Grandma’s Fruitcake Recipe!

On December 5, 2013December 20, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe, THOUGHTS2 Comments

Fruitcake gets poo poo’d, I’m not sure why… I’m pretty sure this one will change your mind! This is a recipe that my Grandma Fidler used to make, and I still remember the wonderful smell of it! Then the recipe magically appeared in a Christmas card from my aunt. What a cool idea to share my grandma’s famous fruitcake recipe with us all! I made it and it was so delicious I cannot tell you! She brushed on brandy (several times) after baking, and wrapped in brown paper. That part isn’t on the recipe, so wing it if you like, or don’t do it at all… it’s good either way! First the recipe… and then the images to show you how easy it really is! Click HERE to print the recipe minus the photos…

Grandma’s Fruit Cake

Ingredients – (Yield: Makes 2- 9” loaves)

1 ½ cups Raisins	1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 ½ cups Chopped Dates	2 teaspoons Cinnamon
2 Cups Sugar	1 teaspoon Ground Cloves
2 cups Boiling Water	1 teaspoon Salt
5 Tablespoons Shortening	1 cup Chopped Nuts
3 cups All Purpose Flour	1 cup Candied Fruit
2 Eggs

Directions

In a large saucepan add the boiling water and stir in the raisins, chopped dates, sugar and shortening. Bring contents to boil and then let simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place cooked mixture in cool place until thoroughly cooled.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl add Flour, Baking Soda, Cinnamon, Ground Cloves and Salt.

Mix together dry ingredients... — Mix together dry ingredients…

Blend together then add eggs.

Stir in the cooled mixture adding the chopped nuts and candied fruit last.

Divide into 2 well-greased and floured large loaf pans (9”x3”x3” deep) and bake for approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. Use toothpick near end of baking time to check center of loaf. Cooking times vary. (My grandma also had a note on her recipe to put water in a pie dish and place in the oven, this keeps the fruitcake moist by keeping the air moist!)

Do you smell that yummy goodness filling your house? Ahhhh, this is wonderful!

Note: Cooking time varies with size of loaf pan, a medium (8×3”) bakes approximately 1 hour and mini loaf pans (5 ½ x 3”) bake approximately 45 minutes.

Hope you enjoy!!

F L A S H B A C K

O N E Y E A R A G O… Featured Artist… Eric Aho!

T W O Y E A R S A G O… Gift Idea from Life Is Good!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Barbara Jaenicke!

On December 4, 2013November 26, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

Aspen Road at Sunset by Barbara Jaenicke

Just look at those colors! So very nice, you can just feel that wonderful warm light… this is a pastel done by artist Barbara Jaenicke, this painting is already sold, but I did want to show it to you because it’s amazing! This was the award winner in the 2010 Pastel Society of America Exhibit in NY, New York.

This is an oil painting by Barbara… nice shadows… they make a painting, don’t they? They add life. Very nice! Barbara is represented by several galleries, be sure to check her out!

Read a blip about Barbara from her website:

Born in 1964 and raised in New Jersey, Barbara Courtney Jaenicke loved to draw and paint as a child and decided at an early age to pursue a career in art in one form or another. As an art major in college, Barbara took as many fine art courses as she could, while also taking painting classes outside of her college studies, but in order to have a steady income right after college, she geared her education toward the commercial side and spent a little over a decade of her early career in advertising as an art director, then later worked in marketing communications in the corporate world. In 2002, she was able to turn her focus to her fine art career.

Currently residing in Roswell, GA with her husband and son, Barbara paints landscapes and still life in pastel and oil. When creating her paintings, she rarely copies her subject matter exactly as it appears, but instead adapts the colors and composition into her own interpretation.

Barbara is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America, a member of the IAPS Master Circle, a Member of Excellence in the Southeastern Pastel Society, and a member of Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society. She teaches weekly pastel classes locally in the metro Atlanta area and also teaches workshops throughout the US.

