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Let's get some color going!

Annie — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:50:00 -0800

I bet you got tired of mine white on black drawings! So, I decided to do some watercolor mandalas!

1. Fairy Dance- don't you think so, when you look at it? I apologize for I couldn't take a very good picture of this one but it was in the middle of the night and I think nothing than a bright daylight would have shown the subdued elegance of the real colors!

2. Indian Sun- I remember those mornings waiking up early in India, the sun friend for some and foe for others...I miss it sometimes and I know I probably won't have the chance to visit it again but I have a special place for it in my heart.

You definitely need to see the details upclose on this one! I worked almost 3 hours on this one!

I really need to go, because I am moving ( and renovating) the kids room and it totally takes the best out of me, but I had to ask, which ones do you like better, the white on black or these?

A house for hermit crab

Annie — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:04:00 -0800

You probably have read this awesome story " A house for hermit crab" and if you are like me, you probably liked the little guy looking for a home.

I have seen real hermit crabs last summer when we were in Boston, and i wen took a picture of a curious little one:

Amazing creatures! I am not a crab person in general ( they remind me of spiders) but there is something about these that makes me like them. I cannot explain it, it's like my dislike of insects but my love for the woolley bear caterpillar. :-)

So, I was scribbling yesterday on piece of paper, with no general purpose and I suddenly realized how much my drawing reminds me of a hermit crab!

Don't you think?

Beef Brisket Flambe with double fried potatoes with breadcrumbs.

Annie — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:04:00 -0800

Ok, most of you probably have seen these "cool looking" attractions at the restaurant when a wide shoulder waiter with a thin mustache sets on fire food and everyone ooohs and aaaahs.
Yes, it's exciting but it is so expensive to order that I am sure most of you haven't even tasted flambe food. The truth is that making flambe is so easy, once you try it, it can become a regular on your table. I am planing on making a video how to flambe food in the next week, so get yourselves ready to "fire up" your taste buds! :-)
Now if you still have no idea what I am talking about, take a look what Wikipedia has to say about it!

This time I didn't make the video because I honestly forgot. I started making the beef than at the last minute I remembered and that's why I asked my husband to take pictures, but it was too late and he had only his cell phone ( hence that bad quality of the picture), but I'll do my best to make a video for you to see what I am talking about.

Here is the recipe that I have for you today!

Beef Brisket Flambe with double fried potatoes with breadcrumbs

You will need:

For the Beef Brisket

1 large piece beef brisket

1 large redskin onion

10 garlic cloves

1 cup whole baby carrots

1 tsp coriander seeds

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

4 bay leaves

1 tsp salt

5 tbsp olive oil

For the flambe

3/4 cup brandy

large kitchen tongs

a large pan with a lid

* Note:You can use any kind of alcohol you like, but not more than a 120% proof! Remember that the meat will take the aroma of the alcohol, so I personally prefer brandy or cognac, because it gives the meat more caramelized taste, taste of herbs, compared to let's say vodka, that has more bitter afterwords taste.

For the potatoes

2 lbs potatoes

1 cup bread crumbs

salt and black pepper to taste

1/2 cup olive oil

The whole thing would serve 8-10 people.

Preparation:

1. First preheat the oven at 375 F. Wash and clean the meat and pat dry.

2. Wash and prepare the vegetables- dice the onion, leave the garlic cloves and baby carrots whole.

3. In a large nonstick pan ( with a lid!) sear the meat on each side. Add the spices and the vegetables, stir-fry for 1-2 minutes.

Trying this recipe is at your own risk!
PROCEED TO STEP 4 ONLY IF YOU KNOW HOW TO FLAMBE !!!
IF YOU DON'T, BE PATIENT UNTIL I UPLOAD THE VIDEO HOW TO DO IT SAFELY AT HOME!

* sorry for the picture quality, this one was taken with a cell phone as I mentioned before!

4. Flambe the meat and vegetables with the brandy and place in a baking pan. Cover the baking pan with aluminum foil and bake for 35 min, then check the meat temperature.

* Note: you can flambe the already cut pieces when the meat is done on the table when serving, but I prefer to bake it with the alcohol. That doesn't mean that you can't do it twice if it's for your guests entertainment.

5. In a large cooking pan boil the potatoes until they are almost cooked! You need them soft enough to cut through easily, but hard enough to hold their shape. Take them out of the pan and let them cool.

6. When the meat is almost done( approx. 40 min) remove the aluminum foil and bake uncovered for another 10-15 min.

7. While the beef is still in the oven, heat the olive oil for the potatoes in a large pan and cut the potatoes to cubes.

8. Dip and roll the potatoes in the breadcrumbs and then fry in the hot oil. Sprinkle with salt and serve hot!

9. Take the meat out of the oven and let it rest on wooden tray for 5 minutes, then cut with a sharp knife.

This is a great party recipe, because it is easy to prepare, virtually no time at all, it tastes great and it's attractive to your guests!

I sorry I don't have a picture of the meat with potatoes in a plate, but my guys were so hungry, I didn't manage to take any before the food was gone! ;-)

Enjoy!

Bookmark- usefull or useless?

Annie — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:24:00 -0800

I love books.

I've written many times about my reading passion and how I love to devour the books I read, how I crave the aura they create around me that changes my present into a magical place where I can forget everything except the present of my imagination.

I can compare this only to the state of mind I get into when I am drawing when I can't see or hear anything around me, like I become deaf and blind for everything except what I create.

I love the total immersion of mind that the books give me! I can't be without a book and whenever I finish reading something I frantically look for the next one, so I can sleep soundly that night knowing I will have something to read the next day.

You would ask yourselves why am I talking about books in the Art & Craft section, since I already have the " Life" section for that?

True, but this is a special occasion.

Ever since I started the book " The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova I felt the need of a bookmark. If you have ever seen this book, you know how huge it is.

I never had a bookmark before and I always used pieces of paper, tissue paper, pens, pencils, library receipts etc as bookmarks, but this time I felt like I really, really needed something beautiful and especially created as a bookmark.

This is what I came up with, alas I never got to use it, because I finished it when I've already read the book, but the book inspired it, that's why I called the book mark " The Historian".

1. The bookmark the book inspired.

2. The details

So when I finished it, I started thinking, do people really use bookmarks or are they just pretty things that lie somewhere around the house and are one of these things that we like having but we never actually use ?

Do you use bookmarks?

What is the most unusual thing you used as a bookmark?

Annie

My First Art Show!

Annie — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:04:00 -0800

Well, the time came and I can finally advertise the event! :-)

if you like my work and you want to see it and meet me in person, on 20th and 21st of March I'll be at Schenectady City Hall showing my paintings, pyrographed pieces, white on black drawings, watercolors and cards!

SEE YOU THERE!

Annie