My bagged lunches (in fact most of my meals) include mainly fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, and occasionally yogurt. To add variety, I try to be as creative as possible when packing food to take with me.

Cool Pear Salad

Ingredients

• Container 1: cut up spinach leaves, raisins, cashews
• Container 2: fresh pear (cut into cubes or slices), plus 1 teaspoon of lemon juice (keeps the pear from browning, and adds flavor to the salad.)
• Container 3: plain yogurt, I like to use Chobani Greek Yogurt
• Container 4: fresh nectarine cut into slices or cubes, ½ cup frozen mixed berries (keeps the yogurt cold in my thermal bag, and will melt by mid-afternoon, just in time to enjoy!)

 Preparation

To assemble the salad, simply open the container with the lettuce (if you plan ahead, you can use a container that will accommodate using as a serving dish) and add the pear and plain yogurt to the top. Wa-la! instant salad!

Cool Pear Salad

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Adding blueberry topping

Ingredients

Crust

• ½ cup Butter
• ¼ cup Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Tapioca Flour
• 1 ¼ cups Almond Flour

Lemon Layer

• 2 eggs
• ⅓ cup Honey
• 2 Tablespoons Almond Flour
• 2 teaspoons Lemon Peel
• 3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
• ¼ teaspoon Baking Powder

Blueberry Topping

• 2 cups fresh or frozen Blueberries
• ½ cup Water
• 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
• ¼ cup Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Tapioca Flour

Preparation

Beat butter in mixer. Add sugar until well mixed. Add flours and mix until crumbly. Press into the bottom of an  ungreased 8” X 10” baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees until browned on the edges (about 15 minutes.)

While the crust is baking, mix together eggs, honey, almond flour, lemon peel and juice, and baking powder. Pour over baked crust. Bake 20 minutes more, or until set in the center.

On the stove top whisk together water, tapioca flour, sugar and lemon juice. Add blueberries. Cook and stir over medium high heat until liquids become thickened and bubbly. Spoon over baked mixture. Serve warm or cold. (My husband tells me it would be great A-la mode!)

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Stretching your own canvas is a simple process and a great way to save on supply costs if you paint a lot. Whenever possible I purchase supplies in bulk to take advantage of quantity price breaks. For example, you can save up to 30%, or more, on canvas when you order 10-yards or more at one time.

Parts list

•  stretcher bars (usually purchase ready made stretchers)
• tape measure
• canvas or linen (most often I use 100% cotton duck canvas in an 8 oz. or 10 oz. weight)
• smooth work surface (floor or table)
• staple gun and staples

Preparation

• Assemble stretcher bars into a frame by making sure they are square, either by using a framing square or making sure the measurement is the same from corner-to-corner, (pic 1)
• place the stretcher frame onto a piece of canvas making sure to leave enough canvas to wrap around the stretchers on all sides, (pic 2) cut the canvas to size.
• Starting in the center of one side, staple the canvas the back side of the stretcher frame with a few staples (pic 3). Then, go to the opposite side just stapled, stretch the canvas and place a few staples (pic 4). Repeat on the other two sides, stretching as you go. You should be pulling the canvas tight enough so you need to hold it in place while stapling, but not so tight that the canvas is in danger of ripping. Keep going, working your way toward the corners.
• Finished corners are neat and do not distract from the artwork and make it easy to frame. I have been finishing the corners in the following way for many years but there are several other techniques. Use the one that works best for you. I fold in canvas at a 45 degree angle (pic 5) and then fold again to form a fold on the corner (pic 6). When finished the canvas should be tight enough to sound a little like a drum when tapped in the center. From here you can prime the canvas with gesso (pic 7)

Images

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For myself, Gluten Free has been a way of life for about 20 years. I started eliminating wheat, rye and barley from my diet in the early 1990’s after consulting with nutritionist Dr. Susan Brown* who diagnosed me with Leaky Gut Syndrome. Gluten avoidance was part of eating an Elimination Diet suggested by Dr. Brown. After two weeks on this diet, I felt like a different person, no longer suffering from constant stomach cramps, bloating, erratic blood pressure, insomnia, migraine headaches, tingling sensations in my arms, high white and red blood cell counts, test results pointing to liver issues, and a host of other symptoms.

At that time, gluten free meant you avoided wheat, barley and rye products. Over the past 20 years, I have practiced avoiding these foods most of the time. A few times, thinking that perhaps my tolerance was built up to gluten (after all, I technically do not have an allergy to it), I would resume eating it again. Each time I did various symptoms appeared.

Getting serious about my diet for good

After having half my thyroid removed due to a benign lump in 2007, I decided to get serious about my diet for good. I felt much better after avoiding wheat, barley, and rye again. However, I still could not pinpoint some nagging symptoms including an extremely low Vitamin D count, trouble sleeping, and constant bloating (which to me means gaining 4-8 lbs of water weight a day, and then losing it by the next morning.) Upon seeing a presentation by Dr. Osborne, I was stunned to see many of the symptoms I have had over the years described as gluten intolerance. It finally makes sense. And I am happy to know I am not the only one with this issue. I began avoiding corn, rice, and oats, among other grains containing gluten proteins, which included gluten proteins in the capsule and binders found in my vitamins.

