on the menu

I did say that I was going to challenge myself to paint each day but have been so caught up with work and life so I thought I would share some of my recently published work.

One of my boys will be coming home tonight from college for a 3 day weekend and I am thinking about my menu.  It dawned on me that I could turn to Sheridan Road "Good Eats" May issue.

I am eating as much whole and fresh as possible but I do love salmon and I know my son does too.
Dashing out to send off some artwork and then to the grocery.  It's pouring here so I better wear my rain boots~

good food and flowers

I made this lovely meal Sunday and served it to my daughter.  There is nothing like good food and flowers to restore one's spirits.  You can find the recipe here.  I used a free range chicken. I served it in a shallow soup dish.  It was sublime and my sweet girl ate it all up.  "Manger" is what I told her as she took the first bite.  I did get an eye roll which tells me that my girl is feeling better.

slow cooker

Meet my new slow cooker. My twin sons gave me this baby for my birthday.

I did drop a hint that I'd love one! Especially after seeing so many articles on how the slow cooker is back in fashion.

Keep in mind that today's slow cooker is not your mother's crock pot!

I keep finding lots of healthy inspiration over here.

This ceramic insert can be served right to the table and makes clean up a breeze.

I can't decide what I love more, the slow cooker or the fast clean up!

Are you a member of the slow cook revolution in this fast paced life?

daily bread (gift-away)

I adore really good breads.

There is something sacred about baking bread and then breaking bread around the table.

In 1983, Daniel Leader put his life in his hands. He left his job in New York City and moved his family to the Catskill Mountains and started Bread Alone Bakery with one goal in mind:

To bake wholesome and organic bread on the hearth of a wood-fired brick oven.

Today Bread Alone is~

Handcrafted, organic, whole grains, local, healthy

How simple, creating each artisan loaf by hand every day from little more than organic whole grains, water and sea salt.

Wishing each of you a simple Thanksgiving with bread on your table for breaking, and sharing.

Today, my gift-away is from Bread Alone, Two Books by Daniel Leader, and 3 bags of flour.

( a fifty dollar value)

Follow me, leave a comment, and promise me you will break bread on Thanksgiving Day.

daily bread

Home made Bread  ~ made by my friend Taina

Growing up in a family of seven children, daily bread was part of survival.  Learning to bake and break bread was simply part of each day.  Bread and butter is still considered a daily luxury.   A dear friend gave me a subscription to Cook's Illustrated.  Just look at this bread that she shared, a slice of heaven.  I love anything illustrated to show me how to.  I have always been big on directions with pictures.  Another friend, Debra - asked me to share what's cooking and my cook books.

An artful Salade Nicoise for lunch prepared by Taina

So much of enjoying good food is not merely in the cooking, but in the artful presentation. Just look at this lovely Spring Salade Nicoise, tuna, lettuce, tomatos, potatoes, an egg, olives, green beans and top with a home made vinaigrette.  I know for many, that eating healthy can be a challenge especially if the process was not instilled at an early age.  I was fortunate to have parents who built a produce business in 1945 and it is still thriving today.  We had many a meal made from things that just were not worthy of selling.  Many a fabulous meal, home made soup and bread.

my kitchen shelf, above a doorway - the Joy is cooking is one of my favorite books.

( excuse the blurry photo )

Simply streamline, stop buying processed food, buy organic, make or grow your own if possible.  Spring time is a wonderful time to focus on all the healthy items from local farmer's markets.  Peruse cookbooks and share on-line recipes with friends.   Plant a garden and promise yourself to eat good food daily and break a little bread.