from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Bailey’s paintings record his diverse surroundings in an abstracted, painterly fashion, from people he meets to ordinary things he sees around him. His cityscapes and urban interiors reproduce the glow and bustle of city life, while his portraits might suggest a compelling story behind every face. – Liz Greenfield, ArtistADay.com

“Fabulous abstract renditions of urban scenes. The intrigue is heightened by a style that is all his own.” – InformedCollector.com

Mark Bailey is a member of the American Impressionist Society and Oil Painters of America.

Image via BaileyPaintings.com – used with permission…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

 

NextDoor.com – The most amazing way to stay in touch with your neighbors…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS2 Comments
Image via nextdoor.com
Image via nextdoor.com

Nextdoor.com! A free, private, social network for your neighborhood! If your neighborhood isn’t one of the 49,000 that have already enrolled it is too easy to set it up. Truly! I did it in just a few minutes for my parents.

As you can see in their image above, when you first go to their site, you enter your address and an email address. You will know in a few seconds whether or not your neighborhood is already included in the 49,000. No worries if not, it’s simple to set up. You can see posts from anyone from your neighborhood or from nearby neighborhoods, BUT you cannot view neighborhoods that are not in your vicinity. It’s a good radius (in case of lost pet, etc.) so no worries there!

This site has gotten so much positive response from our neighborhood. It’s perfect for notifying others of a break in, or other concern, as well as a lost pet! Are you looking for a reliable contractor? All you have to do is ask, and neighbors respond with who they would (and in some cases would not!) use and any special info about the company/individual.

Here is a blip from their website about Nextdoor:

What is Nextdoor

Nextdoor is the private social network for you, your neighbors and your community. It’s the easiest way for you and your neighbors to talk online and make all of your lives better in the real world. And it’s free.

Thousands of neighborhoods are already using Nextdoor to build happier, safer places to call home.

People are using Nextdoor to:

  • Quickly get the word out about a break-in
  • Organize a Neighborhood Watch Group
  • Track down a trustworthy babysitter
  • Find out who does the best paint job in town
  • Ask for help keeping an eye out for a lost dog
  • Find a new home for an outgrown bike
  • Finally call that nice man down the street by his first name

Nextdoor’s mission is to use the power of technology to build stronger and safer neighborhoods.

Pretty cool, huh? Read more about Nextdoor!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Laura Robb!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments
Pansies by Laura Robb 16x9" Oil
Pansies by Laura Robb
16×9″ Oil

Laura Robb. Art that catches your eye. It’s different. I love Laura’s style. Her backgrounds are stunning, which really adds to the painting. A nice mixture of painterly and abstract. It’s a fabulous combination.

Are you an artist? Do you admire Laura’s style? She’s got some great workshops coming up in 2015, check it out!

ArtFoodHome.com | barbara stroud
Sunflowers by Laura Robb
20×11″ Oil on Linen

Sunflowers… ahhh, they look so easy. I remember the first time I attempted to paint a sunflower field. Whoa… nightmare! I admire anyone who can paint sunflowers, especially with a twist!

Read a bit about Laura, from her website…

Laura Robb grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and entered Art Student’s Academy there at the age of sixteen. In 1974 she moved to New York City to study with Michael Aviano. After returning to the southwest she studied drawing with Ned Jacob and received critiques from Richard Schmid. Since moving to Taos, New Mexico in 1986, Robb’s art travels have taken her to France, Spain, Guatemala, and across the United States. She has exhibited in numerous group and solo shows and her paintings have received many awards, most notably the John F. and Anna Lee Stacy Scholarship. 

Images via LauraRobb.com – used with permission…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Downtown Charleston… classy decor at Goat. Sheep. Cow!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HOME, PhotographLeave a comment

ArtFoodHome.com | barbara stroud

There is this cool specialty cheese shop (and more!) called Goat. Sheep. Cow. in Charleston, and I pass it on my way in to work. When I walked by the other day the light was just right. Such pretty classy decor! Check out their website!