Images via BarbaraJaenicke.com

F L A S H B A C K

O N E Y E A R A G O… Grandmas Goulash… so easy and so good!

T W O Y E A R S A G O… The beauty of Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Rustic Apple Tart recipe…

On December 3, 2013November 16, 2014 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, RecipeLeave a comment

I love running across an intriguing recipe and giving it a whirl! I had received an email from Martha Stewart – Everyday Food – with this fabulous “recipe” in it for a Rustic Apple Tart. I say “recipe” because it was a video link, which is great, but there was no recipe… and to remember each step when you haven’t worked with puff pastry much in the past seemed to be a little dangerous to me, ha ha… So here is the “recipe” as well as the link to their video (which is amazing, be sure to watch it first, Sarah Carey did a great job with the quick demo!). There are only a few ingredients, it’s fairly quick to make and it comes out absolutely gorgeous! Tasty, beautiful and very professional looking, thanks to the glaze that goes on top (which doesn’t really add to the taste, just the beauty). Click HERE to print the recipe only.

RUSTIC APPLE TART

Puff Pastry (1 sheet)

3 Granny Smith Apples

1/3 cup sugar (or a little less)

1 large egg yolk

1 tsp water

Defrost puff pastry in refrigerator.

Once defrosted, leave folded and roll out to 8×14 on a lightly floured surface.

TRIM EDGES – need a clean edge, otherwise it won’t puff up, she used a pizza cutter

Place on baking sheet and PUT IN FREEZER 10-15 minutes (this is very important)!

Filling:

Peel and core 3 Granny Smith Apples, cut into 1/4″ slices

Add 1/3 cup sugar (or less) and mix.

In separate bowl, mix 1 large egg YOLK (discard white) and 1 tsp water, set aside.

Dough out of freezer.

Brush on egg wash (don’t let drip down the sides, it could inhibit it from rising)

Create border 3/4″ from edge, cut halfway through dough with a knife.

Arrange apples within border.

Dot the top of the tart with 2 Tablespoons of butter.

Bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes.

While tart is still warm mix up this glaze…

Glaze

2 Tablespoons of apricot jam or apple jelly

1 Tablespoon water

Mix and heat until warm.

Brush this mixture on the tart while it’s still warm.

Cut and serve!

F L A S H B A C K

O N E Y E A R A G O… Featured Artist… Matt Linz!

T W O Y E A R S A G O… The Hump Bar from the set of ARMY WIVES… Charleston, SC

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Alice Mumford!

On December 2, 2013November 26, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

Painting from the Silver Light Collection by Alice Mumford

Alice Mumford, an artist living and teaching in Cornwall, UK. Alice’s paintings have depth and character. She has a keen eye for color and light. Her work is divided into categories (on her website) First Light, Silver Light, and Colour Blast. The image above is from the Silver Light collection. It’s a wonderful painting… love the layers, and the colors… fabulous! Alice describes each of her collections, here are her words for the Silver Light Collection:

Sometimes when the sun is at a certain angle or there are particular clouds the sea acts like a giant silver platter up-lighting the coastal area where we live in Cornwall. This light effect has a sort of liquid feel reminding me of silver when it has been melted. Anne Redpath painted some wonderful pictures using different greys, some warm, some cool but they always have a vitality unexpected with greys. Maybe is the stronger colours which she has under-painted with.

My mother, also a painter, suggested to me when I was quite young that Bonnard made silver shadows and that that is what you see when in the South of France. I’m not sure I understood but it has intrigued me ever since. Maybe it’s the way Bonnard places splodges of a lighter tone on top of a darker area, then another splodge of darker tone on top of that, which gives a shimmer to the shadows.

