November 27, 2014

Thankful



I am thankful for many things this year, 
but mostly the moments spent around the table.

Whether it is just the four of us, 
(Todd across from me, Elias on the left, Chloe on the right), 
our extended family, or our true friends, 
the moments around the table make me most thankful.

Thankful for the people that share them with us, 
thankful for love, 
thankful for friendships, 
thankful for laughter,
thankful for good food and drink, 
thankful for comfortable shelter, 
thankful for our health. 

There are people we wish could still be sitting with us around these tables, but we are thankful that our lives are richer because of them.
They are not close enough, but never truly gone.
They are in our hearts, and with us as we break bread. 
We are thankful for them.

Here are a few blessings for our table;
All an appropriate length to make our guests uncomfortable, and make them think you are an asshole for making them sing for their supper.

From our table to yours, 
we hope you all have a beautiful, delicious, thankful day.


November 26, 2014

Bage-zels


My sister is a kitchen goddess.
She is one of the best home cooks I know, and we had the delight of eating some of her best creations a few weeks ago.

She opened the evening with hot, doughy, salty German beer pretzels. 
Fresh from the oven.

AaaaaAAAaaaaAAAAAA!
(Sung like an angel on high)

Dreams are built around pretzels like these.

I, of course, in true younger sister fashion, had to copy her;
So as soon as I got home I ran to Wegman's for all purpose flour and beer.


Seriously!?!
So good!

Close up! You can almost smell them!


Ready for action.
I honestly can't believe they made it this far.

Oh ya, we went there.
Cheddar and ale fondue for the serious dippers.

The same exact pretzel recipe makes bagels!
I just made them round and added our favorite bagel toppings, sesame seed and garlic.
Next time we are going with EVERYTHING!

Look!
The addiction spreads.
PKR's beauties;
those are olive and rosemary bagels back there!


So much for going carb free before the holidays!?!
Oh well, we only live once, right!?
And to live a life with fresh hot pretzels and bagels, is to live a life of happiness.

This is such a crowd pleaser, 
and the kiddos totally love them.

I highly recommend them over the holidays. 
You just have to invite me over.



Thank you Whitney for the delicious inspiration!



November 20, 2014

Art on a Carte, Sarah Street Style


Last night we hosted our second official 'Art on the Carte' event at Sarah Street Grill in Stroudsburg and it went off without a hitch!

This time we painted Vincent van Gogh's 'Wheatfield with Cypresses,' 
discussed Post-Impressionism and van Gogh's life, and learned about color theory and different painting techniques, including impasto (thick, short brushstrokes signature of van Gogh's style).

Everyone did an amazing job, the food was spectacular, and fun was had by all!

Here is a photo gallery of the evening's event:

Our Classroom for the evening!
What a great space!

From a Different Perspective

Ready to Rock
Geek Board 1

Geek Board 2
Image and Art History Packet



Perfect Timing for Popular Culture and Art History to Collide!
Thank you Mom for the head's up and Vanity Fair for the supplement!

STUDIO SHOTS:

Ready to Paint!


Christy!
The girl who made this event happen!

Everyone is working so hard!

Yasmin!
Look at how great her painting is coming!

Everyone is in the groove!

I'm sad these pics are blurry because it doesn't capture the beauty of the work

Aimee and Larissa are very serious artists:)
That is more like it!

Max!
A Natural!

What an awesome class!

Art + Food = Fun!


These ladies rocked it!

I cheated

A Family of Artists!


I both love and hate the fact that there are so many people we couldn't get up close!
What an awesome class!

 Thank you Sarah Street for hosting us, 
and to everyone who came out for our first event in Stroudsburg;

I hope you all left feeling inspired and proud!
You did an amazing job, and it was great getting to work with all of you last night!

Cheers!





November 16, 2014

Getting Crafty

Look at how productive we were this weekend!

Our dearest friends came to visit, 
which is always the best because we eat, drink and laugh from sun up to sun down.
This time, however, Kath knocked the entertainment portion out of the park with this super easy, super fun, super beautiful art project. 
It was initially meant to provide the kids with an activity, but it hooked the adults instantly.

A new addiction has been born.

Look how beautiful!



One of my faves...

Another fave...
This one glows in the dark too!


My first attempt...

So easy even a four year old can do it;
These are Elias'!


Another one of Elias'!

Kath added a layer of Mod-Podge to seal the surface and add a shiny coat to her bowls.
What a great addition!
 I love how it makes them look like marble!

So beautiful!



I am so excited about this project, that I fully plan on running to Michael's tomorrow to purchase a gazillion dollars worth of Sculpey and Mod-Podge!

Now you all know what you are getting for Christmas.

Here is the awesome blog/link we referenced and used:

http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2014/11/marbled-clay-ring-dish.html


Enjoy!


November 12, 2014

Paella


The other day I wanted to make soup.
It was cold and dreary outside, 
and there is little that a pot of soup simmering over a warm stove all day can not heal. 

