ASPARAGUS

6x6

Oil & Wax on Panel

This is a continuation of my Food Dance series.  With Spring here, I'm always reminded of how good asparagus is to add to a menu.  It tastes delicious and is beautiful with its many shades of green.

Roasted Asparagus

Place asparagus, that has been drizzled with olive oil, in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper and place in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes.  

It's healthy, tastes good and so easy to prepare.

FOOD DANCE COLLAGE

This is the collage for my Food Dance Series.  I really like it and is a reminder of how much I enjoyed painting this series.  

I want to share with you my week in the David Shevlino workshop.  But, first I need to take photos of my paintings and pick some photos from the workshop.  It was a wonderful experience!  I shared time with some amazing artists, learned quite a lot, drank wine and had a great time. David is not only an artist with incredible talents, but he is a good teacher with a generous spirit.  It was a great workshop!

Click HERE to visit David's blog.

FOOD DANCE - TOMATOES

6x6 Oil on Panel

Day 19 of the 30/30 Challenge

    $100.00 plus S&H

This is the last painting in Food Dance (at least for now).  I hope you have enjoyed this series as much as I enjoyed painting it.

I had to look up as to why the tomato is called the love apple.  The answer below is from Ask.com.  And below that is a lovely salsa recipe from Southern Living.

Answer

Tomato is called 'love apple' due to its seductive red colour and its sensuous sweet flesh. It is referred to as the 'devil's fruit' by the Roman Catholic Church. It is believed to be fruit that was used by the serpent to tempt Adam and Eve.

WATERMELON-PEACH SALSA and TOMATOES

Compliments of Southern Living

Ingredients

• 
  

• 
  

• 1/2 cup hot pepper jelly
• 1 tablespoon lime zest
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 2 cups seeded and diced fresh watermelon
• 1 cup peeled and diced fresh peaches
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh chives
• 3 cups baby heirloom tomatoes, halved
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• Garnish: fresh basil sprigs

Preparation

1. 1. Whisk together pepper jelly, lime zest, and lime juice in a bowl; stir in watermelon and next 3 ingredients.
2. 2. Season halved baby tomatoes with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste; spoon into cocktail glasses. Top with salsa. Garnish, if desired.

FOOD DANCE - HONEY

6x6 Oil on Panel
Day 18 of the 30/30 Challenge

    $100.00 plus S&H

Not much to say about honey, except it is really good and it comes in a cute bear container!  Honey can be used in baked goods, desserts, appetizers, main dishes and salad dressings, just about everything.  I've included a very easy salad dressing below.

Tomorrow will be my last painting in Food Dance ... at least for now.  I've had a blast with this series!

Honey Dressing

Compliments of The Honey Board

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup - olive oil
• 4-1/2 teaspoons - Dijon mustard
• 1 Tablespoon - white wine vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon - honey

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Directions

Mix well to blend.

FOOD DANCE - APPLES

6x6 Oil on Panel

Day 16 of the 30/30 Challenge

Stacked apples, carefully balanced makes a good pizza.  The Cooking Light recipe is below.

As I said in my last post, this series is coming to an end.  I have painted a few ahead and those will be the last.  I feel it is time to explore other subjects and I am excited about it.  

APPLE, GOAT CHEESE AND PECAN PIZZA

from Cooking Light

• 
  1 (1-pound) six-grain pizza crust
• Cooking spray
• 3 cups thinly sliced Fuji apple (about 8 ounces)
• 1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled goat cheese 
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons honey
• 2 cups baby arugula
• 3 tablespoons chopped pecans, toasted

1. 1. Preheat oven to 450°.
2. 2. Place pizza crust on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Arrange apple slices evenly over pizza crust; top with cheese. Sprinkle thyme evenly over cheese. Bake at 450° for 8 minutes or until cheese melts and begins to brown.
3. 3. Combine oil and next 3 ingredients (through honey) in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add arugula; toss gently to coat. Sprinkle pecans evenly over pizza; top with arugula mixture. Cut pizza into 6 wedges.