Perhaps up-lighting intensifies the colours in shadows whether in sunshine in the bay of Nice where Bonnard lived and worked, or on a grey day in Cornwall by the coast, and this is what appeals. Winifred Nicholson writes so well about how light and colours bounce around. “Thus all the most brilliant things of nature are composed of tiny facets or mirrors which reflect – and reflect each other: kingfisher’s breast, jay’s feather, butterfly’s wing, fish’s scales, flower petals in all their transparency. Each may appear one hue, but in reality under the microscope are made up of many varied hues in true harmony, heightening each other’s true brilliance.”

I love the dark colors in this painting, it really makes the rest of it stand out… The brush work… wild and wonderful!

Read a blip about Alice from her website, to read more, click HERE…

‘Sometimes I ask myself what would I lose or miss if I didn’t paint directly from life? I am excited by and wonder at what is revealed by the simple act of looking. The shapes between things and beats of tone seem to affect me. Painting is a way of thinking through what you are looking at. Then the looking becomes more than a naming of objects. It gives you a chance to look at the world without words through interacting shapes, subtle tonal differences and rhythms, warm darks, cool lights. It can involve the abstract, your senses, memory.

‘Different combinations of colour for the palette or a new pigment can help express that perception and give it form. In particular, Gamboge Yellow Lake, which has a golden quality of warmth and light. It is quite translucent, unlike Naples or yellow ochre, and not as acid as cadmium or lemon. It has edginess and energy.”

Alice Mumford
September 2008

F L A S H B A C K

O N E Y E A R A G O… Christmas Tree… Fresh or Fake?

T W O Y E A R S A G O… Artist to Watch… Jonathan McPhillips!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston photo: Magical light at night…

On December 1, 2013November 25, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment

I thought this looked like quite a festive painting… no holiday decorations of any kind, but the cool blue of the sky, all the “twinkling” lights from the cars and St. Michael’s fabulous steeple…

Wishing you a wonderful Sunday!

F L A S H B A C K

O N E Y E A R A G O… The Little One… Not Yet Fuzzy! (~~Baby~~ Puppy photo of Charlie beast)

T W O Y E A R S A G O… I would like to introduce… THE LOCAL PALATE MAGAZINE!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Nothing better than relaxing in front of a hot fire!

On November 30, 2013November 25, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS5 Comments

As I write this it is chilly outside. Freezing cold chilly… OK, not freezing cold, because I am in Charleston, SC, but 48 degrees F, “feels like 42” and windy feels like -10F… I guess its because I’ve been here so long? There is nothing like a toasty fire to warm your bones (and your feet!)… I’m looking so forward to one this evening!

Wishing you a toasty night wherever you are!

F L A S H B A C K

O N E Y E A R A G O… Featured Artist… Ann Larsen!

T W O Y E A R S A G O… Artist to watch… John Austin Hanna!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Dee Beard Dean!

On November 29, 2013November 25, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn Featured Artist3 Comments

Early Snowfall by Dee Beard Dean — *Early Snowfall* by Dee Beard Dean

A stunning painting, right? Dee Beard Dean is well know nationwide and has quite a following. Dee’s work is nothing short of amazing, she paints both plein air (outdoors) and does studio paintings. I thought I would feature a few of her winter scenes. I love snow scenes (especially in the heat of the summer!), there is something that feels like home about them. Perhaps it’s because I grew up in Michigan? Dee’s paintings make you feel as if you are there! She has quite a way with light and shadow, wouldn’t you say? I love that little splash of red in this painting…

After the Snowfall by Dee Beard Dean — *After the Snowfall* by Dee Beard Dean

Yet another fabulous winter scene, where you can feel the cold from the snow but also the warmth from the sun. Again, amazing light and shadows. I love the dark branches with the highlights of white… She’s got great color and brushstrokes in the snow and it’s nice how you can feel perspective in this painting – simply fabulous!

The holiday season officially kicks off and is in full swing. Many of you are out and about today on “Black Friday” trying to find just the right gift… Have you considered the gift of art? It’s the gift that keeps on giving, year after year!

These paintings are available (as I write this a few days ahead) at Galerie on Broad – located at 29 Broad Street, Charleston, SC – you can contact them at 843.410.6332 or email them at galerieonbroad@me.com. Better yet, if you’re in the area stop in and say hello!