But, unfortunately, my son isn't a big fan of liquid based dinners, a trait he must have inherited from his father, since my husband doesn't believe soup to be a meal either...
What if it were a chowder!? 
Clam chowder, corn chowder...Maybe a bisque?!
Nope. Still too close to soup.
This is my thought process...

So, then I thought about making a beef stew...that might be a sell!? 
But we just had pot roast the previous night...too similar...
So I graduated to Boeuf Bourguignon...
just a fancy French term for beef stew...we are still there.

Then Coq au vin came to mind...that might have worked, but I didn't feel like having chicken.
What about Bouillabaisse!? 

YES! 
SEAFOOD! 
Bouillabaisse, Jambalaya maybe...
How 'bout Paella!?
I have never made Paella!?
Sold.

And what a great choice. 
Not only did I conquer my fear of this seemingly complicated mixed sea and land dish from Spain, but all were satisfied;
I got my warm-over-the-stove experience; 
my husband was happy because I made something different, delicious, and not soup; 
and my son...well, my son did not eat it assembled, but he did eat the sausage, cleaned of sauce...and the accompanied bread.

Close enough for me!




Recipe:
Yields enough for one large human or an entire hungry family

Ingredients:
1 cup of brown rice
4 cups of unsalted chicken stock (pref. homemade)
24 small little neck clams, scrubbed and cleaned
1 lb. of link sausage (or chorizo) cut into 1 inch lengths
4 chicken thighs, trimmed and sliced or cubed
1 lb. deveined, peeled, uncooked medium to large shrimp
large dry scallops (one or two per person)

1 onion, sliced or chopped
1 red bell pepper, sliced or chopped
4 cloves of garlic, sliced thin
1 stalk of celery with leaves, chopped
2 fresh garden tomatoes, chopped (or one large can of diced tomatoes)
1 can of San marzano tomatoes

Seasoning mix (combine the following):
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp. cayenne (+ extra tsp. for chicken)
2 tsp. thyme
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika

juice of 1/2 a lemon

crusty bread, warmed (optional: make into garlic bread)

Method:
1. In a large paella pan, or deep saute pan, saute onion and red pepper in 2 tbsp. olive oil until fragrant, about 7 minutes, stirring.
2. Add garlic and celery and saute 2 minutes, stirring.
3. Add seasoning to the onion, red pepper, garlic and celery mixture.
4. Meanwhile, in a separate pan, saute chicken thighs and sausage until mostly cooked (season with a tsp of spice mix and a tsp. more of cayenne)
5. Add rice to the onion/pep/garlic/celery mixture and stir to coat.
6. Add stock, 1/2 cup at a time, continuously stirring as the liquid is absorbed, and rice is cooked through (about 45-55 minutes). Check to make sure rice is tender. Add more stock if necessary and continue to stir and cook until rice is tender.
7. Add tomatoes, chicken, sausage, seafood and clams. Simmer until clams open and shrimp and scallops are opaque.
8. Squeeze lemon juice over entire pan of mixture and serve with warmed crusty bread.


This is such a great dish to be served and shared family style, and is relatively easy to make. 
Cooking the rice is a bit laborious, so if you are short on time, you could cook the rice separately and just mix into the onion/pepper/garlic/celery mixture.

Either way, it is well worth every and any effort.

Enjoy!


November 10, 2014

Fall Family Feast


This past weekend we hosted our first of what will be many feasts we enjoy between now and the New Year, 
as Thanksgiving, Birthdays, Holiday Parties, Christmas, and of course New Year's Eve loom on the horizon.

Bust out the sausage pants.
It is time to store up for winter!



So, the chickens took two more hours than I anticipated, 
and I had to run five miles this morning just to burn off the calories from the beverages from Friday night alone, 
but was worth every single sip, savor and bite.

Family and food.
What else is there!?

Let the Fall Feasting Begin!




November 2, 2014

November Happenings!

Happy November!

The temperatures are dropping, and Halloween is behind us, so if you are looking for something warming and enjoyable to get you out of the house, why not get a group of your friends and come eat yummy food, learn the basics of painting, and leave with your very own masterpiece!?

We would love to see you!
______

Sarah Street Grille 
Art on a Carte 
A Traveling Studio Where Art, Food and  Friendships Gather

Present:

"An Evening with Vincent van Gogh"



Join us for a Three Course dinner, and an evening of creative fun!

Wednesday November 19th
7:00 - 10:00

Dine with us as we learn about 
Vincent van Gogh + The Post-Impressionists. 
You will create your very own 12x16 Painted rendition of Vincent van Gogh’s 
“Wheat Field with Cypresses” (1889) 


1. Brie, Pear, Caramelized Shallot & Balsamic syrup Flatbread

2. Smoked Salmon, Baby Arugula, & Burrata salad with
 Lemon Parsley Vinaigrette 

3. Lamb Lollipops with Tri-Color Cous-cous, almonds and 
Dark Ale Mustard Mousse


Three Courses, all supplies and canvas included 
60.


*Absolutely no experience necessary!

Reserve your space now! Seating is limited! 
570.424.9120