Holding Pattern.

Hello there. This is not a test of the emergency broadcast system, this is not a drill. This is your life, taking you by the face and shaking you awake. It's Q4 of 2012. Somewhere long time ago, some Aztec mason ran out of room on his tablet and somehow this coincides with my life taking off like never before and launching me into the busiest whirlwind ever. I know, I know, I am usually a busy person and always on the run. Well, now, take that and give it some crack, sugar and a few hundred red bull and a wicked ass pair o wings is what you will get. I will check back in on this and pick up where I left off. But for now. Life is making me sit up and take notice.

Fall Flavors

It is truly awful, erm, official. Fall is here. The leaves are turning, the air is cool and there's pumpkin in just about everything consumable and Karen in writhing in pain. But I come with a different batch of fall flavors; butternut squash and sweet potato. Well, that and curry. A different spin on the fall soup flavors.

Soup Stock:

I like to save all of my veggie scraps when cooking, seal them in a freezer bag and stuff them in the freezer until the gallon bag is full, and stick that with a chicken carcass, or just on their own, and cover with water, salt & pepper corns and boil down and strain off after about 2 hours. Makes great soup stocks. Just make sure to stay away from cruciferous veggies, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, etc.
Take all the veggies you are peeling for this soup and add to the stock. If you don't have stock from scratch, you can use box stock, just know it's not going to taste as god as your own.

Soup:
4 medium sized sweet potatos peeled and cubed
4 medium sized carrots peeled and cubed
1 large sweet onion
3/4 c celery diced
2 c butternut squash, 1 small squash seeded, roasted, peeled
1 1/2 tbs. sweet yellow curry powder
1/2 tbs. curry paste red spicy
2 tbs sugar
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cardamom, ground
2 tbs salt
1/2 tsp pepper, black
2 tsp rice wine vinegar

Cook all the above ingredients above in the preprepared broth, until tender, take an immersion blender to it and PUREE!!

Serve over cooked brown rice with roasted pumpkin seeds and scallions.

inspiration that comes with cocktails

or a lack there of. These were found cocktail sticks that were in an appetizer I had last week. I save the strangest things. Beautiful tho. Silver, glass bead, painted bamboo cocktail stick.

Starting Over

I am picking today to get started on this again. Too much loss in the past few months to focus, so I took a few days to review and revise life goals and priorities. Took some time off and away for me. I needed it. So, let's start with the basics, with a fall twist.

Pumpkin Pancakes:
1 box Trader Joe's Pumpkin Muffin Mix ( muffin mix makes great pancake mix!)
2 eggs ( well 3, if you intend on letting them run a-muck and rolling off the counter to their death)
1 c milk, no water as the box reads, this is breakfast after all.
1/4 olive oil / butter melted
1 tbs butter for cooking
1/2 c chopped pecans for sprinkling
maple syrup for topping

mix, pour, fry, flip, serve.

spiced fried apples:
2 apples cored and sliced
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp ginger
1 tbs butter for frying

sauté until tender, serve hot

Enjoy with a luke warm leftover cup of coffee from the day before and the love of your life smiling and commenting that these aren't too bad. After all, you are doing this study to make some freaking awesome pancakes, and because you suck at making them in the first place. Love life every day and smile, for it's likely to be your last.

traveling treats

Finding myself on the road with little on me I am improvising with this little piece that I found in my purse. It's from an ace bandage, which Spencer will laugh when reading this, since we spent a good 5 min looking for this stupid thing one evening. Add it to a top, instant pin! Cheating? Nooooo, just improvising in the moment.

salvation

sorting through crap, not wanting to do what I need to. finding solace in broken bits and pieces, trying to glue them together and make something new, if not fixing what is broken. praying like I've never done, hoping to something that my kitty will heal or pass quickly. the in between is the hardest. not knowing and not being able to edit her path to something that is safe and kind.

Warm woolen night

Dyed wool necklace with blown glass bead pendant. Silver toggle clasp.

Paper Pendant

I found some old paper scraps in a pile in the basement from the beginnings of Team Eight and decided to play around with them and with some of the tag making bits that I have. Paper pendant. 

Devine Inspiration

I am constantly looking for inspiration. This evening was a pile of beads, stones and pieces from expired jewelry. Pendant, misc stones and bobbles.

Work in Progress

Hershey Kiss Wrapper + Badge String = necklace!

Fuzzy Balls

Fal/Winter broach - felted balls, sterling pin. Whiskers on kittens & warm wollen mittens ... all that jazz.

The Art of Zen

I have no idea what this says, if anything. But I found these pieces, separately, years ago, and have re-found them in my crap whilst cleaning out and up. I like cleaning out in the fall since it helps to make the interior times that are spent through the winter a bit more tolerable. The chilly air, the fading sunlight, the tinge of rust that is beginning to settle on the leaves; it's all part of the changing that is life and part of the cycle that makes us reflect, take time and turn inward. Looking at my art and at being human, tolerating the lack of zen but trying to attain some sense of fulfillment.