In case you aren’t familiar with Dee…

Dee Beard Dean - Biography

Dee Beard Dean has been painting all her life. She was raised in the Amish countryside of rural Indiana and studied at Grand Rapids College, Kendall College of Art, and the New York Academy of Art. After marriage, she moved to the Florida Keys where she became a professional painter and passed the gift of painting to her two children, Terry Sargent and John Beard, both of whom are now successful artists. Before gaining recognition as a portrait and landscape painter, Dee pursued a career in fashion, designing and manufacturing her own clothing line with a national label.

Dee is a passionate and prolific artist who has studied with many renowned artists and is nationally recognized for her painterly landscapes and her expertise in many media including pastels, watercolors, and oils. Her greatest inspirations have come from painting en plein air where her eye for color and composition, and her elevated senses guide her hand in creating paintings filled with evocative light and dramatic shadows.

Dee founded the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast (PAP-SE), a professional organization of acclaimed plein air artists living and working in the southeastern US. Her workshops are in great demand, offering instruction in this country and in beautiful locales around the world. She is also well known for her portraits and has done many noteworthy commissions. Dee has received many awards at juried art competitions and has been published in regional and national journals. Her artworks can currently be seen at fine art galleries around the country. Dee resides in Charleston, SC with her husband, Dr. Nicolai Chalfa. Her first book, A Painter by Providence, is in publication.

Images and bio via DEEBEARDDEAN.COM

F L A S H B A C K

O N E Y E A R A G O… The Flatbread Company, Portland, Maine – Pizza with a View!

T W O Y E A R S A G O… The most awesome saute pan ever!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Thanksgiving…

On November 28, 2013November 22, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTSLeave a comment

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! This is a photo I took last year while visiting my parents… I was up and out early taking photos of a beautiful sunrise (something to be thankful for all in itself!)… I was walking back to the house and saw that my dad plugged in the Christmas tree and the lights in the window… When you look at it you can see the reflection of the sunrise…

I am so thankful for my wonderful husband, my awesome family, for our little beastie wonder, Charlie, for the sunrises and sunsets, good health, good friends and of course, for you!

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

F L A S H B A C K

O N E Y E A R A G O… Thanksgiving! Thank YOU! I am grateful…

T W O Y E A R S A G O… Bowens Island Seafood Restaurant Menu!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Dan Gerhartz!

On November 27, 2013November 22, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

Wrapped in Winter by Dan Gerhartz — *Wrapped in Winter* by Dan Gerhartz

Dan Gerhartz. Whoa. Just look at this painting Wrapped in Winter… how can someone create something so beautiful? The winter scene in the background is stunning, but when you place a beautiful girl and a horse it is just stunning… you can feel the cold from the snow and the warmth from the girl and horse… Gorgeous!

Dan has a fabulous website, be sure to check out his paintings, they are simply incredible! He also writes one heck of a blog, so be sure to give that a peek if you’re an art lover!

Dan also has a book and a few instructional videos for purchase via his website that are amazing. Watch the trailer for the latest “The Beginning of Autumn”!

Evening on the Riverwalk is another striking painting (when you look at them all you’ll see they are all striking!) – I love nocturnes, especially with that great warm light, the beautiful color of the snow that looks so real you could actually walk right into this scene. Lovely!

Read a blip about Dan from InSight Gallery’s website, he sounds like one cool guy:

Born in 1965 in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, where he now lives with his wife Jennifer, and their young children, Dan’s interest in art emerged as a teenager. Studies at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Illinois and his voracious appetite for museums and the modern masters such as John Singer Sargent, Alphonse Mucha, Nicolai Fechin, Joaquin Sorolla, Carl von Marr as well as a host of other French and American impressionists have inspired him.