Note:

Crumbled feta can be substituted for the goat cheese in this recipe.

FOOD DANCE - ASPARAGUS

6x6 Oil on Panel
Day 14 of the 30/30 Challenge

      $100.00 plus S&H

I thought I would sort of get lost in all the green, but I didn't and had a good time painting this asparagus.  Although, this series continues to be a lot of fun and challenging, I can feel the end coming soon.  
I decided not to post over the week-ends.  It is good for me to give my computer time a break.  I do however, paint when I can on Saturday and Sunday.  Family takes priority on those days! 
Another recipe from Ina Garten.  This is so very good and so very easy.

Roasted Asparagus

by Ina Garten

Serves 8

2 pounds fresh asparagus
Good olive oil
Kosher salt, plus extra for sprinkling
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Break off the tough ends of the asparagus and, if they're thick, peel them. Place the asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, then toss to coat the asparagus completely. Spread the asparagus in a single layer and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Roast the asparagus for 25 minutes, until tender but still crisp

FOOD DANCE - BANANA

6x6 Oil on Panel

Day 13 of the 30/30 Challenge.

      $100.00 plus S&H

Minions Banana Song

Of course, I would like to share a banana recipe from one of my favorite places to eat in Atlanta ..... Buckhead Diner.  I love their White Chocolate Banana Cream Pie!  So yummy!  And Buckhead Diner is where I met Sir Elton John!!  
Well, I didn't exactly meet him (although he really wanted to meet me!) because I was too shy.  
Ok, I just saw him there.  
Geez!  Can't you people at least let me dream!

Buckhead Diner's White Chocolate Banana Cream Pie

INGREDIENTS

• Sugar Dough:
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• White Chocolate Pastry Cream:
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 ounces white chocolate, melted
• White Chocolate Banana Cream Filling:
• 1 recipe White Chocolate Pastry Cream
• 1 cup heavy cream, whipped
• 2 tablespoons banana liqueur
• 1 tablespoon white creme de cocoa liqueur
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 4 bananas, peeled and sliced

DIRECTIONS

• 1
  Pie Shell:
• 2
  Blend softened butter and sugar without creaming. Beat in egg. Add flour and mix to incorporate completely. Remove dough from bowl, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate 2 hours. Roll out dough lightly floured board to a 1/4” thickness. Line a 10” tart pan with dough, fluting edges. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake tart shell for 12 to 16 minutes, edges should be slightly browned. Remove from oven and cool.
• 3
  In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar until pale yellow. Whisk in cornstarch. Place evaporated milk in small heavy saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to the boiling point, but do not boil.
• 4
  White Chocolate Pastry Cream:
• 5
  Remove from heat. Slowly pour 1/2 cup milk into egg mixture, stirring vigorously to smooth lumps. Return to heat and stir until thickened, but do not allow to boil. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla. Transfer to bowl; cover with plastic wrap. Cool slightly before blending in white chocolate.
• 6
  White Chocolate Banana Cream Filling:
• 7
  In large bowl, combine white chocolate, pastry cream, and whipped cream. Add liqueurs and stir gently to blend. Set aside. Slice bananas and toss in lemon juice to prevent discoloration. Fold bananas into whipped cream mixture. Chill.
• 8
  To Assemble
• 9
  Pour filling into tart shell just before serving so crust does not become soggy. Lightly dust top with Dutch cocoa and grated white chocolate.

Source: Buckhead Diner

FOOD DANCE - FISH

6x6 Oil on Panel

$100.00 plus S&H

Those people at the Genius Bar work fast and now I have my computer home!  As Martha Stewart says, "It's a good thing!"

This fish painting began as a salmon, but I really don't know what it is now.  However I like him - or it could be a her.  He was fun to  paint.

Fish: Friend or Foe? is an interesting article from the Harvard School of Public Health concerning the pros and cons of having fish as part of your diet.  If you would like to read what Harvard has to say on the subject I've included the link.  

Day 5 of the 30/30 challenge.  Take a look!