Exquisite

When I arrived at my painting class at the Bountiful Arts Center last week, I saw this paining in the sky...done by a true Master.

My Landscape

In my painting class last week we did landscapes. Here's my first attempt. A class is definitely the way to go.

A Valentine Entre'e

As many of you know, I love the show Top Chef. A few weeks ago Richard Blais made a delicious fish dish that many of you may like. I made it yesterday, and even the kids liked it (well, not the younger one, but he has a fever, so it doesn't count). Nadine didn't think she'd like it, but was surprised when she did. It's relatively healthy and uses items that may be new for you. I'm including a revised recipe because some of what Richard uses isn't practical for the home chef. Also, you can make this without the sauce and it will taste just fine, but I recommend it if you can ~ it makes a nice little extra touch. From prep time to plating, this dish takes 1 1/2 hours to make. Bon Appetite!

Chicken Fried Codfish with Brussel Kraut
Serves 4 adults or 6 in a family
Sauce:
1-2 inch piece of fresh ginger
1 12 oz. bottle of ginger beer
1/3 cup honey
1 cup soy sauce
3/4 cup beef broth
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup white wine
1 red chili pepper
1 tsp. corn starch
Method:
Get this simmering right away. The longer the better. Peel and slice ginger. Cut top off chili pepper. In the cup of chicken broth, add the corn starch and whisk until clearly blended. In med. sauce pan add all the ingredients and heat over med.-high, stirring occasionally. When the rest of the dish is ready, strain sauce through a sieve before drizzling around each plate. You can save this in the refrigerator in tightly sealed bowl for up to 2 weeks.

Fish:
1 lb. codfish fillets
3 eggs, whipped w/ fork
1 cup flour
1 tsp. hot sauce (optional)
1 cup Panko
2 Tbsp. Parsley, chopped
1 Tbsp. salt
1/2 tsp. white pepper
2 cup cannola oil for frying
Method:
Cut fillets into equal pieces (4-6). Place eggs, flour, and panko in three shallow dishes. Divide salt between eggs and flour and mix. Add pepper to flour and blend in. Add hot sauce to eggs and whip. Mix parsley into panko. Dredge fish first in flour, then egg, then Panko crumbs. (Panko can be found near the bread crumbs in most stores. I got it at Reams for $1.59 a box. It's Japanese coarse bread crumbs.) After the fish is coated, set aside until the Kraut is made. When ready to fry, heat oil in large frying pan over med. high heat. When oil is hot, place fillets in oil and fry each side for 2 minutes, or until lightly brown. This goes fast so, stay close. Turn with metal tongs (I use my salad tongs.) When fish is cooked, place on a paper towel covered plate. (The fish will continue to cook after removing from heat.)

Brussel Kraut:
4 oz. uncooked bacon, small dice,
about 4 slices
5-6 brussel sprouts, shredded
1/2 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. dried dill
1/4 tsp. powdered ginger
juice from 1/2 lime
1 Tbsp. fresh parsley
1 potato, peeled, small dice
1 med. tomato, small dice
salt and pepper to taste
Method:
In frying pan, on med. high heat, cook bacon, ginger and potato, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Add shredded brussel sprouts, and cook another 2-3 minutes. Finish with tomato, herbs, lime and butter. Stir to mix well, about another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cover until time to serve. When kraut is done, start the fish.
To plate: place a spoonful of kraut on plate, top with fish, drizzle sauce around the plate. Enjoy!

Humans vs. Technology....Technology Wins

I've noticed lately that Paul increasingly sounds like a facebook post......uh oh..... I think I'm starting to speak more and more like a blog post....um......I better go...I gotta call a communication therapist...........oh dear....the therapist just TEXTED an available appointment time.....I think we're doomed!

Christmas Present

Santa was very generous to me this year. I got just about everything a gal could want for watercolor painting. Because I like to please all my adoring fans (wink, wink) I'm sharing with you all the first painting I have done with my presents. It's a small little thing, and let me tell you that the photo is better than the painting itself, but I've checked out all the how-to books from the library and so expect perfection in no time. =) Enjoy!

Shining Star

One of my favorite movies is "Stardust". The heroine is a star come to earth. She saves the day when she hugs her hero and does what a star does: "Shine". I've been thinking quite a lot lately of how much joy I feel when I see others shine, as well as the thrill I get when I shine myself. My son Jensen was star for the week. He was so happy. I think we should be stars for a lifetime!
Have you noticed how often the world can dampen our light, or make us feel uncomfortable doing our best and enjoying the best of others. It's not pride; it's uplifting! One great thing about this is that we can shine even when we aren't very good at something, but we still revel in it. Sharing in our joys is one of the best ways to make friends as well ~ honestly loving what makes another person shine. I've made many dear friends by sharing the same passion for an activity or delighting in the same thing.

As an example: When flying home from Florida, I met an incredible man named John. I told him I loved gardening. He smiled and said he did too...then shared that he enjoyed it so much he became a horticulturist. Instant connection! He is the head Gardener for Martha Stewart of all things! We continued talking and I revealed that another passion of mine is gourmet cooking. And what do you know...he used to be a chef! He owned his own business and was a chef at the Ritz in Paris! Amazing! It was one of the most delightful flights I have ever had. I may never see John again, but our shared loves has made him a true friend that I will never forget.

Even when we don't enjoy the same things, I find such joy in watching a person truly shine in what they love. I may not relate to the activity, but I can totally relate to the experience of feeling real happiness doing something I love.
Stars aren't just in the sky or in Hollywood. They are in all of us. And one of the best ways to live a life is to put effort into all we do and shine at it; and then support others as they do the same. Here's to a bright 2011!

It's fun to Deviate

My niece, Aurelia, told me about this cool web site years ago, but I have just now started to really check it out. There are some talented people in this world, that's for sure. This web site allows artists to showcase and even sell their artwork. Some people are well-known and others are beginners. Anyone can post their work here, even Aurelia has joined. So if you want a fun trip into an artist world, go to: www.deviantart.com and have fun exploring. (A few artists you may want to check out: Elena Dudina @ elenadudina.deviantart.com and Anne Stokes @ ironshod.deviantart.com )