Dan has a particular interest and appreciation for modern Russian art and the sumptuous canvases of the painters Nicolai Fechin, Isaac Levitan and Ilya Repin. As Dan says, their paintings are “completely loose yet deliberate and faithful, not at all flashy.”

Indeed, the powerful and evocative beauty of Gerhartz’s paintings are also due in large measure to looseness, honesty and faithfulness of his style. Dan’s paintings embrace a range of subjects, most prominently the female figure in either a pastoral setting or an intimate interior. He is at his best with subjects from everyday life, genre subjects, sacred-idyllic landscapes or figures in quiet repose, meditation or contemplative isolation.

His mastery of the female figure, the clothed figure especially, is brilliant. He has drawn inspiration from the very old tradition of romanticism and symbolism. His absolutely lavish surfaces, color and lighting are in harmony with his expressionistic brushstroke, application and modeling of light and shade.

His paintings are sensitive yet evocative creations, which dramatize his bold and ambitious technique. He is at his very best when he allows himself to explore the surface in a free and painterly manner, while retaining his sense of other worldliness.

His subjects evoke a timelessness and idealism, yet for the most part Dan has drawn upon his home and community in Wisconsin, including family and friends. His sense of intimacy and honesty with regard to his subjests are a direct result of his closeness and proximity to them. A projection of tranquillity, repose and rich introspection result from his knowledge of the content of his art.

In Gerhartz’s pictures the ordinary or commonplace is transformed into a higher reality and consequently a sense of greater importance. Emotions are a vital part of his express design, while his mastery of anatomy, the human form and complex surfaces combine to make his canvases very powerful visual experiences.

About his work Dan has said, “My desire as an artist is that the images I paint would point to the Creator, and not to me, the conveyor. J.S. Bach said it well as he signed his work, ‘Soli DeoGloria,’ To God alone be the glory.”

ALL IMAGES VIA DANIELGERHARTZ.COM

F L A S H B A C K

O N E Y E A R A G O… How to make a great pot of chili!

T W O Y E A R S A G O… Lobster boat LEGACY of Monhegan, ME!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Product: earPlanes… they will save your sanity!

On November 26, 2013December 17, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn TRAVELLeave a comment

earPlanes… these discreet little ear plugs that relieves that horrible air pressure pain that many of us feel when we travel. Have you heard the babies and young children screaming in pain during descent when flying on an airplane? The pain is excruciating. I have the same pain. Every. Time. I. Fly. I seriously dreaded it until I ran across these earplugs years ago… they carry them all over, Walgreen, Walmart, etc. They’re usually in the aisle of the store that contains eye drops/ear drops… They’re good for one round trip flight. I would not get on a plane without them… They come in adult and child sizes. If you know of anyone who suffers from this pain – tell them about these!

Read a blip from Walgreen’s website:

Relieves air pressure discomfort with the exclusive CeramX filter. Reduces harsh noise. Made of soft hypoallergenic, latex free silicone.

Noise reduction rating: 20 decibels, when used as directed
Drug free
Safe, comfortable, disposable
Good for one round trip flight. Also great for mountain driving
Tested by U.S. Navy pilots and approved by flight attendants

Limited warranty to consumers
Replacement or refund if defective

Before inserting, pinch nose and blow to clear your ears. For best results, always insert EarPlanes one hour before landing. Remove after landing and when the cabin door is opened.

Chronic sufferers may also insert EarPlanes just before takeoff. EarPlanes may be removed when the airplane reaches maximum altitude and reinserted one hour before landing.

For maximum results, use your opposite hand to pull the top of your ear upward. Insert the ribbed end and turn like a corkscrew until snug.

Recommendation: Do not reuse after two flights since pollen, dust, and moisture will reduce effectiveness.

F L A S H B A C K

O N E Y E A R A G O… Featured Artist… Kathryn Turner!

T W O Y E A R S A G O… Cable Car – San Fran, CA = Big fun!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Image via Walgreens.com

Featured Artist… Terry Miura!

