Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Food For Thought



This blogging thing is still very new to me & I'm trying to catch up a bit. I was resistant to try my hand when this all began & instead focused my attention at the computer to putting together other websites. Etsy was the beginning.

My son Peter was in college & had started selling some of his ceramic pieces there & encouraged me to start my own shop. I began with my own etsy shop in Sept. of '06 maryhanks.etsy.com.

Besides the desire to have that special shop of mine, I've always wanted to put together a cookbook. I'd compiled, organized, printed & given several copies family & friends. It was also nice to have recipes that I could easily email to anyone interested.

Not long after the "etsy experiment" began I started work on putting my recipes in yet another format --- sharing recipes via another website. I also use the site as an on-line portfolio of my other work, decorative painting, faux finishing, some sculpture work. I have posted a recipe here on my blog - see Chicken & Blueberry Muffins post - but am torn between adding more recipes here or hoping that I can direct those interested to the original project. Any thoughts or comments are very welcome, of course! You can use this blog for comments or see the "contact" link on the other site!

So please let me introduce you to "Food for Thought"...thanks for taking the time to look!

One more thing....I've also discovered TasteBook, and am experimenting with that format. FoodNetwork.com is another one of many go-to sites for lots of great tasting dishes!

Friday, February 15, 2008

Chicken & Blueberry Muffins

This treasury has expired but I REALLY loved all these items & wanted to go ahead & post. Some of these items, like BELLACOSAART piece, Hank the Rooster, I've used before because I just LOVE it so. I just purchased a print of this great painting...can't wait!

Yesterday was Valentine's Day & I'd made homemade blueberry muffins for the kids & Jonathan's teacher. These are super easy & so much better than even the best muffin mix. I used a can of blueberries, well drained. There's just the right amount of sweetness. If you you fresh or frozen be sure to sweeten first. I've also given variations for Apple Cinnamon & Banana Nut muffins. With this basic recipe you can add your favorite ingredients, toppings, etc....(chocolate chips are good too!)

Sweet Best-Ever Muffins

1 ¾ C all-purpose flour
½ C sugar
2 ½ t baking powder *
¾ t salt
1 egg, beaten
¾ C milk *
1/3 C oil

* To substitute buttermilk, reduce baking powder to 1 t and add ¼ t baking soda.

Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; make a well in the center. Combine egg, milk and oil; add all at once to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened (do not over mix). Fill muffin pans which have been either papered or greased 2/3 full. Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

Use this basic recipe to create your own wonderful sweet muffins. Toss in some fruit, alter liquid or dress up the tops.

  • Blueberry Muffins

Prepare Sweet Muffin recipe; add fresh, frozen or a drained can of blueberries to the batter. You may need to add a bit more sugar if using fresh or frozen depending on how sweet you want the muffins. Bake 20-25 minutes.

  • Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Prepare Sweet Muffin recipe adding 1t ground cinnamon in with the dry ingredients. Mix as directed then carefully fold 1 cup finely chopped apple, ½ cup finely chopped pecans, ½ cup chopped dates, optional.

  • Banana-Nut Muffins

Prepare Sweet Muffin recipe; add a ripe, mashed banana to the milk, egg and oil mixture. Add ½ cup finely chopped pecans to the batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.
Goethe
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.
They must be felt with the heart.
Helen Keller
This painting (above) I did a couple of years ago.
Can't bear to part with this one but I'm posting as a Valentine's wish to all!
Below, a Treasury dedicated to my husband on Valentine's Day!!!
So looking forward to our Grand Cayman Islands trip next month!!!
X O x o X O x o X O



Sunday, February 10, 2008

Treasury West - Fresh!

AriaImages
breathingbesideus
juliebcreative


RozArt
CreationsAnew
flandersfield


Teha
caroleaxium
BELLACOSAART


curioush
Emmalynne
couragemylove

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Flower Power Baby Girl Dress and Panties

This is fabric that I've had for a few months but just now got around to making something with it! Also trying out a new pattern that I really like. Instead of using prepackaged bias tape to finish the arm holes, neck and leg openings, I made my own using an orange dotted fabric. I really love the bit a accent that it provides!


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9421989

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Jonathan's Art & a Wacky Hair Day!

Jonathan's the youngest artist in the family & will be displaying this piece in the school art show next week. This is a done with cut and torn paper. Looks nice and warm and tropical!!! I'm ready!!!
This is the Relay for Life Spirit Week at school. The students and teachers can participate in the day's theme with a $1 donation. Today was Wacky Hair Day, one of Jonathan's favorites! It's a good thing that tomorrow is Hat Day!!! Cesar is glad he didn't get sprayed blue too. (Although, that's a thought ... Blue's Clue...)


This is his 1st grade entry from a couple of years ago. The Blue Peanut.

Let's hear it for the art & music teachers out there!!! (*applause*)

Monday, February 4, 2008

So Engaging...

Sara & Casey at Peter & Gloria's December '07 wedding!
So much fun!!!
...more pics from my son & new daughter-in-law's wedding...
Although they've been engaged for a couple of months now, we are beginning the planning process of Sara & Casey's fall wedding ------October '08 is the projected time frame...
When I saw the barn photo from NicksPics & saw that it might be in Georgia I got REALLY excited!!!! That's just the type of place they'd like for their one-of-a-kind-wedding. The chandelier, photographed by chicalookate, hanging inside (the REAL chandelier!!!) would also be just perfect. Casey's niece, Mia, will be such a precious little flower girl & featured are a couple of finds that I can easily see her in on the BIG day! The necklace from nuovovita is similiar to ones that Gloria special ordered for all of her bridesmaids. They were a perfect compliment to the girl's dresses!!!
The illustration on the card from seasprayblue, "and then he kissed her" just reminds me of Sara & Casey...as does the ampersand...music has been a HUGE part of our lives, thus the bird song from synchronicity313...

( links to Peter & Sara's blogs: http://peetah.blogspot.com/
http://sarahanks.blogspot.com/)

luv4sams.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5052156

kaersen.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7697030

synchronicity313.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8754169

nuovovita.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8012528

chicalookate.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7041189

LittleEmpress.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7251798

tooktothesky.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8567816

NicksPics.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7432388

seasprayblue.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8954375

babypop.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9136523

FrenchLandscapes.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7240922

modernmama.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9220594
Love you guys!
Mom



Friday, February 1, 2008

Formally Yours - Part 2

The bridal dressing rooms now have names --- each flowers that are often used in weddings. I love the way the brown lettering looks on this blue!


In the prom & bridesmaid area are more dressing rooms which now have these two pairs of silver shoes above the mirrors. Done in silver leaf, I added large jewels today but forgot my camera...these are actually yesterday's pictures...

"This is no day for sensible shoes."

Formally Yours is located in Lilburn, GA

Call (770) 923-5800

formallyyoursga@yahoo.com