Hey, they’re great for more than just holidays, stop in and check out all they’ve got! If you’re lucky enough to get one of their sandwiches during the day (limited quality), you will be so happy! Exquisite!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

An off year for Christmas decor…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment

ArtFoodHome.com | barbara stroud

This has been an off year for decorating for Christmas. Normally we do get a fresh Christmas tree, put lights and decorate with ornaments that we’ve collected over the past twenty some years, this year was different, ha ha… but it worked. It was easy, and guess what? I don’t have to put anything away after Christmas… this may become a new tradition! Can you believe? There is always a silver lining!

(Fred had the flu, and we weren’t going to put any decorations out, but we were sitting in a dark room void of all things Christmas…) –  I pulled out a few strings of lights and WOW! Christmas has arrived! It was so wonderful sitting in that room with those lights on! It make me want to leave them up all year long :)

This goes to show that decorations don’t have to be big or fancy to make you feel good!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Looking forward to building a fire…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME4 Comments

ArtFoodHome.com | barbara stroud

This past holiday season (Thanksgiving/Christmas) is one that has been, well… different. Between a few medical emergencies within our families, Fred having the flu, me having something other than the flu (regular cold?), it’s just taking a while to get caught up. So I’m going to post a photo for you for the next few days, and then I should be back to normal posting!

I’m looking forward to building a fire in the fire pit and chilling while Charlie chases the Lizzies :)

Hope your new year is looking up! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Can you believe it’s already New Year’s Eve?

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS2 Comments
Image: timessquarenyc.org
Image: timessquarenyc.org

Wow has this year ever flown by! This completes year three of my daily blog… tomorrow begins YEAR FOUR! Woohoo! For those of you who are thinking HOW DOES SHE DO IT (ha ha)? I schedule my posts ahead of time. It’s the only possible way for me to fit in 7 posts a week. I have met the coolest people because of this blog. I have become friends with people who I have yet to meet, but feel like I know. I have had some wild, crazy, nice, wonderful in every way things happen (thank you EB, RA, JB, BB, JD and on and on and on)… you have all touched my heart in the most wonderful, positive, surprising, crazy ways. I am super blessed and thankful for all of you who take the time to read my posts. If there is ever anything (G rated, ha ha) that you would like me to cover, just let me know via the CONTACT me link at the top!

Here’s wishing you the best New Year’s Eve ever, the happiest New Year’s Day and a safe, healthy and happy new year all year long!

Do you have a wish you would like to make? Well the people at Times Square Alliance can make that happen. If you’re in NYC then you can visit the wishing wall in person, otherwise you can submit your wish for 2015 and it will be printed on confetti that will drop at midnight! How cool is that? Click HERE to submit your wish!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Recipe: Quiche Lorraine – and YES, real men eat quiche!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, RecipeLeave a comment

Quiche | artfoodhome.com

Quiche Lorraine. This is one of my favorite recipes, because you can change it so that you use what ingredients you have on hand. Although, I have to say, I always go back to the bacon and swiss… the combination is out of this world. Serve this with a side salad, some wonderful baby greens, avocado, and a drizzle of olive oil/rice wine vinegar and oh la la!

I found this recipe on allrecipes.com and changed just a few things… originally it called for onion… My mom took French cooking classes when I was young, so we ate a lot of Quiche Lorraine, it never had onions that I can recall… so it just seemed odd to me. Probably tasty, I put them in everything else, but this seemed like it would be better without. I also used less bacon, about 3-4 slices instead of the original 6 and it worked fine.

I’m thrilled that a quiche can be made with milk instead of cream, woohoo!

Here is the link to the original recipe… I did not make my crust. I used a pie crust by Wholly Wholesome (in the freezer section at Whole Foods).

Here is the link to my version (where you can print minus all these words and photo)… and here, my friends, is what you’ve been waiting to see!

Quiche Lorraine | artfoodhome.com

Catch you back here tomorrow!