On November 25, 2013November 25, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

Private Lives by Terry Miura — *Private Lives* by Terry Miura

This painting is so striking… it jumped right out at me, and I absolutely love it! The undertones and layers of paint really make this stand out. The fabulous light hitting the building with the shadows not far away… then that fabulous green… especially where the light hits, like on the ladder… STUNNING! I urge you to check out Terry’s work, it really is worth taking a look… if you aren’t familiar with him, I promise you will see some amazing paintings!

Arcangelo No. 3 by Terry Miura — *Arcangelo No. 3* by Terry Miura

Fabulous, right? This looks like something that was created centuries ago… there is just enough detail… and again, those wonderful layers and gorgeous background! Terry’s website is so good… full of information! Check out the 2014 Workshop Schedule as well as his blog!

Read a blip about Terry from his website:

After graduating from Art Center College of Design in 1990, Terry Miura headed out to New York City to pay his dues. He began his career as a freelance illustrator, creating imagery for such clients as Time, Newsweek, Rollingstone, and Sports Illustrated, to name a few.

In between illustration assignments he painted and exhibited cityscapes, and continued his transition to becoming a full time painter after returning to the West Coast in 1996.

Miura’s evocative tonalist landscapes explore the relationship between memory, emotions, and identity. “Although they’re still very much representational,” says Miura, “they’re not about specific locations. Well, actually they are, but the locations are found in my and the viewer’s memories. Not out there in the physical world. “

With atmosphere, mood, and abstraction as driving characteristics of his work, Miura has, more recently been revis- iting the complexities of the cityscape as a major part of his repertoire. Urban Aria, his latest solo exhibition at Thomas Reynolds Gallery in San Francisco, illustrates his mastery in this genre.

Emotion and abstraction carries over to his figurative works. It is in this genre that Miura finds most personal expression; “In painting the figure, I allow myself to get lost in the process and take more risks. Only by deconstructing the representational and the objective, am I able to tap into the more subconscious, intuitive voice which for me, is at once mysterious and authentic.”

His works are represented by Sloane Merrill Gallery in Boston, Thomas Reynolds Gallery in San Francisco, Anne Irwin Gallery in Atlanta, Sekula’s in Sacramento, and Holton Studio in Emeryville, Ca.

ALL IMAGES VIA TERRYMIURA.com

F L A S H B A C K

O N E Y E A R A G O… Holiday Shopping with the Beast!

T W O Y E A R S A G O… Artist to watch… Richard Oversmith!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A place where time stands still…

On November 24, 2013December 13, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS1 Comment

There is a sleepy town not far from here where it seems like time stands still. It’s called Rockville, SC – and it’s the most beautiful little spot. Truly I bet it looks like it did years and years ago. I mean that in a very good way. It’s not commercial (no stores, gas stations, restaurants). It’s like life the way it should be… the houses are beautiful and so well kept. The oak trees are extremely large and appear to be very happy. Rockville is Charleston County’s oldest surviving summer resort, dating back to 1824! I love places like this… it’s nice to be busy, but it’s nice to be where the pace is slower… and thanks to Ken DeWaard for this shot… I would never have seen it, but since he is way up in the clouds (tall), I saw him snap a photo, but couldn’t see what he was taking a photo of… so I pulled out my viewfinder and lifted my camera up high – EUREKA! I wanna be tall! What else am I missing??

F L A S H B A C K

O N E Y E A R A G O… What are these?? Vending machine stamps…

T W O Y E A R S A G O… Happy Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for?

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A breathtaking scene…

On November 23, 2013December 9, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS, TRAVEL3 Comments

A Michigan Sunrise... — A Michigan Sunrise…

I took this photo last year when I took a trip home to see my family… they have the most amazing sunrises that reflect against the river. I am the crazy fool out in the cold with my camera snapping photos like a crazy person… PJ’s on… and whoever’s shoes are by the door… off I go. I cannot NOT take a photo. It’s not in me. When I see something beautiful that catches my eye SNAP* SNAP… there are some beautiful sunrises/sunsets in this part of the world! Wishing you a beautiful sunrise or sunset!