Fssshhh Tacos!

Apparently the Psshhh sound is annoying Spencer since I have been making it all morning for no apparent reason. So, I decided to make Fssshhh Tacos to continue to legitimately make the sound.

1 large tuna steak
fried in coconut oil. Grilling would have been better, but I was lazy and that's that.
1/2 c black beans
2 flour tortillas
1/2 tbs herbed mayo
S&P
sirracha
shaved lettuce
radishes
baby tomatos
avocado

pile in and serve with a squeeze of lime and a squeeze of Spencer. He's smiling about the Fsshhhh

Grilled Cheese with Tomato and assorted farmers market Crudités:

Quick simple lunch that was thought up on the fly. I had more important things on my mind, like staring into the sky. (Check out this evening sunset!)

Sammich:

2 good, thick slices of multi grain bread

1 tbs duck fat

1/4 small onion sliced thin

1/4 tomato, sliced thick

sun dried tomato paste

1/2 tbs herbed mayo

2 thick slabs queso blanco 

sal & pepper

fry the tomato and onion in the duck fat and set aside, same pan, start toasting the bread with the leftover fat. Pile on all the ingrediens and place a large heavy skillet on top to compress. 

Serve with sliced carrot, cucumber and radish. Go watch the sunset.

Pendant Pieces

This beautiful and eventful afternoon didn't hold much time or my attention for being in the studio so I made this charming little pendant that is reminiscent of a charm bracelet. Hopefully it will make it into the NACo tomorrow for the opening.

Quick Sip

This quick little ring was created from the label of a St Germain mini bottle. I love the pattern and color. Jewelry / art is everywhere. You just have to know how to look at it.

Office Supply Fail

The cool looking wooden push pins at the office gave out under pressure while I was pinning things to the cork board. Instant jewelry! Early morning for a long day ahead. Office Open House and long list of other things on the docket. Sleep will be welcome this weekend.

Found Simplicity

Easy as a morning walk with a good friend. Found this sparkly metal thing, I am assuming earring, on a walk with Shaun this morning. Hoping there will be more treasures of inspiration and walks.

Raindrops on Rings

This weather is making me a bit more of an introvert, spend more time in the basement, think more about life, etc. This ring is made from silver and silver casting grain that looks like rain drops splattering. I am embracing the fall. That is until the cold hits. As beautiful as snowflakes are, they are  a bitch to make and then there is the whole dark thing, I'm not event going into that.

Amber Earrings

It's been a long Sunday. I needed a little pick me up. Here's a nice warm amber pair of earrings.

Afternoon Light

I found a little inspiration and this lil gem while helping Tiffany get organized. Beautiful light and a beautiful day.

Like Newton

but more like a pine cone and no revelation about laws of gravity or anything. Found on a walk. This little part of the pinecone broke off and really intrigued me. I wrapped a ribbon around it and called it a bracelete. Meh, works for me.

Early Day, Late Night

Today is ging to be a long day. Last night, too much love and fun. No regrets. Just a morning of quick decisions. Running out but not before I get to "make" a quick ring, leftover from the cigar from Honduras we enjoyed on the porch.

Foreign Family Time

I love LOVE LOVE! My god children and their parents Elizabeth and JB. Unfortunately, I never get to see them since they live all over, most recently in Honduras. This is cool because I get to go visit, but not nearly often enough. Tonight I got to have them over for dinner and it was lovely. I thought that they would be homesick after a week of traveling so I made the most latina thing I could and it's mostly what Elizabeth taught me how to cook.

frijoles negros:
starting with dry beans, rinse and soak overnight. This step is key since it will lead to softer beans in the end.
The next morning, drain, add just enough water to the crock pot to cover 1/4 in over top of the beans. Add
1 bay leaf
1 slice bacon
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tbs salt
2-3 cloves garlic crushed
1 tbs olive oil
let cook on low heat for minimum of 8 hours.

cebollas y pimientos:
I used poblano peppers which are a bit warmer and have a more smoky flavor to them you can use garden / bell peppers but know your audience. Ellie I am sure could eat a ghost pepper if she wanted to. Me, poblanos were pushing it on the Scoville.
Sliced widthwise and sauteed in olive oil with yellow onions until caramelized.

carnes a la brasa:
I used chicken and beef from the farmers market. Not sure what cut, but oil in the pan, hot hot heat, lil salt and char until medium. 3-4 min tops. Slice on the bias and serve with warmed corn tortillas.

Guac:
mine is really really awesome.
2 avocados
1 tsp ( 2 cloves) minced garlic
1/2 lime juice
1 jalapeno fine dice
1 tbs olive oil
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tbs red onion fine dice
smash all together but not until a paste, you want to know where the food came from.

Pico:
Tomatoes diced
1 jalapeno fine dice
1 tsp ( 2 cloves) minced garlic
1/4 red onion fine dice
1/2 lime juice

Serve with shredded cheese and lettuce and a giant pile of love.