Immediate results

Immediately after seeing this presentation the first week of February 2012, I am starting to feel the results kick in. I can now sleep for 4 hours at a time during the night and my energy level during the day has improved.

*Disclaimer: I have summarized my story in regard to relationships with medical professionals. While consulting with Dr. Brown, my general practitioner conducted all tests and blood work, and was kept abreast of all results and changes in my nutritional plan. This process took place over the course of 18 months. Also while I have found personally found benefits to abstaining from gluten I do not represent Dr. Osbourne. Please see complete disclaimer at the bottom of this page.

I continue to see my general practitioner on a regular basis as part of my healthcare plan.

The post Why gluten free? appeared first on Rural Creative Life.

Packing for Plein Aire painting

• collect your materials with a plan of the media you will use
• bring everything with you – easel, water for brushes, paint in easy-to-transport containers, palette, brushes, palette knives, other tools, rags for cleaning brushes, etc, tote bag or portfolio for storing work
• Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly
• layered clothing that is easy to move in
• Bring a hat for shade
• folding chair for taking a break or setting your supplies on for easy reach
• snacks & water

Make sure you have a plan to carry everything with you, sometimes you end up walking a distance from a parking area.

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Why bother at all if the underpainting will be covered anyway?

Paint is generally a thin layer which can be sheer in some areas of a painting. As layers of paint are added, some areas beneath show through and the eye of the viewer picks up on the subtle differences in tone, giving the painting more dimension. You can also try putting complimentary colors directly next to each other to achieve a similar effect.

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Warm-up sketches helps to “warm up” the brain before tackling intensive work in the studio. As a painter, sketching also help me get back to the cord of my skills – drawing. I personally like to do contour line drawings for about 10-15 minutes. Any subject matter will do. Today I have used images from my garden as subjects (drawn on sketchbook paper with a marker.) But, I have also drawn impromptu still life subjects right in the studio – jars of brushes and the like.

Preparation

This technique for warm-up sketches was part of my first-year figure drawing classes at Rochester Institute of Technology.  I use it a lot and find it to be a highly effective way to tune-in your brain and hand-eye coordination, and prepare for a intense session of drawing or painting.

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Details

From July 2 to October 2, 2012 Lisa Iannello will be exhibiting landscapes as the Artist in Residence at The Community Foundation for South Central New York 8 am to 4 pm weekdays at 520 Columbia Drive #100 Johnson City, NY 13790, phone:  607-772-6773,  click here for map and directions.  The Community Foundation offers caring individuals an effective way to endow their community in a manner that is responsible, responsive, and lasting.

Statement

The landscapes represented in this showing were created as my first workings in the landscape genre. Trained as an illustrator, I began by first painting an indoor scene represented in this grouping by Still Life with Window (12.), allowing me to control perspective and light. After using this technique, I began to paint en plein aire, taking my paint supplies and easel on location. Using a looser painting style, I began to play with light, texture, and color. My work utilizes layered complementary tones to bring dimension to subject matter. The subjects chosen are from New York state locations I am familiar with and feel a connection.

Click here to download exhibit sheet

Images

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Note: images may take a moment to load. Click on image to expand then scroll back and forth through images by clicking on the arrows with your mouse or with the left and right arrow buttons on your keyboard, then click on image to return.

Purchase

1. Using the contact form below, enter the name or number of the painting you are interested and your primary shipping address and phone number.
2. Shortly thereafter you will receive an email containing a purchase agreement and shipping cost and payment options. Please review and sign and return the purchase agreement along with your payment by email or fax or by delivered mail.
3. Your artwork will ship after the agreement and payment have been received.

Using this Contact form to ask questions or to begin the purchase process.

Thank you for your interest in my work,

Lisa Iannello

The post Lisa Iannello Landscapes Exhibit in Johnson City, NY appeared first on Rural Creative Life.

Ingredients

• 1½ cups – quinoa (unprepared)
• ¾ cup – olive oil
• 3 cloves of garlic
• salt to taste
• ⅓ cup – chopped chive
• 1 tablespoon – dried basil
• 4 medium tomatoes
• 2 cucumbers
• pepper to taste

Preparation

Cook quinoa on stove top with 3 cups water on medium heat, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes or until all water is absorbed; sometimes I do this a day or two ahead and store in the refrigerator but not necessary.

• Fill a large bowl with the cooked quinoa.
• Whisk together olive, lemon juice, garlic, and salt then toss well with quinoa.
• Chop chives and layer on top of the quinoa.
• Layer basil on top of chives.
• Chop tomatoes and layer over basil.
• Seed and chop cucumbers and layer over the tomatoes.
• Sprinkle pepper over cucumbers, to taste.
• Cover and place in refrigerator for 24 hours.
• Remove from the refrigerator and mix to incorporate the layers and add more salt if needed.

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Let me know what you think of the recipe and where you served it.

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