F L A S H B A C K

O N E Y E A R A G O… Featured Artist… Jane Barton!

T W O Y E A R S A G O… Artist to Watch… Larry Moore!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Elaine Lisle!

On November 22, 2013November 20, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured ArtistLeave a comment

Red Corner on Main by Elaine Lisle — *Red Corner on Main* by Elaine Lisle (*image*)

I think Elaine’s use of color is amazing! She’s definitely not afraid of it! Elaine has some spectacular paintings and a variety of subject matter.The color in the building (Red Corner on Main) is fabulous as are the shadows that play against the light… this looks like a place you could walk right up to and have a lovely lunch sitting in the sunshine…

Lobsters and Crabs by Elaine Lisle (image) — Lobsters and Crabs by Elaine Lisle (*image*)

After enjoying a nice lunch basking in the warmth of the sun you could meander over to Lobsters and Crabs and pick up something to throw together for dinner… Elaine’s paintings are fabulous and make you wish you were there!

Read a blip about Elaine from her website (there is more, so be sure to check it out)!

My paintings express the feeling of awe I have with the landscape. They are more likely to be joyous, energetic, vibrant, complex works as opposed to gentle, pastel or brooding canvasses. I look for the surprise in the composition, whether it be a statement made by a lone figure, a spot of orange found in an otherwise green wood, or an unusual lavender reflection in a river at dusk. It is exciting for me to take an ordinary scene and make it extraordinary.

I have been painting my whole life, and professionally since 1994. I work only in oil. I love painting en plein air (outdoors from life), as well as completing larger works in the studio from on-site studies, reference sketches, and photographs. With commissioned works I generally complete more than one on-site sketch and often use reference photographs as well.

I live and work in the Philadelphia area and love to travel, bringing my painting equipment wherever I go. I enjoy capturing bright warm colors, the long shadows of late afternoon, and creating complex compositions so the viewer has much to contemplate. Paintings can be found in the most unlikely places, as well as the likely ones. I know I have been successful in my work when the viewer feels as though he or she has been there. People often say, “It feels like you could walk right into it!”.

Painting is part of my life’s journey. Producing art is a journey in itself, as I never know when I begin a painting where it will take me.

Elaine is represented by the Gross McCleaf Gallery in Philadelphia, PA.

F L A S H B A C K

O N E Y E A R A G O… Thanksgiving! Thank YOU! I am grateful…

T W O Y E A R S A G O… Bowens Island Seafood Restaurant Menu!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Homemade Cranberry Bread – it couldn’t be easier!

On November 21, 2013December 8, 2013 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe2 Comments

This is a fabulous recipe that you may have run across before… it’s on the back of the Ocean Spray Cranberry bag (fresh cranberries in the produce department). This is the perfect time of year to pick up a few bags. Cranberries freeze well and you can make your own cranberry sauce (you will not believe how quick and easy it is – you will never run to the store for it again!)…. and the taste?? SO. MUCH. BETTER. THAN. CANNED.

This cranberry nut bread will make your house smell amazing! Here’s the link to the recipe on Ocean Spray’s website so you can print it easily if you need to!

CRANBERRY NUT BREAD

(Recipe courtesy of Ocean Spray):

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2 tablespoons shortening
1 egg, well beaten

1 1/2 cups Ocean Spray® Fresh or Frozen Cranberries, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.

Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium mixing bowl. Stir in orange juice, orange peel, shortening and egg. Mix until well blended. Stir in cranberries and nuts. Spread evenly in loaf pan.

Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely. Wrap and store overnight. Makes 1 loaf (16 slices).

To recap:

Mix together dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder/soda, salt)

Then add the wet ingredients, orange juice, orange peel, shortening and egg, once mixed together add the fresh cranberries and chopped nuts and pour into prepared pan…